2024 SPD Year End Meetings Thailand

ยินดีต้อนรับ

Welcome SPD Executive member,

It has been a very big year with God. We have had PNG for Christ which saw God move among all the people there in ways recorded in the Gospels and Acts. Our membership has skyrocketed and influence in PNG has grown significantly. But because more than 200 preachers came from around the SPD – there have been evangelistic fires lit in many places. We have seen ‘The Hopeful’ in cinemas all around the South Pacific. Many people now know about the reasons behind the Seventh-day Adventist missionary movement.

We are here in Thailand because we are a missionary movement – 150 years long. Our partner Southern Asia Pacific Division has huge challenges in reaching the majority Muslim and Buddhist regions. We are here to help as part of Mission ReFocus. We are here to vote a SPD wide strategic plan focused on God’s mission. We are here to celebrate God’s goodness. We are here to petition Him to use us in more amazing ways as we move forward.

Thank you for coming and serving our missionary God. May we go like Abram, Sarai and family and take new countries for God’s kingdom because we go together in God’s blessing (Genesis 12:1-3).

Missionary blessings from God,

Glenn Townend.

General Travel Information

AGM Schedule for Wednesday 13 November

Program

Thursday Site Visits Group Lists

Wednesday Site Visits Group Lists

Sunday Site Visits Site Visits Group Lists

Sabbath Church Visits Group Lists

Program for Sabbath

Information will be updated on this website daily.

Announcements & Preparing for travel and meetings.

Accommodation and Venue

Due to the recent flooding in Chiang Mai damage was caused to the Empress Hotel (the hotel we originally booked) and it has had to close for renovation. Our new accommodation details are as follows:

Chiangmai Hill Hotel https://www.chiangmaihillhotel.com/

211 Huay Kaew Rd, Tambon Su Thep, เมือง Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Chiangmai Hill Hotel is 5 minutes from the airport and a 10-minute drive away from downtown and shopping malls.
You will have your own room unless you have requested otherwise.

Airport Transfers

Due to the unexpected change to our accommodation, we have been unable to arrange transportation for airport transfers at arrival in time. This means that you will have to arrange your own transport to the hotel or share with other members that are travelling with you. Taxis/cabs will cost around 150-200 Baht (AUD$6-$12). We kindly request that you have exchanged some currency, up to 500THB, prior to arrival. Please remember to retain your receipt for reimbursement.

Visit this site for transportation suggestions : 5 Ways To Get To City Centre from Chiang Mai Airport CNX

Insurance – IMPORTANT

We strongly recommend that you obtain travel insurance, as any disruptions to your plans could lead to significant financial costs for you.

To apply for RMS insurance, please apply here: https://rms.org.au/forms/short-term-travel-online-application-form/

Church employees – please select your employing organisation in the ‘Adventist Organisation to be charged’ box and enter the email address of your financial authority in the authoriser box.
Lay people – please select ‘SDA Church (SPD Ltd)’ in the ‘Adventist Organisation to be charged’ box and enter my email address in the authoriser box.
Should you require your spouse or family member to be covered by RMS insurance, please let me know and we can make the necessary arrangements.

Convene

Please bring along your laptop or tablet and remember to update your Convene app to the latest version preferably before you arrive in Chiang Mai. (Instructions are attached)
Contact servicedesk@adventist.org.au if you require technical assistance.

Travel Adaptor/Charger & Extension Cords

Please note that Travel Adaptor Type A and B plug adaptors are generally used in Thailand. (Images are attached). We also recommend that you bring your own extension cord, if possible, as the hotel does not have sufficient numbers for our group.

eSIM

We strongly recommend that you purchase an eSIM as internet access may be unstable. Here are some suggestions:

Appropriate Attire

Mission Activities: For the Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday mission service activities, long pants / dresses / skirts are preferred. Please make sure your shoulders are covered for all activities.
Sabbath: If you are visiting Chiang Mai Academy, the expectation is for the preacher to wear a suit while other churches will accept an open neck shirt. For reference, all the Thailand Mission officers wear suits when preaching.

Climate

The temperatures for Chiang Mai in the next week ranges from 21-32 degrees celsius (70 – 90 degrees Fahrenheit) with high humidity. Please note that majority of the churches and sites we will be visiting will not have air conditioning available. Please bring a hat to wear and a while we do not recommend drinking the tap water please bring a purchased water bottle with you to activities and church.

Please make sure to bring tropical mosquito repellant.

Sabbath preaching and presentations

All members have been distributed into 15 groups for the church visitation on Sabbath. If you have been allocated to present the sermon or the Sabbath School program, you would have received an email from Pr Mike Sikuri. For the remaining members of the group, please be prepared to share a mission story from your region.
You will also be participating in the same 15 groups for the Sunday mission activity. You will receive your group number upon registration.

Meals and allowances

Upon registration at the hotel most of you will receive a USD cash allowance for a few meals and per diems according to your travel/meeting times. You will need to arrange conversion of this into Baht (local Thai currency) at the local exchange. We do suggest you travel with a small amount of Baht for emergencies.

Registration

Registration begins 8th November 2pm. For those arriving early please make your way to Chiangmai Hill Hotel reception to check in.

When registering you will be asked about transport to Sabbath and Sunday site visits and night markets.