The latest Newsletter from Shayne in Thailand from Life in a Northern Town

Hello ,

I hope you are well and thanks for taking ten minutes to read about what happened with me in Thailand in 2020.

Maybe click above right of the title photo to see the web version straight away.

There are a few ways you can help me included at the bottom of the email. Please don't hesitate to contact me about anything in this. I love sharing about what I am doing here in Thailand.

Christmas Newsletter

A Different Christmas This Year

Let's just say many people are really wanting 2020 to be over! It's been quite a crazy year and still there's a lot of craziness that will probably continue into the new year unfortunately!

At Christmas time, we should take some moments, even right now, to remember the reason for it all because that has given us peace, hope and deeper joy in the midst of a very tough year. He was a beautiful baby, the Son of God born to give his life for you and I. Immanuel, God with us, Wonderful Counsellor, Almighty God, Prince of Peace. I could go on and on with what he shall be called. His name is Jesus, the Saviour for all who believe. We are so glad we have him hidden in our hearts right now, and this Christmas we rest under the shadow of his wings. And we pray for you our friends and family to also feel that unique touch of his peace and presence in your life right now. When I was younger someone once told me that there’s no greater thought than to think about God. I’ve held onto that. And Christmas is the perfect time to draw aside, breathe deep, and think about the baby that changed the world and let his peace flood our hearts again. The arrival of that baby is what we believe Christmas is - God with us. May He bless you with his presence as you celebrate with love and generosity with family and friends. Love you all.

Thankfully, for the second half of the year, the "lockdown" has eased in Chiang Mai but we still need to wear masks at times in public.

I have been able to keep fairly busy with work and socially and there's a few pictures below of various events and meetings.

With the Expats Club at our last meeting, I help with technology and marketing. At a secret art event with many talented artists exhibiting in art galleries all over Chiang Mai. A few pictures from various networking events and with the mayor(white shirt), Swiss National Day (bottom right), with my Korean Foundation Chairman and with the Governor of Chiang Mai under the umbrella.

I am very lucky to be able to meeting and serve many people in Chiang Mai in many different social networks.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:6-12 (NIV)

Hope Connections Foundation

What we do on the ground.

One of the ways we help the community is teaching English and this year we had several English camps along with distribution of clothes and toys on the first week. We taught some basic English with games and songs to around 20 children over a series of weekly after school sessions. The children's parents mostly work in construction related daily wage work. The companies enjoy cheap labour and they families live in quite basic conditions.

On the last week I went to teach, I fould our teaching area had fell down. Praise God it didn't happen while we were teaching or doing activities in the area.

We also made a donation of a bag of rice to the families for Christmas. We are connected to three different worker camps around the area near our foundation office.

Click to donate to Hope Connections

Chiang Mai Clean City

My public Chiang Mai Clean City activities have been a lot quieter this past few months but I have regularly been out and about cleaning up in Chiang Mai.

Since October, I have been out "exercising" and cleaning up at a local urban farm. First reason, my old gym doubled their prices and that made it too much for me to afford. Second reason, because I don't know much about actual gardening, I could clean up and prepare new areas for the team to plant more things. The best reason of all, it's FREE!

Every morning, I have been able to go at around 6:30-7am for an hour or so. And recently, I have been preparing an area which was completely overgrown with weeds and trees and now it's just about ready for planting. See the pictures above!

Earlier in the year I was part of a team cleaning up drains on top of Doi Suthep. These drains were fairly full of dirt due to landslides that were prevalent during rainy season.

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A bit more teaching

Earlier this year I joined with a trip to the western side of Thailand, and as part of that trip I had the opportunity to teach English as well in a local community. Whilst we are actually not allowed to travel anywhere, I may have taught English in another c o u n t r y.

We had a morning activity to spend some time with the kids, then spent the afternoon going to a waterfall

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"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Matthew  1:21-25 (NIV)

Eye Testing

I had the opportunity to join a friend and help out with his sight screening program. It's a fantastic project put together by an Aussie! Visit Children's Sight Project-Thailand for more details.

This was the second time visiting this school and that's the real amazing thing about the project, it's not a one off. Although not many needed actual glasses, a young lady went from perfect vision to very shortsighted in two years, another with glasses already was extremely shortsighted (big prescription change), and we found a boy with glasses that were way over prescription, so we are making glasses with his real prescription.Having been shortsighted previously, I know what these kids are feeling, but I know that many "learning" difficulties are actually just shortsightedness and students not able to see the board clearly. I learned how to handle 4 of the activity stations to see if students needed to see the optician.

I hope to join more screenings next year.

You can donate to Shayne here!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PRAY

  • Praise God for blessing, connections and influence. Many people relate to me daily as someone who is trustworthy and reliable. With opportunity comes greater responsibility.
  • Praise God for my health and abilities to continue my work here.
  • Please pray for Thailand. It's a beautiful and wonderful place. Please pray the Thai Government leaders as they lead Thailand through difficult times.
  • Please pray for more missionaries, talk to the OMS if you want to know more.
  • Please continue to pray, I have many opportunities to serve Thai people and others also, inside and outside of my “work”.
  • Please pray for my family in Australia, it has been a very tough year for members of my family in many ways.

Feel free to send a Christmas Gift

Would you like to assist me in my work in Thailand?

I have helped many people at many levels and will continue to do so. I am simply asking that if you would like to help or bless me or my work in Thailand, you can donate in any way available to you.

The main options are through One Mission Society in Australia or OMS USA link.

If you are in Thailand, you can donate via SCB 868-236655-3 if you have no home account or use PayPal at schoolies2@yahoo.com .

I do want to graciously thank my family, friends and churches who have been faithfully giving to me over the years. I know I don't thank you often enough, but your support and prayers have been invaluable to me.

I can't believe that I have been in Thailand for 10 years!

‘By God’s grace One Mission Society unites, inspires, and equips Christians to make disciples, multiplying dynamic communities of believers around the world.’

I am committed to being in Thailand. I would like to let you know that if you are able to partner with me in my work, then you can do so through One Mission Society. There are many ways you can support me, through prayer as well as financially. This partnership is helping serve the great need for Thai people to come to know Jesus.

My prayer card with all the details is available at

http://issuu.com/shayneinthailand/docs/prayercard .

Please include my missionary number #803833 with any donations.

You can support me financially by :-

Cheque - Please make cheques payable to: OMS International, PO Box 897, RINGWOOD, Vic 3134. Include a note with my name.

Direct Debit - If you wish to make a payment directly through your bank, pay to: Westpac.

Acc Name: OMS International Australia- Inc. BSB: 733172 Account Number: 628724.

NOTE: In the transaction details please be sure to include your name and ROC.

Credit card donations - can be made through the website.

http://www.omsaus.org OMS phone – 0469385256.

 

You can donate to Shayne here!

Final Thoughts

 

Thanks heaps for continuing to pray for and support my work in Thailand.

If you don't have me as a friend on Facebook CLICK HERE and add me. You will then get the latest information, as well as some videos and other bits and pieces about my life in Chiang Mai.

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Thanks for your continued prayer and support! I love you all!

In His Service,
Shayne

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Shayne in Thailand

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