A Letter from Annette George in Thailand
November 2011
Dear Friends,
Annette George works with a student in a music therapy class.
I ended my previous newsletter with the words, “We must pray for God’s protection in perilous times.” Thank you for your prayers. Perhaps the news of all the flooding in other parts of Thailand has reached your news sources by now. Again, I will emphasize that the flooding I experienced was minimal compared to the tragedies that are still being played out in central Thailand and Bangkok. Although the rains have mostly stopped, and the water levels have quit rising, there are still many homes and workplaces under water – water that is becoming increasingly toxic and smelly. The newspapers are full of tales of woe and worry and blaming. The opposition party is blaming the prime minister – in fact rallying around the idea of suing her for mismanagement of the rescue and prevention operations – but they are ignoring the fact that they were in power at a time when there were warnings that the capital was not adequately prepared for flooding. I find it interesting that many of the Christians around me are quite sure that the immense flooding (more than half of Thailand’s provinces have been severely affected for many weeks this fall) is God’s punishment for disobedience. These sincere believers are obviously well versed in the Old Testament explanations for disasters (military and natural) that affected the Jewish nation.
Most of the country, in fact, has just finished celebrating a water festival that honors the river (or the river god). The Thai traditionally float little handmade “boats” laden with coins and incense (and sometimes firecrackers) on the river along with prayers begging forgiveness for misuse of the river and asking for a year of prosperity. This year’s water-based tragedies and difficulties of living in evacuation centers created some ambivalence toward the festival, and the economy suffered yet more as tourists did not arrive and local people did not spend their money on parties.
As Christmas approaches on the Christian calendar, I am reminded of many years when a family or country or people group found it difficult to celebrate, but I am reminded also that the Christian message is timeless and expresses hope even in the worst of times. This is what I hope to share with my Thai friends and students. In my music therapy class we are talking about using the playful, joy-filled tool of music to stimulate use of crippled muscles and stimulation of slow-learning minds (see the pictures). In my home, we are decorating for a cell group Christmas party and practicing Christmas music to play in church services. In the College of Music, we are working on the very difficult Bach Christmas Oratorio to perform for the community. I am playing the first flute part with a former student by my side playing the second part. Tonight I will attend the two-hour rehearsal in spite of a bad head cold that most of my students were suffering last week.
Although I will not be with family over Christmas, I will have two weeks on holiday and plan enjoy peace and quiet. I pray that you will know that you are surrounded by angels singing “Joy to the World” as you enter the holidays and worship in your churches.
Thankfully,
Annette George
P.S. update on NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: Some of you have tried my new PC(USA) address which was set up for anything related to my mission work in Thailand or representing the PC(USA) at your church. That address is annette.george@pcusa.org. Thank you for using it; it seems to be working fine – unless, of course, you have not received an expected response from me. If that is the case, please try again.
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 133
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 183
