July 18, 2005

Dear Friends,

This past quarter’s leading issues had to do with health. It is the rainy season here in Thailand and the increase in moisture as well as temperatures (100+ degree temperatures) mean increases in fungal as well as viral infections. Usually we expect a couple of serious bouts of an Asian flu of sorts. This will usually keep folks down for approximately a full week of classes and usually take two or three more weeks before their full strength is regained.

This is also dengue fever season and although we haven’t yet had a volunteer succumb to that we did have the honor this quarter of dealing with malaria. Volunteer Austin House, after a month of work with Burmese refugees, came down with a mysterious illness that we could not get diagnosed. Finally with the right conditions (primarily a very high 104+ fever) we were able to get a solid diagnosis. Of course this came after almost three weeks of Asian flu type illness. Austin was hospitalized in Bangkok on the final day of our countrywide retreat in Kanchanburi (River Kwai).

Interpretation development to dominate the summer months

We’re always looking for ways to improve on the interpretation of our ministry. We send out newsletters via email. If you’re not on the list and would like to me, just send us an email. There’s a link to our email on our home page. We’re also working on developing online photo albums. There will be two ways to access these, one will be by invitation (you’ll receive an email announcing their completion and inviting you to view them). Each invitation will include an explanation about the contents of the album. The second means of accessing the photo album will be by clicking on a link such as this one to Sony’s Imagestation Web site. In this second case you will need to establish a username and password before entering. We’ll be doing a lot of work on our interpretation tools this summer and keep you updated.

Finally, we are also hoping to update our family Web site (www.hallead.org). We will be converting it to a more permanent format. The Web page will serve as an introduction and invitation to find out more about our ministry. Again, your input is always welcome.

Family matters – changes in structure and location

Change is always an exciting dynamic. This year brings some wonderfully exciting changes. Zakk graduated from high school (on Dad’s birthday and 30 years to the day from Dad’s own graduation from high school) and the very next day began his odyssey: the new great adventure. He has returned to the United States to work building houses for the same great family that he worked for last year. He had two days of rest on arrival before starting in on roofing. What a great way to start the summer. We have heard from him several times, and he really seems to be enjoying himself.

In the interim, Carol and I interviewed for a position with the PC(USA) in East Central Africa, still excited about the potential of returning to an area of both great love and significance in our lives. But the will of God seemed to be that someone else fill that position, and so we are looking to stay put for the next year or so. With the phasing out of the one year volunteer program here, which has consumed a significant portion of our efforts thus far, we will be looking for some significant adjustments in our responsibilities. We do anticipate, by this grace of God, however, to finally having the time to “tweak” our interpretation tools and methods.

Natalie is volunteering this summer at the school and is proudly keeping the administration on the run to find new things to keep her busy. In exchange for the volunteer work at school we have agreed to pay her, as if she had a job in the States (learning from Zakk’s experience last year, that it’s hard to make any money above the cost of the round-trip ticket).

Jacob and Caleb are both riding bikes, playing Legos, GameBoy, and Playstation, and keeping busy with neighbor friends. They have a wonderful new opportunity to do this since our recent last-minute move. Within a week of our decision to cancel our interpretation trip to the United States this summer, the house we were renting was sold and we were asked to be out within two weeks.

By the grace of God Thai friends of ours were just about to finish a small three-bedroom house and were looking for renters. The house is a beautiful natural brick and teakwood bungalow furnished with Burmese teak antiques throughout. It is also right next door (close enough to share a wireless Internet connection) to friends of ours, Bruce and Lori Rowe. Lori was born and raised in Mendota, Illinois, just a few miles up the road from where we pastored (Waltham) for more than eight years.

So while changes seem to be the order of the day, they are changes which are blessings pressed down, abundant, and overflowing. Our God is a God on whom we may depend amidst all of the changes in life. We continue to enjoy being stretched and challenged in our walk with Him and He is keeping us busy with opportunities to witness to His faithfulness. Thanks for helping to make this possible through your generous gifts to PC(USA) mission.

Glen and Carol Hallead

The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 121