My team along with the Pharakan family and Katy were invited to hold an English Camp for two days at a K-8th grade arts school in a different village. We showed up and were greeted by English teachers from all the different schools and different provinces in that area. They had come to help out as our teaching assistants for each of the five classes that each person had to teach each day. In addition, as a group, we had to give three thirty minute presentations and host activities for the 100+ students. We asked the director of the school what we could and could not teach about. He said to teach anything. We were given open range with the curriculum during classes and we were allowed to integrate stories from the Scriptures as well as all types of song and dance into our presentations. The student body and staff, the English teachers from the other provinces, and the director were all Buddhist, but they invited us to teach everything we could. They were planning to celebrate a huge Buddhist event as a school the day after our English camp yet the director said to share freely even about Jesus. Each of us designed our curriculum consisting of greetings, emotions, counting, word pronunciation, body parts, colors, and basic vocabulary that English speakers use to get by in conversation. During our presentation times we taught the students songs, games, dances, and the story of the Good Samaritan incorporating the teaching of English. We all felt strongly that we need to share the message of Jesus through what is known as ‘The Wordless Book’ using colors. Mrs. Pharakan (also known as mom) translated in Thai during our presentation so that both student, staff, and teachers from outside that province could understand the complete message. Afterwards, there were several teachers that gave their contact information to Mrs. Pharakan because they wanted to speak with her about Jesus. The very next day after English Camp ended, the school canceled the mandatory Buddhist celebration event and allowed the students to take off. Several of the students that had been at the English Camp came from their villages and provinces to where we were living at for the time. I have no idea how they found us, but they did!
