alaskateam's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries

alaskateam's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member alaskateam on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/alaskateam en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:55:01 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com Our Flight Itinerary — Fairbanks, Alaska, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/2/1255640127/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/2/1255640127/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/2/1255640127/tpod.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:55:01 -0400 Alaska Team 2009

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Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

We have a long flight-journey before we even arrive in Thailand, which consists of 15-hours of flying-time plus 8-hours of layovers, for a total of 23-hours of travel-time one way.December 27, 2009: Depart Fairbanks, Alaska 8:05pmArrive Anchorage, Alaska 9:07pmDecember 28, 2009:Depart Anchorage, Alaska 3:45amDecember 29, 2009: Arrive Taipei, Taiwan 6:30am (loose one day crossing the International Date Line)Depart Taipei, Taiwan 7:45amArrive Chiang Mai, Thailand 10:55amOur return flight is very similar with 15.5-hours of flight-time, and 6.0-hours of layovers for a total of 21.5-hours of travel-time. January 17, 2010:Depart Chiang Mai, Thailand 10:00amArrive Bangkok, Thailand 11:20amJanuary 19, 2010:Depart Bangkok, Thailand 8:25amArrive Taipei, Taiwan 1:00pmDepart Taipei, Taiwan 4:25pmArrive Anchorage, Alaska 8:50am  (gain one day crossing the International Date Line)Depart Anchorage, Alaska 10:05amArrive Fairbanks, Alaska 11:05am   
]]> Meet the Alaska Team 2009! — Fairbanks, Alaska, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/2/1253711325/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/2/1253711325/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/2/1253711325/tpod.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:09:43 -0400 Alaska Team 2009

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Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

    We are the ninth team in a long line of Alaska Teams to journey to Thailand for the purpose of volunteering our time and talents with the Partners Relief Aid and Development organization to offer aid to the Burmese refugees. (Learn more about Partners on their website at www.partnersworld.org). The teams began when Jocelyn encountered a life-changing experience working with Partners on a short-term mission-team trip to Thailand in 1998, and was compelled to return and bring others along with her.     Alaska Teams 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008 have paved our way with good relationships and preparations, and we plan to leave the same legacy for the next team.  We are looking forward with anticipation to the adventure that God has chosen specifically for our team. To view the adventures of some of the previous teams, visit our home page.    The Alaska Team 2009 is currently the smallest team in number, as it consists of only five team-members. However, among those five team-members are four 'seasoned travelers' with a combined total of 23 years of experience with Alaska Team mission-trips! We all live in Fairbanks, Alaska, and most of us attend Friends Community Church. (Learn more about our church at their website of http://www.friendschurch.org/).     Now, to learn more about the Alaska Team 2009, continue reading for our individual introductions.  Alaska Team 2009 Introductions: Eric:    This will be my sixth Alaska Team trip to Thailand. My first trip was in 2000. I had always been interested in Asia, and had expected to travel to China some day, but God made it clear that He wanted me in Thailand. Close enough!  I am a writer, musician, a ham-radio amateur, and an electronics experimenter. I enjoy being goofy with kids, and have lots of opportunities as we visit the orphanages and schools in the villages and refugee camps. First and foremost, I promised a lot of wonderful people that I would return soon. I want to be an encouragement to the refugees, orphans, and other Karen friends I know, as well as to met new friends. I also want to be an encouragement to the Partners team. Patrick:      I work as a paralegal in a local law firm. I have previously served as the president and a board member of Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption. One of my favorite hobbies is to exercise. This will be my first trip with the Alaska Team, as well as my first mission-team trip. I became interested in traveling with the Alaska Team by hearing presentations at our church. My goal for this trip is to do something worthwhile, and to help children in the refugee camps however I can. Jack:I have pastored in the Fairbanks area for over 20 years, and I love to travel on mission trips. Currently, I have been privileged to minister in the Phillipines on 34 trips, traveled to Thailand six times, and have also traveled to numerous other countries such as: Peru, India, Napal, Yoganda, South Africa, Austrailia, and China, just to name a few. I have been acquainted with Terry & Jocelyn for many years, as I have shepherded them both, and then also joined them in marriage 20 years ago. I had heard many of the stories of their adventures in Thailand, and over the years, had expressed a desire to travel with them. I was usually traveling or getting ready to travel as they were planning their next Alaska Team trip. Then, the opportunity arrived last year for me to travel with the Alaska Team 2008, and I had a great adventure as I met the Karen people. I am happy to be able to again travel to Thailand, and am looking forward to my new adventure with the Alaska Team 2009. Terry:     By trade, I am a self-employed flooring-contractor, and I enjoy sharing coffee with friends. I'm told that I have a caring heart. I am also told that I talk too much. Both are fairly accurate statements. This will be my ninth Alaska Team trip to Thailand to volunteer with Partners. I first traveled there in 1999 to see the refugees. In the process, had my world turned totally upside-down, and haven't recovered yet! On this trip, I want to let my friends know that they haven't been forgotten. I also hope to get a more clear understanding of my opportunity and obligation to stand with and do what I can for my neighbors who live across the ocean.  Jocelyn:      I am employed as an accountant with the university. My hobbies involve training and spending time with my cocker-spaniels, sewing, gardening, and missions. My husband, Terry, and I always seem to be involved with some missions event or activity so I suppose we are addicted, and it all started with my first mission-team trip. I find it hard to believe, but this will actually be my tenth Alaska Team trip to Thailand to volunteer with Partners. Over the years I have experienced some incredible God-adventures, I've been privileged to meet some amazing people, and have formed some very special relationships with people from all over the world. I have learned much, and changed from the inside out considerably since my first trip in 1998. My values and perspectives have moved from focusing importance on things to relationships, and I've discovered, to quote my husband, Terry, that "people are more important than the project". I am looking forward to this team-trip, and am excited that so many of us are repeat travelers and long-time friends. I am also looking forward to re-visiting several dear friends in Thailand, and hope to make some new ones. Above all, I want to "stay flexible" (as Steve Gumaer taught me years ago), so I may be always ready to be used by God, and change directions spontaneously to follow His lead. That always ensures the best God-adventures! 
]]> Ben's Testimony — Fairbanks, Alaska, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1234745700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1234745700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1234745700/tpod.html Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:52:15 -0400 Alaska Team 2008 - Journey to Thailand

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Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

My Testimony My name is Ben, and I was raised in a Christian home with Christian parents.  I accepted Christ into my life at a very young age.  I went to a private school in Anchorage and was essentially spoon-fed the Gospel throughout my elementary and high school days.  I went to youth group as a student during junior high.  The situation in Burma was made aware to me during my eighth grade year in Bible class.  Dave Eubank came to our school and did several presentations.  The Karen people have been on my heart ever since.  In high school, I started volunteering in youth group as a leader and on the usher team.  I went on several short-term mission teams to Mexico, Russia, Costa Rica, and Bush communities in Alaska.  I don't think I had a single "non-Christian" friend when I lived in Anchorage.            Shortly after graduating high school I moved to Fairbanks to pursue firefighting and paramedic school.  I left everything I knew behind and this in itself was an adventure for me.  My girlfriend ended up breaking up with me during that first summer up here and I felt very alone.  I did not have the support of my family or friends in the capacity that I used to.  All the new friends that I was making up here were in the Fire Academy with me and were not always the best influences.  This was a difficult time for me and I turned to God for help.  It was during this time that I started getting more involved here at Friends.  I got involved in the senior high youth group here as a leader, I also got involved with Young Life as a leader.  I started making friends that had more positive influences on me and I learned about Partners and the annual mission trip with the Martins'.              I knew that this trip would be very important for me and I had high expectations for the work that we were going to do over there.  My favorite part about the trip was leading youth services, having kids hanging off my arms; their smiles gripping me to not let go, and the building project with Matt Fetters at the farm.  It was at these places that I felt my gifts being put to the most use.  I can't say that all my expectations were met, and I can't say that I had complete life change.  However, I have made new friends over in Thailand and I have connections to possibly go on a more specialized team suited to my abilities in the future.  I thank God for the chance to have gone on this trip.  I would encourage anyone that wants an introductory-style mission trip to see what is going on over there and where they can help out, to consider this annual short-term trip.  Allow God to use you to the best of the abilities that He has blessed you with. 
]]> We're on Our Way Home! — Taipei,Taiwan, Taiwan http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1232085900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1232085900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1232085900/tpod.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:43:03 -0500 Alaska Team 2008 - Journey to Thailand

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Taipei,Taiwan, Taiwan

Here we are on layover in Taipei, Taiwan, enroute back to Alaska. We passed our three-hour layover with card games, journal updates, snacks, and visits with each other. We are amazed that our time in Thailand has gone by so quickly. It seems only yesterday that we were in this airport on our arrival into Thailand. Time sure flies when you're having fun! On our long flight from Taiwan to Alaska, we enjoyed several movies, naps, and books. Kameron even enjoyed a second birthday celebration!
]]> Final Day in Thailand — Bangkok, Thailand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1232000340/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1232000340/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1232000340/tpod.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:34:45 -0500 Alaska Team 2008 - Journey to Thailand

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Bangkok, Thailand

Today is our final day in Chiang Mai, as later this afternoon we will fly into Bangkok, Thailand to overnight before our international flight back to Alaska. We are all enjoying our final few hours in different ways. One group decided to enjoy a Thai spa treatment, so they were up early to catch the shuttle, and then later enjoyed a yummy lunch at Duke's Restaurant (which serves large portions of western-style food). The other group enjoyed a visit with old friends, and a yummy Israli lunch at the New Jerusalem Restaurant. The Petersen family made their way across town to hit a few golf-balls at the local driving range. All too soon, it was time to group in the hotel lobby with all of our bags, and check-out. Our eighteen bags and group of eleven people were distributed between a shuttle-van and two trucks for transportation to the airport. Our flight was delayed for about 1-1/2 hours, which gave us a little time to visit with Marv & Dorothy. Then we made our way through the security check, and were on our way to our Bangkok hotel.Our Bangkok hotel, the Novatel Suvanaphum, is located right next to the airport, and is quite a treat! It is incredibly beautiful and lavish. We checked-into our spacious rooms, and then joined Terry & Jocelyn in theirs for a debriefing meeting. Then we were off to enjoy the hotel. We started with a swim in the outdoor pool, and then later enjoyed a scrumpious dinner accompanied by piano. We also celebrated Kameron's 8th birthday (officially tomorrow) with a cake from the chef and a gift a a Taw Kraw ball. Then we were all off to enjoy the huge, comfortable beds before our long flight tomorrow.
]]> Day Three in Klaw Taw Village — Mae Sot, Thailand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231623120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231623120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231623120/tpod.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:27:44 -0500 Alaska Team 2008 - Journey to Thailand

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Mae Sot, Thailand

 Today was our third day in the hill-tribe village of Klaw Taw. We awoke again to the sound of chickens, pigs, and dogs, and cold temperatures. It was difficult to pry ourselves from the warmth of our sleeping bags, but we had to do so to be ready for the early-morning church service. We enjoyed a quick breakfast of noodles, eggs, and toast (toasted on forks over hot charcoal) with peanut butter and jelly. Then we conducted our first Vacation Bible School (VBS) program from 8:30am to 10:30am. There were MANY children (about 205), and most were ages 10 or younger. We introduced our team, and then had the Karen students (whom we taught yesterday) perform the "Sin Chair" skit. Then we separated the children ages 5 and under into an attached room for a special VBS program more suited for their age. The younger ones enjoyed a flannel-graph story of Noah, and then stuffed their own teddy-bear to keep. We snapped photos of the kids with their bears , and played some games in the field with balloons and bubbles. The older children made a craft of stars with wire and beads, and then joined the others on the field for some games.  At 11:00am, we all attended a worship service in Pastor Edmond's church. We were asked to introduce ourselves, sing a song. Then Jocelyn shared a short word of encouragement, and Mark prayed for the church. Then we were treated to a yummy lunch of pork stew, fresh vegetables, and French fries. (Pastor Edmond whimsically corrected us to let us know that these were Karen fries, not French fries)! Our next VBS program began at 1:30pm and lasted through 3:30pm, and it was very fun! We began with a play in full costume to tell the story of "The Good Samaritan" from the Bible. Then we shared the story of "Creation" from the Bible with our flannel graph, and distributed Play-do for them to create something of their own. We also distributed fresh tangerines (very sweet) as a snack, and then headed out to the field for some games. We played many games all at once, so it appeared to be chaos with LOTS of laughter! We had a giant parachute with lots of colorful beach balls, a rope for tug of war, beading, balloons, bubbles, football,and more. All too soon it was time for us to leave the village. We packed our trucks, and snapped a few more photos. Then we gathered to say our goodbyes. The villagers surprised us with presents of fresh boquets of colorful flowers and hand-crafted Karen scarves and shirts. There were many hugs and requests for us to come back to visit. It was a bitter-sweet moment for us all.Our return drive was partially in the dark, but was lighted by a beautiful, bright, full moon surrounded by sparkling stars in a clear sky. We made a couple of toilet stops, and even enjoyed some steaming noodles and Chinese tea at one stop to warm us up. Then it was onto Mae Sot to our hotel for a good night's sleep.
]]> Travel to Klaw Taw Village — Mae Sot, Thailand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231538340/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231538340/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231538340/tpod.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:22:35 -0500 Alaska Team 2008 - Journey to Thailand

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Mae Sot, Thailand

Today we spent most of the day in traveling into the hills to reach the village of Klaw Taw. The drive lasted about six hours, and the scenery was incredible. We passed-by cattle grazing in the field that resembled Brahma bulls. The dense jungle, that we were accustomed to, changed to an expanse of green, rolling hills. The slopes were planted in a variety of crops that sprouted in a different shade of green for each sectioned square. The shades of green were dotted with an occassionally bamboo hut for the field workers, which made the scene picture perfect. Tall sugar-cane plants (of about 10-feet high) were topped with flowing feather-duster plumes that swayed gently in the breeze. Bogenvelia flowers were intertwined to make multi-color trees of purple, orange, pink, and white. Bright, red Poinsetta flowers bloomed wild in tall bushes along the road. In the distance, we often viewed stark-white temples with giant shiny, gold Buddah statues perched atop a hill. We passed fields of soy-beans, corn, potatoes, and orchards of bannans and oranges. Some fields were freshly tilled in preparation of planting, and the soil was a rich red-brown. A variety of structures were seen together. A beautiful, large teak home with a manicured lawn would be situated next to a thatched-room bamboo hut surrounded by clutter. Pedestrians were interesting to observe in their large-brimmed hats to shade the hot sun. Ladies would carry large tubs of food and flowers balanced atop their heads. We passed-by several of the oddest-looking tractors we had ever seen. Most were loaded with supplies, and some added a group of people with their load of supplies. The road wound around the hills in curves and dips, and seemed to climb into the expanse of the clear blue sky dotted with puffs of clouds. To say the least, the drive was very enjoyable! We stopped at a small restaurant in the town of Umphang for a meal of stir-fry rice and vegetables with chicken. It was here that we learned we had just crossed the famous hill of 1,396 turns (one way)! We visited a tourist shop, and enjoyed a sweet treat of a funnel-crepe with fruit or chocolate filling. Then we were on our way to Klaw Taw village. We arrived at Klaw Taw around 5:00pm, and our first view of the village was a welcome sign next to the church. We were greeted by Pastor Edmond and his wife, and then shown to our guest-house. We unloaded our gear, and proceeded to setup our mosquito nets. Then we joined Pastor Edmond in the 'canteen' building for a meal, some hot coffee and cocoa, and a visit. He gave us our schedule for the next couple of days, and we made our VBS plans for the next morning. As we were doing so, we were informed that we were only one mile away from the war zone, and we may occassionally hear mortars. None of us were alarmed, as we knew God brought us here for His purpose. Then it was off to our guest house for a good nights rest. We did hear a couple of mortar rounds late in the night in the distance, and then fell back into a peaceful sleep.
]]> VBS in Klaw Taw Village — Mae Sot, Thailand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231636440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231636440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231636440/tpod.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:17:41 -0500 Alaska Team 2008 - Journey to Thailand

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Mae Sot, Thailand

The first thing that comes to mind for our journal today is how COLD it is here in the hill-tribe village of Klaw Taw! The altitude is so high that the temperatures are MUCH cooler than any place we have previously visited in Thailand. All of us felt the cold even in our good sleeping bags throughout the night, and especially in the early morning hours. We arose early to be ready for our first of two VBS programs today, and enjoyed a breakfast of eggs, noodles, and toast (toasted on forks over hot charcoal).Our first VBS program began at 9:00am, and lasted four hours. It was attended by about 50 children of ages 13 and older. We introduced ourselves, told them about Alaska, performed some drama, shared a Bible story, and then enjoyed a 'sticker story' craft. Allison wowed the crowd with her jump-rope acrobatics (she and her brother have placed in many competitions since they were young). Then we passed-out several jump-ropes for all to enjoy. There was much laughter, and some of the boys were actually catching-on to the harder acrobatics that Allison was teaching.  We then moved out into the open field to play with the parachute, footballs, and soccer balls. We had great fun! We stopped for lunch around noon, and enjoyed some steamed rice with pork and vegetables. After our lunch, we conducted our second VBS program (very similar to the first). During our play-time, the field was covered with running children, balls, balloons, bubbles, and sounds of laughter! We were even treated to rides on Pastor Edmond's tractor! In the afternoon, the children escorted us to their village (nearby down the hill) for a tour. We then enjoyed a yummy dinner, and visited with each other over coffee and Milo (hot chocolate) before retiring for bed. What a fun day! There was so much laughter, we totally forgot that we were in a village near a war zone!
]]> Meet the Alaska Team 2008! — Fairbanks, Alaska, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1215587340/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1215587340/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1215587340/tpod.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:28:01 -0500 Alaska Team 2008 - Journey to Thailand

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Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

    We are the seventh in a long line of Alaska Teams to journey to Thailand for the purpose of volunteering our time and talents with Partners Relief Aid and Development to offer aid to the Burmese refugees. The teams began when Jocelyn encountered a life-changing experience working with Partners on a short-term mission trip to Thailand in 1998, and was compelled to return with others. Alaska Teams 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 have paved our way and encountered life-changing experiences of their own. We are looking forward with anticipation to the adventure that God has chosen specifically for the Alaska Team 2008.      Though some of us had never met until recently, we all live in Fairbanks, Alaska, and most of us attend Friends Community Church. You may learn more about our church at their website of http://www.friendschurch.org/, and you may learn more about Partners Relief Aid & Development at their website of www.partnersworld.org. To view the travels of a couple of previous Alaska Teams, visit the websites of http://mytripjournal.com/AKTeam2006 , and http://mytripjournal.com/AKTeam2007. Now, to learn more about the Alaska Team 2008, continue reading for our individual introductions. Alaska Team 2008 Introductions: Mark:  I work as a planer foreman / lumber grader / logger for a local lumber company in town, and have a BA in Cultural Anthropology. This will be my third mission-team trip to Thailand to work with Partners. I traveled first in 1998, and again in 2006. I learned of this trip in May 2008 in a church bulletin announcement, and knew I had to go again. On this trip I hope to gain a deeper awareness and understanding concerning the plight of the Karen people which I can then take back to my home in up-state New York to assist the Karen refugees who are being resettled in this area. On this trip I hope to assist my team-mates with their own experience and / or purpose in Christ, and to make more friends with the Karen.  Doris: I work as a stay-at-home Gramma of 21-month-old boy. I have two additional grandsons in Colorado. I enjoy family time, reading, outdoor activities, traveling, and learning new things. I learned of this trip as an announcement in our church, and my first thought was, "What an awesome opportunity! I love to travel, and to go on a mission-trip would be an awesome experience!" I hope to gain a deeper sense of God's love, and to share that love with others. I love children of all colors and sizes, and I want to share their laughter and smiles. I love teaching children new things, and look forward to them teaching me something new, too.  Ben: I am a sophomore at the University of Alaska, and have been a Firefighter / EMT since last year. I am a senior-high youth-leader at our church, and I love mountain-biking and downhill-skiing. Throughout high-school I traveled to Mexico, Russia, Costa-Rica, and the Alaska bush on mission trips. I heard about this trip to Thailand from my friend who traveled with the Alaska Team 2007, and had been praying about going myself. I feel that God wants me to go, and that He has a lot to teach me on his trip. I have been looking for another way to serve people in need, and I have always wanted to help the Karen refugees. They have been on my heart for a long time. I hope to learn about what it is like to be persecuted for your beliefs, and I want to encourage the Karen people to let then know they are not alone. I know that God will strengthen and reaffirm my faith through this trip as well. The Family of Keith, Kathy & Kameron: Kathy:I work as a grant-manager at the University of Alaska, and have a seven-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter that also keep me busy. In my spare time I enjoy crafting or running. After observing the travels and presentations of the previous two Alaska Teams, I knew we would go on a trip someday. I hope to gain a better understanding of the situation of the refugees, and I hope to give myself to help them in whatever ways I can.Keith:I own and operate a local window-installation business, and have volunteered at fund-raising events with the Friends of Partners group for a few years. I learned about this trip from an announcement at our church, and I hope to give hope and love from Christ to others. Kameron:I am seven years old, and will be in the second grade. I like to go swimming. My job is to take care of Gauge, our dog, make my bed, and set the table each day. I am interested in helping the Burmese people. I learned about them at our church. I hope to teach them survival skills, and how to build shelters. The Family of Ken & Allison:  Allison:This summer, I am working for Princess Tours, and in the fall I will return to my job with the School District. I graduated from the University of Alaska in 2007 with a degree in Elementary Education, and am pursuing a full-time teaching position. At our church, I volunteer as a pre-school teacher and also a middle-school youth-group leader. I have always enjoyed working with children, and I love to travel and be in the outdoors hiking and camping. In 2006, I participated in the Semester at Sea exchange program through the university. I traveled to ten countries by ship over the course of 100 days, all while earning college credit! I participated in many service projects in the various countries, such as visiting Mothers Theresa's Orphanage in India, various schools in Vietnam and Burma, and distributing food in South Africa. I also had the opportunity for 'home-stays' to get to know the people. Burma was one of our ports-of-call, and for me, this is where it all clicked. The scope of what I was actually doing fell into place. My experiences during Semester at Sea caused my faith in God to grow exponentially. I recognized how I can funnel God's love through me into others. Those four months abroad changed my life and focused my faith. When I returned home, I learned about Partners and the work they are doing for the Burmese people. I knew then that someday I would be going back to Burma. Ken:I work as an electrician at a gold-mine, and enjoy hunting, fishing, snow-machining, and four-wheeling. This past winter I learned about Partners through my wife, Allison. Seeing her excitement made me excited about it. On this trip I hope to show the children God's love and that people love and care about them. I hope to gain a perspective of the refugees. Jack:   Jack has been a pastor in Fairbanks for over 20 years, and is also a world traveler. He has ministered in the Phillipines on 33 trips, traveled to Thailand five times, and also traveled to numerous other countries such as: Peru, India, Napal, Yoganda, South Africa, Austrailia, China, just to name a few. Jack has known Terry & Jocelyn for many years. Terry became a Christian under his teaching, and then Jack joined Terry & Jocelyn in marriage 20 years ago. Jack had heard many stories of the previous Alaska Team adventures in Thailand, and had expressed a desire for several years to travel with them. This year the opportunity arrived, and Jack says he is priveleged to travel with the Alaska Team 2008.The Family of (and our team leaders) Terry & Jocelyn: Terry:I own and operate a floor-installation business, I REALLY enjoy coffee, meeting people, and making a difference in life. I observed the change in the lives of my wife, Jocelyn, and son, John, when they returned from a mission-trip to Thailand in 1998. I thought they had gone bonkers! They were constantly looking at their photos and crying! I agreed to travel on a trip to be able to relate to my wife and son. I thought I would go to see the impoverished refugees, but instead, I observed my own spiritual poverty. This will be my eighth trip to work with Partners, and I have discovered that I need to continue to go for a "reality check". When I am confronted with the situation of these Burmese people it helps me to not be so 'whiney'. To sit and hear about the goodness of God from a joyful, thankful, IDP (internally displaced person) who may not even have a tomorrow, gives me a right perspective. What is important? Is my faith real, or is it just words out of my lips? Whenever I give a piece of my heart away, God fills it back up with a little extra added. THAT is major fun and living large! Scrooge is right --- at the end of the story, he does indeed have the most fun. It is truely better to give than receive!  Jocelyn:I am an accountant for the University of Alaska by trade, and enjoy hiking, sewing, reading, photography, and gardening. I have become an adventurer at heart, though this was not always the case, as I was very timid and quiet. God has taught me courage (in Him), and stretched me to do many things that I would have considered impossible (such as speaking to large crowds, or crossing very high, very long swinging extension bridges). God introduced me to adventure on my first trip to Thailand in 1998 when I joined a group of six from Fairbanks to build a church in a remote village, and experienced a life change in the matter of fourteen days. Three months after I returned home from that trip, God made it very clear that I was to return back to Thailand, and take others with me. Hence the birth of the Alaska Teams! This will be my ninth trip to Thailand to work with Partners, and I am often asked if I ever get bored with the trips. My un-hesitant answer is always, "Absolutely not, because each trip is a unique God-adventure!" I am looking forward to re-visiting old friends, making new ones, and adding another God-adventure to my experiences. So there you have it. You have met our team. Now have fun with us as we prepare for and journey through a mission-team trip to Thailand!    
]]> Professors for a Day — Mae Sot, Thailand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231460940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231460940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alaskateam/1/1231460940/tpod.html Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:28:04 -0500 Alaska Team 2008 - Journey to Thailand

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Mae Sot, Thailand

Well, today was quite interesting for us. As the guys continued to work on their building project with Matt, the ladies became professors for the day. We traveled to the village of Poe Praw and met Pastor Peacefully who had invited us to come to teach English in the village school for the day. We had made our preparations yesterday evening (thank goodness!), and now split into two groups of two teachers. We were given a teaching schedule as we arrived, and then were shown the location of the particular class rooms. Doris & Jocelyn teamed-up to teach the older children in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8, while Allison & Kathy taught the younger grades of 1, 2, 3, and 4. The teams taught in separate buildings, one just up the hill from the other.  Allison & Kathy used the song of "Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes" to teach parts of the body in a fun way. They also drew a simple figure of a person on the white-board and labeled other parts like: legs, arms, stomach, etc., and then the children drew people of their own on some white drawing paper, and labeled the parts. Doris & Jocelyn used a word-bingo game that Allison had devised to teach about verbs (action words) in a fun way. A grid of verbs ( 5 squares wide, and 5 squares tall ) was distributed, and then random words were pulled from a little bag. The words were written on the white-board, used in a sentence, and marked with a kidney bean on the student's grid. The winner would be the first to get five squares in a row filled with beans, and a small prize was awarded. The game was quite poplular.Each teaching-team taught the same lesson to four different classes. We began at 9:00am and ended at 3:00pm. It was a long day, but very enjoyable. Each time we entered a classroom, the students would jump to their feet, and loudly announce in unision, "Good morning, Teacher!". We would respond with, "Good morning, students", and then proceed to introduce ourselves, tell them a little about Alaska, and proceed with the lesson.  After our school-day, we had a little time to walk around the village. We discovered the weaving looms, and were also able to purchase some hand-crafted items (click on the video). About 6:00pm, the girls and guys were reunited at our hotel. We then enjoyed another good meal at the Casa Mia Restaurant, and were joined by Jocelyn's friend, Jane. Then it was back to the hotel to prepare our bags and Action-packers for our journey tomorrow into the hills.
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