Hello, All

After a 3 hour delay because of a Typhoon in Japan, an open call for a doctor on both flights for an unknown reason and a 12 hr train ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, I arrived in one piece with all 100+ pounds of luggage; so all in all a successful trip! Thanks again Tim for the ticket, what a blessing. But wow, was I exhausted when I finally arrived. On the train up, I was again blown away by the beauty of Thailand, right now its transitioning from the hot wet season to the cool dry season (which is the best time to be in Thailand), so we have a striking blue sky full of puffy white clouds that are constantly changing shapes and making their way across the sky.

When I did arrive at the train station I was meet by friends and family, but I think I let my friends down, when I told them I was going to bed instead of going to celebrate my return with them. After 48+ hours, all my body wanted was sleep! It was very nice though to be greeted by familiar faces.

I stopped by school the very next day (wed.) which was a half day. I said hello, ate lunch and then got my long-ish hair chopped off to better cope with the temperature. Thursday was my first official day at work, So with a half day of rest I was off and running. And what a first day. I found out that I'm teaching a different PE curriculum than the one I taught last year! (which means more curriculum planning) I also learned that I'm the head teacher of a PE class with 50 middle school students every day, not a helper as I was last year. Which brings my class total up to 5 (3 HS and 1 MS) + a Study hall. I also found out that I'm in charge of all the inter-mural sports that we run at the school starting with ultimate Frisbee which is just now getting underway! Then just last Friday I was asked to be the MC and Game master for "Kick-off" which is the first all Secondary school event (7-12th grade). It went really well and during the program I really started to feel that I was truly back into the full swing of things.

I've now been in Thailand for two weeks and I'm just now getting settled in. But as soon as I feel like I have everything under control, I start piling more things on to the to do list. First of which is to start Thai lessons, I figure its about time I learned, you see I kept putting it off because its a tonal language which mean you can say the word Hi 5 different ways and it means 5 different things .... not the best language for a tone deaf farang [Thai word for foreigner]. Also I begin the process of searching for and applying to Grad schools for next year. Which I'm quickly learning is no small process what with the GRE and Praxis tests to take, so I'm trying to freshen up on my math skills since my last math class was over 6 years ago. It's safe to say I'm a little concerned. I will also be looking for jobs in England and applying to the JET program in Japan, as a back up to Grad school; the deadline for JET is November! So, with planning new curriculum, organizing and refereeing inter-murals, studying Thai, application deadlines and prepping for grad level tests my free time is quickly shrinking.

Finally an up-date on my financial standings:

Of the $6,000 of my total need $3,502 has been given. To think that over half of the money has come in just over a months time is astounding and show the power of prayer. I've been absolutely stunned to see where money is coming from, I've received support from all over the world, from Japan, Thailand and from over 8 different states in the US; from family, friends, family friends to People I've never meet; from Christians, non-Christian's, business people and even missionaries. To be supported by such a diverse group of people is inspiring. God truly does work in mysterious ways. And to see missionaries especially those with kids at the school stepping up sends a simple message what I do in Thailand is appreciated and is important. Many of the staff and parents have said "Thanks for coming back" and every time I hear this, I want to tell them not to thank me but to thank my supporters. So, to all those who have contributed, thank you so much for your support, know that no matter how much you have given it has made a huge impact on me and GIS(Grace international school). Like a stone hitting water the ripples of your contribution reach out much further then just my being able to eat. It impacts each of my students all 170 of them, it impacts the kids I coach all 200+ of them, the countless kids who take part in various sports programs, and the kids we visit in the Refugee camps with the high school sports leaders. The support you provide makes all of this possible thank you for being apart of it, and for allowing me the chance to make an impact on kid's lives.

If you are thinking about supporting me, but you figure the amount you could give won't make that big of a difference, let me assure you that even a single dollar helps! A beach is not made up of one giant stone and beaches of medium or large rocks are not considered the best. The best beaches in the world are made up of millions of tiny grains of sand which together produce a fantastic feeling on ones feet! So too, every dollar helps, believe me; in Thailand a dollar goes a lot further then it does in the US.

Bellow is info on contributing:

Checks should be sent to the address bellow:

Rita Camden
5721 N Co. Rd. 1330 E
Russiaville IN, 46979

Make checks out to JOAM with Seth Williams on the MEMO line of the check (If my name is not on the memo line then it goes into the general fund)

JOAM is a registered 501(c)3 which means that the money you donate is tax deductible. When you send a check Rita (the accountant) deposited the check into JOAM's (Jesus Open Arm Mission) account and then it's transferred to my account to be used here in Thailand. She sends out quarterly receipts detailing what you gave (Check #, Date written, Date Deposited, the amount, and who it went to [ME]). These statements or receipts again are sent out quarterly, you will receive the receipt it just might not be right after you send in the check! If you decide to do monthly gifts these will all be broken down by each check.

If you are interested in making online or monthly deposits, I'm waiting to find out whether there is a routing number for the JOAM account, at the moment, I believe that checks are the only way to get money to my account with JOAM.

If you have questions about deductions or want to verify that Rita received the check you can call or e-mail her!
phone # 765-883-8331
e-mail: rcamden@ides.org

Thanks again for helping me return to teaching at Grace. I know that every one here is very appreciative, as I am, of your willingness to contribute and pray for me this year. Its been amazing to see how God rewards our faith in him.

Blessings and Much Love

Seth Williams

P.S. attached is a story titled "who says teaching isn't dangerous!" I hope you enjoy ......Its kind of a day in the life of me ...just not the best of days

Who Says Teaching Isn't Dangerous

by Seth Williams

So last year I became enamored with a coffee mug .... sure it was just a mug but it was my mug. Well one day, I come to school grab my mug and go get some coffee and low and behold the handle just falls right off. The mug tumbles to the ground .... miraculously it was some how unscathed. So i did what any caring mug parent would do I went and fixed it .... and it continued to serve my purpose for that entire year.

Flash forward to a week ago, I arrive from the states come into the office for the first time and there she is, just as I left her, glued on handle and all. Flash forward again to this morning .... I came in early, since no one else is in that early I can get lots done with out distractions. I had just had my first cup of coffee and went back to get my second ....I fill up MY mug .... the coffee sends off visible steam. I sit down at the computer start typing out my last thoughts .... grab my mug, bring it up to my lips ... i can feel the warmth on the tip of my nose and then time stops.

The next 30 plus seconds are fuzzy, but the following is what i've been able to dig out of the suppressed memories I have of the event:

The handle which I had so caringly glued on; came un-glued in an instant .... pouring the molten liquid down and around my stomach and like lava tearing a hole through a forest with its destructive furry .... the coffee if that is even what we can continue to call it because of its ridiculous temperature, so now it will be referred to as Lava .... made its way down south. its hard to bring back these memories, its was such an explosively painful event in my life. But suffice to say I jumped out of my seat ....flinging the Lava about the PE office.

In my mad dash towards the locker-room, to seek relief in the supple cold waters of the boys shower....I over looked the fact that the door connecting the Men’s PE office to the locker-room was latched .... Bong .... I run smack into what should be a free swinging door, but is currently an immovable object between me and relief ..... and so another frantic struggle takes place. As I try and hold my now scalding shorts and shirt away from the effected areas I'm simultaneously struggling with the latch.

Seemingly, hours pass by and finally I find the right combination of jumping around, vocal noise, finger movements and click the latch is freed .... I find relief....I asses the damage the aforementioned areas are a nice hue of rosé red.

Earlier before the epic struggle with the latch, Khun Kee the sports departments’ secretary, upon hearing the noise i was making came to check and see if I was dying. Some how I conveyed to her that I had burnt my self .... again everything was quite hazy, I don’t quite remember what i said .... but whatever it was sent Kee running for the nurses office to find something to soothe my pain. On her way she was held up by the Thai staff sing the Kings anthem, you see this day's date is 9/9/9 and so the Thai staff had a singing of the anthem at exactly 9:9:09am to Honor the king on this momentous occasion.... so Kee doing as any good Thai would, stops to sing for the king. To do other wise would be un-heard of. This brings me to realize that this incident if it did not happen at exactly 9:09:09am of 9/9/09 then it was mighty close. Momentous for sure.

Kee returns with said Aloe and some other balm, she finds me mopping up the lava which was flung about and Icing my affected areas.

So on this momentous day, realize that teachers face a vast array of dangers, from the horrible spilled coffee to ties being caught in shredders .... and like teachers you too might not have the most dangerous of jobs but don’t let life catch you off guard. I Hope this brightens your day as it brightened my stomach which again is a nice hue of red.

All the best,

Seth Williams

PS Please feel free to forward this on to any you think would find it amusing, educational or profit from reading it (I sent this out to the staff at the school and it was greeted with smiles to say the least.)