Beautiful Feet

A series of bomb or grenade explosions in the Thai capital has killed three people and injured about 30 others, including at least eight foreigners.

A first spate of six attacks occurred at sites across Bangkok as streets were filling up late afternoon local time ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Just before midnight, at least two further blasts rocked the city centre.

Two people died on Sunday, and a third man died of his injuries on Monday in hospital. All three victims were Thai.

The Thai authorities had cancelled all public celebrations for New Year’s Eve after the first devices went off.

Police do not believe foreign groups or militants from the Muslim south are to blame, says the BBC’s Jonathan Head.

There was a big bang and people started screaming and running

Chalermsak Sanbee -Witness

Our Bangkok correspondent says many Thais suspect the attacks were the work of opponents of the current military government, which forced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from office in September.

The latest explosions occurred near the Central World Plaza, a shopping mall close to where the biggest New Year’s event was to have been held.

The area had already been cleared. However the blasts caught several foreign tourists.

Two British men, three Hungarians, two Serbs and an American are receiving hospital treatment but none were thought to be in a serious condition, officials quoted by Reuters news agency said.

Of the earlier attacks, the largest was at about 1730 (1030 GMT) near a bus station next to one of Bangkok’s busiest intersections, Victory Monument.

Police said this caused the biggest number of casualties, injuring at least 13 people and killing one.

Reports suggest the device was planted beneath a seat at a bus stop or in a rubbish bin.

One witness who was standing nearby, 17-year-old Chalermsak Sanbee told Reuters news agency:

“There was a big bang and people started screaming and running. I saw people with blood all over their legs and faces.”

According to a police spokesman, the other blasts occurred:

* At 1720 on Sukhumvit Road in the south-east, causing no casualties
* Simultaneous blasts at 1800: at a crossroads in the north injuring two people, and in Kae Lak district injuring no-one
* At 1830 close to a Chinese temple in the Klong Toey district, killing one person and injuring six
* A bomb went off in a rubbish bin near the Seacon Square shopping area, injuring no-one

National police chief General Ajirawit Suphanaphesat said the authorities inspected other locations where suspicious packages were found.

Source: BBC News

Thank God for His mercies. Our shopping at walking street with Auntie Hwee Lee and Auntie Jeannie was cut short when we recieve news from Singapore of the blasts and decided it wise to leave the area that was extremely crowded with many foreigners and locals as it was a site for the NYE celebrations. Now Thailand’s political instability is sunk deeper please pray.

This morning is what we’ve spent the past 2 weeks planning, shopping, arranging, practicing, tracting for the 1st church service of Lighthouse BP!

Worship Leader P’Gade.


Thanksgiving and worship


Musicians!


Preaching of The Word

Who were at the Service…
Brother Nathaniel (Preacher/Pianists/Translator)
P’Gade (Worship Leader/Scripture Reading)
Koi (Guitarist, though the guitar did not work out eventually)
Ying (Offering)
Sister Patricia
John, Geoff, Christy
Nelson Lim, David Cher
Auntie Hwee Lee
Auntie Jeannie
Ruth and Ilona
Aruni, Gina and friend.
P’Ploy and her son Zack
Timothy Chen
P’Took and her daughter Aor
Apple, Apple’s Mum and sister

What a sizable number. Thank God for allowing the service to proceed smoothly. We had a time of thanksgiving as Auntie Jeannie, Nelson, Sis Pat, P’Gade and Auntie Hwee Lee gave thanks for 2006. Followed which, Brother Nathaniel gave a message on giving thanks to God at all times. In all things give thanks, for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus.

After the service, we had fellowship and lunch. Nice fruit cake from Mrs Heng. The lunch packets were very spicy though. Even P’Gade and Ying said it was too spicy.

We were really thankful that Apple’s mother and sister came. The sudden death of Apple’s father came as a mystery to us. I was not sure why would God take his life so suddenly and have it occur as we were planning to start the church. But God really did make all things work together for the good of those who love Him. If not for the funeral and our outpouring of love and concern for Apple, her mother would not have been touched and come for the church service. She even expressed a desire to want to come again next week. Praise God!
Michel was not able to make it for the service as he had to visit John(Gina’s dad had suffered a stroke and was in critical condition) in the hospital. Aruni also made a request that the church pray for Gina’s dad together, which we did.

Everything ended by about 2pm. Praise God for His mercies and blessings.

In the morning we headed out for the Elephant show and later the umbrella making factory with Auntie Hwee Lee, Auntie Jeannie, Koi and Ying. The elephant show was rather interesting, while Chiang Mai is famous for its traditional umbrella making industry.

Today, we started work with the linoleum and the floor. As Dr Henry(the owner of the place), is quite particular about the floor, we did not want any scratches from the chairs or tables. First, we had to move that heavy piano away before we could lay the lino. It was much easier to slide it out then it was to slide it back in late. So there we were measuring, cutting and finally taping the lino down with duct tape. Later it was rearranging the chairs and tables.

We also went through the songs for worship. Nice and simple ones, like Amazing Grace
The whole room looked a lot brighter with the lighter coloured linoleum wood grain pattern and it went well with the dark parquet flooring.

P’Ploy and Timothy also bought flowers for tomorrow. Sis Pat was arranging them for tomorrow. It’s exciting to see what will happen tomorrow for the 1st service. Who will come and what will happen.