Here's a map of old SIAM.

Phitsanulok

Joyce and I will have the honor of visiting one of our churches Compassion children when we are in Thailand. Details are still being worked out, but she lives in Phitsanulok, several hours north of Bangkok. It's possible we'll take the train to visit with her and her family, accompanied by Compassion staff members. Here is some information about the program:

Your sponsored child lives in the hills of Kawchan, home to approximately 1,350 residents. Typical houses are constructed of cement floors, wood walls and corrugated iron roofs. The most commonly spoken language is a local dialect of Thai. The regional diet consists of maize, beans, bananas, chicken, fish and rice. Common health problems in this area include diarrhea and food poisoning. Most adults in Kawchan work as day laborers and earn the equivalent of $76 per month. This community needs drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs. Your sponsorship allows the staff of Buachan Child Development Center to provide your sponsored child with Bible teaching, medical care, health instruction, recreational activities, opportunities for community service, social events, scholastic materials and educational classes. The center staff will also provide meetings and social events for the parents or guardians of your sponsored child.

In a week and a half, we'll be halfway around the world! It's hard to imagine, and yet we've been thinking about it and working toward it, I can't imagine that we haven't already done it! Getting ready to go almost makes me forget the reason for going in the first place. We'll see all the new sights, look at amazing scenery, ride elephants, see Nipaporn, and of course Fred and Jane, none of which we can do from right here at home.

Lafayette Frog
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Kyle's Thai exchange student friend
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Kyle feeling happy
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Itinerary

Here's the current itinerary for the trip. It was last updated on Wednesday, July 13.

All times listed are the times in the location where we are at the time....who knows what that really is!

July 6
Limo to Chicago 7 am-10am EST

1:00 p.m. Flight NW 0133 Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Minneapolis (MSP)
Flight time: 1 hr. 25 min.

3:05 p.m. Flight NW 0019 Minneapolis (MSP) to Tokyo Narita, Japan (NRT)
Flight Time: 12 hrs.

July 7th
7:25 p.m. Flight NW 0027 Tokyo Narita, Japan (NRT) to Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)
Flight time: 6 hrs. 25 min.

July 8th
Orientation to Bangkok--SkyTrain, River travel, FAO, and Sunny's for tailor-made clothes

July 9th
Shopping: Amarin Center, Chattachak Market, and fitting

July 10th
Church, Landmark Hotel Brunch, and more shopping

July 11th
River Tour: Chinatown, Tomburi, Wat Po and the reclining Budda, FAO, and more fitting

July 12
Grand Palace Tour, Jim Thompson House, more fitting, Taxi rides, and trip downtown at night in the rain.

July 13
Regrouping, grocery shopping, massages

July 14
Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia

July 15
Tour Angkor Wot

July 16
Tour Angkor Wot

July 17
Tour Angkor Wot

July 18
Siem Reap to Bangkok
Bangkok to Chiang Mai

July 19
Tour Chiang Mai

July 20
Tour Chiang Mai

July 21
Train to Phitsanulok

July 22
Visit Nipaporn
Fly Phitsanulok to Bangkok

July 23

July 24
Tour Bangkok with Tom

July 27th
6:00 a.m. Flight NW 0028 Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) to Tokyo Narita, Japan (NRT)
Flight time: 6 hrs. 35 min.

9:10 p.m. Flight NW 0022 Tokyo Narita, Japan (NRT) to Honolulu, HI (HNL)
Flight time: 7 hrs. 15 min.

July 28
Tour Honolulu and Waikiki

July 29
Polynesian Cultural Center and Luau

July 30
Pearl Harbor

July 31
Honolulu to Hilo by air
Volcano National Park
Punaluu Black Sand Beach

August 1st
Rainbow and Akaka Falls
Hilo to Honolulu by air

5:30 p.m. Flight NW 0098 Honolulu, HI (HNL) to Minneapolis (MSP)
Flight time: 7 hrs. 32 min.

August 2nd
7:00 a.m. Flight NW 0122 Minneapolis (MSP) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
Flight time: 1 hr. 11 min.
Chicago to Lafayette 10:30 am to 1:30 pm