thaidoves

Christmas at Passport Cafe and Gallery

2008-12-21T12:24:00.008+07:00

Recent pictures as students prepare Passport for Christmas.

Autumn Family Photos from Newfoundland

2008-12-12T09:42:00.008+07:00

Building Houses in Burma

2008-12-11T00:53:00.009+07:00

When a devastating Cyclone hit Burma (Myanmar) in May reports indicate over 2 million people were made homeless. Countless other suffered serious damage to their homes. These homes, by Canadian standards, were very basic to begin with, and the Cyclone made easy work of them. We have played a small part in repairing homes--48 so far. Working with local churches who helped identify the need and supported by donors in Thailand and abroad, we have been able to repair homes to their original state--still very simple, but consistent with the surrounding community. Here are pictures of a few homes after the cyclone and then repaired.

Children and Youth Learning Centre in the South

2008-12-10T23:12:00.004+07:00

In July we opened a Children's Learning Centre and Youth Activity Centre in the tsunami zone of Southern Thailand. Our staff have been working here now for four years, ever since the tsunami occurred. Unsure whether or not we should pull out of the region now that the area has econmically stabilized, we noticed that children and youth were still bearing consequences of that terrible day. Many have lost hope and act out their loss in unhealthy and addictive behaviours. By establishing a permanent centre as an outreach of the local church, we hoped to provide options for the local children and youth. The two centres based in the same location provide English, music and tutoring lessons. There is also computers, ping-pong and other activity options. Nu and Jip are permanent staff (Nu is teaching guitar in the following picture, wearing the headband). Young people also get the chance to discover more about Jesus Christ. In October seven children decided to put their trust in Christ. If you want to know more about the Centres and how you can be involved, let us know.

Team building Camp at Chulalongkorn University

2008-12-10T22:33:00.006+07:00

In late August we finished off a twelve week Leadership Course with the Pharmacy Department of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. The final component of this required course for 188 graduating students is about teamwork. With the help of safety and ropes specialists Stephen and Wendy Chiang from Singapore and additional fifty volunteers we were able to host a two-day "Outward Bound" camp. Students rapelled (absailed) off the Pharmacy building, climbed tires, built tents blind-folded and six other team based activities. The camp was so successful that university student affairs has invited us to provide the same kind of training to the entire student population of 30,000. We are now figuring out how to do that, while at the same time continuing to teach in the Pharmacy Dept. Our material is Biblically-based and focuses on activity based learning. The entire class is divided into small groups which are facilitated by recent graduates and young professionals from our local churches, who take the extra effort to get to know the students and become their friends and mentors.

Passport Cafe and Gallery Opens

2008-12-10T21:57:00.009+07:00

In early July Passport Cafe and Gallery officially opened. Since then we have seen lots of students and young professionals come. On average about 200 people come every week for coffee, desserts, hanging out, learning English and exploring Christianity through Alpha. This is our way to connect students on Chula, to provide them with a space they can all their own, and create a platform for personal and community transformation.

When we get back to Thailand we will launch a program based at Passport to motivate, train and send students into places of service around Thailand and Southeast Asia. We call it, iCan, iMust, iWill.

About 75% of the funds needed to cover start up have been raised and our customer base is close to the point where our monthly expenses are carried by sales. Please pray for Passport as we see it being the key in connecting with students and developing the people capacity to impact Thailand.

Introducing Passport Cafe and Gallery

2008-05-20T10:06:00.004+07:00

Over the six years that we have been in Bangkok we have seen the need to create some kind of centre to gather students and young professionals from various points of the city to mobilize them for service in their local context and around the country.
That vision now has a name to it--Imagine Thailand--and we are getting ready to open our centre. The centre is actually a Cafe and Gallery, called Passport. In these few photos you see the site before renovations and a portion of our team. Cavelle was taking the picture, so unfortunately she wasn't in it. Opening is the beginning of July. More news to follow!

Burma Cyclone Response Diary (2)

2008-05-17T14:09:00.010+07:00

Our convoy of vehicles full of relief and supplies arrived in Yangon on Friday evening without any difficulties. Two of our staff members received a one month visa and they are in Yangon currently to receive the goods. The military has asked to have a “thank you” ceremony on Monday with us to show their appreciation for the supplies. We continue to be amazed at the favour shown to us. So many people have encountered so many obstacles in trying to bring goods into the country, and yet a formal “thank you” ceremony is being held for our team! Even yesterday a Thai/Burmese Pastor was apprehended in Yangon and his relief supplies confiscated. We feel that God has really given us grace and wisdom to find a means of help and hope to the people of Burma and so we are grateful.

We are now working on our second shipment of relief supplies and basic food. We continue to work out the means of distribution of these goods once in Yangon . It seems clear that while Burma remains highly closed to internationals, a Thai person has much more likelihood of being given access. So we are relying heavily on our Thai staff who will be the face, eyes and ears of this operation. Just yesterday the Burmese government gave approval for 30 Thai medical staff to assist on a two week medical mission. In this case, the friendly relations between Thailand and Burma is one of the few things we can celebrate. The Burmese military has increased security in Yangon making it very difficult for people to move goods around or to travel. Foreigners are especially limited.

The situation for 2.5 million people remains desperate. All indications and contacts inside Burma are stating the obvious: many more people will die of starvation and/or disease unless aid is given on a much greater scale. Today the organization “Save the Children” stated that 30,000 children under the age of 5 are currently at risk of starvation.

So we continue to pray. We ask for God to open doors so that assistance can be given to those who need it most. We ask for God to move mountains on behalf of those affected; the poor, the weak, the helpless. We ask for wisdom and discernment in all the steps to come and for Thai people in particular to have a burden to be part of the answer to those in need.

Summer Break

2008-05-10T06:35:00.005+07:00

It is summer right now in Thailand. Recently, we had a chance for a bit of a summer holiday. Here are a few photos from that week.

Burma Cyclone Response Diary

2008-05-10T06:20:00.003+07:00

Many of you are following the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Burma (Myanmar). Here as the situation in our neighbouring country has only worsened we have prayed to know what we can do. Cavelle joined a UN brief yesterday and you need to understand that any comments you hear on TV are measured. Indeed, as critical as the media has been of the aid response, their reports are relatively more positive than the case warrants. The situation for those cut off from help as absolutely dire. As aid is delayed day after day the situation will only worsen. The area hit by the cyclone was the major rice producing area for this already impoverished nation, and due to the high price of rice, any excess stocks were sold off prior to the storm. This tragedy which is already leaving 24 million people in the dark, 1.5 million homeless and over 100,000 people dead, will soon begin to impact the rest of the country. We can not understate how desperate the conditions are.

What remains particularly disturbing is that help remains stuck here in Thailand. Except for agencies already in Burma using resources they had on stock in country, very little resources have made it to Burma. The UN, the US, and all major aid organizations continue to be refused access. Some agencies are now turning away, frustrated by the inability to act.

Given the situation, we can only consider it a miracle when one of our Thai staff, after calling a Thai businessman, who happened to be a good friend of Burma's top diplomat in Thailand, was invited to meet at the embassy today to discuss a plan for our team to bring in relief supplies. We still are shaking our head, but our team has been given permission to begin bringing supplies in. They have been promised visas early next week, a truck is being prepared and soon they will be on their way to the border and on to Rangoon. We have been promised safe passage, but we do depend on the military to make it safely. This step is not without risks. Our first trip will be cautious, but if once we are confident supplies can get to the cyclone victims, we will bring in additional supplies. Given the few days delay, you understand that what we can do will only help those who survive the next few days. We are small, but God has opened a door closed to most to begin helping. As foreigners we will not enter Burma, only our Thai staff will go. Indeed, this door has been opened because it is Thai people who are making the plea to help. We believe that Thailand, historical enemies of Burma, has a key role in bring help and blessing to this desperate nation.

So we ask you to pray each step of the way. For promises made to be kept. For visas delivered, truck safety, military integrity, and aid reaching those who really need it. Please pray for a confidence building first trip, so we can do more. Please pray that the door will be opened to other agencies, for the need is bigger than any one organization.

If you or your church wish to help support this particular effort, you can do so by donating to ERDO. The website is http://www.paoc.org/missions/emergency-relief and any gifts should be marked as Burma Cyclone. We will keep you posted as this project unfolds. Thank you for your care and prayers,

Peter and Cavelle

Imagine that!

2008-03-30T23:32:00.003+07:00

Imagine a African university student ending up in Kiev, dropping his studies to start a church for the marginalized in the city. Imagine that little group of five growing to 10,000. Then imagine that group beginning to influence other parts of the world. Imagine this African student-cum-pastor coming to Thailand and preaching to Thai people who value light skin and can be a little suspicious of dark-skinned people. Now imagine people coming out to hear this guy--unbelievably 8,000 the first night, 12,000 the next and 15,000 the last night. Imagine people attracted to what he has to say, responding positively to what they understand--indeed 70% of the people indicating that they want to put their trust in Jesus, a man neither Thai, Ukraine or Zimbabwean, but Jewish who, they were told, lived long ago, and still lives today, though unseen and can bring real and immediate change in their lives. Then imagine people wanting real and immediate change, wanting to be healed of all kinds of things--not little stuff, but big stuff like paralysis. Then imagine that the person who wants to be healed of paralysis is a Buddhist monk, a man who lives a virtuous life, but yet does not believe in a personal God. Imagine what happens when he is healed. Maybe, it's not too hard for you to imagine, but I have to say, I found it a little hard to believe. But it's all true. Last Easter weekend, the unimaginable happened in Northeast Thailand. Thousands came to hear the gospel, the majority agreed they wanted it, and countless were healed, including the Buddhist monks in the photo above. The picture doesn't make it tough to imagine what he felt. Imagine that!

Everyday Opportunities

2008-01-21T13:04:00.000+07:00

No matter where you live, everyday brings new opportunities and challenges, but the opportunities and challenges that come our way in Thailand come in different shapes and sizes than what we were used to in Canada. Here are a few examples of the diversity of experience here: a few weeks ago we welcomed a team from BC to Takua Pa, the community we have worked with since the tsunami. One of the families that we have assisted continue to be affected by the memory of the Dec 26 tsunami. Su was a contractor working on site when the wave came and swept away his entire crew and the tools that made provided for his income. He never went back to construction and instead took up a Thai art form Batik through a program we offered. His ability is great, but that didn't mean he could move on. Every night he would have nightmares of the corpses he saw on the beach that day, ten of them friends and co-workers. The BC team went to the family with our group of Thai staff stationed in Takua Pa. They talked for a long time and before leaving asked if they could pray about his nightmares. He agreed, and just before leaving town the team returned for a visit. His irrepressible smile tipped off the team that something was up and when pressed he confessed, that the nightmares left the night he was prayed for. He couldn't stop smiling or saying thank-you. I love a story like that, because it really doesn't point attention to what we can do, only what God does when we ask Him, and the real impact he makes in the life of a person who needs what God offers.

Well, after New Year's we took the team to the border town of Mae Sot. We had planned some instructor training for teachers in the refugee camps and visited some of the organizations serving Burmese refugees and migrant workers in Thailand. One organization the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners was formed to document and disseminate information on the real situation of political prisoners in Burma and to provide assistance to the families of prisoners. We found our way to their office and before we had chance to sit down, the director explained that one of their members had been picked up by Thai police who in turn were planning to hand him to Burmese authorities. Being a political threat to the military government in Burma he faced life in prison and severe torture. What to do? Well we did the little we could, give some money to help smooth his release. Not a lot mind you, about $70 Canadian, but enough to at least save him from a life in Burma's brutal prisons. We're not sure if the money was what did the trick, but the police agreed to release him on the condition that another Burmese was offered in his stead, someone who while faces some hardship in Burma, will not be sent to live out the rest of his days in prison.

Of course when we are faced with the harsh realities of life in Burma, and the hardship faced by those who oppose injustice, we are left to wonder a lot of things. On the feel-good side 70 bucks to buy a person's life doesn't seem a lot, but we sure felt fortunate that we could have a small part in making sure this man remained free. And yet, this is something that he and millions of other people in and out of Burma face everyday in order for a paranoid dictatorship maintain its' hold on a country. There wasn't a single person that we talked to who didn't want to return back to Burma, but couldn't for fear that they would be shot on sight (current Burmese policy) once they found their way home. Resettlement to Canada and other Western nations is generous, but the transition so hard that many enter into deeper misery once separated from the world they have always known.

So their world in a small way enters into our world. We are asked what can we do? Well for our part, we plan to focus on Burmese (largely Karen people) in Thailand living as legal and illegal migrant workers. We have one staff worker who will focus on some issues there, particularly insuring that migrant schools have adequate funding, clean water and sanitary conditions so that kids growing up in this context at least have some of the basic necessities for life and building a future. We'll write more about that in another blog, but for now that gives you a small window into the opportunities and challenges that come our way here.

Family Photo Blog January 2008

2008-01-21T11:41:00.001+07:00

Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them

Mail from Canada

2008-01-21T11:03:00.000+07:00

We had a special privilege in our last trip to refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border. We had a team from BC led by Peter's former youth pastors, Ralph and Carrie Peters. Presently, they lead a mission organization called Climb Inter-cultural and Carrie directs English Language for Life in Canada program at Christian Life Assembly in Langley, BC. The program has a large group of resettled Karen people from Burma now living in Langley. These people last lived in a refugee camp high in the mountains of Northwest Thailand. Leaving family and friends behind they have started a new life in Canada. When they heard that Ralph and Carrie were coming to Thailand they wrote letters and produced some videos of greetings to send back to family still remaining in the camp. The pictures above show some of those who received letters from Canada, and some of the group watching the video greetings on the laptop. The journey to Mae La On camp took us about seven hours each way, with four hours requiring us to traverse the mountains rough gravel roads. It was hard for us to imagine how difficult the transition must be for those people, who having rather return to the simple bamboo homes they fled in Burma, must now make a new life in Canada.

Christmas Morning

2007-12-26T23:40:00.000+07:00

Matt getting his hair cut

2007-12-26T23:33:00.000+07:00

Boys in bath

2007-11-16T20:19:00.000+07:00

Matt preparing for the School Christmas Program

2007-11-15T19:56:00.000+07:00

Extreme National Youth Camp

2007-11-09T16:35:00.001+07:00

Over the school break we hosted our first ever interdenominational national youth camp. "We" means several churches organizations in Thailand. It was great 1200 young people from across the country and from the accounts that some of our youth and young adults gave, the time was pretty transformational. It was great to be apart of this, and gives us hope that in the future we may see much more of this kind of cooperation in Thailand.

Benjamin Laughing

2007-10-05T12:12:00.000+07:00

Benjamin walking

2007-10-05T12:04:00.001+07:00

This is how Ben is how Ben is learning to walk. He has taken up to eight unassisted steps now.

Update on some of our work

2007-10-03T21:36:00.000+07:00

Some pictures from the Soulcial Work Exhibition. Our ERDO team: Ly Mei, Pichit and Tum were responsible for the photography and the show.

This past weekend we celebrated the ministry and mission of Jaisamarn Church, the place where we focus most of our efforts. You may be interested to know about some of the things this church is involved in.
• Our young adult ministry, called the Upper Room hosted an art show, where some of our ERDO staff and volunteers had the chance to display superb black and white photos of people we have served in the south of Thailand since the tsunami. The response to the exhibition was excellent with many people interested in becoming more involved with our work in the south.
• Our children’s ministry featured mission work to the Himalayan region. They had Bhutan food, and an internet link-up with Oum, our former children’s pastor, who is now in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Our youth were busy on an outreach to a neighbouring city, sharing their testimony with the residents and ministering in a local church.
• We have a team preparing to travel to Hong Kong to reach out to Thai domestic workers who live and work there.
• Another group is focusing their efforts on serving military personal on an air force base in the north of Bangkok.
• As well, we have people preparing to be missionaries in Vietnam, ministry centres that work in Bangkok’s slums, and cooperate with a burgeoning ministry to the thousand of prostitutes in our area. So what’s the point? The point is that there is many ways that the Thai church is serving their own country and beyond. Churches and individuals who have invested in the mission to Thailand can claim an exponential return. Not only have you had a part in reaching Thailand, but also now you are reaching the countries beyond. Thank you for your great support!

While you pray please remember us as a family. Our children have been sick a lot this past month and that takes a big toll on us. Please pray for a multiplication of fruit in the ministry to campus students in Bangkok. Please remember Burma. Cavelle has met many of those calling for democracy—some being Christians. They are likely being brutally tortured as you read this. The situation in Burma is dire and needs the prayer of Christians around the world. Over 1000 Pentecostal Churches are in Burma.

Kathmandu and beyond

2007-07-18T18:46:00.001+07:00

Just got back from Kathmandu where you may know one of our staff --Oum--is now living, learning the language and looking for ways to serve the Nepalese people. Here's a brief update...I'm soon to board a train and travel for twelve hours to Northeast Thailand and participate in a camp for Laotian youth leaders.

I have to admit I was a bit overwhelmed by Kathmandu. Everyone honking their horns, people walking everywhere, bumpy dusty roads, and all the regular images of one of the world's poorest countries. Beautiful? Yes, I think so, but during rainy season I saw mostly clouds and smaller hills. The picture below is the only view I had of land above the tree line. But, I didn't come for the mountains (OK, but I was desperate to see something!). I met with Oum and several Pastors, leaders, and visited children's homes.

Nepal has long been an isolated Hindu kingdom, that only in modern times opened to the outside world. With no industry to speak of tourism is it's largest provider of foreign currency. Political crisis has gripped the country for the last ten years, and especially since the massacre of the royal family in 2001. Enduring poverty, hopelessness, and corruption leaves the population in turmoil and children and women especially vulnerable.

Children as young as five often live as bonded servants and are often abandoned to their fate. The boy below was 21/2 when his grandfather kicked him and his 7 yr. old sister out of the house. Fortunately, the gentleman beside him heard of their plight and welcomed him into his orphanage.

This is just one of many stories I heard like this. Most of the men I had met had been kicked out of their home at a young age. Churches and children's homes are trying to fill in the gap, but their are tens of thousands of kids who are in a similar state. Oum, and those of us connected to her hope to be of some help.

Nepal is not an easy place to be. We had to work our way through four barricades, some with burning tires to make it close to the airport upon my departure. Another colleague had his taxi's windows smashed by rocks and the driver dragged out and beaten. All this anger is over the on-going political and social unrest in Nepal. A beautiful country yes, with remarkably resilient people and courageous believers, but certainly in need of our prayers and remembrance. If you're near a mountain, maybe you can look up and think of Nepal and the many who are working to make a difference there.

Images from Southern Thailand

2007-06-18T23:07:00.000+07:00

Two of our workers in the south of Thailand are exceptional photographers. We asked them to do a photo essay to capture the human story behind the work we have a hand in. Here are a few of those images. We hope to bring these plus 20 more to Canada this fall as a photo exhibit to highlight ministry in Thailand.

Some Things to Pray for

2007-05-17T11:02:00.000+07:00

The Arts Room is a ministry of our church to creative youth in the spiritual heart of Bangkok. This three-story building houses studios, a coffee shop and is home to many the the new converts. This dynamic ministry is also the only Christian ministry or church in this area. Home to the Grand Palace, many important Buddhist temples, and sacred monuments, no church is allowed to be built here. For this reason the Arts Room is not only a creative way to reach young people, it has a profoundly strategic place for the gospel in Bangkok. Right now the staff and young people are feeling intense spiritual pressure and oppression. They have asked that we would pray for them, and for pressing personal, financial, spiritual and staff needs. Please join us.

In the deep south of Thailand in the past two years 2300 people have died in an violent separatist insurgency. Cavelle has been travelling back and forth, and has built wonderful relationships with many people--Muslim and Buddhist alike. The situation is deteriorating rapidly so that further travel is now being prevented. Please pray for the situation, for the people of the deep south in live in constant fear, and for those who work in this area.

Finally, June is back to school in universities across the country. We are re-launching Campus Ministry in Bangkok June 3 and would love to have the prayer support of our friends so that God would bring great fruit among our students in Bangkok.

Psst! Wanna buy a painting?

2007-05-04T10:53:00.000+07:00

Because you won't likely be passing by our fridge anytime soon, you'll have to take a look at a couple of recent drawings of Matthew here on the blog. Surely the grandparents will be proud!

The Other Insurgency

2007-05-04T09:46:00.000+07:00

While we live 1000km from the three most southernmost provinces in Thailand, the situation there is still very close to our heart. Last week we made another trip to the deep south. For the most part the purpose of the trip was to introduce some of our colleagues to people that Cavelle has met before. As always, we're trying to connect people, who may be of some help in the situation. Now that may seem like a silly thing to say. Indeed, what help can we bring, and better still what right do we have to bring help? We're outsiders, living in the semi-safe confines of Bangkok. We have plenty of other things to attend to, and quite frankly as time goes on for people like us our white faces can be an obstacle to helping. So let's explain a little of what this is all about.

The deep south is not Iraq. Yes, there are almost daily bombings and killings, but the degree of the violence does not compare to Iraq. Still, what happens here should disturb anyone. Saturday the Mosque we visited on Friday was shot up and a grenade thrown into another Mosque killed an elder. The next day a man was shot, beheaded and burned while his teenage nephew simply executed. Later, a bomb tossed into a market killed another two people. So while this isn't the Iraq insurgency it's easy to forget that over 2300 people have died violently here in the last 2 1/2 years. It's easy to forget that in this beautiful nation, where travellers indulge in beautiful beaches and endless shopping, a whole populations lives in fear not knowing if today is their day to be killed or to lose someone close. For the average person here they have no one they can trust, not the government, not the police, not their Muslim brothers--no one. Many are so traumatized that they cannot leave their homes--period.

And so in this context we wonder what does it really mean to say that the Kingdom of God has come? Where is the Body of Christ in this mess? We're not talking about mission teams, and glossy brochures about four steps to becoming a Christian. We're talking about authentic peace, mercy and grace lived in the midst of palpable fear, qualities that ultimately only come from God and are demonstrated in lives of His followers. Sound dangerous? We're not sure real faith was meant to be safe, but hey, let's be honest--as husband and wife and as parents we think about safety-issues. So at this point we try to support people already in the area, but not just Christians mind you. The Canadian Embassy is assisting in many ways, including supporting women who have lost their husbands in the violence. As for ERDO, our emergency, relief and development branch, we are now providing educational scholorships to children orphaned by the violence. There won't be any billboards or logos proclaiming "this project brought to you by..." but we believe that whatever you do you do it for God, and leave the rest to Him.

Small steps, but you can probably sense we have much on our mind. The problem with being here is that we have personal contact with profound human tragedies that are the consequence of human conduct. How can we simply look on when we have in our grasp some capacity to do something? Sure we can't do it all, but that's why we have this little blog. Maybe someone out there feels like they want to find a way to be involved too. We live in a world that is consumed with the trivial. As a society, whether it be Canada or Thailand, we often spend our energy, our resources and our time on things that ultimately have little lasting significance. We simply don't want that to be our story.

Family Photos at the Beach

2007-04-17T16:11:00.000+07:00

During our holidays in March we found someone to take some pictures at the beach for us. Here are a few of the 400 photos. They show you why we're so proud of our boys!

Oum goes to Nepal

2007-03-16T13:30:00.000+07:00

Samuel Escobar, writing in The New Global Mission says that in the third millennium the gospel will go from everywhere to everyone. In other words mission as a primarily Western enterprise is over. We recently saw a great example of that when we sent off Oum, our children's pastor to be a missionary to Nepal. In !999 Oum was at a meeting in Bangkok and was challenged by an invitation to serve God in another country. For the last eight years, she has distinguished herself by her creativity, hard work, and competency in the Children's ministry at Jaisamarn Church. But she always felt the call, and after many delays she was finally released to go, sent as a missionary from our church, the very first Thai cross-cultural missionary from our group of churches. So she represents a historic moment for us. She needs to go through what we all have to go through--learn the language, adjust to the culture, and find the best possible way to bear witness to Christ and the gospel. Please remember her. She's the one in the picture with the red circle around her.

Matthew's March Photoblog

2007-03-12T15:06:00.000+07:00

Some pics of Matthew since Christmas. This was the first Christmas where he understood and enjoyed the fun traditions associated with the season. After we took the Christmas tree down in January, he mourned its' loss for several days. Matthew likes to make food with mom, is an excellent drummer, and is growing up way to fast! He also loves to draw (watch for future blog postings), and has become very polite. He likes to say, "Thank-you so much!" In general he is speaking a lot more now, but has this unique habit of mixing Thai verbs with English objects. Interesting!

Benjamin's March Photoblog

2007-03-12T14:16:00.000+07:00

Here's a few new pics of Benjamin from the last couple of months. He's a very happy boy (if he, like the rest of us, gets enough sleep). He's now 9 kilos, close to crawling, eating mushy solids from a spoon, and very active. Benjamin's at the stage where he's engaged with life. He wants to play, grabs for anything he can, and is getting more comfortable around new people. If you're new to the house, however, expect him to take a few minutes to sternly size you up first.

Triple-O's Coming to Bangkok

2007-02-24T20:58:00.000+07:00

If we ever doubted how connected the world is becoming, look no further than last week's announcement here in Bangkok that BC's most quintessential burger joint is now hanging it's hat in Thailand. For those of us born and raised in BC we know the White Spot well. Peter's parents courted at 'the Spot' (Boundary Road Drive-In) in the late 1950's. As kids, going to White Spot after church was a special event. Sure restaurant choices have expanded since then, but no place is more BC than White Spot so an announcement about our famous Triple-O sauce feels kind of surreal. For those of you from outside BC, or who have never understood what the fuss is about, that's ok. But, for Peter's dad, well, now if he comes for a visit, he'll know that their is a least one familiar place. We will put in an order for the Strawberry Shortcake as soon as you confirm your flight, dad!

Healing Southern Wounds

2007-02-11T23:34:00.000+07:00

This front page article is from the Bangkok Post. Cavelle is the one responsible for connecting these projects with Canadian government development funds. She is to the left of the Ambassador mostly obscured in the photos. Thought some may be interested to read about this work.

Ahama Mahama, 42, has been afraid to leave the house since he and his family were attacked by unknown assailants in May last year. Mr Ahama, his wife, and two children were riding on a motorcycle from their home in Ban Mohmawee of Yarang district when armed men opened fire at them. His three-year-old son was killed instantly and the others injured.

Although their physical injuries have healed, the mental wounds remain.

Mr Ahama has yet to return to work as a staff member of his tambon administration organisation. The tragedy still haunts him, and he feels scared whenever he goes out.

''Now I only stay home, doing the housework. I want to go back to work, but I do not dare. If I have to go out, I would rather go by car than motorcycle,'' he said.

A medical team from the community health centre has visited twice to check on the family's physical condition. But there had never been any attempt to offer them counselling.

Mr Ahama's family was among those selected for the Canada-funded home visit programme carried out by student volunteers who call themselves ''Friends of Victimised Families,'' from Prince of Songkhla University.

The volunteers who visited Mr Ahama said he often cried for his dead son when they first met him. He didn't talk much to the visitors. But after two months of home visits, he began opening up and talking more, they said.

Started in 2005, the project was previously sponsored by the Development Institution of Mahidol University, with the focus on families of victims of the Tak Bai incident on Oct 25, 2005.

When the university ran out of money last year, the Canadian government took over. The programme has now been extended to 50 families.

Soraya Jamjuree, a Prince of Songkhla University lecturer and the project manager, said the aim is to build up a healthy relationship and bond between the visitors and victims, increase coping skills for families and establish a database of victimised people.

''Home visits are one way we can help victims heal themselves mentally. Some families are abandoned. Their relatives dare not come to visit them. When the volunteers show up, they feel good to know there are people who care for them,'' she said.

Sakinah Chena, 23, a graduate student who has been with the Friends of Victimised Families group since the beginning, said she volunteered for the work because she wanted to know what was going on in her hometown.

''Terrorism is not new in this part of the country. We've heard about the insurgents' attacks since we were young. Back then they were more infrequent, not the daily bombings and shootings we have now,'' she said.

After training for four days with a US expert in psychological counselling, Ms Sakinah and other student volunteers started their work visiting victimised families at least three times a month. She said she has learned a lot from her work.

''The most important thing is to create a sense of trust, to make them feel as if we are friends, so they feel comfortable enough to talk,'' she said.

Some victims' stories were so sad they made her cry, she said.

''I found two children whose parents were killed by a bomb right before them. The younger child has become aggressive, while the older one goes to bed each night crying.''

Ms Sakinah said she felt it was her duty to lend a hand to people suffering in her community.

''When I visited these people and saw them getting better, I felt better too,'' she said

Ministry and Life Update

2007-02-09T14:47:00.000+07:00

Here's a little update on life and ministry the past while. Fewer pictures this time, we'll let you imagination fill in the details.

@ Home

The past three months have been time of adjustment for us. Benjamin has entered our world in a big way. He has been maximizing the good favour that comes with being cute--a smart move since his sleeping patterns continue to evolve. Matthew is really growing up fast and has done well in welcoming his new brother. He has enjoyed being in school on weekday mornings, and has seen his artistic side begin to really emerge. In December Matthew celebrated his third birthday. Both boys are the joy of our life! We were fortunate in that Benjamin’s arrival drew some welcome guests. Peter’s twin brother David came for a week’s visit in October and then Cavelle’s parents came for a month beginning in mid-November. They were invaluable help with the kids and a great encouragement to us. We were also able to introduce them to different aspects of our work here, including our work with the churches Bangkok and Takua Pa, the daycare at Phi Phi Island and a visit to a Burmese refugee camp in Mae Sot. The year was capped by a wonderful Christmas season. We had plenty of decorations, a dedication service for Benjamin the company of interns, volunteers and staff for Christmas day and then a short holiday with other missionaries in Hua Hin just before the New Year. Even the weather was cold--it really felt like Christmas!

Ministry In Bangkok

For Peter, much of the of past year ministry has revolved around Jaisamarn church and New Generation Ministry (NGM). We have spent the last while evaluating our staff and program and set new goals and objectives for the coming year. While the past two years it has been hard for Peter to focus on the university, this next year will ses him renew his focus on the campus. At Jaisamarn Church we have a great team leading NGM, and presently we are focused on working to prepare Oum, our Children’s pastor, to become our first Thai cross-cultural missionary. In March she heads to Nepal. While adjusting to our expanded family has meant that as a family we have joined in the Upper Room young adult service less frequently, Peter has preached there on a couple of occasions, and in December two students were baptized at the winter retreat near Bridge over the River Kwai. He has also begun to preach in Thai this year. Peter also continues to meet regularly with some of the guys from the Campus Ministry for personal discipleship. Both of us continue to spend a lot of time with Melissa George—our Missionary in Training Intern. Melissa has been an incredible blessing to us and very helpful with our ministry at Jaisamarn and in our home. She has taught an ESL class, done some language study of her own, being very active with the Upper Room and accompanies Peter to many events and activities.

Further Abroad

Cavelle, in addition to managing the household, continued to oversee, with the help of Thai staff, the work of ERDO-related projects in the south, the support of 72 tsunami-affected children, and a pre-school on Phi Phi Island. We are encouraged to see the positive impact this school is to a community that is 80% Muslim and largely overwhelmed by hedonistic western tourists. Cavelle also took a team of Canadians and Thai to a Burmese refugee camp in Mae Sot. Everyone was deeply impacted by what they saw and the chance to visit with former Burmese political prisoners. We constantly feel the burden of the terrible injustices happening so close to us across the border in Burma. While not traveling south less frequently, we still have our ESL volunteer teacher, Andrew Stockley, in Takua Pa. Andrew has been a great addition to the team in Thailand and we hope that he will join us here for the longterm. We also had two additional volunteers from Canada to assist Andrew. Together with two Thai nationals the group had a five day outreach to Mu 8, a remote district on Phi Phi Island—a place where about 80% of the Sea Gypsy community has put their trust in Christ since the tsunami.

Like any family we find that we are juggling many balls at one time. Doing so in a mega-city with a still new culture and language adds to our challenge--but we wouldn't trade it for anything. We love our family and we love serving God in Thailand. We feel honoured to be here. We are particularly grateful to you for your love and support--without which we would have little to offer. Thank-you!

Pray for Burma March 11, 2007

2007-02-09T14:23:00.000+07:00

Cavelle will be travelling to Burmese Refugee camps again later this month. With this in mind we want to encourage you to remember the people of Burma particularly in March. If you or your church wish to join with the worldwide day of prayer for Burma you will want to check out the website at www.prayforburma.org. Here are a few photos from the website to remind you of some of the difficulties people face in this region. The forest pictures are of villagers forced to leave their homes and hide in the jungle. This is the consequence of a major offensive in April against the Kare n people who live near the border of Thailand. The gentleman was forcibly conscripted to be be a porter for the army. He was beaten, survived to escape, but then was killed as he made his way back to his village. After North Korea, Burma is considered the most repressive regime in the world. Please pray for these people who have no allies, no support and struggle to survive. Many Burmese are coming to the US and Canada as well, so becoming involved in the plight of the Burmese while at home is possible.

Study break in Los Angeles

2007-02-09T13:17:00.000+07:00

Just this week Peter returned from LA where he was studying at Fuller Theological Seminary. This was the final installment of on-campus time needed to complete a MA in Global Leadership. The program is largely conducted on-line and is intended to develop leaders working in cross-cultural or multi-national contexts. You'll see John from St. Petersburg and Matthew from Hong Kong in the first photo. All together we had 19 students. Everything about the program has been excellent and particularly useful for our current place of ministry. One of the highlights from this past week was a trip to downtown and Skid Row LA. The woman pictured above is Cathy, and she has lived and worked downtown for the past 34 years with a group called the Catholic Worker (www.lacatholicworker.org). Besides offering shopping carts to the homeless (in her neighbourhood they have about 10,000) they feed abut 1,000 homeless a day, and actively protest the war in Iraq. The leadership team has their housing and food provided, but beyond that live on abot $15 US a week. I find it hard not to be inspired by the unique and sacrificial ways people chose to serve others--particularly those most marginalized in society. Cavelle's hands were very fool while I was away, and I missed my family terribly while I was away, so it was great to arrive back home Tuesday. Another highlight? Seeing my family in Vancouver on a stop-over. (LA photos courtesy of Ron Stohler)

Boy's December Photoblog

2006-12-22T22:30:00.000+07:00

From top to bottom: Benjamin finds something funny; Matthew's birthday party at school; Cavelle and her mom at Benjamin's dedication; Matthew with Dad and Poppee on an elephant; Benjamin tries jam; Matthew and Poppee at Phi Phi Island

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2006-12-20T21:52:00.000+07:00

Here's a few pictures taken near our home and one taken in our home on the night we put up the Christmas tree. The weather is getting cooler and Bangkok is dressing up its best for Christmas.

Ministry Highlights

2006-12-20T21:27:00.002+07:00

From top to bottom: A pre-school we administrate for children impacted by the tsunami, on Phi Phi Island. This school of about 17 students is supported by private donors from Vancouver; National Youth Leader's conference in Chiang Mai (f0llowing picture as well). About 120 leaders came from around the country; Upper Room (Campus and Young Pro) Leader's Retreat in Kanchanaburi Province. These are the ones who lead our alternative service at Jaisamarn Church in Bangkok.

Cool weather unlikely in Bangkok over next 40 years, experts predict

2006-12-13T10:38:00.000+07:00

For those of you enjoying the snow in Canada and the US, we thought you might enjoy this story from the Bangkok Post. The picture (apologies for the quality) was taken a few blocks from our home.

Bangkok would have little chance of experiencing a cool season in the next four decades as the capital's temperature continues to rise due to an ''urban heat island'' and global warming, according to experts. Other provinces would also experience shorter spells of cool weather over the long run, they added.

Like other big cities, Bangkok is experiencing an ''urban heat island'', a phenomenon which sees temperatures in cities rise more than in the countryside, said Jariya Boonjawat, an environmentalist at the Southeast Asia START Regional Centre, an environmental research organisation.

Buildings, concrete and asphalt roads, as well as human and industrial activities in urban areas, were all factors contributing to high temperatures in cities, she told the conference on Thailand's and the global climate.

''We have studied the urban heat island in Thailand and found that the temperature in the capital is 5C higher than in rural areas. The result is in line with big cities around the world, like Tokyo,'' said the expert, who has conducted extensive research on the climate and its impacts on urban areas. ''With the warming trend increasing, we can say that Bangkok will have less chance of experiencing a cool season in the next 40 years.''

Four decades ago, the average minimum temperature during Bangkok's cool season was below 15C, according to Ms Jariya, but the minimum temperature has gradually increased to 20C now.

The Meteorological Department forecasts that Bangkok's minimum temperature will be in the range of 24 to 26C from now until early in December. The temperature will drop about one degree next year when the country is in the middle of the cool season, it says.

APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

Benjamin's October Photo blog

2006-10-14T00:24:00.002+07:00

A few more photos of Benjamin and the family. If you wish to see more of Tum's photo's click on to the address below http://www.xanga.com/astrophytum

The 'Smooth as Silk' Coup d'etat

2006-09-23T14:01:00.000+07:00

Let's be honest...as a Canadian when you wake up to the news that your host country's government has fallen to a coup you think the worst. Certainly, I was worried at first. We heard the reports of the army in control of the country, of tanks in the street, but could get no news on the local TV--only patriotic songs interrupted by a recorded statement by someone--who knows who--introducing the new sheriff in town. But then something happened--well actually nothing happened, but that nothing was something. The streets were quiet, no one protesting, no one complaining--in fact a sense of universal relief that the government had been finally replaced without anyone getting hurt.

Western reports decried the coup, but you're hard pressed to find anyone in Thailand who thinks it was a bad idea. The reaction to the coup sheds some more light on Thailand and the thinking here. But let's back up a bit. Many wonder why would we need a coup? Well the democratically elected government was acting undemocratic. A collection of poor decisions, corruption scandels, arrogance, and abuse of power had driven mostly urbanites to their limits of patience--and the Thai are very patient. Now government ineptitude may seem like a familiar story for those of us in Canada and the US, but here authority plays out differently. We think ultimate authority resides with the people, but in Thailand ultimate authority resides with the monarchy and the role of the armed forces is to defend the integrity of the monarchy and the nation. So when the elected government by their policy appeared to jeopardize the integrity of the nation and, indeed the reputation of the monarchy, the armed forces decided to step in.

So we live under martial law, but really little has changed. We have armed soldiers in front of government buildings and tanks here and there, but since about 86% of the population favours the coup, there is little threat to the new order. They tell us this is all temporary, and I suspect that to be the case. Beyond the one day holiday, nothing is different.

But as you can imagine powerful people are affected by the coup, and usually powerful people like to find ways to preserve their power, so this story has yet to be concluded. The initial euphoria following the coup masks the reality of significant divisons in the country. And so as you pray for Thailand consider the words of David in Psalm 65

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
God our Saviour,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
[You} who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.

Benjamin Peter's first day!

2006-09-05T23:18:00.000+07:00

At 9:12am September 5, 2006 Benjamin Peter Dove came into our world weighing in at 4.47 kilos (or 9.85 lbs), 55 cm (or 21.65 inches). Cavelle went into labour at 4:14 am and delivered 9:12am. Like Matthew, Benjamin was delivered in the water. Benjamin and Cavelle are doing well. Matthew is also getting to know his brother and so far has been very gracious and gentle with him. Tuesday
was a beautiful, clear day in Bangkok and will be remembered by us forever. The following our a few pictures. From the top: Does this woman look like she's in labour? Cavelle in-between contractions; just after birth; back in the room; you think it was winter here!; with a nurse; Matthew meets his brother.

What Makes Thailand different?

2006-08-12T07:20:00.000+07:00

Many visitors coming to Thailand see the huge malls, the flashy cars, and the modern fashion and conclude that Thailand is not much different from home. However, under that modern exterior you will discover a very unique culture. Here are a couple of examples that recently came to the surface. The first one is a picture from a thai newspaper of university medical students showing their respect to the king during his recuperation from surgery recently. Try to imagine this scene in Canada or the US.

The second is an excerpt from an English speaking paper. This article surveys the multitude of ways Thais prayed for the king during his surgery. You make think Thailand is a Buddhist nation, and that you understand what that means. Read on and see if you are a little surprised.

"A wave of joy rippled through Siriraj Hospital last night after the Royal Household Bureau announced that the spine operation on His Majesty the King was a success. ''Doctors were satisfied with the operation. The outcome was successful and satisfactory. After a period of observation, there were no complications,'' the announcement said.

Thousands had turned out at the hospital to wish His Majesty well before doctors began microsurgery on the lumbar region of his back yesterday afternoon.

In the provinces, people rose early to give alms to monks so the King would benefit from the merit. Then they went their separate ways to perform ceremonies they believed would help speed his recovery.

In Si Sa Ket, people were ecstatic when an ancient stone statue could be lifted three times, believing it to be a prophecy that the King would recover from his illness.

In Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan and Tak people meditated and performed rituals believed to lengthen life.

''I don't know why I cry when I see him,'' said Panitcha Chandrapanichkul, a third-year medical student at Mahidol University, wiping tears from her cheeks.

''Seeing him (before surgery) is the happiest moment in my life. He stopped to look at us for just a few seconds, but that is enough for me. I want him to recover soon and stay with us forever,'' she said.

Many people flocked to the statue of Prince of Songkhla, the King's father, and uttered in one voice their wish for the King's recovery. They also sang several times the song, Sadudee Maha Raja, in praise of the monarch.

''I cried because the King looked very thin. I don't know how to help him. I just ask the sacred Three Gems to bring good health to him,'' said Niyom Lertsawang, a Bangkok resident.

Across the country, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Christians met for prayers at 5pm, about an hour after surgery began, to wish the King well.

Several religious gatherings marked the day. In Tak province, more than 200 Muslims congregated to ask blessings for the King. In Yala, another 1,000 Muslims congregated, as did many others in Songkhla. The Chularajmontri called on masjids to organise well-wishing books and prayers. The Catholic Council of Thailand said the King was in all Catholics' prayers.

In Phitsanulok, more than 500 people meditated, asking in particular for the spirit of King Naresuan to protect the King and speed his recovery.

In Ubon Ratchatani, more than 100 people dressed in white in a gesture of sacrifice. Monks chanted all 15 chapters of the Chinna Banchorn prayers so the King may triumph over the odds nine times. In Ayutthaya, at least 20,000 people are expected to converge at the town hall today to light candles and ask the 33 kings of the Ayutthaya period to help speed the King's recovery."

Burmese Refugee Camp

2006-07-28T14:33:00.000+07:00

Pictures: Top refugee camp main street; school; school children; mother and child.

Cavelle recently travelled to Mae Sot to visit a Burmese refugee camp there. Our last blog explained a little of the situation. Much could be said about the visit, but one event in particular stands out.

Over the course of her time in Mae Sot Cavelle had the opportunity to meet with a group of high level pro-democracy leaders. They had all journeyed for days to make the appointment and risked their lives to do so. This was not, however, the first time these people had encountered danger. All of them have spent many years in jail simply because they believe the country deserves better than a un-elected, brutal military junta. One gentleman's story was particularly impactful. He had endured prison for 15 years. He had been starved and tortured and yet when given the opportunity to choose between freedom and give up his fight for democracy, he chose to remain true to the cause. The government offered him freedom if he would only agree to stop his work advocating for a free Burma. He refused and was promptly returned to prison for another four years. Since his release he has continued with his work. He has little to personally gain for his efforts. He willingly offers his adult life, his security and safety because he believes in the rightness of his convictions.

The temptation is to use his example as only a personal challenge. Certainly, it's worth asking if we would do the same for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and you can be sure we have done some personal soul-searching. But, if we only use this story for personal reflection--as worthy as that is--we may forget him. And I don't want to forget him, nor the hundreds of others who tonight sleep in a cold cell, or stand guard in a jungle outpost, or the hundreds of thousands who remain hungry because those who have been entrusted to care for the security and well-being of a nation, can do little more terrorize their own people.

The question has been asked what can we do? We are gathering information to better answer that question. We believe the our government would value seeing more support from Canadians in any effort they make to deal with this issue. We will confirm what avenues are best for those who wish to support the people of Burma. We realize there are many needs in our world, and this is only one--but for us, it is one need that keeps on coming back into our lap. So we pray and look for realistic ways to show our neighbours that they are not forgotten.

Who is My Neighbour?

2006-07-22T06:34:00.000+07:00

Today Cavelle, along with Melissa two of our Thai staff and a Canadian Embassy official travel to Mae Sot in Thailand. They will visit a refugee camp on Monday, and spend considerable time with individuals and agencies helping Burmese suffering under the militray government in Burma (also known as Myanmar). Burma is Thailand's neighbour, and the relative prosperity here makes it easy to forget about the atrocities happening next door. But unspeakable things do happen and deserve to be spoken. The consequence of the situtation in Burma means in Thailand close to 1 million Burmese live here legally and illegally trying to escape the hell of their home. Hundreds of thousands of these people live in refugee camps on Thailands borders. They have been there for over 20 years now with no hope of going home. Burma is not the only needy country in our broken world, but for us it is our neighbour and the situation there often weighs heavily on our heart. We have included and excerpt from a recent Op/ed piece in the Bangkok Post by Adolfo Perez Esquivel and Peter Gabrial to give you a little insight into what is happening today in Burma.

"Today, the world finds itself at odds with another brutal military junta in the Southeast Asian country of Burma, which continues to incarcerate Aung San Suu Kyi, the world's only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

Suu Kyi's "crime" is being loved by the people of Burma. Her political party won 82 per cent of the seats in parliament in Burma's last democratic election, only to have the results annulled by the ruling military junta. She has remained locked up for 10 of the past 17 years. Many people of Burma fare much worse, suffering the most severe forms of torture.

The situation for ethnic minorities in the country is even worse. The military regime rules by brute force, oppressing and relocating hundreds of thousands of ethnic minorities who stand in opposition to its rule. Two thousand eight hundred villages have been burned down or otherwise destroyed in eastern Burma alone, some repeatedly, to force ethnic minorities to move to military-controlled areas. As a result, there are over one million Burmese refugees, and over half a million internally displaced people (IDPs). The situation for both groups is dire. For example, refugees like Naanh Hla (not her real name), a Shan woman, who was 16 years old and seven months pregnant when 10 Burmese soldiers kidnapped and killed her husband and gang-raped her to the point that she gave birth prematurely alone in the jungle, or Naw Paw Paw, who recounted to Burma Issues - a group working with the human-rights organisation WITNESS - how she lost four of her six children, two on the same day, over the course of many years fleeing through the jungle.

In the past four months, the worst attacks in a decade have displaced almost 20,000 people. Yet the junta continues to cut off international access to areas of ongoing conflict, which has precluded aid to IDPs, a violation of international humanitarian law. Even in Sudan, humanitarian agencies are permitted access; not so in eastern Burma.

If caught by the military, IDPs are often either killed on the spot or forced to become porters or labourers with little or no pay. Female porters are often systematically raped at night by officers and soldiers. Forced labourers are often required to build roads for the military, making it near impossible for them to grow their own crops.

The junta military also targets children. According to Human Rights Watch, there are up to 70,000 children conscripted into the army, more than any other country in the world. Some conscripted "soldiers" are as young as eleven." Please remember Cavelle and her team over the weekend, and please remember Burma.

Welcome Melissa George!

2006-07-15T12:12:00.000+07:00

This past week we welcomed our newest partner--Melissa George. Melissa is from North Vancouver, BC and is a Missionary in Training apprentice with the BC/Yukon District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. This is a three year program designed to train young leaders for long-term missionary service. Melissa has spent the past year working at the District Office with Next Generation Ministries, and now will be based here in Bangkok and focusing on New Generation Ministries at Jaisamarn Church. She will also help in hosting teams who come to Thailand. On Monday she begins to formally learn the Thai language. If you wish to keep up with events in Melissa's life you can check out her blog at the following address: www.xanga.com/melissageorge We're really excited to have Melissa with us so please keep her in mind when you're praying for Thailand!

Matthews Photoblog July 14, 2006

2006-07-15T12:07:00.000+07:00

Here's a couple of recent photos of Matthew. One from the Bangkok Zoo and the other at home. You can guess which one is which.

Some of Our Teammates in Thailand

2006-07-06T14:47:00.000+07:00

Some of the people we work with. From top to bottom Andrew from Newfoundland, will be teaching English in Takua Pa, South Thailand. Andrew is also a musician, loves ice cream and a good guy to watch the World Cup with; Next pic:Oum is our children's pastor. Oum will be one of our first Thai cross-cultural missionaries when she goes to Nepal later this year; Next pic: Ly-Mei, is Cavelle's full-time assistant heading up ERDO projects in the south. She is incredibly organized and efficient. She also has a weakness for mashed potatoes. Next pic: Tim, Yoke and Nuch from New Generation Ministry. Tim works with youth, Yoke with Campus. Nuch is our former Campus Intern and now works with Cavelle assisting with her embassy work. All three have been to Canada.

So what's Cavelle up to?

2006-07-06T14:23:00.000+07:00

So what's Cavelle up to? I mean besides chasing after Matthew, being pregnant with another and trying to make sure Peter says on the straight and narrow. Well, she balances a few things: on behalf of ERDO--Emergency, Relief and Development Overseas--the humanitarian arm of the PAOC, Cavelle continues to oversee staff and projects in Thailand. This includes the monthly sponsorship of 70 tsunami-impacted children in two schools, the set-up and operating of a daycare on Phi Phi Island, and responding to new disasters, like the recent flooding and mudslide in northern Thailand that buried dozens of people and left 100,000 people homeless.

As well Cavelle sits on the Board of the Jaisamarn Foundation. This is a foundation linked to our local church. Their current project is building a senior's residential complex for the elderly on land donated to the church outside of Bangkok. Cavelle is involved in helping to raise over 1 million CAD budget for the project, as well as assist with the project oversight.

Finally, Cavelle is one of the key people fronting the Canadian government's effort to support peace and reconciliation in the deep south of Thailand. While the situation is not one that gets a lot of press in Canada, an on-going insurgency by separatist forces in the predominantly Muslim south of Thailand, has led to the deaths of about 1400 people in the last 18 months, most at the hands of the police and terrorist groups. Cavelle is busy travelling to the area on a regular basis and working with local groups and concerned citizens to come up with ideas to help those living in the area. The issues are complex; the majority Muslims in the area feel ostracized by the Thai government and treated as second class citizens; many do not speak the Thai language but speak a Malay dialect; corruption among government officials is epidemic; poverty is rampant and basic needs among the people such as clean water and access to medical care is lacking; hundreds of Muslim people have been apprehended under Thai military law and locked up in local detention centres without access to legal assistance and due process (and many would argue without evidence to support their crime); still hundreds others have disappeared without any knowledge of what has happened to them. There are no easy solutions to these difficulties but Cavelle is working with many local people to try to organize community based responses and implement local solutions.

What's interesting is that Cavelle has the opportunity to meet some the most significant Islamic leaders in Thailand. As a traditional missionary this would never happen. Very few of these individuals have ever met a Christian. Any opinion of Christianity would largely be shaped by their view of Western military action in the Middle East. So while Cavelle is not going to get on a soapbox and preach to these leaders, her life does speak about the kindness and grace of God. Please pray for Cavelle as she builds bridges with the people of Thailand's deep south.

Matthew's Photoblog June 2006

2006-06-21T23:48:00.000+07:00

Here's some photos of Matthew over the past few months. From top to bottom:
Matthew with new friend at a wedding reception; at the pool; first day of school; in his wetsuit; White Rock Beach, BC; Whistler Mountain; at Singapore Zoo; in the mop bucket at home

Bangkok Celebrations

2006-06-19T11:09:00.000+07:00

These are a couple of beautiful pictures of the Grand Palace area of Bangkok during the historic 60th anniversary of the King's ascension to the this month.

2006-06-18T16:05:00.000+07:00

ADVENTURES IN THE MOUNTAINS

This New Year’s was as unique as we’ve ever had. First of all, as a family we didn’t celebrate together. Instead, I (Peter) took Cavelle’s brother, Roger and niece, Deanne along a short ministry trip with about 25 Thai young people to the far north of Thailand. The destination was two extremely remote hill tribe villages in Mae Hong Song a mountainous province bordering Burma. One of our churches has been working with these communities for some time now, and they asked if we could help them out.

The first lacked running water, electricity and, of course, the beloved Starbucks that most of our city kids have come to know and love. Everyone lived in basic bamboo huts. The temperature was cold--+5º C overnight, but warm hearts welcomed us. This Karen village was 100% Christian. We enjoyed an evening of worship, songs, some games sharing from the Word and prayer. By morning we were back on the road to the next village, a few kilometres away if we were to hike, but hours by vehicle. This community had Catholic roots, but few had ever come to a place of putting their trust in Christ. We walked around the village introduced ourselves, and invited the community to an evening outreach. Much of the community came that night unsure of what to expect, but by the evenings close about 20 stood to indicate their desire to turn from their old life and put their complete trust in Jesus Christ.

MISSION IN THE TSUNAMI-ZONE

In the middle of March we brought a team of eight Vanguard College students and staff to Takua Pa, the region hardest hit by the tsunami. The team had two objectives: one, to serve the local church by ministry at the church by conduct an English camp at the local high school where a small group of students have put their trust in Christ This camp was another step in strengthening the relationship between the church and school and. The second objective was to assist local missionaries (and members of our church in the south) in building access bridges to a remote Burmese village in the jungle. The bridges will lead to a new ‘tree house’ school for a community that has no access to education. They endured lots of heat and torrential rain in completing construction on a bridge, but the fruit was not just a bridge--on the final day of their ministry a gentleman from Ban Nam Khem, a family member of another new convert decided to put his trust in Christ.

CAMPUS MISSIONARY IN TRAINING

Every Thursday I met with our initial group of Campus Missionary Interns. Yoke is already a Campus Pastor, Oun is a full-time university student, and Nud has dedicated a year to service and ministry training. Each week the interns have homework related to a program of study called “Bible-Centred Leadership” by Bobby Clinton. We talk about specific Campus ministry issues; personal mentorship issues, and explored the differences between Western and Thai university students. We also had guests: Ian and Heather Clemons from Michigan, former Campus Ministers at MiT in Boston; Pastor Mark Running from Alberta and Daniel Sauve from St. Fancis Xavier in Nova Scotia. These provided for ‘roundtable’ opportunities where our guests could become orientated to nature of Campus Ministry in Thailand and share the vision as well. At the same time our interns were encouraged by the testimony of our guests as they shared about what God did in their lives during the university years. During the week Yoke, Nud and Oun are busy on campus meeting students and leading small groups. Just this past week we had the fun experience of baptising two students in our bathtub!

ON THE HOME FRONT

Two big developments have happened since we last wrote. The first is, well, how should we say…Cavelle is pregnant! We are looking forward to Matthew having a sibling by early September. The first fours months of the pregnancy were very difficult for Cavelle. She was very sick much of the time, but it seems that the worst has passed. Knowing that another child is on the way we realized that we needed to do something about our housing. Our home was large enough, but with the living spaced spread over several lessons and 47 stairs, we had trouble imagining what it would be like to chase Matthew up and down the stairs with another child in tow. We also were spending 2-3 hours a day in traffic as much of our life is downtown. So after a lot of prayer and looking at lots of different options we decided on a smaller, but modern two bedroom apartment downtown close to the subway, our office, Matthew’s nursery and the church. We are thrilled with the place. The name of the street means cool weather, and really, with all the trees it feels about 5º cooler than our former location, and for a pregnant person that’s a nice benefit. We are two hundred metres from our office which we have set up in another apartment nearby. This apartment will also be home to a new face in Bangkok. Melissa George is coming from BC to work with us for the next two years as a Missionary in Training.

As for Matthew, well he is a very busy, excitable little boy. He is learning new words, love to kiss ‘good night’ and very happy with his lot life. One of his favourite things is to swim. He loves to jump into the deep end, but only if someone is there to catch him. We have a lovely city park nearby with a great play area for kids, so he’s delighted about that. He also enjoys his mornings in nursery school and of course Winnie-the-Pooh and Barney are faithful friends.

Welcome to the thaidoves blog

2006-05-07T06:37:00.000+07:00

Welcome to our blog--the Thaidoves. For those who know us, this is our latest effort in trying to communicate in a more timely matter about life and ministry in Thailand. For those who just happened upon this blog, Peter and Cavelle are missionaries working in Thailand. We're from Canada and have now made Thailand home for four years. The little guy in the picture is Matthew. He's 2 1/2 and tends to get a lot of pictures taken of him. He's waiting for the arrival of his brother to be born in September. The picture was taken in the south of Thailand in Phangna Bay.

Our plan is to make weekly contributions to our, usually with pictures as well, in order to give readers a better idea of what we are doing in Thailand and what we are involved in. We will also include stories of note from Thailand and Southeast Asia. Please feel free to flag this page so you can come back to it regularly and get updates! We hope you find it interesting!

Peter and Cavelle