TBMF Newsletter

November 2004

With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person which went almost unnoticed last week. Larry La Prise , the man who wrote "The Hoky Poky", died peacefully at age 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin.  They put his left leg in, and then the trouble started...

TBMF Website

Thanks to Chatchai's efforts, TBMF now has a presence on the internet. Feel free to visit our site at: www.tbmf.org . In the process of establishing the website, we discovered a number of other things and groups that have the same initials. One name is not printable in a family newsletter, but some of the others include the T riangle B each M usic F estival, something advertising TBMF affordable dentures, T aco B ell/ M cLamore F oundation and T emperate B roadleaf and M ixed F orests . It is nice to know our initials join such fine company. As part of this process, please note that our e-mail addresses have changed as follows:

Duane & Marcia, General Secretaries: gensec@tbmf.org

Chatchai, Financial Manager: finmgr@tbmf.org

Bi, Office Secretary: info@tbmf.org

Joy & Suporn , Accounting Department: accounts@tbmf.org

Alex Rodgers , TBMF Volunteer and Tour Coordinator can still best be reached at: alexinchiangmai@loxinfo.co.th

Question 1:

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

Join the BWA?

The Baptist World Alliance has created 3 new levels of membership at their General Council meeting last July. There is now the opportunity to join as an individual, church or Baptist organization. To join personally, it costs $100 for a North American, $50 - $100 for a person in Western Europe and the developed world and $10 - $100 for those in the Developing World. The withdrawal of the Southern Baptists from the BWA leaves a hole in fellowship and finances so joining would be a good sign of solidarity. Look on the BWA website at www.bwanet.org for more information and application forms.

Question 2:

Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?

Coming and Going

These last couple months must be a record for the fewest number of people coming and going. Lyndal Brunner returned to Chiang Rai after a home assignment in Australia and is back in place at the Christian Service Center . Filip Wallberg and Petter Oscarsson have been in Chiang Mai for the last year representing BUS working with the Karen in a variety of roles. They will be leaving in December in time to get back to Sweden for a white Christmas.

Several other volunteers mentioned in the last newsletter have finished their language lessons and are getting started in the working roles. Martin and Charlotta Morck are based in Chiang Mai and will help the Pwo Karen and Youth Center . Leena Andersson has left Chiang Mai and is now in Mae Sariang helping to teach English. The Morcks and Leena are from the Swedish Baptist Youth Federation. Charlotte Stein and her daughter Marlena from the US left Chiang Mai and went to Chiang Rai in time to start teaching at United Village School for their second term. Charlotte is also helping teach at the English Language, Family Learning Center where Marlena has joined the Fox children in taking classes.

Notable Dates

December 3 TBMF Potluck dinner at Bi nkleys – 6:00 pm

December 6 King's Bi rthday – Office Closed

December 10 Constitution Day – Office Closed

December 23 TBMF Office Staff Christmas lunch (office closed 11:30 am – 2:00 pm )

December 24 Christmas Eve – Office Closed

December 31 New Year's Eve – Office Closed

January 19 – 21 Phak 12 Annual Meeting in Mae Sai

January 22 KRCH Board Meeting

January 24 CSC Meeting

February 7 Coordinating Committee

Question 3:

If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?