Thailand Church Camp Chaam

We were blessed to be able to attend the church camp in Thailand at Chaam.  

I went early as I had a doctor's appointment in Bangkok.  My sweet friend, Ting, was in the hospital, so I was able to go visit her and her husband, Bhiti.  Tdon, another Christian man from upcountry was also going to visit her so I hopped a ride with him.

Ting is one of the sweetest, gentlest, beautiful Christian young women you could ever meet.  She was my translator when I was teaching the women's classes at camp.  Her father-in-law was one of the elders in the Soi Somprasong congregation before moving to Chiang Mai.  

Please keep her in your prayers as she has been unable to eat or drink anything since the beginning of April.  She has an emergency surgery last Saturday but is still recovering from that surgery and they haven't tried any liquid or food yet.   

Camp Chaam started on April 11th and ran until the morning of the 15th.  

The theme was Faith over Fear with an emphasis on Paul's letters that he wrote from prison.

Rich taught the adult classes each morning on Ephesians.  Glome, one of the ministers at the Soi Somprasong congregation translated for him.

He, of course, did a great job.  They are always so appreciative when Rich can come and teach.

This is one of the morning sessions.  There was about 500 people who attended.  They come from all over the country.

Due to the problems with Iran, gas prices are really high right now.  

The Soi Somprasong congregation waived the registration fees for the camp (cost of food and preparations/upkeep for the camp) in order for people to be able to come.

This is a picture of all the teachers during the camp session.  

Larry Henderson, a long time missionary to Thailand, was the keynote speaker.  It was great to get to visit with Larry and Pam during the week.  

His sister, Rebecca Talley, died from ALS and her service was just before they came.  Also, one of Pam's brothers died in his sleep a month before they came.  

I wish you all could hear the singing.  It is amazing!  It is so uplifting to get to be a part.

Since my parents lived in Thailand for so many years and I lived there in Middle School and High School, it is always fun for me to get to reconnect with sweet brothers and sisters who mean so much to our family.

I didn't get a good picture of the ocean.  The camp sits on the beach.  When I was a kid, there was nothing else around.  Now there are hotels all down the beach.  But we still enjoy our beachfront. 

And, yes, we do get special treatment.  Sweet sisters in the kitchen twice came up to us to tell us they had special treats for us.

Mangoes and sticky rice!!!  So delicious!!!  

This is a picture from the beach looking back into the camp.

I took this the last day, so all the tents that are usually in this open area have been packed up already.  

This is Nong.  She is a principal in a school.  She also runs a lot of races.  At camp, she works in the kitchen and is one of the ones that spoil us.

She was wearing a shirt that I really liked a couple days before; the next day, she brought me one.  So now I have my Thai flag shirt!!  

Since Thailand and Cambodia are NOT friendly, I can't wear it at home right now, but I can wear it in Thailand and in the US.

Rich and I had a day and a half in Bangkok before heading back home.

The morning before we left, we walked down to a big part in the city.  The hospital that Ting is in is right across the street.

We got to the park at 9am.  Visiting hours at the hospital started at 10am, so I sent to Ting to let her know we would be there in an hour.

Her hospital room is on the 25th floor, and I had noticed her view of the end of the park when I was there before.

She asked what color our shirts were and that she would watch for me.  So we got out into the open area and waved up at the hospital.  

She saw us!!!  She took this picture.  She said she just got back from additional xrays and looked out and there I was waving!  Ha!  (I didn't really expect them to be able to see us.)

Now, back at home, Rich is teaching Wisdom Literature to our older 4 students while Khemrin is teaching the book of John to the rest of the students.

On Thursday, April 30th, we fly to Singapore to do a marriage seminar for the Lavendar Road Church on May 1st and 2nd.  Rich will preach for them Sunday morning, the 3rd and then we will fly back home.  Please pray that we use God's wisdom in our words and the seminar is useful for them.  This seminar is only for couples with children 12 and under.  They have never had a marriage seminar in Singapore before so this is all new for them.

On May 26th, Amy Thrailkill Britton and her husband, Damon and son Jackson are coming!  Also, our son Randall, Kassie and Kenley and Ryah are also coming the 26th.  What fun we are going to have!!

Much love,

Ronda Dolan