Flooding?

Ankle deep in the street, who knows what's in the water...

An entire alleyway filled with water.

Is Ubon flooding? That's what we wondered as we made our way to the nearest grocery store.  All I know is that it has been raining constantly for the past day, and that there is a great possibility of more rain.  It's predicted to rain the rest of the week.  I hope the people here aren't effected too badly.  

Trip To Laos

PNi and PNa bargaining over mushroom prices, near Laos.

Coke signs, one in Thai and English.

Sun Umbrellas and their many colors!!

Near a farm on the way to Laos.

The exotic restaurant we ate at on the way back from Laos.

Leah and I headed towards the border of Laos today, she had to renew her visa.  We were greatly disappointed to find out we couldn't enter, unless we decided to pay 1,000 baht ($30).   That was a big no, we couldn't afford it!  But, she did get her paperwork done, which was the reason we were going to Laos.  We took a car ride with PNi and PNa.  They are so fun to be with.  On the way back from the border, we stopped to eat at floating restaurant place.  It was great fun!!

Dancing Shrimp

Leah and I usually spend Saturday night relaxing, watching DVDs in our room or spending time with the church family.  Last night was a different story.  We traveled with Amanda, who is a missionary from Australia, and our school missionary with a bunch of other Thai people to a river.  We were all traveling to see shrimp travel upstream, and it only happens once a year.  

The car ride was very long.  It took about two hours and very bumpy, we were traveling towards the border of Laos, Thailand and Cambodia.  When we arrived, it was really dark outside.  We could barely see anything.  It wasn't much of anything, we couldn't really distinguish what we were looking at, just some creatures crawling on the rocks along the river, going upstream.  

It was still fun.  We all laughed and took lots of pictures with the park rangers.  They seemed to enjoy taking pictures with us.  Leah has this idea now to take her piggy, "Mr. Squiggly", with her everywhere and take pictures with him. It's cute and funny, we made a ranger take a picture with him... It was a different way of entertaining ourselves for a Saturday night, but it was fun.

20 Can't be Right...

So I was very doubtful that I would have a major impact on people here. I'm not saying it was all me, either.  But, I think that there is something amazing going on here, and I'm think that this is just the beginning.

Leah and I arrived late to church.  We weren't aware that church was starting earlier than usual.  As we take a seat, everyone stares at us, it is the middle of the sermon... yeah we were really late.  But, we get around to talking to people sitting near us and we realize just how important that Saturday was.  People were getting baptized!!  That was really exciting to me!  To think our little nightly meeting might have affected people so much that they would choose Jesus!

When it came time for the baptisms, the

people were called forward.  I could not believe how many people got up and went to the front.  I started counting... 20 people. That can't be right?!  Sure enough, there were twenty people that got baptized and chose to follow Jesus that day.  It was an amazing ceremony.  Two pastors were baptizing at the same time.  

In between people being baptized, the congregation stood and sang the lyrics to a song.  It was a moving thing to experience. The church was inviting all of these people to join.  Wow, I still can't believe that this happened.  Jesus is amazing, and I can't believe I am blessed

enough to witness with my very own eyes how He changes people.

 

"They WILL be"

We've been having evangelistic meetings every night this week. The number of people that attend our church is quite small, and we have been attempting to increase that number.  Last Saturday we handed out flyers to people on the street, the papers promoted the meetings this week.  Because most of the people here are Buddhist, it's hard to convert them.  The one thing that seems to draw them to Adventism here are the health message.  It also helps that we speak English, and people here are dying to learn it here.

So, our meetings consisted of songs, that helped the people learn English, a health message, and a sermon.  I have never seen so many people in our church before.  It was amazing!!  Leah and I are not singers, if you ever asked to me to sing back home in front of the church I would look at you like you are crazy.  But, that is not the case here.  The people expect us to sing!!  So, I have to humble myself and get up front.  I'm really not a good singer, but they wanted me up

front every night singing for song service.  

I've never been so involved with a worship.  This experience is a good one for me.  The Thai way is to put stuff on you the last minute.  So, when Leah and I arrive at church, we find out a few minutes before that we are expected to do the children's story!!  It really has taken some getting used to.  But, I figure I am here to serve these people, so I have to have more humility and realize that I am not doing these things for myself; I am doing them for

God and His purpose.  

I had a conversation with one of the health speakers.  He is from Bangkok and wanted to know a little about me and Leah, so he started talking with us at the end of the program one night.  He was telling us that he is proud of what we are doing, and that people will go to heaven because of us.  I smiled at him and I said hopefully.  Then, he looked me straight in the eye and said: THEY WILL BE.   All I could think was:  Wow, I hope he is right.

My Thai Mother

It was another long day at English Camp, just not as stressful. This camp was bigger, so not all of the stress fell on me and Leah, there were plenty of other volunteers.  I was in control of the listening station.  So, I had the kids fill in the words to the song "What a Wonderful World", they seemed to enjoy it.  That took up little time, and I had twenty minutes with each group, so then I sang songs with them.  But, because the gym was so loud, I had to shout to sing and for everyone in the group to hear me.  My voice was shot by the end of the day, but I had the most amazing thing happen.

An old lady, I forget her name, was helping my group and she started talking with me.  She is sixty years old, retires next week, and loves english!  She loved me and interacted with me all morning, to help me calm the kids down so they could learn.  She told me that I was fun, and that I will be a good English teacher.  I smiled at her, her words meant a lot to me.  For some reason, this lady really liked me.

She was really nice to me.  She sat next to me at lunch, and even ordered me

another drink.  Her reason was that I was 'her daughter'.  We even took a picture together!  I loved this lady!  She is sixty and so energetic, and always smiling!!  She wanted to know about me, so she made me tell her about myself.  All she could do was smile at me and listen to what I had to say about my life, she really wanted to know!  And, while she was talking about herself, she mentioned she was both Buddhist and Christian.  I asked her why, it didn't make sense to me.  Her answer made sense, she said that they both believed in being nice to everyone.  As she was saying this, my eyes were watering, and I was hoping and prayingthat I had made some type of impression on this woman; she knew I was a Christian.  Maybe, just maybe, she would find Christianity more important than Buddhism, but at least she knew of Christianity and believed in it.

As I got up to leave, she gave me a note.  We had been discussing Laura Ingalls, and she had called me Laura because I reminded her of the author.  The note said "I love Laura".  I was shocked, this woman was amazing!  She told me she loved me- she had made such an impression on my life, and we had only talked for a little bit!!

The afternoon was a blast.  No more rotations, we just went up front and led out in songs and games.  I helped lead out in the CHICKEN DANCE!!  I've never done anything like that before!  I'd have to say, it was very fun.  It was a long, but amazing day.

Random Exploration

Yesterday Leah and I took a random walk down the road.  She had previously been there before handing out flyers with the church, but I had gone a different way.  The road we took led down to a river.   The river was really high!  part of the walk way was underwater...  It was really a scary sight.  I know flooding is going on in Bangkok, I just didn't realize it was affecting the people of Ubon as well.

We continued down the road and into a really slummy part of the

town.  We had to cross a bamboo bridge to get there, and it was scary! It wasn't that strong, with each step I could feel the bamboo flex really far down with my weight. Not only did I feel that I was going to fall through because I felt it under my feet, but there were also these squeaking noises! I was just glad we made it across.  

The next part of our trip was sad.  The way the people live there is really bad.  There is trash everywhere, and they have

such little in their homes.  Their houses are barely houses, with beams that appear very week and wide spaces between the boards that are their walls.  But, the people were really friendly.  They didn't seem to mind our wandering around their homes.  They said hello and even wanted us to take a picture of them!!  

The people seemed to have so little, but were so happy.  I heard a talk last night, because we are hosting an evangelistic meeting at

the church, and what the guy said really hit me.  He said that the more money people have, the more problems they have.  Is this true?  Should we strive to live more having a simpler life?  Would this make us more happy?  This certainly seemed to be the situation for the people by the river.  They seemed content and very happy, yet they barely had anything.

You are Different

"You are different. You like it here"  These simple words had such a powerful meaning to me today.  Uncle Fred, the maintenance manager walked towards me as I was heading up to my room.  I greeted him with a friendly hello, and same with Leah who was right behind me.

He is such a friendly, sweet old man.  I love him.  His words were simple.  He wasn't trying to compliment, he knows little english.  He was just being honest.  He looked me dead in the eyes, but his words were directed to the both of us.  He said:  You are different.  You like it here.

He didn't really explain himself.  He didn't need to.  It was really emotional for me to hear.  To think that I could be doing the Lord's work here, it's just amazing to me.  There is another missionary here, and they haven't given the best impression to the church people.  This is what he was referring to.  He was saying that we have been showing that we enjoy life here.  I really do.  

As much as I miss home, wish I was enjoying the college life back at Andrews, and such... I know that what I am doing here is important and it is the Lord's will.  What am I?  That I would be called to such a mission as this?  I feel so privileged to do the Lord's work.   And in Thailand! Uncle Fred's words really shook me to the core.  It made me feel that God has been working through me, and that I am slowly making a difference.  (to think that I could be making a difference!!) It's comforting, but it also reminds me that I need to be aware that what I do 100% of the time affects everyone I come in contact with.  

Sometimes I stop during my day and can't believe I'm here, as a missionary, in Thailand.  It's so amazing. God is so wonderful.  He is my rock and my provider.  I would be nothing without him.  I can't believe that I get to have this opportunity to serve the Lord here.  I am so completely blessed.  My God is amazing, and I hope and pray that I will be able to His humble servant 100% of the time that I am here so that I can show others how amazing He is.  Whether it is by a simple smile or just taking the time to eat with others, I hopefully will show them Him through me.

Cucumbers On my Face!!

For the first time ever I got a facial massage.  It was amazing and so relaxing.  First, the lady applied soothing lotions that smelled wonderful!  Then she massaged my face in relaxing circles.  I thought I was in heaven.  It lasted for an hour.  

Even though it was really relaxing... I kept having these itches that I couldn't scratch! It really bothered me.  Sometimes the lady would rub over the itches, but sometimes she wouldn't!!  

The last part of the massage really scared me.  Everything had been warm and relaxing.  Suddenly, there was something really cold on my face.  I tried really hard not to react... but it was SO cold!!  I'm pretty sure my whole body jumped.  The lady probably thought I was a baby.  Slowly, my face was covered with really cold cucumbers.  Each time she laid down a new peel, it was like an ice cube laying on my face.  

I do have to say that my skin felt amazing afterwards.  I'll have to go back again sometime, and to think that the whole hour only cost $3!! Yeah, it will hopefully be something I will do again!

Hmmm, I just might vomit.

Today Leah and I went to a school to help students with their speeches.  They have competitions in which schools compete against one another. So, all day I sat down with a young boy by the name of Pae. He was so eager to learn! 

His desire to learn made it easy to teach him.  I went through his speech an uncountable amount of times today. 

The first time he went over it, he barely knew any of the

words.  Slowly, throughout the day, he kept memorizing and attempting to pronounce the words.  I had

to break down each part of the word for him.  I also taught him syllables.  I had him clap for each syllable of the word. That seemed to work best.  He was really good!  At the end of the day, he could read his entire speech without a

fault, and his pronunciations were great!!  He really had an impact on me.  I saw God in this child; his eagerness and

desire to learn really made me in awe of him. I felt

so privileged to help him.  I was blessed from this little man.

For lunch, Leah and I headed down the road with the head

teacher to find some fired rice.  As we sat and waited for our food I heard the loud shriek of a baby crying.  I couldn't help but look around, I kept wondering what was wrong with the baby!! It wasn't a normal cry, it was really loud, and it sounded like it was having a problem. Just over my left shoulder I saw what was causing the baby to cry!  I felt so bad for it...

It was in a homemade cradle, and the mother was too into the rocking.  The baby was not enjoying the normal smooth ride of cradle, but rather a feeling of being on a roller coaster!  As the baby swung back and forth, it nearly got launched into the air each time!  I thought the baby was going to fall out.  I felt for the poor child, because 

I knew if I were being rocked like that I would be crying, too!

Another interesting thing happened at lunch when I noticed what the girl next to me was eating.  I thought it looked normal, some kind of asian soup with noodles and meat. Well, the stuff that I thought was meat was actually hardened blood.  That's right:  blood!  Yeah, I thought I was going to vomit.  The hardest thing to do in that situation is not react.  My first reaction would be to scrunch up my nose and say "Oh my gosh, what are you, a freak?"  But, I know reacting this way would only be disrespectful to them.  So, I had to fight all my gut reactions and simply nod and smile.  Only Leah knew what I was thinking... I had to squeeze her leg under the table in order not to react.  Lesson learned? Don't ask people what they are eating, it could be something I don't want to hear.

When Life Gives you Lemons...

When it's 530am and you're saying to yourself 'wow, it's already a long day', you know you've got a problem.  Today Leah and I went and taught at an English Camp.  It was a very long day.  I got very frustrated with the students, they would not be quiet!!  

But, it was all good. I calmed myself down and patiently waited for them to hush.  The afternoon was better than the morning.  They were more respectful of us.  We had them act out skits that we made, it was very funny!!  

They are so cute.  The head teacher loves us.  She thinks we are so nice, but it is the other way around! She is so nice to us.  She always buys us food on the way home.... what a sweet lady.  Today she took us to an ice cream shop, it was so good: such an uplift after a long day.  

Looking back on it all, even though it was a very long day, the kids are really cute.  They might be loud, but my pictures allow me to remember the good parts of the day.  That is all that matters, and that is all I need to remember.

Want a Ride?

Leah and I have found our equivalent to Panera here. It is a wonderful little place with coffee and sandwiches!!!  Yum! Anyways, we took a trip there and on our way out, I stopped at Starbucks for a hot drink.  It is rainy season, it does get cold here sometimes.

So, I walked out with my Starbucks in my hand, and we strolled on down the street and headed to the nearest grocery store.  It's a good ten minute walk there. We don't mind, we've become used to walking just about everywhere.  

Suddenly, a fellow church member noticed us and pulled over.  It scared us to see someone we knew on the streets!  He asked us where we were going and we pointed in the direction of Lotus, the grocery store.  He offered us a ride, and we happily agreed.  

Leah and I squeezed on his motorcycle, which is hard to imagine! I felt really awkward, my hips were touching the back of him, and I barely knew him!!  Suddenly, it began to down-pour, Leah and i were screaming.  To add to all of the excitement, our ride was driving in head on traffic! He was weaving in and out of traffic, and I thought I was going to die!  

Just picture it:  two white girls screaming on a motorcycle, one holding a starbucks, the driver laughing his head off, weaving in and out of head on traffic... it was quite the scene.  We were getting plenty of stares... it's okay, I think we deserved them that time :)!!

Movie Time

Sunday afternoon rolled around and we had some down time.  Leah and I decided to go to the mall, so we took the sung-tow, a local taxi that is made out of a pick-up truck with benches in the back of it.  When we arrived, we decided to see a movie.  How cool would it be to see Bangkok Dangerous in Thailand?  We thought it was pretty cool….

We bought our sodas, paid for our tickets and took a seat in the amazing theater.  It reminded us of home and it was really exciting!  We stood for a song dedicated to the King that plays right before the movie. 

Finally the movie began, but there was something wrong: it was in Thai!!  What?!  We couldn’t believe it!  But, it did make sense after we thought about it.  It was filmed in Thailand and most of the actors were Thai, except for Nicolas Cage. 

Even though we disappointed at first, it actually became kind of fun to watch a movie in another language.  We couldn’t understand any of the words, but most of the time we could tell the mood by their facial expressions.  We made it fun, thinking of what they could be saying, filling in the lines that they were saying. 

The thing that didn’t really make sense was the ending.  I have no idea how it all fit into the plot of the movie… maybe English would have helped a little, but it’s okay.  I’ll watch it when I get home in June…

The Art of Spider Fighting

The equivalent of spider fighting in America is dog fighting.  But, there are some major differences.  Spider fighting is not illegal and the people involved could die if the spider is poisonous.   

Every time Leah and I have caught our fellow church members, just the older men, playing with their spiders and making them fight, we cringe.  They use a tiny stick to set the spiders on and let them go at it.  It’s very tricky for the person holding the stick, they have to keep readjusting their hand positions because the spiders run back and forth on the stick.  Sometimes the spiders are poisonous, and when they are, the person is in a lot of danger!

Even though I don’t like this fascination they have with this sport, I agreed to go with them the other night to catch their spiders.  They drove until they came to a highway with lots of trees and meadows on either side.  Then they got out and searched with little flashlights for spiders in their webs.

I didn’t realize how many spiders lived in the woods!  They form their webs at night, and some of these giant webs held some pretty massive spiders.  I hope I don’t ever have to walk in the woods at night…

Once they spot the spider, they get close to the web and then snatch the spider with their bare hands! Yikes!! Then, to keep the spider from moving around too much, they blow on it, which makes it curl up into a ball.  Then they place it in little compartments that they create out of simple medicine boxes like Benadryl. 

It was a funny scene:  a large group of people parked along a highway road, running their flashlights through trees.  Some people pulled over and asked us what we were doing.  It did look fishy… In America, a cop would have probably thought we were drunk!  Or doing drugs or hiding a dead body…. But no, we were simply looking for spiders.  

Festivities of Thailand

Today was fun! Joy, a lady of the church, took us to see her school’s sports day.  It is equivalent to our track and field day.  But, it is much more festive.  People are dancing, very provocatively, to American music!!  It’s very funny to watch, I don’t think they know what the lyrics are to the songs…

As I was seated in under the tent, I became very aware of my surroundings.  Everyone under the tent was staring at me!! This is not unusual; I’m always stared at because of my white skin.  But I felt like a queen.  They brought me coffee and a muffin.  People tried to make my experience wonderful, which is funny because I was only watching a field!!  But, never the less, I enjoyed it. 

First, there was lots of dancing.  It was funny to watch the different teams compete.  One team was a group of gay men.  They actually won the award for dancing.  All I could do was stare.  These men were not afraid to expose themselves or show their best moves!  They were in the skimpiest clothes, very short shorts and tube tops.  The tube tops kept coming down as they threw their bodies into motions.  It was very funny, they had to keep pulling up their tops, and acting as if it was a part of their routine. 

It was exciting to watch the races.  All of the students there participated in much practiced cheers.  Everyone looked great, even the provocative men.  It really put to shame all of my high school track and field experiences.  Never have I seen such team spirit and excitement! 

Darkness Falls

When the darkness falls, peace and happiness settle in.  Not only are Leah and I done teaching, but the most exciting part of our day kicks in: visiting the park! It is a wonderful occasion!!

Huge yellow lights fill the trees like home at Christmas time, couples fill every bench next the moat surrounding the park, intense basketball games rage on, and unfamiliar sports are played.  We order our ice-cold pineapple smoothies at the nearest vendor and take a stroll around the park.  The fountains display a fantastic show; they look beautiful against the green spotlight.

We sit down to rest a bit.  The people in front of us are practicing their break dancing.  I become surprised that they don’t break their necks!  Off in the distance people are sitting in the grass, enjoying the evening and painting their surroundings.  They look at peace and content. 

 I hear English behind me.  I turn around to see a wonderful feminine man counting the beat to salsa.  His class of ten doesn’t seem to mind his English; they are all following his lead without a fault.  I smile, and wish I could join, but know I would look like a fool.  My eyes are drawn to the rapid motion of men kicking a small ball over a high net.  The sport is unfamiliar to me; it looks like a mix of volleyball and hackey-sack. 

As I leave, and walk back into the darkness of the lonely streets leading back to my home, I’m not too sad.  I know that we’ll be back soon and that the unfamiliar sights and sounds will soon become homey and very, very familiar.

Lovely Bedmate

Last night, when Leah and I got done watching an episode of Will and Grace, we got off the bed and noticed there was a cockroach on the side of my mattress!!  I tried to not freak out, but I had seen one two days ago and couldn't help to think that I had been sleeping with the enemy for days now!!

I didn't want to hit it against the mattress, it would only get smushed and not crushed.  So, I waited and it slowly crawled to the wooden frame of my bed.  Then I attempted 

to strike!!  I missed and it scurried under my bed.  Now I was really panicked!  I wasn't going to be able to sleep, so Leah and I agreed to find it and kill it!

We stripped my bed, took off the mattress and flipped my bed frame up against the wall. Sure enough, the little devil was hiding in the corner of my bed frame.  I took hair spray and squirted it with all my strength.  It was not happy, to say in the least.  It became disoriented and fell off.  Then it was scurrying about the floor, both Leah and I were screaming.  We didn't care that it was ten thirty at night and the neighbors were sleeping.  We were very afraid!! After much screaming and attempts to kill it, Leah finally crushed the giant cockroach with my shoe.  We were happy, and sweating.  It was exhausting to try to kill it!!  

Even though I am terrified of these disgusting creatures, I say "Bring it On"!  I'm ready to kill.

Wednesday

Today was a LONG day, but it was fun.  Leah and I only teach in the evenings at the SDA Language School, and when we were asked if we'd help with English Camp at another school, we happily agreed.  It was about a thirty minute drive to the school.  

The head teacher drove us there and when we drove past the school buildings toward the parking area, all of the students on the sidewalk greeted us with the very respectful Thai wai.  This consists of putting your hands in the praying position up against your face, on your nose and mouth, as if you were praying, and then bowing slightly towards the person you are greeting.  I felt like a celebrity! But, the kids weren't greeting me this way, they were greeting the head teacher this way.

The day went by so fast.  We first worked with the high schoolers, who were fun to work with because they wanted to know more English and were excited about everything we had planned for them.  One game included them memorizing a script on a tree and racing back to tell their team what they memorized! 

In the afternoon we had the middle schoolers, which were even more fun!  They were twice as energetic, and they kept on insisting me to sing and dance, which is a definite NO!  We had them act out a frog skit, which was hilarious! I had to help out each individual group with their skits, which helped me interact with them one-on-one. I really liked that part. I was trying to help them act out the word HOT, and it was funny because the more enthusiastic I was about it, the hotter I was becoming... I was sweating a lot when I was finished. They must have thought I was weird!

It was a good day.  I really think that God had a big part in it all because He led us there.  We got to interact with all the kids, nothing went wrong, everyone had fun, and I felt like we might have made a good impression.  I hope and pray that this will lead more students to our school!