Festival

We went downtown Chiang Mai for dinner and to have some fun at the Yee Peng Festival here. This is a beautiful tradition with sad roots. The Thais make these hot air lanterns and release them in the air containing their sins hoping that the gods will take them away. The skies are full of them! They also float banana leaves down the river with incense and money to please the river gods. Fireworks are also part of the celebration rejoicing over sins forgiven.
It was fun for us to participate with the kids telling them that our sins are already forgiven and that we are pleasing to the one and God only through Jesus. We turned it into a symbol of "the light of God (His son)" rising in His ascension to the right hand of the father.

 

Thai Thanksgiving

We spent our first Thanksgiving in Thailand by having 40 people over to our home. Half of those folks were from England! Our UK friends had never experienced Thanksgiving (Duh!) but were able to put all historical differences aside in giving thanks to God for His provision in our lives. We played "Two-hand touch American football" and a little UK football (soccer) as well.



One of the many things that we are enjoying here is the small group that we host at our house on Wednesday nights. This group of 8 couples are quickly becoming our dear friends. We are currently studying the book of 1 John and sharing our life stories with each other. The missionary community in Chiang Mai is pretty tight which really helps us all to stay connected.