Saturday, November 7, 2009

**UPDATE**

Hello Everyone!

We just wanted to give a quick update. On November 15th at 10:00am, our church service at Atlanta Christian Church (305 NE 3rd St, Atlanta) will revolve around our trip to Thailand! Each of us will be talking about the trip and the songs will relate to the trip. We will have many pictures and stories from Thailand! There will also be a potluck lunch right after the service.
We would love for you all to come and hear more about our amazing week!

There will also be more detailed posts to come of each day of our trip and more pictures from the week!

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers!

Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team

Monday, October 26, 2009

We're Home!!!

After four flights & a long drive home, we arrived in Atlanta at 10:00 this morning! All of our flights went smoothly & we got home with all of our luggage and no problems!

We'll be posting more pictures & more about our trip later in the week after we get together & go through all of our pictures.

Thank you all for your prayers & support. God truly blessed us on this trip & we were able to help many people.

Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Headed Home...

Well, our time in Thailand is quickly drawing to a close. We are now sitting in the Bangkok, Thailand airport waiting to board our flight to Taipei, Taiwan.

Since our last update, we have been going non-stop! We finished up in the village on Thursday night and headed toward Chiang Mai on Friday morning. We stopped at an Elephant Training Camp, where we saw an elephant show & rode elephants for 30 minutes. It was a lot bumpier than we thought, but very fun! After that, we went to a Chinese village and set up a clinic on the fron porch of someone's home. We saw about 50 people in one afternoon. We finished the evening going to a Night Bazaar, a market that covers 5 city blocks by 3 city blocks.

Yesterday (Saturday), we set up a clinic in Chiang Mai at the site of the Christian Training Center that is being built. We saw many people in the clinic. After the clinic, our group and many of the Thai people we worked with throughout the week went out to eat at a Thai restaurant. There were about 25 of us. After we ate, we went to the Night Bazaar.

We are now boarding the plane. Thank you all for your prayers & support! We have had a wonderful, AMAZING, blessed week!

Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

WOW!!!

There are no words to express how amazing these past few days have been, but WOW comes close! We have been staying in the village now for 3 nights. The land and the people here are so beautiful! We have all taken many pictures, but they don't do justice to how breathtaking it is here.

Our accomdations are much better than we anticipated, however, the roosters that live around our house are not like American roosters...they crow ALL night looooooong! So, we haven't gotten much sleep, but are doing well! (Robbie suggests fried chicken for supper every night!)

Today is our third clinic day. We have seen about 500 people so far! The people are truly appreciative of the care we give them & treatments they receive. Many of them have traveled overnight to see us & for most, this is the only health care they will receive.

Every night, we have had a church service in the village. The Thai people sing a hymn, then our group sings a praise song, then each night 3 of us give our testimony & Brian preaches. It can be kind of long because when they are translating it has to go through 2 other people, but we are communicating.

We will be staying in the village one more night, then heading back to Chiang Mai, where we are anxiously waiting for hot showers & air conditioning.

Here are some pictures from the week:



Thank you all for continued prayers & support. Your prayers are definitely being answered!


Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team

Monday, October 19, 2009

We're Off...again!

Hello Everyone!



Last night, Stephen took us up a mountain to look out over the city. We then went further up to a Buddhist temple.



Today, we're going to the village! This morning, after we exchanged our money, we split up into three groups. One group went to a pharmacy to buy all of the medical supplies we will be using for the clinics. Another group went to a store called Marko, like Sam's Club, to get groceries. The third group went into the city to purchase a guitar to lead worship while we're in the village. After loading up two trucks & a 10-passenger van, we went to a restaurant for lunch while we waited for Kirk & Kristen to get back from touring Chiang Mai General Hospital.



The village is about 2.5 hours from Chiang Mai. We will be there for four days before we come back to the city. We probably won't have access to the internet, so we will post more updates at the end of the week.



Thank you for your continued prayers and support!



Serving Him,


The ACC Mission Team

Sunday, October 18, 2009

We're Here!!!

We made it to Thailand safely around noon today, Sunday the 18th (midnight on Saturday the 17th at home). We were warmly welcomed by Steven & Mary (our host family), their family, & friends. We got ALL of our luggage loaded up into trucks & came to our hotel, The Galare House. We are now getting ready to do some sightseeing & later will be going to church with Steven & Mary and their family.

Thank you all for your continued prayers & support!

Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team

Friday, October 16, 2009

On Our Way...

Hello Everyone!

After a loving send-off from our families, we are now on our way to Thailand! We made it to Chicago O'Hare airport & are now waiting to board our first flight. Your prayers have already been answered...we narrowly missed a car accident that happened right in front of us in Chicago traffic.

Thank you for your continued prayers & support. We will keep updating as we can!

Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team

Saturday, October 10, 2009

It Happened Again!

Hello Everyone!

It's happened again...yes, another flight got cancelled! This week, it was one of our flights home. We were able to pick up a fourth flight, so we will still get home at the same time; we just have to leave four hours earlier.

So, here's our newest itinerary:

October 16th - Leave Atlanta at 1:30pm; Fly out of Chicago at 7:35pm; Arrive in Los Angeles at 12:00am

October 17th - Fly out of Los Angeles at 3:15am; Arrive in Taipei at 5:10pm; Fly out of Taipei at 6:45pm; Arrive in Chiangmai at 10:55pm

October 19th - 22nd Medical Clinic at Nong Kio Village

October 23rd - 24th Medical Clinic at Chiangmai

October 24th - Leave Chiangmai at 7:00pm

October 25th - Arrive in Bangkok at 12:35am; Arrive in Taipei at 4:05am; Leave Taipei at 10:40am; Arrive in Los Angeles at 10:05pm

October 26th - Leave Los Angeles at 1:40am; Arrive in Chicago at 5:30am; Arrive home ???

We also got an e-mail this week that the kids in Thailand will be out of school when we are there, so we might see anywhere between 300-400 kids in addition to all of the adults!

We are all getting prepared & are anxious to leave...only 6 days! Thank you all for your continued support & prayers!

Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team

Saturday, October 3, 2009

New Calendar

Hello Everyone!

Below is our new Itinerary:

October 16th - Leave Atlanta at 1:30pm; Fly out of Chicago at 7:35pm; Arrive in Los Angeles at 12:00am

October 17th - Fly out of Los Angeles at 3:15am; Arrive in Taipei at 5:10pm; Fly out of Taipei at 6:45pm; Arrive in Chiangmai at 10:55pm

October 19th - 22nd Medical Clinic at Nong Kio Village

October 23rd - 24th Medical Clinic at Chiangmai

October 24th - Leave Chiangmai at 11:55pm

October 25th - Arrive in Taipei at 3:25am; Leave Taipei at 10:40am; Arrive in Los Angeles at 10:05pm

October 26th - Leave Los Angeles at 1:40am; Arrive in Chicago at 5:30am; Arrive home ???


Thank you all for your continued prayers!

Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team




Wednesday, September 30, 2009

God is Good!

Hello Everyone!

Well, we have come through our first "trial." We were told today that one of our flights to Thailand has been cancelled. After much work by Sandi, our travel coordinator, & Deb we were able to get a new flight on Oct. 16th, instead of the 17th, and everyone is able to leave a day early!

Thank you all for your prayers! God truly answered them today!


Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team

Monday, September 14, 2009

Prayer Calendar

Hello Everyone!
We just had a meeting tonight and wanted to post a quick update.

First, below is a calendar that shows our tentative itinerary...tentative because once we get to Thailand, our daily schedule may change. Our tickets have been purchased, so the flights should be accurate. Also, all of the times are CST, so you don't have to try to figure out the time change. (Just FYI...Thailand is 12 hours ahead of us.)

*If the font is too small, click on the calendar & it should get bigger*

You can use this calendar while we are gone, not only to know where we're at and what we're doing, but also to pray for us during these specific times. We GREATLY appreciate it!

If you can't read the calendar, below is our itinerary typed out:

Oct 17th - Leave Atlanta, driving to Chicago at 1:30pm; Fly out of Chicago at 7:35pm; Arrive in Los Angeles at 12:00pm

Oct 18th - Fly out of LA at 3:15am; Arrive in Taipei (Taiwan) at 5:10pm; Fly out of Taipei at 6:45pm; Arrive in Chiangmai (Thailand) at 10:55pm

Oct 19th - 22nd - Medical Clinic in Nong Kio Village in Chaing Mai Province

Oct 23rd - 24th - Medical Clinic in Chiangmai

Oct 24th - Fly out of Chiangmai at 11:55pm

Oct 25th - Arrive in Taipei at 3:25am; Fly out of Taipei at 10:40am; Arrive in Los Angeles at 10:05pm

Oct 26th - Fly out of LA at 1:40am; Arrive in Chicago at 5:30am & head for home!

Secondly, we also have some prayer requests before we leave:

  • For preparation - not only the lists & supplies, but also for preparing lesson plans & our testimonies

  • For anxiety - we are facing a lot of "unknowns" - long flights, conditions of places we'll be staying, people we will be seeing/treating in the medical clinics, etc.

  • For good health as we prepare, once we are in Thailand, & when we return home

  • For Stephen Wongratanamajcha, his family, & the host families we will be staying with for their preparation before our arrival

  • For open minds & hearts of the Thai people we serve

  • For our families at home while we are gone

  • For safe travel

  • That each of us will be humbled & filled with the Holy Spirit to accomplish what only He can

Thank you all for your prayers & support.


Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Who We Are...

Hello Everyone!

Thank you for stopping by our blog! We wanted to start this blog journey by telling you a little bit about each of us. So, here goes...

Terry Brooks ~ I am married to Carol. I have two sons; Brandon (32) and Mark (29). Both are married and each have a daughter. I was a nurse at a long term care facility for the developmentally disabled for almost almost 30 years. I worked at an outpatient pharmacy for a few years as a pharmacy technician. I am a member of the Atlanta Christian Church. I enjoy singing in the church choir and going to Wednesday night Bible Study. This will be my first mission trip.

Scott Parks ~ I'm 22 years old, and will turn 23 the day we leave for Thailand. I work for my dad as a carpenter. I graduated from Heartland Community College with a degree in Computer Aided Design. I grew up in the church and have been going to Atlanta Christain Church for probably 22 years (longer than I can remember). I've been on one previous mission trip to an Indian reservation in Washington state, where we did a VBS for the kids.

Brian Siltman ~ I am married to my beautiful wife, Deborah. I have three incredible kids. Brady is 18, Shawn is 15, and Katelyn is 10. I received a BA in General Ministry in May 2008 from Lincoln Christian University. I work as a signal maintainer for Union Pacific Railroad. I was a medic (optician) in the Navy and am really looking forward to using my skills to minister to the people in Thailand.

Deb Siltman ~ I am married to the most amazing man I know, Brian. I am stepmom to three wonderful kids, Brady (18), Shawn (15), and Katelyn (10). I work at Lincoln Christian University as the Director of Student Services in the Hargrove School of Adult and Continuing Studies. I went to Thailand on a similar mission trip in 2003 and am really looking forward to going back.

Linda McVey ~ My husband's name is Adam. We have been married for 24 years. We are the parents of Eli (21) who is a junior at Illinois State University, Payton (19) who is a freshman at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, and Briley (16) who is a junior at Olympia High School. My profession is a theory instructor to high school students at a cosmetology school in Bloomington. My personal passion is compassion which I dearly hope to be able to share with all those I come into contact with in Thailand.

Alicia Crabtree ~ I am 24 years old. I grew up in the Atlanta Christian Church. In 2007, I received my BSN from Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University and am now a Registered Nurse and work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, IL. I went on a mission trip in 2000 to the Dominican Republic, where we helped tear down a house and put on a VBS for the kids. I am hoping that through this trip to Thailand, besides helping others and showing them the love of Jesus Christ, I will more clearly see if missionary work is truly my calling from God.

Robbie Bell ~ I'm married to Dana and have 3 children, Kaleigh 21, Landon 18 and Reagan 4. I was born and raised in Atlanta, IL. On October 12, 2003, I started my new life in Jesus Christ. I am retired from the Navy Seabees and am currently employed by the Illinois Department of Corrections as a Parole Agent. I was formerly an Emergency Medical Technician on the Atlanta Rescue Squad and hope to use that knowledge on this mission trip.

Kristen Green-Morrow ~ I am 38 years old and married to my wonderful husband David. We have two wonderful and spunky children, Davey who is 4 and Kristy who is 2. I am a physician in Lincoln and practice obstetrics and gynecology. I am also attending Lincoln Christian University's Seminary. I am very excited about our trip! Hope you enjoy the blog site.

Well, that's most of us! (Bio of Kirk Robison will be coming.) We are all excited and looking forward to this trip. Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about each one of us. Check back for more updates!

Serving Him,

The ACC Mission Team