…empowering Thai pastors…
       …to plant Thai churches…
              …that reach Thai people.

Grace in the Midst of Grief

Back in January, Ben was invited to travel to Baan Naa, in Chayaphum Province, to attend the funeral of the mother of one of the members of Cool Shade of Life church.  This is the same town where Cool Shade is working to get a church started.

Funerals in Thailand follow Buddhist traditions.  They are 3, 5, or 7 day events depending on the financial resources of the family.  During the day, family and friends come to the home of the deceased where tents have been set up.  They grieve, talk, and eat together.  In the evenings, Buddhist monks come to the house to chant blessings and make merit on behalf of the deceased to help them move on to a better life.  On the final day, a larger ceremony is held where monks chant and the body is...

Back in July, Ben was able to travel into the mountains with our summer interns.  We worked with a Christian school named Sahamitwittiya School, to teach English for their students.  On one day, they had the local provincial office of emergency management come and give safety training to the students.  This video is a training on how to handle cooking gas fires.  It's pretty hands on!