kingsland members around the world

Hayden And Emily

If you are interested in reading more general updates, info about Hayden's health, and info on what we are up to then you can check hayemx.blogspot.com  From there you can also sign out for our newsletter and all the blog entries can be sent to you every 2 months.

Lots of love :)  Emily

Christianity in Thailand and England

I have continued to visit churches here and there, and continue to feel quite alone in the church department. It is very difficult to keep bothering when you find nothing that seems to fit. Once upon a time I judged people like me, who do not 'attend' a church every Sunday and are not a member of a church in their local community - well now I understand how you get to that point.

We do not realise how blessed we are to live in a Christian country until we leave it. To have churches on every corner and to have a whole community within a church. But here, and in much of the world it is a different story. Sure there are International churches, but the community is not there. Many of the churches are filled with people passing through the country, or have people from every corner of the city coming together once a week, but meeting other than that can prove difficult for us because of out non-central location. Also the hour trip into the centre in an open air bus with pollution filling your lungs and pores is never very inviting, especially when I am doing every other day of the week for work!

Then there are the Thai churches of which there are some more locally located. Hayden and I had originally hoped to join a Thai church as we are here to meet and bless Thai people. However, language is obviously always a barrier even though we continue to try and learn. I certainly couldn't follow a sermon in Thai although I have observed Hayden do a pretty excellent job of understanding in the past ;). Thai people are also so giving that they would feel obligued to find a translater for us and their whole service would turn into an effort to meet our needs and not their own. Sometimes it just deosn't seem to work in the Thai churches, and sometimes you just feel like you are not wanted, not in a very negative way but because of the extra hassle you bring with you.

On the other hand, being Christian here can also seem alot easier than it is in England or other Christian countries. People here have never judged me, people at work do not put me in a box of 'Christian therefore strange'. Thai people are often very interested to hear about what being a Christian means. We are alos extremely blessed here because Christina seem to have a good name for themselves. Most Thai people think Christians are here to help, to work with the poor to assist the needy, they are never put off thinking we are just here to convert them which is what most English people think as soon as you say you are Christian. Some countries are so badly bruised by a history of Christians doing bad things, that they no longer have any respect for us, but Thailand is truely blessed to have such a good record of Christians in their country.

I know that many of you back home struggle with the continued persecusion from people in the work place or family, and it is very difficult to say 'I am a Christian' when you are first meeting and making friends. People usually move away pretty fast or stop talking when you are around because they think you will judge them for what they do.

In conclusion, I cannot decide where it would be easier to live as a Christian. All are persecuted, all struggle, all have blessing and curses, all are judged. Yet God is there beside every one of us, wherever in the world that may be - Thailand, Uganda, Israel, Switzerland, France, Australia or anywhere.

One thing I can definately say is this: Kingsland is my home, I love you all so much and feel still a part of you even though I am on a different continent. I am sure many of the other 'Kingslanders around the world' feel the same. It is never easy, life is never easy and I am sure it never will be but I pray God blesses you in abundance! I cannot even express how much you did for me when I moved to your church, and even though I was only there a short time before moving out here with Hayden, the blessings from you continue.

All my love, Emily

news from Angela in Bangladesh

Angela is the Headmistress of a (Muslim) English-medium school, having started off in Bangladesh as a Mission Partner. She should be around Sunday 6th, and 13th and 20th July and maybe August 3rd and sent this ...

Just had a fascinating evening with an American businesswoman, recently converted and attending a 'Vineyard' church, who found me on your website and wanted to meet me and was unexpectedly sent to Bangladeshfor her firm. Isn't the Internet amazing?

Will be home in July so hope to attend some Sundays then. I do wish I could be home longer than a month a year! I have had severe health problems in April and May for two years running and am trying a change of job, within education, so I can come home then, instead of July!

Had a wild time over my 70th birthday. My brother and sister-in-law came out and I had a  party for around 100 of the lovely people I have met while I have been here, at which my brother gave the lecture, with Powerpoint presentation that he has given all over the world on 'A History of Clowning'. He has retired as President of the World Clown Association and does workshops in theological colleges on 'The foolishness of God' and recently did a service in Canterbury Cathedral with Rev Roly Bain, the only Anglican priest who is a full-time clown!

It is a BIG subject and an eye-opener to most people. It is not all about children's parties and messing about! Incidentally, most new clowns in the USAare women doing it as part of therapy.......... it is a healing thing also......see www.arthurvercoepedlar.goldielleproductions.com and related websites. His daughter is enabling a lot of clowns to get work through the websites she has created for them ......

Like me, he is not as young as he looks and, having retired from his other job, as a businessman, he is busier than ever as a clown! He is helping a Circus School in Israel for Arabs and Jews - Circuses for Peace, which has to be low profile......

'Retirement' can be a fruitful time for God also!

Love

Angela