Learning Thai

Yesterday we met in the new home of Utai and Wanna for our third team/Thai believers/seekers group celebration. Our goal is for each of us on the team to develop small home group meetings and then for everyone to come to this larger celebration once a month.

Dan, Pon, and Utai (our host) anticipate the big meal ahead.

Serving the sticky rice.

Reacher's Brittney and Joelle and new friend Rattana who has offered to host our next home meeting.

New friends.

Eliza on the windy bus ride home.

I love the Thai way of hosting. We all meander in, take seats on the floor, maybe eat a little fruit (in this case tamarind which I think tastes like prunes) and have a drink while all the ladies work together in the kitchen sending out one small plate at a time to place on the floor in the middle of the group- a plate of papaya salad, a whole fish, a tray of oranges, etc. It was potluck style, so we even had some American sandwiches and cookies too. After a while, all the food has arrived and everyone sits on the floor around it and digs in, no silverware or plates necessary!

After the meal, we enjoyed time of singing in Thai and in English. Thai singing is one of our weak points, as our hosts, Utai and Wanna are the only Thai believers in our group right now and don't know too many Thai songs. We want to learn though, so hopefully that aspect of our meetings will improve soon. It was easy to feel the Holy Spirit's presence in that house though as we worshiped together. We had Bible studies in Thai and in English and then a time of prayer blessing Wanna and Utai's new home and community.
What a blessing to worship with Thai believers and seekers! We look forward to this kind of worship each month.

Later this week, we will also be traveling to North Eastern Thailand to work and worship with the EMM church workers and believers there. Our family and the Reachers will all be staying with host families in the country side, so that should be a good learning experience for all of us. We will be gone from Friday night (taking the overnight train) until Wednesday morning.
-Candice

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