deb bai tiaw

So bright and early tomorrow morning, i'll be taking off for a week and a half on an 'official' holiday with Denise, John & the kids. We're going to head to Bangkok for a few days before heading down to Hua Hin for a bit of sun and hopefully surf (not that i'm really in that much need of sun :) hehe). Then when we get back, we'll be heading up to Payao to do a 2-3 day mission, before getting back to the routine of things here in CM. On one hand, i'm really looking forward to getting away for a holiday and checking out parts of Thailand that i've never been to, but on the other hand, i'm already missing lots of my friends here that i won't get to see for 2 weeks. I know it's only 2 weeks that i'll be gone, but it's enough to make me wonder what i'll feel like when i actually leave here to head back to Oz (whenever that ends up being). I'm REALLY going to miss everyone here then!! There's just so much happening right now and some great relationships that i'm forming with some Thai friends. To have the Davies just come (our new team mates), to not see my teacher for 2 weeks is actually huge - since i worked out over the past couple months we end up hanging out, chatting on the phone or online about 15-20hrs a week, even though official 'school' time is 6hrs a weeks. That's like the equivalent of a weeks full time work!! i wonder what she's going to do with her time in the next couple weeks......:)

There's also heaps happening with my cell group in trying to appoint a new leader. i've never actually experienced appointing new leadership for a cell group in the way that it's currently happening. Where rather then actually having leaders available and then forming a group, the group split and has left one of the groups fairly 'leaderless'. It seems that we're going to 'vote' for our new leader, which i'm honestly finding a difficult task to do. If i were to base my choice of leadership on ways that we have chosen leaders in churches i've attended in Sydney, i'd say there isn't anyone there who is ready. There are several who have lots of potential, but really need to be trained up first. So, it should be interesting. For those who are praying, please pray for the cell group leadership. For wisdom for the group as they choose, and also for the future, for opportunities to be training upcoming leaders, and not just trying to 'plug holes' and putting people in charge who just aren't quite ready

Also please pray for us as we head on holidays - for safe travels, lots of R&R, and good family time.

hopefully will get to update a bit while on holidays :)