READING HAS BEGUN

Reading has begun. Each reader usually comes twice per week for one hour each session. Most of these readers have never read from the Bible before. When we tell them that we will be reading from the book of Luke, they don't really get the picture. They don't know who Jesus is. While most of our students are college students, we each also read with some professional adults. Our students enjoy seeing photoes from our home and they also share picture of their families and things of interest as well. Ple feels she has a lot to learn about English.





Wirhrt, Gary's student, is a sister to one of the christians here. She works in the area and is a new student to this program.





Helen's pictured student knows English well. Ying is anxious to learn how to pronounce her words better. She comes prepared with the answers in her book at each meeting.




Nae, Joanne's student, graduated from RAM University this year. We were able to attend her graduation party. Nae has brought friends to the center to begin reading. She wants to increase both for her English skills and to increase her Bible knowledge. We pray that she will also want to commit to Christ.



Kathryn Miller teaches a Beginner English classes at the Christian Center (RCC) every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening from 5 to 7. We have been joining that class to add a few more English speakers with different accents to the mix. Kathryn is from Texas, Norrises from Kansas and Nadings from Minnesota. Lidya Robinson, an intern from Let's Start Talking, also helps with the class. We and the students really enjoy the class, the interaction and do a lot of laughing.

FINE EATING

As in the past, we are enjoying the food in Thailand. It appears that few people eat in their homes, unless they carry in food. There are vendors everywhere on the streets. Sometimes it is difficult to walk down the streets because of all the vendors. The photo here shows a vendor that sets up very close to the center where we do our reading. She sells either rice or egg noodles with chicken and your choice of vegetables. She puts broth in a small plastic bag and the noodles, chicken, and vegies in another bag, fastened with a rubber band. You can carry that with you. This soup costs us 25 baht (about 85 cents each). It is quite tasty. This is a very common meal for Thais.

Fruits and vegetables abound. This is a photo of ramputant is an unusual fruit that is in season now. You open it up and peel off the soft hairy skin and it is a tasty sweet fruit. We eat Thai food most all of the time. It is very good and cheap to eat. I wish that all of you could experience the vendors and the busy streets. It makes me thankful for the tranquility of country living.



Last evening Joanne had a craving for American Food. We went to McDonalds which is only about a block from this center. Our eating needs are being met.

Yai and Nong prepared a meal for us and the students at RAMCC.

We were thrilled to be greeted by our hosts at the new Bangkok airport. We always try to pack 'light', but as you can see that didn't really happen. We wondered if they brought enough vehicles to handle all of our luggage. Fortunately, much of this will stay in Bangkok and perhaps the trip home will be 'lighter'.

We arrived in Bangkok at 1 A.M. in the morning local time. By the time we got out of the airport and to our apartments it was 3 A.M. We got up and had a late breakfast.

Saturday night we took a taxi to the Watcherapon Church. We travel half way around the world to hear a farm boy from Kansas preach in Thai. Loren and Penny Hollingsworth are in Bangkok at this time. We were glad we had earphones and an English translator. Loren and Penny are doing great.


We have good living quarters and are very grateful to those who worked to make our stay here comfortable, and thankful to God for a safe trip.

Monday, January 19, we met our new readers, played a game and talked. We look forward to reading sessions beginning tomorrow.


Tonight we experienced Bangkok culture with

RAM University students! They asked our LST Team to accompany them to supper. We walked several blocks down a crowded, vendor filled street to a Night Market Outdoor Eatery where we had a choice of barbequed pork with rice or pork in soup with Morning Glory vegetable over a rice wonton-like noodle. Much to Gary’s delight, they had ice cold cola, AND a metal cup of ICE! We are enjoying the Christian Students that come to the RAM Center to “hang out.” God has blessed us with a wonderful group of people here, and we feel, that with prayer much good will come of the time spent here by our LST Team.

Getting Ready

The Nadings and Norrises are busy preparing to go to Bangkok, Thailand. We are looking forward to renewing relationships that were made 3 years ago when we were there. We will be building new relationships with college students at RAM University as well. Preparations are as stressful as traveling. There are many questions??? What do we need to take? What will our living arrangements be while we are there? How many people will want to read with us? How will our social events go? We are thankful for all of the support that we have received from our friends and relatives. Thanks to all of you.