There is a deep response in guys to discover unexplored places with a past. A connection to something bigger than us, that stretches back over time and space. It could be standing before a monument to a past that’s always been there. Or it could be stepping ashore to a hidden piece of this planet with a story yet to be written. A fortnight ago I had the privilege to share these moments with a few of my neighbours.

They’re a bunch of young guys who’s lives revolve around the slum as motorcycle taxi riders or dock workers. When I brought up the idea of camping they jumped at the opportunity to get out even if just for a weekend. The journey added to the experience: 5 hours in the back of a ute with kayaks strapped on top to protect from the rain;  a ferry crossing onto Thailand’s 2^nd biggest but lesser know island; another hour down a dark twisting road; ending in a rollercoaster mountain track turned to mud by the monsoons. Luckily our campsite and launching point far from the nearest village only had one ute visit each day so hadn’t churned up the track.

After heating up noodles the guys tested their kayaking skills. Nic, Anji’s visiting brother, led them around the point to the next sandy beach. There the guys discovered a monument to their past. A decisive naval battle was fought in these waters that prevented France annexing part of Thailand for Cambodia. I explained to the guys history is repeating itself as the last few weeks have seen a build-up of Thai navy in the area to prevent drilling exploration by French vessels on behalf of Cambodia. The border’s become less distinct now that oil’s muddied the waters.

Eight of us lashed down our stuff to the four kayaks and prepared for the next leg of our adventure. There was a mixture of fear and excitement as they could see the island less than 4 kms away but with a lot of water in between. The waves from the breeze and slight rain we headed into added to the challenge.

The paddle there only took an hour. When we finally stepped on the island the guys all commented on how much easier it had been than appeared. Most of our time between joking around was spent setting up camp, cooking and exploring the island. During the day we remained wet from the sea or dripping jungle. We managed to catch about 20 litres of rain water to wash in. Finally getting a fire lit despite all the wet wood helped us dry off.  The jokes around the fire kept on till late before exhaustion called us back to our tents.

The next morning the wind had changed to now blow across our route back. For a couple of hours the rain held off allowing us to get packed up and eat. The biggest challenge lay ahead of us and we could see it coming. Black clouds started drifting across. The rain hit just as we managed to get everything stowed away and waterproofed on the kayaks. Nic and I guessed it should be OK to cross. The guys were nervous despite their experience the day before of overcoming challenges.

The paddle back across was epic. As soon as we cleared the shelter of our island the wind did it’s best to drift us off course. The only danger was we’d drift into a different part of the coast. However it was difficult to stay on course without the nose swinging around. Half way there the rain pelted down reducing visibility to 100m. We could only guess the direction to go based on the waves. I was to knackered to appreciate the beauty of it as to stop meant drifting further off course. As we entered the bay we were heading for we were thankful. The opportunity to surf the swell in as it curved into the bay was a bonus. Most of the time we’d used our left arms to paddle only to keep us straight against the crosswind.  Everyone collapsed onto the beach.

On the drive back to Bangkok a busted alternator gave us the opportunity to chat and reflect on our experience as we sat around the mechanic. Sitting shoulder to shoulder around a piece of oily machinery being pulled apart seems a natural setting for guys to chat. Even better if that part’s being cleaned with thinners and some heat treatment is required. The resulting explosion showed we can never get enough of sitting around something on fire. The guys pointed out that this trip was something special, a unique experience shared and adversity overcome individually and together. They also were proud to have done something wealthier Thais would never dare.

Anji Barker

After being back from Sabbatical for 2 months it pains me to say that I am suffering from culture shock. We have been in Thailand for 7 ½ years and I assumed that culture shock should now be a thing of the past. Well recent experience shows me that just like the passage in Romans 12 that talks about the Christian walk as a daily renewing , and transformation of our minds, cross cultural living is also an ongoing transformation of us and our world view as we struggle to live inside of someone else’s.

One of the discernment goals for our family was to look at what the next 10 years of ministry may hold and what changes we can make to facilitate and sustain that. Well moving house to another part of the slum was something we felt God calling us to do. After much prayer and discussion with the kids and our team we decided we would quietly start looking for a place with the thought that we may find something by Christmas and move in the new  year. But the first thing I had forgotten about the slum was - nothing is done quietly! We told our small house church in a hope they would feel part of the process, and within 24 hours Kru Meow had found us a perfect place right across from her.

The house needs a bit of work and it looks like Ash and I may even get our own room for the first time in 13 years! As the Builder is looking over the house we get talking about the stair. There is clearly a step missing and a friend from NZ  who was helping me with a design was trying to convince him that an extra step should be added.  Eventually it became clear that we will not be getting that extra step. The reason being there can only be an odd number of stairs, otherwise bad luck will be brought on both the builder and the household. If we added 2 extra we would get 13 steps and that is the only unlucky uneven number, we would then need 15 steps and that would have covered the bathroom door. Eventually the builder decides that he could make us an extra step - but not join it to the staircase. That way there would be no bad luck, as technically we would have two separate things! (I later found out that the same issue occurred when we tried to get him to make a door on an angle, this traps bad spirits!)

Well that about sums up many of the difficulties between how I think and how my friends and neighbors think. So many of the relationships that I find myself in the middle of have these kind of strange and yet obvious cross cultural misunderstandings. Last week particularly that was exhausting. Yet in the midst of the hard work at just trying to understand what is really going on at a heart level there is at times this almost mystical experience where our hearts touch and God does His amazing healing work - someone has a dream or a prayer answered and the power of the spirit is tangible and undeniable. I truly believe that as I continue to learn what it means to walk in Christ’s footsteps I am doing that not alone, but with a small yet growing group of my neighbors here in the slum. What a privilege and a struggle one that is almost indescribable in both joy and pain. But one that I wouldn’t trade for the world!

The move to a new neighborhood is both exciting and sad for our family as we leave the street that has been home for almost 8 years to start again at transforming a new neighborhood. God in His mercy has ensured that we already know a large number of our new neighbors and for our kids and their safety that has been crucial in the decision. Having another UNOH worker (Rod) close by is also a plus as we can support and compliment each other’s neighborhood ministries more directly.  The forming of the Helping Hands Project has meant the old neighborhood is left with 5 small businesses and a team of neighbors who meet together with myself to help come up with ways to foster and support small businesses for others in the area. We are having our second meeting tonight at which they will decide on three local families to help with set up costs for new business ideas. Many of the soi 2 and 3 neighbors make up the house church and we will still see them regularly- we are moving around 200 meters away but in slum terms that can be a whole world.

The new neighborhood has many of the kids from our preschool, soccer teams and youth group and we hope to continue to build on the relationships with them and their families. The new house has a big space downstairs where we will hold a kids club on Saturday mornings and whatever else God brings our way.

Ash and I both get quite energized and excited about new phases and we look forward to seeing what the next 10 years has in store.

Sometimes we experience hope when we least expect it. Last night (18th Aug) I was sitting at my desk at the Klong Toey Community centre when a wild wind, thunder claps and thick sheets of rain suddenly descended upon us. Tree branches cracked and fell down on the dark road outside. Then the electricity went out. I started for home once the rain eased a bit to see if our house was flooded again. It wasn’t, but as down our small lane-way I could see thick black smoke, bellowing up into the moving sky.

Anji called on the phone, sopping wet, taking shelter under a bridge with the kids on her motor-scooter but heard about the fire. ‘Get the dog, rabbit and hamsters, maybe your computer too. We don’t have much else, so get out of there’. The fire was still about 100 metres away, but it was close to a LP Gas shop. I went to see if we could help, but with literally thousands of people running in all directions, some with their hands full with plastic baskets of cloths, others with old TV’s and some even small fridges, it was simply chaos. The first red fire-ute arrived with a few teenagers hanging off the back, they didn’t have enough water or power or long enough hose to get down the narrow soi to the homes on fire. The fire, meanwhile, edged closer to the LPG store. Soon the real fire trucks arrived and quickly extinguished the fire. Though some of our neediest neighbours lost five homes, amazingly no-one was seriously injured and few belongings burnt.

Then I saw Rod. Three concrete power poles were literally broken in half from trees coming down on the corner of our main 70 Rye street. Rod’s ute was right in the middle of them. No damage done was done as the poles and trees fell around the blue ute and only the wires and leaves landed on it! The electric company guys came in their orange trucks and within the hour started to replace the concrete poles and take stray branches out of thin, corrugated iron roofs.

With the immediate danger of fire and gale force winds gone, there was a tangible sense of relief as well as the smoke in the air. Since the electricity was still off throughout our neighbourhood neighbours spontaneously gathered together in our common court-yard. I bought some pizza and as we ate told stories of close escapes and rumours of motorbikes flying in the air. There was the kind of nervous laugher of survivors, but it didn’t take long for discussions to turn back to normal life, like football again. ‘What will Man U do without Ronaldo?’ By mid-night the electricity was back on in 70 Rye and life continued on today as if nothing happened.

Out of the blue today (18th Aug) the option of a new home in a new, poorer neighbourhood suddenly appeared from no-where. We had been praying about a move. Our 70 Rye neighourhood now had a strong church with growing leaders at Ta Rua based in the old Mafia mansion at the end of our street. Christian neighbours were now running micro-enterprises themselves like Poos ‘helping hands’ cooking school and Bla with Klong Toey Handicrafts. When we first arrived in April 1st, 2002 none of this was there. Also, our kids have started to need more space, and as we just committed to Bangkok for another 7 years we also felt we needed a new grass roots challenge.

So while we always aimed to be like scaffolding that could be removed from 70 Rye, the storm and fire seemed to confirm to us that was hope was now firmly established. Despite what the elements threw at our neighbourhood, together, they could not only survive, but adapt and respond together for a better future without us needing to live there. While we will only move 500 meters away to the Lok 3 neighbourhood, the hope that was found together in 70 Rye will stay there with key neighbours as well as go with us to the new area. May God work through us all to help every neighbourhood facing urban poverty establish a hope that cannot be moved.     

PS. After much discussion 3 months rent was given for the new house on the 21st Aug. We expect to move into the ‘renovator’s delight’ in Lok 3 sometime late October. 

By Ash Barker

The breeze is back. Often July has a decent breeze along with the rainy season. Sometimes it even makes it’s way into the gaps between our slum dwellings. As a kid my Saturday’s were spent sailing down at Mordy (Mordialloc Creek, Melbourne). It was such a great experience that I’ve wanted to share it with our youth at the community centre for ages.

With so many soccer competitions on lately the kids have been busy on the weekends but the weekend before they had a break. It was a chance to take 16 of the younder kids to a pool nearby and teach them to swim. Then as a prize for two of the older teams last Saturday was a chance to go sailing, surfing and windsurfing.

Myself and Noon, one of the other centre staff were fortunate to meet up with the guys that run a windsurfing club out of Jomtien 2 hours away. They had compassion for these kids and wanted to help us out. Last Saturday about 20 of us packed into the ute and drove down.

Noon and I had checked out a council project using old Thai fishing sailing boats to introduce THais to sailing. Unfortunately when we went with the kids the skippers were all drunk. None of the kids had ever had this chance before.

The guys at Amara really helped us out. We had one instructor on a Hobie cat taking kids out for a sail. Another instructor showed kids how to surf on the latest craze, SUP (stand-up-paddle) boards and a couple of kayaks. Meanwhile the owner and myself helped the rest to learn winsurfing on a couple of beginner rigs. As you can see from the pics it was a blast. The boys can’t wait for the next chance.

Rod.

Thanks to Amara Watersports.
www.iwindsurf.asia

G’day friends,

A few years ago I was directed to drive down a dead end track. The ute rolled into the shadows between a concrete road bridge and a steel railway bridge. The strange man sitting next to me assured me we were at the right spot …

The pdf file can be downloaded here   Rods Ramblings newsletter pdf

In the surrounding alleyways where I live, dazed teenagers breathe through fumes of glue.  Just recently police knew they’d get a result for the TV camera crew following them by coming to my place. They arrested 2 adult guys sniffing on my doorstep. Luckily the dozen usual suspects were inside my room watching a movie or they would’ve been rounded up for a mandatory 45 days in jail. These guys sniff to get life over with. There’s no hope of escaping poverty or dreams coming true.

As a kid I dreamed about going out to a deserted island and camping. So I thought I’d give it a go with these guys. The last couple of kayaking trips have been a lead up to this one. We planned together and borrowed 4 triyaks from Feelfree Kayaks for a dozen of us. We journeyed to a spot I’d checked out near Cambodia.

I didn’t want the boys to miss any school so we arrived midnight on Friday and slept on the gravel in a carpark under some shelter from the rain. The next day we caught the ferry and drove to the remotest part of Koh Chang. Waiting on the shore with the island in sight I rushed around securing our stuff to the kayaks as a downpour approached. Hey we were going to get wet anyway.

Luckily as we headed into the wind and waves only one kayak capsized on the way. It had the foam sleeping mats lashed on so wasn’t too hard to right.  The guys were stoked to finally set foot on the deserted island we’d paddled 4km to get to. Thankfully the rain cleared and we set up tents and prepared some food.

The guys had never been put in a situation like this. With no small shops selling pepsi around the corner or electricity it was a first. By the end of the time they realised the value of conserving the bottled water we’d brought over. We just had enough for the paddle back despite one of the boys using it to wash the night before. The two older guys that came with came into their own teaching the boys to cook and playing guitar around the campfire.

Despite the storm that hit us at 2am, the next day turned out to be blue sky. It was an easier paddle back with calm seas. With the heat, everyone was hanging out for a cold drink at the beach on the main island. Talking to the guys on the way back they were stoked to have this opportunity. The chance to go on an adventure like this is far beyond the resources of these guys or anything they’ve ever heard of. Beyond our team’s resources but thankfully Feelfree Kayaks helped us out. In a couple of months we’ll be doing it again for the teenagers that missed out.

Rod.

www.feelfreekayak.com

One of the greatest privileges in living in this community is witnessing moments of my neighbours encountering Jesus. Recently the journey of some of our neighbours has brought encouragement to our community as they glimpse the well of life.

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been trying to introduce, during times our neighbours meet, a way of encountering the Word that has previously helped open my eyes. Both in the Tough Journey group I’m part of and our weekly worship gathering we’ve used Lectio Devina as a way of encountering scripture.

Lectio Devina is nothing new as it’s been around the last last 8 centuries. Usually used for personal reading of the bible, we’ve been using a group format to read together. Basically it’s about intentionally encountering and putting yourself in a passage of scripture then sharing that as a group. The site www.rc.net/saginaw/srsclare/lectio.html explains a bit more in detail.

Lectio Devina is a regular practice of UNOH workers. However trying to lead a group in Thai has been challenging. It helps that Lectio Devina is very suitable for those who find reading difficult as our neighbours do. The only text I’ve seen my neighbours read voluntarily has been Manga cartoons. But recently we’ve found a Manga Jesus story and that’s had a good response too. www.nextmanga.com

I’m not able to post the Thai text here but here’s a link to download it so that other Thais might be able to use this tool. www.sendspace.com/file/i0tf2x Also in the hope some of my Thai friends can improve on my atrocious translation and email me back a better version. Thanks for your patience as this learner slowly gets there.

Your bro in Christ,

Rod.

But should I have jumped off my steed, stripped, turned cheek and walked a mile down the road? Feel free to check my theology as it’s probably quite holey - ie bits missing

Last night was Palm Sunday so we looked at Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem amidst the palm branch waving mob. While Jesus approached from the east, Rome likely marched from the west to reinforce the Jerusalem garrison. As the Passover festival swelled Jerusalem’s population 500% to celebrate being freed from tyranny Jesus’ actions weren’t just another guy riding on a donkey.

He knew what he was doing. To me it seems like the best of street theatre protesting at the forces of empire. From the west march a procession of empire’s legions, from the east rides the saviour from Israel just as the mob expect their liberator. The mob suges with expectation as Passover so often brings revolutionary clashes. But it’s late so Jesus and his mates go home. What?

I think he was using the opportunity to make a statement against empire and the way they (also we) come in power and violence to solve problems. He came in humility on a donkey mocking the procession of mighty warhorses and chariots happening on the other side of the city. Yet even the mob wasn’t prepared for Jesus’ radical weapon - perfect love. Within a week the mob combined with empire to violently provide Jesus with the opportunity to use this weapon of love in the cross.

So all this got me thinking about how can I ever hope to match this master of protest. Other examples of great 1st century ideas Jesus suggested included:

> Turning the other cheek when hit. If a master was to slap a slave backhanded turning your cheek would require the master to slap you openhanded and therefore say he was equal to you.

> If someone was so stingy as to request your coat to repay a debt strip off. Back then the person looking at someone naked was shamed.

> If a soldier presses you to carry his gear a mile, go to the next mile post after. Roman soldiers weren’t allowed to force the inhabitants of lands they invaded to go more than one mile as they might revolt. One mile was just enough opression to let the vanquished know who’s boss and make life a little easier on the side.

So what would Jesus suggest when a gang of Bangkok cops are pulling over poor motorcyclists for bribes? During the sermon last night I resolved to work out beforehand what to do. In the end I thought maybe I could kneel in the dirt and embaress the cop into letting me go.

So true to bizare Bangkok I was pulled over for not riding in the most left lane. I’d just turned right into the road and the left of 3 lanes was full of parked cars. Basically anyone who obeys this “rule” all the time would have a short lived riding experience in chaotic Bangkok. So there’s plenty of opportunity for cops to “uphold” the law.

The cops spread out in a rugby line across the road so I pulled over knowing what was coming. I got of the bike and removed my helmet. I answered their questions in Thai automatically without thinking and handed over my license. Realising it was going the usual way I decided to try out my new idea so I knelt down in the road dirt and asked for mercy. The reaction was swifter than I expected. Before anyone could see me, two cops pulled me to my feet. The cop dealing with me brazenly said he was ready to help. I gave in and passed over 100 baht.

Ahhhh I sold out. Usually the bribe would be 200 baht (for a farung) or I’d spend a few hours getting my license back at the station and paying 400 baht. But that’s not the point. Cops shouldn’t be exploiting motorbike riders (who are poor and they know they can intimidate) through a technicality in the law to line their own pockets.

Any ideas? What response would Jesus make? I think next time I’ll force myself to speak only English. Maybe even lie face down but any other ideas or comments are welcome.

It’s school holidays now so our team was free to take two groups of teenagers to the swamp opposite our slum. The first day Chris’ neighbourhood teens from Rom Glao did 11km throught the swamp and back up the river. The second day it was the guys from my hood Lok 4 taking the same route as before but this time exploring a new way back through the swamp to avoid the downstream tide of the main river. We still had 2km upstream paddling against a quickly emptying swamp. Apparently they close the tide gates on the weekends only for the floating market. We went in the middle of the week.

I hope these photos convey some of the fun and trials we went through. The boys are all asking what’s the next challenge. Open sea? Deserted islands? Stay tuned for the next adventure. Click on the photos for a description.

By Rod

As fires continue to rage across Victoria it is hard not to feel very patriotic and deeply saddened for my fellow Aussies. I watched the memorial service with tears in my eyes knowing that fires still rage across the state. I was filled with hope as I saw the way Australians have pulled together to help each other and to fight on.

These same feelings of hope and deep despair are experienced by me weekly, living and working here in the slum. Some days I am filled with hope and amazement as I see the way my very poor neighbors pull together to help each other. Other days I am filled with despair as I experience the overwhelming needs and hopelessness. The Klong Toey Handicrafts has been such a journey. It started 3 years ago as way to create fair and meaningful employment for men and women here as an alternative to selling drugs and prostitution. In the last 7 months we turned over about $100,000 Australian dollars. Thanks to the hard work of our many Australian volunteers. At least half of that was wages and has gone directly into the local economy. The women and men working vary in numbers between 35 and 60 per week.   

Two years ago “Lek”, was released from prison after a 10 year sentence for drug trafficking. She and, her husband, also just out of jail moved into our soi to live with his mother. After a while young women being released from prison with no family and nowhere to go started ending up at Leks. Thai jails have large shared cells and “Lek” had become a mother figure during her time in there. When “Lek” first came to us for work  my sister in-law was able to teach her to sew. “Lek” was able to earn good money and loved the sewing until her aging eyes could not cope any more.

It was then that she introduced us to these young women and we offered them sewing work. We set up a room for them with a sewing machine etc. and most of the time there were at least  1 or 2 of these women living in the room as well as sewing bags for the handicrafts.

(Once a year the King Of Thailand pardons long term prisoners and we would get some new girls join the group.) Some stayed and continue on, others made good money and then moved on. I was really sensing God’s grace as were part of helping newly released prisoners earn a good wage and have an alternative to returning to their life of crime. Over time I noticed “Lek”, who by now was making wrist bands, working less and less as I would see her around the place. I heard from other neighbours she had started loaning money to others at really high interest. Eventually I happened to ask someone else the right question and found out that “Lek” had been taking a 40% cut in the wages we had been paying the women. Apparently this is normal, like a “spotters fee”. Again I felt despair.

Here we were thinking that we were creating fair employment and lives were changing, yet those we were helping were then in turn ripping others off. Not the best missionary story to have, but a very important and valuable one. In Thailand this happens everywhere and we must constantly fight against it. It is also a lesson that while we may feel hope at the changes we are seeing in the lives of the women, they may not feel that same hope. Despair can be a hard thing to shake.

 The longer I live here the more I understand that I don’t understand! I live in the slum, yet I can choose to leave. I feel I have rights and feel empowered to fight for better while my neighbors drown in problems from all angles. Christ and His hope are the only true hope. Money is not the answer to poverty people are! Sharing Christ’s transforming hope is needed here more than ever.

While I celebrate the Handicrafts project and the lives it has changed, I must always remember that there are many layers to the despair that these men and women face while giving them an income is vital, it is just the beginning of a very long road to wholeness. These are just our bumps on the road.

By Anji Barker