Nuusbrief Mei/May Newsletter

Nou kyk die maand is ek lekker laat met my brief en ek moet julle al amper herinner dat dit die volgende maand is. So jammer nè as julle staat gemaak het op my brief om julle te herinner dat die maand verby is! :-) So die maand van Mei was weer vol dinge en drome, dan moes ek ook weer uit die land om my visa te gaan hernu.

Seker een van die dinge wat ons as 'n span die ergste geraak het in die begin was die fisiese toestand waarin ons was. Eers was dit Cally wat geval het met die motorfiets en haar brand plekke wat ontsteek het. Toe haar geweldige reaksie teen die antibiotika. Toe is dit die kinders wat bulte uit geslaan het van die sand muggies wat hulle gebyt het en laaste was dit ek wat deur die muskiet 'raak geskiet is' en toe op my rug gelê het vir 'n ruk. So fisies was dit nogal 'n uitdaging vir ons.

Na dit begin beter gaan het met almal hier, het die volgende ding sy kop begin uitsteek. Nou ek weet nie hoeveel van julle het al met meer as een kultuur saam in 'n span gewerk nie. Kyk in die begin kom jy agter daar is manier en dinge wat anders gedoen word, maar jy kom dit nie waarlik agter nie. Onbewustelik begin jy weerstand binne jou opbou op die manier wat hulle dinge doen en na hulle uitkyk oor die lewe. En sodra jou aandag nie meer deur die fisiese dinge afgetrek word nie, dan koester jy die dinge binne jou hart.

So gebruik ons vriend 'met die lang stert' alles om jou, om jou te ontmoedig en van die spoor af te bring. As hy dit nie reg kry om jou fisies te breek nie, dan gaan hy en probeer om tweespalk in die span in te bring. Dit is presies wat hier gebeur het. Hy met sy leuens kom gekom en elke situasie gebruik om jou te laat twyfel oor die aksies en doen en late van die ander. Deur die genade ken ons mekaar al 'n paar jaar en het die leuens nie ooreengekom met dit wat ons van mekaar weet nie. Ons kon dit later nie meer hou nie en het amper soos een man besluit dat ons moet praat.

Die wonder is dat dit alles net leuens was, maar nou bloot gelê is. Ons het vinnig agtergekom dat ons presies dieselfde voel oor dinge en dat ons presies dieselfde dinge probeer doen. Dit het amper gevoel of die wêreld se las van ons skouer af gelig het en ons weer vir die eerste keer na 'n baie lang ruk kan asemhaal. Dit is wonderlik om te sien dat dinge 'n mens se lewe so kon omkeer en deurmekaar krap.

So nou werk ons as 'n span onbeskryflik lekker saam en drae ons mekaar se laste waar dit moontlik is. Ons is weer vuur en vlam oor dit wat die Here hier wil doen en besig is om te doen. Ook in ons is Hy besig om 'n groot werk te doen. Julle moet onthou dat hier nie 'n groep Afrikaners of Maleisiërs is wat ons laat tuis voel nie en dat ons, met ons kultuur verskille al, die enigste groep is wat darem Engels met mekaar kan praat. Ons maak staat op mekaar vir ondersteuning en bemoediging.

Die laaste naweek voor ek na Maleisië toe vertrek vir die visa, is ek en Jon weer eiland toe. Die keer met vrede en vreugde in ons harte. Die Vrydag aand slaap ons weer buite op die stoep soos gewoonlik, met twee van die Moken seun by ons. Wel die keer onder muskietnette. Daar het ek die mees interessante droom. Die droom was so eg gewees, dat na ek wakker geword het, ek nie geweet het of dit 'n droom was of nie.

So hier is die droom soos ek dit ervaar het. 'Ons was vas aan die slaap op die stoep onder die muskietnette. Ek word wakker deur die geluid van voetstappe wat die trappe opklim en ek lig my kop op om te sien wie of wat dit was. Met die wat ek my kom oplig sien ek die twee seuns wat tussen my en Jon slaap. Jon slaap die naaste aan die trappe en daar sien ek iets, maar nie duidelik nie. Die volgende oomblik spring die ding op my en ons is besig om te stoei. So stoei ons met mekaar, maar die snaaksste van alles is dat daar geen vrees in my was nie. Die 'man' is baie sterker as ek en oorrompel my geheel en al. Maar iets omtrent hom is nie reg nie en ek besef dat dit 'n gees of iets moet wees. Ek beveel dit toe om in die Naam Jesus weg te gaan die volgende oomblik is ek sterker as dit. Dit is asof die man gekrimp het en nou is ek die een wat die oorhand kry.

En toe is dit weg. Die seuns in nou wakker en klou so klein apies aan my vas. Ek hoor hoe Jon, nog van aan die slaap, steun en kreun. Die dig is nou besig met hom. Weer spreek ek dit aan in die Naam van Jesus en weg is dit. Jon is nou ook wakker en ek vrae hom of hy 'ok' is. Maar Jon wys met sy vinger agter my en roep uit 'What is that?' Nog met die twee seun soos apies aan my draai ek om en sien die man in die oop sand kol staan met 'n vrou in die agtergrond. Ek kyk na Jon en sê 'Lets get it'. So spring ons van die stoep af, reg op die groot swart figuur af wat soos 'n man lyk.

Saam spreek ons dit aan in die Naam van Jesus en die swart dig lyk of dit afblaas soos 'n ballon. Al wat oorbly is 'n pik swart jas wat soos slangvel lyk. Ek trek dit toe aan en Jon sê 'Be careful not to take the glory'. Ek kyk egter op na die hemel en roep met alles in my uit 'Al die eer en heerlikheid en lof behoort aan God en aan die Lam.' Die jas word toe witter as sneeu. Ons stap toe na die Moken huis die verste van ons af en kry die Moken besig, in kers lig, om die Here te loof en prys in hulle eie taal en op hulle eie manier.' Hier skrik ek toe wakker met koue rilling wat teen my rug op en af hardloop. Nou wat dit beteken, weet ek nie, maar dit was nogal iets gewees.

Die volgende week was ek op die vliegtuig op pad na Penang om my visa te hernu. Dit het alles glad verloop maar ek kan net 'n drie maande visa hier in Asië kry. Dit wil voorkom of ek net die jaar visa in Australië, UK of in Suid-Afrika kan kry. Die stuur-sel is reeds besig om te kyk of dit moontlik is in RSA. Dit kan dalk beteken dat ek voor die einde van die jaar na een van die lande moet gaan vir 'n visa. Met die wat ek in Penang was het ek 'n wonderlike tyd daar gehad, maar julle sal maar moet wag tot volgende maand, wat net om die draai is, om daarvan te hoor.

Duisend dankies vir al julle liefde en ondersteuning. Dit is waarlik 'n voorreg om saam met julle die pad te stap.
In Hom ,Philip อํานาจ

die oop kol sand in my droom / the patch of sand in my dream 

Moken huise op die eiland Ko Low / Moken homes on the Ko Low island

So my letter is quite late this month and it is already time to remind you that yet another month is due.  I’m truly sorry if you relied on me to announce that another month has passed us by! J The month of May was packed with things and dreams and I had to leave the country to renew my visa.

One of the things that impacted our team the most since we started here in Ranong, was our physical health.  First Cally fell off her motorbike, then her wounds got infected, followed by the major allergic reaction she had to the prescribed antibiotic.  Then the children came out in hives all over from the insects in the sand that bit them.  And as you can remember, I got Dengue fever from a mosquito bite that immobilized me and had me flat on my back.  So physically it has been a real challenge for all of us.

Just as we were all getting better, the next thing reared its head.  I don’t know how many of you have had the privilege to work closely together cross culturally in a team before?  At the outset you realize that there are things and ways of doing things that are different to what you are accustomed to, but it is not serious.  However, over a period of time you start to build up resistance about how the others are doing things and their outlook on life, simply because our worldviews differ so much.  But as soon as we were not distracted by the physical anymore, the things that were harboring in our hearts came to the fore.

And so our “common acquaintance with the long tail”, used everything to get to us, to discourage or de-rail us.  When he didn’t succeed in physically breaking us down, he tried to bring disunity in our group.  He brought lies and tried to use every situation to start us mistrusting each other’s thoughts and actions.  Through mercy and the fact that we have been in relationship over the years, the lies did not correlate with what we knew about each other.  The situation got quite unbearable and we decided as one man to address it.  We quickly realized that it was all lies and that we felt the same about things and we are trying to do the same thing.  It felt as if the weight of the world lifted off our shoulders and we could breathe freely again.  It was wonderful to see that it was only things that had turned our lives upside down.

Now we work together better than before and the unity is strong to help carry each other’s burdens.  We are ablaze with zeal for God and what He is doing and wants us to do.  He is busy with a big work inside of us.  Remember that we are the only group here that can converse in English with each other, in spite of our cultural differences.  Keep in mind that there are no other South Africans or Malaysians here to take hands with us and keep the home fires burning with us.  We are completely reliant on each other for support and encouragement.

The weekend before I left for Malaysia to renew my visa, Jon and I went to the island again, full of joy and peace in our hearts.  That Friday night we slept outside on the veranda as normal, accompanied by two Moken boys – under mosquito nets this time.  I then had the most interesting of dreams.   The dream was so real that after I awoke, I wasn’t sure if it was real or not.  So here it is as I experienced it.

“We were fast asleep on the veranda under the mosquito nets.  I was awakened by the sound of footsteps that came up the stairs and so I lifted my head to see who or what it was.  As I lifted my head I saw the two boys that were sleeping between Jon and I.  John was sleeping closest to the stairs and then I saw something, but not clearly.  The next thing this thing jumps on me and we start to wrestle.  As we fought, I was amazed that there was absolutely no fear inside of me even though the ‘man’ was much stronger than I and overpowered me.  But something was strange about him and I realized it was a spirit or something.  I commanded it in the Name of Jesus to depart and the next moment I was stronger than it, in fact it shrunk and it was I who had the upper hand now.

Then it was gone.  The boys awoke and were hanging on to me for dear life.  I heard Jon moaning as he slept and realized that this thing was busy with him.  Again I rebuked it in the Name of Jesus and it was gone.  Jon was awake and I asked him if he was ok, to which he pointed behind me and shouted ‘what is that?’ With the two boys clinging to me I turned around to see this man-thing standing in a sandy clearing and a woman in the background.  I looked at Jon and said to him ‘let’s get it’.  We jumped off the veranda and headed for this black figure that looked like a man.

Together we rebuked it in the Name of Jesus and it looked as if the black figure deflated like a balloon.  All that was left was a black coat resembling a snake skin.  I put it on and Jon said to me ‘be careful not to take the glory’.  At that point I lifted my eyes to the heavens and shouted out with all I have “All the honor and glory and praise belongs to God and the Lamb!”  The jacket turned whiter than snow.  We then headed for the Moken homes further away from us and found the Moken people worshipping the Lord, praising Him in their own way and language at candle light.”  I awoke with cold shivers running down my spine.  Now what this means I don’t know, but it was quite something.

The next week I was on a plane to Penang in Malaysia to renew my visa.  Everything went smoothly but I could only obtain a 3 month visa here in Malaysia.  It seems as if a year visa is only obtainable from Australia, the UK or in SA.  My sending cell is currently investigating the SA option as I might have to travel to one of these countries to obtain a visa.  While I was in Penang I had a wonderful time but before I continue, you are going to have to wait until next month, which is just around the corner,  to hear all about it.

A thousand thank-you’s for all your love and support.  It is truly a privilege to journey together with you.
In Him, Philip อํานาจ

Nuusbrief/ Newsletter April 2011

Ja dit was al lankal die einde van die maand en ek weet my brief is so 'n bietjie laat die maand, maar dit gee julle darem 'n blaaskans. So alles wat in April gebeur het is amper te veel om op te noem. Deel 1 en 2 van my terugvoer brief (van die ontmoeting tussen my, die Moken en die Here) het alreeds uitgegaan, so daaroor gaan ek nie skryf nie. Miskien oor dit wat daarna gebeur het en o ja, my tyd in die hospitaal.


Soos die meeste van julle gelees het was dit nogal 'n groot ervaring wat ek daar op die eiland saam met die Here gehad het. Dat die wind nou so uit my seile gehaal kan word op die oomblik wat alles net begin sin maak het. Ek wil graag net vir julle vertel wat alles daarna gebeur het. Ons Here het my waarlik tot op 'n punt gebring wat ek net nie meer geweet het wat nou verder nie. Radeloos het ek alles in Sy hande oor gelaat en gesien hoe Hy besig is om Sy Kerk daar te begin oprig.

Die naweek na dit alles het die Here die sinneloosheid van waarmee ons besig is, net baie dieper in gevryf en my nog meer oortuig van die hopeloosheid waarmee ons besig is. As dit nie Hy is nie, en as ons nie Hom na mense bring nie en hulle Hom nie kan sien nie, is ons waarlik met wind besig. 'Hoe Here!' is al wat ek kon uitroep. Nou gebeur die wonder. Sien Hý doen dit self. Ons is maar net die instrument wat Hý gebruik. Verlore in myself, oorgegee in alles met die diep oortuiging dat ons nie kan nie, kom Hý en bring Hý die lewe.

So sit ek weer saam met ons Moken vriende op 'n boot besig om te wag dat die son moet ondergaan. Die gesig is weer een van daardie wat 'n mens net in flieks sien. Die keer begin ons gesels. Oor alles waarmee die Moken sukkel en wat hulle sien en ervaar. Dit was nogal 'n belewenis om dinge deur hulle oë te begin sien. Hulle is waarlik wonderlike mense en ek begin nou verstaan hoekom hulle sulke besonderse mense in ons Here se oë is. Die eenvoud van wie hulle is, die kinderlike opregtheid. Mense, so na God se hart!

Die aand met die duik voel ek iets is nie lekker met my nie. Ek het 'n baie kort asem en my liggaam wil nie so lekker saam werk nie. Maar wat, ek steur my nie te veel daaraan nie. Toe ons klaar geduik het kry ek so koud, dat ek sit en bewe daar op die boot. Ons het toe klaar besluit ons gaan die volgende dag met die Moken as gemeenskap praat. Min het ek geweet wat die volgende dag vir my voorlê.

Met 'n hoofpyn wat skrik vir niks en 'n lyf wat flenters getrap is deur 'n trein, word ek die volgende oggend wakker. Kyk daar was nou net mooi niks in my my wat nie gepyn het nie. Maar die ergste van alles is die swaar lomp liggaam. Ek het skaars genoeg krag gehad om dit op te lig. Met dié liggaam, vergader ons toe die oggend en word die metode van kerk onder die Moken bespreek. Hulle is baie opgewonde omdat hulle nog nooit gehoor het dat God ook van hulle musiek hou nie en dat Hy ook graag wil aanbid word in hulle taal. En dat dit nie God se doel is om hulle almal Thai of Engels te maak nie, maar dat Hy hulle lief het net soos hulle is. Dadelik word die bal in hulle hande gegooi om te besluit hoe hulle die Here wil dien en hoe hulle na Hom wil soek.

Daar sou die volgende naweek terugvoer gegee word oor dit alles, maar die gebeure deur die week het alles gekniehalter. So met 'n koors wat aan die 40 raak word ek toe na die hospitaal toe geneem. Daar word bloed toetse gedoen om maar net te bevestig wat ons al klaar vermoed het, Dengue. So word ek toe opgeneem in die hospitaal, want hulle is bekommer oor die vinnige val die bloedplaatjies in my bloed. 'n Mens kan glo aan die bloei gaan en dan is daar glo groot moeilikheid. So moet ek toe 'n blou rokkie met hempie aantrek en daar in 'n saal van omtrent 60 mense gaan lê.

Nou kyk, dit was waarlik vir jou 'n belewenis hier in die Thai-hospitaal. Die mense kyk baie goed na jou. Daar is nie waarlik 'n geneesmiddel vir Dengue nie, maar jy word net gemonitor om seker te maak dat jy nie begin bloei nie en as jy wel begin, het hulle die vermoë om aan jou bloed te gee. Maar in my geval sou dit die einde beteken het, want hier is al die bloed positief en ja ek is negatief. Die Here is waarlik onbeskryflik want net na twee dae, het my bloedplaatjie telling gestabiliseer en kon ek huistoe gaan. Dat 'n muskiet jou so sleg kan laat voel!

Duisend dankies vir al julle liefde en gebede. Sonder julle sal dit nie vir ons moontlik wees om hier te oorleef nie. Ons kan maar net saam met julle lof aan ons Here bring.

Liefde groete, In Hom, Philip อํานาจ

 

Yes, the end of the month is long past and I know my newsletter is a bit late this month, but at least it gave you a breather. Everything that happened in April is nearly too much to mention. Feedback on my special prayer request (the meeting between, myself, the Moken & God) has seen 2 of the 3 instalments already being sent to you, so I’m not going to write about that. I am rather going to write about what happened after that and oh yes, my stay in hospital.

As most of you have read, it was a major experience that I had with the Lord on the island - just as everything started to make sense, the wind was taken out of my sails. I would like to share with you what happened after that though. Our Lord truly brought me to a point that I didn’t know which way to turn. At my wit’s end, I had to leave everything in His hands and witness how He started to raise up His Church here.

The weekend after, the Lord went on to emphasise the senselessness of our busyness, convincing me even more of the hopelessness of our situation. If it is not Him we give to people and if it is not Him they see, then we are chasing wind. “How Lord!” was all I could cry out. Then the miracle happened. See, it is He who does it. We are just the instruments He uses. Lost in myself, totally surrendered to the fact that we can’t do it, He comes through and brings His Life.

And so I’m sitting again with my Moken friends on the boat waiting for the sun to set. The view is again one we only see on the big screen in theatres. This time we started talking about everything the Moken are struggling with, and what they see and think. It was an awakening to start to see through their eyes. They are truly wonderful people and I am beginning to understand why they are so special in Our Lord’s eyes. The simplicity of who they are and their childlike sincerity. People so close to God’s heart!

Diving this same evening, I felt something was amiss with me. I was short of breath and my body didn’t want to cooperate properly. But because I was enjoying myself, I wasn’t paying much attention. After the dive I got so cold and sat shivering on the boat. We already decided that we were going to talk to the Moken community the very next day, however I did not realise what was laying ahead for me that day.

I woke up the next morning with a deafening headache and a body that felt as if it was hit by a train. There wasn’t a single thing in my body that wasn’t in pain. The worst was this lump of non-cooperating flesh that was my body. I barley had strength to lift myself up. In this state I met with the Moken community in the morning, as they were discussing the method of church among themselves. They were extremely excited as they have never heard that the Creator God also likes their own music and that He also wants them to talk and worship Him in their own mother tongue.

They were so amazed that God didn’t intend to make them Thai or English but that He loves them just as they are. Immediately the ball was placed in their hands, they would have to choose how to serve Him and how they wanted to seek Him.

The next weekend we would have received feedback about the turn of events but that was all cut short in the week. With nearly a 40 degree fever I was taken to hospital where blood tests only confirmed what we already figured out, Dengue. I was immediately hospitalised because of the alarming rate at which my blood cell count was falling. A person can apparently start bleeding and then there’s big trouble. So I found myself with a blue frock and shirt, lying in a ward with about 60 other people.

The Thai hospital was truly an amazing experience. The people look after you very well. There is no real cure for Dengue, but I was monitored to ensure that I didn’t start to bleed as they would then have had to give me blood. Which would have been my end as the blood is mostly positive and I am negative. The Lord is truly indescribable because just after 2 days, my blood cell count stabilised and I was able to go home. To think that it is a mere mosquito that can put you back like this!

A thousand thank yous’ for all your love and prayers. Without you it would not be possible for us to survive here. We can only give glory to Him, together with you.

Loving greetings

Nuusbrief Maart 2554 March Newsletter

Dag sê aan al my vriende en vriendinne oor die wêreld. As julle dink ek gaan julle weer vertel dat dit die einde van nog 'n maand is, is julle reg! Die ergste van alles is dat 'n kwart van die 'nuwe jaar' reeds verby is. Waar gaan die tyd met ons heen? Die maand het ek lekker gesels met die Moken kinders, 'n onverwagte besoek van 'n dokter en arme Cally.

Dit is nou maar eenmaal nie maklik om in 'n ander kultuur te lewe nie. Alles is anders en hoe hulle dinge ervaar en sien is anders. Jou verstaan van die dinge wat hulle ervaar is natuurlik ook nie soos ons dit verstaan nie. Om die waarheid te sê, dit is op die stadium nog onmoontlik vir my om te probeer verstaan hoe die Moken dink en dinge ervaar. Net tyd... en tyd... en tyd... en nogmaals tyd saam met hulle, sal 'n mens dinge meer begin sien en verstaan soos hulle dit sien en verstaan. Tog gebeur daar al hierdie klein dingetjies wat die tyd saam met hulle interessant en lekker maak.

As ek op die eiland slaap is daar gewoonlik 'n klomp seuns wat by my op die stoep kom slaap. Hulle sê dat ek darem nie alleen kan slaap nie want die geeste mag dalk kom. Nou ja, een aand gaan ek weer saam met die Moken see-komkommers vang en die aand kom ons baie laat by die huis. Die seuns waag dit dan nie meer buite nie en dit gebeur dat ek toe alleen op die stoep slaap. Vroeg die volgende oggend kom hulle toe daar aan, heeltemal te vroeg vir my wat toe nog net 3 of 4 ure slaap in het. Hulle speel dan rond tot hulle dit net nie meer kan hou nie en spring dan op my om my wakker te maak.

Toe kom daar 'n baie interessante vraag van hulle, “Is jy dan nie bang vir die geeste nie?” Sonder om eers te dink en half deur die slaap antwoord ek, “Nee wat, die geeste is bang vir my, hulle sal my nie pla nie.” Hulle hou dadelik op met speel en die drie gesiggies kom sit naby my en vra, “Hoekom is hulle bang vir jou?” Nou moet ek vinnig dink en sê toe maar, “O, want ek is nooit alleen nie. Jesus woon in my.” Onwetend dat die half-deur-die-slaap antwoord 'n baie groot indruk op die seuns gemaak het.

So word ek toe een aand deur die skipper van die boot uitgenooi om by hulle te gaan eet. Die een seun Kiew, stap toe saam in die donker na die huis toe. Laat ek eers vir julle die toneel skep. Dit is pik donker, 'n nuwe maan en kristal-sterre vul die lug en daar is vêr af musiek wat speel. Die paadjie is 'n 100m wit streep in die donker met gras aan weerskante van omtrent 'n meter hoog. Dan hoor jy gedurig 'n geritsel in die gras en die nag geluide van vreemde goed. Nou vir my is dit geen probleem nie, maar vir die 7 jarige hier langs my, wel 'n mens kan sy spanning aanvoel, want hy klou soos 'n klein katjie aan my vas.

 

Ek sê naderhand vir hom; “Jy hoef rêrig nie bang te wees nie, ek is hier by jou.” Ek voel dat hy so 'n bietjie ontspan. Hy vra toe, “Is die geeste rêrig bang vir jou?” Ek antwoord toe, “Ja, hulle is. Hulle is baie bang vir my omdat ek nie alleen is nie, maar omdat Jesus by my is.” “Is Jesus nou ook by jou?” hoor ek sy benoude vraag. “Ja, Kiew, Jesus is altyd by ons en Hy sal ons nooit alleen laat nie.” “O” sê hy toe en ek voel hoe hy ontspan. So stap ons twee toe in die donker en praat oor die Here wat in mens woon. Die volgende dag is hy die een wat vir al sy vriende vertel dat die geeste baie bang vir Jesus is. Soos Deon altyd sê, “Dit wys jou, ek weet nie wat nie, maar dit wys jou.”

Dan het ons 'n baie onverwagte besoek van 'n Brasiliaanse dokter van 'East Timor' gehad. Een Maandag op pad terug van die eiland sien ek dat daar 'n oproep van Jonathan was. Ek bel toe terug om net uit te vind dat Peter van STAMP hom die vorige dag laat weet het daar is 'n dokter op pad. Sy kom glo opvolg werk doen. Ek kon nie glo wat my ore hoor nie. Die omstandighede op die eiland is nou nie van so 'n aard dat ons 'n dokter daar kan onthaal nie en ek is vrot van die verkoue. Ek kom eers 16h30 in Ranong aan en so spook ons toe om alles reg te kry voor sy 21h30 dieselfde aand ook daar aankom.

Ons moes verblyf reël, kos kook en al die vertaalwerk doen. Daar is nou nie waarlik geriewe by die Moken nie. Elke dag het uit 3 sessies van 2 ure elk bestaan. Ek moet darem sê dit was baie interessant en die dokter het haar baie goed van haar taak gekwyt. Die Moken het baie praktiese dinge geleer en hulle kon met so te sê alles identifiseer waaroor sy gepraat het. As ek nie so siek was nie en meer tyd gehad het om voor te berei, sou dit 'n wonderlike ervaring gewees het. My verkoue het toe ook die kans gebruik om my behoorlik te verniel. So is ons na die week, dood moeg met ontsteekte sinusse, terug Ranong toe.

 

Die sports was toe nog nie verby nie. Cally het toe 'n geweldige allergiese reaksie teen die antibiotika wat sy gedrink het. Haar gesig en arms, sommer alles het opgeswel soveel so dat die sig naderhand uit die swelsel geloop het. Haar dokter in Maleisie het toe darem die regte medikasie voorgeskryf en sy het vinnig herstel.

So soos julle sien 'n woelige maand is agter die rug. Baie dankie vir al julle liefde en gebede. Julle is gedurig in ons gedagtes.

In Hom,
Philip อํานาจ

Alissa voor die huis op die eiland / Alissa in front of the house on the island

Kinders pak my terwyl ons swem / children tackle me while we swim

Good day all my friends across the globe. If you think I’m going to tell you that it’s the end of another month, you’re right! The worst is that a quarter of the ‘new year’ has already passed. Where is the time going with us? This last month I had time to chat to the Moken children, an unexpected visit from a doctor and poor Cally.

It is just not that easy to live within another culture. Everything is different and the way they experience and see things are different. Our understanding of the things they experience is of course also not the way we understand it. To tell you the truth, it is still not possible for me to try and understand how the Moken think and experience things. Just more time... and more time... and even more time with them, would allow a person to understand and see things the way they see and understand it. Yet, all these small things happen so that my time with them is interesting and pleasant.

Normally when I sleep on the island, there is a group of boys that comes to sleep with me on the stoep. They say that I can’t sleep alone because the spirits might come. And so it happened that I went the one night again to catch sea cucumbers with the Moken and came home very late. The boys wont’ dare to go out at that time of the night and so I landed up sleeping alone on the stoep. Very early the next morning they came to look for me, way too early for me to be awake after only about 3 or 4 hours sleep. They play around for a while until they can’t bear it anymore and then jump on top of me to wake me up.

And then they asked me a very interesting question: “Aren’t you scared of the spirits?” Without even thinking and still half asleep I answered “Not at all, the spirits are scared of me, they don’t worry me.” They stopped in their playing tracks and three little faces came very close to me and asked, “Why are they scared of you?” I then realised I had to give a quick answer and said, “O, because I am never alone. Jesus lives inside of me.” Unknowingly and still half asleep I made a big impression on the boys with my answer.

And so, one night I was invited for supper by the skipper of the boat. As it happened, one of the boys named Kiew, walked with me to the house in the dark. Allow me to set the scene: it is but pitch black night, a new moon and crystal stars fill the night sky and somewhere far off music is playing. The path is a white line of about 100m long in the dark, flanked on either side by a meter high wall of grass. You are able to hear rustles in the grass and other noises of strange things moving in the night. For me this is not a problem but for the 7 year old here next to me, well, I could feel his fear as he gripped me like a small little kitten.

After a while I said to him, “You don’t have be scared of anything, I am here with you.” I could feel how he relaxed a little. He then asked me, “Are the spirits really scared of you?” And I answered him, “Yes they are. They are very scared of me because I am not alone, Jesus is always with me.” “Is Jesus here with you now?” the small voice next to me asked. “Yes Kiew, Jesus is always with us and He never leaves us.” “O” he said, and I felt immediately how he relaxed. And so we walked, still in the dark, talking about how God lives within us. The next day he was the one telling all his friends that the spirits are scared of Jesus. Like Deon always says, “It shows you, I don’t know what, but it shows you.”

Then we had quite an unexpected visit from a Brazilian doctor from ‘East Timor’. On a Monday coming back from the island I saw a missed call from Jonathan. When I called him he told me that Peter from STAMP left a message the previous day that there is a doctor on the way. She came to make some follow ups on the island - I was very surprised, as the circumstances on the island are not really suitable to cater for a doctor. At 4:30 that afternoon as I reached Ranong, pretty tired and still suffering with sinus, I now had to scuttle to get things ready for the doctor’s arrival the same evening at 9:30.

Jonathan and I had to organise accommodation, prepare a meal and translate material before her arrival in Ranong. As I said, there are no real amenities on the island among the Moken. However, she managed 3 sessions of 2 hours each every day. I must say, it was very interesting and the doctor did an excellent job. The Moken learned many practical things and could identify with most of the thing she spoke about. If I wasn’t so sick and had more time to prepare, it could have been an amazing experience for me. The flu really got the better of me. And so after a week, dead tired and with majorly infected sinuses, we headed home to Ranong.

And that was still not the end of the story. Cally had a horrendous allergic reaction to the antibiotic she was taking at the time. Her face and arms, in fact everything, ballooned so much so that it started to ooze. Her doctor in Malaysia saved the day by prescribing the right kind of medication which helped her to recuperate quickly.

As you can see I had a very busy month. Thank you very much for all your love and prayers. You are constantly in our thoughts.

In Hom,

Philip อํานาจ

Nuusbrief Februarie 2554 February Newsletter

Ja glo dit of nie, die tweede maand van die jaar is verby en dit is weer vir 'n my voorreg om dit onder julle aandag te bring. So ons is nou uiteindelik in Ranong en alles is so te sê op plek. Dan was ek al op die eiland, Ko Phayam, en wat kan ek sê, dit was 'n belewenis!

Die 14de Februarie het ons hier aan gekom. Nat gesweet en moeg het ons begin om die huis na ons smaak in te rig. Dag no.2 hier in Ranong, kry ons 'n oproep van die ouens wat Jonathan-hulle se goed van Maleisië bring. Hulle sit vas op die grens aan die Thai kant. Hulle wil nie sy goed laat deur gaan sonder die amptelike uitnodiging van die kerk hier in Ranong nie. So is ons toe, nog moeg van die reis, hier weg om hulp te gaan soek by die kerk. Daar aan gekom, in 'n kombi wat die kerk vir ons leen, probeer ek toe die hele situasie aan die Ajaan Siaan (kerk leier) verduidelik. Natuurlik in Thai, want ek is die enigste een wat al 'n bietjie Thai kan praat. Gelukkig het hy my verstaan en al Jonathan-hulle se goeters het hier aangekom. Dit was nou vir jou uitdaging na so 'n lang rus van Thai praat.

Met alles so te sê op plek, besluit ons toe om vir die naweek eiland toe te gaan. Jammer om te sê, dat ek toe op die ou einde alleen gegaan het, want Cally was uit vir inkopies en het geval met die motorfiets. Sy was saam met een van ons Thai-vriendinne (Wasana) en hulle het geval. Sy het 'n groot brandwond opgedoen en ons het besluit dat dit beter sal wees as sy nie gaan nie. Die goeie nuus is dat haar wond vinnig besig is om te genees. So is ek toe alleen hier weg saam met twee Thai's (Wasana en Ouen), om die naweek op die eiland deur te bring.

Ek was baie moeg toe ek op die boot klim, want ek het min die vorige aand geslaap. Glo dit of nie, ek was so opgewonde soos 'n klein seuntjie en kon nie slaap nie. Dit was egter 'n wonderlike tyd saam met ons Here. By die eiland aangekom, vind ons toe dat ons boot na die Moken stat, nog nie daar is nie. Ek gaan sit toe by 'n groep mans wat vis vang, om net tot my ergernis, niks te verstaan wat hulle sê nie. Ek kon nie glo dat my Thai so verswak het nie. Alles in my was gefokus op dit wat hulle sê, maar niks - nie 'n woord nie! Ek skryf dit maar toe aan die min slaap, maar was baie teleurgesteld. Skielik hoor ek die maklikste verstaanbare taal reg agter my. Vir 'n oomblik het ek gedink dat dit is Afrikaans was, maar toe ek omkyk was dit Ouen wat daar staan. Sy sê toe dat die groep mans van Myanmar af kom. Ek was baie verlig om dit te hoor, maar ook baie teleurgesteld dat ek nie eers dit kon agter kom nie.

By die stat aangekom, erken die kinders my dadelik. Hulle vrae my om saam met hulle te gaan swem. Daarna moet hulle gewas word. Sommer so in hulle Adam en Eva gewaad staan die kinders om die put en word almal so in die ry af gewas. Dit is die meeste van hulle se enigste was vir die week en hulle geniet dit sommer baie. Die ouer kinders het toe ook besluit om te kom kyk wat aangaan en gou word ek deur hulle na hulle huise genooi.

Die Moken is baie vriendelike mense en voor ek mooi weet wat aangaan, is ek op 'n boot (meer soos 'n ou hout skuit, net kleiner en met meer gate waardeur die water stroom) op pad om see komkommers te gaan vang. So sit ek tussen 16 volwassenes, 1 baba en 2 kinders op die klein bootjie, almal besig om reg te maak vir die aand. Hulle toerusting waarmee hulle duik, hoe sal ek dit stel, wel dit is nie waarlik duik toerusting nie. Almal is plesierig en vol grappe. Dit is 'n belewenis om hulle so te sien. So nou en dan praat een met my Thai en dan is dit maar net weer klanke wat die lug vul. Die water breek sulke blink groen golwe onder die boot, met die sterre wat so naby is dat jy amper daaraan kan raak. Dit is 'n ongelooflike ervaring. Toe word die anker gegooi en almal behalwe ek, die kinders, 'n ma en die bootdrywer bly agter.

Die kinders moedig my toe aan om ook te gaan swem en so spring ek in die water. Soos ek my armes beweeg vorm daar helder groen wolke van fosfor om my. En as jy stil lê in die water hoor jy die plof geluidjie wat dit maak as dit in aanraking kom met die lug. Dit is iets wat ek nog nooit ervaar het nie. So alleen in die middel van die see saam met jou Here. Wat kan ek sê, iemand moet dit doen! ;-) So swem ek toe na die groep wat besig is om die komkommers te soek. Hoe nader ek egter kom hoe vinniger swem hulle weg. Ek kon hulle net nie vang nie. Terug op die boot hoor ek hulle lag en gesels oor iets en toe die vraag aan my: “Was jy ook in die water?” En na ek geantwoord het bulder die boot van die lag. “Ons het gedink jy is 'n spook en dit is waarom ons so vinnig weg geswem het” was hulle antwoord. So sit ek toe die res van die aand op die boot en koud kry. Gelukkig was daar die sterre en is hulle mooi op die see.

Jonathan sit hier langs my en dink net aan al die mooi fotos wat hy kon geneem het. Jammer om te sê, ek het nie eers een foto van die naweek nie, net die wonderlike ervaring in my hart.

Dankie vir al julle liefde en al julle ondersteuning en ek hoop julle ervaar ons Here ook elke dag op so 'n besonderse manier.

In Hom,
Philip อํานาจ 

 Boot na Ko Phayam eiland / boat to Ko Phayam island

  Ranong Hawe / Harbour

 
Yes, believe it or not, two months of the year have already passed and it is my privilege to bring it to your attention once again.  Finally we are in Ranong and things are nearly all in place.  I have been to Ko Phayam island and what can I say, it was a true adventure!
We arrived here on the 14th February.  Soaked in perspiration and quite tired from the travelling, we had to start arranging the house according to our needs.  On day 2 here in Ranong, we received a call from the people who were bringing the Kwok family’s belongings from Malaysia.  They were stuck at the border on the Thailand side because the officials didn’t want to release their goods without a formal invitation from the church in Ranong.  Exhausted from the journey, we had to go and look for help at the church.  We arrived in a combi the church lent us, and I tried to explain the whole situation to the Ajaan Siaan (church leader), in Thai of course.  After such a long break not speaking Thai, I eventually made myself understood and so the Kwok family’s belongings arrived here safely.

 As we settled in and things found their place, we decided to go to the island for the weekend.  In the end I had to go alone as Cally and one of our Thai friends Wasana, fell from their motorbike when they went shopping.  As a result of the fall, Cally suffered bad abrasions and we decided it best for her to remain at home.  The good news is that her wounds are healing really fast.  And so, myself and two Thai friends, Wasana and Quen, left to spend the weekend on the island.

I was very tired when we got on the boat that was ferrying us across to the island.  I was so excited, just like a small boy that couldn’t sleep the night before.  However, I had a wonderful time with the Lord.  When we arrived on the island we heard that the boat that was to take us over to the Moken kraal, had not yet arrived.  And so I went to sit with a few men who were catching fish, just to discover to my annoyance that I couldn’t understand a word they were saying.  I was shocked to discover that my Thai regressed to such an extent.  Every fibre of my being was focussed on what they were saying but I couldn’t even grasp one thing, not even one word!  I thought that it had to do with the little sleep and the fatigue from the night before.  But suddenly I heard the clearest of recognisable words right behind me.  For a moment I thought it was Afrikaans but when I turned around it was Quen standing there.  She was telling me in Thai, that the men were from Myanmar.  I was so relieved to hear that, but also disappointed at the same time that I wasn’t able to distinguish it.

As I arrived at the kraal, the children recognised me immediately.  They asked me to go and swim with them.  After that they had to be washed.  They were lined up in a long queue next to the well, stark naked like Adam and Eve, waiting their turn.  For most of them it is their weekly wash and they enjoy it a lot.  The older children were attracted by the commotion and not long after that I was invited to their homes.
The Moken are very friendly people and before I knew what was happening, I was on a boat (or rather more like a small wooden vessel with many holes, through which the water streamed) and on my way to go catch sea cucumbers.  So I sat between 16 adults, 1 baby and 2 children on this tiny boat, everyone preparing for the approaching night.  The equipment with which they dive, how shall I put it, is not exactly diving gear per se.  Everyone is jovial and full of jokes.  It was a real life adventure to be among them.  Every now and again one of them would speak Thai to me but thereafter it’s just a lot of sounds that fill the air.  The green sea water shimmered as it broke against the vessel and the stars were so close in the clear night sky, that I could nearly touch them.  It was an unbelievable experience.  Then the anchor was thrown overboard and everybody bailed out, except for the 2 children, the mother, the boatman and me.
The children were encouraging me to also get into the water and so I jumped in.  As I moved my arms in the water, a bright cloud of green phosphor followed.  At one time I was just drifting in the water and could hear little explosions as the phosphor made contact with the oxygen in the air.  I have never ever experienced anything like it - in the middle of the ocean, alone with God.  What can I say, someone’s got to do it J!  I then swam towards the group that were looking for sea cucumbers but the strangest thing happened.  As soon as I gained ground, they would then quickly swim away from me.  I just couldn’t catch up with them.  Back on the boat I heard them laugh and talk excitedly about something and then the question came: “were you also in the water?”  After I answered, the boat bellowed with laughter - they thought I was a ghost in the water and that’s why they swam for their lives to get away from me!  And so I sat on the boat for the remainder of the night being cold, but lucky for me the stars on the ocean were so beautiful.

Jonathan is sitting here next to me and is thinking of all the nice photo’s he could have taken.  Sorry to say, but I don’t even have one picture to offer of this unforgettable weekend, just the most wonderful experience in my heart.

Thank you for all your love and all your support.  I hope you also experience our Lord everyday in very special ways.

In Him,
Philip อํานาจ

Nuusbrief / Newsletter - January 2554

Dagsê aan al my vriende en vriendinne daar in Suid-Afrika. Ja dit is al weer 'n nuwe jaar en 'n nuwe maand. Soos julle weet is ek al weer terug hier in die Ooste. Was dit vir jou weer 'n gegroet daar in SA voor ek weer Bangkok toe vertrek het, om maar net weer op 'n vliegtuig te klim na Penang in Maleisië. Hier geland het ek aan die werk gespring om Jonathan-hulle te help pak en toe breek nuwe jaar vir die tweede maal aan.

Ja dit was weer vir jou 'n groot gegroet daar in SA voor ek weer die lang vlug aangepak het Asië toe. Hier geland het al die bekende gesigte my sommer weer laat tuis voel. Ek het ook die gebeds groep uit SA hier ontmoet en 'n dag saam met hulle spandeer. Dit was, soos julle kon raai, vet pret gewees. Maar voor ek my oë kon uitvee was ek alweer op die vliegtuig op pad na Penang.

Die vriendelike gesiggies van Danelin en Alissa, Jon en Cally se dogters, het my op die lughawe ingewag. Die eerste ding wat hulle egter van my wou weet was, of ek vir hulle biltong saam gebring het. En het hulle die biltong geniet. Toe breek die groot gepak aan. Kyk het ek nou vir jou gesweet in die warem weer. Die drie maande in SA se koeler weer het my sag gemaak vir die hitte hier.

Gelukkig is die gepak onderbreek deur die Sjinese nuwe jaar. Ons moes al Jon en Cally se ooms en tannies gaan besoek en almal het vir ons kos voorberei. En daar word nie 'n nee dankie, ek is versadig aanvaar nie. Ek moet darem sê die kos was heerlik. So, as alles goed verloop, beplan ons om so die 14de Februarie uit te vlieg na Thailand toe.

Dan net duisende dankies vir die lekker tyd daar in SA. Dit was waarlik iets besonders vir my gewees. Ek verlang darem so 'n bietjie na julle almal, maar kan nie wag om Ranong toe te gaan nie.

Liefde groete,

Philip อํานาจ

Leeu-dans vir Sjinese nuwe jaar /

Lion dance at Chinese new year

 

Groot gepak / The Big Pack

Good day to all my friends in South Africa! And so a new year and a new month has started and as you know, I am already back here in South East Asia. Before leaving for Bangkok, I had a great send-off in South Africa. I arrived here and had to, almost immediately, get on another plane to go to Penang in Malaysia. On arriving in Malaysia I got stuck in with helping Jonathan and the family pack up and also celebrated new year for the second time.

Prior to my departure, there was a big farewell before I embarked on the long journey back to Thailand. As I landed here all the familiar faces made me feel so at home. I also met up with a prayer team from SA who were in Bangkok and spent a whole day with them - as you guessed, it was really great. But before I could even settle, I was on a plane to Penang.

There the friendly faces of Danelin and Alissa, Jon and Cally’s daughters, greeted me at the airport as I arrived. The first thing they wanted to know from me is whether I brought biltong with me! Unnecessary to say, they enjoyed it a lot. And then we got stuck in packing up their entire home. And did I perspire in that hot weather – the 3 months in SA’s much cooler climate softened me for the heat and humidity here.

In the middle of the packing, we were interrupted by the Chinese New Year. This celebration is very traditional in Asia, with the result that we had to go visit Jon and Cally’s uncles and aunts, who prepared the special delicacies. “No thank you I am stuffed” is not an option but I must say, the food was delicious. If all goes well, myself and the Kwok family should be flying out to Thailand on the 14th of February.

I just want to say a very big thank you for the wonderful time in South Africa. It was truly something special for me. Even though I miss you a little, I can't wait to go to Ranong.

Loving greetings

Philip อํานาจ

Totsiens ons liewe vriend! / Goodbye dear friend!

Ons groet vir Philip wat Saterdag 15 Januarie weer terugkeer Thailand toe, nadat hy wonderlike en baie spesiale ure saam met ons spandeer het.  Dis amper ondenkbaar dat 3 maande al verby is.... Maar as ons na die foto's en sy program kyk wat verby is (onder Ahead) dan onthou ons hoe hy homself vir sy familie, vriende ne vennote uitgestort het.  Mag die Here hom seen en Sy hand oor Philip hou in Jesus se naam! 

We say goodbye to Philip as he is departing on Saturday 15 Jan for Thailand, after spending many, many wonderful & precious hours with us. It's just about unbelievable that 3 months have gone by... Looking at the pictures and accomplished itinerary (under Ahead) we remember how he poured himself out for his family, friends and partners. May the Lord bless him and keep him in Jesus' name!

Vir Saterdag 8 Jan 2011

PHILIP SE AFSKEIDSPARTY 

Kom groet Philip en kuier saam met ons vir die laaste keer voorat hy op 15 Jan weer terug gaan Thailand toe.  Ons ontmoet op Saterdag 8 Januarie 2011, 4nm by Kobus & Hannecke se huis in Wapadrand, Pta Oos (bel asb vir Paulien op 072 202 5752 vir aanwysings).  Alles sal voorsien word, net nie swemklere en drinkgoedjies nie.

PHILIP'S FAREWELL 

Come and say goodbye to Philip for the last time before he leaves on 15 Jan for Thailand.  We gather on Saturday 8 January 2011, 4pm at Kobus & Hannecke's home in Wapadrand, Pta east (please contact Pauline on 072 202 5752 for directions).  Everything will be provided except for swimming trunks and drinks.

Hoop ons sien julle daar!