On CHIC, BAM, and the Emerald Buddha

When the organizers of CHIC offered to make our project one of the recipients of their large offering, they made it clear there were a few strings attached. Their goal was to not only help out a worthy ministry, but also challenge some of the students to get involved after CHIC had concluded.

We liked that idea and agreed to host a group of students who would be arriving a day after Christmas--the first of several work groups planned. We planned a trip through Thailand and Laos that would expose them to some of the history and culture, as well as a number of business-as-mission enterprises seeking to share Christ and make a positive economic and social impact in the lives of people.

So, in one week we visited Bangkok, Vientiane, and Chiang Rai, retracing the steps of the Emerald Buddha which over hundreds of years, had been discovered in Thailand, was taken to Laos, and then re-captured and brought to Bangkok.

We also visited 6 different ministries in Laos and Thailand ending up at our place in Chiang Khong where we showed them the food mill CHIC funds helped to build. It was a wonderful, whirl-wind week of travel, education, bonding, prayer, and fun. We hope to see some of these back out here some day--or at least involved in ministry wherever God opens the door for them.

The Challenge: Can you eat a "rat-dropping" red pepper, also known as a "Thai carrot"?

Not a problem, says Jon.

The pain hasn't begun to show.

Jamie Sladkey and our "most beautiful" (her words) guide to the Temple of Emerald Buddha.

Okay, yes, we spent too many hours in a van...

Jamie Sladkey, Stephanie Braman, Jon Foley, Allison Honn, Sara Wilson, Kaitlin Choquette were accompanied by Kimberly Crawford from DWM. In Vientiane we ran into this guy-- the friendliest monk you could ever want to meet. Great English too.

A cave in the heartland of Laos.

Telling the story of our 16 years in Laos--in 3 minutes or less.

Arriving up-country Laos from Vientiane. It is beautiful.

Near the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Vientiane. The Emerald Buddha went to Bangkok around the time of the American Revolution.

We finally reached Mekong Valley Foods in Chiang Rai....

And celebrated New Years by lighting northern Thai floating lanterns. A lot of fun.