Our annual camping trip was long overdue. This year we decided to go to a remote mountain in Loei province called Nah Haew. On the way we had to stop and repair the clutch to the van. It took more then 3 hours so we decided to go to Nam Nao National Park instead. Once we got there the clutch totally gave up. We called the company who had to travel over 200 kilometers to work on the clutch.
They worked for 9 hours till midnight and they were still not done. The manager had to come in a second vehicle. Next day they kept working until it finally got done.
Because of this delay we decided to stay at Nam Nao believing the Lord had a good reason for letting it happen. Nam Nao is a very nice park full of tropical pine forest, many nice trails, friendly people and good food. They have a visitor centre with a library and Internet access as well.
The people in the park also know us well and were happy to see us.

While at the tent a lone foreign traveller came to stay near to our tent. She was a university graduate from France now working with enviromental protection who now was on holiday. I thought to myself 'perhaps she is the reason why the Lord wanted us here?'........

The night was filled with Owls calling, Hawk Owl, Barred Owlet, Mountain Scops Owl and Collared Owlet. The stars twinkled and we slept well in the cool night hours.

Then while on a trail I bumped in to Emily, the French traveller. We chatted and I offered to bring her along with the kids to another area within the park. She happily came along as she earlier had come upon an elephant on the trail and felt she needed company.
We had a nice walk and I pointed out many birds for her and the kids.

Evening came and the cooking crew had to get started. Mixed veggies and fried chicken.
Suddenly a White-bellied Woodpecker loudly proclaimed its presence. This is a rare bird in Thailand and I was so thrilled that I was able to even photograph the bird.
I then told Emily how God knows us intimately and rewards us in a very personal way out of His great love for us. This lead to a long and deep conversation about the Lord and His Love.
She said that many christians in France are rascists and that she couldn't accept that.
Finally I held her hand and prayed with her to recieve Jesus into her heart as a personal friend and not just a set of religous rules. The Lord touched her heart so deeply and she couldn't hold back her tears of joy. She had a real spark in her eyes from that moment onwards.
I felt it was really worth it to have had to have changed our plans and told her that it was not by chance we had met but that God had engineered it all in order to show her His Love for her.

We then left for Nah Haew the following day. A long drive to some very remote mountains. Up and down, up and down we drove. On the way we got to sample some special Kanom Jeen at Lom Gao.

We were the only visitors at the park as it was not weekend. The park had nice facilities and a certain sense of remoteness to it. We visited a peak overlooking the mountains of Laos. Had a nice dip in a cold waterfall and climped up a few hills.
While here we were able to visit 2 schools and 2 kid centres. We had brought supplies with us and wanted to interact with the kids as well. They were all so happy to see us and we felt honored to be able to give these kids a bit of fun and some basic needs. We were also able to pray with all of them.

After 3 nights at Nah Haew we drove to Poo Kaew wildlife sanctuary. However, we couldn't obtain permission to lodge inside the park so had to return to Nam Nao. Again, we felt the Lord must have allowed this for a reason.
This time the reason seemed to be Nick, a student from Austria, whom Sunny got to talk to at length.
He also humble prayed with her and now has a closer walk with His Saviour!

I also was rewarded on our last day when I found a Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler. My first new bird for 2006!

The kids were thrilled to see a large flying Squirrel landing in a tall tree by our tent punctually each evening. We would get the spotlight out and follow it up the trunk till it got ready for another daring flight with its 'wings' spread out like a giant sting ray to a distant tree.

Camping is great fun and as we get into it the pulls of entertainment from TV, Internet etc gradually ceases. Back to the basics in God's Creation is something to be revered.

Love you all!