life in a northern town - issue 6
DESCRIPTION
Shayne's monthly, bi monthly, whenever news and information about his life in Hangdong, Northern ThailandTRANSCRIPT
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Life in a Northern Town
(of Thailand)
2011 - A Big Year, Big Fun & Big Challenges
My name is Shayne Rochfort and I am a servant of God, volunteering in
Hangdong, Thailand! I am helping support an amazing team in their work in the
local schools and community. My main role involves everything and anything.
Highlights -
New Year Thai Style
Losing a great friend
to Australia
The newness of things
happening here
Children’s Day
New Coffee Shop now
opened
Gaining missionary
status from OMS
International
Having friends from
my home church visit
and serve here with
me.
After a big year of change in 2010, I really
thought things may settle down as I continue to
find my feet in Thailand. In reality, I could only
hope.
The new year started with sadness as my sister,
whom I had shared most of the year with was
leaving to return home to study. I really do not
know what my life would have been like had it
not been for Ri this year. We spent most of the
year in each others’ pockets and she did really
well to put up with me. Thanks Ri and I still miss
you heaps!!!
The next couple of weeks of January were a
little quiet with many of our team in holiday
mode, away with family or heading “down
South” to connect with the people in that new
area. You will hear much more about “down
South” as the year progresses, but I can’t say
much more yet.
The team here has committed to a year of jour-
neying closer with Jesus, and always taking this
mindset into daily routines and challenges. It is
going to be a year of much blessing and growth
as we take this road together.
As I think about this in my personal life I really
think that this year will be a time of a more
fuller reliance on God and the knowledge that
this is where he has placed me and that he will
continue to guide me, if I only let Him.
Whilst in Australia it is summer holidays time,
we have no such luck over here, so each week I
would be heading into my schools with my Thai
translators and trying to teach kids about feel-
ings and emotions which, in Thailand is a little
foreign, and lately about vehicles and transporta-
tion. At the end of each subject we have a spell-
ing test and one student did amazingly with
nearly all words correct and only three wrong
letters from a perfect score. The usual class
average is about 3 correct of 14 words.
We celebrated “Wan Dek” or Children’s Day,
which the King implemented so that for one day
every child in Thailand would be treated special
and enjoy some fun and a feed. We set up our
jumping castle and many other activities for the
day. It was great to see about 30 of our team in
action helping the local Hangdong council.
After Kids day, my next big challenge was host-
ing some friends from my home church in Bris-
bane, City Life. Actually it ended up being 4 peo-
ple in total, two coming from Australia and two
on their way back to Australia after being in
India for 2010. It was great to connect with
them and let them see firsthand our way of
serving and transforming communities.
It was amazing to see them connect and be
available to serve our team here and as things
happened they filled many voids whilst other
people were away. I think that their hearts were
really opened up to possible future involvement
in missions work somewhere.
It is so hard to look back over the last couple of
months and fit in all the personal highlights and
team highlights and do justice to everything in
this short column. One thing you could do to
stay in the loop with my goings on is check out
my Facebook page or follow me on Twitter,
which I have recently started using and finding
fun and informational.
The last story I have is of our brand new River
Café which has just recently opened in the cen-
tre of Hangdong. I haven’t had much of a hands
on role, but our team has transformed a local
shopfront/accommodation Thai style building
into a coffee haven for the connoisseur. My
small part in this has been helping to design the
menus and some of the advertising. One of the
fun parts of this has been trying to get the trans-
lation happening. After many versions, formats
and translations, we’re getting there.
Volume 1 Issue 6
Photos by Isaac Yeo
May our attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something thing to be grasped but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to
the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8
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FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PRAY:
Please pray that I am able to raise the necessary support
that I need to continue my work in Thailand.
Prayer/Praise for protection for The River Team - a few of
our team have recently been involved in road accidents. Every day our team is out in the community
and the roads here can be very dangerous.
Please pray for the whole River Team - We are heading into a bunch of new things. We have opened
our coffee shop in Hangdong. We have people visiting “down South” over the next few weeks.
Please pray for our church here at The River and the many new people who are coming along.
Life in a Northern Town (of Thailand)
PO Box 11
HANGDONG
CHIANGMAI 50230
THAILAND
Phone +66801202074
Email -
Skype - slr_legend
The River Training and Convention Centre
Any questions please do not hesitate to send me an email, [email protected] or give me a call.
Open Letter to my friends
I am committed to being in Thailand
and with The River Team in a full time
capacity. I would like to let you know
that if you are able to support me in
my work, then you can do so through
One Mission Society. While I was in
Australia, I joined One Mission Society
so that everyone can have a way of
partnering in my ministry here in
northern Thailand. There are many
ways you can support me, through
prayer as well as financially.
Please go to the One Mission Society
website for more details or email me,
[email protected] . My prayer
card with all the details is available at
http://tinyurl.com/33ppyxc .
Supporting Shayne
I am looking for people to partner with me in my ministry in Thailand. Firstly
I need prayer partners who would commit to praying for me and The River
Team as we work all over Thailand transforming lives and communities, one
by one. Secondly, I need financial support partners who will assist me to
continue my work here by donating to me through OMS.
I have recently received confirmation from OMS International of my
missionary status, that means that I now need to become fully compliant
under their policies. My pathway to becoming a missionary has not followed
normal procedures, but they have been gracious and helpful in making this
happen.
Over the next few months I will be required to raise
enough financial support to cover my expenses here
as well as provision for times of furlough during my
“terms” on and off the field. A full term is 5 years.
This figure for my circumstances is just under $2000
per month.
Whilst you may think that is a big number, I do too,
but I believe that we can do it, if we break it down into smaller chunks. If we
can find 200 people to just give $10 per month, then that would cover the
full amount.
In normal circumstances this figure would need to be fully raised or pledged
before I could even buy a plane ticket. Currently, I am living off my own sav-
ings, this is ok as a temporary measure, but there was always going to be a
day when I needed to send this letter off asking for assistance and support.
I believe that I am meant to be here and that what I am doing is helping to
make a difference in people’s lives. I live a simple lifestyle and am trying to
live as close as possible to the way our team here lives, and at times I try
and bless them a little, in this way or that.
Apart from you, my friends, supporting me, I would appreciate it if you could
advise your home groups or local church and see if they would be willing to
partner in my work here in Thailand. If they would like to know more about
me, my previous newsletters have more information about me, life here and
why I am here.
If you would consider helping me out in any way, you can get more informa-
tion from my prayer card and if you would like to know more about OMS
or me, please go to the OMS website.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will
remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of
flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
Above and below - With my
“sister”. Far left - homework club.
Left - trying to dance at Kids Club