Police Everywhere - Bomb Scare - Everything is ok...

Today John went out to get us some food and when he returned he informed me that the police and military are out in force today. When John asked what was going on the lady made a "boom" sounds and moved her hands like an expolsion was between them.

About 3 or 4 months ago we had 3 bombs go off here in our area. We did not write about it at the time. God was watching out for us because one of the 2 bombs that went off in Hat Yai went off at Carrefour - where we normally eat on that day. We normally eat at Carrefour on the night that the bomb went off but we had decided to do something different and we went to the Mah Ah instead. The other bomb that went off in Hat Yai was at the airport. The other amazing thing was that Clinton was on a landed airplane at the airport and Brian pulled up to the airport 1 minute after the bomb had gone off. Clinton was not off the airplane yet and Brian arrived just as the smoke was billowing out of the builing and people began running for their lives.

I tell you what - God has been watching out for this team...From what I can remember now a few people died but mostly it was that many many people were injured. The reason for all of these bombs has to do with the tension between a minority Mulsium group and Thailand. I will do my best to explain but I honestly do not know all of the details.

A long time ago apparently...the bottom part of Thailand, in which we live, was known as the Kingdom of Pattani. Through war a long time ago this Kingdom was overthrown and the southern part became part of Thailand. There is a Mulsium group that still wants to be a seperate kingdom apart to itself. This group is very radical. There is a bit of racism that goes on between Malaysians (who are mainly Muslium - although very little of them believe the way this small minority does) and Thais although I have to say I have not seen much of it here as of yet. Malaysians ususally have darker skin and Thai's think that light skin is the most beautiful so that is a small bit of it.

A while back - before we had come to Thailand there were a few instances that has caused the temperature between these two groups to rise. One instance was when over 100 of this Muslium minority gathered outside a police station with machete's and knives. The Thai police warned them and told them to back away for a long time but the group eventually charged the station. It was a massacre - over 100 Musliums were killed. A little later a similar situation happened. And the Thai police were successful in disarming the group of about 70-90 men. They were all bound and laid on the ground...the Thai police needed to get them to the police station so they piled them up in the truck to return to the police station. And when I say piled I mean they literally stacked them one on top of each other.

In Thailand heat - they did not last long - 70 or so of the Musliums died in the truck. Since then temperatures have been rising between this group of radical Musliums and Thailand. There have been more and more bomb scares and bombs for that matter.

To the best of my knowledge there have been no bombs today but there have been bomb scares so the Thai Police and the Thai Military are out in full force today. Security has been stepped up everywhere in HatYai since the bombings. Now everywhere we go we must open our trunk and submit our car to inspection (looking for bombs on the bottom of our car with a mirror) before we are able to park. There are even security cameras in the richer establishments and we're asked to look into the camera before going forward.

Now...with that being said - for those of you who would worry I am telling you now - Do NOT worry for us. God has put us here for a purpose and He is watching out for us! Pray for us but do NOT worry or live in fear for us or our team. That means you too Mom! And Grandma Marie....well...that means all of you!!!!

I will get more precise information on what is happening and keep you updated. Please keep us in your prayers for wisdom. Things are going great and I can feel the baby move almost ALL THE TIME now! I love being pregnant! I'm officially 19 weeks which is 4 1/2 months. Almost to the half way point :) Please post if you have any questions or comments. Thanks for reading and I also wanted to say how excited I am to have had all the new subscribers to our mailing list :) Some even from Singapore, NC and go ol' TEXAS!

Until next time...