Christmas In Roi Et

This past weekend we were able to spend in Roi Et with the ministry team and about 300 students.  The students came to the English Learning Center to be a part of the Christmas festivities.  Many of the older students were part of the dance teams, music team or the drama team.  They all seemed to have fun being together and singing and dancing.  Saturday night was the main event and consisted mostly of the high school age students.  The night began with a meal for all which consisted of chicken, rice,  noodles, coke and water.  They sang several popular Christmas songs.  We were able to understand what the song because we knew the tunes.  Noah participated by playing the box and added a great sound to the music.  He was also the AV man for getting the correct songs up, but they gave him a break when it came to changing the slides.  Hannah Grace was a big hit with the girls.  Shortly after arriving in Roi Et, HG drew quit the crowd.  Pastor Life gave the message in Thai, preaching about gifts and that God offered his son Jesus as a free gift for us.  The students also received their Operation Christmas Boxes from Samaritan's Purse Ministry.  It was a joy and privilege for us to be able to hand out the boxes to the students.  They received them graciously.

We also went caroling this past week. It is quite different from the caroling we do in the US. Everyone gathered at the church around 6:00 pm, loaded into two vans and headed out to the first house.  We arrived and sang several Christmas songs and were then invited in to share in food that was prepared by the home owner. After eating we prayed blessings for the family and home and departed for the next home.  We visited about 10 homes that night singing, eating and praying at each one before arriving back at the church at 5:00 am the next morning.  The youth were up early to begin preparation for Sunday's Christmas Service.  This allowed us to go to some of the church member's homes and begin to develop relationships with them.  It was a blessing for us.

Above: Home decorated for Christmas and New Year's.

Right: The group that went caroling. Several more joined us at our second stop.

Above Left: Singing at a church members home.

Above Center & Right: Table of food prepared

Above: Caroling by candle light

Right: Cake and Fruit

Below Center: Watermelon Christmas trees

Above: Pam, HG and CJ by the Christmas tree

Right: Pork on a stick, soup and sauces

Below Center: Spices and sauces

Above: Christmas tree decorations


Right: Desserts with lettuce, pork BBQ on a stick, fried breaded shrimp, bread for dipping in a peanut sauce and fruit.

Below: Picture after Sunday service with some of the young people.