BAD WEATHER

• We had two very windy storms this week, and the temporary housing for Surin has turned out to have been very temporary!  Surin is away on vacation. In Thailand, we are celebrating Thai New Years.  It is on the same level of celebration of Christmas in America. Everyone goes home and tries to be with family, businesses shut down.  We gathered up Surin's belongings and put them in our office.  Our temporary meeting room survived the storm better, but some saa paper was destroyed.  We are thankful it wasn't much and it can be replaced for little cost.  Mud, leaves, and debris are everywhere. Some folks from the near by village came over early this morning to help repair the mushroom shack (the first storm almost tipped it over, so they reinforced it, so when the second storm came in the night, it withstood the wind better, but still needed some repairs.) 
• The rains are early this year, and we had rain when it shouldn't normally have been raining. Its great for our gardens! 

• Jerry preached the sermon on Sunday, we had the largest attendance on Sunday than we have had in almost a year. That is encouraging to us, as we reach out to the communities surrounding our new venue for ministry.

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• Surin is posing with the garden produce that we are reaping. We gathered some on Sunday to allow attenders to buy what they need first. We have several marketing venues ready to take our produce. 

• Recently the Saa paper group were asked if they would like help to begin raising mushrooms. They asked us if they could construct a small "shed" to raise the mushrooms on the property.  We agreed, and the blossoming mushrooms arrived.  Yai is on the left, Oley, and Eet on the right. This is supposed to be an easy project to do on the side, while the group are busy making paper cards and bags.  We are glad to support them in this project, and may even buy a few mushrooms!!!!

• Oley posing with the group's mushroom project.
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• Sunday after church the youth plan their yearly retreat. They are planning an evangelistic outreach program.  Surin is our Youth Leader.

• Lunch for everyone after the church service.

Sunday morning, Surin (black shirt) is preaching the message. The young man in the striped shirt came for the first time.  He is a student attending a near by University and looking for a church home close to school.

• Graduation service for Lanna Theological Center in which Jerry teaches part-time.

• Praying for the graduates at Lanna Theological Center graduation service. Jerry is on the left end.

• We participated in the graduation service at Lanna Theological Center. Jerry is second in from the left.  Some of these students have helped us out at our Philokalia worship service.

• Gung is teaching the visiting team to wrap paper hearts with mulberry paper

• A group of ladies from the States visiting Lanna Theological Center, were interested in coming to help the Saa Paper group.  Tum is teaching them how to glue the flowers to the heart. 

Marching along in March...

• The folks from Empower International looking over our products

• We are excited about our new supporters for our Saa Paper project. Empower International visited our center from Australia.  They are interested in placing orders from us for their new store. They are very impressed by the quality of our products and were excited to place a large order from us before they left.    This was such an encouragement to our group. 
• Our handmade paper  products are still available in the States through Adele Spurgin  at spurgina@hotmail.com. 
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• The surveyor marked out the sites for the buildings. We are still in process of the necessary red tape that every step of the building process entails here in Thailand.  Prayers for patience and perseverance are appreciated!  Even though it is slow, progress is being made, and we look forward to construction in the very near future!
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• Our garden is doing great even though the weather has gotten very hot and it is very dry.  We put up little tents of straw and netting to help protect the plants that don't like too much sun.
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Selling our Saa Paper products at the German School Sale

On Saturday the 12th of February,  Rainbow Tree, (those in Philokalia who produce Saa Paper products as a way to earn a living)  sold our bags, cards, picture frames. 

We loaded up the truck early and was able to set up before the crowds arrived.  Three of us took turns minding the table.   We did not sell a lot, but we did break even, as we had to rent space to sell.

The roses were made by a lady in the village near our land.  She has been affected by AIDS. Her daughter died of AIDS as has others in her family.  She came by to talk to our saa paper workers and asked if she could have our scrap paper. We gladly gave her all she wanted.  She took the scraps home and made beautiful paper roses with them. She brought them to us before we went to the sale, and asked us if we would take them with us. She was happy to make about 10 cents a rose.  We told her we were sure they were worth more than that! We sold them for 30 cents a rose.  We were able to bring back to her about 10 dollars (American), to help her with her income. she was thrilled!!! We were happy to support her, and hope that we can continue to provide her with supplies and avenues for selling them.

Sunday morning

• Prawit is leading communion around the table

• Reading of the Scripture

• Auntie Laa has been friends with Philokalia for many years, but now that we are meeting closer to her house, she enjoys coming on Sunday mornings.

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Waiting for lunch to be served

Our temporary building. We hold our worship services here and house the Saa Paper work.