Greetings from Chiang Mai (cough cough),

  It’s that season here in Chiang Mai where the air quality has been rated 3^rd worst in the world. This year an additive the “Coronavirus” joins in for our environment enjoyment. Since my last newsletter this virus has reached epic conditions around the world. Please pray for the end of this pestilence. Kind of makes you think about the “end times.”

  Last month I mentioned how Trinity Baptist was slowly…

Missionary Update February 2020

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  THE CORONAVIRUS seems to be the center of attention lately and as well it should be. Here in Chiang Mai precautions of limiting your travel and not to frequent heavily populated areas. Wearing a mask that covers the nose and mouth is what is needed. Usually every Sunday after church the majority of the congregation goes to a certain hotel that is the best in town and one of the cheapest to eat lunch but this…

Saw Waw Dee Be My (Happy New Year) from Chiang Mai,

  A new year is upon us and goodbye to 2019. A big push here is the removal of plastic bags at the markets is definitely a move in the right direction. Now if they could keep from throwing their trash everywhere would be a big help. So Thailand is on a “clean up the act” (or country) awareness program. I do hope that this might influence their government to do the same this should be on their “to do” list. Prayer seems to be…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  Last month’s newsletter I mentioned a brother who had moved on and now is with our Lord and Savior. His surviving wife reported her husbands’ demise just like anyone else would. Without her knowledge the authorities (whom she contacted) immediately “froze’ all assets in her bank account. According to Thai law to remove anything from her account would take a court order and she would have to be representative by a lawyer who in turn deals with the…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  Well, what was going to happen sooner or later finally happened. Dr. Green has canceled the Sunday morning bible study due to the lack of attendance. I will miss our discussion period because that all that the bible study was. So, I will use the extra hour to review Friday’s bible study that I attend with my friend Mike Potter as we study the book of Acts by Chuck Missler.

  Last newsletter I mentioned the passing of Gordon Downs. Brother…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  Wan and I have safely returned to our home in Saraphi (Chiang Mai), had to recuperate for a couple of days. We heard that it rained just about everyday and I would have to agree after looking at the property which is heavily overgrown. You know growing up as a kid my older brother (Ted) and I made money mowing lawns. I never thought that I would still have the same job (minus making money) in another country and 71 years young. I have to admit our Lord…

Missionary Update July 2019

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  Well it’s been 97 days since the elections here in Thailand and still no government.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1109526-rumours-of-military-putsch-dismissed/

  I’m still not sure of what is going to happen here in “The Land of Smiles.” No new news of the health insurance needed for foreigners 50 years…

Missionary Update June 2019

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  There’s always something happening here in Thailand. In the last newsletter my attention was on the banking system here. As it turns out the bank that was responsible for controlling the transfer of funds wasn’t exactly clear with their intent. So I sent a transfer of monies as I normally do to test the transaction. Guess what? It went through.

    The latest scare that had all the foreigners (age 50 and…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  Well I have survived another Thai New Year (Songkran is usually a week of celebrations).

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1662536/songkran-road-deaths-could-halve

  I have survived due to my non-conformist attitude (meaning I hibernate for the duration). Years ago when I thought that a little bit of water couldn’t hurt, but I’m a…

Coughing from Chiang Mai,

  https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/air-pollution/chiang-mai-third-worst-air-pollution-in-the-world

  Chiang Mai is rated the 3^rd worst city in the world for air pollution. I was raised in Southern California and thought that air…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  There’s smog here in Chiang Mai. That’s what I am used to calling it growing up in Southern California. Here it’s called “Air Pollution.” This time of year it is a bit “smoky” and Chiang Mai does sit in a basin. Most of the farmers here burn off their properties to ready for next season’s crop. Also villages burn foliage from the many trees here (my wife and I are included). In the month of March it is against the law and you can be fined. Mixed…

Missionary Update February 2019

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  I haven’t heard anything concerning “Thai Health Insurance” as mentioned in last month’s newsletter, probably because of the many issues with “Retirement” visas. Ever since the U.S. Consulate here in Chiang Mai announced that they would not approve “proof of income” documents with their $50 notary stamp, has many foreigners “walking on thin ice.” Also with the newly appointed “Big Joke” (Maj-Gen Surachate…

Wah Dee Be My (or Happy New Year) from Chiang Mai,

  Wow! Seemed like a fast year and are you ready for the next one. Last newsletter I mentioned the difficulty dealing with immigration, well this is the next hurdle for those living on a long term basis in Thailand.

https://pattayatoday.net/health-insurance-mandatory/

  I guess that it is a good to have some type of health insurance but being that this is…

Missionary Update December 2018

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  This year is about over and looking forward to 2019. Although not looking forward to obtaining my next one year visa which expires February 27^th 2019. Immigration here in Thailand change their prerequisites whenever they decide to do so which makes things very difficult. I no longer can acquire my usual “Retirement” visa due to immigration actually enforcing their rules and regulations (which has…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  Last newsletter I mentioned how the rains have diminished somewhat, well after posting that night the heavens opened up and dropped about six inches of rain in about an hour. The soil in my backyard was unable to absorb the onslaught and we had a lake for that evening. Right now there is no rain in the area and we are definitely in the cold season.

  Lately I have endured the Thai style of taking a shower (water heater has broken down) so it’s a…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  The rains have diminished somewhat here in in the north but Bangkok being part of a valley is lowest elevation in Thailand which flows into the Gulf of Siam. Still, Bangkok and surrounding areas have a problem with flooding.

  The “Big Joke” https://news.lovepattayathailand.com/national/the-man-of-the-hour-big-joke/ has hit the spotlight here in “The Land of…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  The rains are still causing havoc in Thailand. Especially northern Thailand (not in the Chiang Mai province) near the Thailand /Myanmar borders (which is north-east of where I am located). The largest river that passes through Chiang Mai called the “Nam (which means water) Ping” (of which I reside about twenty yards from), has been monitored by construction of “Watergates.” During the height of the rainy season the water levels are well controlled.…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  It’s the rainy season here in Thailand and we have received our fair share here in the north and because of this the Bangkok area will receive the yearly floods which are on the way. One of the tourist areas just west of Bangkok is a beach area named Pattaya. Recently just before the rains there was a major cleanup of the beaches which has been accomplished. Now the authorities are asking where are all the tourists? Other than the beaches being polluted…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  Hot, humid and rain to be expected this month and because of the rain my chores around the house have increased, although not more than two hours in the heat has me depleted of energy but not bad for a young man of 69. Thought my days of tending outside house chores ended when I became a missionary. Nope it doesn’t work that way. Good exercise and I am physically able to handle the work is a definite blessing from God.

  Last month I mentioned that…

Greetings from Chiang Mai,

  Hot, humid and rain to be expected this month and because of the rain my chores around the house have increased, although not more than two hours in the heat has me depleted of energy but not bad for a young man of 69. Thought my days of tending outside house chores ended when I became a missionary. Nope it doesn’t work that way. Good exercise and I am physically able to handle the work is a definite blessing from God.

  Last month I mentioned that…