Learning Thai

We got back last night from a three-day team retreat at a nearby guesthouse. It was a good time of Bible study, praying, and planning and I think we all came back feeling simultaneously refreshed and like we've got a lot to do! The kids enjoyed the change of pace as well and they even got to play in a sprinkler in a yard - a first for all of them!

When we got home last evening I had received an email from an English student who I was scheduled to meet today. We meet near his office in the main banking/business area of Bangkok which has recently become the scene of a standoff between the security forces and a group of red-shirt protesters. He strongly advised that we cancel the class for today. Here's part of his email:

"Silom is now like a Bagdad in Iraq .. :( .. full of polices and solders .. There is a rumor that there may be crackdown in this couple days .. So, I then recommend you to not get in around here...Even me and my staffs we have to check news from our spy in Red Shirt Mob and asked from Solders who we sponsor for waters and some foods to trade off with internal news .. which we highly hope that they will inform us early once there is a command to fight...Many many office around here close for safe .. it seems like there is nothing .. everything goes in peaceful .. but there is like a under water wave .. moving in around here .. there is more solders and polices more and more in everyday .. and as I notices ..there are many strange people hide themselves as Silom worker .. I think they are spy from Red Shirt to check activities and news in Silom area...I have never face the situation like this before .. I think this time is the worst I have found in my live."

A few hours after he sent the email he sent me a text message saying that there had been explosions at the nearby skytrain station while he was there. Over the course of a couple of hours last night someone shot 5 grenades into the skytrain station and surrounding areas killing at least one person and injuring dozens.

We're obviously saddened by the violence and the situation in the city remains very tense. In our neighborhood we are unaffected and will continue to take precautions to make sure we're as safe as possible. Thanks for your prayers for this country.

-Tom