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God has led me through Senior Volunteer Network to help at a home-school week for the children of missionaries working in North Thailand and a neighbouring country. This event will take place in Chiang Mai in Thailand.

I have booked to fly via Frankfurt on Tuesday 24th November and arrive the next afternoon. John Perkins, my colleague (yet again!) will arrive on another flight at almost the same time. We will be met by the coordinator, Moira (who I have worked with before). We are to stay in a centre where the home-school week will also take place. We will have a few days to settle into the self-catering accommodation (where I stayed for a few days 8 years ago) and to complete our preparations.

On the Sunday we will worship at the International Church and the parents and children will arrive ready to start the home-school week at 8.30 a.m. on Monday 30th November. John will teach the upper class of eight 7 to 11 year olds and I shall teach the lower class of nine 4 to 7 year olds. As there will be 3 sisters who know very little English in my class, Anke, a teacher from Germany, will be giving them support. Space is limited, so all activities will take place in one hall. There is no outside play area, although we may be able to walk a short distance to an open space for games.

Our theme is to be “Animals”, concentrating on a different type each day – mammals, insects (minibeasts), reptiles, birds and fish. Each day will start with Bible Time, based on a Bible passage about an animal. We will then divide into our classes to focus on activities to develop skills in working together and in competition, as opportunities for these are rare back in the home-school environment. We will prepare for a final presentation to the parents on Friday morning, including a musical drama of “The Musicians of Bremen”.

After packing everything away, John will fly back to England on Saturday 5th December. I will fly back on the evening of Sunday, 6th December, landing in Birmingham the following morning.
Please pray for:

• everyone’s preparations
• safety for everyone in travel and whilst we are together
•  wisdom as we all build relationships
•  the Holy Spirit to guide us all
•  working in a confined space
•  the children having limited play space
• an enjoyable and beneficial time for everyone
• God to have the glory

 
Thank you for your interest and support, without which I would not have the confidence to go.
Jane Caine

Ann Bielby and Isabel Wodrow will be travelling to Mozambique on Friday November 13th, returning on Sunday November 22nd.
Please will you pray as they travel and work with the children and their parents at the home school conference in northern Mozambique.
The conference will be led by the director of Anchor Education, Margaret Stockwell. Other members of the team are Jean Kawiecki and Zethu Mthenjane.

Please will you pray for:

• Safe travel and stamina- the outward journey takes 48 hours
• Good health for  the team
• Margaret as she has responsibility for the conference
• Good relationships within the team
• Opportunities to build relationships with parents
• The children and young people. Pray that they will enjoy being together, learning, being creative and having fun
• That we will be aware of God’s presence with us

 
Ann will be doing a session for parents about helping when learning is difficult and one about creative writing. And helping to assess children’s progress.

Isabel Wodrow will be looking after the younger children, aged 3- 10 years. Using deserts as the theme and using Godly Play material for teaching about the exile and the return and Jesus and John the Baptist. There will be opportunity for the children to experience a variety of arts and crafts and games.
 
The Godly play teaching guide for the session about the exile says “God’s presence is not here or there but everywhere, waiting. To be found. To find us."
Pray that we will experience this as we serve Him.