31 December 2008
Quick update on Vern
Thanks for your prayers regarding team member Vern. He had dinner with all of us yesterday and got out last night for a little walk. He will join the group today to celebrate New Years with the Burmese Church. Cathy Bowery is doing well too. She's a trooper.
Happy New Year!
Our hotel has a big shindig for New Year's eve set up around the pool area. The Thais are playing music and performing tonight, and everyone will celebrate all day tomorrow.
Today the medical team got up early again and did the medical clinic at the church. They served nearly 100 people Tuesday and more than 100 people today. It has been going well, except for one baby who was very sick, B.J. said.
The children's ministry team and the water purification team took a "cr
uise" today out to a small island about an hour away. When we got to the boat, it was sitting on a mud bank. We waited more than an hour for the tide to rise high enough to set sail. But when we finally took off, it was an enjoyable ride. We passed some commercial boats and some people living on the banks of the channel. Plus, we saw some boys jumping out of a tree into the water. I caught a video clip of it.
Children waited for us on the concrete dock when we arrived at the tropical island. There were a small group of people there who were not Thai nor Burmese. They spoke Mochan, which has no written language. The tide was high and lapping the bottoms of their weathered wooden homes there on the beach. We unloaded and climed stairs to a church built on the hillside.
Much like at the Thai and Burmese school we went to on Tuesday, we taught the children some songs and had games and crafts. They really like songs with motions. Joy teaches them "Singing in the sun," which is sung to the tune of singing in the rain, but at the end of each verse you add on motions: thumbs up, elbows back, feet apart, knees together, bottom up, tongue out, eyes closed and turn around.
Then Joy and Christina told them the story of Noah and the Ark. The kids stuck foam stickers onto foam crosses. Even the adult ladies enjoyed the craft. As Brenda explained, the children there have to grow up so quickly and don't get to enjoy childhood. Many of the women were very young — children having children.
It's also not very sanitary there. At least they had a western-style toilet — but no flushing mechanism and no soap and water to wash your hands. The water purification team worked on setting up the new system, but they will have to return tomorrow to finish the job. The large water tank had to be cleaned out, and they ran out of water.
The tide had gone out some when it was time to leave, so we had to wade out to a small boat to take us to the boat we came in. A few of us went for a swim in the Ottoman Sea. We got back to Thailand and went out for dinner. On the way to the restaurant, Brenda told us how to say "Happy New Year" in Thai. It sounds like "sawadee bee mai." She encouraged us to try it out by yelling it out of the van, saying we wouldn't see anyone we knew. But the minute Christina stuck her head out the window, she saw the medical team having dinner on a curb-side restaurant.
The food here is very good, as mentioned before. But for those moments when there is mystery meat on the table, the missionaries offered this meal-time prayer:
Lord, I will put it down if you keep it down.
We got to our restaurant a little after 6 p.m. They sat us on a little balcony area, then moved us to the main floor because they were afraid we had surpassed the weight limit for that area. All the ferang (foreigners) seem big t
o them. Now we are back at the hotel wondering how to celebrate the new year. Brenda offered to take us back to the hot springs where we went last night to soak our feet and lay on a large concrete slab warmed by the springs. But then again we might just stay here and play some games.
Wherever the New Year finds you, whether in the U.S. or far from home, we hope it finds you happy and healthy. God bless.
Our hotel has a big shindig for New Year's eve set up around the pool area. The Thais are playing music and performing tonight, and everyone will celebrate all day tomorrow.
Today the medical team got up early again and did the medical clinic at the church. They served nearly 100 people Tuesday and more than 100 people today. It has been going well, except for one baby who was very sick, B.J. said.
The children's ministry team and the water purification team took a "cr
uise" today out to a small island about an hour away. When we got to the boat, it was sitting on a mud bank. We waited more than an hour for the tide to rise high enough to set sail. But when we finally took off, it was an enjoyable ride. We passed some commercial boats and some people living on the banks of the channel. Plus, we saw some boys jumping out of a tree into the water. I caught a video clip of it.Children waited for us on the concrete dock when we arrived at the tropical island. There were a small group of people there who were not Thai nor Burmese. They spoke Mochan, which has no written language. The tide was high and lapping the bottoms of their weathered wooden homes there on the beach. We unloaded and climed stairs to a church built on the hillside.
Much like at the Thai and Burmese school we went to on Tuesday, we taught the children some songs and had games and crafts. They really like songs with motions. Joy teaches them "Singing in the sun," which is sung to the tune of singing in the rain, but at the end of each verse you add on motions: thumbs up, elbows back, feet apart, knees together, bottom up, tongue out, eyes closed and turn around.
Then Joy and Christina told them the story of Noah and the Ark. The kids stuck foam stickers onto foam crosses. Even the adult ladies enjoyed the craft. As Brenda explained, the children there have to grow up so quickly and don't get to enjoy childhood. Many of the women were very young — children having children.
It's also not very sanitary there. At least they had a western-style toilet — but no flushing mechanism and no soap and water to wash your hands. The water purification team worked on setting up the new system, but they will have to return tomorrow to finish the job. The large water tank had to be cleaned out, and they ran out of water.
The tide had gone out some when it was time to leave, so we had to wade out to a small boat to take us to the boat we came in. A few of us went for a swim in the Ottoman Sea. We got back to Thailand and went out for dinner. On the way to the restaurant, Brenda told us how to say "Happy New Year" in Thai. It sounds like "sawadee bee mai." She encouraged us to try it out by yelling it out of the van, saying we wouldn't see anyone we knew. But the minute Christina stuck her head out the window, she saw the medical team having dinner on a curb-side restaurant.
The food here is very good, as mentioned before. But for those moments when there is mystery meat on the table, the missionaries offered this meal-time prayer:
Lord, I will put it down if you keep it down.
We got to our restaurant a little after 6 p.m. They sat us on a little balcony area, then moved us to the main floor because they were afraid we had surpassed the weight limit for that area. All the ferang (foreigners) seem big t
o them. Now we are back at the hotel wondering how to celebrate the new year. Brenda offered to take us back to the hot springs where we went last night to soak our feet and lay on a large concrete slab warmed by the springs. But then again we might just stay here and play some games.Wherever the New Year finds you, whether in the U.S. or far from home, we hope it finds you happy and healthy. God bless.
30 December 2008
A successful first day
Our team had a very busy first day of ministry. The medical clinic saw over 80 individuals and the ministry team organized a carnival for over 100 kids at a local school. It was a school holiday but they all came back just to participate in our carnival. We also prayerwalked through a local outdoor market and passed our literature to the local Thais and Burmese there. Please pray for Vern Mitzen, team member who cut and broke his nose the first evening here. He's been hanging out in the hotel since then trying to get better. This is just a quick post letting you know everything else is running well.
29 December 2008
Arrival, at last
Peace and grace to you, brothers and sisters.We finally made it! We arrived safe and sound in Phuket about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28. Brenda, a local missionary, and her daughter Vanessa met us at the Phuket airport, where we loaded 40 or so bags into two vans and an SUV. It was quite a chore!
We left the island of Phuket and drove a short distance north to our hotels in Kao Lak. It quickly grew dark, but before the light faded we had time to take in our surroundings. The land here is green, with trees sprouting from every inch of soil. The skies are cloudy but still let in enough light that it's very sunny here. Driving on th
e left side of the paved road (like in England), we passed many Thai on their mopeds. There are a lot of Christmas decorations here, and many are getting ready for New Year celebrations.Lots of dogs run around town. Vanessa explained that the Thais believe in reincarnation and never kill animals. Instead, they let them run loose, because after all — that mutt could have been a human in a past life.
We ate a late dinner at a restaurant called Jai. Their fruit shakes were excellent, and their fried rice was tasty. Another plus: things are surprisingly inexpensive here. We fed our group of about 25 for $60. If any of us were hoping to lose weight on this trip, we'll be a little dismayed. Thai food is wonderful!
But I think what we were most grateful for, after more than 10 hours on an airplane, were the beds. Our hotels were very nice. You get one key — an actual metal key — for each room. The plastic key chain must then be placed in a slot by the light switch. Otherwise, the electricity doesn't turn on.
Monday morning we left early for the beach at Phuket, where a memorial wall shows the names and pictures of many people killed in the tsunami. We met in a little gazebo to go over some dos and don'ts of Thai culture. Here are some examples:
Greet adults with a "wai" (hands together as if in prayer and level with your nose) instead of shaking hands.
Always give or receive something with your right hand (the left is traditionally used to wipe).
Don't disrespect images of the King, which is on all the money.
Don't point your feet at anyone or anything (because feet are the dirtiest part of the body).
Don't touch anyone's head (this is the m
ost honorable part of the body).Use a straw when drinking from a can or bottle.
Speak as quietly as possible and do not yell to get someone's attention.
Carry tissues with you as toilet paper is not always available.
After some devotional time and singing, Brenda gave us all devotional booklets, prayer cards and little bottles of perfume the Thais wave under their noses whenever they get a whiff of anything unpleasant. We also received hand-woven bags from a Christian group. After our meeting, we rode about three hours north to Ranong, the city where we will be doing our mission work.
We ate dinner in the food court of Lotus — the Thai version of Wal-Mart. Tuesday we will begin our ministries, so Monday night w
e met in our groups and made plans. The medical team sorted out supplies and pills, while the children's ministry team stuffed goody bags with candy and small toys to give to a group of Thai and Burmese elementary students.It's been a long day, but we're all ready to start planting some seeds. Brothers and sisters, keep us in your prayers.
27 December 2008
24 December 2008
Packing Party and Last Minute Details
On Monday evening, our group met to pack the medical supplies, water purification equipment, crafts, carnival items and gift bag items. We have 20 bags packed and ready to go. Matt, Hayley, and Corey are coming with musical equipment and other items. They are joining us from Dallas, to pray that our connections meet up. We join one another in Taipei.
Temperature in Ranong yesterday was 86F so it will be quite an adjustment for the Alaska Team members!
Temperature in Ranong yesterday was 86F so it will be quite an adjustment for the Alaska Team members!
12 November 2008
29 October 2008
Scope of the trip
1. Medical Team - Provide medical services to refugees from Burma (Myanmar) and local Thais in and around Ranong, Thailand.
a. Health physicals.
b. Hemoglobin screens for anemia
c. Diabetes screening.
d. UA dipsticks.
e. Pregnancy tests.
f. Strep A tests.
g. Distribute preventive health information through health talks.
h. Treat infections.
i. Distribute vitamins.
j. Screen for hypertension.
2. Ministry Team
a. Provide ESL in public school.
b. Create carnival for children in public schools with games, crafts, stories, and gift bags for children.
c. Distribute gift bags to locals that include tracts, evangi-cubes.
d. Have Bible study and prayer with locals. Provide spiritual based materials for discipleship.
3. Water PurificationTeam
Install 3 to 4 water purifiers that will provide water for 250 people per unit in locations where water quality is poor.
a. Health physicals.
b. Hemoglobin screens for anemia
c. Diabetes screening.
d. UA dipsticks.
e. Pregnancy tests.
f. Strep A tests.
g. Distribute preventive health information through health talks.
h. Treat infections.
i. Distribute vitamins.
j. Screen for hypertension.
2. Ministry Team
a. Provide ESL in public school.
b. Create carnival for children in public schools with games, crafts, stories, and gift bags for children.
c. Distribute gift bags to locals that include tracts, evangi-cubes.
d. Have Bible study and prayer with locals. Provide spiritual based materials for discipleship.
3. Water PurificationTeam
Install 3 to 4 water purifiers that will provide water for 250 people per unit in locations where water quality is poor.
A Tentative Schedule
Alaska Ministry Team tentative Schedule
Dec 28, 2008
4:35pm Arrive into Phuket International Airport
Drive to Hotel in the city of Kho Lak ( approximately 1 hour from the Airport)
Dec 29
7:30am Breakfast at Hotel
9:00am Drive to Tsunami Memorial for devotional and culture Briefing.
11:00am Elephant Rides for those who want to experience some of Thai Cultural and Fun.
12:30pm Lunch then drive to Ranong. ( 3 Hour drive)
5:00pm Dinner
6:00pm meet together in Ministry groups for orientation.( set up Clinic)
Dec 30
Breakfast at hotel be ready for pickup for all ministry teams by 8:30am
9:00am-3:00pm Medical Clinic at the Church
9:00am-12:00n Childrens Minsitry at Burmese school. ( 200 Children) Stories, Songs, and Carnival type games.
Box lunches for Medical team and Lunch for others after School Ministry
5:00pm Dinner and debrief
Dec 31
Breakfast at hotel be ready for pickup for all ministry teams by 8:30am
9:00am-3:00pm Medical Clinic at the church
9:00am ?Water and childrens Minsitry to Kho Payam Island.
Water team will set up water treatment system and childrens ministry team will work with the children on the Island ( about 50 children)
Box lunches for all teams
5:00pm Dinner and Debrief
Jan 1, 2009
Breakfast at hotel
10:00am-3pm Celebrate the New Years with the Burmese. Devotion, songs and games with the Burmese. All teams will be involved.
5:00pm dinner/debrief
Jan 2
Breakfast at hotel be ready for pickup for all ministry teams by 8:30am
9:00am-3pm Medical Clinic
9:00am-? Water and Children’s team to Kho Chang Island.
Water team will set up water treatment system and childrens ministry team will work with the children on the Island ( about 50 children)
5:00pm Dinner/Debrief
Jan 3
Breakfast at hotel be ready for pickup by 8:30am
9:00am water treatment team to Muslim Island to install treatment system
Options for other team members:
Take a boat to Myanmar and prayer walk the markets and the shopping areas.
If medical team or other team members want to go to the Island with the water team they may have an opportunity to work with the children on the Island.
5:00pm Dinner/debrief Hot springs after dinner
Jan 4
Breakfast at hotel be ready for pickup for Thai church at 9:45am.
Thai church 10:00am -12oon Share songs and Sermon.
12:00n Lunch
1:30pm Burmese church share song and testimony
Childrens team working with children (about 50 children)
5:00pm dinner/debrief
Jan 5
Breakfast at hotel Depart hotel for Phuket 9:00am
Rest and relaxation at the beach
Set up for those who want to take a tour on the 6th.
Jan 6
Tours or just have fun at the beach in Phuket
Jan 7
To be determined
Jan 8
Fly out of Phuket, back to USA
Dec 28, 2008
4:35pm Arrive into Phuket International Airport
Drive to Hotel in the city of Kho Lak ( approximately 1 hour from the Airport)
Dec 29
7:30am Breakfast at Hotel
9:00am Drive to Tsunami Memorial for devotional and culture Briefing.
11:00am Elephant Rides for those who want to experience some of Thai Cultural and Fun.
12:30pm Lunch then drive to Ranong. ( 3 Hour drive)
5:00pm Dinner
6:00pm meet together in Ministry groups for orientation.( set up Clinic)
Dec 30
Breakfast at hotel be ready for pickup for all ministry teams by 8:30am
9:00am-3:00pm Medical Clinic at the Church
9:00am-12:00n Childrens Minsitry at Burmese school. ( 200 Children) Stories, Songs, and Carnival type games.
Box lunches for Medical team and Lunch for others after School Ministry
5:00pm Dinner and debrief
Dec 31
Breakfast at hotel be ready for pickup for all ministry teams by 8:30am
9:00am-3:00pm Medical Clinic at the church
9:00am ?Water and childrens Minsitry to Kho Payam Island.
Water team will set up water treatment system and childrens ministry team will work with the children on the Island ( about 50 children)
Box lunches for all teams
5:00pm Dinner and Debrief
Jan 1, 2009
Breakfast at hotel
10:00am-3pm Celebrate the New Years with the Burmese. Devotion, songs and games with the Burmese. All teams will be involved.
5:00pm dinner/debrief
Jan 2
Breakfast at hotel be ready for pickup for all ministry teams by 8:30am
9:00am-3pm Medical Clinic
9:00am-? Water and Children’s team to Kho Chang Island.
Water team will set up water treatment system and childrens ministry team will work with the children on the Island ( about 50 children)
5:00pm Dinner/Debrief
Jan 3
Breakfast at hotel be ready for pickup by 8:30am
9:00am water treatment team to Muslim Island to install treatment system
Options for other team members:
Take a boat to Myanmar and prayer walk the markets and the shopping areas.
If medical team or other team members want to go to the Island with the water team they may have an opportunity to work with the children on the Island.
5:00pm Dinner/debrief Hot springs after dinner
Jan 4
Breakfast at hotel be ready for pickup for Thai church at 9:45am.
Thai church 10:00am -12oon Share songs and Sermon.
12:00n Lunch
1:30pm Burmese church share song and testimony
Childrens team working with children (about 50 children)
5:00pm dinner/debrief
Jan 5
Breakfast at hotel Depart hotel for Phuket 9:00am
Rest and relaxation at the beach
Set up for those who want to take a tour on the 6th.
Jan 6
Tours or just have fun at the beach in Phuket
Jan 7
To be determined
Jan 8
Fly out of Phuket, back to USA
27 October 2008
Members of the Thailand Mission Team
Get to know the members of the Thailand Mission Team through their mini-autobiographies.
B. J. Anderson
I have worked at Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center as the Lab/X-ray manager for 15 years. Jeff is my husband and I have two grown sons, Bryan and Matthew, and two precious grandchildren, Kaeden and Sierra Sue. Bryan is married to long time resident Amy Peterson (now Anderson). I have worked with youth in my church for many years and a couple of years ago led my first medical mission/youth ministry trip to El Salvador where my niece was a Peace Corp. volunteer. Ben and Brenda Murray, missionaries in Thailand, were members of University Baptist Church in Anchorage many years ago when Jeff was interim pastor. The Murrays visited our church a couple of years ago and I asked them if they would be interested in having a medical/mission group come assist them in Thailand. Now, that desire is being realized.
Jeff Anderson
I am a professor at Wayland Baptist University, Anchorage, primarily in theology classes. I have a Ph.D. in Religion from Vanderbilt Unviersity and have been with Wayland for 16 years.
I am also an ordained minister and have experience preaching and teaching in a number of churches. I've also taught in Russia and Kenya.
My wife B.J. and I are coordinating this mission, and our son Matt is coming along too.
Mary Catherine “Cathy” Bowery
My name is Cathy, and I am a junior at East Anchorage High School. I am so excited about this mission trip to Thailand. I love missions so much, and when I get older I am looking into international missions as my career. I have been to 5 countries and have been on 2 mission trips. I went to El Salvador with my church, and went to Kenya last summer. Both trips were dealing with medical stuff, but I got to work with the children in the schools. My passion is the children!! I love telling kids about Jesus. In Kenya we had to teach VBS with 6 team members, and we had to teach around 1,000 kids!! So in other words, I have some experience. My heart goes out to the orphans. I love them so much!! I do also love to work with teenagers. I feel so blessed to get this opportunity to go and tell people about God's love!! Both in El Salvador and in Kenya, God used my talent — baton twirling — to get people to come to the medical clinic and then to VBS.
Matthew Anderson
I am currently a junior at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, majoring in music education. I have a strong passion for traveling outside the country, and I am really excited about Thailand. I also love the outdoors (rock climbing, backpacking, kayaking, skiing) and I can’t wait to see what Thailand has to offer.
Janet Rasmussen
I am a retired school nurse who also loves going on mission trips to serve God's people. I've been to Russia, teaching First Aid to teens, Mexico, El Salvador, and Uganda twice. Short term mission trips have not always been something I thought worthwhile, but after my first trip to Uganda and then returning to do a book drive for the children there I saw how God can use each individual and their uniqueness to bring about answers to needs he places on your heart. I've lived in Talkeetna for over forty years and have 4 married children with grandchildren.
Steven Million
I have worked in electrical, carpentry, computer, mechanical, and farmed. I like to work with my hands and talk to people and get to know them. I have not been on a mission trip before.
Marcia Million
I have worked at Wayland Baptist University for nearly 13 years in an administration position and have attended University Baptist Church since 1991. Steve and I moved to Alaska from Virginia where I was born and raised on a farm and where I managed a greenhouse. We have four grown children that are here in Alaska. This will be my first mission trip, so I am anxious to see how God will use me. I enjoy music and singing and arts and crafts. Right now it’s beads, but I enjoy flower arranging and decorative painting (and planning weddings). I’m looking forward to meeting our group and watching God at work through us!
Jordan Marchuk
Hey, I'm Jordan. I’m not real talkative, but I’m a good laborer. I have a lot of experience with labor work (lifting, hauling, moving, and carpentry).
Christopher Rounds
Hi, I am Christopher Rounds, I am currently a sophomore at East High School. I feel blessed to be able to be part of the Thailand trip. This will be my first mission trip. I love working in groups and teaching children the Word of God. I would love to witness to these children as well as helping in the medical offices that will be set up. My main passions are travel, scenery/being outdoors, music, and seeing the eclectic Thai culture.
Diane Shrader
Greetings. My name is Diane Shrader. I currently work for the State of Alaska as an Accounting Technician and will be able to retire in a few years so my plan is to do something completely ‘different and radical’ for The Lord. I am pretty fit, I love to be active i.e. hiking, biking, playing sports, and practicing yoga (hot yoga especially.) Oh, I also like to ride my Harley when the weather is nice. I was married 31 years to a wonderful man and thru that union God blessed us with Daniel my grown son who also loves The Lord. My husband developed Lou Gerhig’s disease (ALS) in his early 40s and thru the power of prayer and God’s mercy allowed me to keep and care for my husband for 10yrs 3months before his passing in 2003. God has been so good and so faithful to me not only in my marriage and family but also since my husbands passing. With The Lords help, I am re-inventing myself. I have a passion to travel, to teach ESL and a passion to do good works and be a mighty warrior for The Lord! This will be my second trip to Thailand. The first was in February 2006 with an Assembly of God Church to build an orphanage for homeless children...It was such a fantastic experience that I asked The Lord to take me back their to do good works in whatever capacity that I’m able. This last February I was blessed to teach beginning ESL at Grandview Baptist Literary Program and God answered my prayer thru BJ Anderson...Isn’t God so good! When my husband was first diagnosed I took a certified nurses aide course at UAA because I wanted to be able to take care of my husband as much as I can myself. I hope to renew my CPR/ First Aide certificate before the Thailand trip. I just recently finished a 3 day Introductory Grant writing class at APU and hope that one day God will use me to do good works in that area also. Wherever the Lord leads me I will follow. I work hard, play hard, and pray hard, and I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. I am a servant for The Lord. I like working with kids, teenagers, adults, I just like to be with people and believe that there’s something to learn from each person that God brings in your path. I attend a multi-cultural church at Muldoon Community Assembly and have Thai friends from there that are willing to meet weekly to help us learn basic Thai language, learn to sing Christian songs in Thai and to help us learn more about their culture. I’m really looking forward to meeting everybody and I know that God will be glorified in this missions trip. Love in The Lord. Diane.
Randy Thompson
I am retired from the Anchorage School District and work only part-time for traveling money like this mission trip. God has so blessed me to be able to do this. I like working with people and am willing to help out where I am needed. I teach a Bible study class at church and help do what ever it takes to get the job done. I was blessed to be able to go to El Salvador on a medical mission trip where we did VBS and a couple of local projects as well. I loved the people there and the interaction we had with them even though we had a language barrier to overcome.
Joy Thompson
I am a teacher at the Anchorage School District and love working with children and babies. I currently teach 1st and 2nd graders at Chinook Elementary. I have taught for 17 years and am looking forward to my retirement in 3 years so I can be free to travel and do more mission trips. I serve in the nursery at my church and enjoy the babies very much. I also love to work in the garden and my flowerbeds. I also was able to go to El Salvador on the medical mission trip where we did VBS and a couple of local projects. It is so neat to be able to help others firsthand. I am looking forward to this trip and the fellowship with our group.
Michelle Rothoff
I'm Michelle Rothoff, and I'm a family doc at ANHC, working alongside B.J. Anderson ( our great organizer), Pam Engle, and Maricela Noriega. I got the chance to go to El Salvador in 2006, which was a great experience (never knew it was possible to see 50 patients a day — don't tell my boss, he might get ideas!). I love to see the world and have also done medical work in Honduras and Peru, as well as traveling for fun to a bunch of other awesome places. My medical interests include care of women, especially obstetrics; international/developing world health; wilderness medicine; HIV care. Outside of medicine and travel, my great loves are being outdoors (hiking, biking), photography, books, music, and food (mmmm, Thai food).
Melissa Lowther
I am 23-year-old nursing student at University of Alaska Anchorage. I feel that God has called me into nursing and has also called me to at least be willing to be a missionary (still not sure about all the details). I am looking forward to this trip as it provides me with a chance to apply my new learned skills (wound care, assessment, feeding tubes, shots, meds, and more) as well as allow me to serve and see other countries. I will be in my last semester when we go, so I will be able to help out with the medical side. I have also worked with children for many years, have culinary arts training and have helped with some small-scale housing items (painting, scraping, caulking).
Richard “Dick” Wight
I am Richard (Dick) Wight from University Baptist Church, Anchorage. I spent my childhood and young adult life on cattle, sheep, and dairy farms and still enjoy "cowboying." I am a retired meat cutter. I went to Vladivostok, Russia, on a mission where we did construction work, prayer walking, and did a lot encouraging of the local people. I went to El Salvador on a medical mission and helped in all phases of this work. Then I went to Nome, Alaska, for the "End of the Iditarod" Mission. There my main emphasis was working with the elders in the city.
Maricela Gutierrez Noriega
I am very excited to be going on this trip with all of you whom enjoy giving to others and have an interest in learning a new culture. I have been a follower of Christ for the past two years, and each day I thank the Lord for His blessings in my life. I feel this trip is a big blessing from Him because I have always wanted to do a missionary trip. I go to Changepoint Church. I am 33 years old and am currently finishing my MSW at University of Alaska Anchorage and working part-time at Anchorage Neighborhood Clinic to help pay for school. As for traveling I've only been to Mexico where I took part in providing health services for a rural community. I love food and exploring new things!
Christina Lowther
I am a 27-year-old Network Coordinator for Volunteers of America. With a background in Psychology, Alaska Natives Studies and Human Services, I love figuring out what makes people tick. I have worked with physically and mentally disabled adults, children and youth of all ages and senior adults. I love teaching children in Bible school settings and have participated in five mission trips to "bush" Alaska to help with VBS. I love organizing (strange, I know). I am an introvert, meaning, I'd rather be behind the scenes delegating jobs and making sure programs are running smoothly than be in front of a large crowd. I'm excited about this trip and believe it will honor God and touch lives!
Pam Engle
I am a physician assistant, long time worker at the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, and a "senior." I am very interested in performing some service to peoples of the world in stressful situations, refugees or other situations. I have not done anything like this to date but hope that this will be the first of many such programs. I graduated from University of Texas Medical Branch with a BS and PA training in 1977. I have worked in rural health care centers in northern New Mexico and in Alaska since 1982. I am a single mom with 20-year-old son who is launching himself into the world. Personally, I would really love getting some insight into people from other cultures, their ideas and ways of looking at the world. I feel it's important to "gave back." I also enjoy jazz, classical music, and Bob Dylan.
Hayley Cox
I'm a native of Plainview, Texas, where I recently graduated with a bachelor's in mass communication from Wayland Baptist University. I work at the local newspaper, where I do a little bit of everything — pictures, reporting and design. I've had a little experience in editing videos, too. I lead a youth group at my church and feel comfortable working with children of all ages. I also have some artistic skills (drawing, painting, ceramics) and musical ability (percussion and piano). I love interacting with people and learning about new cultures.
Ryan Schlueter
I'm 19 years old, and I love to travel and enjoy the outdoors. I've done environmental and charity work in several countries, but primarily Russia. I am an Alaska State certified EMT I and hopefully will have my EMT II by the end of the summer. I work as a firefighter with the Girdwood Fire Department and am a fire sciences student at University of Alaska Anchorage. I also lived in Moscow, Russia, for 3 years and Aberdeen, Scotland, for 3 years.
B. J. Anderson
I have worked at Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center as the Lab/X-ray manager for 15 years. Jeff is my husband and I have two grown sons, Bryan and Matthew, and two precious grandchildren, Kaeden and Sierra Sue. Bryan is married to long time resident Amy Peterson (now Anderson). I have worked with youth in my church for many years and a couple of years ago led my first medical mission/youth ministry trip to El Salvador where my niece was a Peace Corp. volunteer. Ben and Brenda Murray, missionaries in Thailand, were members of University Baptist Church in Anchorage many years ago when Jeff was interim pastor. The Murrays visited our church a couple of years ago and I asked them if they would be interested in having a medical/mission group come assist them in Thailand. Now, that desire is being realized.
Jeff Anderson
I am a professor at Wayland Baptist University, Anchorage, primarily in theology classes. I have a Ph.D. in Religion from Vanderbilt Unviersity and have been with Wayland for 16 years.
I am also an ordained minister and have experience preaching and teaching in a number of churches. I've also taught in Russia and Kenya.
My wife B.J. and I are coordinating this mission, and our son Matt is coming along too.
Mary Catherine “Cathy” Bowery
My name is Cathy, and I am a junior at East Anchorage High School. I am so excited about this mission trip to Thailand. I love missions so much, and when I get older I am looking into international missions as my career. I have been to 5 countries and have been on 2 mission trips. I went to El Salvador with my church, and went to Kenya last summer. Both trips were dealing with medical stuff, but I got to work with the children in the schools. My passion is the children!! I love telling kids about Jesus. In Kenya we had to teach VBS with 6 team members, and we had to teach around 1,000 kids!! So in other words, I have some experience. My heart goes out to the orphans. I love them so much!! I do also love to work with teenagers. I feel so blessed to get this opportunity to go and tell people about God's love!! Both in El Salvador and in Kenya, God used my talent — baton twirling — to get people to come to the medical clinic and then to VBS.
Matthew Anderson
I am currently a junior at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, majoring in music education. I have a strong passion for traveling outside the country, and I am really excited about Thailand. I also love the outdoors (rock climbing, backpacking, kayaking, skiing) and I can’t wait to see what Thailand has to offer.
Janet Rasmussen
I am a retired school nurse who also loves going on mission trips to serve God's people. I've been to Russia, teaching First Aid to teens, Mexico, El Salvador, and Uganda twice. Short term mission trips have not always been something I thought worthwhile, but after my first trip to Uganda and then returning to do a book drive for the children there I saw how God can use each individual and their uniqueness to bring about answers to needs he places on your heart. I've lived in Talkeetna for over forty years and have 4 married children with grandchildren.
Steven Million
I have worked in electrical, carpentry, computer, mechanical, and farmed. I like to work with my hands and talk to people and get to know them. I have not been on a mission trip before.
Marcia Million
I have worked at Wayland Baptist University for nearly 13 years in an administration position and have attended University Baptist Church since 1991. Steve and I moved to Alaska from Virginia where I was born and raised on a farm and where I managed a greenhouse. We have four grown children that are here in Alaska. This will be my first mission trip, so I am anxious to see how God will use me. I enjoy music and singing and arts and crafts. Right now it’s beads, but I enjoy flower arranging and decorative painting (and planning weddings). I’m looking forward to meeting our group and watching God at work through us!
Jordan Marchuk
Hey, I'm Jordan. I’m not real talkative, but I’m a good laborer. I have a lot of experience with labor work (lifting, hauling, moving, and carpentry).
Christopher Rounds
Hi, I am Christopher Rounds, I am currently a sophomore at East High School. I feel blessed to be able to be part of the Thailand trip. This will be my first mission trip. I love working in groups and teaching children the Word of God. I would love to witness to these children as well as helping in the medical offices that will be set up. My main passions are travel, scenery/being outdoors, music, and seeing the eclectic Thai culture.
Diane Shrader
Greetings. My name is Diane Shrader. I currently work for the State of Alaska as an Accounting Technician and will be able to retire in a few years so my plan is to do something completely ‘different and radical’ for The Lord. I am pretty fit, I love to be active i.e. hiking, biking, playing sports, and practicing yoga (hot yoga especially.) Oh, I also like to ride my Harley when the weather is nice. I was married 31 years to a wonderful man and thru that union God blessed us with Daniel my grown son who also loves The Lord. My husband developed Lou Gerhig’s disease (ALS) in his early 40s and thru the power of prayer and God’s mercy allowed me to keep and care for my husband for 10yrs 3months before his passing in 2003. God has been so good and so faithful to me not only in my marriage and family but also since my husbands passing. With The Lords help, I am re-inventing myself. I have a passion to travel, to teach ESL and a passion to do good works and be a mighty warrior for The Lord! This will be my second trip to Thailand. The first was in February 2006 with an Assembly of God Church to build an orphanage for homeless children...It was such a fantastic experience that I asked The Lord to take me back their to do good works in whatever capacity that I’m able. This last February I was blessed to teach beginning ESL at Grandview Baptist Literary Program and God answered my prayer thru BJ Anderson...Isn’t God so good! When my husband was first diagnosed I took a certified nurses aide course at UAA because I wanted to be able to take care of my husband as much as I can myself. I hope to renew my CPR/ First Aide certificate before the Thailand trip. I just recently finished a 3 day Introductory Grant writing class at APU and hope that one day God will use me to do good works in that area also. Wherever the Lord leads me I will follow. I work hard, play hard, and pray hard, and I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. I am a servant for The Lord. I like working with kids, teenagers, adults, I just like to be with people and believe that there’s something to learn from each person that God brings in your path. I attend a multi-cultural church at Muldoon Community Assembly and have Thai friends from there that are willing to meet weekly to help us learn basic Thai language, learn to sing Christian songs in Thai and to help us learn more about their culture. I’m really looking forward to meeting everybody and I know that God will be glorified in this missions trip. Love in The Lord. Diane.
Randy Thompson
I am retired from the Anchorage School District and work only part-time for traveling money like this mission trip. God has so blessed me to be able to do this. I like working with people and am willing to help out where I am needed. I teach a Bible study class at church and help do what ever it takes to get the job done. I was blessed to be able to go to El Salvador on a medical mission trip where we did VBS and a couple of local projects as well. I loved the people there and the interaction we had with them even though we had a language barrier to overcome.
Joy Thompson
I am a teacher at the Anchorage School District and love working with children and babies. I currently teach 1st and 2nd graders at Chinook Elementary. I have taught for 17 years and am looking forward to my retirement in 3 years so I can be free to travel and do more mission trips. I serve in the nursery at my church and enjoy the babies very much. I also love to work in the garden and my flowerbeds. I also was able to go to El Salvador on the medical mission trip where we did VBS and a couple of local projects. It is so neat to be able to help others firsthand. I am looking forward to this trip and the fellowship with our group.
Michelle Rothoff
I'm Michelle Rothoff, and I'm a family doc at ANHC, working alongside B.J. Anderson ( our great organizer), Pam Engle, and Maricela Noriega. I got the chance to go to El Salvador in 2006, which was a great experience (never knew it was possible to see 50 patients a day — don't tell my boss, he might get ideas!). I love to see the world and have also done medical work in Honduras and Peru, as well as traveling for fun to a bunch of other awesome places. My medical interests include care of women, especially obstetrics; international/developing world health; wilderness medicine; HIV care. Outside of medicine and travel, my great loves are being outdoors (hiking, biking), photography, books, music, and food (mmmm, Thai food).
Melissa Lowther
I am 23-year-old nursing student at University of Alaska Anchorage. I feel that God has called me into nursing and has also called me to at least be willing to be a missionary (still not sure about all the details). I am looking forward to this trip as it provides me with a chance to apply my new learned skills (wound care, assessment, feeding tubes, shots, meds, and more) as well as allow me to serve and see other countries. I will be in my last semester when we go, so I will be able to help out with the medical side. I have also worked with children for many years, have culinary arts training and have helped with some small-scale housing items (painting, scraping, caulking).
Richard “Dick” Wight
I am Richard (Dick) Wight from University Baptist Church, Anchorage. I spent my childhood and young adult life on cattle, sheep, and dairy farms and still enjoy "cowboying." I am a retired meat cutter. I went to Vladivostok, Russia, on a mission where we did construction work, prayer walking, and did a lot encouraging of the local people. I went to El Salvador on a medical mission and helped in all phases of this work. Then I went to Nome, Alaska, for the "End of the Iditarod" Mission. There my main emphasis was working with the elders in the city.
Maricela Gutierrez Noriega
I am very excited to be going on this trip with all of you whom enjoy giving to others and have an interest in learning a new culture. I have been a follower of Christ for the past two years, and each day I thank the Lord for His blessings in my life. I feel this trip is a big blessing from Him because I have always wanted to do a missionary trip. I go to Changepoint Church. I am 33 years old and am currently finishing my MSW at University of Alaska Anchorage and working part-time at Anchorage Neighborhood Clinic to help pay for school. As for traveling I've only been to Mexico where I took part in providing health services for a rural community. I love food and exploring new things!
Christina Lowther
I am a 27-year-old Network Coordinator for Volunteers of America. With a background in Psychology, Alaska Natives Studies and Human Services, I love figuring out what makes people tick. I have worked with physically and mentally disabled adults, children and youth of all ages and senior adults. I love teaching children in Bible school settings and have participated in five mission trips to "bush" Alaska to help with VBS. I love organizing (strange, I know). I am an introvert, meaning, I'd rather be behind the scenes delegating jobs and making sure programs are running smoothly than be in front of a large crowd. I'm excited about this trip and believe it will honor God and touch lives!
Pam Engle
I am a physician assistant, long time worker at the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, and a "senior." I am very interested in performing some service to peoples of the world in stressful situations, refugees or other situations. I have not done anything like this to date but hope that this will be the first of many such programs. I graduated from University of Texas Medical Branch with a BS and PA training in 1977. I have worked in rural health care centers in northern New Mexico and in Alaska since 1982. I am a single mom with 20-year-old son who is launching himself into the world. Personally, I would really love getting some insight into people from other cultures, their ideas and ways of looking at the world. I feel it's important to "gave back." I also enjoy jazz, classical music, and Bob Dylan.
Hayley Cox
I'm a native of Plainview, Texas, where I recently graduated with a bachelor's in mass communication from Wayland Baptist University. I work at the local newspaper, where I do a little bit of everything — pictures, reporting and design. I've had a little experience in editing videos, too. I lead a youth group at my church and feel comfortable working with children of all ages. I also have some artistic skills (drawing, painting, ceramics) and musical ability (percussion and piano). I love interacting with people and learning about new cultures.
Ryan Schlueter
I'm 19 years old, and I love to travel and enjoy the outdoors. I've done environmental and charity work in several countries, but primarily Russia. I am an Alaska State certified EMT I and hopefully will have my EMT II by the end of the summer. I work as a firefighter with the Girdwood Fire Department and am a fire sciences student at University of Alaska Anchorage. I also lived in Moscow, Russia, for 3 years and Aberdeen, Scotland, for 3 years.
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