A walk in my shoes... (part 2)

This is the new mall in Khon Kaen at night.  Students love to go here to eat and hangout.  

One of the ways the staff reach out to students is by playing "futsal," which is basically indoor soccer, in the gym attached to their church. Me and Guy are watching the mad skills of all the Thai students.

During each "futsal" event the staff lead in sharing the gospel message to all who come out.  Most of the Thai students have never heard of Christ coming to save sinners.  Mark (in front sharing with the students) is on staff at NEU.  He cant wait to meet all of you students who are apart of the Thailand CCP team this summer.

This is the entrance to NEU.  THe building to the left of this picture are the classrooms.  Some of you (CCP students) will be partnered with Mark over the summer to help teach English to Thai students attending the university.  

The N.E.U. sign in the middle of campus.  About 6,000 students attend the university.

The first students me and Will met on campus.  Guy, (bottom left) has been ministering to these freshmen since they began at NEU. They were playing he card game UNO!  THey love it.  

This is the cafeteria at NEU.  We will spend most of our afternoons here while in Khon Kaen this summer.  This is a great place to begin developing relationships with students.  This cafeteria will be packed when we arrive at their beginning of their semester this summer.

Here' one of the food lines in the cafeteria.  I had rice with an egg omelet on top.  Not to bad.  All of the food is served with rice.

This is where the students will go to orientation at the beginning of their semester this summer.  Guy will introduce us all to the freshmen class!  

These are the dorms on campus.  One is coed, the other two are men and women only dorms.  In front of the dorms is their large soccer field.  At night this field is the "place to be."  

This is "central park" on campus.  Students lounge, study and hangout here in between classes.

This is one of the information signs on campus.  "Umm Guy, where are you when I need you? I cant read this sign. Just tell me where to go..." :)

Most of the students will be riding motorcycles to campus.  You'll see bikes parked all over campus like this one below.

Will, me and Guy walk across the street (notice all the bikes) to the Campus Outreach campus center. The campus center is where the staff bring students for bible studies, prayer and other events for NEU students.  We will spend each morning here for personal study and reflection.  

Below are pics of outside and inside the campus center.

Here is one of possible locations where we will reside for the summer.  This is where the CCP team stayed at last year.  

Here is a pic of outside some of the apartment doors.  We couldnt take a look inside any of them because each one was already occupied.  

Across from the apartments is where Honey and Snow (2 of the girl staff) rent.  You girls coming this summer will be spending alot of time here hanging out with the staff and ministering to other girls on campus.

This pic was taken inside the Khon Kaen airport before me, Will and Guy took off for Bangkok to visit the Buddhist temples and other scenery.  

While in Bangkok we went to several of the malls.  This is a krispy kreme vendor.  Everyday Thai natives stand in line for hours to get some of their doughnuts.  Hilarious!! I couldnt believe this when we saw it.

Us walking up to the entrance of the Kings palace, and the emerald buddhist temples. Below are some of the statues and temples inside the gates...

In the background is the Kings Palace where the current king of Thailand lives.

Guards outside the Kings Palace.  Thank Will for taking this picture while my eyes are closed. :) I must of been shocked by how much taller I was then everyone

The gate outside the kings palace. 

Here's a great shot of the city of Bangkok.  11 million people live there!!  This pic was taken on top of observation decks in Bangkok.

My time in Thailand was awesome!  The Lord expanding my vision for the world while reminding me that the same gospel is reaching the ends the earth.  It has been so eye opening to see and hear several of the christian Thai students share how they came to know Christ and how the Lord is growing them be more like Him!   I cant wait to go back with you guys (CCP team) to Thailand.  This will be a great experience for all of us!  

A walk in my shoes...

Me striking a pose before heading out to our first stop in Tokyo before getting into Thailand.  15 out of the 26 hours of air-travel awaits...

Me and Will on the plane heading to our first stop Tokyo (notice the two Japanese men sitting next to me...yeah I had no idea what they we're talking about :)

Here are some pics of the Bangkok Airport (our last stop before getting to Khon Kaen, Thailand) Thailand has some pretty amazing architecture.  

Below is the "Novotel" Hotel where we stayed while in Bangkok before heading out Khon Kaen the next morning. Me and Will needed the rest after flying for over 26 hours. (we totaled it up...  We had had spent 40 hours awake and 5 hours sleeping over the two days over air travel...Me need sleepy :)

Here's a pic inside the hotel of the lobby from one of the indoor balconies. 

The pool at the hotel... very nice

Two fish fountains making sure the water is fresh for me to swim in...

 Bar beside the pool.  "Yeah I think I'll pass on the drinks...the fish spitting in the pool is refreshing enough for me...thanks anyways :)"

Me and Will with "Moo"- his shortened Thai name (all Thai natives receive a shortened name by the parents that they go by.  Moo informed us that he received the shortened name "Moo" from his parents because he was "fat like a cow" - his words, I swear.  

Moo came to Christ through Campus Outreach years ago.     

He interned with Campus Outreach Thailand before becoming a sports reporter in Thailand!  WHO's "mooing" now :)

This is the welcome sign to Khon Kaen when you arrive at the airport.

Right after arriving some of the staff took us out to eat.  Below is a "spirit house," that was in front of the restaurant.  "Spirit houses" are set in front of all buildings to keep evil spirits off their property.  Each day they bring fresh food out to feed the "spirit house" so they have energy to fight off evil spirits.

Small "zoo" before the entrance to the restaurant... They had iguanas, exotic birds, and ginny pigs on display.  Why ginny pigs??? I have no idea.  

Thailand is full of colorful plants... Here is pic of a "honeysuckle" plant. (I think...please dont "bust my chops if I'm wrong here.  Remember you're taking "A walk in my shoes"...just kidding

At the restaruaunt with some of the C.O. Thailand staff.  

We went to the "Home Depot" of Khon Kaen.  You can see the are director (Gary Alward in the white shirt and me to the right)  Gary needed some lightbulbs so we went along with him

.  FYI-Khon Kaen only sells fluorescent light-bulbs...come on America get "green" like Thailand.  

A gold arch over the highway.  I think it has something to do with representing the King of Thailand.

The entrance to Northeastern University where we will be ministering to students this summer! (A picture of the king is above the sign...Pictures of the king are all over Khon Kaen.

This is a shuttle bus.  & yes we will be riding in these once we arrive in Khon Kaen in order to get to the apartments where we will be staying.  (We will be sitting in the back of these trucks/shuttles)

This is the new mall in Khon Kaen. Alot of students hang out there. The mall has a movie theatre, karaoke, bowling, food, and other fun activities.  We will be spending some of our time hanging out and ministering to students here.

Remember Agape!  He's sporting a UK shirt that we brought as a gift.  Sorry Guy I cut your head out of the picture.  It's all about the Baby...

This is the entrance to Campus Outreach's church and offices

Here's some pictures of the church / offices from the outside

Some pics from inside the church.  This is where they have their "sermons" or teaching times... 

Attached to the church is a gym.  They have worship here, and minister to students by playing soccer, basketball and badminton. 

Dont worry.  Ladies and gentlemen we will know where the bathrooms are and which one is for us...here are some pics of the signs in front of bathrooms...

Campus Outreach provides beverages at their church... 

All the Coca-colas are one side english-one side Thai.

One of the entry ways into the church.

This is the church's  "fellowship hall" where they serve meals and hang out together before and after every church service.

Will with a picture of Nai (left) and Bla (right)...

 Nai is on staff with C.O. Thailand and Bla owns & runs the only Chrisitian bookstore in Khon Kaen. 

Church worship service.  It was sweet to hear them praising the same God in another language!

Sherry (one of the wives on staff) with her daughter Sophie Mei

Nai leading worship while "sport'n" his UK t-shirt we brought for him.

Thais praying during the service.

This trip has been amazing so far. Me and Will have been getting to know all the staff while learning more about what we will be doing this summer to help their ministry.  They cant wait to meet all of you.  

Dont worry more pics to come later...but until then thank you for your prayers and I'll talk to you soon.