Guest Writer: Helen Henry "Just a few thoughts"

Hello everyone! I have now been in Thailand for two weeks and have decided that the best way to describe Thailand is to say it is a land of contrast and spiritual darkness. There is bright color and activity all around. Noise and smells of one sort or another are everywhere. The traffic is not like anything I have ever seen in America and yet there don’t seem to be many accidents, at least I have not seen any. One thing that immediately struck me, even as I was going from the Bangkok Airport to the apartment house is that people are up and socializing all night! There seem to be places to eat on every street and of course that adds to the aroma (literally) of this country.

Lop Buri is very different from Bangkok. Here there are no taxis and less of a Western evidence although that is still all around us. The streets are more narrow and there are many more dogs which always makes a walk interesting. The people have their home and business in the same place and the door always seems to be open. This is also the way of life for Paul & Crystal. If their outer door is open, it means you can come in for a visit. But be careful, you may end up inviting them to share dinner with you! That takes a lot of energy and time out of what you think of as a schedule. And in the middle of all the “drop-in” visitors, Paul and Crystal have to study and take care of two little boys, plus the usual household duties.

Here is something interesting. Feet are considered the low point of your body. You never bring your outside shoes into the house, in fact you really should not wear shoes in the house at all. Don’t carry your outside shoes through the house either and don’t point your feet at anyone or use them as a tool as in moving something with your foot.

Gifts given to you are to be opened in private and must always be wrapped.
It is very hard to put my thoughts into words in describing this country…you have to see it to understand it. I can tell you this. I am learning of what I can do without and also how much I need the Lord to sustain me in my walk here because everything is so different from what I have always known. Don’t expect anything to be a certain way…you will be surprised at what you get. Appearances can be deceiving and yet there is positive side to everything. The smiles and giggles of the school children is universal and the generosity of the people is humbling. This is a land of spiritual darkness with spirit houses everywhere and the people living in a bondage of fear to these spirits. We know that our only hope is in the salvation of the Lord and that is the message that will free the Thais. Please continue to pray for Paul and Crystal and all the other Christian workers here in Thailand and they strive to bring this message of hope to the people.