School Begins (2) Nathan's View

School started nice and early when I woke up at 6:30 as Dustin jumped out of the top bunk so that he could work out before school. I got up, ate breakfast, showered, and got into my school uniform. We loaded up into the car I couldnt wait to hang out with people (mostly guys that I play airsoft with) at school. I said hello to some people that I knew then headed up to my form (the form is the class where teachers tell us news, welcome new students ect.... we have it every morning). We were in our form for a really long time with nothing to do. A guy asked me if I like sports I told him, "Yeah, but I mostly play adventure sports (snowboarding, wakeboarding, airsoft, paintball, mountain biking, swimming, archery, hunting, bowhunting ect...) A guy's eyes next to me light up as soon as I said airsoft. I asked him if he played and he said yes. He started telling me about his equipment, gear, gun, ect... In the end it turned out that I had played with him several times and that we both had been playing airsoft for a really long time. (me five years, him three). I found out that there were lots of guys in my grade that love airsoft along with several people that I already knew. I was even asked to play on Saturday with them but I had already played two times last week and that's plenty (according to mum and dad..... lol if you know what I mean).

I went to my maths class (yes it's called maths) we have a pretty cool teacher. As soon as we said we were Americans he wanted to know if we had ever shot a gun. I didn't know what to expect after Dustin answered him saying that we had on many, many different occasions. My heart pumping I was getting ready for war (it's happened before with teachers) the hunter (me) vs. anit-hunter. He said in awe in front of the whole class "In Australia, (he's australian) it's really hard to get guns (permits ect...), I've always wanted to get one but I haven't been able too yet. I really want to go hunting." I almost fell out of the chair (how cool is this school so far? I mean come on, these guys are tight). He is the coolest man in Regents so far (our school's name) he is a great maths teacher. He wants us to work neat and do well. Perfect.

We then went to ICT class (computer class) the teacher was a young guy (good sign). He was telling us that he wanted us to design a power point slide of what we liked (hobbies, sports, food ect...). That's easy and fun. We were all working on this when the dreaded ICT teacher walks in... (My heart stopped I couldn't breathe). She tells the whole class in her extremely annoying way, "I need six guys to come to my class I only have one student at the moment" I almost ran out of the room to "use" the bathroom lol, it's a very good tactic. She started walking around the class with her eyes scanning the room looking for her victim that she would devour with tons of homework and terrible instructions later in the year. I looked down not breathing I motioned for my new friend (Peir from Denmark) and Dustin to do the same. We didn't move as she walked past us and picked the remaining guys she needed. None of us were chosen (SCORE!!!!). I was so happy I thought I would cry.. No, I'm joking.

Today we only had two classes (not including our form) so it's still hard to tell about Regents it'll be cool though. Ill try to post more tomorrow.
-Nathan N.

School Begins

Today was the first day of school for the boys at their new school here in Thailand, The Regent's School of Pattaya. The boys were understandably somewhat apprehensive this morning. Regent's is about 3X larger than the American International School in this area and it's a British school. After much, much prayer and research we decided to switch the boys over this year. We felt like it would be better for our guys for several reasons:

1. It's close in proximity to our home, they no longer have to endure a 40-50 minute bus ride. Ethan never felt comfortable on the bus with a driver that speaks no English and refused to ride it unless his brothers were onboard, that sometimes entailed him waiting an extra 1-2 hours for them to be done with after school activities. I am now their school bus driver as the start time conflicts with when Marko needs to be at the refinery! I will make the 10 minute drive both morning and afternoon to transport them. Exxon had offered to buy us a second vehicle for use here. This summer we purchased a used SUV from a teacher that was leaving Thailand and now I'm putting my Thai license to good use. I can get to the new school without using any major roads only navigating the back roads.





2. This school has approximately 1000 students, grades K-12 compared to the dropping enrollment at ISE of about 300 students. This year would have been a transition year for all of them anyway with Dustin and Nathan entering High School and Ethan beginning Jr. High, we felt like it would be a good time to make the change feeling that Dustin and Nathan would probably both benefit with some distance between them within the school environment, plus the larger student body enables more opportunities-more resources...

3. Dustin and Nathan were frustrated that ISE only had a marching band, music teacher and were impressed that Regents has 11 full-time music teachers vs. 2 at the American campus. They feel they will have more musical opportunities.

4. We have several really dear, Christian friends already at Regent's and were excited they could attend school with them.

5. We had some slightly disturbing things happen at ISE last year. Most of you will remember the boy/girl week field-trip? (Regent's separates the girls and boys for their overnight trips.) when Dustin and Nathan had to break up a fight? Nathan also had to break up a fight in the cafeteria last year and was threatened by the offender that he would bring a gun to school and take out Nathan. We felt the incident was poorly handled. Nathan was called into the office and asked, "What would you like us to do to the student?"

6. Most of you also know about the boys' sex education class too. We were given no warning the class was going to be taught and they didn't separate boys and girls. They discussed very explicit material in a mixed gender class including taking anonymous questions. We were told we were the first parents that had ever complained about the class contents being taught to a mixed class?! I would be way too embarrassed to even type out some of the questions that were discussed in this class. So disheartening.

7. Finally, we didn't feel the boys were challenged academically last year and are looking for a higher standard of knowledge. I compared IB test results, college offers and interviewed several previous ISE students that had transferred in previous years.

Taking all of that into consideration we felt that it would be best to transfer the students. The first day went okay-the food in the cafeteria is a lot better, already a good sign in the boys' eyes!!

I'm including pictures of the boys in their new school uniforms and our school bus!

Friends

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Yesterday I had lunch with 4 of my bestest friends in Thailand to celebrate Carole's birthday. I just love each one of these ladies-my cup overflows!

Planting Seeds

A friend recently shared this video and I want to pass it along to you all. I feel a great responsibility to be mindful of the work that God has for us here in Thailand. I know it is no mistake that we have been moved to Thailand and I pray that God would help me be faithful to share my faith and always be ready to give an answer of the hope that is within me.

I'm excited that my housekeeper, Nok and I are reading through the Bible together. With the new Thai/English Bible that I purchased on board the Doulos we are learning together. We had initially agreed that we would start in Mark but she wanted to start at the beginning, so we are in Genesis.(Right away she wanted to know how to pronounce Genesis, she learned several things about our English 'G' yesterday) It will be a slow process, our goal is to read and discuss one chapter a week. Nok is reading the Thai side then the English side to better her English skills. She told me that she read Chapter 1 three times on Monday evening. We had a very profitable talk, she really has no knowledge or belief of the beginning but agrees that there must be a God, "look at all this" she commented as she points in our yard at the trees, grass...we know that even the creation speaks of a creator. "Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are are perceived in the things that God has made." Romans 1:20

We weren't even officially discussing the 1st chapter, we've set aside time on Friday mornings for that. But already yesterday we had a talk about God or PaJaou in Thai(I will learn so much too!), using His name in vain, prayer-she prays a set prayer every night before going to bed, she couldn't explain to me what it meant but told me that only when she goes to the Wat for special ceremonies does she ask for personal requests. I explained to her that prayer is a constant thing for me, that God tells us to pray without ceasing-that as we have been talking I prayed, "Lord, help me know how to better share your Word with Nok and be a good teacher for her." That I have a relationship with God through Jesus and can talk to Him whenever and wherever....Nok can not put into words that I can understand 'who' she prays to, if she know who she is praying to.

What a great thing-Nok is so open to learning, it really is a miracle in itself that she can read and has the understanding of English that she does. She is so eager, pray that God will use me and help me to teach Nok. I love Nok, what a blessing she is to me and I know that it is no mistake that God placed her in my life here. I think this is my biggest 'job' here (besides taking care of Marko and the boys), to live out Christ and be ready to give an answer of the hope within me to Nok and our driver, Songkran. I count it a privilege to live in Thailand and being used to spread his gospel here in a small way. Pray for me that I will be faithful to plant the seed knowing that God will make it grow! 1 Corinthians 3:6

The Doulos

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I'm so glad that we returned to Thailand in time to visit the Doulos ship that has been docked in Bangkok for almost a month. You can look up more about the ship at mvdoulos.org and all they do but we have a special interest in this particular ship. Years ago when the triplets were small, a little girl of 8 yrs-Jana Dahn would come to my house every Saturday morning as a mother's helper. What a blessing she was to me-helping feed and care for our little guys, cleaning, doing lots of laundry...as the years passed she began to take on more responsibility even eventually babysitting the whole clan by herself. Jana has now grown up and lives in Ohio with her husband, Matt and their two children and one-on-the-way. Ironically last week she was lamenting the fact that she needs to begin some homeschooling with Addie her 3 yr. old and I just marvel at how the Lord has prepared her for this task many years ago. She helped me begin introducing letters and such when our triplets were 3 and 4 years old many years ago. Jana is such a natural, wonderful mother and I admire her and all she is doing with her children.

Now how does all that fit with the Doulos? Jana served two years on the Doulos after graduating from High School and met Matt on-board that very ship. We have supported that ministry some over the years and it was just the coolest thing to get to visit the ship in person and experience a little of what Jana's life must have been like on the deck of the Doulos. Ehtan commented that with his claustrophobia he wouldn't be able to handle the close quarters! She served many hours in the laundry room-a most humbling, arduous task that was critical for the crew of 300 as they travelled all over the world with their extensive book shop. The Laundry room also proved training ground for the other jobs she later had while serving on the Doulos.

Dustin and Nathan participated in the Inside/Out program all day Saturday for High School youth. There was a time of worship for the 35 youth from the surrounding area involved. Dustin said no one was there to play the piano or guitar so they volunteered to lead the worship time! How great that God is giving them opportunities to serve Him using the gifts He has given them.

The Doulos team spent time teaching them and equipping them to witness to the Thai people and then they had to go out on the boat and practice with an interpretor-way outside their comfort zone for sure! While we were on-board there was a constant stream of Thai people coming to peruse the book store. The book store had a wide range of material at such reasonable prices. I was happy to purchase a Thai/English Bible where the verses are side by side, that should come in handy here.

I had contacted Jana before we left for the Doulos and she asked me to contact the Govender family-Seelan, Carlien and baby Tessa from South Africa that are currently on staff with the Doulos who she had served with years ago. I prepared a bag with cookies, CD's and other small gifts and surprised them on-board. Carlien was very emotional and thankful for such a small gesture-maybe she was most touched by the hug from Jana via me! Seelan was very busy preparing for the Royal Thai Princess' visit on Monday. In fact the boys had to spend time painting the outside of the boat yesterday while they were guests in preparation for the big event. All hands were on deck spiffing up the 95 year old ship and the surrounding area too. Many of the shanty's and shacks close by had been painted as well. The visit all stemmed from a letter that Seelan had written to the Royal family, he should be very proud indeed! such great exposure for the ministry ship.

The Doulos does so much more than just the floating book store, every region they visit they send teams out into the surrounding communities to work alongside other ministries already in progress or to do community projects, like building homes...check out their website for more information. What a great day we had aboard the Doulos!

Home in Thailand

We arrived back 'home' in Thailand early Monday morning. It was good to be back with Mark and in our own beds. It really feels like 'home' here after one year. In fact Mark and I were talking about the fact that we were initially told that we would be in this assignment 2-4 years, we both agreed that we would be sad if we only had one more year here, the first year has flown by so quickly and we still have much to do here in Southeastern Asia.

We were all incredibly jet-lagged, Nathan more so than the rest of us. On Tuesday he went to bed at 4 pm and didn't wake up until 6 am the next day! We were tired and just now on Friday feel like we are back on Thai time.

We came back just 'a-sweatin'! It is hot here and will take a few weeks for us to get readjusted. We were cold most of the time we were in the states with central air-conditioning everywhere but had become somewhat used to it by the end of the summer. It has been so hot and dry here, I'm posting a picture of our boo-a (pond), it's almost all dried up. I hope the catfish survive until rainy season begins next month.
What a great visit we had to the states. I want to thank each of you that hosted us this past summer. We had such a wonderful summer and thanks to each of you that cooked for us, changed sheets for us, travelled to see us, rearranged plans for us...We love you and are so thankful that we have a home away from 'home'!

Birthday Party in the US

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Our last two weeks in the US

Our time in the US is quickly coming to a close. We fly out of Lubbock early Saturday morning flying through Seoul, Korea finally arriving 'home' around 2:30 am Monday morning. I am not looking forward to that long flight, as always we would appreciate your prayers for safe travels.

Last week we returned to my parent's house with a mission in mind, to rebuild their backyard fence in three days. We did it! It was a close call but we did it! Mark started his return to Thailand on Friday and we knew we had to finish the bulk of the work before our supervisor left the country. We were excited about the opportunity to be a blessing to Mom and Dad but also the valuable teaching time for the boys. Mark is a great teacher and the boys learned how to lay a plum line, use a drill, work with cement...It was a great! It also gave the boys a great sense of accomplishment about a job well done.

We saw Mark off Friday afternoon in the Amarillo airport and I'm happy to report he is back in Thailand safely and everything seems to be in order at our home there. The boys and I spent the weekend with our friends the Merki's, what a treat. Dan and Shelley's hospitality is always over the top and this was no exception-thank you so much for the comfy beds, most delicious meals and hours of meaningful conversation. The boys had looked forward to seeing Cole all summer. The had lots of fun on the lake, toodling around in the golf-cart, playing flashlight tag, and making music together.

We're back in Clovis until we return to Thailand on Saturday. We are completing the finishing touches on the fence, thinking about packing, doing last minute shopping and starting to dread the good-byes. It feels a little like living in limbo, I'm starting to emotionally disconnect from here and starting to set my mind on Thailand. I'm feeling a little sad about leaving but think we will all be fine once we return and thinking about learning to be content wherever the Lord has us.

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