promised pics from Paul's trip north

Hi everyone,

here are a few pics of Paul's time up north among the Karen people. These particular villages and people are not refugees in Thailand but are actually Thai citizens...I believe Paul said they've been here about two generations. They moved to Thailand due to persecution they face(d) in Burma. These villages are in a quite remote part of Thailand up steep and windy mountains with electricity and water sporadic.

Paul enjoyed, very much, sharing from God's Word with the believers in these villages.

This is Boonchu and Paul. Boonchu translated for Paul into the Karen language.

A view from the road of one of the villages and the surrounding mountains.

Paul and one of the Karen pastors. The Karen people wear a hand-woven style dress and as you can see, they graciously gave Paul a shirt and gave him two bags as well. And, they sent a shirt home for me as well!

Paul's time up north was amazing, but Sunday was day of most excitement there as he witnessed God's providential hand at work. The worship service was just closing when a young man ran into the church to tell the pastor that his 2 year old son was not doing well at all. He had been sick all day with diahhrea but now the little boy was unconscious. They prayed, loaded into Boonchu's truck and drove as fast as possible to the nearest hospital. Paul was scared. He said he had never been so scared in all his life. Not only for his own life (Boonchu was driving really fast on very narrow and steep mountain roads) but also for the life of the little boy. Paul really didn't think the boy would make it. They arrived at a dilapidated old hospital and immediately hooked the baby up to IV. The doctor told them that if they had gone onto Chiang Mai the boy would have died. (They drove about 1 1/2 hours to the hospital and Chiang Mai, second largest city in Thailand is about four hours from the village where Paul was preaching.) Well, the good news is that the boy started to regain strength from the IV and praise be to God, didn't die.

If you want to hear more about Paul's trip up north, just ask him when we return! I know he'd love to recount the ways God showed himself faithful during his time up north. If you would be so kind, please pray for some other teammates who are heading up to the hilltribes this Saturday. Dave (team leader) will be teaching from the Bible and three of our single women (Tang, Ying and Melanie) are going up to help with children's ministry. Please pray for safety and for God to use them mightily to encourage our Karen brothers and sisters.