September 2002

Dear Friends,

What will this year bring? This is the question that keeps being asked at Chiang Mai International School (CMIS) in hot, wet, northern Thailand. The week before school was to begin we still needed three elementary teachers, one for first, one for second, and one for third grade. Our librarian, a qualified teacher, was asked at the last minute to teach both second-grade classes, (33 students), and the wife of another teacher, who is herself a first-grade teacher, was hired for both first-grade classes (35 students). With many students in the classes not having much English, 35 students is quite a load A mom who had home-schooled her children when they were young volunteered to take the third grade position until a teacher could be hired. We were able to cover all bases, but then our high school music/drama teacher suddenly needed back surgery. She taught for two weeks then needed to be out for six, at least. A returning mission child, now a college graduate in music, joined the team. CMIS has always worked like a family should. Everyone on the staff helps out where needed and we each work hard to make it all run smoothly. School started as planned, August 13, with someone to cover each base. However, at this writing, we still need a few teachers.

It was quickly agreed on and took only a few weeks to get all the paperwork completed. Visas and official school documents were taken care of and all have arrived and are getting settled in Chiang Mai. Housing, transportation, food, and basic needs are being worked out as quickly and smoothly as possible. They began school here this past week. There are 60 high school students, all children of missionaries, and their teachers, ten elementary students, and two elementary teachers joining CMIS. The high school students will be in a separate location for most of their classes. They are living in a dorm situation, the girls in a guest house, and the boys at a hill-tribe school. Some of the elementary students are with their families. Their joining us also brought us two elementary teachers, one for grade two and one for grade three. There will be a lot of adjusting going on as this group settles into life here. Please keep all of us in your prayers for a good, healthy school year that provides the healing necessary for these students.

Kindergarten is where I fit into the picture this year. I have 18 students who come from Korea, Japan, Sweden, Isreal, Philippines, Thailand, and the United States. They are a lively enthusiastic bunch and I am grateful to be a part of their education.

My daughter, Julie, is teaching fourth grade and is situated in the room directly above me. It's a real joy to be close to her.

The CMIS administrator, Acharn Kamol, has asked me to help find the teachers we still need for this school year. Our immediate needs are grade one and English as a second language. If you know of anyone who is qualified and would enjoy a northern Thailand overseas experience in a small K-12 mission school, please send me an email at:

Yours,

Michal Dobson

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