Holiday Continued

On Friday we had a smooth 90 minute ride in the speedboat to Phi Phi islands. Such a beautiful, remote setting, a group of islands that have been made popular by movies such as the James Bond Goldfinger and Leonardo DiCaprio's Beach but also the terrible tsunami that devastated the area 4 years ago. I tried not to mention that earlier, didn't want the boys or Mom to worry. We were in a very private resort on the Northeast side of the island and the only reminders of the tsunami were the tsunami evacuation route and the tsunami memorial. It's amazing to me that everything could be rebuilt so quickly in such a remote place.

I just love the whole tropical island vacation-being met at the pier with lavender scented washcloths, leis and a refreshing pineapple drink. It was the beginning of a very relaxing, enjoyable vacation. Because of our inconvenience of being delayed by the weather the resort bumped us up to beach side bungalows-Wow! what a treat! We arrived on Friday of Easter weekend, before leaving I had tried to find a church on-line to attend on Sunday-no can do! We were told the island is Muslim and there are no Christian churches but we know that WE are the church, so Easter 2009 on Phi Phi had a church! When we arrived the lady assisting us with check-in had cross earrings on and I asked if she was a Christian, she was. Don't you just love 'coincidences' like that? She told me she was from the Philippians and had been working on the island for 3 months and had not been able to find any type of fellowship to attend anywhere on the small island. I invited her to worship with us on Sunday but she had to work. It was great to see her throughout our stay and Rose would be a great addition to a church start-up if anyone is feeling led to plant a church on a beautiful, exotic island in Thailand?!

On Friday afternoon we took advantage of a sunset snorkeling/diving trip. Nathan completed his diving certification through school only 2 weeks before we departed. The tide was low and we snorkeled right on top of the beautiful, coral reef. We saw many vibrant, tropical fish of all colors. Purple starfish, Purple sea-anemones, puffer fish, a few eel, lion fish.... Nathan at the deeper levels caught sight of a couple of sharks over the weekend along with some octopus. What an incredible blessing to get to witness so much of God's beauty in the sea, we are thankful.

On Saturday our Clarkson friends joined us. We were so grateful they arrived safely after the political upheaval in our hometown of Pattaya on Friday and Saturday, we were unsure they would be able to get out for their flight. We have now taken several trips with them and it is such a great fit. Drew is 14, they have an Ethan who is 11 and Carter who is 8. Sweet boys and they all get along so well. God really answered prayers in their being here in Thailand at the same time we are. We continue to pray that God would work out all the details of their staying, Mr. Clarkson works for GM.

On Sunday we had a wonderful brunch breakfast as Phi Phi was celebrating their Songkran holiday with powder painted on faces and a lot of water splashing going on, I just looked around at all the people and wonder if none of those people have a thought of God and the crucifixion/resurrection of Christ? I am humbled and eternally thankful that I have been given the privilege to know the way, truth and risen Christ.

I had planned a scavenger hunt for the boys to collect items used for the stations of the cross. They rooted up some bread, nails, stones, gauze, candles...Mark led us in a great time of worship on the deck of our bungalow with our friends and we sang a couple of hymns-the ones we knew the words to! An Easter we will never forget.