AFC Bangkok 2008

This first week went very well. It was very exciting for me because, we normally have many no-shows the first week, but this year was different. The number of no-shows, was probably less than 5. That in itself makes it a great start. After hearing what some of the students have said, they are really enjoying the English classes and their teachers. Yesterday was our second Sunday here at the church. We had morning service and class in the morning and then we had Sunday Activities in the afternoon. Sunday Activities are an hour and a half of English activities. For those who remember from last year, we used to do Saturday Activities. We moved it to Sunday in hopes of having more church members attend. This should help in building relationships between the students and Thai Christians. During the activities, we divided the students and church members into 6 groups. Each group was to write a skit that had a solution and a problem. We chose 4 groups to come up and perform their skits. Each group did a very good job and everyone enjoyed laughing and watching them. After the skits, we taught the students the song “Hide Me Away, O’Lord” in English, and Larry Henderson explained the meaning of the song in Thai. The students then joined us in singing the song in English. We finished with a prayer from Khun Dej, one of the elders at the church. We had a couple of students stay after the activities and join us for evening worship. We had a special guest preacher, Lynn Nelson, a missionary from Alabama, come and give a message with great enthusiasm and passion for God’s Word. After church we had a meal together and finished the night with volleyball. Sarah and Rachel went to eat ice cream with a couple of Thai Christians and a student, instead of playing volleyball.

Today is our much needed day off. I am trying to get caught up on my laundry and just relaxing as much as possible. Tomorrow we may go to a national park that is about 120 kilometers from here. It will be a fun day trip and hopefully we will be back in time to go to Na’ Sao’s for Bible study and dinner.

Continue to pray for our students, especially for Gkeng and Gaye, the two students who joined us for church last night. Gkeng seems to be interested in Christianity!

In Him,
Amos

On Wednesday we started teaching English here at the church. All of my classes have gone very well so far and hopefully they will continue to go well. Jacob, Sarah, and Rachel seem to enjoy their classes. We will be teaching Wednesday through Saturday every week. On Sunday afternoons, we will have English Activities.

We teach from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm each day with a break from 11:30-1:00 for lunch. Each of our classes are 1.5 hours long and we each have Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Students.

Wednesday night we went to the movies with Ah and Ju, a couple students, to see Indiana Jones. Most everyone enjoyed the movie. The students said that it was really funny and really like it.

I will try and make a picture slideshow soon and post it possibly on Monday.

Please be praying for our students, for the Thai Christians, and for our team.

In Him,
Amos

A much needed shower concluded a full day of worship, fellowship, sports, and food. At 9:00 this morning, we went to worship service. Larry Henderson, a former missionary at this church and a current Bible teacher at ACU, gave the lesson on prayer. It was great to sing in Thai again! After worship service this morning, we had an English Bible class in which a Let’s Start Talking team joined us. We then had a meal together at the church which followed by a short nap then a game of basketball that I am now regretting. At 5:00 pm, we had evening service with Larry Henderson continuing his lesson on prayer. We then had a meal and played lots of volleyball.

It is now time for bed and I’ll need my rest for the week.

In Him,
Amos

We arrived safely late Thursday night/Friday morning to Suvarnabumi International Airport in Bangkok. We were met there by P’Tdon and Larry Henderson. While we were in San Francisco, we happened to run into a couple girls from ACU who were on their way to Bangkok as well.

We just got our internet working on our computers today so now I’ll be able to update more often. Everyone is doing well and enjoying Thailand so far.

Last night we went to eat Moo Gra Taa (Thai Bar-b-que) with a family from the church. It was lots of fun and very delicious.

Today we will be having an orientation with the students to let them know the rules of our program and also to sign up for class times.

Thank you for your prayers for our safety!

In Him,
Amos

We are here in San Francisco, awaiting our next flight to Hong Kong. This next flight will be a good 14 hours. After that, we will have a two and a half hour flight to Bangkok.

Everyone is doing fine so far. The next flight will be a long one but we will have movies and books to keep up occupied.

Keep our travels in your prayers and I hope to update again when we get there!

In Him,
Amos

Sarah Bruton

Class of 2009

1st time to Thailand

Working All Summer

Jacob Ashley

Class of 2010

1st time to Thailand

Working 1st Summer Session

Rachel Smelser

Class of 2011

1st time to Thailand

Working 1st Summer Session

Justin Kern

Class of 2009

3rd time to Thailand

Working with AFCO 1st half and AFCB 2nd half

I am still in College Station, very unmotivated to pack all my things as I prepare to move out of my house in a couple of days, but I take great joy in knowing that in one week I’ll be on a plane headed for Thailand. I will see friends that I have made the past 3 years and begin to make new ones as well. I will be able to share my life in Christ to those who do not know Him at all. God will use me to plant the seed of hope into the hearts of the hopeless.

It will be my goal to update my blog as often as possible. I will try and make videos and picture slideshows throughout the summer. I will try and video interview some of my students so that you can have an idea of who I am teaching.

I will try and post my thoughts and lessons that God is teaching me while I am here.

I just pray that this blog is something that you look forward to checking, anticipating new updates. Please leave comments and share your thoughts with me. It is great to know that there are people reading this and I would love your feedback.

“…How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news…” - Romans 10:14-15

Thank you for your support, and I pray that God bless you all for all the good that you do.

In Him,
Amos