The Hamletts’ Blog

Hello again!

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve posted - sorry for the delay! It seems that we get online less and less! Nonetheless, hope you enjoy this update!! =)

First and foremost P.E. seems to be a hit with most of the kids. Bobby’s group (the older kids) has begun practicing running for the mile (through the neighborhood). On Mondays, they practice their running, and on Tuesdays they run sprints and then play a game. The kids really love playing dodge ball and baseball. We play baseball with a soft “kiddy style” ball in which you hit with a plastic bat and can beam the runner with the ball! They always enjoy that – sometimes a little too much! J Katie’s group consists of the younger bunch. They have begun practicing running in time intervals as they will be running the mile too. They usually play games like “red light, green light” or do relay races. Sometimes we combine the groups for big games.

Katie began teaching Sunday school last Sunday. She did a great job! She really enjoys it, and knows how to keep the kids focused. With us teaching Sunday school, it really helps free up some of the wives to go and listen to the church service since they can actually understand it!

The Church is coming along well. We hope it will be done before we leave. It’s looking amazing! It is located not far from the neighborhood where the school is; probably about 2 miles. It is located in an area called “non mooaung” which has a high density of people. God is really pouring out his love on this ministry here and we hope and pray that He continues to make it thrive. It really is just so awesome to see how much God has done here and continues to do.

^
Remember this picture from before?

Here’s what it’s looking like now!
V

The front door with our sign! I think it says “Covenant Church”
Terri and Snow in the front - Amy and Katie in the doors!

We did take a little video during a service here so we could show you some worship in Thai! We haven’t really learned any of the songs completely yet, but we can sing a few of the lines!

thai-praise-and-worship-click-here

Bobby is beginning a bible study with John Hunt this week on prayer. This is something that I really wanted to learn more about. There is so much for me to learn and I am really glad John is willing to take the time and do a study with me. I’m looking forward to it. Katie continues to do her study with all the women on obedience and she really feels that she is growing and learning.

Two weeks ago, we got to stay the night at the Firpo’s (see the ‘focus on the family’ at the bottom) because PNid had to go out of town and the Firpo’s had an extra room because Brian and Will are out of town as well. Staying with them reminded us of how hard our bed really is! They have a nice, soft, “American style” bed not the “rock hard” Thai-type that we sleep on! What a treat! We felt like we were at a bed and breakfast! Not only did we sleep on a nice bed, but we got to eat burgers, hotdogs, corn on the cob and French fries for dinner! Talk about spoiled. We really felt like we were back in the States! Oh wait it gets better…Since they have internet I got to watch a Virginia Tech game online! The whole game! My first football game that I actually care about in Thailand…but they lost! J It was still great just to be able to watch though – I can’t complain.

One night we went to the Sofitel, which is the largest hotel in Khon Kaen, and ate at their restaurant with fellow teachers Kristen and Mary Jo. The hotel is considered five-star and is rather affordable for a fa-rung (foreigner). We can eat there for about $15-$25 for both Katie and I.

We split a “bacon-y”, mozzarella, and other toppings pizza, a Caesar salad and an Italian calzone. It was great to spend some time out with people our age who are teaching and experiencing similar joys and trials here in Khon Kaen.

Kristen and Katie

Around the 20^th of October a group from Bisbon, Australia arrived to help out and see about possibly making ties between their church in Austrailia and Covenant Church here in Khon Kaen. Out of the four adults that came, Three of them had been to Thailand before. One on vacation and two others on a CCP (Cross Cultural Experience) with Campus Outreach a few years back. We bonded well with them and went around KK with them for some of their time here (they were here a week total). Matt had come on a previous CCP about 5 years ago, he is now a physical therapist. His wife Lisa came too and their adorable 3 month old daughter Evelyn. Tom is 22 years old and studying a science of some sort and is really excited about possibly coming back to Thailand for mission work. Jackie is also a member of their church and has recently graduated and is now a pharmacist in Brisbon. She came to Thailand a while back on CCP and really enjoyed it. She really loves Thailand and picked up some of the language rather quickly.

Lunch on the first day we really got to know them
From left to right: Jackie, Tom, Bobby, Katie, Rung, (Don’t know name in blue!), Ba-mee, Matt, Lisa, and baby Evelyn up front!

One night, Kristen had us over with the Austrailians and a few of the Thai girls that Kristen is discipling. We had a great meal, then we had some tea =)

The Australians love “Tim Tam’s” which are chocolate candy bar type things. Tim Tam’s are very good and the Australians have a custom of biting off opposite edges it and sucking tea through the chocolate bar. It’s very strange but kind of fun. Here is a video of Bobby doing a “Tim Tam Slam” as they call it.

tim-tam-slam-click-here

We really enjoyed spending time with the Aussies. They were very uplifting and a great bunch to be around. Katie and Jackie had a laugh (and scare) when traveling to ‘Big C’ (supercenter/grocery store). They experienced riding the public transportation system (called a song-tao) all by themselves into the city! While changing song-taos in the middle of the city, they had a homeless woman yell at them and throw a rock at them! Don’t worry it missed! But they said they really enjoyed their time and can’t wait to come back.

Jackie and Katie on the way to Big-C - via song-tao

Jackie and Katie in the Tuk-Tuk on the way home!

During the week they were here, Katie and I got to go with the Aussies to an Orphanage here called “House of Mercy” or as the Thai’s call it “Mercy House”. It is run by a Christian Australian group and is strictly for AIDS children. What a sight to see as we walked in and saw them singing praises to Jesus in Thai. It was very humbling but yet also made us really think about what really matters in life. Immediately after their worship time, they came over to us and we prayed with them in small groups. Katie had a young boy, probably close to a teenager come over and pray with her, his body was covered with sores and spots – really sad. A young boy came over to me and immediately held my hands and began to pray. The boy’s name was Zuu. He held my hand most of the time and led us outside to play. We spent about 2 hours with the kids playing Uno, soccer, basketball and many other games. It was such a blessing to be able to spend time with these wonderful children. They were so well behaved and polite. They took turns when playing games and we don’t recall any of them getting angry with one another. It was great to see God’s love being poured out on these children. The environment and love at Mercy House has been so good for these children that they have had to make changes to accommodate teenagers. The children were not expected to live as long as they have, but they are! At first we felt so sad for these children, but afterwards we felt a sense of relief about the situation knowing that God cares so much about these children that He has given them such a wonderful environment.

Zuu and Bobby

Matt playing “Uno” with some of the kids

Bobb and Zuu

Katie and Bobby in front of Mercy House

Thailand is very different when it comes to raising children. Many children grow up in Thailand away from their parents and grow up in environments with grandmothers and aunts …etc. We believe that this is why there is such a presence of “ga-tu-ees” or transsexuals here in Thailand. Seeing these AIDS children live their lives in a protected environment with much love and affection - it is just such a blessing. Thai’s seem to be very reserved; we’ve heard and seen how in many Thai homes, not much affection and affirmation is given.

The next day Katie and I got to go to the local government orphanage which was another treat and very different from the AIDS orphanage! Our group brought fruit drinks and snacks for a group probably around ages 3-5.

John setting up the snacks and drinks for the kids

click-here-to-watch-the-government-orphanage-video

After the kids ate, we played with them outside on the playground and then inside with blocks and games. These kids were so much fun to be around. They will really tire you out though! Unlike the Aids orphanage where numbers were somewhat limited, the government orphanage seemed to have a very high child to worker ratio. The kids here were bit more rambunctious and sometimes were a little competitive to gain our attention! Nonetheless, they just wanted someone to play with and we were more than happy to spend a few hours with them!

So that’s about where we are now, keeping busy and teaching as usual. Classes have started up again at the college and we plan on going on campus with some of the staff to see what their days are like.

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers and for caring to follow us along on our journey. Oh, one last thing…nobody seems to want to post! I told Corey I’d call people out so I am. We get a good amount of views but no one likes to post. We really enjoy it when you do so please do!! It’s encouraging to us!!

God Bless,

Katie and Bobby

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY: THE FIRPO’S

Back Row: Will, Brian, Terri, Matt
Front Row: Caleb and Amy

From the CO Website:

“Brian and Terri both were discipled through the Campus Outreach ministry. They were married on December 16, 1989 and have been on the mission field since October of 1990. The Firpo’s have now completed four full terms of ministry in Thailand. Most of their time has been invested in reaching college students for Christ on Thai campuses in Bangkok and Khon Kaen.

The labors of CO in Thailand have been fruitful and many laborers have been raised-up over the past fifteen years. After planting campus ministries and a church in Bangkok, God lead Brian to launch a new team to the Northeastern Capital of Thailand, Khon Kaen. Brian has been leading a team of over twenty full-time Christian workers in Khon Kaen for the past seven years. Currently, our ministry has evangelized thousands of college students and had over a hundred come to Christ. Our next target is to launch a new area of COKK in a city near Khon Kaen. Brian plans on investing many more years into building Thai men into laborers/leaders to be equipped and sent out in teams to the rest of Thailand and South-East Asia.”

The Firpos were part of the first Campus Outreach team to Bangkok, Thailand (along with the Hunts) in 1990.

Brian is the first person we got in contact with before our arrival. He is the Campus Outreach Team leader here in Khon Kaen. He is a hard worker - always getting something done. He is a very good organizer and goes about using his time wisely. He enjoys golf, Manchester United Soccer, and spending time with his kids.

Terri is great at making you feel at home! She reminds me so much of Becky Shanks (for those who know her!) She is so hospitable, so caring, and always serving others. Terri is a runner! She completed the Khon Kaen marathon last year!

Will is the oldest Firpo child. He is 16. He is gifted musically and enjoys playing the drums and guitar. He used to be in a band that sung Thai “screamer/heavy metal” Christian songs. He is very creative and is pretty good at relating to people. Bobby teaches Will and Matt church history.

Matt is 13 and loves fantasy novels, science fiction, and Star Wars. He enjoys math and science in school and is a very good student. Matt has a great sense of humor too =) Bobby teaches Matt and Will church history.

Amy is 10 She is adopted, and actually lived in the orphanage here in Khon Kaen before she was moved to the orphanage in Udon Thani. She is a sweet girl who enjoys playing with the girls but also enjoys P.E. as well. She is very gifted athletically as well. Amy is a joy to be around!

Caleb is 5 and full of energy! He seems to really enjoy PE with “Miss Katie”. He is actually pretty strong and athletic for his age. He always wants to play legos or play outside. Sometimes he makes the cutest remarks =)