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We hosted our church members that were here over the holidays for a Christmas Eve service. I'm thankful for these friends that fill the void of being so far from all of you at this time of year!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Eve 2010
We hosted our church members that were here over the holidays for a Christmas Eve service. I'm thankful for these friends that fill the void of being so far from all of you at this time of year!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christmas Can Make Me Cry
There are so many mixed feeling wrapped up in the Christmas season and sometimes it does make me cry. I cry because I miss Abbie, Dusty, Granddaddy, Uncle Quenten and this will be the first Christmas without Nanaw. I think of all the soldiers that are away from their families this Christmas fighting for me and you and for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. I especially lift up Amber as she is away from her husband this Christmas and has two little ones in Germany. I have a new friend here, Laure' and this is her first Christmas away from her two daughters and her 6 grandchildren. I don't know that it ever get easier to be away from family at Christmas. I will miss you Mom and Dad. I miss our special Christmas times with Mike, Kristy, Hunter and Avery. I'm sad that we can't have a Northcutt Christmas. I'll miss Lavon and her family, especially watching Jaelee grow and change, seeing Christmas through her eyes. I do miss home at Christmas.
It does make me cry that it required God sending His son as a babe for me to eventually die because of the sin in my life. I truly am amazed that God would think that you and I would be worth that. I love this song because sometimes Christmas makes me cry too.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Christmas Celebrations
The Christmas season has afforded us many opportunities to share the 'Good News' of Christmas in some special and unique ways this year. Mark's refinery has an Esso Sports Club with numerous types of clubs-badminton,tennis,football,Buddhist....One of Mark's engineers expressed interest in starting a Christian club. Mark fully supported it and volunteered to 'kick-off' the initial meeting with a Christmas celebration. They invited all employees to come for a free lunch and hear the true meaning of Christmas. Mark said 40 people came, including his dear, sweet, secretary-Suchada. A pastor from Bangkok came and presented the meaning of Christmas. Remember there are only 3 known Christians in the entire refinery, including Marko!
One of the ladies in my Monday Bible Study group suggested we honor our drivers and maids with a Christmas luncheon and also share with them why we celebrate Christmas. What a great idea!! These employees do so much to make our lives easier here-they make sure we are safe on the roads, transport our children, clean for us, interpret for us when needed, help us find our ways in this foreign land...It was so fun to hand them the printed invites and honor them with a nice Thai duck meal with fried rice with vegis and fruits. We did all the preparation and clean-up. I told Nok, "Wannee, my tum naghn." Today, no work! ''
The Thai culture is soooo respectful and mindful of social status, it is very uncomfortable for them to have the roles reversed. Most of the other maids and drivers always call their employers-Madame but Nok and Songkran call me Khun Da. They thought it was quite funny to be served by the Madams. I asked one of the Thai maids, "Tum khun loo farangs bah my?" Do you think that foreigners are crazy??? She just giggled. This was so abnormal for them. We have a Thai lady who is a faithful Christian teacher and she translated and taught for most of the program. Each of us shared something.
I decided to share the story of the missionary in India who was speaking to some Indian women in a village about the love of God and how Christians should be different. Suddenly, one of the women got up to leave, the missionary asked, "Where are you going?" She stated, "I'm going to walk to your house and talk to your maid to ask her how you are at your home." I stated that I hope that they can each see a difference in us in our cars and homes because of Christ being in us. I also tried to express how special Nok and Songkran are to our family. They both have been with us from day one here in Thailand.
I really doubted if Songkran would come. Every time we have invited him to church with us, he adamantly says, "My Boat!" or NO CHURCH. The invites had a verse on them and they were told that we would share the real meaning of Christmas with them. I also really tried to convey to him that he didn't HAVE to come but I hoped he would come. He seemed to enjoy it. At one point, I asked him, "Are you having fun." He replied, "Let's do this every week!!"
The first week of January I have a missionary team, friends of ours here that have an orphanage for Aids children coming to present a program to all the girls at the prison. On Sunday our family fellowship group will be spending the afternoon at a weekend day care sharing the love of Christ and having a 'Happy Birthday Jesus' party. God has given us many opportunities to speak of Him here. Many, many times it is the first time some of the people have even heard the name of Jesus. Oh may it be high and lifted up here in Thailand!
Please if you think of it pray for our 'work' here. Pray for Nok, Songkran and Suchada especially that we can live out Christ before them and always look for opportunities to share the saving knowledge of Him. That they will come to know Him and love Him. That they will be with us in Heaven for all eternity.
One of the ladies in my Monday Bible Study group suggested we honor our drivers and maids with a Christmas luncheon and also share with them why we celebrate Christmas. What a great idea!! These employees do so much to make our lives easier here-they make sure we are safe on the roads, transport our children, clean for us, interpret for us when needed, help us find our ways in this foreign land...It was so fun to hand them the printed invites and honor them with a nice Thai duck meal with fried rice with vegis and fruits. We did all the preparation and clean-up. I told Nok, "Wannee, my tum naghn." Today, no work! ''
The Thai culture is soooo respectful and mindful of social status, it is very uncomfortable for them to have the roles reversed. Most of the other maids and drivers always call their employers-Madame but Nok and Songkran call me Khun Da. They thought it was quite funny to be served by the Madams. I asked one of the Thai maids, "Tum khun loo farangs bah my?" Do you think that foreigners are crazy??? She just giggled. This was so abnormal for them. We have a Thai lady who is a faithful Christian teacher and she translated and taught for most of the program. Each of us shared something.
I decided to share the story of the missionary in India who was speaking to some Indian women in a village about the love of God and how Christians should be different. Suddenly, one of the women got up to leave, the missionary asked, "Where are you going?" She stated, "I'm going to walk to your house and talk to your maid to ask her how you are at your home." I stated that I hope that they can each see a difference in us in our cars and homes because of Christ being in us. I also tried to express how special Nok and Songkran are to our family. They both have been with us from day one here in Thailand.
I really doubted if Songkran would come. Every time we have invited him to church with us, he adamantly says, "My Boat!" or NO CHURCH. The invites had a verse on them and they were told that we would share the real meaning of Christmas with them. I also really tried to convey to him that he didn't HAVE to come but I hoped he would come. He seemed to enjoy it. At one point, I asked him, "Are you having fun." He replied, "Let's do this every week!!"
The first week of January I have a missionary team, friends of ours here that have an orphanage for Aids children coming to present a program to all the girls at the prison. On Sunday our family fellowship group will be spending the afternoon at a weekend day care sharing the love of Christ and having a 'Happy Birthday Jesus' party. God has given us many opportunities to speak of Him here. Many, many times it is the first time some of the people have even heard the name of Jesus. Oh may it be high and lifted up here in Thailand!
Please if you think of it pray for our 'work' here. Pray for Nok, Songkran and Suchada especially that we can live out Christ before them and always look for opportunities to share the saving knowledge of Him. That they will come to know Him and love Him. That they will be with us in Heaven for all eternity.
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Saturday, December 11, 2010
Christmas Recital
Last Wednesday night the Regent's school held their annual Christmas recital. The Northcutt boys played a big part in the ceremony. Dustin was the Master of Ceremony along with performing in the Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and Soul Band. Nathan performed in the Jazz Band and newly formed Gypsy Jazz Band. Ethan sang in the school choir. We were so proud of them. They practice with each particular band by giving up their full lunch time. Dustin has a lunch committment every day of the week along with going to school 3 days a week for early basketball training. Nathan goes in early every Thursday for swimming. Ethan swims and plays basketball two days a week. He also just earned a part in the Spring musical, The Wizard of Oz. We're proud of them!
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Monday, December 6, 2010
Fall 2010
We've been busy this fall season with music programs, habitat for humanity building project, celebrating the King's 83rd birthday at the Thai school I volunteer at, and a 3 day holiday in Hua Hin, Thailand-just Mark, Ethan and I because Dustin and Nathan have been gone for 4 days trekking in the jungle of Thailand. They have already earned their Bronze International Award and now they are working on earning the Silver award. One portion of the requirements is a 4 day trekking trip, carrying all their provisions including their water, sleeping in the open air, kayaking... Ten boys and two sponsors are making the trip, not only are they doing it this holiday break, they have to do it all again at a later day. Two trips are required for the Silver award, along with many service hours, learning a new skill among other requirements.
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