Bangkok was AWESOME!

This is an update since I have been literally "out of the country".

I had a most amazing and awesome trip to Bangkok, Thailand, from Dec. 15 - 24, 2006. My wonderful and energetic 82 year old Mom, Jeanne Hosier from Iowa, accompanied me.
Each and every day was truly an adventure and a gift from God to us. Before I left, in my quiet time, God told me to "Have a good time, from Dad." It was a VERY good time. Thank you to My Father in Heaven. We started off driving to Dallas for our flight out. We stayed with my good friend from high school, Jan Thatcher. She made us delicious banana bread, which I ate many mornings in Thailand; then on to a 23 hour trip to Thailand, via Japan, for our second leg.

When we got to Bangkok, it was about 1 in the morning and Ryne and Tik met us at the huge International airport and we got into a taxi and took an adventurous ride to our hotel named
The Grand Mercure Park Avenue. That was to be our home for most of the next 8 days. I highly recommend it. The people there were so good to us. There was beautiful Lek at the front desk, who escorted us to a hospital when Mom fell over a small ridge going into our bathroom. Fortunately, she did not break anything, but is still recovering from a soft bone (cartilage) injury. With the help of a pain reliever they prescribed (which Mom found out was not approved in the US - Ha) Mom was able to function somewhat normally. Unfortunately, the pain would worsen at bedtime and in the early morning. Also, at the hotel, the wonderful Italian restaurant was so good and they always asked Mom how she was feeling and came over and talked to us. Mom became somewhat of a celebrity. The hotel even gave us a free lunch after the hospital visit, then the next day sent her some flowers and fresh fruit. What a deal! The Thai referred to Mom as the "Good luck old lady" and said she was "old, but beautiful". We also enjoyed the tailor from Napal, James, who made Mom's blue jacket and my red shirt, and Sonny's wife Amy's blouse and skirt.

We so enjoyed spending time with Ryne and Tik, before and during their wedding. Also, my eldest son, Sonny, 34, an attorney from Minnesota, joined us there, too. Then Ryne's dad and stepmom and his grandpa and friend, Jini. The wedding took place on the 16th floor of the Dynasty Hotel and the reception was on the first floor. There was an ice sculpture and beautiful 3 tiered wedding cake, as well as lots of wonderful Thai and European foods. YUMMY. Needless to say, I did not lose weight on this trip. :-) Tik made a beautiful bride and Ryne a handsome groom.

Before they were married, Ryne and Tik, along with their friends Nan and Mam, took us on a trip by van and then by ferry boat to an island, Ko Si Chang. It was beautiful and has lots of history. There was a Buddhist temple there, that you had to walk up LOTS of steps to get to the top. Ryne and Sonny went to the tip top where sat a very old Monk, with tattoos all over him and who was worshiping Buddha. Unfortunately, I hit my head hard getting into a tuk tuk (mode of transportation there - like an open air taxi sort of). Ouch - that hurt.

Also, Mom and I attended Tik's wedding shower at Santisuk Peace Fellowship Church and School. It was so nice and Tik got lots of nice presents. Mom and I bought them some nice unique silverware that Ryne had picked out at the "Che-che" market on the weekend - a HUGE flea market type of place with good prices. Fun, but very crowded, what an experience.

Then another day, we ate dinner at a very modest, yet delicious Thai restaurant, where the food was cooked outside in front of the small restaurant. Ryne and Tik's friend Dan and Liza, Steve and Tim (passing through from London) joined all of us for dinner. The whole meal was only $36.00 - amazing. We had SO MUCH FOOD!

Another really cool thing that Mom, Sonny and I did was go to the Grand Palace, which is in Bangkok and has lots of security there. Also, a tour guide took us around and told us all about the place for only 500 baht ($15.00). I thought that was worth it, also. It had very beautiful sculptures and paintings. The sad thing to me was it was all dedicated to Buddha. There was a large jade buddha there that they referred to as the "Emerald Buddha". It has a very high place of honor there and we had to remove our shoes and be quiet, no photographs, when going in.

Mom and I had many interesting adventures when left to ourselves. We always knew God was right there with us and He actually orchestrated our enjoyment and kept us from permanent harm. :-) It was so nice.

When I got home, it was so nice to see my family. I had really missed everyone a bunch. I think they missed me, too. I had some time to reflect on Thailand and what I saw there. I met a wonderful kind, honorable and caring people group. Unfortunately, many of them are Buddhists ( 95 %) and some Islam, mostly in S. Thailand, though. It is definitely a huge witness field. I had a good cry for them one evening after I returned home to the U.S. I am so blessed to know Jesus, I want them to know Him, too, instead of putting their hope and faith in the idols and Buddha - false hopes and gods. Please pray for this country of people that God will open their eyes to The Truth in Christ Jesus.

Tik and Ryne go to Santisuk Peace Fellowship church and Tik teaches English there. These people are doing what God has called them to - witnessing and befriending the non-Christians. I pray that God will empower them greatly to bring the lost to Christ. Steve and Nopaluck Cable run this school and church. Many blessings of God to them. Peace out in Him, Pat Frost