March 10, 2002

Dear Folks,

The hot season is here. The first indicator of that is the noisy cicadas with their high-pitched hum like an electric plant. They make a lot of noise all day long but calm down and are quiet at night, just like us! During this season it is good to slow down, make fewer demands on yourself and others. Children (and adults) tend to get irritable and tire easily during this stretch. Coming soon is the April two-week break that refreshes us.

At the end of January we celebrated International Day at Chiang Mai International School (CMIS). All our elementary students who have a native costume dress up for a parade, which is followed by entertainment consisting of dances and performances of various nationalities. This year’s show included a Korean Fan Dance and a demonstration of Tae Kwan Doh as well as audience participation in singing a French song. An abundance of food samples at lunch time from all the countries made the noon hour enjoyable. Then thirteen classrooms turned into stations, each representing one country, where classes visited. Each student had a "passport" to be stamped in each room. Books, posters, activities, videos, displays, and games were available. Parents did most of the organizing and setting up. Each child was so proud of the country they represented and knew to respect the others. It was a wonderful experience and I am sure it contributes to world peace.

I have had the opportunity to get better acquainted with some of our mission workers in these months and I want to tell you about two I greatly admire.

Kathryn McDaniel is from New Zealand. She came to Thailand many years ago, trained as a nurse, to help at McCormick Hospital. She married the widowed Doctor Ed McDaniel (PCUSA) and made Thailand her home. She decided to contribute what she could to this community and has been very active in both the Thai church and the International Community Church. She organized and printed a directory for the International Church and another for the community of foreign workers. She recognized a need and felt she could be of some help with foreigners held in prison here. Through the years she dedicated herself to visiting and caring for foreigners who found themselves on the wrong side of the law. The Community Church organized meals at holiday times, and Kathryn was always ready to deliver. She contacted the families of these prisoners to keep communications open and has helped in any way she could to make their lives better. When her husband died two years ago she had to decide whether to leave or continue contributing to the betterment of society here. She stayed and is now even more dedicated to this task. This year one of the prisoners, who had been in and out of prison for years, asked her to bring him a Bible. She did but wondered if this was a genuine interest. Over time, as she visited with him, she realized that he was searching and was becoming a better person. She knew that God was working through her, and she has been able to witness a change and a baptism of this man. He has been released and sent back to his home country. She says that it will not be easy for him. His wife divorced him, and his country has few Christians. Kathryn has amazing stories to tell. Her life is never dull but the wonderful thing about it is her dedication to her chosen cause.

Annette George is a music (flute) teacher. She came to teach at the seminary and music department of Payap University in 1991. She chose to live simply and by living in the seminary dorm, Annette has become acquainted with many students and been a positive influence on them. She has a genuine concern for who they are. She has a full teaching schedule and teaches privately many evenings and also has time and energy to be on the council of the Community Church, planning worship services and preaching. She has worked with one of my former students in the area of music therapy. Annette is a calm, quiet influence here and I have a great appreciation for her dedication to her work here.

Peace!

Michal Dobson

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 163