The last 2 weeks of December were full of Christmas celebrations and farewells. We had such a fun time celebrating Christmas with everyone, particularly the school staff party where we had to guess the gift and giver. The food at our “farang” christmas was awesome, just a shame Jan got bitten by a massive centipede (can be worse than snake and scorpion bites) in the middle of dessert. With some ice massage from Michael and Olivia’s magic plant, she didn’t need a trip to the hospital. We left on Monday morning, with all of year 5 and 6 students coming to say goodbye. So sweet but also so tough with many tears. After many hugs and prayers, we left in the school mini bus.

We are now in Bangkok doing final shopping and debrief, plus trying to rest after being physically and emotionally exhausted from the last few weeks. So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!!

Farang (Western) Christmas at Jan and Jit's on Boxing Day

School/Candlelight Staff vs Hospital Staff Christmas Soccer Match

Brawin with his new Sydney towel at the Candlelight Christmas/Farewell

"Bot" thanking us in front of the new computer and desk we could bless the hostel with

Receiving a gift from Chatchawan at our farewell arvo tea for the village where Katy baked mountains of cookies and cakes

School Staff Christmas Party

Church Christmas Celebration, posing with hostel kids

Fun Christmas games at the Safehouse

Karen lunch with Joar's family after Christmas Church service

Michael sharing the Christmas message at Molekar church

Michael playing "Dad", buying balloons and snacks for hostel kids at the Christmas Night concert

Mumu's new pigs, "Ben" and "Nikki", which she bought with money donated from the St Paul's team - she will raise them for Christmas next year

Saturday: Shopping in Kanchanaburi for resources for the school. Up at 5am and back at 11pm – massive day but were able to purchase instruments, sports gear and craft gear – sooooo goood!

Gifts for school...yes, we cannot move in our house at moment!

Our teenage "daughters" from hostel playing the new guitars - woohoo!

Sunday: Church with an Aussie team in the morning (yay for English sermon) plus Happy Birthday Jan with cake at devotions.

Dr Sakda and baby "Ping Pong" - why does everyone here name their kids after sports?

Jan blowing out candles...Jit almost forgot the day!

Monday: Sweet December celebration at church – Aussie team did worship in English (1^st time for us here in 11 months) – amazing!

Tuesday: School excursion with year 6 to Pattanarak – learnt about agriculture from a project helping people suffering from HIV. Followed by a long afternoon meeting rewriting proposal to Japanese Embassy to finance a new school building.

Year 6 transport to excursion....gotta love the village way....

Feeding fish and frogs with Year 6 at Pattanarak.

Wednesday: English Morning Assembly – Students who came first in English last Semester received a certificate and gift. We presented our gifts to the school.

Shaking principal's hand - Thai's like everything to be done formally!

Thursday: Candlelight Christmas Celebration – wonderful to see whole community gather to celebrate the year with many donations from businesses.

Candlelight staff hand out Christmas goodie bags for every member.

Nongae receives her present - a new blanket!

Friday: Wan Por (Father’s Day as King’s Birthday) at school.

Khru Por - "Teacher Dad" is how Supah is affectionately known.

Michael receives flowers from hostel girls as he is there "Dad" here.

Thank you all for your generous support of us which means we have been able to buy gifts for the projects we work with. But time is going too fast….not ready to come home yet!

Invites we made for our farang arvos....

Playing Uno and eating banana cake with "Ajaan Micheon"!

Today we took them all swimming in the river behind Jan and Jit’s house. The anticipation all week almost killed them! They all brought a picnic lunch (but not what you are thinking – rice in a bag with some fish and a massive pot of curry carried to the river for students to add once there – yum!). We swam, or played in the water is a better word as it was not very deep, not even up to my hips…but that was great as much safer for the younger ones. We had fun with balls whilst the boys decided to bury each other alive in the dirt. Such a special time of bonding with them all, so tell me, how do we bring them all home with us?

Enjoying "picnic" lunch by the river.

Tom buried in the dirt and check out the 2 bumps...kids will be kids!!

This week a group came from Chiang Mai to evangelise and bring revival to the students at school! They ran 3 morning sessions in which the students participated in singing, games and a drama. All the students seemed to love it and on the last day they were asked to make a decision about beginning a relationship with Jesus! They were told to decide what they believed and make the decision for themselves, not based on what their parents or teachers wanted. It was so special to see many students make the commitment and stand for Jesus, brought shivers down my spine as I realised again how God loves all and desires all to know Him. Wow!

Party in heaven at this moment as lives changed!

Singing and actions...lots of our old English songs in Thai.

Last of all (sorry I like to write lots), here are some other things Michael and I have been up to the last few weeks. I am teaching a 5 year old boy every afternoon for 1 hour. He is here from England for 6 months visiting his mother’s family as his mum is Karen and his Dad is English. They were worried about him missing so much school so for this month I am helping out. It is nice to be teaching in English again and with someone who understands what I am saying without me acting it out!! Although it amazes me how many times I go to speak to him in Thai….better be careful next year. Michael has been continuing with his bible teaching at the Safe House on Friday afternoons but is now in the process of handing it over to the locals. ATTENTION ALL WHO ARE COMPETITIVE: GREEN WON!!! WOOOOHOOOO……(not sure look at last blog…)

Teaching English in English....yay!

Michael teaching being translated twice....Burmese and Karen!

Umpiring Chaibon aka bucket ball that turns into rugby with 6 year olds

On Tuesday, the whole school paraded through Huay Malai in their sport colours to officially open the sport week. It was amazing how many rehearsals were put into make it successful but from the drummers, to the band, to the performers to the colour groups, the students all marched proudly down the main street…dodging the motorbikes as best they could! We could not believe the effort they went to in making the kids look good….many of the performers were up from 5am at the local hairdresser having their hair, makeup and costumes done….so much effort but it did make them all look so grown up and professional. We were proud of our kids!!

Drummers set the marching tempo - sai kwa sai (left, right, left)

Marching girls swing their batons to lead the parade...check out the doo!

On Thursday, the sport week had to be put on hold for a day as 30 students were selected to travel into the main school in Sangklaburi to compete in a variety of academic activities, such as writing, drawing, singing, scouts, against other schools. I was asked to run the English spelling bee. It was hilarious!! I only had 5 students competing and the winner got 10 words out of 20 right! I was glad to help but wish I had known earlier so I could have prepared some of the Saha students to compete in the English section. Michael judged an English impromptu speech competition…realising the difficult job teachers have of marking subjective criteria. We drove students into the competition with one of the hospital trucks…never taken that many people in a car before…praise God for his protection!

Spelling Bee - students could write the words, not speak them.

Enjoying lunch with kids afterwards before driving all back - congrats!

Finally on Friday at 5pm after racing, relays and finals all day, the presentation occurred. All students received a bag of “kanom” to eat (Thai sweets and chips). Every student/team that got a position received a very practical prize, from baby powder, soap, shampoo, cologne and toothpaste – such a great idea as it is exactly what these kids need! A little different from ribbons and trophy’s…although team winners received a trophy for their colour that stays at the school. Well, at 6pm it was getting dark but the presentation still was not over so it will be continued on Monday….so we still do not know the winning colour…I hope it was GREEN (my colour)…will let you know next week. FUN TIMES!

Red celebrate winning trophy!

Presentation...like our tent area set up for the week?

The new church building - 70% complete - room on left where used to meet.

Michael with Pastor Prasarn in matching shirts!

After 2 days in Khorat, we travelled one hour to Khao Yai National Park where we did a jungle trek tour for a full day. It was amazing! We saw so many animals in the wild – gibbons, deers, macaques, squirrels, hornbills, water monitors, pythons, snakes…and almost wild elephants (just their poo!)

Millions of Bats flying out of their cave at Khao Yai National Park

Classic English sign with Michael's sexy leech socks

Python that just ate a deer - would take 2 weeks of sleeping to digest it

Green tree snake at Khao Yai National Park

Gibbon in the wild at Khao Yai National Park

Gorgeous waterfall at Khao Yai

We bussed it back to Bangkok where we then caught the 14 hour overnight train to Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand. We had 7 days to do tourist things but also relax by the pool which was so good. We visited the Arts and Cultural Centre, Chiang Mai Zoo, did a cooking class – so good and can hopefully repeat for all of you at home, went on a Jungle Flight – massive flying fox to 33 platforms 40m above rainforest and abseiling – scary but so fun with incredible views, night bazaar, markets, shopping and movies. We were also able to catch up with other friends we have met during our time in Thailand at church and for meals (found a yummy northern dish called Khao Soy – ate it nearly everyday!)

Female Panda at Chiang Mai zoo enjoying bamboo

Male Panda reclining in his chair and eating - just like Aussie Males!

Shopping bag and recipes from Thai cooking class - just coincidence they look like us!!

Michael enjoying ziplining through the jungle

Spiral staircase linking two flying foxes

Michael's Bday - awesome chocolate cake!

We caught the overnight train back to Bangkok where we had 2 nights to catch up with Bangkok friends and celebrate Michael’s 26th Birthday! It was great to be able to celebrate his birthday doing “farang” things we cannot do in village like going to the movies, going bowling, having a massage and eating at the “Outback” – Aussie restaurant where the cheesy bacon fries and burgers tasted exactly like home! Thank you to all who have sent messages, cards, money and packages!!

On Friday, we took mum to see the work of Candlelight and the Safe House where Mum was able to purchase Karen clothing, bags, tablecloths and many greeting cards – the locals were so grateful for Mum’s purchases. We then had a girl’s night out in Sangklaburi at P Guesthouse in A7 – amazing sunset and air con – give mum some relief from the heat!

Gorgeous Pink Sunset at P Guesthouse.

On Saturday we explored our area, going to the Three Pagoda’s Pass so Mum could visit Myanmar and drink “real” coffee – finally! We also showed mum the beautiful jewellery and craftwork in the Mon Village at the temple. In the afternoon, we visited Naisah’s family so Mum could see Michael in physio action and meet his beautiful grand-daughters who I teach at Saha.

Enjoying real coffee in Three Pagoda's, check out coffee mug stool!

Katy practising English with Naisah's grand daughters while Michael does physio.

On Sunday, Mum was able to meet all our new fam and friends at Jordan church before helping me cook for our regular Sunday night devotions as we had many visitors coming. We cooked “farang” food – spag bol – yum! It was also a chance to say goodbye to the doctors and volunteers who have been here for 1 month – so great to be able to talk English! We travelled with Mum to Kanchanaburi to show her the Bridge over the River Kwai and Australian History in the museums. Finally we returned to Bangkok where Mum spoilt us a night at a nice hotel with an amazing Brazilian dinner. Thanks for coming to visit us and spoil us Mum!

We fit 12 in our tiny place for dinner - wow!

Farewell dinner with Mum - Brazilian meats - yummy!

Also, I am not sure if I have mentioned it before, but earlier in the year I developed a link between the year 6 class here and a year 6 class at my school in Sydney (which a good friend teaches.) We have written 2 letters and received 2 replies and are in the process of writing a third letter. It is very challenging for these students to write in English but it is a wonderful motivator and they are so excited when the letters from Australia arrive, along with gifts of pencils and stickers etc. The students here have very little and yet always want to send a small gift with their letter too, so generous! It was funny seeing them open the very first letter as there were photos attached. I think they were all expecting to see blue eyed blondies, little did they know how multicultural Australia is! It was a good lesson for them to learn that many students in Australia also speak many languages, as they do.

2 students from every class come to the front to practise speaking English.

English phrase posters in every classroom for practising!

This week the students have been busy doing exams for every subject as next week is the last week of this semester. I had to write an English exam for every class from year 1 to year 6 – very difficult! They all did it yesterday and I spent all today marking but only got half way – 400 + papers to mark. I am a bit disappointed with what I have seen so far but writing and reading is so much harder than speaking for these students. It means I know what to focus on next semester with my teaching.

Year 6 Class at Saha and their teacher/mentor Khru Supah.

A Saha student writes to a year 6 student in Sydney.

Last but not least, I was in hospital this week, not Michael..hee, hee! I had a phone call from Michael this week while he was on ward rounds at the hospital, asking what blood type I am as there was a man in desperate need of a blood transfusion. They tested my blood and it was a match so I donated blood at the hospital. I used to donate regularly at the Blood Bank so it all went smoothly just so different – NO long forms, interviews, measurements, waiting – but I did get my drink and “kanom” sweet food afterwards as I sat on the bed, plus iron and vitamin supplements – interesting!

Year 2 exam...check out what the student wrote for his name, does he want extra marks?

Katy giving blood at the hospital.