Laos Update

Just got back from Laos... amazing country, amazing people. Change is happening in this backwater nation- just you wait. Some forces cannot be stopped by political ideology. An awakening is happening.

Although it was merely a daytrip, it was action-packed, and the pace felt like a covert espionage operation! [names have been coded to protect the identity of parties involved]


The way to go!


Crossing the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge over the Mekong


the Laotian Flag


Arrival in Laos- the Lao Coat-of-Arms representing aspects of the Lao PDR propaganda: agriculture, buddhism, modernisation, forestry, industry.


Government propaganda


one corner of the morning market, Talat Sao


Uh???!!

- Met Ps W at Talat Sao, had breakfast with him. Got to learn abit about him and his heart. That very morning, the HS reminded Him of the unity of the Church- the state-recognized as well as the underground home churches. Right after that revelation fr HS, he received a call fr a friend, informing him that a brother in the Eglisé Evangelique (a state-sanctioned church) had passed away: would he attend the funeral? He immediately replied that he would, affirming solidarity in Christ. What a powerful gesture.


Scene at the Bus Station


a regular morning in vientienne


Busy people


random scene in Vientienne


Ps W

- After breakfast, we visited the Patuxay- a quadruple-arched victory monument in the heart of Vientienne, styled after te Arc de Triomphe in Paris, with a twist- Khmer/Pali styled idols and filigree ornamented the structure. I haven't t he faintest idea why this monstrous structure was built in 1962 (it was never completed anyway due to the country's turbulent history).


the Patuxay... monstrous structure... nicknamed the "vertical runway" in reference to the concrete that was initially intended for the building of the airport, but diverted to build this folly.

- Climbed to the top of the monstrosity, with a bird's eye view of the capital, and blew the Shofar, making a declaration of God's sovereignty in the land, His victory and announcing the year of Jubilee- slaves set free and debts cancelled.


View of Vientienne from the top of Patuxay

- Visited Ps S at his place and met some campus crusade staff... never expected to meet crusaders in laos- they've apparently got an active ministry there... amazing amazing God.


- At Ps S's they've got this cool recording studio set up- coupla PC's, editing tools and then killer musicians! The strategy is brilliant- they use this cool Isaan song-form called Mâw Lam- its less of a musical form than a social critique. The instrumentation is standard- a Khené, the Laotian 3 stringed guitar and some clangy percussion (a cow bell would do nicely). The trick in Mâw Lam is the lyrics: two singers (sometimes more, rarely a solo) will take turns to sing spontaneous verse; the other singer is to pick up where the previous singer left off- the song content can range from political critique to social commentaries to love songs... Consequentially, this spontaneous artform has managed to escape government censorship (remeber Laos is a socialist/communist state, and all forms of media are heavily filtered). The strategy is to use Mâw Lam to preach the gospel! They are doing exactly that, and it works! Wonderful stuff!


Clandestine recording facility....

- Followed Ps W to the Eglisé Evangelique, sat through the funeral service, and travelled some 30km out to the countryside to the cemetary. What a trip- a train of trucks, vans, buses ferrying the mourners over muddy, sloppy roads soaked through by the rainy season (it rains here everyday- the rivers bursting their banks... more later). It was a miracle our pickup did not get stuck in the icky stuff... otherwise, i'd have alot more pictures to share!


Rainy season and dirt roads DO NOT make a good combination.


Train of mourners struggle to the cemetary. Killer sticky mud.

- Reached the cemetary at 2pm-ish, simmering... HOT, STICKY and Muddy. We gathered round, and the Hmaung pastor led in a short worship session- joyful songs for a solemn occasion and preached some more... Attending a laotian, christian, hmaung funeral is definitely an eyeopener. Again, there is that unity in the faith, and the assurance and joy in the afterlife- we'll meet this brother in heaven! How cool is that!


Hmuong Pastor (from the state-sanctioned church) preaching at the funeral/burial.

- Proceeded to Ps D's home for the music appointment, another half hour or so away. Had to cross a flooded river to get to the village. Ps D wasn't at home when we reached.


Getting to Ps D's house involves crossing a river that has burst its banks.


Lady weaving

- Decided to visit another sister in the village- Pi W. She's quite a character... a member of the former Thai Dam royalty in Laos (deposed after the communist take-over), she still retains a regal demeanor. She now weaves for a living, and does an excellent job. I'm honored to have some of her handiwork!


approaching the princess' residence


typical open fire kitchen

- Hurried back to Ps D's place, but he was again not back yet. Had to wait a bit before he got back; snoozed some in the sweltering heat. Ps D arrived well past 4pm and we lunched.


Ps D's


lunch at Ps D's... sticky rice and papaya salad... Yum!

- Ps D is an amazing fella. A top scholar in Laos, he was one of the elite students sent to the Soviet Union for special training. It was an odd moment when we exchanged greetings with each other in Russian- Ps D misses speaking Russian! As things turned out, Ps D lived in Irkutsk in his first year of education in USSR, and visited Lake Baikal, went to Olkhon Island on the lake, met the museum director in Khuzir town, whom I met too! He was the first Laotian to ever set foot at Lake Baikal. It was a strange feeling knowing that we both walked the same path before and met the same people. As an agriculturalist, he's converted his homestead into a self sufficient resource, living almost totally off the produce of his land. An amazing array of vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and fish pond surround his house. He's taken it on himself to educate the local farmers the finer points of sustainable agriculture, and in the process refused several prestigous government posts. He has an amazing pastoral heart, and invites folk to live with him for periods of time. Truly life impartation.
- Had our 1 hr crash course on the Khéne. Totally challenging! Got a loooong way to go.


Khene crash course

- Left Ps D's just before 6, in time to catch an array of nacreous clouds on display in the glowing sunset! From what I understand, this is no common phenomena- need to have high ice-clouds, a low sun and low clouds as the 'projection screen'. It truly felt like God was smiling on us.


Nacreous clouds 1


Nacreous clouds 2


Nacreous clouds 3

- Back to Vientienne, just as the sun was setting; got to the state hospital to pray for a sick brother... found ourselves through the maze of corridors and courtyards, curiously labeled in Lao and French, and completed our mission.


Emergency Room at the Hospital, Vientienne

- Found Joma Cafe at 730 (Lao-Thai border closes at 9pm, last bus at 8-ish...), hung around for a bit, got a lovely mocha ice-blend, got my cookies, and scooted. Said our goodbyes and thanks to Ps W, and hopped on a tuk-tuk for the hour long ride back to the Friendship bridge. Got back to the Thai side with monstrous rain clouds hard on our heels...


beautiful cafe Joma...


...what a paradise!

- Vincent rode us back, our hearts full of thanks and wonder at the day! Reached home to a sumptious dinner and special dinner guests Ajan Chudapa and her Husband, and Danielle. The heavens gave way the moment we stepped into the house. The clouds emptied themselves for the rest of the night.


Back home in Nongkhai, Danielle all dressed for the downpour!

Totally awestruck at God's faithfulness and goodness! Really, we sit back and Sabai.

Nongkhai Update

Its now been 5 days here in rainy Nongkhai, and what a few days its been! God is tremendously faithful and I've been stretched and learning so many lessons.

Thurs night
- sat in at evangelistic practice
- met Ajan Hoong, English teacher extrodinaire (voted best teacher in thailand for the last two consecutive years!). Her dream is to obtain a Phd in english language education and establish a christian home for boys here in Nongkhai. Already getting there with her masters in educational psychology from chulalongkorn university!

Friday
- met more monk students at monk school, performed some music, some expressed interest to learn music (a no-no for monks), passed out tracts to em.
- watched the latest thai action movie tom-yung goong (sequel to highly acclaimed om-bak), with jeff, tammy, tracy, poi and may. Roving translation courtesy of jeff. Disjointed and slightly illogical plot, but the action's great.
- celebrated a singaporean born thai auntie's birthday. she's from church and happy to have pple fr back home around.

Saturday
- officially introduced to ps thammanoon
- played for youth service
- practiced for sunday service
- met danielle, aussie english teaching volunteer, played scattergories with the gang.

Sunday
- played for sunday service, not knowing some of the songs... argh.
- had kfc for lunch. with fork and knife and yes, porcelain plate and glasses.
- conducted worship workshop for the church musicians (gonna spread over this week too)
- back home for dinner- home cooked food courtesy of tammy and tracy. Ajan Hoong, Ajan Maligni and Danielle came over for dinner. Excellent stuff... had fun and fellowship rounded off by a competitive game of scrabble. Jeff beat Ajan Maligni by a close margin (140? vs 134); time to update your lonely planet guides!


Monday
- early morning drive to Phom Phisai to meet the governor (blanket project). while waiting to meet him, we got to worship w guit and flutes right in the office... met him and the governor of a neighbouring province. Jeff proposes a christmas concert right in the compound (pray please!).
- it was another medical/food distribution at the governor's compound for the veryvery poor... some few hundred folks. We got to perform for them, sing and share my testimony before them and the officials. Tremendous favor. Blew the shofar before leaving.
- monks came over to our home before lunch time for our first guitar lesson. Interesting session- must have flouted like a dozen rules: no music, no skipping school, no touching monks, no taking fotos of them holding guitars, etc etc. They'll be coming back for more! Jeff got to also share with them the reality and distinctiveness of Jesus as more than a holy man.
- went over to Jug's music school (Yamaha Udon Thani) to rehearse for their grand opening this saturday. cool musicians. cooler yet, tracy and jeff do really sing excellently. i get to play some jazz flute on tin whistles! oh... fly me to the moon!
- post rehearsal hospitality fr Jug and Noi (wife) at a thai-fusion restaurant- amazing food, amazing service, amazing decor. And there are photos to prove it!
- after dinner, we proceeded to a jazz bar, where later jeff, tracy and me got to perform more songs... it was all abit queezy for me... however, we rounded off the night with a really inspired proclamation of "draw me close to you", which pple apparrently appreciated, and requested for more! Wonderful to declare worship in a jazz bar!
- got home... pretty much beat out... another day ahead... more stuff... God's good- all the time!

Jesus, kha khun krup!

In Nongkhai, Thailand

Finally arrived in Nongkhai after a 12 hr overnight train ride. Quite restful sleep, thankfully.

Been put to good use upon arrival:
- went to town toting guitars, bongo and tinwhistles, walked into a school carpark, kena surrounded by kids, played guitars, Hubert preached, we passed out tracts.
- visited a monk school (free education for them here), was introduced as a musician, kena invited by the teachers to play; played worship songs in the monk school, gave tract to teacher, student interested enough to ask for our contacts.
- jammed at the local cafe with Jeff
- coached the keyboardist here at Nongkai A/G (a two week contract crash-course!)
- sat in on a rehearsal for evangelistic event
- asked to prepare and conduct a worship workshop this sunday!

Please pray for strength, wisdom and favor here! God is really good! Amazing doors open here. Please also pray along for my next step- what do do when i get back to spore, until i leave for Sydney next year. So many opportunities. So many options.

And yes, pray against mosquito bites. =) They come fast and furious here, and i'm a hot favorite; exotic, fresh flavor, airflown.

Kup Khun Kraap!

Sapporo Leg Almost Over

Its been a eventful week here in hot hot hot hot muggy sapporo. Japanese summers are one thing to contend with. Totally saps up the life out of you.


Misty mountains, flying over southern Japan


Hwee Joo (in pink), our tireless host!


Sapporo Hachiken Church


Pauline and Audrey

Ministered at a youth camp (changing life camp), did an evangelist concert with Martin, did two services and fellowshipped lots with the church people here. Very very blessed. I will never quite look at carparks the same way again!


outdoor games at youth camp


the helpers at youth camp


Martin Speaking at camp; Kisshi translating.


Akio teaching; hunting cavemen in the background courtesy of Hideki-San!


Setting up for our concert


Concert in progress... i'm playing a toilet pvc pipe...


Martin doing a song


rehearsing for church... peering through my rear-view mirror.


church service...waves of mercy, waves of grace

Besides... I've positively spoilt my tastebuds. Freshest, richest, tastiest produce. I dun think i'll ever find fulfilment in eating japanese food anywhere else ever again. What a disaster!


Su-Mi-Re, renowned Sapporo ramen restaurant, hence the queue... salivates.


oooooooooooo..... slurps like pavlov's dog... I'm now officially spoilt for taste.


yummiest BBQ ever... held right at church! Ever had fresh, plump scallops for bbq?


I thought this was a gallon of drinking water... turns out its an industrial sized bottle of rice wine! Gosh!


Food Galore!


dinner fellowship at Miyo's carpark (L-R: Akio, Miyo, Toru, Mogi)


Miyo's carpark office


Back at Miyo's carpark office for another inspired session of food, fellowship and ministry


Real cup noodles!


Power Korean BBQ


Last dinner... Miyo, Audrey, Yeo-San, Martin, Jennifer and Mai

Tomorrow off to Nongkhai. Update again.


Miyo's dog


Hans and Wendy, OMF missioners and founders of Hachiken church. Wonderful wonderful folk! Do pray for them to continue with strength and impact amongst the Japanese.


Me and Hwee Joo... everyone there insists I pass off as Hwee Joo's younger brother!


August 15th- 60th Anniversay of the unconditional surrender of the Japanese ending WW2.


dressed up... for the Obon fest i guess.


Shamisen and traditional Okinawan singing... gramma clapping with gusto!


Kids in the park


Sapporo at night