HMONG TRAINING WORKSHOP

Chiang Mai

March 6-15th, 2007

 

Training Workshop

When I steppe off the plane which brought me to Chiang Mai, I knew the Lord had something exciting in store for me. I had no idea how right I was! Due to a mix up of communication no one came to pick me up. But it was a great way to meet people and tour the Airport. I checked into the YMCA for the night since, not knowing where the Hmong Mission Center was,  I did not know where to go. Later in the day the Hmong people arrived in a van and transported me to the Hmong Mission House in Mae Rim. I enjoyed their company and finally got under way on March 8th when Vicar Lang Yang arrived. His flight from America was delayed because of weather issues and therefore he missed his connection on Tokyo. I spent 3 delightful days sharing info on the New Testament with my new Hmong Brothers and Sisters.

 

The Hmong took lots of notes and I can only pray they understood half of what I had to share. They asked many questions and responded well to the presentations from both me and Vicar Lang. They cooked the meals and we enjoyed their cuisine from Tuesday to Saturday.  The numbers were great! I was expecting from 5-10 people. The first day there were over 20 Hmong people. The numbers held pretty well for the entire time, although some had to leave occasionally for personal business. But every session there were at least 12-15 men and women. I have to admit that I did not keep track of each day but I felt the attendance was very worth the time and expense.

They daily read from Scripture, led devotions and prayed. We tried to keep them involved in that area as much as possible. I daily reminded them that they were involved in a very exciting endeavor of sharing God’s Word with their people and that I would constantly pray for them. Speaking to them as “pastors”, not “students,” I led them through the entire New Testament with a bulk of time spent on the Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and 2Nd Coming of Jesus. I felt they were in real need of this most-important area of the Bible understanding.

 

 

Visit to the Villages

We left the Center on Saturday and arrived in the dark at Lo Co sometime Saturday Evening. Sunday we rose and enjoyed breakfast with the Hmong Villagers. Then we were off to a meeting with the Leader of the Village. Besides the bridge project, we also discussed, what he described as his main concern. A concern he had for his Village was a Health Care Clinic. The proposed health care clinic would not only serve his village of 800 but also the neighboring village of 1000. After sharing with him that this would involve, not only a building, but more importantly the staffing of that building, we had a lengthy discussion. At present they have to travel 8-10 kilometers for any kind of professional health care. They had no ideas afar as cost factors. He also shared with me that the Day Care need was still present and asked that we consider that as well. I had many questions of him and the message of the Gospel was always present. I reassured him that the reason the LCMS may help with various projects there was to show concern for them the same way Jesus has shown His compassion for each of us. An extremely cordial meeting was held and many thought shared. I reassured him that he and the Village of Lo Co would continue in my prayers and that I would share with Dang all these matters. Projects would be discussed and decisions would be made by LCMS World Mission and the CWEFT Board.

 

Following these discussions, the Villagers invited Vicar Lang and myself to go fishing with them. We agreed and that’s where my trip began “sliding down hill.” There is no “pun” intended but we had to descend a terrific gorge down to the river were going to fish. Much brush burning had been done and the air was very dusty. These factors, together with my heart problems, caused quite a problem for me and them. Vicar Lang returned to the Village to get my heart medication while they very graciously helped me back up the hill to our vehicles.

 

To keep a short story short, I had to be rushed to the Tak hospital and from there ambulanced to the Vipravidi Hospital in Bangkok. I am doing much better now and only had some arrhythmia and pre-ventricular contraction problems. I insisted that Vicar Lang go on with the Mission and leave me in Tak. He did. Par stayed with me and Vicar went on to the next Village and witnessed the Baptism of 31 new Christians. Praise the Lord.

 

Recommendations and Thoughts

  • The Hmong Pastors and evangelists really need a continuing program of Bible Study and Leadership Training. They seem quite eager but still in need of training to be leading Bible Studies. This is just my evaluation but I believe this Workshop was a good thing that should regularly be continued.
  • I think my days of going to the Villages may have come to a close with my heart problems but I would absolutely love to return to Chiang Mai and do “follow up” workshops perhaps on various topics (the miracles of Jesus; the parables of Jesus; studies on various “theological topics,” teaching techniques and the like).
  • Possible I could organize a “work day” at the Hmong Mission Center” to help with the upkeep and improvement of the facilities. Perhaps, the congregations here in Bangkok or Chiang Mai could be marshaled and encouraged to help with this. It is a wonderful facility but still in need of upkeep and ongoing maintenance. I may have to financial resources to assist in this area.
  • Even though I had some health issues on this trip, I am confident that this would, by no means, limit future involvement. I believe that a combination of three things contributed to my problem. 1] The heavy smoke and smog problem that was occurring in the Chiang Mai and Tak Provinces. 2] The fact that I forgot to take my heart medication the morning of the incident. And 3] my error thinking I could do more than I can. I do have a heart condition (cardio-myopathy) and need to monitor my physical exertion more than I did that day.
  • I look forward to helping more in the months and years to come. I truly enjoyed the teaching opportunity and absolutely love the Thai and Hmong peoples!