What a week. I have been so busy that I have not had time to post here. I hope everyone is well and that you are enduring winter (or summer for a few of you) wherever you are. As I mentioned, the visa situation was working out, and indeed it did. For a few more interesting details, check out Nathan's blog (link on the left- Double-O-Kimmons post). Actually I think it should be Mission:Impossible...the music works better as I am reading it. Thanks again for all the prayers.

Thailand is, of course, Buddhist, so Christmas is not noticed, at least out here away from the big cities. Chiang Mai and Bangkok have a little more western influence (i.e. shopping opportunities) so the holiday is creeping in. At the request of the students, I spent some time this week covering the origins of Christmas and Easter, how they found themselves in the church, and how unnecessary that is. Nathan spent a second session examining the Greek and Hebrew words translated "hell" in English Bibles, and this resulted in considerable discussion last night. Hkawn Din was particularly pleased to see the Bible teaching that innocents who have never heard of the Christ are NOT doomed to everlasting torture (in fact, no one is). When I have time, I will write up some of these lessons, and make them available on a website. I am committed to writing them up for translation into Burmese, so I might as well share them- besides, they will fit in perfectly with the ministry I have started back home.

As I mentioned, the students staying here during the break said they would like to have (non-credit) class every day, so I have been preparing a 2 hour daily doctrine class. I have been trying to write up the information in a logical and easy-to-use style so that they can take the material back to their villages and use it. Because of this, the preparation is taking me most of the rest of the day and night after class (10 AM) and lunch (noon). So this is definitely not break time for me. When regular classes begin again the second week of January, I will be back to the Tuesday and Thursday regular classes. I offered the Burmese graduates special classes on the other 3 days, and they were all for it. I am only here for a while, so we might as well make the most of it!

This week featured a FIRST since I arrived over 3 weeks ago. It rained. I have been amazed at the lack of rain for so long, but we had a light rain 2 days ago. Made it a little more interestign riding back and forth to school on the bike- especially since it has no bumpers- nice splatters up the back of my yellow shirt. Also made me appreciate that I am here in the winter and not in the rainy season, when it rains literally every day.

Seng Hpa continues to amaze me with all the things she can do with, and make for us to put on, rice. All without recipes- just in her head. Hkawn Din has made a few of her own creations as well. Every once in a while, we even have something a little western, like the french fries yesterday. I cannot offer an opinion as to how they were, and neither can Nathan or Ben, because they all disappeared before we had a taste. For a minute I thought my wife was somewhere around- that's one of the signs. (Hi Shelby!)

Leon is still struggling somewhat, so please continue to pray for him. He is doing his therapy, but it is a long road, it seems. He was not doing so well today, so I took the sermon. Began with Jesus on Solomon's Porch (feast of dedication) and backed up to the Assyrian Empire. Looked at Daniel 2, 8 and 11 as we followed through with Babylon, Persia, Alexander and then the Selucids and Ptolemys to show why the Temple had to be cleansed and rededicated in the first place. In the end, I illustrated "irony"- a term with which they are not familiar- by pointing out that the very holiday (Hannukah) that began as a result of fighting hellenism has itself become contaminated (IMO) with customs unrelated to YHVH. At least that is ironic to me. Nobody fell asleep, anyway- maybe it was the pretty maps on the projector. Or maybe it was the familiarity the Burmese hill tribe people have with finding themselves in the middle of warring factions- just as the Jews did between the Selucids (king of the north) and Ptolemys (king of the south).

It is nice to have a few minutes when I do not have to be doing something. Maybe I can relax for a little while tomorow before I start working on Monday's class. Oh, and for the record, another reason this week has been tougher than usual is that the ice cream lady has taken the week off. Looks like they are off on a holiday- house is deserted. I look forward to their return. :)