After three days in Bangkok, it’s time to move on. The TCLC has major centers of work in three areas of the country. Bangkok is the central area of Thailand, and now we’re moving on to Phuket in the southern section of Thailand. All the logistics of travel and accommodations in-country have been arranged by the TCLC for the participants (we provided them the money to do so).
Money is only part of the equation. Logistics are the other. They arranged vans to pick us up at the airport in Phuket as we all waited patiently in the arrivals lobby. Herding fifty or so mostly foreigners is no easy task but our hosts are energetic, enthusiastic, unfailingly courteous, and doggedly determined!
En route to where we’ll be sleeping and meeting the next day, we stop to visit one of the TCLC congregations. Located in the midst of a rubber tree plantation off the highway.
The small congregation meets in this simple but sturdy concrete building. They have recently been informed that the Thai government intends to build the second-largest airport in the country on the other side of the hill this church is nestled against. Fortunately, the investment in the land and structure made years ago was modest and the land is now worth considerably more. The congregation is weighing the possibility of selling the property and relocating to another nearby area.
They provide us with an overview of the ministry and we pray for the congregation, the pastor, and the Holy Spirit’s work in and through them in that place. Then it’s time to hit the road again. We reach our accommodations and check in and after a lovely dinner and Thai dance presentation, I’m grateful to hit the sack!
The next day we here more presentations from various organizations that have worked with the TCLC over the past twenty years. I make a short presentation on the LCMS’ work in Southeast Asia. Another good day of sharing and learning about the different means the Holy Spirit uses to spread the Gospel in Thailand. And then it’s off to bed in preparation for another travel day. Saturday we will head to the last stop in northern Thailand – Chiang Mai.
The Nelson Family Indonesia 