|
Hello ,
I hope you are well and thanks for taking 10 minutes to read about what is happening with me in Thailand...
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. There's a lot more that hasn't been included because there is just no more room.
|
|
What a year!
So many thoughts enter my mind about the year that was 2018! This is a recap of only a few activities of the past 6 months, it's been big and busy, jumping from one project to the next. I hope you enjoy an insight into my life over here.
Firstly, I want to say a message thank you to all of you who read this newsletter because you play an important part in my life, your support, love, encouragement, finances and prayers enable me to be here and serve others.
At Christmas time, it's a family time, and I want to wish my worldwide family all the best for a wonderful Christmas Season and Happy New Year. I'm glad to spend my Christmas with a great group of people over here, but I wish I could be with you all at this time. Your commitment to follow me in my role is gratefully received.
All my love and prayers to you and yours!
And on with the show...
The noblest art is that of making others happy
P.T. Barnum
I have spent a great deal of this time this year trying to make others happy, which is fine I guess because that's what I'd like to do and that is what my life is. So I guess I have fulfilled that goal for this year.
I also enjoy helping people out and I think that I have helped many this year in many different ways. As I sit here talking and writing about what has been happening this year it's very hard to put it all into one meaningful and concise newsletter.
I have 268 photos to choose from and that doesn't include the 50 I took on the weekend with my Thai family. You've seen some already so hopefully I won't repost those.
I generally live my life on Facebook, so many photos are already out there.
Anyone recognize this fine gentleman? See answer below.
|
|
A Servant Life has Challenges
This past few months has been very hectic with lots of stuff going on and preparing for a big cleanup for the whole country. I initiated Chiang Mai Clean City earlier this year and many people noticed it from around the world including the International Cleanup Association and World Cleanup Day. And whilst I am not Thai I have enough Thai to try and get the word out. This has been a challenge but one that I accepted.
There was a cleanup event organized by the police in July and I was right in the middle of things along with the Mayor and Senior Police and Army from the Northern region of Thailand. Pictured above.
Earlier in August, Hope Connection Foundation hosted a mixed team of Korean people from our church the chairman grew up in. there were 18 members ranging from 14 to 65 in the team. the Korean team were in Chiang Mai for about 8 days and we had plenty of ministry activities for them to do as well as a lot of cultural experiences and fun things planned during that time.
We went to Baan Mae Lai just south of Chiang Mai to the school where we donated water tanks to last year.
We spent the day at the school singing songs, doing dances and dramas and I spent a couple of hours teaching English to 50 high school students. We had a whole bunch of fun learning about body parts and doing different activities and games.
We all jumped back in the Minivans and went back to Chiang Mai, most of the team caught up on some sleep during the drive back they had only arrived the previous day from Korea.
The next day we had planned to go to high school which would take around 6 hours to get there, it is up in the far north west of Chiang Mai province. On the way up there we took the scenic route through Pai, a well-known sleepy tourist resort town, because the road is more well-known and has a lot more options for eating and drinking coffee.
It's always a challenge to be a part of these teams as not so many Koreans can't speak English that well, but I enjoy the challenge and love spending time with these teams.
I was lucky enough to get another opportunity to teach a class of the senior students English for an hour or so. I took an opportunity to go around the room and see what these students wanted to do. The usual, police, nurse, doctor, teacher, guide, airline hostess and even farmer came out as options, many wanted to go to university, but for most, as I found out during the class the average English level was so low. Opportunities for Thai people who can speak English known to lead to much better paying jobs and easier life. I shared teaching the class with a young German girl who was spending a year at the school.
Thailand's English levels are the worst in ASEAN. If you want to give a year to serve these awesome young men and women, please message me.
|
|
|
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:23-27 (NIV)
|
|
|
Pretty much the whole of the first half of September revolved around mobilizing as many people as possible to join World Cleanup Day in Chiang Mai or around Thailand.
I walked a fine line with Facebook and trying to get influential people, media and government departments to join in Thailand.
I estimate around 5000 people joined the events around Thailand, but there were so many groups and events, it was difficult to gauge definitive numbers.
Scan the QR Code and Click the pictures below to see some cool stuff! And like the Facebook page!
|
|
|
UrbanLight are a wonderful organization in Chiang Mai. They work with mostly at risk young men who have come from the country to make some money for their families, some by choice and others not. If you joined the 24 hour Ping Pong A Thon, then you may have heard of UrbanLight, if you didn't, check out Ping Pong A Thon!
Anyway, some of the team and many of the young men came to assist with World Cleanup Day Events. We probably collected 300kgs of trash from just a couple of kilometers along the Mae Ping River. Thank guys!
|
|
Some other activities...
There were lot's of meetings and get togethers with influential people this past 6 months, now I understand my Christian impact is not the greatest, but my role as a supporter to my foundation and many others, whilst being able to influence and connect with different people of all levels of society will be invaluable for the future.
My Foundation Chairman is encouraging the work I am doing around Chiang Mai because wherever and whoever I am meeting, I am always sharing about my work and the work of our small foundation. The "work" I am doing dovetails in alongside the foundation objectives of education, community development and quality of life.
Also along the way little things I have done have been noticed and has paved the way for smoother outcomes for our foundation about visas and work permits. One of the little things was at the Opening Ceremony of the New Immigration Building. I got the photo below with my friend, Nate, the lady who processed our foundation visas for several years and I met often.
However, just after this it poured and I picked up a squeegee and tried to keep the area from flooding, ALL the immigration staff noticed, and I just did my thing. After the event, I was invited up to the VIP lunch and had some amazing Salmon steaks, but that's not all. My visa extension day went smoother because they firstly said I should be at the front of the queue, but also people in the Immigration Office were actually trying to get me out of the office quicker. So BLESSED!
Interactions just last week with the same immigration officers, were fun and I was addressed by name. Not many people are remembered by name, I am sure.
|
|
|
With My Foundation Chairman,
Dr Nathan Kim
|
|
|
Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Psalms 150 (NIV)
|
|
October - November Happenings
|
|
|
|
|
|
Launch CNX, a local foundation looking to help other local foundations with Marketing, Social Media and Video ran a two day course in creating a "pitch" around our foundation projects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Doing My Pitch, a quick fire one minute pitch about some project we are currently doing or looking to implement. At the end of the training we had to pitch in front of friends and peers! Hard, but fun!
|
|
|
|
|
Becoming Famous - Part 1 - University Lecture
In October, I did a one hour on the topic, "Practical impacts of the waste situation in Chiang Mai and Thailand and the use of social and mass media in creating change?"
It went well, but I didn't actually realize I would be speaking to PhD candidates, I just thought a few Masters students.
I found out Thailand leads the world in Internet Usage Average Time per day on ALL Devices at 9 hours 38 minutes and on MOBILE 4 hours 56 minutes.
|
|
Becoming Famous - Slightly viral video! PLEASE HAVE A LOOK!
Soon after the lecture, I was contacted about making a video for the Chiang Mai Municipality เทศบาลนครเชียงใหม่ for their campaign "Chiang Mai Wants You". Chiang Mai Clean City เชียงใหม่เมืองสะอาด is a project for all Chiang Mai to join together for making Chiang Mai beautiful.
It's in my broken Thai, so please be patient, but it has subtitles. Thanks very much to all the team putting it together and for Taylor, for helping me out on the day.
So far, after 3 weeks, the Official Post views are around 101k and 2000 shares(linked in the picture - just click), UNOFFICIAL POST views 120k and 2.3k shares, with another share at 11.5k views. So around 230k views and I account for about 100 of them. I am chasing the neighboring province< Lamphun Governor who has 1 million views on his NO FOAM Video.
|
|
|
I spent an afternoon with a local Scout Troop and we looked at many things around the problem of trash, like how long things take to decompose and also making some crafts and other things.
|
|
|
The We Love the King International Parade and Concert was held on the 5th December and I am on the committee. This event is a big deal and honors the Late King. We have a large team and all volunteer to make it a wonderful occasion for all. We are pictured here with the Deputy Governor, the Thailand Tourism Authority Director in Chiang Mai, Northern Region Police and several with different members of the organizing committee.
The guy from first photo is Narongsak Osatanakorn, the former Chiang Rai Governor, featured most recently as successful Cave Rescue leader with the Moo Par Wild Boars Soccer/Football Team.
|
|
|
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 visa extension received in October. This is extremely important, considering many people were having problems due to new rules implemented during the year.
- 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 that peace will continue through any things that may happen regarding upcoming elections.
- 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.
|
|
From the OMS Australian Executive Director
|
|
|
December 2018
One Mission Society Australia
PO Box 897, Ringwood, VIC 3134
44 Dublin Rd, Ringwood East, VIC 3135
ph: 03 9870 8559 email: info@omsaus.org
|
|
|
Please let us know If you can help us save money and receive newsletters by email.
|
|
|
The moment the shepherds were in the fields is, for me, what ties the Christmas story together. When the angels arrived, they announced a “ ‘great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide.’ ” (Luke 2:8-12) Later, when Mary and Joseph took an eight-day-old Jesus to the temple, Simeon thanked God for sending Jesus as both “ ‘light to the non-Jewish nations, and…glory for your people Israel.’ ” (Luke 2:25-32)
The Christmas story was for the barren (Elizabeth), the person in a situation everyone would have judged and condemned (Mary), the elderly and the faithful (Simeon and Anna), the young and frightened (Joseph), the lowly and the great (shepherds and wise men), the ‘chosen’ (Israel) and the ‘others’ (Gentiles). In the very way He arrived, Jesus let us know that Christmas is for everyone. He is for everyone.
Less than three months ago, an earthquake devastated the Muslim nation of Indonesia.
OMS church partners immediately began offering help to anyone who needed it.
A helicopter was sent in to provide food to those who were facing starvation in the wake of the disaster and yet unreached by help. In some areas the government would not allow foreigners, so it was incredibly valuable to have the national OMS partners already prepared to help. As has been the OMS philosophy in other times of natural disaster, local believers mobilize themselves and the rest of the OMS family provide as many resources as we can.
Thus we are reminded that the Christmas story is for everyone. Your special gift is important and literally life-saving. It will provide food, temporary shelter, and ensure that all communities will have the chance to hear the story of Jesus’s arrival on earth – the good news, the great news, offered to everyone.
Would you give today to share the Christmas story with Indonesians in need?
|
|
RISE UP 2019 - February 8-9
'Rise Up to Your Calling'
Saturday $30 - Friday & Saturday $50
Ye Yeong Park, North Korean Defector living in South Korea
Denise Shick, Ministering to families dealing with transgenderism
Susan Truitt,OMS field leader in South Korea
Colleen Holt, Director of Dynamic Women Australia
For more details or to book tickets,
email Colleen at dynamic_women@omsaus.org .
|
|
|
‘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 – 03 9870 8559
|
|
|
|
|
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.
*** Please let me know if you do not wish receive these emails. I will take you off the list.*** SEE UNSUBSCRIBE SETTINGS.
Thanks for your continued prayer and support! I love you all!
In His Service,
Shayne
|
|
|
The new initiative from One Mission Society to give the opportunity for 1 billion people to hear the Gospel of Jesus.
|
|
|
|
