Before 26:e Dec 2004 some 230 000 Swedish came annually to Thailand. When the Tsunami struck over 5.000 persons died in south Thailand, among them 544 Swedish. Over 220 000 died totally around the Indian Ocean. The suffering was enormous.
No one of us like times of crises, but if we look back these times somehow, have made us stronger. Anna and I visited a Thai family today that shared how their deep crises brought them to God. Swedish Ambassador Lennart Linnér says that now, after 4 years, some 400 000 Swedish visits Thailand annually.
Unfortunate …... the last catastrophe has not hit. Without being “accident focused” it is helpful for us to ask: What will I do if a catastrophe hits in my surrounding? What is my own Disaster Risk Reduction? More and more people starts to build up an awarness for the need of Disaster Risk Reduction, before the catastrophe hits. It`s good that people seek more God’s help during time of crises, but it is much better to seek God’s help before the times of crises is over us. Ingvar
28 december 2008
26 december 2008
Let us go out with Immanuel and see....
To come to Bethlehem, and having an encounter with Jesus and receive the Bread of Life – is fantastic. We had a good Christmas Eve in Omkoi together with around 70 Karen children. In all simplicity we entered together into worship and had a wonderful time with Jesus. But after meeting Jesus in Bethlehem it’s natural to go out there to others with the Good News. Now the Immanuel (=God with us) is reality. This years Boxing Day or St. Stephen's Day, a day to remember the martyrs (Greek=witness) was for us a very interesting day. We woke up in Omkoi. Went to Mae Sariang where we met a Karen Pastor and his wife, an Australian missionary, a Thai pastors family and an English missionary. After coming to Chiang Mai we celebrated one of our Thai coworkers on her 38 years birthday. Before the end of the day we received sad news that Christians in Laos are tortures and are suffering. We are thankful that the ”God with us” is indeed reality in Bethlehem and also reality out there with others in the community. Christmas and mission belongs to each other. Ingvar
22 december 2008
Let us now go to the Bread house and see.....
Ahead of Christmas 2008 we had several alternatives, where to find this year’s Christmas bread house (=Bethlehem). Most of all we wanted to find it in the presence of our children, son-in-law and our grandchildren in Sweden. But we choose to find it in our well-tested resting plats in Pai, 3 hours way north west of Chiang Mai.
But …. there was “no room for us in the Inn”. So we choose Omkoi some 3 hours southwest of Chaing Mai. Here is a place for us, at the Omkoi river flowing from the Christians up stream. These Karen Christians have experienced a lot of God’s glory lately and is now letting it down the mountains, to the dry land of Thailand. In yesterday’s worship service the message “up the river” was not the “Glory of God” but: ”Are we rooted in God?” No roots – no fruits.
The bread house, Christmas 2008, for us is to eat fresh bread from Heaven. We are reading books (several at the same time), have good walks with Lukas (Mariam and Phil’s Labrador) and … being amazed that the water in the river is not stopping. Still more is coming. And we let it flow… to you as well.
Jesus himself is in this bread house and He has good fresh food for us, even in times such as this, with too much work and an economic world crisis hanging over us.
No, now is time for refreshments. We say “fika” in Swedish. In this Bethlehem is a good Café with saffron bread, baked by the angel Anna. The saffron and coffee, was sent to us from angels (our children) in Sweden. The ginger cookies, angels in Singapore bought from Ikea for us. And see ….. the water in this bread house in Omkoi is still flowing… to you as well. Be Blessed. Ingvar
But …. there was “no room for us in the Inn”. So we choose Omkoi some 3 hours southwest of Chaing Mai. Here is a place for us, at the Omkoi river flowing from the Christians up stream. These Karen Christians have experienced a lot of God’s glory lately and is now letting it down the mountains, to the dry land of Thailand. In yesterday’s worship service the message “up the river” was not the “Glory of God” but: ”Are we rooted in God?” No roots – no fruits.
The bread house, Christmas 2008, for us is to eat fresh bread from Heaven. We are reading books (several at the same time), have good walks with Lukas (Mariam and Phil’s Labrador) and … being amazed that the water in the river is not stopping. Still more is coming. And we let it flow… to you as well.
Jesus himself is in this bread house and He has good fresh food for us, even in times such as this, with too much work and an economic world crisis hanging over us.
No, now is time for refreshments. We say “fika” in Swedish. In this Bethlehem is a good Café with saffron bread, baked by the angel Anna. The saffron and coffee, was sent to us from angels (our children) in Sweden. The ginger cookies, angels in Singapore bought from Ikea for us. And see ….. the water in this bread house in Omkoi is still flowing… to you as well. Be Blessed. Ingvar
16 december 2008
15 december 2008
Pray for the the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand
Pray for Abhisit ”Mark” Vejjajiva, who yesterday became the 27th Priminister of Thailand. Thailand need now a time of peace and rest. The "Land of smiles" have had a difficult time with much tension between "the yeallow" and "the red".
Pray for a new uniting force and that the new leaders with "Mark" in the front will be able to face and to solve the problems. Ingvar & Anna
Pray for a new uniting force and that the new leaders with "Mark" in the front will be able to face and to solve the problems. Ingvar & Anna
14 december 2008
Mika born 11th Dec
12 december 2008
Our English blog ...up and running
Now is time to start to make this blog (much) more aktiv. Ingvar & Anna
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