A letter from Bill Yoder in Thailand
November / Christmas 2012
Dear Friends and Family,
Can another year have passed so quickly? It’s quite unbelievable but so the calendar tells me. Since “retiring” in 2006, I send out only one general letter a year. Lazy, I guess. But that’s about all that has changed in my life post retirement. I suppose that a real life of retirement would not fit my style very well at best. So thank God for many activities, all of which I hope are doing something good for someone.
The McGilvary College of Divinity continues to be the center of my working life. I teach only one course per semester, which often turns into two. But I do love my teaching. I continue to raise as much scholarship funding for the seminary students as possible, and that’s where all of you have been so helpful and hopefully will continue to be so.
The College of Music at Payap is also a special interest. Under the direction of its current dean, Dr. Chaipruk Mekara, the college is making a great name for itself worldwide. The choir won two silver medals at the World Choir Olympics in Cincinnati in May.
I’m also deeply involved in the Chiang Mai International School as chairman of the Board of Directors. This is primarily a school for expatriate children begun by the Presbyterian Church for its missionary families in 1950. There are now seven international schools in Chiang Mai, but CMIS is the school of choice. We are running at over capacity with 500 kids K-12. I also offer any of you teachers who would like a year or two off, or who are retired, to consider coming and helping us. You’ll get a very livable salary and have a wonderful and fulfilling experience in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I’m a member of the E. C. Cort Foundation Board, named after the Presbyterian missionary who administered McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai from 1934 to 1950, which is a foundation for the raising of funds to help the poor who require surgery at McCormick. I’m also advisor to the Alumni Association of the Prince Royal’s College and serve on the board of the Foundation for Retired Prince Royal’s Teachers. I love it all, but it can become a bit daunting at times.
My personal life has been busy as well. I flew home in late December last year to help my lifelong friend, Bill Blair, celebrate his 70th birthday. I had a free flight on United from all my accumulated miles. I surprised him and it was great fun, but I stayed in the States only two weeks, so I saw very few of you. I have had many visits from family in Thailand who love to visit at Paradeisos, my home. Taiwan is here now from Florida and Thanksgiving this year will be BIG. One of my boys, Worawit, died two weeks ago in Australia after a three-year struggle with cancer. For someone only 44 he had lived a very successful life, founding the Eden Education Centres with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Bangkok and Chiang Mai. My beloved female Golden Retriever, Sugar, was bitten by a cobra in my village and died just before Christmas last year. I have replaced her with Goldie.
I continue to host Saturday Afternoon at the Opera one Saturday each month and have developed quite a coterie of enthusiastic opera lovers right here in Chiang Mai. I love my gardening and post some pictures of my gorgeous orchids on “Facebook,” if any of you are interested in looking.
Next year is important. On May 2 I will complete 72 years in this world, a very auspicious occasion (six 12-year cycles) in this part of the world. On August 12, I will reach the 50th anniversary of my arrival in Thailand. My family is planning a big celebration for me to be held on May 2, commemorating both events in one. The festivities will begin with a service of thanksgiving at Prince Royal’s College Chapel and a big dinner afterwards. If you’re in the neighborhood, please know you’re invited!
I have a lovely Sawai painting again for my Christmas card. Enjoy. The world is so full of trouble. May the Lord grant us all a blessed Christmas filled with the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and a 2013 of Love and Peace.
William J. Yoder (Bill)
