A full box of kisses

the story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper.
Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, „This is for you, Daddy.“
He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty.
He yelled at her, „Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it?“
The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, „But, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy.“
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family or God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

with this greeting of love
I wish you all a very wonderful, blessed and full-of-love-and-kisses 2007!
Hanna

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

TO ALL OUT THERE!!!

WITH LOVE FROM
HANNA PETERMANN
OF PATTAYA

CURRENTLY ON FURLOUGH IN GERMANY!!

A LITTLE NOTE:

I see you beautiful

Don’t you know my tears fall down from heaven
when you don’t see what I see?
when you look in the mirror and cry
“How can this reflection be me?”

I created you with pure Beauty
Radiant as my son
I was overjoyed when I moulded you with my hands
And beamed when the job was done

The enemy has blinded you my beautiful child
from seeing the amazing person I created
He has made you see something that is a lie
And what I made you, you hated.

So open your eyes my precious child
to the truth of how you are
Beautiful, strong and wonderfully made.
That is who you are

I see you beautiful

God is good!!

As you have seen on my schedule I had my presentation at church yesterday. It went pretty good - I think. No major mess-ups or anything. My impression was that it was good for people at home to see what exactly we are doing down there in Pattaya. You know, it's kinda hard to picture it if you've never been there. So I showed them the Tamar DVD and also told a bit of my personal experiences.
Afterwards several people came up to me to tell how much they'd appreciated my presentation and expressing that very thought, that they had had no idea of what was going on..
In the end the church gave the days offering - which was enough to cover my return flight to Thailand! Isn't God good?!!!
He certainly never does things the way you would expect Him to do it, but somehow He always gets them to work out for good, just like He promises us in Romans 8:28. Which just so happens to be the bibleverse I got for my baptism some 11 years ago!

love @ all,
Hanna

home at last

well, well, well,
the last time I wrote to you I was just about to leave Pattaya. Now I have been home for about just as long as I have been on the road... you're about to get the full story.
Well, it all started with my creditcard being declined at the airport on Friday morning, so I ended up having to trade in my return-ticket to Frankfurt to a oneway-ticket to Munich, which is where I was supposed to have my stopover.
THEN my flight was delayed by about 4 hours which ended up being 5 hours in stead. So in stead of arriving in Munich at around 5:30 pm I got there at close to 10 pm by which time it was impossible to get a train connection home. And since I didn't have an onward-flight any longer, it wasn't the airline's responsiblity anymore. So I ended up camping at Munich airport for the night a friendly bartender took me in halfway through the night and gave me some free coffee. Until at 4 am. I was finally able to catch a train, which after many more transfers, a busride in between, a couple missed connections finally brought me home save and sound. Only I got home on Saturday at 1 pm instead of Friday night at 10 pm!
By the time I finally got home I was way past tired... after being up for about 37 hours and on the road for about 36 hours.

love, Hanna

in about...

... 1 hour and 15 minutes I'm leaving Pattaya. Right now I'm over at a friends house where we will be picked up in little more than an hour...

I am soooooo excited!!!!!!!

In Bangkok we'll be checking into our hotel, then later on today we will meet a friend for dinner. Tonight at 3 am my friend is leaving for the airport (her flight is at 6am)...

Tomorrow I will move to a different hotel which is in walking distance to the German Embassy in Bangkok, where I'll be picking up my new passport later on that morning and then I will only have to figure out a way to kill time until early that next morning.... when it'll be my turn to leave for Bangkok Airport...
So I guess the next time you'll be hearing from me will be from my beloved Mainz, Germany!

Love@ all,
Hanna

Schedule for furlough

Hello everyone!

Only a short update today. For in 4 days from now I'll already be on my way to Germany. For those of you who don't know it yet I will be on furlough from December 15th til January 15th. During this time will have a couple presentations, make a short visit to Norway and apply for a new visa for Thailand. Which is also a small prayer request, since my old visa is expiring next week and I won't be able to return to Thailand without the new visa.

Here is a short overview of my furlough-schedule:

Friday, 12/15/06
Departure Bangkok 11.15 am, Arrival Munich 5.25 pm/
Departure Munich 8.20 pm, Arrival Frankfurt 9.30 Uhr
Sunday, 12/17/06
Presentation at my church in Mainz 4.00 pm
Tuesday, 12/19/06
Christmas-Party at cellgroup

12/24 - 12/26-06 Christmas 2006!

Thursday, 12/28/06
Presentation at my mentor's place with some of her friends

12/31/06 - 01/01/07 New Year's

Tuesday, 01/02/07 - Saturday, 01/06/07
Norway
Sunday, 01/07/07
Presentation at youth group in Simmern
Monday, 01/08/07
Apply for new visa at Thai consulate in Frankfurt
Tuesday, 01/09/07
Meeting with missions-board of my church
Thursday, 01/11/07
Pick up new visa (hopefully)
Monday, 01/15/07
Departure Frankfurt 1.40 pm, Arrival Munich 2.40 pm
Departure Munich 5.20 pm
Tuesday, 01/16/07
Arrival Bangkok 9.30 am

As you can see there is already quite a bit planned and I am not even home yet. Please pray for these 3 presentations I'm holding. My desire is for people to really meet with God as I speak and meet with them. I pray that they will be challenged and encouraged to pursue their own vision and dreams,that they will start chasing God's plan for their lives again. That I may simply be the loudspeaker for God's voice.

Love & Blessinx for this coming Christmas season.
Hanna

the countdown continues...

only 9 days to go until I leave for Bangkok. 10 Days until I get to pick up my passport in Bangkok and 11 days until I finally board the plane to Germany. You have no idea how excited I am...
So as you can imagine things are pretty busy right now, with getting everything ready. I'm trying to get most christmas presents here, so I won't have to worry about it at home for I have only 1 week at home before christmas... I also need to prepare for my report in church since this basically the day after I get back... Than I have to thing of all the souvenires I need to bring back, also little 'thank you's' for my supporters and probably a bizillion things I haven't even thought of yet... but at least it's a good sort of busyness...
I talked to my sister on the phone yesterday... I almost started crying, cause her voice has changed so much over the last 11 months.. she is only 10 years so at that age 1 year is a long time, both for being apart, but also in regards to how much she will have changed...
Ah, well, I'm trying to not think about it too much, it might spoil my excitement!

Love you all and try to find some time to relax and enjoy with loved ones during these next weeks...
Hanna from Pattaya

the countdown has begun...

In exactly four weeks from now I'll be sitting in a beautiful plane bringing me closer to home by the minute.
I am so excited! This is the longest time I've been away from home, family & friends in one go!
On my first sunday home I was invited to speak in my church for 15 minutes about my first year in Pattaya. God is so good!

Love @ all,

Hanna

Pattaya Praise

From November 1st - 5th we had our annual Pattaya Praise. At this event the churches of Pattaya gather with teams from around the world for a 5-day praise & prayer celebration. Our goal is to serve the city of Pattaya practically, but mainly to lift the city up in prayer – to stand in the gap for Pattaya.

Here is a short overview of the different things we did this year:
Wednesday: evening Worship celebration, Pattaya North Church
Thursday: morning cleaning, Walking Street
Servant Evangelism, Walking Street
during the day Praise & Prayer, Tamar Center
evening Prayer & Praise Parade, Walking Street
(altogether we were about 200 people singing, dancing and waving flags as we walked down the street, I had the honor of carrying the German flag :-))
Friday: afternoon concert at Pattaya school no 7
during the day Praise &6 Prayer, Tamar Center
evening Celebration, Big C North
worship, DJ Bar Soi 6
concert with The Crossing Band, the Crossing
Saturday during the day 12 hours worship, Royal Twin Hotel
Sunday during the day International teams at Pattaya Churches

All in all it was an incredibly blessed time, during which God's presence could be felt strongly which is a rare thing in this city. This year was the 3rd time we had Pattaya Praise and believe and pray that it will have a longterm impact on the spiritual atmosphere in Pattaya, that it will slowly change it for the better. Also, both on saturday and sunday 2 people were saved who had been brought along by some friends. God is so good!

the calm before the storm

at least that how it feels right now.
My teacher keeps bugging out on me plus she is leaving for Germany with her boyfriend next week. My students all have boyfriends right now so they don't show up either. Which leaves me with not very much to do at the moment.
Although this is a bit boring, it gives me time to deal with things I've been trying to run from since basically for ever. Like getting some counseling. And as all of you know who've been through counseling before, this isn't done with the actual sessions, but rather most of it happens during the rest of the day at home in my times alone with Jesus.

Some of the storm is coming next week - we are having Pattaya Praise from November 1st - November 5th. Pattaya Praise is a worship-and-praise celebration taking place all over the city. On market places, in schools, churches, hotels, the pier and of course Walking Street. We are expecting teams from all over the world with a total of about 90 people. Plus all the local churches and ministries are involved...
more details as the week goes along...

also, check out my links on the right hand side I have added a photo album. With more photos added almost every week.

Blessinx, Hanna

Note..

almost 50 BRANDNEW PHOTOS on my homepage:

www.be-hisheart.com

More news next week..

blessinx,
Hanna

i'm still alive...

well, we're back from the staff conference. To be honest, it was quite disappointing - at least for me. It was the first time ever that I returned from a conference feeling emotionally and spiritually drained and exhausted, whereas I usually find those kinda meetings to be encouraging and refreshing... I was down (tired, exhausted, no energy whatsoever..) for an entire week afterwards.
At my apartment it turned out that they can't fix the Internet-problem, so I'm still without internet. I only get to go online at the Center and here there is always someone waiting in line so I only get to quickly check some emails...
But it seems that I will have to move again anyways by the end of September. Because it turned out that my landlord is cheating me with the electricity bill.

Please pray that I will find a good room/condo/apartment with an honest landlord/-lady, good connection to public transportation and something that is within my budget.

We also just had the graduation of our 3-month-training program, more about that in my next blog.

Blessinx, Hanna

conference

unfortunately I haven't been able to go online as often as usual. What with myself moving and everything being very busy at the moment. I'm supposed to have internet at my new place, but they haven't set that up yet. But hopefully they'll get to it soon, which would enable me to post more regularly again...
In a few minutes our team is leaving for the annual staff conference in Bangkok.. we'll be back Saturday.. or rather I'll be back Saturday, since I'm staying a day longer in order to be able to do some of the shopping that I wasn't able to do during the last meeting. I definitely need some new books and it's really difficult to find some good reading material in a language I can actually understand here in Pattaya!

God bless you all,
Hanna

moving - August 1st

Hi there,
my battery is almost gone, so just a short notice.
God's been good, which means that I am finally able to move next week! Halleluja!
I'll have running water and a bed again! And AC! It's unbelievable!

Blessinx,
Hanna

busy times...

Hello to all you bloggers out there, I'm sorry, I haven't been in touch lately... I'll try to get better... during the training there's always so much going on at the center and even to I'm not actually involved in those things the busy atmosphere is somehow contagious...
At the same time I haven't had a real schedule since the end of my time at the language school and my new teacher hasn't had time for language study yet, so it's been a bit difficult to try to figure out a new 'rhythm'.
Well, because of all that I haven't been online as much as usual... and this week won't be much better... today I'm traveling up to Bangkok for a couple of days. We'll be having some kind of Intern meeting which is also some kind of orientation for the new Interns. Although I've been here for about half a year by now, it's the first "Intern" meeting for me, since I missed the last one in January by 1 or 2 days.
You guys have no idea how much I'm looking forward to getting out of town for a bit.
I mean, I love my work here and our women, sometimes I just get so tired of being here in Pattaya. It's like living on the bahamas 365 days a year... During the past 6 months I've only left town 3 times... 2 times to get my Visa extended (April and last week) and once for a meeting with Cindy Jacobs in Bangkok...
If you wanna pray for something, pray for protection. A whole bunch of us going through a rough time at the moment. Some are struggeling with health issues, with others God is taking them through some personal things at the moment... it's especially among those that have started going into and praying for Walking Street.
well, I'll get back to you once I'm back from Bangkok..
Love, Hanna

something's happening...

1) during the past couple of weeks the Holy Spirit has been repeatedly leading my into the most amazing and awesome times before the throne of God. Times of prayer and intercession, times of praise and worship... Times where everything is being focused on HIM. It's difficult to put into words what I'm experiencing during those times. Many times it's about Walking Street. Other times God is dealing with things in my life and sometimes it happens that all I do is to lie on the floor - totally overwhelmed by His Greatness, Grace, Love,...

2) we have now formed an intercession team that is going into Walking Street on friday nights. Our vision is to begin creating a difference in the spiritual atmosphere over that place. We sing songs and pray a lot. On one hand it is very hard, because it really is a spiritual battle and can actually feel how the further you advance into the Street the heavier the spiritual atmosphere gets. On the other hand it is sooo good to finally get something started down there.

Please, whoever can and wants to - we need as many 'comrades-in-prayer' as possible... for as it is written in Ephesians (6:12): For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Thanks,
Hanna

Known by name

I never realised how much it actually means to be "known by name". At home it's just so natural... not down here, in a foreign country, with a foreign language, foreign people, foreign everything.
On my day off (Saturday) I usually go to my favorite Starbucks shop here in Pattaya. It's placed on the top floor of a mall right at the Beach and they have this little outdoor terrace place with a magnificent view of the bay, the beach, palm trees. It's simply beautiful and since it's a little out of the way compared to the other Starbucks shops which are on street level, it's usually not too full and I can enjoy a quiet afternoon with a good book...
and by now the entire crew knows me by name! First it was only the supervisor, then 1 or 2 of the other barristas, but by now it's really all of them.
It just adds such a "homie" feeling to it, like belonging somewhere. They smile and wave at me everytime one of them passes my table, sometimes even stop for a little chat. It's hard to explain.
But here is what's even more astounding:
God, the creator of this very universe, knows YOU and I mean every single one of you, by name!
With this encouraging fact I wanna wish you all a blessed weekend
and revel in thought of HIM KNOWING YOUR NAME!!!
Love, Hanna

To All The LADIES

You are beautiful

You are heavenly made

Carefully planned to be just who you are

God makes no mistakes

He thinks you're perfect

and He's proud and amazed

Now don't let the world tell you differently

Just remember what God thinks of you, that..

You are beautiful

in the eyes of your Creator

He thinks you are wonderful

And He loves you just the way you are

You are beautiful

You have been made by God

You are so beautiful

You have a lovely design

God says you're His princess

Yeah, that's who you are

Oh, you are so special to Him

Oh, how I wish you could see yourself through His eyes

Now don't let anyone put you down

You must remember what God thinks of you, that...

You are beautiful

in the eyes of your Creator

He thinks you are wonderful

And He loves you just the way you are

You are beautiful

You have been made by God

You are so beautiful

You have been made

You shouldn't have to doubt

who you are

You are an image of our wonderful God

And He sacrificed Himself for you

So you would know that it's true

You are beautiful!

Tamar Center staff + interns

two of our foreign staff and one Thai staff are missing on this pic due to illness.

some new pics...

my housemates and I:

Cath, 30, England

Oh, 28, North-Thailand
Hanna (I), 25, Germany

Please pray...

almost our entire team is experiencing attacks in their health at the moment.
I myself have been having stomach issues for the past 3-4 weeks.
Please pray for healing and for the Holy Spirit to reveal the real source and reasons of these attacks so that we will be able to take the appropriate steps.

Thanks, Hanna

How great is our God?!

Just a quick update on the most important news: I CAN STAY!!!

God is so unbelievable good. Once again He has proven that He IS great and in control!
A month ago I was lacking about $450,- in my monthly budget - today I lack $0,-! God has been faithful to very last nickel.
To be honest I can still hardly believe it.
The main thing is the money I'm saving on the language studies. Plus I got 8 new supporters and my church is sending a donation as well.

I feel very much like dancing. :o)
Or as David put it in Psalm 13:
"I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me."

and in Psalm 145:3 it says:
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no-one can fathom.

Hugs&kisses,
Hanna

The miracle continues...

Well, since the last time I wrote I've gotten three new supporters, three one-time donations and my church has agreed to also support me with a one-time donation. So now with 9 days to go I am down to somewhere between $40 - $80 that I'm still lacking in monthly support (one of the supporters is a group of people and they haven't figured out yet how much they will be able to get together).
This is really great! All praise and honor to God!
But it's not over yet, there are still $40 - $80 left to go. I hope you will stand with me in prayer during this coming week, because I believe God is not a God of half-done-jobs. No, if he starts something he will for sure finish it.
Thanks for everything!

God bless-
Hanna

The miracle has begun...

God is great and He does great miracles!
Yesterday the Thai-teacher of two other ladys from our team made proposal to me. It so happens that this ladys boyfriend is German, which is why she would very much like to learn German. So now she proposed that if I would teach her German for one hour every day she would teach me one hour of Thai in return! For free! (besides materials such as books, textbooks, etc.)
I also got a new supporter yesterday!
So that now after only 4 days into the "all-deciding-month" I am only lacking $160 in monthly support (previously it was $440).
And if it turns out to be a little more, than I would even be able to move!
For the house I live in right now frequently runs out of water (it's got sth. to do with the part of town I live in) and my room has no furniture except for a thin mattress a shacky plastic closet. To be able to do this I am still lacking $260 (instead of the $160 mentioned above).
But I am grateful for every little step forwards and also for every "comrade-in-arms" who joins me in prayer for this whole situation!
Love, Hanna

time to take a decision

for those of you who have not heard it so far.
This month will be the all-deciding-one. This month will determine whether or not I will be able to stay in Thailand or if I will have to return home. The problem is finances.
It would be great if you could join me in prayer that God will provide all my needs, but even more so that His will/His masterplan will come through.
I will keep you updated on how things are coming along.

Love, Hanna

Psalm 13 (How long, O Lord)

This Psalm has ment a lot to me during these past days/ weeks:

How long O Lord
will you forget me?
How long O Lord
will you look the other way?
How long O Lord
must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have such sorrow in my heart?

Look on me and answer
O God, my father
Bring light to my darkness
Before they see me fall

But I trust in your unfailing love
Yes, my heart will rejoice
Still I sing of your unfailing love
You have been good
You will be good to me

I just love to read the Psalms especially when times are rough.
I find it so encouraging to see how David and the others
even in times of great danger and everything managed
to always end their laments in praising God's goodness, his faithfulness and love!

new pics

Hi there,
I"m sorry I haven't talked to you guys in awhile. I don't have much time today either. But I wanted to at least post these two pics.

This is "Tamar Street" where I live. The white house on the right side with the blue-greyish gate and the little orange box attached to it, is our house! (right before the blue pick-up.

This is Tamar House, where most of our women live. Also on "Tamar Street". Well it's actually only one half of the building. The other half would be on the left side of the gate.

And He answered...

if you are wondering how my week of prayer turned out to be - you are just about to find out. :o)
Well, I didn't see any writing on the wall nor did I have lightning from above or sth. like that.
But rather heard God speaking to my heart in His so familiar still small voice, reminding me of all the dreams He had already given me, of all the times He had spoken into my life before. I don't have the time nor is this the place for me to share it all. But to say the least, this time here is again a time of preparation, a time of shaping and molding (of me) for whatever lies ahead.
So even if that doesn't make the actual situation any easier, it means a lot to know that I am in the right place. It gives me new strength and hope. I know that by God's grace I will make it through.

Thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement. It means the world to me.

Love, Hanna

week of prayer March 27 -31

I have to admit that I am not quite sure yet as to why God has sent me here. That's why I will take the next week off (March 27-31) to spend some time in prayer (maybe fasting) and really seeking God's face and presence, to hear from Him and what He has to say about my being here. I would appreciate it very much it some of you would join me in that prayer. Please, feel free to email or contact me anytime or to ask any questions you might have.

Love, Hanna

Summertime..

at least here in Pattaya it is. During the last fortnight it started to become really warm with up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. And next month will be even hotter.

Financially it is steadily going better. Since my emergency call about two weeks ago, hardly a day has passed where I haven't been blessed in one way or another. God is unchangingly good! Even though this doesn't solve the actual problem, which is that I don't have enough monthly supporters, but it gives me a little more space to breathe and I trust that God will continue to provide faithfully.

Besides that it becomes more and more obvious that God is on the move here in Pattaya. At Tamar alone the number of staff has been almost doubled during the last six months. And the same thing is happening with different ministries around town. God is calling workers from all over the world to come here to Pattaya. And I am honored to be part of it all.

In Christ, Hanna from Pattaya, Thailand

HE Is Faithful!

Faithful friend, so unchanging...
my finances are definitely improving! After paying for my lunch yesterday, I had 10 baht (25 cent) left. For 10 baht you can get either a ride on a songtauw or a bottle of water. During lunch I could also check my email and bank account. - No email, no bank transfer, nothing.
So I was really down to scratch, with both money and nerves.
Later that afternoon we had a staff meeting (like every Tuesday), after some information and stuff, we had some time for everybody to share briefly how they were doing.
So naturally I had to share about my situation. Well we had a good time of prayer afterwards.
At the end of the meeting one of the Thai ladies came to me and handed me a check ($50), she herself had received in the mail today.
And today I received $270 by bank transfer from a very dear friend of mine!
God Is so faithful. So overwhelming. And yet how often do I make Him so much smaller or put Him in a box of some sort, expecting Him to act in this or that way...
And yet He always manages to completely take me by surprise.
Thank you so so much for every dollar, every email and especially every prayer!
I can tell how much more prayer support I have this time compared to the time in Norway.
THANK YOU!!!!
lol, Hanna

Chinese New Year in Pattaya

Tamar Cards

livingroom/ diningroom/ kitchen

Our bathroom

where has this month gone to?

It seems like I only got here yesterday and yet tomorrow it'll be four weeks.
I feel a little more settled in and I am starting to get to know my way around town by now. Slowly but steadily I'm making progress with my thai studies. Somedays I get the impression that I will never get a grip on this language and on other days I manage to have small conversations in thai and I get all excited and all of a sudden it seems like its not that hard after all. :o) Next week I'm starting on the Thai alphabet.
But now I wanna upload some pics. Hope you like them.

Love, Hanna

My first attempt at Thai language and its five tones!

Well, like I said I started Thai studies last week. It's curios how just a little more knowledge of the language can help you to feel a lot more comfortable. But those tones are killing me. Take the word 'ma' for example. In the common tone it means 'come', in the high tone it means 'horse' and in the rising tone it means 'dog'.
Meanwhile I trying to settle in and I'm getting used to my daily routine and the new environment. But I'm sure it will take awhile for me to feel really at home in Pattaya.
Last Friday same of us from Tamar attended a service at a befriended church here in Pattaya. Some guy from the US (Montana) with his team were teaching and ministering. The entire meeting was great. A whole bunch of the girls were healed and others learned how to pray for others to be healed. Yesterday in church we heard several of the girls give testimonies - it was very moving.
I myself was touched by God in a very strong and powerful way. More and stronger than I have been in a long time. Its just to personal to share the whole story here on the blog. But please feel free to email and ask me about. To say the least it was exactly what I had needed and a strong confirmation about me being here.

More some other time.
Love,
Hanna

The first week

Almost 10 days have past since I arrived in Pattaya. About last week.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday I helped out with English class in the afternoons. On Monday and Friday we also went to the bars afterwards to talk with the girls. Which I think will soon become the highlights of my weeks. Although it always breaks my hearts to meet the girls. Many of them are so sweethearted and all the want is to escape their lives and others that have been in this business for longer, they start to simply shut themselves off, by letting noone anywhere close to their hearts. They force themselves to only focus on the money.
Early Wednesday morning Melody, a 18-year old girl from Missouri that is doing here senior service here (for about two weeks) arrived. She is staying at my house which is really lovely, because I was becoming quite lonely all by myself.
Thursday we took turns in helping out at the nursery and on Friday we painted a house together which was also a lot of fun.
Saturday was our day off so we went to the beach and just chilled a bit. As a special treat we had Subway and Starbucks. The cool thing was that from the Starbucks terrace (which is on the first floor) where we were having our coffee we had a wonderful view of the beach but also of the Chinese New Year Parade that was taking place on that very same day while we were there.
Yesterday we went to church and had a great time afterwards hanging out in the city for awhile.

About myself - I have to admit that the first days were pretty tough on me. It was as if the fact that I am going to stay here for at least two years hit me full force. So I guess it just took my a couple of days to get adjusted and to let this fact sink in. Cos ever since Friday I'm great. I also think that it helped my a lot to do something practical... you know to actually get something done where you can also see the results right away.

This morning I had my first Thai class. It was good, exciting and challenging. I think I haven't used my brain to that extend in a very long time.... :o)

First day at the Tamar Center

Sawasdie kaa,
a short add about the service yesterday. It's just that it was so great feeling God's presence in the middle of all the strange and unknown. It is so comforting to know that HE IS the same no matter where we are, what color our skin has or what language we speak - He doesn't care (well, He does care, but you know what I mean)...

Today I had my first "real" day at Tamar Center.
So this morning I had a little introductive talk with Nella, Director of Tamar Center Pattaya.
For the first months my priority will be studying the thai language, since I am highly depending on it to be able to reach out to the girls.
Depending on how it will be staff-wise here at the center I will be either teaching English or even start a German class, cause there have been some requests for that.
So we will see...

Love to hear from you,...

Hanna

Arrival in Thailand

Hi there,
here comes my very first blog from Thailand! After 10,5 hours of a nice and smooth flight I arrived in Thailand at about 7:30 as scheduled yesterday morning. Then I had to wait for what seemed like forever at the immigration. Once I was through the immigration, baggage claim and customs were no problem and outside a taxi was already waiting to take me to Pattaya where I arrived around noon. I am sharing a small house with Kat, a girl from England and another girl from Thailand who will arrive in February. In this house I have my own little room, which is at the moment besides a "bed camp" and a closet-thingie still quite empty, but hopefully not for long. After my arrival yesterday we kinda just dumped my staff and went out for lunch (by that time I was starving for they had served us breakfast on the plane around 5 am.) The rest of the afternoon I took a nap and showered before going out for dinner again around 7 pm.
Last night I slept about 12 hours straight, so now I feel quite ok again. At one I attended a local church service which was really good. I also met a Canadian and a German team there. Now I am hanging out with the German team and of course we had to check for an Internet cafe (right now its about 6:30 local time).

talk to you later this week.
Love, Hanna

The BIG day is here!

my dear friends,
well, my departure day has finally come. In less than an hour I'm leaving to the airport, in 4, 5 hours I'll be sitting in an airplane waiting for it to hit the runway, waiting for it to gain speed, to become faster and faster every second until that one crucial moment where it takes off and we are airborne and flying!
Tomorrow at 7:30 am local time (ET + 12) I am due in Bangkok airport where I'll be taking a taxi to Pattaya, which is about 2 hours south of Bangkok!

So then all that is left for me to say is...
farewell and Gods richest blessings for every single one of you....

Love, Hanna

...packing down

time is definitely running short now with only 8 days to go before the "big" day.
Farewells and goodbyes everywhere.
A week before Christmas I was sent out from "my" base in Skien, Norway (that's where I signed my life away - :o))
Last Sunday I was sent out from my church, it was really encouraging and I think it's also good for my church that through me they become more involved with world mission again.
Tuesday I had a little farewell-party with the three young-adult-cell-groups from my church, which was very nice and very good, but it also makes everything so much more final.
Now I am trying to work my way through all my stuff, to see what I need to take with me, what stays behind and what will have to be dumped...
well, I will get back to you... asap
Love, Hanna

Happy New Year!

First of all a joyful and blessed new year everyone!
I was at the Jesus Revolution New Year's Festival in Bremen, Germany with about 500 christians from all over Europe! We had five days of learning lots of good stuff, meeting new friends and praising God together.
On New Year's Eve we first had the Youth of Europe Awards where youth groups from different nations showed their talents, then we saw Premiere to Jesus Revolution's new concert. The last 45 minutes of the old year we spend together in worship. After watching the fireworks outside, we had another hour with worship to start the new year right... :o)

Some news about Thailand. I booked my ticket last week, so it's all set and
I'm leaving January 20th
and I am being send out from my church at the Heilig-Geist-Zentrum in Mainz-Mombach on January 8th, at 4 pm! Hope to see you there!
God bless-
Hanna