Life Inside and Outside the Williams Household

Bonzai, the girls new kitty. Yeah, dad got suckered into a "replacement" pet.

Sy leading workship in his last chapel of the year.

Our friends, Tom and Janet visiting us from Texas.

Katelyn and her buddy from the Agape Orphanage playing in the pool.

Katelyn enjoying the last Agape Home event of the year with her buddy.

Parent appreciation ice cream social.

A school board dinner welcoming those new to the board and celebrating the service of those who are departing.

Spouses joined in the board dinner celebration.

Sy with his buddy from Agape Home just about ready to launch him from his shoulders.

And Sy's buddy is off like a rocket! Memories of when dad used to do this with Sy.

An end of year celebration with all the Thai staff enjoying an incredible Thai meal.

Some of the Thai staff getting ready to be served a delicious meal.

Here are some more Thai staff who work at the school making Grace possible.

Sy and his buddy Brad leading the senior chapel in a time of prayer.

Sy pictured here doing what he loves best...worshipping the Lord!

Sy's Senior Picture Photo Shoot

These are a few of my favorite things...

Josiah Luke Williams A Relaxed Senior

Sy the Worship Leader

Marching to the beat of His drum!

Sy's latest interest...note the scare on his left elbow.

Sy in his Karen Hill Tribe shirt ready for ministry.

Mui Thai Boxing Wanna Be (truth told he really likes the comfy shorts)

Sy and Katelyn visited their buddies at Agape for the last time this year on Friday evening. The children will come to Grace in two weeks to enjoy a swimming party.

Sy and his buddy end their time together in prayer.

Katelyn and Michalea on the back of a songtao, one of our means of public transportation.

The picture below was taken at Saturday night's Staff Appreciation dinner. We started the evening by celebrating the 24 first year staff members. There were eight other groups with 2-9 years of service. Next year we celebrate our 10th anniversary.

Here's Don with one of the front office staff.

Flag Football, Agape Home Orphanage Ministry and Sports Award Night

Both Sy and Katelyn are playing flag football (American style) in a GIS mixed gender intramural league. Sy's pictured with his team in the following set of five pictures.

Katelyn and Sy are both a part of a student ministry group that attends an orphanage every other week. The pictures below capture them with their "buddies". Katelyn's buddy is pictured on the left of her below. Sy's pictured praying and playing with his buddy.

Last night GIS celebrated its 5th Annual Sports Award program. Sy was chosen as Christian Athlete of the Year along with a fellow senior girl. He's pictured below waiting to receive an award from the Athletic Director (AD). He was commended for his contributions to the school as an athlete and as a Christian young man.


Here the AD is pictured presenting Sy with the award. Sy was also recognized for being the Most Improved Player in volleyball and being the Most Valuable Athlete on the track team.

Michalea and Katelyn were also on stage to be honored along with their team mates for their involvement and contribution to their respective volleyball, track, basketball, and soccer teams. Katelyn was recognized for being the Most Improved Player in soccer and basketball.

Katelyn's Sweet Sixteen Birthday at the Reservoir

Traveling back to shore after the sleep over with the house boats in the background.

Looking back at the houseboats from the longtail boat.

Saw this baby monkey back on shore. Everyone wanted to take it home with them.

Shaved ice on a hot day made for a wonderful treat after arriving back on shore. Most of us had two and one of us had three. Bet you can't guess who that was.

Kathy kept busy staying ahead of the eight teenage appetites. Here she is cutting up green mango, a missionary kids favorite fruit.

Katelyn with her back to the camera and her five girlfriends who helped celebrate her 16th birthday.
We shared some amazing food and fellowship.

And here are the friends wishing Katelyn a happy 16th (see the fingers?).

Sy and some yummy watermelon in season right now.

Katelyn and her friend from the states, Morgan visiting with her parents at the end of break. Here they're pictured in the Night Bazaar.

We went to the Night Safari next to our home here in Chiang Mai and Michaela wanted her picture with one of the stuffed animals for sale in the gift shop.

A picture from just up the hill from our backyard. The spot is a Buddhist Temple called Doi Kam. We went up there to show Morgan and her parents the incredible view.

Here's Sy at Katelyn's 16th cleaning up at the end of the day. He was having some fun with the shampoo.

Here's the gang once again just before Katelyn open her gifts.

Katelyn excited to see Morgan from the states.

Katelyn and Morgan on the balcony of Doi Kam being "cool".

Morgan and her dad.

Morgan and her mom.

Kathy behind the shutter again and Sy at home not wanting to be a part of a "girly" outing. And here you have Katelyn, Don, and Michalea enjoying the porch at Doi Kam.

The first picture below has a wonderful misspelled word for "partnership" (see the sixth line 0f text on the first picture). We think it is a wonderful representation of the concept of the Body of Christ. Take a look and see if you agree.

The remaining photos in this post are from a day-trip our family took a couple days ago. We went up into the mountains thinking we could beat the heat only to find temps in the mid 40C which we think was about 110F. We explored a cave thinking that might cool us off and found ourselves drenched from sweat as we climbed out. On the way back down the hill we noticed a bunch of children who figured out how to beat the heat and cool off. The pictures capture our efforts to "join 'em in their pool". Kathy was the photographer, Michaela had her safe and dry vantage point, Katelyn, Sy, and Don jumped right in, creating yet another memory.

Further down the road we came upon some elephants feasting on the local cusine.

Activities of the last couple weeks...

Easter Sunday baptism service. Pastor Joshua is pictured below with one of 10 people from his church who got baptized on Easter Sunday. Joshua asked Katelyn to assist him with all the female baptisms to keep things culturally appropriate. The service ended with roses being given to all those who were baptized. They were then greeted by all those in attendance. We enjoyed sharing a meal together followed by games and swimming.

Basketball champs. The varsity girls basketball team won their division championship. Both Katelyn and Michaela played in the competition. Their numbers were 23 (Kates) and 22 (Mich). They're pictured below with their team mates and their proud dad and brother (mom was proud too...she was taking the picture).

Good Friday with our friends. Pictured below are the three Free Methodist families in Chiang Mai, the Austins, Persings, and Williams minus four older children.



Community Bible Study International (CBSI)...pictured below is Kathy meeting with Caleb Representatives with CBSI.

Desire the Fire...this year's chapel theme has moved many in the GIS community to seek intimacy with the Lord fanning the flame of love. The pictures below capture the recent lock in on Good Friday where 80+ students participated in the 12 hour fast.

Asia Leadership Team Meeting in Malaysia. The first couple pictures were taken in the Cameron Highlands. One was taken at a tea plantation and another of a plaque at a Missionary School that is now a national Christian retreat center. The other pictures are from the meetings including a time of prayer for the pastor of the Ipoh church, a church fellowship pot-luck and of all the Asia Leadership Team and the leadership of the church in Ipoh.