The Olivers In Thailand

A highlight of the Powerpack conference this year was the amazing team of about 60 members: International and Thai, adults and children that was involved in so many areas.

On behalf of Powerpack, I would like to thank everyone who was involved.

I have tried to credit everyone here but if you or someone you know has been left out, please let me know.

Heather Thompson travelled from the UK to speak at two conferences in Chiang Mai and at Hoay Maw. Powerpack UK funded Heather's flight. We are so thankful that Heather and Powerpack have made this investment of time and money for Heather to visit Thailand for the 3rd year running. We believe that is because God is at work to impart something special for children's ministry in these days!

Mirjam Kumdee translated for most of the conference.

Merry joined us and did a wonderful job of translating for the evening celebration.

Our workshops were prepared and led by:

• Drama - The Sunnset family and team
  (the song "Voice of Truth" was recorded in Thai by Warodom Khan-ura (Dough)

• Prayer - Mirjam Kumdee and Ajaan Esther

• Preaching - Tim and Michelle Miller

• Prophetic - Marlene Allen and Little

• Worship - Jenny McKechnie and Yui

The worship band included:
Andrew Bird (drums), Thomas Hyttedalen (bass), Jenny McKechnie (Congas), Jenny Oliver (guitar), Tom Oliver (eletric guitar), Miriam Sornprommas (keys).
Vocals: Yui, Bebe, Somkhit, Abby, Andrew, Caleb, Cheri, Daniel, Debbie, Esther, Faith, Grace, Hope, Mark, Nathan, Paul, Peach, Peter, Ruth, Sarah, Stephen.
Actions: Jessica, Jacob & Adelaine

Sound and AV team included:
Jacob May, Adrian Oliver, David Oliver, Paul Sornprommas

Various people assisted with dramas as part of the program: Joanna & Matthew Bird, Jacob & Luke May, Tom, David & Jessica Oliver.

Marit Hyttedalen had oversight of the teams for prayer, refreshments, ushering and setting up the venue. Violet Layman organised the refreshments team. Team members included: John & Eileen Fethkener, Marian Lao, Marielle & Jurianne Van de Stratten, the Bird, Hyttedalen, May, Oliver & Sunnset families.

Bonnie Sue Walker organised the registration with Yo & Mint.

The Sunnset family and other helpers made hundreds of gospel bracelets and Heather made the gospel pins for the shop and for gifts.

A lot of work went on behind the scenes in preparation, prayer, shopping, practising so many, many thanks to everyone who was involved.

It was a pleasure and an honour to work together and we look forward to what has in store for the future.

Thank you also to C.O.C. House of Praise for allowing us to use the great facilities and for sponsoring the use of the car park for our convenience and safety.

This weekend Powerpack Thailand (aka us) had the privilege of taking an international Powerpack Team to Hoay Maw to run two days of children's leaders training, children's workshops, celebration, and finally, Sunday church service.

A more complete report will follow later once we have recovered!

A brief video below shows the children enjoying the new Powerpack "More & More!" Thai audio CD we released in January. The Thai songs are based on the English Powerpack "More!" album (plus songs from other Powerpack albums).

The video starts with the team performing a number of the songs on the church's balcony.

The international Powerpack team included Thais, Americans, Canadians, Norwegians and British - (sorry - no Irish involvement...).

Although the British contingent were experienced "Powerpackers", this was only the 1st or 2nd time the others had been involved in a Powerpack event - this did not hinder them entering fully.

We were especially proud of the three young Thai team members from COC House Of Praise who were a wonderful role model to the children - it was a privilege for all of us to work along side them!

Well done and thank you everybody!

We look forward to planning the next Powerpack Thailand outing!

This weekend saw our first official Powerpack Thailand event involving a team of some 60 people (shown above) of all ages leading seminars, workshops, dramas, music, worship over two days for some 110 adults and some 130 children from the region.

Jenny was the event organiser, while Heather Thompson from Powerpack UK was the main speaker of the event.

More event details later...as we are currently preparing to repeat the conference in Hoay Maw this coming weekend...kind of busy...

Last night we had an unseasonal thunderstorm that turned out to be more violet than usual - very windy, heavy rain...and lots of lightening...which unusually also took out the electricity for nearly an hour...

The lack of electricity did not stop us from continuing to work by candlelight (to see the keyboard) - although even though our UPS kept our networking working throughout the during of the power cut, it seems our internet provider's UPS failed.

I did have a go at taking some photographs from the balcony - however by the time it was "safe" to go outside (i.e. horizontal rain had changed enough so that I would not get soaked), I had missed all the good strikes...

...well, not all of them. Although I did miss it with the camera...one strike was very close - less than 1/2 second between the strike and the bang! Needless to say I ran inside before the full second was up!

Fortunately apart from tree branches and leaves scattered across the roads, there was no damaged. Well, with the exception of the motorbike which apparently drove into a parked car from shock following on the the close strikes!

Despite the fact that we were in the middle of a very busy time, it was wonderful to have Nanny Jill visit us in Thailand from the end of November through 'till Jan 12th.

Nanny didn't do a great deal of "sight-seeing" but enjoyed hanging out with the family.

She did do a lot of beautiful cross-stitching including finishing the second of two beautiful pieces that she has been working on for two years since we gave her the two kits for Christmas when she was in Thailand two years previous! We need to discover a dry-cleaner in Chiang Mai in order to clean the canvases before getting them hung in our house here.

Well, to prove that we did get out of the house a few times, here are some highlights:

We celebrated Nanny's 75th birthday with a Mum and daughter lunch out. We then had a family meal at Dukes - sorry - can't believe no photos!

Christmas morning!

Baan Saan Fan Christmas Day Party

Traditional British Christmas Dinner (on Boxing Day)!

Packing the "Blessings in a Bag" for Hoay Maw.

The house boats at Mae Ngat resevoir.

The Khaomao Khaofang "Imaginary Jungle" restaurant.

Nanny with the grand children who are getting taller by the hour.

Customary guest leaving photo with the sharps at Chiang Mai airport.