TBMF Newsletter

December 2003

Merry Christmas to All

At least among the tribal folks and probably among many others in Thailand , Dec. 25 th isn't given all that much importance. Christmas is celebrated most anytime during December. Out in the villages, Christmas celebrations are also used to draw in non-Christians from the surrounding area as evangelistic outreach. So lots of our missionary and local Thai colleagues are on the road visiting villages and organizing celebrations. It seems though, that not only in December, but every day should be a day we celebrate Christ's birth and that our celebrations should be a witness to others. So may each day of your December and all the rest of the coming new year be a day of celebration of God's many gifts to us.

PS: Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses

TBMF Consultation

There has been some confusion and discussion about the dates for the next TBMF Consultation. But now the dates are set for Feb. 16 – 20, 2004 . Liz Russell of BMS will be the chair of the Consultation. We are working on the schedule and hope to have that out soon.

New Grandparents

Geoff & Kay Ryall became first time grandparents back in October. LaMon & Pat Brown are expecting a new grandson in January. Their son and daughter in law are living in Indonesia but have already arrived in Chiang Mai where the baby will be born.

Whatever Happened to …

Last newsletter I mentioned that I would try to give a brief update on what has happened to former TBMF people. Though some of us may soon get to see them in person, I thought this time we would feature Phil & Melba McDaniel and family . At least some of them will be visiting Thailand again at the end of this month when Phil will be attending the 50 year reunion of what is now called the Chiang Mai International School . Phil will also be mixing in some time helping at the Kwai River Christian Hospital .

Phil and Melba are living in Portland , Oregon in the US . Phil has joined the South Tabor Family Physicians group which is composed of 8 doctors, one nurse practitioner plus other nurses and office staff. Melba is a volunteer chaplain at the county jail one day per week and teaches Sunday school. She also helps Melodie with her homework and does reading practice with Melodie when she gets home from school. Nathan is in his second year at George Fox University which is also in Oregon about 40 minutes away from Melba & Phil. Linette and her husband are living in the state of Maryland where she is teaching English as a second language and Tim works as a research engineer.

Phil has written several newsletters talking about some of the things he has needed to adjust to living in America . Here is an excerpt from 1 newsletter talking about patients in the US :

LARGE PATIENTS: The number of seriously overweight patients in this practice continually amazes me. The size of some is astonishing. Their belly walls are so thick that a meaningful examination of the abdomen is next to impossible. I dictate in my note, “no organomegaly or masses palpable”, and then feel as though I really ought to add in parentheses, “of course, if there were any, I would not have been able to feel them anyway!”

IMPATIENT PATIENTS: American patients tend to get grumpy if they are not examined by the doctor within a half hour or so of getting to the clinic. There's no such thing as a patient who cheerfully eats his lunch and takes his afternoon siesta while waiting to see the doctor!

DEMANDING PATIENTS: Patients expect their doctor to be able to take care of every ache and pain. The thought of having to LIVE with pain seems like a violation of basic rights.

MODERN PATIENTS: No malaria, worms, or leprosy, but plenty of anxiety, depression, coronary artery disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. So much for “progress”.

PS: Acupuncture is a jab well done.

Coming and Going

At this time of year it is probably easier to talk about who is staying rather than who is leaving or coming. So this list is by no means exhaustive, but at least some of our recent visitors have included Liz Russell of BMS and former TBMF folks Dick Worley and Ian & Del Pattemore . Along with some of the birds from more northern reaches, Dick & Marlene Mann have also made their annual migration to Baw Gaew . All 7 of the Ernvik clan should be in Chiang Mai as I write this. Among those scheduled to come are Mike & Becky Mann, Rupert & Dee Nelson, Edy McCarty as well as Phil McDaniel as mentioned above.

Coming back after periods of home assignment are John & Vicki Rees who should arrive around Christmas day , Judy Cook who should return in early January and Chuck & Ruth Fox and family coming around mid-January. A little later, in March, Karen Smith should be returning to Thailand .

Kit Ripley has been all the way to Africa and back. Next week though, she'll be making another move north to Chiang Mai having wound up the Bangkok portion of her language study.

Note: Living on the earth is expensive, but it includes a free trip around the sun each year!

Contact Info.

Last newsletter we mentioned that Alex Rodgers is here and working as our Volunteer and Tour Coordinator. We should also mention that he can be reached by e-mail at: tbmftour@loxinfo.co.th

Loes DeVos has a new e-mail address: v48loes@bigpond.com

Meetings and Events

Dec. 15 12 th Phak Executive Committee

Dec. 16 Burma Border Consortium Board

Jan. 5 Volunteer & Tour Committee at Sammuk

Jan. 10 CSC Committee

Jan. 16 – 17 12 th Phak Annual Meeting, Mae Sai

Jan. 17 KRCH Board Meeting

Jan. 21-22 Lahu Annual Meeting at LBI

Jan 22 KBC Executive Committee

Jan. 28 Coordinating Committee

Feb. 2 Language & Orientation Committee

Feb. 10 Christian Mission Cottages Committee

Feb. 10 Conference Planning Committee

Feb. 10 ULS Board Meeting

Feb. 16 – 20 TBMF Consultation

Feb. 23 – 28 Asian Baptist Women's Conference, Okinawa

Did you ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the ones who have to wait for them?