Highview To Thailand!

Thank You So Very Much!!!!

2011-12-09T10:08:00.002-05:00

In Thai, that would sound like "korp koon mahk, ka!!!"

I received word from Suradet this morning that the victims of the Bangkok flooding who had been staying at Hot Springs have been able to return home! They have a huge mess to dig out from, but are glad to be in a rebuilding phase, looking toward the future.

Meanwhile, Suradet wanted us to know that he and Fahkrahm Church from Bangkok deeply appreciate the generosity of Highview, and the $2,671.00 that was collected in a special offering here on November 20th. That money has been divided up between expenses incurred by Hot Springs while their guests were with them, and the folks at Fahkrahm Church themselves, to help them in their clean up efforts.

What a joy to be able to partner so meaningfully and quickly in this with Suradet and Yupa on this matter, and to know that they have felt our love in a tangible way.

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

If there are any other pictures or stories, we'll be sure to let you know.

Ruth Anne

Radical Hospitality

2011-11-12T06:49:00.003-05:00

News from Bangkok has recently included many pictures like this one.

Flooding has reached crisis proportions, and countless people have been displaced as they continue to wait for the waters to recede.

I've watched with keen interest, given my love for Thailand as a whole. Though half way around the world, when it's a place you've not just visited, but have begun to invest pieces of your heart......everything seems not quite so far away somehow.

Still, all this was happening in the south. Way south. Those I know and love way up north, near Chiang Mai, were unaffected. Until now.

This is a picture of what's left of Fahkram Church, Bangkok.

Recently 120 displaced people from this church have left their homes, their church, their city, and their lives, and have found a temporary refuge in the simple and beautiful space we know as Hot Springs. This is, of course, the church-turned-orphan home led by a young Pastor and his wife, Suradet and Yupa.

I can barely wrap my head around it. The logistics of it alone are incredible. Yet, it doesn't surprise me. There's room at Hot Springs. Not just physical space, but the enormous expanse of the generosity, compassion and radical hospitality of one young but sensationally wise couple serving God with all they have in a remote town in Northern Thailand.

We will be taking up a special flood-relief offering at Highview on Sunday (November 20, 2011). Seems like such a small way to help, but we want to participate.

And we'll keep on preparing for our time there in March of next year, when 13 Highviewers will get on a plane and take our love and language half way around the world to spend time with our Thai family, working with them for an ESL Day Camp for neighbourhood kids. At least, that's the plan.

__________

To My Astonishing and Faithful Brother and Sister, Ahjahn Suradet and Yupa,

You teach me so much.

Humbly,

Ruth Anne

An Open Letter To Potential Asia Trippers

2011-08-21T08:20:00.006-04:00

Message

This is a copy of a letter sent to those at Highview who have indicated an interest in going to Thailand on one of two ESL trips planned for next year. It is posted here to widen the invitation. Who knows? Maybe this is your chance to move out of your comfort zone and see what God is doing in Regions Beyond!

If you're interested in finding out more, you can email our Pastor, Ruth Anne Breithaupt at rabreithaupt@buildingbiggerhearts.ca or our Sponsor Coordinator, Jen Huggins at keepersmom@sympatico.ca.

Hello Potential Asia Trippers :),

Right off the top, I'm going ask for a three point reply, once you've read this email :).

i) That you received this email.

ii) That you are participating in the Garage Sale, yes or no.

iii) That you are attending the Team Trip meeting, yes or no.

Next, I am sending this email even to some of you who have since indicated at this point that you probably will not be coming to Thailand this year, and that's okay. I wanted you to still have the opportunity to participate in some of the Teams' preparation, AND I want to make sure you read the note about the length of the trips as indicated below in 2. Team Trip Meeting.

But mostly, this email is to put two things on your radar:

1. Garage Sale - Saturday, September 17 (exact time not yet decided) at the church

Here's how it works.

Just by giving us your name, you can have a table at the Garage Sale. Al proceeds from your table go directly to your ticket....you take that money home that day and put it safely away somewhere until we're ready to book the flight. We will be asking each table to provide their own pricing and cash box.

Anyone else who has items do donate but who is not going on the trip, can donate that to the "general" table. All proceeds from that table will go directly to the expenses for doing the ESL camp itself. We need $500 Canadian to run the camp.

The Garage Sale will go on Rain or Shine, moving indoors if necessary.

It is our goal to have a "Trip Package" ready for you by September 17th to prepare for the meeting on September 29.

2. Team Trip Meeting - Thursday, September 29 - 7:00 p.m. at the church.

Among other important topics, one of the main elements of this meeting will be to talk about the dates of the two trips, and the LENGTH of each trip. There has been some feedback already that two weeks is too long. Suradet has also indicated that he would prefer to do only ONE week of ESL Day Camp. So, there is some dialogue that needs to happen before we can determine for sure how long each trip will be. We will also talk about team fund-raising opportunity, what you need to begin to prepare, and a bit more about what exactly we'll be doing when we're there (each time, March and July).

Also, please come prepared to share briefly with the group what you believe are your reasons for going on the trip, personally. This is part of our spiritual preparation for what God will want to accomplish in your heart through this trip.
________________________________

The other day I sent a quick email to Suradet that simply said: "Dear Yupa, I miss your cooking!!!" I do! Not just the cooking, but the amazing hospitality of this couple who, let's face it, invited 15 kids to come live at their house....all because God has told us to feed the poor.

Our kids are no longer orphans, and they are no longer hungry. But there are others. more kids who could come live at Hot Springs. AND neighbourhood kids who know nothing about Jesus, but are hungry for what He has to off, just the same. That's what these two trips are all about in 2012.

What a remarkable opportunity God is giving us, to partner with Suradet and Hot Springs Church, to reach out to their own backyard.

Sawat-dee, ka!
Ruth Anne

5 New Children at Hotsprings

2011-06-22T13:08:00.011-04:00

Highview is proud to annouce that 5 new children have arrived at Hot Springs this spring. 3 of the children take the place of Sai, Mee-o and Teh, who have all moved on from the orphanage for various reasons, bringing the grand total to 18 kids being cared for by Suradet and Yupa.

2 of these children need sponsors. a monthly sponsorship of $60.00 helps to provide: food, housing, clothes, schooling, school supplies, medical expenses, etc. Please contact Jen Connor at keepersmom@sympatico.ca if you are interested.

Sponsor Needed: Rompo

My name is Rompo and I was born on November 6th 2002. My tribal background is Karen. I am 9 years old and attend 3rd grade. I am the second of three children. I have one older brother and one younger brother. In my village there is no school. My parents are very, very poor. But they want me to have an education. And most importantly, I now have the opportunity to know God. My parents are not yet Christians but are learning about God.

Sponsor Needed: Wirachai

My name is Wirachai. I was born on March 15th 2005. I am a member of the Karen tribe. I attend Kindergarten (Level 2) and I am 6 years old. I am the youngest of two children. I have an older brother. My parents separated and my mother has been caring for us. My mother is very poor and plants rice in our village in the mountains. She does this all herself. My father is no longer involved in our lives. I am so glad to now have a new home and a new family and to be able to go to school and learn about God. Thank you Asia’s Hope!

Kanokpit:

My name is Kanokpit. I was born on December 7th 2001. I am from the Karen tribe and I am 10 years. My parents are very poor. I am the second of three children. I have an older sister and a younger brother. My parents cannot afford to send me to school. I recently came to live at Asia’s Hope Hot Springs Orphan Home. I am currently in the 4^th grade. I am glad to now have a new family with which to live. I can now go to school every day and I also learn about God as well.

Wirapong:

My name is Wirapong. I was born on February 28th 2002 and I am from the Karen tribe. I am attending 2^nd grade and I am 9 years old. My younger brother is Wirachai. My parents separated and my mother has been caring for us. My mother is very poor and plants rice in our village in the mountains. She does this all herself. My father is no longer involved in our lives. I am so glad to now have a new home and a new family and to be able to go to school and learn about God.

Yawalak:

My name is Yawalak and I was born on January 6th 1999. My tribal background is Karen. I am studying the the 7^th grade and I am 13 years old. My parents are still living but my father has mental problems. He is unable to work so the responsibility of caring for our family falls on my mother. She works the rice fields in the mountains. I am the youngest of three children. Both my older brother and sister are now married. I am glad to have a new home and new family at Asia’s Hope (Hot Springs). I am glad to learn about God and what Jesus has done for me.

Sponsors' Thank You Luncheon May 29

2011-04-26T13:49:00.002-04:00

THANK YOU HOT SPRINGS SPONSORS!!!

A special appreciation luncheon
is being prepared in your honour.

Sunday, May 29, 2011
At Highview Community Church
12:30 to 2:00 p.m.

News. Pictures. Stories. Updates.
But mostly, we just want to say THANKS!

The invitation is open to anyone interested in what God is doing with our Thai family at Hot Springs.
Sponsors, please be sure to get your
free lunch ticket from Jen Connor.

R.S.V.P Jen @ keepersmom@sympatico.ca

Office Envy

2011-04-07T18:57:00.006-04:00

March 2011
Somchai sits for a bit at the table
just outside the new church office at Hot Springs.

February 2008
When we first visited Hot Springs, this same area
was used as a food and equipment storage room.

March 2011
Suradet and Yupa now have a simple but clean and usable church office.
(Computer and printer were a gift from Canada in October 2008.)

One of the exciting things for me this trip, was the many obvious indications that Hot Springs is flourishing. Each time I'm there, I see more and more evidence of what our Sponsors' monthly support payments are contributing to the overall benefit of the entire place.

While our focus is always on the children themselves, it's also important to see how their parents, Suradet and Yupa, are being supported and cared for in their astonishing task of love to these 15 kids, bearing in mind that they are also, and were first, a pastoral couple overseeing a small but lively rural congreation.

A comparatively slight, but actually rather significant change this time was the creation of a new office space in what once was a fairly unfinished storage area.

There are only two small desks and a book case in the office. But the sign outside declares this to be the Church Office, and Suradet is so pleased. As part of the Korean Methodist Church, and having this property "up north" and away from the city, there are often day conferences and seminars held at Hot Springs -- with a jaunt over to the public park of the same name a normal way to end the day of gathering.

As a Pastor, Suradet is now able to accommodate something more of a "professional" hospitality, and has the capacity to print off seminar materials and bulletins. As well, he has a separate space to study and prepare. The kids are also often in the office, when school is in session, typing up and printing off assignments.....just like here at home, but with no internet to surf or Facebook to post.

I confess to a certain degree of Pastor Office envy in my time. I am often in the offices of colleagues in the city whose offices are more spacious and better furnished and, well, just look way more "successful" than mine does. And it flickers a bit, that nasty, green little flame of coveting.

But then, there I am half way around the world, and Suradet is so excited to show me his new space, opens the door and steps aside for me to enter ahead of him. It's clean and bare and no where nearly as resourced as mine. Barely an office, really. But he's so glad for it, humbly so, because it just wouldn't do to be proud, but his eyes give him away a little. And I express my delight and say the few Thai words I know to declare it a beautiful space, very good, and that I like it a lot.

And I ask if I can take their picture.

Because it's a picture of success if ever there was one.

Landed!

2011-03-28T10:33:00.001-04:00

Just getting my baggage now. Home again.
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No Brain to Blog

2011-03-27T18:46:00.008-04:00

The "shed" at Yupa's Mom's house.
The whole village looks just like this :).

In Seol. Who knows what time it is? I think it's about 6 a.m. Thai time, and actually, I didn't sleep at all on my first flight of five hours. That means I've been up for 24 hours straight at the moment. Ew. Sounds worse now that I just typed that.

Keyed up, I guess. And processing.

Tried to journal on the plane, but with three weeks of intensive Thai immersion still swimming in my head, I could hardly catch any English to put down coherently. Just lots of ramblings and musings, barely connecting with each other.

They're good ramblings and musings. I am filled up and over flowing and over flowing the over flow. What a beyond-sensational trip this was, on just so many planes (no pun intended). Best part, hands down, was the clear observations of significant and on going improvements in the general standard of living and the overall well being, inside and out, of the kids.

They are stunning!

Living among them for three weeks, it is easy to see why any kid would thrive being brought into this environment. This family knows community like community should be. Lots and lots for us to learn there.

Suradet and Yupa's values of community and unleashing and stewardship are reflected in every corner of the property, and in every smile on a kid's face, and very song of praise sung every morning and every evening until you think you're going to die, it's so beautiful.

And the passion there for kids in need is rivaled only by a passion to see their friends and neighbours come to understand the freedom and light that Jesus offers. With increasing language skills on both sides (more on his than mine), Suradet and I were able to have more Pastor to Pastor talks. Talks about a vision for the future of Hot Springs, and how Highview can partner with our Thai family in more meaningful and effective ways.

For example, Suradet regularly gets asked if he would teach English to neighbouring children who are not in any way connected with the church. Not only do they know that Suradet is learning English himself, but they have observed all these farangs hanging around the place, and figure it's a good bet someone might be willing. See any ideas coming out of that? Suradet does.

And there's more. Tons of stories, a lot of them hilarious, about language mistakes, and how the kids were so helpful and completely made fun of me at the same time :0). About how Fruk got blamed for the earthquake, and a silly nursery song to teach Thai children the names of eyes and noses and such, that somehow turned into a yabbadabadoo song.

To my amazement, I actually went "shopping" by myself once and carried on the entire transaction without letting on I was functionally illiterate. AND, I made brief conversation with the woman sitting next to me. I think my tones are getting better because I am greeted with less and less of those totally confused looks :).

Okay...enough for having no brain. I need to go find something to eat. :).

On my way home.

2011-03-27T08:29:00.000-04:00

Leaving Hot Springs now. The journey home has begun!
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Packed

2011-03-27T03:49:00.000-04:00

It's good not to be rushed.

That quieter sort of Sunday afternoon expectation must be cross cultural, at least for Pastors' families, because all three Sundays that I've been here it's been like this. I think everyone's asleep, being still in the heat, enjoying Sabbath.

I tried to sleep but my mind won't stop packing even though I've basically finished my preparations for home.

So I'm awake, enjoying the beauty of a northern Thai afternoon, revelling in the sounds and smells and the warmth that will all too soon be the vivid memories of this particular trip.

By 12:30 pm Sunday afternoon Canada time, I will be in the air on my way to Korea. I have a 3 and a half hour layover in Seol. This will be a good amount of time to get connected to the internet and hopefully down load some pictures, go on Facebook, and eat a light meal. Then at about 11 pm Canada time on Sunday (I think), I will chase the sun across the Pacific in a 13 hour flight that will only register as 5 minutes on the international clock. Such is the weirdness of the jet lag for the way back.

Abby has emailed me telling me "we can't get rid of the snow, Gramma" so I expect to feel quite chilly upon my return. But in every other way, even considering the heart breaking goodbye that I have yet to face this evening at the airport, I am coming home with a heart spilling over. Can't wait to feel Ken's arms around me. Can't wait to kiss and kiss the faces of my grandchildren. Can't wait to be back at Highview with the people I love so much more because of what together you have allowed to happen here.

I have such a sense of this Regions Beyond thing being one of the best things we've ever done; it's just that right and good and true. On Sunday morning, April 3, I will bring a brief report around the beauty of Isaiah 58 and how God has been good on His promise, rewarding Suradet and Yupa's astonishing compassion, with the courage to do something beautiful.

"Thank you." Suradet says it all the time. "Please tell members church, we praise God for you, we thank you for love children".

Thank you. For releasing me to this big soul stretching experience once again.

And now, I am on my way home.
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God's Nudge Home?

2011-03-26T11:00:00.001-04:00

After an emotional, beautiful circle of prayer, surrounded by praying, sniffling, emotional, beautiful Thai friends - no, family, I wondered how I could possibly wrench myself away from them all tomorrow.

But just now, a rather large scorpion joined me in the shower. Let me see. Would that be enough to make me want to leave? Um. Nope. ;)

The girls took care of it for me. Squished it with the handle of the toilet brush, just like that. And then they've just had a yogurt snack, brushed their teeth and are settling in beside me on the floor.

And I fight for composure, but give way again to what I hope is quiet crying in the darkness, knowing that for some cosmic reason I can't explain and do not deserve, God has seen fit to let me be part of their safety and hope.

Sponsors, if I haven't said thank you enough it's because there aren't words enough to explain what you've done.

I do want to be home. I just don't want to leave this. Scorpions notwithstanding.
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Shaken, Not Stirred

2011-03-24T20:59:00.001-04:00

It was 6.9 apparently, and close by, near to Burma's border where one person was killed and several injured.

I felt the tremors, one around 9pm and one closer to 11:30pm our time. They were moderate but not overly significant. Enough to shake me on my bed, which is noticable because these buidlings are on slab concrete, no basement, really solid. Which was enough to make me get up to see if anyone else was acting like something was happening. And when everyone else seemed calm, and it didn't last longer than a minute, I decided I would just ask about it in the morning.

But when the second one came, even though it was smaller and shorter, I got my passport and address to the Canadian consolate at the ready in case I needed to make a mad dash.

As I laid back down, I did not feel any sense of fear or anxiety. Even with the images of Japan, so recently before us. I know that I am in the hands of a Sovereign Lord and the days of my life and the purposes of my life are under His direction. It's all covered, and it's all good. Chai, leuri!

So I guess, to borrow from the famous British spy, I am "shaken but not stirred" in a way. And I could say the opposite is true as well. I am not shaken in my spirit. But my heart is stirred to praise our BIG God for all His wonders, and His provision for all that I need.
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Time For Pictures

2011-03-22T22:43:00.018-04:00

A grateful Suradet, sporting his Canadian T-shirt.
He is ALWAYS saying thank you to Highview Church for our love and support.

In am in Chiang Mai at Mike and Debbie's for an excursion out. We are sewing sheets for the kids right now, and afterward we will bake chocolate chip cookies...my favourite recipe. Love that I get to do that for our Thailand family :). Meanwhile, I'm just going to post a few pictures to catch you up on what's been going on.

Me, Debbie, Mike, Suradet, Yupa, after church on Sunday.

Doi Sutep, Chiang Mai look out point.

Nam took! The waterfall before the snake :).

Entorn is sponsored by our KidsROCK children.

Our girls on a Sunday morning.

Five Minutes

2011-03-22T10:13:00.002-04:00

We're back now from the hospital. It's almost 5 pm. We left the house at 6:45 am. That's a lot of waiting. Especially when your actual time with the doctor is approximately 5 minutes.

They were quality minutes, however. The doctor, a woman, was kind and clear with Nut, and told her that the results of the samples she had provided this morning looked very good. She asked about swelling and joint pain, listened to her chest, and booked another appointment for one month's time. It would appear that Nut's condition is improving and that she is receiving adequate medical care.

I've asked my English speaking friends here, and more money would not change her medical care. That's just the way things are done here. As the Thai's say (very differently than the Yiddish expression) "Oiy!". A whole day devoted to 5 minutes with the doctor.

I had hoped to speak to the doctor directly (I was told she spoke English), but in the mass production atmosphere and without being given an overt opportunity, I missed out. "Mai bpen rai". Never mind.

What I DID get was a significantly deeper understanding of some of the basic challenges of living here, and a wider perspective of exactly what Suradet and Yupa have taken upon themselves in bringing these children into their home.

Driving home in the car, I realized I loved them more after living this particular day with them.

Later:

It's now around 9:00 pm and some of the girls, in the company of myself, Yupa and Boogna, are finishing up their Sponsors' thank you letters on the floor of my room in the guest house. It's a happy circle of mixed Thai and English, very careful printing, and spontaneous worship songs. Suradet has caught no less than three gekos and tossed them out of the room for us. The fan is blowing off the last layers of heat and my spirit is wonderfully content and grateful. Paw-jai and roo suk korp koon.

I find I am looking up emotion words more and more in my attempts to express to Suradet and the children at least something of what is happening in my soul. It's impossible though. I can barely find enough words in English.
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A Check Up For Nut

2011-03-22T01:49:00.000-04:00

I was going to wait until we saw the doctor to see if I could send home a report about Nut. But to be honest, we're 4 and a hallf hours into a wait for what seems very much like a regular doctor's visit, and they just announced that all the doctor's are going for lunch and they won't start calling names again for another hour. I have no idea where we are on the list.

I needed something to do!!!

It's like Emerg waits at home, but this is to see your doctor.

We wait on hard straight back benches that will make the flight home seem like a resort ride. No air conditioning, but there are fans. And every once in a while someone comes around with a brown cloth sac full of something wrappd in banana leaves or stuffed into sections of bamboo. They wan you to buy iit for 5 baht (15 cents Cn). But I've been a little braver about what I've been eating this trip, and yesterday I paid for it, so I decline.

We are watching TV and I discover that many products available at home are also similarly marketting here, only the Asian version. They also sell skin whitening lotion, since it's white skin, not dark that they regard as beautiful. Funny how us humans are never quite satisfied with who we are.

Yupa has gone to get something to eat.

For those who don't know, Nut (prounced more like "Nooat") has been diagnosed with lupis. She was quite ill at the beginning, losing weight and a lot of hair, and she spent several days in the hospital. But she has improved significantly. I am here today to learn more, and to support Suradet and Yupa in this aspect of parenting these kids.

It's also proven to be another window into Thai culture. Not just from the TV, but the eclectic smattering of human beings that wait patiently on the bences with us. I am fascinated and bored at the same time :)

A side note: I am in a room with about 100 people and I am the only white one here. This happens frequently as I shadow Suradet and Yupa in their day today life.

More later. Hopefully not too much later.
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The Good News Is I Didn't Break My Ankle

2011-03-21T10:06:00.000-04:00

I guess when the day begins with a sensational skyscape of Asian colours at sunrise, you've probably got to be prepared for God to show up. Today was one of those days.

We'd put off the highly anticipated waterfall trip until the unseasonal cool weather ended and our Thai family could peel off some layers and enjoy the sunshine a bit.

The drive to the actual waterfall included stopping to pick up our picnic food at a very rural outdoor market, stopping to pick up some pictures I wanted printed off while here, at a thoroughly modern Kodak store, and a stop off to boy Bee's school to check on final grades (which are posted publically outside the office). All this with all the kids loaded up inside and outside the van in ways that would be highly illegal in Canada, but perfectly normal here.

Side note: I confess to a certain amount of glee in passing some westerners in a van who were pointing at us in shock and amazement, and rolling down the window to wave hi. :)

Okay, NOW we head to the main event. We take a wrong turn down 7 km of crazy winding roads up a mountain, only to arrive to dusty parking lot and unclear directions up very steep paths. This leads to a "garden waterfall" which translates into any language as "not enough to play in".

I can't tell you how disappointed I was. I was HOT! And the thought of plunging into cool water and playing with the kids was the only thing keeping me trudging up the hill. But our kids - if they were disappointed, I couldn't tell. They laughed at the trickle of water provided to cool your hands, checked out the near-by craft market, and took it in stride. I may have been the only (slightly) cranky one in the bunch.

Since the waterfall was the whole purpose of the trip, we did our picnic there and went off in search of the real waterfall. Of course this meant 7 km back down the same crazy road, and up another 7km road, just as zig zaggy.

We eventually did find a real waterfall. But only after an hour side trip up 264 steps to a Buddhist temple and lookout spot. Spectactular view of Chiang Mai. Another story.

This real waterfall was truly worth all the efforts to find it. Like a garden paradise. Not as wide and bubbly like the one last year that Megan, you would remember. But every bit as heaven touched.

We all jumped right in, splashed around, took pictures. It was glorious. For about 15 minutes.

Without warning a large silvery snake, about 5 feet in length dropped down from above us and landed within feet of Miki. Her scream set off the other girls and immediately a panicked scramble on slippery rocks became a serious danger.

Ever try to get safely away from a large poisonous snake on slippery rocks with 5 screaming girls clutching at you? Not possible.

Suradet went after the snake (I know!). And I went down, slid about 4 ft straight down and wedged my foot between a rock and a hard place, literally. I could easily have broken bones or smashed toes. But mysteriously, my foot fit perfectly in the cleft. As if somehow all the water running over that place for all those years, was wearing away a size seven space just for me.

All I have is a minor scrape, some slight swelling, and a heart hurting with gratitude for a God who sees my coming and going to and from Thailand, and did not let my foot slip into danger.

With the threat of another reptilian visitor hanging literally over our heads, our delight in the water was somewhat, um, dampened, and we basically headed home after that.

Psalm 121 was the reading I chose for our evening worship tonight, as I recounted our day together, thanked the children for their incredible attitudes, and reminded them of God's loving watchfulness over their lives, and my own safety. This was not lost on them. When I went down they were VERY concerned and haven't let me walk unaided since, despite my declarations of "chai, leuri" which loosely translates into "It's all good!"

And it's not lost on me. I am headed to bed feeling a mighty sense of being loved by a God who sees all, all the time, on the hills, where I lift up my eyes.

So whoever of you are praying for my safety, thanks! Don't stop.

And the only problem now is that today's events make what I WAS going to write about seem rather tame. But I will say that, just as a pointer to anyone thinking of coming on a future trip, if you have to open the lid of your meal carefully so nothing jumps out, you probably don't want to eat it.

Five more days. Tomorrow is the visit to the hospital with Nut. I'll keep you posted.
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For Highview

2011-03-20T20:09:00.001-04:00

I tried, but my ways of connecting didn't connect in time to send my greetings to all of you for Sunday morning's worship.

I do want you to know that I am thinking about all of you, wishing there was some way to convey even a fraction of all that God is pouring into my spirit as I "dwell" in Thailand this while. Words in a blog don't cut it. If I could send more pictures that would help. But even then, it seems inadequate.

Thank you again, everyone, for so graciously releasing me to this time of deep learnings and gentle healings. I promise to come home a changed servant.

One more week. It promises to be a full one. Today (Monday) we are on an excursion to the waterfall, complete with a picnic, Thai style. Tomorrow I will go with Suradet and Yupa when they take Nut to the hospital for a follow up appointment (and hopefully gain a better understanding of her condition). Wednesday all the kids and I are spending the day at Debbie and Mike's in Chiang Mai. We will sew some sheets for their bed. And we will bake some of my "famous" chocolate chip cookies together!! Then, they will get to watch a movie!!! Big day, that. (I also hope to download pictures that day ;).

Thursday is a free day, whew! And Friday I THINK there's a summer church conference here or something. So, I think that means worship and teaching in the morning and off to Hot Springs park in the afternoon. Saturday I pack and Sunday I begin the journey home.

You should know that you are all prayed for and spoken of almost every day. The Sponsors are thanked all the time. George, Starr, Megan and Jen are referred to frquently, and they miss you and want you to come back for a visit.

Better go pack for our waterfall day. Temperatures are back up in the 30s but still very pleasant. Today's adventures, here we come!
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Jungle Worship

2011-03-19T19:02:00.001-04:00

The crowing rooster
And trilling tree frog
And vibrating cicadae
And other glorious creatures of the jungle
Trumpet and cheer Your praise, announcing a new day to rejoice in.

I stumble in the predawn darkness, up the hill
With this gentle family, holding hands
To add our human voices
To this wild mountain din of praise.
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What Happens If Suradet Sleeps In?

2011-03-17T21:06:00.001-04:00

It's quite cool when I wake up the morning Suradet sleeps in. I know. No sympathies from my Canadian friends still shaking off the last clutches of a long and cold winter. Only cold water for a shower though, so I opt for an afternoon shower, hoping it will warm up by then.

I hear the guitar playing and see that the lights are on in the church, but its only 5:30. Every other morning we've started at 6. Probably I've misunderstood, again. There's a certain uncertainty when you are the only English speaking person. You miss some details and have to compensate, adjust quickly.

So like the shower, I forego the reading of Proverbs 18 and whatever little preparation I do in the inevitable eventuality that Suradet with ask me to "eeencoorage" the children and teach the morning's Proverb.

Coming in to sit down I see Bee, Suradet's son, is leading morning worship. He only one of several of the kids that have been given this role, part of the overall unleashing value that is so obviously part of Suradet and Yupa's child rearing philosophy.

So to see Bee at the front is no surprise. But - where's Suradet? The singing comes to an end. Now it's time for the reading of Proverbs 18. Bee looks to me. I guess I'm on.

I grab my note book where I've been learning the books of the Bible, and come to the front. I stumble over prouncing "suphasip boa ti sip bairt, kaw ti neung". Proverbs chapter 18, verse 1".

Nueng, som, sam. 1,2,3. The children begin to read.

As they are reading I am preparing my lesson - in Thai!! Oh wait. I don't speak Thai!! Normally Suradet translates for me. This is a beautiful, stumbling ballet based on his limited understanding of English, my limited understanding of Thai, an open Bible in front of us, and a mutual passion for both God's word and these kids. Even so, I know that what I'm saying is not exactly what he's saying. For example, when I was using the story of Moses' call, I mentioned that Moses did not want to go back to Egypt because he had killed a man. The translation that followed included "Thanks be to God" (I've learned that one). So....even with Suradet present, I'm not at all sure if my teaching is really accomplishing anything.

But to do this solo? Yikes!!

As the children are reading the Proverb Suradet arrives looking sleepy and just a tad dishevelled in a hurried sort of way. Maybe he didn't get the memo about the time change either?

We stumble through. It's not very good. Neither one of us is on our game, so to speak. Bee-yung is my gage. He's the most expressive and can't fake it if he's bored. He's bored.

I sit down and ask God to redeem the teaching somehow. "I offer whatever I have for these kids". I say, "may You be my Divine translator. Take my teaching and instill the lessons they need."

There is a pause from heaven. This happens to me any time God has something hard to say back to me. I brace myself. His impression to my soul comes while we are finishing up the morning worship, standing in a circle holding hands, everyone praying out loud in that wonderful Thai way that they do. And in the midst of the glorious din, my heart hears my Father's loving rebuke.

"This isn't about what you offer to them" He says, "it's not about you teaching them anything. You are the student here. This is still about what they are offering to you."

Oh my. And it is immediately true to my soul. They are very graciously allowing me to be here in their midst, patiently listening to my "teaching", giving me this time and space to transform my soul bit by bit. Nit noy, nit noy.

What happens when Suradet sleeps in? Humility. And gratitide. And the chance to experience again the new morning mercies of a gentle God midst a gentle people.
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Heading Back to Hot Springs

2011-03-16T05:29:00.006-04:00

For a hilarous video of Bee-yung's laugh attack, check out Bread and Honey.

I'm wrapping up my stay in Chiang Mai, having had a wonderful time with Debbie, gathered a few more supplies of fun things to do with the kids, but really looking forward to getting back to Hot Springs.

Guess what? It's actually cool here right now. Yes, I mean the temperature. Don't have my thermometer with me, but I think we're hovering around 70%, and it actually feels chilly!

Here are just a few random pictures, while I still can. I'll be blogging from my blackberry again, for sure. Just can't download pictures very easily. Perhaps I'll ask Suradet to take me to that internet cafe out in the jungle again. I'm not kidding, it's so cool. You drive down these practically dirt roads with the jungle hanging out into the road. Then you turn a corner and all of a sudden there's this building with a bunch of computers! Such a place of contrasts!

Thank you all for your prayers. I am finding this to be a trip of many surprising gifts, and I am thorough enjoying unwrapping them, each new day.

2011-03-15T05:23:00.005-04:00

A two day visit with Debbie Flinchum in Chiang Mai gives me the opportunity to do some shopping for crafts and supplies for the Hot Springs kids AND catch up a bit with some pictures and stories of my time here so far.

Changes In the Property

I arrived to the surprise of a new guest house, built by the Korean Methodist Church denomination who apparently have decided to participate more in Suradet and Yupa's ministry to our children. What this means is that Suradet's family has moved to what was once the guest house, the girls have moved into what was once Suradet's family's quarters, and the boys have moved back out of the bamboo hut (ants and rain can make the novelty wear off after a bit) and spread out into the space that once housed all the children.

This leaves room for a church office (in what was an original kitchen storage space), and also provides better separation between the boys and the girls.

Suradet has been several months now without the extra burden of teaching at the Bible School, something he had taken on to help make ends meet. However, because of the combination of monies sent by Highview from both sponsors' payments and extra fundraising, plus the generous coming alongside of Doug and Laurie Schinkle of Guelph, Ontario, Suradet can now devote himself to caring for the children and working the potential of the property he has inherited as pastor of Hot Springs Church.

In this, the gifting of both Suradet and Yupa keep shining. Add to Suradet's skill set, on top of all the pastoral, leadership and teaching gifts required to be a pastor, an obvious ability in animal husbandry, seen in the raising for frogs, fish and chickens to help feed the kids. The garden in spectacular, and the property includes mature and productive fig, papaya, mangno and banana trees.

These are skills that he is also careful to pass on to the children who are regularly seen in and amongst the garden, helping to feed the fish, and generally busy helping to keep and maintain their home.

There's always room for fun though, as seen in this clip from last night's worship time where a wonderfully silly game resulted in equally "silly" consequences. The participants in this crazy conga line are imitating ducks, apparently. At the head of the line is Tumanon, also called Jo, who along with his wife Boogna, are back to help care for the kids and the property.

There's so much more happening here, and in my own soul. I continue to experience much filling in so many dimensions. My language studies are good, although these two days in Chiang Mai feel like I'm 'cheating' :)....all English all the time, instead of all Thai all the time.

Okay....just some random pictures now.
First, Bee and me.

This young bird flew into the girls' room. Lots of screaming, until Suradet caught it in his hands. He says he's going to raise it. Anyone know what this is?

The girls playing the Thai version of chess. George, they use the chess pieces all the time, for this and also to play chess as you taught it :).

Suradet, Mike, Debbie, Me, Yupa after church on Sunday morning. Mike interpreted for my sermon. BTW, it's kinda fun to preach barefoot :).

Spontaneous Market Trip

2011-03-14T06:10:00.001-04:00

Just got back from a quick trip to the corner market by Hot Springs. Pictures to follow. Viewer discretion advised.
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Mahk!!!!!

2011-03-13T10:51:00.001-04:00

Mahk! It means very or much and if you say it with an exclamation mark, you've probably got the tone right.

It's also the best Thai word I know so far to describe the abundance of everything my soul is gorging on this visit. Like rice every-meal, only I like it!!!! (I've been healed of my rice aversion, by the way. Sangseun Prajo - Praise God!!)

Our mountaintop sunrise worship this morning, complete with the exotic sound of very strange (and probably very large - but never mind) insects....I am already overwhelmed and the day is hardly begun. The voices of the children are practically a guaranteed gateway for me into the breathless presence of a bigger-than-I-ever knew God.

Worshipping later with the sweet people of Hot Springs, whose faces, if not names yet, I readily recognize, being wai'd with HUGE smiles and some hugs, brings a joy I can hardly describe. Suradet, when excited in worship leading, does this bouncy joyful thing that reminds me so much of Derek and reminds me that in the fellowship of other believers I am never far from home.

Slept solid for two hours this afternoon. That in itself is a gift, such a filling up gift. And then spent the rest of the afternoon making bracelets with the kids with a cool enough breeze making it very, very pleasant and -- filling me more.

And now I am having a sleepover with the girls who are continuing the bracelets and helping me with my Thai. Their young and beautiful faces fill me more...... and I'm not sure how much I can take.

A friend in a email just the other day suggested that God has used this place to accomplish much healing for me from wounds life has inflicted over the past years. She's right. Sometimes I wonder if I am robbing Highview in order to be here this long. The Elders, the people, even my family, are so generous to release me into this time.

But I've come to understand that there is enormous benefit to this for anyone I desire to serve. I always return a better soul, a better follower and, I trust, a better leader. This time I am being filled in fiercely gentle ways, big ways.

"Im lao". I am full.
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Beiber Fever

2011-03-12T18:50:00.000-05:00

Quick news flash. Thim just asked me, in very good English if I knew Justin Beiber!! I got it on tape. Ha-larious!!!
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A Satisfying Saturday

2011-03-12T10:35:00.002-05:00

For me Saturday is over. For you, it's more or less just beginning. 12 hour time change when Ontario does daylight savings. Still strange when it's this hot - got up to 39 C today - but it's dark, and very quickly, by 6 pm.

I had a satisfying conversation with Suradet and Yupa over breakfast this morning. It's amazing to me that we are now able to get down a level and actually talk about such abstract concepts as ministry and parenting challenges. Both Suradet and Yupa frquently use their improving English to express their deep gratitude for our partnership with them. I am more and more able - more due to their increased language skills than mine - to expresse my own deep, deep gratitude for welcoming us into their lives when we come, and their prayers for us continually. After talking a bit about some of my own heartaches these past years, I told them that this place, with their love and hospitality, has been such an immensely healing place for me.

Went to a Thai Baptist Thanksgiving service today. A phenomenal experience which included a rendition in Thai of the evagelical rip off of Danny Boy, He looked beyond my guilt and saw my need. With the Iridsh tune and Thai words and all, it was an experience in a collision of some sort.

Church is tomorrow again. I am doing the morning on top of the mountain (George and Starr will remember where this is) and then preaching with Mike as interpreter at Hot Springs. So, another satisfying day seems in the making.

If you aren't following both blogs, I'm safe and far removed from the devastation of Japan. May God pour His mercy on those people.

Churc
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2011-03-10T09:32:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I'm asked the question, "What do you do for fun?". And, like some people, sometimes its hard to answer, particularly if I'm in one of my working binges or experiencing unusual stress.

I'm in neither of those spaces now. THIS is fun!

It's fun to wake up and realize you're half way around the world where everything's so different but becoming more and more familiar.

It's fun to escape winter and spend the first hour of the day worship swimming, outdoors, with the pool to yourself and the flowers' scent laying over you and the water.

It's fun to go shopping for supplies in Carre Ferre and know how to do the transaction in Thai.

It's fun to tag along on a visit to a juvenile prison and meet a new pastor friend from the States. Our stories, as we told them, seemed like they were coming out of altering universes, they were SO similar!

And most of all, it's FUN, FUN, FUN to arrive at Hot Srings and finally be with the kids!! What an immense privilege it is to be the ambassador/Gramma who gets to deliver all the love one church can send.

The kids loved their packets as always. Thank you Sponsors for loving on these precious ones.

By now I have had all the fun I can handle and am seriosly struggling to keep awake long enough to finish this!!!

More fun tomorrow!!!
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Here, Happy, and Ready for Bed

2011-03-09T13:22:00.000-05:00

That about sums it up. I was greeted by ALL the kids, Suradet, Yupa, Tutu, Mike, Debbie and Tumanon at the airport. What a surprise! It's summer holidays afterall! Who knew? This is going to be even WAY more fun than I expected!!!

Tomorrow it's off to do some supplies shopping, sit on a prison ministries service, and then....Hot Springs!!!

But now....to bed.

Safely Here

2011-03-09T12:57:00.002-05:00

I'm here and settling in for bed. My time is 12:58 a.m., and since I barely slept for the past 33 hours, I'm thinking this will be a very short blog.

But I just have to tell you.....all the kids were at the Airport to greet me. I had miscalculated their school year and....they are actually just starting three months of summer holidays now! Bonus! This, as Derek would say, changes everything!! And all in a good way.

What a joyful surprise to see all their faces, and the flowers of course, and hugging and kissing all the girls, and shaking the boys' hand. I got to Boy and asked if I could have a hug, but he said no, and offered his hand. Alas, the youngest of our little guys won't let me hug him now. It's okay, the girls make up for it.

Suradet, Yupa, Tutu and Tumanon were there as well, so it makes for quite the entourage, gathering your bags and walking out to the vehicles.

Muggy and 35C is what it is, if anyone's interested. And that's at midnight, so we'll see what's up for the days.

Even though it was late, Debbie and Mike stayed up to help me settle down from the trip. It was wonderful to connect up with Debbie again, and we have our first shopping trip planned for tomorrow morning - to get some of the things I deliberately decided to purchase here instead of lugging unnecessary weight.

Oh my. There's so much in my soul. I am so very grateful for all your prayers for my traveling. It seemed to me the very best trip yet, and while I'm travel weary for sure, I am feeling in pretty good shape.

Time for bed now though.

More as soon as I can.

Going to the prison for a service tomorrow too. You're not here very long before you're right into the thick of things. Just the way I like it.

Last Stop in Seol

2011-03-09T04:23:00.001-05:00

I'm about to board for Chiang Mai! This part is always the most exciting. I get all wonderful crazy thinking about seeing everyone. Normally there's quite the welcome waiting at the airport, but this time I arrive at 11 p.m. their time, so I am not expecting any more than a ride to Mike and Debbie and the chance to stretch out in a bed!!

Good things happening in my soul already. Staying relaxed, feeling good....even though at this point I've been up and going for over 24 hours. Hoo boy. All part of the fun.

Atlanta

2011-03-08T11:13:00.001-05:00

Getting ready to board for 15 hours in the air. Just finished a protein yogurt shake and a honkin' oatmeal raisin cookie. May be the last "familiar" food I eat for three weeks. (Megan, I'm remembering the dumplings!!!)

I'm in a good space of being out of my brain excited AND relaxed and calm at the same time.

Oh -- there's the boarding call.

I'll connect if I can in Seol.
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Packed and Ready!!

2011-03-07T17:37:00.000-05:00

In an astonishing orchestra of coordination - which actually involved the 'help' of a four year old and 20 month old - I am, by miraculous intervention, packed.

Fifth trip. You'd think it would get easier, and I guess it does, a little. Still, I come to the last hours before departure with that familiar question buzzing in my brain. Have I remembered everything?

Our wonderful sponsors are part of the problem. ;). The packets were full to over flowing and finding room for everyone's treasures was a challenge this afternoon. But the anticipation of that happy chaos when they open their envelopes makes it worth the threat of throwing my back out on the fifth or sixth weight check.

Tomorrow. Airporter is picking me up t 2:45 am! It's an easier flight this time but that means shorter layovers. I will do my best to keep connected on the way. I am expected to arrive around 11 am Ontario time on Wednesday. Apparently the temperature in Chiang Mai today is hovering around 36C!

Hope I can sleep!!!!!!!!

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Here I Go Again!

2011-01-21T16:13:00.003-05:00

Pastor Ruth Anne Breithaupt will visit our Hot Springs Family in March of this year.

Every time, I can hardly believe that I get to go back.

This year the trip will be on my own, the purpose being to concentrate on language study. And of course, bring our love and support and Sponsors' packages to the now 16 children that have captured our hearts and become, without question, an integral part of the Highview family.

While the plane tickets have yet to be booked, it looks like I will be leaving around March 7 or 8 and staying for a full three weeks! What a humbling thing it is to be granted this honour. I am mindful of how undeserving I am of the opportunities for soul work and deep delights to my heart that are provided me every time I set foot on Thai soil.

So here I go again, to stay at Hot Springs with the children, learn as much Thai as my humid brain can retain, and invite God to do His deconstruction, and reconstruction, which He has done every single time so far. To learn humility and hospitality and compassion and radical generosity from two of my personal heroes, Suradet andYupa. And hopefully, hopefully, be able to convey that a whole church full of people in Southwestern Ontario, are famously in love with a whole house full of used-to-be-orphans in South East Asia. And to let God do what He does so astonishingly when people dare to love like they won't get hurt.

As always, I am so grateful for the way I am released from my Canadian life and responsibilities by my church, and my family, not the least of which is my husband Ken. And I do so knowing that competent, passionate people keep the place humming in my absence.

So....stay posted to the blog and I'll keep you posted on this trip....and all the God-stories waiting to be written this March.

2011-01-07T14:43:00.002-05:00

The Ultimate Valentine's Day Present!

Asia's Hope raffling off a new 2010 Camaro SS to benefit orphans in Cambodia and Thailand

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, you can win this beautiful American muscle car (or $20,000* in cash -- your choice!) and help Asia's Hope prevent the sexual and economic exploitation of orphaned children in Cambodia and Thailand.

The raffle will run from November 15, 2010 to February 13, 2011.

A maximum of 7,000 tickets will be sold, so your chances of winning are great! Tickets are a perfect gift for friends and family.

Go to http://www.asiashope.org/raffle to enter!!!

2010-11-05T11:01:00.003-04:00

Come on out for our Annual Christmas Bazaar. And new to this year, we are also hosting a Pancake Breakfast!

Saturday November 20th - 8am - 2pm.
295 Highview Drive, Kitchener (at the round-a-bout of Ira Needles Blvd and Highview Drive)

Christmas Crafts and Gift Ideas, Baking and Hand Crafted, Fair Trade Items from Thailand. Outside Vendors are welcome.

Contact - 519 745 4211 ext 0, or highview@buildingbiggerhearts.ca

Meet Mee-O

2010-09-17T14:40:00.003-04:00

Isn't this little guy adorable? His name is Mee-O, and he is the newest child at Hot Springs Orphanage in Chiang Mai Thailand. Although not technically an orphan (his mother is Pastor Suradet's sister and she and her husband and now working and living at Hot Springs) he is still is need of a sponsor. Your $60.00 month would go a long way towards helping ensure that he is well fed, clothed, sheltered and schooled.

If you are an attendee of Highview Community Church - talk to Jen Conner about sponsorship. If you do not attend Highview, but are interested in our work at Hot Springs, and possibly sponsoring Mee-O or another orphan - please email us at highview@buildingbiggerhearts.ca

We would love to hear from you, and share the Highview/Hot Spings story.

Unpacking

2010-05-20T13:20:00.005-04:00

Ruth Anne: We were so glad to have our luggage arrive - 24 hours behind us - this morning! Everything seems to be fairly intact, and it's been fun to unpack the gifts we brought back for our families - a way of saying thanks for their support of our going.

That part of the unpacking is fun. There are other aspects of unpacking after a big trip like this that I don't find to be such fun. Laundry for one. Sorting through the everything so that I know where it is next time I need to go. Lots to organize in terms of what goes where. There's a bit of chaos before it all gets ordered again and I can put things where I need them for my "regular life" here at home.

Unpacking my heart can be messy too. There's a little bit of chaos as I transition from loving a family in Thailand to leading a church in Ontario. I think it's more than just the jet lag that spins my head for this first week back. There's a little bit of heart lag too.

I am so very grateful for both a family and a church that not only lets me go so far for as long as I do, but also for their patience as I get re-oriented. Yesterday was a lovely re-entry day, with both my immediate family and the Staff at Highview welcoming me home with no expectations that I actually contribute very much at all just yet.

And the very amazing thing about it all is this. That everything that just happened in Thailand is completely connected to what happens here. God has shown, over and over again, just how Present Everywhere He is, as I keep on unpacking the spiritual treasures I've brought home with me, to share with everyone here, to enrich and strengthen and increase what He's got going for me right here.

Oh, and just as an aside to Mike....Yupa's brooms made it home in very good shape. Thanks for your help in cutting them down to size and packing them!

We're Back!.....But Our Baggage Has Yet to Catch Up

2010-05-19T11:53:00.002-04:00

Ruth Anne: Okay....just a very quick post to let you all know that we're back safe and sound after a rather arduous journey home. Mostly the plane rides themselves were fine. It was the transfer at Los Angeles that started things going a bit hairy. Confusion over picking up bags, getting separated for about 10 minutes, and a very rude clerk who actually gave us instructions that ultimately left our bags in LA.

So that's where they are now. We're here though. Safe. Glad to be home.

Thank you all for your prayers and love and support. The stories are not done. Keep watching the post for more of what God accomplished these past weeks.

And we'll let you know what's up with the bags as soon as we can.

Waiting In Taipei

2010-05-18T10:05:00.003-04:00

Megan:

Okay. If you will all direct your attention to the picture. Do those LOOK like steamed buns to anyone? I mean really? The outside consistency was like that of a dumpling, and the inside was filled with either mushy, greasy pork or chicken. I couldn't tell which, which just adds to its level of scariness (and untastiness). Here in the airport there are actually no western restaurants. So when I saw "steamed buns" that sounded rather safe to me. No one told me they were dumpling-soggy perogie hybrids masquerading as buns. The one definite thing I am looking forward to when I get home (besides seeing friends and family) is that when western food is called something, it typically IS that thing. A bun is a bun and an ice cream is an ice cream. Thank goodness!

In other news, the goodbye today was hard. I was very sad though, that girl Bee was not at the airport with the rest of the high school kids today. She was one of my little buddies, so I was disappointed I didn't get a chance to say another goodbye. But as Ruth Anne and I went to each child and gave them a hug (well, the girls anyway...the boys were too cool for hugs, of course) I got to Miki and Saiy. They completely just attached themselves to my side and started bawling. I nearly started bawling too. It was only after I assured them I would be coming back that things calmed down. It was nice to feel that I made such an impact with them, but it's sad in the sense that I've made them all sad. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when I come back though! That's what I'll keep thinking about.

ps. Noooooot looking forward to the long flight we're about to get on! Eek! Please pray for strength, good health (as in, feet not swelling up like balloons on steroids!), and as little crankiness as possible. :) Thank you everyone! Can't wait to see all of you!

Ruth Anne:

They've just called for our boarding passes which means we're on our way. Like Megan says, it was a hard goodbye at the airport. That bit where they keep watching until we're totally out of sight, waving and waving like crazy, always gets me. I loved that Mike was there with us at the end, and I was able to use him to interpret to Suradet my final words of deep gratitude and growing affection, important since it's not culturally appropriate to do the clutching, sobbing, kissing face thing I do with Yupa and the girls.

Gotta go. This may be our last posting until we arrive home. Our layovers are really short from here on in.

Thank you all for your prayers and your support. God has used this trip more than you know...in ways we'll be unpacking for a long time.

The Boy's Bamboo Hut

2010-05-17T18:52:00.007-04:00

As we get to know our Thai Family at Hot Springs better, I am appreciating more and more the creativity, ingenuity and initiative required to care for 15 children, within the boundaries of limited resources.

I'd like to take you on a brief photo tour of the brand new accommodations Suradet has built for our boys. First, some background. From the first time I visited for an extended period of time in October of 2008, Suradet has expressed to me his concern that the original sleeping arrangements for the children would not be appropriate as the children grew older. As you recall, the church building was not designed with an orphan home in mind. The basement rooms were merely the quickest and best place for the children Suradet and Yupa invited into their lives three years ago.

Besides the environmental and aesthetic issues, the situational placement of the rooms in comparison to where Suradet and Yupa sleep does not provide enough supervision to ensure that things stay safe and healthy as the kids move into their teen years.

The end goal is to build a proper dorm, such as is the case at the other orphan homes. It would be a clean, simple structure, with space for houseparents separating two larger spaces - one for the boys and one for the girls. (Suradet also has a vision to add at least 15 more children at Hot Springs, but that's a matter for another blog.)

This was not a project Highview could commit to immediately. The love and generosity of our Sponsors is unquestioned. The way our church has embraced our Thai Family is amazing. So our ongoing partnership and helping Suradet achieve the full potential God has envisioned is something we want to be part of and continue to plan towards together. However, when it became clear that such a project would not be happening in the immediate future, and given that puberty does not get put on hold, Suradet set about to solve the problem in the interim....Thai style.

The new bamboo hut is a very sturdy structure made of a combination of purchased materials (very inexpensive) and materials gleaned from the property (free). It is up off the ground and enjoys more circulation and therefore is much cooler than the guest house rooms where Suradet had moved the boys for a few months during construction.

The wardrobes purchased last visit have gone with them, as you can see. The walls look airy to us, but believe me, in the heat you want as much circulation and air flow as possible.
Shoes for school are kept safely up off the ground.
We are back to mattresses on the floor for now, and mosquito netting has been installed.
The boys hut is situated to the left of the church building if you are looking at the property from the road. Some simple "landscaping" and leveling of the area around, plus the addition of some gravel has actually improved the play space outdoors. The boys still use the same washrooms they had when they were indoors.

This isn't a perfect arrangement by any means. However, when I asked the boys if they liked their new place they were enthusiastically positive. (I believe they are trusting me more to give me honest answers, as Entorn most certainly did when I asked him if he liked his new haircut. "Mai chorp." was his quick response. "Not like.")

I was given special permission to go inside (normally the rule is "no girls allowed") and it really does have the feel of a fun club house or tree house. And like I said, when you hear bamboo do not think rickety. It's a strong and sturdy structure.

Every time I visit Hot Springs I am more impressed with Suradet. He does not sit around and wait for someone else to solve the challenges. He is very aware of the needs of the kids and will do whatever he can with whatever he can to make sure they have the best possible place in which to grow up. He's patient, and has a great faith in a sovereign God who's timing is perfect.

When he and I talked about the next steps, and I explained that Highview is engaging in her own building project and that our prayer and hope is that more would join the adventure so that more can be done for the kingdom, including Thailand, he listened seriously until we understood each other, and then sat back in his chair and smiled. "Work together future many years," he said moving his hand back and forth quickly between us and then indicating a future time line. "Yes, I said. We are together for a long time." There was a pause, then Suradet pointed upwards. "Trust God."

That we will, Suradet. We will trust a God who has promised to give us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) no matter where on the planet we serve Him.

Suradet shops in the open market for groceries for his family.

And Now Let the Weak Say I Am Strong

2010-05-16T21:16:00.002-04:00

Ruth Anne: Last morning worship. Before I climb the stairs for last morning worship, I am already undone. There is an overwhelming understanding that this trip, even more than the others, has been a deconstruction of my own heart. God has dismantled me so that I can watch Him carefully, painfully, gently move in among the ruins.

We talk about a partnership with Suradet and Yupa. It has been a clear desire from the beginning that there be no whiff of Western arrogance, no sense of rich us providing for poor them. And I think for the most part we've been able to main that equitable posture.

Still, God keeps doing a work of humility in me.

I have spoken and written before about how the song "Give Thanks" has come to have special meaning for me as I think of our Thai Family and Friends at Asia's Hope.

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Because He's given Jesus Christ His Son

And now let the weak say I am strong
Let the poor say I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us

Up until this morning the words to the second part, especially, moved me because of the reality of those words for the orphans. These are reclaimed lives. Trajectories of despair give over to futures full of possibility. There is so much for which to give thanks.

But this morning the Lord hit me with one of His sledgehammers of love. We were singing that song. And we got to the part about the weak being strong. And suddenly it wasn't about them anymore.

"That's you," He whispered, "the weak one saying that you're strong now. Because of what I've done for you. Here. With these loving hearts who have so much to give to you."

I have been entirely on the receiving end this time in Asia. Yes, we send the support. Yes, when I am home I will jump at any chance to bring awareness of the plight of Asian orphans, and add to the resource pool whenever I can. Yes, Highview and others are givers in this grand adventure of compassion.

But what has been brought home to me this trip more clearly than any other time, is that God is up to something gloriously reciprocal. We are only beginning to understand exactly how much we have to be grateful for because we are partnered with these kids.

Megan and I received again as morning worship came to a close and Suradet invited the children to stand around us and lay their little hands on us and pray for us. Little hands, little voices, big prayers, big love. I could only stand there and receive. And cry for the undeserved grace of it all.

We are packing now, heading to Mike's this afternoon for an over night there meant to better prepare us for the long ride home. But to be honest, I think God has been readying me for home the entire time.

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We have been to the night market!

2010-05-16T11:48:00.001-04:00

Megan:

As I sit at hot springs and listen to awful karaoke, I am a happy camper despite how poor the music is. If you're wondering about the karaoke, apparently a karaoke bar set up shop literally RIGHT next to hot springs last year. The karaoke is as loud at night as it is bad, and Suradet says some nights it keeps the children up a bit. Think Achy Breaky Heart sung by a constipated elephant. That's about how it sounds.

But I'm a happy camper because we went to the Sunday night market. Suradet and Yupa took us out for dinner, and for some reason we went to the Central Airport Plaza (just to get mcdonalds), which is an ENORMOUS mall. We're talking five stories tall, and with an aquarium in the middle. It also happened to be the last day of the ice cream festival! That basically means that a ton of different ice cream stores come together and all sell ice cream. It was amazing. But we were so full from our mcdonalds that we didn't have room for ice cream. :( I think we should have started with the ice cream! Haha!

Sadly we didn't have time to actually shop at the mall. But maybe next time!

We were a little nervous on the way over because we were heading right into a storm. The wind was insane, and by the time we got to the mall it was pouring! But after we had dinner it was barely raining, so the trip to the night market was still on!

The market itself was amazing. It's just this big huge mass of people with their little tables all selling different things. Lots of jewellery, bags, and clothing, but even games and spices as well!

I myself spent a grand total of 1,600 baht which equals about $50 Canadian. And guess what? I got pretty much ALL my souvenires tonight! Haha, I'm so excited.

I'm very thankful we had Suradet and Yupa with us though, because they are master bargainers. We wouldn't have gotten nearly as good prices as we did without them. Though I did manage a couple of good haggles myself (even talking one lady down from 450 to 300 baht!).

The even better news is that we get to go to another night market tomorrow night! :) see, tonight was "Sunday night market" which, as the name states, is only on Sundays. But then there's the regular night market that Mike is taking us to tomorrow. So what few things I still need to get will be accomplished tomorrow. I also didn't actually get any souvenires for myself tonight (totally forgot!) so I should probably get myself a little elephant or something then too. Ruth anne and I managed to also grab some things for our annual Christmas Bazaar back home!

Yet another plus tonight is that it has cooled way down thanks to the storm. Right now with the fan on, our room is 31 C. That's the coolest I think it's ever been!

Buuut, it's time for me to get to bed! I'm glad we got to call Highview today, I hooe some of you heard it (and that we made sense, haha). Goodnight all!

(Oh yeah, for anyone wondering about our schedule...tonight is our last at hot springs! :( Tomorrow after breakfast we'll pack, and then after lunch we'll head off to Mike's to stay there overnight. He'll be driving us to the airport, and then Suradet and some of the children will meet us at the airport to say a final, teary goodbye.)
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Wild Mountainside Honey

2010-05-16T04:33:00.004-04:00

Ruth Anne: Hot, hot days continue. We saw Tutu last night and she told me that the temperatures have broken 30 year old records. Even the Thais can't believe how hot it is. A thunder roll becomes a welcome herald of something cooler to come.

The heat both curtails our activities and enhances the possibility of experiencing the quiet, spontaneous delights of Hot Springs life.

It tempts heat-related illness to go out on any excursions, and so these past few days have found us pretty much stationed right here at Hot Springs. That evolves into something of a pattern where we are up for 5:30 devotions, have breakfast and then hang out under the dining shelter with the kids playing games until first nap at 10. From there it's pretty much an alternating nap, eat, play scenario until evening devotions and bed.

Friday was like that. Too hot for anything. Except at one point Suradet and Moo, the husband of Suradet's sister, took off up the hill into the jungle with a cooler and a machete. They returned about an hour later and Suradet came to show us what they'd gone for.

Wild honeycombs, with a few rather unimpressed jungle bees, sat is glorious gooeyness on the bottom. Within 10 minutes Suradet had extracted the honey into a bowl and an impromptu snack of bread and honey happened before our eyes.

It's hard even for me to explain why this delights me so much. If you know me, you know that I love honey. My personal blog (which I cannot access from here) is called "Bread and Honey" partly because I love honey and partly because of the Biblical metaphors of sustenance and nurture represented by both those foods. To have that played out in such a wild and unexpected way seemed a very personal gift.

Suradet wouldn't have known. But God does. And as I let the sweet jungle treasure play in my mouth, my soul was touched in ways unexplainable.

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103

As I write, it is Sunday afternoon. We have already had our morning worship. I preached through an interpretor on Haggai 2:4-9 on God's desire to bring us peace. We had Communion together. We prayed together. And all throughout there was a powerful sense of God's power and goodness. How sweet it all is to my soul.

Tonight we will go to a different night market that's only open on Sunday night. It's within the "Old City" so this should be interesting.

Tomorrow we will stay to see the kids off to school. Then we will pack up from here and leave to spend our last night at Mike and Debbie's before getting on the plane Tuesday afternoon.

I am finding it harder each time I come, to approach the goodbye. Yupa and I already had a private cry together, each of us murmering words of deep affection and sorrow of separation in our own language, words not understood by our ears, but our hearts comprending fully.

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Good Thing We Can Nap

2010-05-14T09:49:00.001-04:00

Ruth Anne: Today the highschool kids went to school, on a Friday, the first day back after two weeks off. We went to go register with them, but it turned out we just dropped them off and came back to Hot Springs. Spent the morning downloading pictures from my cameras to the computer and then on to my usb key for Suradet.

But by 10 I'd had it. The temperature was climbing again and we just had to lay low. Coming back to the room we checked. Yup. 44C. Anybody want to convert that to F?

If these last few days keep us low and slow that's probably a good thing for me. The two hour nap I had BEFORE lunch is just a small part of what God is allowing for me here in resting my soul.

During evening worship we sang a song we haven't sung for a bit a Highview, The Power Of Your Love. Tonight it hit me, that phrase....and as I wait, I'll rise up like the eagle, and I will soar with You, Your Spirit leads me on, in the power of Your love.

I came here completely depleated by the demands of what has been for me a very demanding ministry season. I was and am surrounded by respect and love flowing out of a strong, pure faith. God has used this time in gentle and astonishing ways to fill up all the exhausted places of me.
I am rising up like an eagle out of this place.

The children are memorizing Psalm 23. Here's my version.

The Lord knows exactly what I need, when I need it. He makes me lie down in the hot, green Thai jungle. He leads me beside Hot Springs. He restores my soul.

He clearly knows what these children need as well. We got word today that another sponsor, independent of Highview, will come alongside to help meet the needs here. What an answer to prayer and what a perfect time for us to hear about it.

We also got word today through an email from the travel registry in Canada, that the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok has been closed until the distrubances there are resolved. Please know that we contune to be completely uneffected by any of this. You wouldn't know anything was happening at all.

Except of course for all the beautiful and powerful things God is doing here in this amazing place called Hot Springs, where I wait, being filled by the power of His love.

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A lazy summer day!

2010-05-13T10:41:00.002-04:00

Megan:

Today was a day of rest. Usually that's what happens on a Sunday, but after a wonderful, but exhausting, day like yesterday everyone needed it.

It was evident even from our first moments together at morning devotions. The girls were all late and we quickly found out it was because they weren't feeling well. I didn't have thaaaaat much sympathy though, since I wouldn't feel well if I'd had five helpings of a spicy lunch the day before either! (No lie...they pigged out! I'm glad they could, because they never get that kind of chance...but you eat that much and your body's going to complain sooner or later!)

After devotions was breakfast, and then bracelets, dominoes, and checkers with the kids. The bracelets weren't as big a hit as we thought, but Miki, Saiy, Bee and Sai stuck with it! I taught them some basic designs and they caught on really fast, especially Saiy. The boys loved dominoes.

Then Suradet took us out for lunch. I got my kao pad gai (fried rice with chicken) and was pulling out the tomatoes when I found a decent sized bug in the middle of my rice. Needless to say, I lost my appetite a little bit, and didn't finish my meal. Then poor Yupa went and bought me seaweed flavour Lays chips. Not the greatest flavour ever, but I very much appreciated the gesture.

Yupa tries so hard to please my western tastes, even serving us french toast for breakfast! Though I have no clue how she found out about that because we never requested nor mentioned it. So that was a bonus! :)

Then Suradet took us to a little internet place so Ruth anne could upload pictures from her laptop into the blog. Unfortunately there was no wireless there, and no ether net cable to plug her laptop in. So we just went on the blog (on their computers) and published all the waiting comments!

When we got back to hot springs we both slept. I have a funny feeling a lot of the kids did too since we didn't see them around very much even when we woke up.

During supper (where we got a surprising amount of dessert, not that I'm complaining) we found out the answer to another great mystery. There is a new little boy there, because Suradet's sister and her husband work there now. We thought they'd said his name was "bennigo", because when we'd repeat it back they'd nod and smile. However, when we'd call his name later he would never respond. We knew he was really shy so we just let it slide.

But today Ruth anne goes "bennigo is shy" and the girls go "miayko". His name is Miayko (I have no clue if its spelled correctly, that's how it sounds phonetically) not Bennigo! No wonder he wasn't responding to us!

Another funny moment happened just after dinner while we were back in our room. Three of the older girls (Thim, Saiy and Nut) came up to see us. We couldn't figure out why they'd come, and they couldn't communicate it. But they were saying something that sounded suspisciously like "michael jackson" (they weren't of course, it just sounded similar) so after they said it a couple times Ruth anne goes "Michael jackson!!!" And starts trying to do the moon walk. They looked like "what on earth is this crazy woman doing?" Not going to lie, I had the same look on my face too! Haha. But eventually we sorted out they were taking us to worship.

Now the girls are here and sleeping over, so I'd better go! Don't want to be rude! :) goodnight world!

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Best Day of My Life Ever!

2010-05-12T23:27:00.002-04:00

Ruth Anne: Certainly, lots of wonderful things have happened in my life, and I would not want to discount any one of them in any way. But the convergence of joy that this particular Thailand day has held will, without question, be marked as beyond words brilliant and God-filled and profoundly good.

It started with an excursion to a waterfall park about an hour and a half north of Hot Springs, one of many in Northern Thailand that have become a natural place for people to rest and play. While there is no entrance fee to the park, funds raised for our trip provided the money for gas and the very traditional Thai picnic that we half brought from home and half picked up along the way. This was a kind of outing that a family of 17 would not be able to afford very often.

While Yupa set up the picnic, Megan and I followed the children down an extensive and sometimes rugged staircase. This takes you to where you can plonk yourself right down in the middle of water that's rushing over smooth white rocks.

The kids LOVED it!!!! And that's what prompted a worship moment for me that was so intense I can barely find the words to describe it. It was as if three tastes of heaven were converging at once. There was the natural and spectacular beauty of the surroundings, Eden like, white water contrasting the green lush. Insert into the picture, fifteen spectacularly beautiful children, children you've longed to be with for the whole past year. Just their wet happy faces and impossible smiles was another glimpse of the beauty of heaven. And then, let it register just how much pure joy was coming off the children. Their delight squealing, carefree and happy and playing, in this singular moment of joy..... And I sat there in the middle of the rushing water and could barely breathe. God's presence, heaven's nearness was so strong so real. Oh my heart, you are forever wrecked by the ecstasy of this moment.

The Thai picnic followed and I'll save the description of that for another blog dedicated to courageous eating. But we lingered in the park long enough for me to lay myself down on the straw mat and have a snooze. A little later, after my nap, Megan and I were sitting watching the younger kids play in a shallower part, and Suradet took the same spot on the mat to rest himself. Sounds like a simple thing, but to me it sort of represented a new level of relaxed connection. Megan gave it the words. More like we were on a family outing than guests being shown around. I liked that.

But this perfect day was not over.

Next we were heading back down to Chiang Mai for the shopping trip. It had been an idea birthed a few trips ago already that we might raise enough money to take the kids into one of the bigger stores in Chiang Mai and allot a certain amount for them to buy a brand new item of clothing. While our kids are not in rags by any means, second hand and few would best describe their wardrobes. Plus the exchange rate meant that about 10 dollars per child would go a long, long way.

Apparently, it wasn't until last minute that Suradet told the children of the reason we were dragging them into a store after a big outing already. But as he explained it you could see their faces completely brighten when they realized they could go choose something for themselves. They scattered happily in clusters of about three or four, helping each other choose.

Anyone who knows me knows that I loathe shopping at home. But this....This was like what the shopping must be like in heaven (a comment for my Sisterhood....you guys would have loved this for sure!).

The day finally ended with evening devotions. Suradet summarized our day and the children together said 'Korp Koon, ka!'. Thank you very much. I told them, best as I could that the gifts we bring are from an entire church who loves them, that we pray for them and have their pictures up on the wall. I told them that our gifts were to encourage them to stay strong in their faith, and if they did that, it would be the best thanks we would ever have. Then we prayed, every voice together and at the end Suradet asked me to close.

And as I was going through the day in my prayer my voice broke in gratefulness. I try not to do that too much, although it's hard when my heart is so deeply touched most of my time here. But last night it was too much and my emotion was very evident.

Afterwards a few of the girls hung around for extra hugs and I kissed each face and told them how much I loved them.

Sai-y hung to the last. Her hug was strong and she started to sob. Sai-y doesn't try to communicate with me as much as some of the others, but when she does, it's like this, more private and without words. She's 17, small and serious, and somewhat reserved in her personality.

So when she approaches me I know she's going to say or do something important.

And so we stood there for at least 10 minutes, both of us crying now, overwhelmed by the enormous generosity of God who gave us all this, all this.

I can't say it often enough. We are making a difference here. God is using every dollar, every Sponsors packet, every letter, every visit to drastically change a desperate trajectory into sobbing gratitude and the potential for great things in the lives of a family, our family, in Thailand.

Can I say thank you enough for letting me come here? No, I can't. I can't.
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Let The Rains Begin

2010-05-11T10:39:00.001-04:00

Ruth Anne: Today, a break in the weather, finally!! Brace yourselves, everyone, for sermon illustrations using heat and thirst as central metaphors! It really has been intense, both emotionally and physically the entire we've been here so far.

But today saw a welcome cloud cover build into black and thunderous storm of joy that poured out its gift ny late afternoon. When it started it was just rain. Megan and I were in the guest house and heard the whistle that usually means supper. So we put on our ponchos and went over

No supper but a few of the girls were still painting the wooden crosses we had brought as part of the craft package. Megan joined the ones playing Blokus.

As the storm grew Nut came from Yupa's kitchen, obviously sent to encourages us to get back to our rooms. But before we could make our way through the translationsn the wind took overn sending us all scurrying into the relative shelter of the kitchen area.

What happened during the next 20 minutes was a strange weave of adventure and intimacy. As Bee and Sai-y clung to me and little Sai to Megan the storm raged in exaggerated torrents of red mud all around us. The other girls either clung to each other or were having too much fun peeking up and over the walln and then running to come tell us what was going on.

There was some cause for concern:owever. These were winds strong enough to drive the rain sideways under the dining shelter straight at the openings in the bamboo walls that were the only things separating us from the thrashing outside . At one pointn a loud metal ripping sound made us all jump, as part of the roof was pried up by the force of the storm.

Both Megan and I love a good thunderstorm back home, so we were having a great time, able to laugh and reassure and cuddle the girls through to the dying down of the wind and the gentling of the rain.

And now it is a mere 29.5 C in our room (all windows open and fans still on full) and everyone feels a bit more human again.

That was one thing about today. The other is about the spunk of a little girl who dared to take me in an arm wrestle. She didn't win, but man is she strong!!

You have to have in your mind a picture of the thin and frightened child the Team met on our first night here, and then compared that to the small but mighty 14 year old who gave me a good run for my money on the wrestling table.

I've said this before, but the song "Give Thanks" has an important connection for me when I consider the truth of the realities lived out in Thailand. "And now let the weak say I am strong.....because of waht the Lord has done for us."

Miki's sponsors are a couple from our church that we all call Nana and Grandad. Guys, just know that this is one strong young lady, all because of the goodness of your hearts. To all Sponsors, thank you. In so many ways, your love is making enormous differnces in the lives of thse kids.

Megan and I are both feeling very glad for the cooler night to settle into now. Tomorrow is a big day. Waterfall - nam dtok - in the morning, and ourbshopping trip in the afternoon!!!

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Another day.

2010-05-10T03:18:00.001-04:00

Megan:

AN INSECT LAID EGGS ON MY SHIRT. What makes it worse is that I must have put it on without noticing, because I didn't see it til I was sitting down at the table 20 minutes later. Ew ew ew ew. Now I'll have to go and shake everything out to make sure there are no more baby nasties in my clothing. Gross!

In other news though, I don't think we've blogged about yesterday, other than the enormously long (but rewarding) church service.

After the service was done I went straight back to bed because I could barely keep my eyes open. I think our regular 5am wake up calls are taking their toll on me! So I slept straight through lunch, which was a little disappointing because all the congregation members stayed for it. Oh well, there is always next sunday at least!

I didn't wake up until 2:30pm or so, and ruth anne I just stayed in our room because it was so hot (the kids were staying indoors too!)

At 3:30pm ruth anne, yupa, seng-jen (suradet's sister), and I headed back to the hot springs. Ruth anne and I wanted to treat the two of them, because it was mother's day afterall. The three of them went for thai massages, but I stayed behind to explore, since I find massages somewhat weird.

I saw the geisers (holy heat batman!) And then went to order myself a bottle of water in thai. I was doing perfect until the very end. I'd handed her my money and was about to walk away when she asked a sentence in thai. I must have a blank expression on my face because she elaborated: "you want straw?" She spoke english. Who knew?

From there we came back to hot springs (the church where we stay, not the actual hot springs we'd just been at...in case that was confusing haha). Ruth anne brought out her laptop and the kids all watched videos of her past trips here. They ADORE seeing themselves in videos. They have a complete riot every time they see themselves.

From there was supper, evening devotions, and straight to bed! We were both pooped! Actually, ruth anne made a semi successful call to the sunday morning team right before we went to bed. So that was nice. :)

A word on the heat: IT IS SO HOT. We have one of those little temperature gauges in our room that we check every day...it says our room is 44 C. Yeah. That's how hot it is here. When we go to bed it's usually a frigid 37 C. Ruth Anne says it's never been this hot here before. We haven't had any clouds either. It's been non-stop sunshine.
Everyone's praying for rain. Not just for physical relief, but because of the plant life. It takes a lot of water for them to be taking care of all the plants they have!

It was kind of funny though...ruth anne was trying to explain that back home in Canada we never have heat like this, and when it does get really hot they put out warnings for people to not go outside. And that when it does get too hot and old people go outside, they will die. Suradet and yupa were absolutely horrified that the elderly people of Canada couldn't take severe heat!

The only reason I don't really feel like a wimp for complaining about being hot all the tome is because all the thais are doing it too. I had kind of assumed they'd be used to this heat, but even they keep going "too hot! Too hot!" All the time. Even they're not used to how hot it has been this past week.

But don't worry everyone, we're drinking a ton of water! I think I got up to about 5 litres the other day. I didn't know that was physically possible, haha!

Well that's all for now. We're supposed to be leaving for our overnight stay at wiang pa pao in about 45 minutes, and let me tell you, we're looking forward to the airconditioned truck ride! :) more later!
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Craving An Ice Cap

2010-05-09T02:04:00.002-04:00

Ruth Anne: Craving an ice cap about now. This is certainly the hottest of the four trips to Thailand that I remember. Those on the first trip will remember the temperatures in Phnom Penh. Well, yeah, that's coming close. With two fans on and a natural breeze helping, our room has chilled to a more comfortable 36 degrees. Right now it's Sunday afternoon and everyone at Hot Springs is observing a Sabbath siesta (although I don't think that's the Thai word for it :).

Even with the discomforts - the heat, rice three times a day, stopping to check the bathroom for giant spiders and scorpions, that sort of thing - my prevailing mood, especially today, is one of astonished yet deeply quiet gratitude.

This morning we worshiped at Hot Springs. What a holy thing it is to sense such a strong presence of God's Spirit even without understanding the words. True, some of the songs are now familiar enough that I can stumble along repeating the sounds and getting it right maybe 50 percent of the time. I have my Thai English Bible and know enough numbers to at least find the passage. There's something of a conext, and enough basic vocab that when Suradet talks about the trouble with the Red Shirts threatening our visit here and when he commends us and our church for trusting God to let us come, I can follow along almost sort of.

But really, mostly I have no clue what's being said. Yet I am totally aware of the spirit of the worshipers, and the strong heart of this Asian preacher man that I have grown to love as my brother.

So, ice caps and ant free (softer) beds not withstanding, I am having a different craving filled now. That's the deep longing I feel most of the time in Canada, waiting for the next visit, anticipating with great delight the next time I would be worshipping at Hot Springs.

Most of you reading this are in bed as I write. Half way around the world it is Mother's Day already. And this mother (and Granny Ruth to a beautiful brood as my husband reminded me in an email this morning) is far away from the most important people in her life who understand me so well that they've let me be here this day.....with these "also important" people.

Thank you.

And I'm stopping at the first Tim's as soon as I get back!!!!
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An Update for May 8

2010-05-08T00:51:00.001-04:00

Ruth Anne; We are settling in to what has become for me at least, that familiar Hot Springs life. The slower pace, the easy way of it, the children especially, are all working their tonic on my work-ravaged soul. I am now keenly aware of how much l've been pushing myself this past while since Dad died and how badly I have needed the simple love of my Thai friends to bring some healing.

Yesterday's experience at the youth prison has left me all the more in awe of a God who just keeps surprising us. Who would have thought that I could have anything to say to such a crowd. But recent experiences, with a family member currently serving time, gave me a connectiong point that I can only believe God chose to use in the hearts of the precious faces there.

I am also preaching on Sunday morning, that is if we can find an interpretor. Mike Flinchum has safely returned and will be with us tonight as we do our evening devotions. However he's not available tomorrow morning. So we'll see what happens. It's part of the adventure. Actually if it turns out I can't that will be good to me. I have yet to hear Suradet preach and would love to this trip.

The heat seems worse than any other time, mostly I think because the rains haven't started yet. Bugs are not as bad, howver, so I guess it goes hand in hand.

Can I say again how deeply grateful I am to be allowed back to this place of peace and filling. Not only are we completely oblivious to any turmoil in other places in the country, but Hot Springs especially is like being at the cottage for me. Hope that's ok with everyone!

Sponsors, your packets were well received as always. We are taking lots of pictures and video.

Time for lunch soon.

Thank you for your prayers. We feel them.
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Our first full day at Hot Springs!

2010-05-07T09:41:00.002-04:00

Megan:

Today we woke up to roosters crowing. At 5am. That's when we had to get up to go to morning devotions. Normally I would have complained about that time (who am I kidding...I still complained!) but the devotion was really neat.

Suradet is getting the kids to memorize psalms. Today they went around and recited psalm 91 for us, which made me incredibly happy since that's my favourite psalm. He's giving them money for however much they can remember. Only Miki has made it too 100 baht!

After they went through today's chapter (on the adulteress among us), Suradet asked Ruth Anne to pray over each child. That was a really cool sight to see.

We had a short wait after that, then it was time for breakfast. It came as somewhat of a surprise to me that "breakfast" basically means first lunch. We had pork fried rice, chicken wings, cucumbers, hot cucumber soup, and mango for dessert. And since I had only eaten about half of it (I was full!) poor Yupa thought I didn't like it and brought out our bread and yogurt. So then I had some of that too.

Much to my happiness, after breakfast we brought out the beading supplies we'd brought for the kids. They were a big hit with both the girls and the boys. Somchai and Entorn sat beside me and were happily chatting to me in Thai. I think they knew I couldn't speak it. But they would ask me questions, and I'd smile and nod, and then we'd all laugh. Who knows what I agreed to!

They were also happy to see Ruth Anne's pictures of her family and her last visit. They were particularily taken with a video of Abby saying "sawatdee ka Bao!".

After our hang outs, it was time for lunch! Since we had to go out anyway, we went to a cute Thai restaurant where Suradet assured us had good ice cream. I wasn't feeling too hungry, so I asked for just a bowl of rice. Even though it wasn't on the menu, they asked the waitress if I could have french fries. Without me even saying anything! and when I was finished my fries, Yupa practically forced me to order some ice cream (not that I'm complaining haha).

From there it was on to the youth prison. Apparently every couple weeks (or every friday...couldn't quite catch it) Suradet, Yupa, Tutu, pastor Mike, Tutu's son Zachary's band, and a few of the children go to the prison to evangelize as Suradet called it. Ruth Anne and I were both particularily excited to see this, and they had even asked Ruth Anne to have something prepared!

So in we go, and the first thing you see is a looooot of boys. Probably about 150 or so. I couldn't believe it. They brought about 15 girls in later (strange number difference, I know).

Suradet and a man who looked suspisciously like a scout leader spoke first, and introduced me and Ruth Anne. We had to stand up individually and they all clapped. Embarrassing for me, but a cool thing to tell as a story later! Then Ruth Anne went up and spoke her bit.

From there we went to dinner, this really cute outdoor place. It made me think more hawaiian than thai, what with it being pure bamboo and sea shell wind chimes, etc. But lovely nonetheless. And guess what? They had ham and french fries on the menu! I have got to be the most accidental western eater in a thai world. Believe me people, I came expecting to eat lots of rice, really. And I haven't even asked for fries. It just happens. :) but I'm quite pleased!

Bring the heat.

2010-05-06T20:00:00.002-04:00

Megan:

If there's one thing people keep asking me about, it's the heat. And after having been at hot springs for a day, I can answer you all now: the heat is brutal. It's basically "hmm, I think I might have an asthma attack. and I'm not even asthmatic."

Let me paint a picture about how hot it is. If you set a cold water bottle down on any surface (indoor or outdoor) it's warm within 5 minutes. When you're drinking water, you're already dehydrated before your next sip. During the day the fan actually makes things worse because it only blows the hot on you at a greater speed. And finally, Ruth Anne says it's the hottest she can ever remember while being here. So you know it has to be hot, haha!
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Waiting For Our Souls to Catch Up

2010-05-05T19:40:00.007-04:00

Ruth Anne:

There's a story somewhere about a North American businessman who was traveling Africa with the help of an indigenous guide and several others who were carrying goods. He had a deadline to make, business to do, so in the first three days of their trek through the jungle, he pressed his guide to keep everyone moving.

On the third day, however, the businessman was confused and irritated when his hired workers refused to move. The guide tried to explain. "The men have been running so fast for three days. They will now wait until their souls catch up with them."

I have come to understand these first few days in Thailand, staying in the comfort of the home of our gracious hosts, Mike and Debbie Flinchum, to be days set aside just for this purpose. There is part of me that still would prefer to be picked up from the airport and head straight out to Hot Springs. Let's get on with why we're here. Let's be with those kids, doing morning devotion times and eating under the dining shelter and playing games and learning Thai and loving and being loved in return. Let me at it!

But there is wisdom is letting your soul catch up with you.

It's more than just the jet lag, as real and disorienting as that can be. It's more than just the fatigue of having been mostly awake for the past 30 hours and the resting that's required to feel halfways normal again. There's something true about losing your soul along the way when you're flying so fast.

So, as anxious as I am for this day to begin, for us to get on our way to Hot Springs and the children, and the beautiful gift of knowing and being known, and loving and being loved, I am very grateful for this time just now.

Because before the flight and on top of the jet lag, I know my own soul has been trying to catch up with me. It's easy to lose yourself in the jungle of pressing demands and an overbooked schedule. It's hard for a soul to keep up.

Last night before dinner Tutu treated us to a swim in the pool that belongs to the gated-community where she lives, and where Mike and Debbie's home is also. The water was warm from being in the sun all day, but now that same sun was setting over the hills, and the air was not as vicious. There was an orange haze over the water, and even though I was half a world away, I couldn't help but be reminded of the sunsets on Georgian Bay that restore me so thoroughly each summer. And there in the midst of the "perk" of an evening swim, I opened myself and received another portion of God's restoration.

Soon we will be packing up to head to the airport to greet Mike, who is coming back from spending time with his family in the US. Then we will get in the truck - the new truck! - and head for the hills - literally.

Soon we will leave our time of catching up and engage in the reason we're here.

Very soon.

A busy day.

2010-05-05T05:31:00.007-04:00

Megan:

And so the rice has begun.

After a lovely sleep (thanks to everyone at home who prayed for us to have a good first night's sleep here!) we both got up and had a leisurely breakfast of yogurt, bread with peanut butter (only me), and dragon fruit (only Ruth Anne). After hearing from both Ruth Anne and Starr about how amazing dragon fruit is, I feel a little traitorous saying that I don't like it...but I don't! It reminds me of papaya, and if there's one fruit I never want to see again for the rest of my life, it's papaya (ask anyone on the Haiti team about the weird papaya drink we had, and you'll understand).

Tutu picked us up at 11:30am sharp, and brought along Nem and her little son Aiden (I have no clue if I've spelled either of those right...at least they're spelled phonetically) who live at the Wiang Pa Pao farm (again...I have no clue about spelling and Ruth Anne's having a nap so I can't ask her. Sorry!). We went straight to Makro (think Costco...but bigger) to buy supplies for the Doi Saket orphanages (all four of them!). It was amazing to see two carts piled high with supplies for over 150 kids, and really makes you realize the work that goes into something like that. Tutu is an amazing woman.

She took us to the restaurant there, and this is where the rice comes into play. I had egg fried rice (rice with onions and egg thrown in) and Ruth Anne had pork fried rice (self-explanatory). It was very tasty, but quite filling, and I felt bad not finishing it all. Tutu and Nem had "papaya salad" as well, which Ruth Anne tried, but I stayed away from. There's just something about staring at pointy crustaceans in my food that doesn't sit well with me.

From there we went to Doi Saket 1 to drop off the first load of supplies. Ruth Anne was quite excited to see her friend Birdy again, and we also met Zachary and his wife again (who you'll recall from two posts back). Doi Saket 1 reminds me a lot of going to summer camp. There's a girls and boys dorm, the learning center, the "auditorium", the kitchen, etc. There weren't too many kids around there, we were wondering if some of them might still be in school.

After that it was off to Doi Saket 2. It's amazing the love these children obviously have for Tutu. She gets out of the truck and right away there are at least four kids suddenly attached to her. However, there were many affectionate children who also came up to me and Ruth Anne and offered little "sawatdee's" and hugs to us. Doi Saket 2 marked our second group picture with lots of children. :) Hopefully there will be many more to come.

Then we went to Doi Saket 3 and 4 (they're together now) where we met many more very affectionate children all offering us hugs. It was so cute. And they absolutely love having their picture taken. When they get to see themselves on that little screen they just giggle away. So be

prepared for quite a few pictures of children when we get back!

As we were driving away, Tutu turns around and goes "Want to see crazy fish?" Seeing as we're getting into the habit of "going with the flow" we both said sure, not knowing at all if we were literally going to see 'crazy fish' or not. But sure enough, we got to a body of water, Tutu and Nem bought some fish food, and they threw it into the water. I don't think I've ever seen so many fish at the surface before. It was incredible. Ruth Anne and Tutu tell me there were ENORMOUS catfish on the other side, but that required crossing this rickety little bridge which I had no faith in, so I stayed with Nem and Aiden and watched the normal kind of crazy catfish.

Now we're back at Mike and Debbie's, taking a rest before Tutu comes and takes us to the pool for a quick swim. Some interesting stories of the day:

Ruth Anne started taking her promise to my parents (to take good care of me) a little too literally, which I realized when I tried to get out of Tutu's truck and found the child safety lock to be on. I had to wait for Ruth Anne to walk around and let me out. Just kidding about taking it too literally though, apparently Tutu didn't even know the child safety lock was on. I just happened to get lucky. :)

Ruth Anne has also begun to confuse me, sometimes while trying and others without. For instance, while we were at Doi Saket 3 and 4 she leans over and goes "So are you ready for the documentary?" I just kind of looked at her, eyebrows raised, as she started going on about the commitment I'd made to Asia's Hope to make a documentary of my time here. After several minutes of me staring at her with a somewhat glazed expression, she started laughing. Yep, it had all been a joke. Thanks Ruth Anne. haha.

But then when we got back to the house I went to the fridge and realized we only had one bottle of water left. So I came out and asked if I should put the water we got last night into the fridge. She just looked at me and went "What water?" And I said "The water we got last night?" And she goes "What water?" It didn't take her long to realize we had actually gotten water, and it was sitting about five feet away from her. I guess the heat is taking it's toll! ;)

Thanks to everyone for their prayers, they're very much appreciated! More to come. :)

The Famous Airport Welcome Picture

2010-05-04T22:12:00.005-04:00

Here we are, being greeted and welcomed by L to R - Bee, Yupa, Ruth Anne, Thima, Sai-y, Nut, Miki, Suradet, Bee (in front) and Megan.

Tutu Bee, Asia's Hope Director, Thailand, and two travel-weary but delighted Canadians.

Today will be recovery day. We'll post again when we can.
We love you all and miss you much and are excited to be here all at the same time.

Ruth Anne

We're here!

2010-05-04T10:18:00.001-04:00

Megan:

We've arrived safe and sound in Chiang Mai. In fact, we've already finished our first day here, which is hard to believe!

When we got to the airport some of the kids (boy Bee, girl Bee, Thim, Sai, Nut, and Miki) came to meet us, along with Tutu, Suradet, and Yupa of course. They brought us a gorgeous bouquet of flowers each, and if that wasn't enough, gave us flower garlands to wear and single stem roses! The garlands are hanging in my room as I write, and let me tell you, they smell good!

Then we were driven to Mike and Debbie's house, where we'll be staying until Thursday morning when we pick Mike up from the airport. After hanging with the kids for a little, Ruth Anne and I were given time to rest up. Ruth Anne opted for a shower, I opted for a nap.

Tutu's son Zachary and his wife (and little 2 month old daughter Michelle) then took us to Carrefour for dinner and to buy some essential items like breakfast foods, water, etc. I had mcdonalds for dinner, and interestingly enough, their burgers taste better here! Who knew?

Now it's time to go to bed. We're both wiped after a very long day, but in very good spirits. :) thanks to everyone for their prayers! More to blog tomorrow!
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Almost There

2010-05-03T20:53:00.002-04:00

Ruth Anne: We promise that soon there will be more exciting posts than those written from airport waiting lounges :). But for now, this is all part of the experience. I remember Dave Driver saying over and again that first trip, "Ruth Anne! You've got to make the trip part of the journey." Just another thing I love about that guy - his ability to be real and profound in the simplest of ways.

Megan fared well on our long, long ride, even though she did mention something about shooting herself in the face at about 10 hour mark. Personally, I think I'm finally getting the swing of this, because it seems to get a bit easier each time. We were able to sleep "enough" to help recharge the batteries for this last leg.

And now all I can think of is seeing the kids at the airport. And because now I know the airport well enough....the plan is to buy them ice cream at that Dairy Queen right there, and have a little visit right off the bat. Oh yes! Just thought of that this minute and sent off an email to Suradet to get permission.

So soon now. On the way over, and still recovering from what seemed like an impossibly stress-filled past three weeks or so, all I can hear God telling me is that this trip will have some similar components for me than the first one - particularly in reminding me of His sufficiency against my inadequacies, and that all He wants to do He can do, even when I am feeling small and empty.
That word from Him disturbs me a little. It took a bit to recover from the spiritual renovations that went on. But I am ever so grateful for them, and, with respect for the implications, look forward to anything God wants to do in me again and new this time.

Megan promises to write something once we get there. So far, it's been all about airports and airplanes and that's about it.

Seven minutes to boarding call.

Are We There Yet?

2010-05-03T02:30:00.007-04:00

Ruth Anne:

Nope.

Waiting bleary in Los Angeles for our 1:15 a.m. (that's 4:15 a.m. Ontario time!) flight across the Pacific Ocean. And although we are feeling the dragging effects of such a long day, we have actually experienced very smooth goings so far (not counting the 'hard time' Megan got at US customs for having "too much luggage to haul around Thailand").

Already I am in that surreal state where you can barely tell where you are, and you're not really sure what day it is. Except I'm very mindful of the significant morning we spent together at Highview 'yesterday'. I am still recovering from the surprise of having 24 MORE parking spaces spoken for in our Fundraising Campaign for Phase One of the Property Expansion Project, bringing the total to 54 out of 100, and only five days into the campaign! What a great note to leave on!

Both Megan and I felt your love 'this morning' as we were being said good bye to. Megan says she's never got that many hugs in one day in her whole life! George, thanks so much for your send off. Your specific 'charge' to each of us meant a lot and is trailing after us as we go, in all the good ways significant blessings can do.

Megan is traveling like a seasoned trooper. We are enjoying easy conversation that makes a "red eye" flight less brutal. Although......we haven't even started the most grueling part of the journey quite yet....the 13 hours we'll get to spend trying to sleep between here and Taipei.

I can't wait to see the kids! I can't wait to "talk" with Suradet and Yupa. To hug Tutu and encourage her. To visit with Lew, the young widow recovering from the loss of her husband and her own damaged body following a motorcycle accident. I can't wait to be there, undeservedly receiving from God in this unexpected place of strength and restoration.

Abby and Zachary, I miss you so much already. Kristyn, thank you so much for your support in letting me go for this length of time. Ken...what can I say? You are my hero in so many ways.

Okay....can we get on the plane soon? I need to tuck myself into a corner and sleep.

Megan would sign off on this posting too....except I think she's just konked out in the chair beside me. (Starr, the photo is proof that I take pictures of more than just you sleeping in LAX :)

The Night Before

2010-05-01T20:04:00.002-04:00

Ruth Anne: Who can sleep, but sleep is the only thing left to do tonight. And I'd better do it well because I'm really, really tired.

Tomorrow, Megan and I will get on a plane and head to the other side of the world. We're going because God has been go amazingly generous to us in allowing us to forge a deep and exciting partnership with a rather unusual "family" in Northern Thailand.

My own heartspace is very ready to receive from God right now. You can check out my personal blog "Bread and Honey" to catch more on that.

Meanwhile, it's time to let go and let all the planning so far, and all the packing so far, and the lists and the emails and all of it....be enough.

Pray for our traveling please. This is always an item of need, but particularly with things in Thailand being a little dicy at the moment. Pray for Mega, her first time to Hot Springs (but not to a missions trip since she is a Haiti Team veteran).

And pray that both of us will be open to the lessons He has for us for the next three weeks.

Keep a watch. We'll be posting as we go, as much as we can.

One day to go!

2010-05-01T19:40:00.001-04:00

Megan:

We're both excitedly getting ready for tomorrow. I can hardly believe it's already here. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in Ruth Anne's office on a cold November day, talking about how fun this trip would be.

But one thing that neither of us are too savvy with? Technology. So here I am, the day before we're going to leave, attempting to set up our blackberry-to-blog posts. Let's all hope they work, otherwise we're not going to have too many posts while we're gone! :)

Can't wait to start blogging during our trip!

Stay in touch. Get Hotmail & Messenger on your phone.

Dangerous Destinations

2010-04-30T22:32:00.006-04:00

Ruth Anne: With less than 48 hours to go now, Megan and I are in the mad throes of packing, midst some disturbing news headlines.

If you haven't been keeping up with world news, you might not know that political unrest, focused mainly in Bangkok (Thailand's capital to the south), has seen that city put under a state of emergency, and prompted other countries to issue travel warnings.

We're still going. At least we are as of Friday night - the time of this posting. It's a tricky decision. Lots of factors come into play, and there may still come a point where we'll have to postpone our visit to Hot Springs. I've spent the last few days getting my head around that possibility.

But the situation right now is such that air travel is not disrupted, Chiang Mai, far to the north, is not directly affected other than so-far non-violent, pro-government rallies at the university (no where near where we will be). And our Thai hosts will be there at the airport to greet us, taking us to Hot Springs up and out of the city. We have been assured that our destination is not dangerous.

There is a distinct advantage to having both Thai and Western friends who live there, speak the language and know the culture. They've experienced the political unrest first hand already for many years and have that sixth sense about danger or lack thereof. They can help interpret the news from "the inside", and reassure us that our time in their country will be as safe, at least as safe as any long distance mission trip ever is anyways.

Which brings me to the point.

No matter what the circumstances, you always go not knowing. Always. When you follow God into Regions Beyond, it's always a dangerous destination, on more than one level.

We have and will bring prudence to bear on the decision to go or stay, inviting the opinion of the people who know the situation best, and being willing to set some criteria for remaining at home. We will submit to the call of those in charge and those who love us and have a vested share in our well-being. We will exercise all reasonable caution, in all the traveling and the entire time there. We will. Reckless abandon is not good stewardship.

But the bottom line is that moving out into Regions Beyond will never be as safe as staying put. If I wanted to stay safe, I'd never have gone on that first trip. That was not safe, not for my heart. That was not safe, not for our church, who has since then risked so much, and invested so deeply in order to reach out to 15 kids who didn't have anything and now are thriving. It's not safe to go where there are spiders as big as your hand in the bathroom, sinister microbes lurking in the water, and angry mobs rioting in the streets.

It's not safe to go where you'll be knocked out of your categories, thrust into cultural mind benders, and pushed to the end of yourself emotionally and psychologically.

It's not safe to expose yourself to the agonies of desperate, beautiful, poverty-damaged people, and look into the eyes of children who have been abandoned. It's not safe to look into the face of hopelessness and dare your heart not to be demolished.

It's not safe. Who said anything about safe?

Of course, let's not be stupid. And that's where the criteria for cancellation could still come into play and ground us. And I'll cry for three days, and then get on with planning the next trip. I'll stay home.

But I still won't be safe. Not if I let God keep taking me to all the dangerous places He longs to make lovely by sending His ambassadors there.

And here's another thing. This safety thing. It's all about me. What about our kids? If it's not safe for me to travel there, how safe is it for them to live there? This is our family, living there, where it's not safe.

So....I'm still packing....so far. But if we go or if we stay, this thing we've got going with Hot Springs, with real live people living in dangerous situations, it's dangerous.

I have to admit it. This following hard after God thing....has taken me to some very dangerous destinations.

Tickets are booked for May 2010 Visit!

2010-03-12T15:49:00.002-05:00

HIGHVIEW'S NEXT VISIT TO HOT SPRINGS
May 2 to 19, 2010

Ruth Anne:

I can hardly believe it. But with the itinerary right in front of me, it has to be true. I'm going back to Thailand!

Megan's coming this time. I LOVE it when our young adults get excited about Regions Beyond. And I think Megan will be perfect for this happy assignment - spending time with our Thai family, bringing packets from their individuals sponsors, games and crafts to do while we're there, speaking English to improve their language skills, learning Thai to improve ours.

Except, I already know that's just what we're saying is the reason we're going. Those are our reasons. God very likely, almost guaranteed, has different reasons entirely. I know this, because this is my fourth time, and every time He's faithfully, sometime painfully, always beautifully let His reasons happen in me.

We can talk about a shopping trip with the kids, and how we're raising funds to take them out to the "big store" to buy something to wear, something to play with and something to eat.

We can talk about the new truck, already purchased, but still needing our help to pay off, and the way those funds are coming in too, steadily.

We can talk about our encouragement to them, our half-way-around-the-world adopted family, and how when we visit them it's like Grammas or Uncles or Big Sisters coming for 'summer' holidays, to go on trips, and just hang out, and to share all the loving our small Southwestern Ontario church can send with us all the way to Southeast Asia.

We can talk about all that. And they are fine, fine reasons to book tickets to the other side of the planet.

But the truth is, God is already making ready His lavish gifts to Megan and I, and by proxy to Highview, because we'll be there.

This never seems right to me. Except when I take out the arrogance and insert the humble understanding of all Suradet and Yupa and 15 beautiful orphans have to offer us. They are over the top rich in resources of faith and love and inspiration and prayer and encouragement and energy, and they generously share this with us, all the time.

And they can't wait for us to visit. They send pictures and emails (in ever increasingly understandable English!) to tell us so. To bless us. To let us know they are praying for us.

And I can't wait to get there.

Megan, we are in for an adventure!!!!!

______________________________

Want to contribute?
You can help support the funds of the trip.
You can donate to the truck fund.
You can donate to the shopping trip.
Please contact our church office at highview@buildingbiggerhearts.ca. Donations over $10 are tax receipted.

_______________________________

Hot Springs Orphan home is a ministry of Asia's Hope.

Almost Home

2009-05-15T01:24:00.002-04:00

Ruth Anne: One of the significant aspects of our connection to Thailand is just how long it takes to get there and back! As I write we are sitting at Gate 48A in the Los Angeles airport, reveling in our Starbucks drinks and wishing we were already home. We have two more flights to go, unbearable as that sounds now to our very weary butts. George says that our howevers and our perhap`s are okay, but our butts are busted, the really bad humour an indication of our blurry state of mind. It`s particularly disturbing that all of us just laughed really hard. Oh my, we are tired!

While we were in Taipei on our lenghtly layover, we had hoped to write a long blog about the amazing work that God is doing in the lives of our orphans in Thailnd. At the very least, we were going to attempt a lighter side of missions trips by sharing with you the funny stories we`d collected (even though we realized that most of them had to do with George..hmmmm). But no blogging happend. Fatal error: Discovering the free massage chairs!!!! We visited two separate areas, hoping no one would notice. Sorry guys, but the priorties were very, very clear.

So, we`re almost home. Weary but filled up, already missing the kids, Suradet and Yupa, Tutu and the other new and amazing friends God has given us.

There`ll be more stories, humours and otherwise. For now, just know that we have felt your prayers and are deeply grateful to all of you, especially our families, for letting us go.

See you soon.

Arrival: Hot Springs Finally and Again

2009-05-12T19:13:00.004-04:00

In continuation of my "retro-blog", here's an entry from our first arrival to Hot Springs.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

The fan is not oscillating. Starr and I absolutely have to have it blowing full on us just to be able to breathe, it’s that hot. Bugs are crawling all over – the walls, the floor, our beds. We’ve eaten rice again tonight.

It’s hot and buggy and ricey…..and I’m am totally, easily at home.

We arrived about 6 p.m. or so following an outdoor, very Thai restaurant meal (of rice and stuff) with Suradet who had come to Chiang Mai to pick us up. Tutu said he'd insisted :). As we drove out of the driveway of the restaurant, and on to the road that would take us the rest of the way there, Suradet called in our imminent arrival to Hot Springs on the phone. My Thai is still very weak, but I’m surprised at how much more I’m understanding this time....enough so that I knew that's what the call was about.

There was the surge of excitement as we turned off the road again and up that long and lovely laneway. I'm having even more fun realizing it's George and Starr's first glimpse of this place that has now become famous for Highview.

We drove up to the church, but then went beyond, putting the truck into low gear for that grinding chug up the back hill to come to a rest just in front of the building we'd be staying in, the same as when I was here in October.

The children were waiting on the porch. It was a little curious because they were all lined up in a formation of some sort. But then Miki hit the button on the CD player and the music started, and it was You're Everlasting Love and they performed it for us!!!

I had taught them that song when I was here last! And that's a story all unto itself. But this welcome.....what a welcome. For us, for our arrival! They are jumping (well more like stepping) side to side, doing all the actions to – “Your Everlasting Love”. It was a fabulous way to say, "we're glad you've come."

We hauled in our luggage and asked for 10 minutes to sort ourselves out. But in short order it was time to give out the goodies -- at least the first batch.

Sponsors packets were opened. This time it was much more organized. George handed them out and each child came and received them in turn. He was great at it, making sure that neither Bao, nor the two new children had to wait until the end. It was just the first of several ways George would demonstrate a desire to really understand these kids and their culture -- all the multilayers of it.

The kids themselves were a bit more orderly in opening and looking through the packets this time compared to last, and there wasn’t as much of the switching around, equalizing of goods. It think this may mean we're getting better at figuring out how to put together the packets. So much more to learn though.

Now it was time for evening devotions. Just as we were packing up to head over, Suradet asked me to teach for it. I said “sure!”. What a contrast to my totally Western way of being that I'd brought the very first trip, and how unnerving I had found those random, spontaneous invitations to teach.

But of course, before all that comes the singing. What is it about those little voices? Can't hardly understand anything at all, but my spirit is lifted and filled up. And actually, by now, there are a few of the Thai songs that I can sort of make stumbling attempts to join along with. How cool is that?

I didn’t cry until I got to reading the Scripture. Philippians 1:1-11. I chose it because I wanted to use it to speak directly to the children about my feelings for them and Paul expresses “same same”(common English-Thai expression meaning, "it's just the same with us!". That was my repeating phrase – Paulo – Ajahn Rut: Same same. Amazingly, I think they got it.

"It is right for me to feel this way about you, since I have you in my heart….". And my voice hardly holds out for me.

Father, I am a bit afraid of just how much this place means to me. It is just a bit too weird that I would feel this familiar, this at home here. I’m not sure what it means, or what you might want me to do about it, but I only ask that you help make sure I listen. Help me pay attention to what this is.

Thank you. I know full well I don’t deserve to be able to come back. I know full well I don’t deserve the respect and love I receive from these sweet children, or from Suradet and Yupa. I ask that you help me to live up to it, to be worthy of this Thailand thing you’ve called me to.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Back In Chiang Mai

2009-05-12T09:53:00.006-04:00

Ruth Anne: Why do I do this to my heart?

We are back in Chiang Mai for a few days of gathering ourselves back together before heading home. Our time at Hot Springs is done. Can't hardly believe it. We've had limited but hopefully adequate access to the blog, some of us being more wordy than others :), but all of us coping best we can with relentless heat and vicious humidity. It is a jungle out there, afterall, and rainy season notwithstanding, we've had some very tropical weather to contend with. And some emotional stuff to contend with. Fortunately, no real health stuff to contend with, although both Starr and George are coming down with colds. Go figure.

So here we are, showered and reveling in the AC, after having said our goodbyes to the children at Hot Springs.

But wait! That's the hard part. Let me get to the fun stuff.

THE WARDROBES ARRIVED TODAY!!!!

If you don't know already, it was the main project of this particular trip to gather funds for wardrobes for the kids. In previous efforts we had pulled together what was needed to purchase mattresses, a badly needed item at the time. Then, once we got the kids up off the floor, it was time to get their stuff up off the floor.

It was a fairly big deal for Suradet and Yupa and all of us there this morning. First, the area receiving the wardrobes - the side room off the children's bedrooms - had to be cleared away. Then we waited. We had been told the delivery would happen at 9 a.m. By 10, Suradet called and was told 11 a.m. This is very typical, so it didn't really phase anyone too much. And since we'd finished our packing, we came down to the table and an impromptu English/Thai lesson emerged, which was often the case in the inbetween moments. Some of my best "conversations" happened with Suradet in these times. At the moment, I'm trying to get the months of the year under my belt, but it's not sticking very well. Blame it on the humidity. I think my brain is slippery.

It was just after 11 when the wardrobes and bookcases arrived, piled high in the truck, Thai style. In the truly blistering heat, the delivery guys not only had to unload 8 wardrobes and 8 bookcases, but they had to quickly remove their shoes every time they got to the door, a very clever trick to watch.

In very short order a whole new room appeared, complete with a space for each child to claim as their own. I only wish we could have been there to see the kids' faces when they first saw them. But we'd had to say good bye before then. Oooh....That's the hard part again. Which actually didn't happen until after we'd seen them off to school.

THE KIDS STARTED SCHOOL TODAY!!!!!

They were all in their uniforms, part of what our sponsorship provides, and they were looking so sharp and ready to begin another school year that we just had to do the doting relative thing and take a whole lot of pictures. We were invited to take the drive with them to drop them off, first the younger ones, then the older ones. Yes, they ride in the back of the truck. Who knew going to school could be so much fun?

But the school ride actually takes us to a point AFTER the goodbyes, which I guess I've been avoiding because it's only going to make me cry again, and George and Starr have had just about enough of that by now, I'm thinking. (Not really, they've been great team mates, even in these last rather emotional days.)

We Had to Say Goodbye Today

It's hard though. You come and invest yourself, and then, when it's time to go, it just hurts. It just does. Last night was the hardest, I think. For me at least it was.

We'd had a particularly energetic and Spirit-strong worship time for evening devotions. I'd forgotten this, but Suradet can get downright bouncy - like our Derek - when he gets all worked up in worship, and it was like that. There were songs we recognized and songs we didn't, but either way it was like sucking in great wonders of happiness and praise and connection with this amazing God who created these amazing kids and allows you to have this amazing time with them. And I was all weepy already. But then Suradet quieted things down and we started singing Give Thanks - Korp-koon. And we get to that part where the weak say they are strong and the poor say we are rich, and I've completely lost it. Just standing there, crying quietly, overwhelmed with the presence of God in the voices and lives of people who really have so little but have so much.

That was last night.

And then this morning....after morning devotions....and it's the first day of school so Suradet has them do this Thai prayer line thing where each child lines up and stands with hands turned up as to receive the prayers of their elders. And Suradet and Tumanon and me and George, we go down the line, praying for each child individually. Touching them, speaking their name, commending them and offering them and advocating for them to God. It was okay until I got to near the end of the line where my own sponsored girl Thim stood, and right next to her little Miki who also has made special friends with me, and I'm trying to pray, honest I am, but my voice is squeaking out from a throat tight with knowing this is goodbye again. And just when you think it's safe to pretend you're not falling apart, Suradet asks if I will close by praying over all the children one last time. Brutal.

So why do I do this to my heart?

When you know it's going to hurt, why bother to come?

We've asked that question from the beginning. We've asked that question in new ways right smack in the middle of the trip. We know how much this costs, and now we know better than we did before what the needs are here, what still has to be done. We don't like the heat and we don't like eating rice three times a day, and we don't like big spiders or little scorpions in the bathroom. We've been uprooted from our families and our jobs and our regular lives and thrust into a world where everything is different and everything is the same all at the same time, and it messes with your mind and stresses out your body and rips out your heart. So why come?

I think part of the answer could be in what happened about, oh day three of our stay at Hot Springs. Suradet was telling the children, in Thai, that they were to pray for our sponsors and to thank God for sending "The Team" here to us. I know enough Thai words and he used our names, and talked about how long and big a trip it was for us to come, so I know that's what his instructions were. And then he started to pray, but had to stop.

Normally there's this thing they do, where Suradet starts out with 'hallelujah' and just launches into a prayer which is a signal for all the children to pray out loud at once; sort of this lovely, tonal melody of prayer that is wierd and beautiful at the same time. But this time, he started but had to stop. And there was an awkward silence, as if the children weren't sure what to do. Then one of them, probably Teh, got the ball rolling instead and they went ahead and did the prayer chorus thing. Suradet stayed quiet. And I know I'm still working through the language and culture thing, and I may not have understood this entirely, but I am almost positive that he wasn't praying because he couldn't talk with a throat tight from knowing that he was not alone in raising these kids. That someone, somewhere cares enough to actually come and know this.

He must have told me a hundred times. Yupa too, especially just this morning, kneeling together on the floor of the room where Starr and I were packing up. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Please tell members church, sponsors, we thank you for helping us. We thank you for sending you here. God bless you. God bless you. There are tears. There are hands pressed together and low down wais. There are things that can't be said in Thai OR in English.

So, if you don't think it matters, it does. If you think what you've given is too small, it's not. If you wonder why we're baking and doing Christmas bazaars and putting notices in the View, it's for this.

For goodbyes that hurt too much, because hearts have come together under God to rescue and feed and nurture and love His kids.....in a little place on the other side of the world....where my heart is wrecked again.

Feeling lazy

2009-05-11T05:14:00.001-04:00

Feeling lazy

George: 35 C in the shade. At least the wind is picking up. Another thunderstorm appears to heading our way. The pace of life slows down in the afternoon. Even the kids seem to disappear (now I know where - they hide in the church basement watching TV). After waking up at 4:00 AM, a nap after lunch seems like a great idea.

See ya (yawn ...)

Weirdest experience ever...

2009-05-11T00:16:00.002-04:00

Starr: This trip is by far the weirdest experience of my life. Don't get me wrong - its probably also the most amazing experience of my life. But still...weird. Its hard to explain the mish-mash that is Thai culture. It's an old meets new (tribal meets urban), western meets south-east asia thing. One minute I'm worshiping in the small Hot Springs church sweating like you wouldn't believe, the next minute I'm being driven by Daniel (one of Tutu's son's) through beautiful Thai countryside in his air-conditioned Honda Jazz listening to Justin Timberlake. Woah.

Thanks to you all for following the blog...I'm still alive! I'm not a fan of the two-thumbed typing on the blackberry's, sorry for my 'absence'. There's so much to catch you all up on - this post may be a bit random as I go through some highlights.

Let's start off with some funnies... George has multiple bruises on the top of his head due to tiny door frames. Photo evidence to follow. I successfully climbed up and down the mountain/cave in 39 degree weather (yes, that's Celsius folks) and now I'm catching a cold. Also, the language barrier is proving to be quite a hilarious experience. The other day John McCollum (spelling?), the new Executive Director of Asia's Hope was giving his first address to the Staff as director. He asked them to read from Colossians 1 "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints..." Such sweet words of encouragement. However, the translator mistakenly read from Galatians 1 "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all." Oops! After receiving quite a few confused looks, the misunderstanding was all straightened out.

Now for an events overview... backing up to Tuesday, when we went to Hot Springs park. It was so fun to get out with the kids and do activities that they wouldn't normally be able to do. It is a beautiful park. I just didn't understand the whole concept in sticking my already sweaty feet into 40 degree C water... call me crazy. We were able to get ice cream after, which makes more sense to me.

Wednesday we went to visit both high school and elementary school. We were able to talk briefly with the Principle of the High school. He seemed very compassionate and expressed his awareness that the majority of the kids in the surrounding area come from broken homes and that they try to make school a positive environment. At the elementary school we saw Miki hugging one of her teachers, which I found to be very comforting. After that was the mountain and cave climb, which Ruthanne already talked about.

Thursday was definitely a highlight of the trip for me. In the morning we all piled into Pastor Suradet's pickup (all 15 kids in the back) and took a drive to the Elephant Show. There we met up with some of the younger kids from the other Doi Saket orphan homes who had never seen the show before. We got there in good time and were able to buy some bunches of banana's and feed them too the elephants! So much fun! Some of the kids were so into it - you get to feed an animal by sticking food in it's nose! COOL! But others were hesitant to get close to such big animals. Then the crowds moved to a stadium-like area, Thai style of course. The elephants are quite talented... playing harmonicas with their trunks, soccer, and even painting pictures!

After that, we treated our Hot Springs kids to lunch at a buffet and went back to Doi Saket 1. This is the biggest of Asia's Hope's orphan homes in Thailand (housing 80ish kids, I believe) and often serves as a Base Camp for events. Thursday afternoons event: needles! (Sorry to the nurses reading, we couldn't get a straight English answer for what sort of vaccinations they were.) A westerner coming up the driveway would have had no clue what was going on, it is so incredibly different than the way we do it in Canada. All the kids are crowded around a picnic table while the nurse prepares a needle. A brave kid steps up, gets stuck with the needle, squishes their face in pain... while the surrounding kids laugh. Cheap entertainment I guess? On the flip side, it was a cool thing to see. Vaccinations are what part of the child sponsorship pays for.

Friday afternoon George, Ruthanne, John McCollum, and I went up to Wiang Pa Pao farm. Owned by Asia's Hope, there is a house on the property where 4 widows live. Currently they're building a widow's house and the current house will be converted into another orphan home. Tutu is the Thailand director of AH and her parents have a house at Wiang Pa Pao as well. They farm many delicious things (Lychee fruit was ripe :)) They also have a bunch of pigs where they have a bio gas system set up. We met up with Ashley there as well. She's a 19 year old intern who has been here for 8 months. It was nice to spend some time with her and to have another person my own age around (NOT that George and RA are old...) We all spent the night and the next day George and RA were able to sit down with John and Tutu and talk about the Highview/Hot Springs/Asia's Hope partnership.

After our little retreat, it was back to Hot Springs. Our kids are fantastic and it's so enjoyable to just sit there and play dominos or cuddle despite the sweat. I'm still trying to find words to express the joy and contentment of spending time with the wonderful kids! There are so many little stories and amazing moments we've had with them, I can't wait to share more when I get home. It's hard enough to express these experiences in person, let alone over the internet.

Sunday morning was the service at Hot Springs. RA preached and did wonderfully as always. Before the official service, there was a sort of Sunday School time and George spoke on Faith. During communion, I played a song on guitar while the three of us sang... we basically ran the show!

After church I was driven back to Doi Saket to spend some time shadowing Ashley while the other two stay at Hot Springs. It's been a great experience for me to see what the life of an intern is like. Today there are some people from Campus Crusade who have come to do an English Camp for the week. So much fun. I head back to Hot Springs tonight (not really sure how I'm getting back...but even if we had a plan, it would change!) and we'll spend one more day at Hot Springs before heading back to the Guest House for a day. I know I won't want to leave our kids, but a day at the guest house will help prepare us for the flight/transition back home.

Sorry if this post seems long... I still feel like I've left so much out! But it's lunch time here, so I need to be off. I hope this post is coherent. If it's not, I blame it on the cold.

Thanks again to all of you back home for your continued encouragement and prayers. We definitely would not be here without you!

Mountains and Elephants

2009-05-07T06:46:00.000-04:00

Ruth Anne: The hot afternoon of a full and early day severely tempts me to nap instead of blog. Fortunately I have just downed my daily requirement of diet coke (said to keep unwanted bugs at bay) so I'm more than ready for the task. It might not be an ice cap but it does the trick. Brace yourselves everyone!
We are wrapping up day five of our actual stay here at Hot Springs. As was my experience last fall when I stayed here alone, we are most definitely being well cared for and welcomed into this amazing family. Because we are a slightly bigger team, and because this is the last week of school break for the children there is a definite air of special-treat -- Thai orphan style, of course.
Yesterday we went for a hike up the mountain. At least that's what we were sure Suradet had said. George was ecstatic by the idea. Starr and I were considerably less enthusiastic. But since this was to be a family outing, we figured if the kids could do it, so could we. (How embarrassing to be out climbed by teeny orphans, cuteness factor notwithstanding). However, once there we were presented not with a mountain face, but with an endless set of steep, uneven stairs, two colourfully painted snakes providing an unending handrail.
George was fine, although a bit disappointed not to need his compass. Starr just turned 20 so she basically floated up with the kids. Granny Ruth on the other hand just kept praying for God's supernatural strength and kept reminding herself what a good workout this was for the glutes.
The stairs finally came to a jelly-legged end, only to open to the mouth of a cave that took you all the way back down......to the bottom of the moutain and a sacred place of worship for Buddhist monks.
Physical requirements aside, it was so cool. All along the walkway of this enormous natural indoor room were shrines and statues, mostly positioned near unusual formations and stalgmites rising twenty feet to the roof of the cave.
Suradet gathered us all in a circle at one point and one by one the children echoed their clear strong voices in reciting Scripture they have memorized. We joined hands and sang a few songs, the light of Jesus piercing through the many layers of darkness in that cave.
For a brief moment the lights went out. All hands around the circle grabbed tighter. The blackness was utterly complete. For a second or two I was sure we were in for a really amazing missions trip story of how we got 15 orphans out of the darkness by the grace of God and the help of the flashlight and compass George had in his backpack. However, happily this will likely only surface as a really cool sermon illustration because the lights came back on and all we had to do was to climb back up those stairs......and then all the way down again. Which we did with little incident other than the small but obviously dangerous snake we encountered which Suradet made short order of by the use of a hard plastic water bottle and an effective clubbing motion.
There was a large snake on the road too. And a very large, rather stupid waterbuffalo. There have been swarms of really big bugs at night and geckos in the bathroom.
Its the children that fascinate us more, though. Painting with them -- wait till you see some of their art!!! -- playing chess with them, reading to them or having them read to us. Singing with them -- what big voices for little people -- teaching them new songs, and having them teach us.
Morning devotions are the best. Yesterday, I could see the sunrise, purple and glorious, come up over the mountain. The kids were singing. And I almost thought maybe I had died on the stairs afterall and now I was in heaven. Almost, because I was sitting on the floor and my back was killing me, and I'm pretty sure this would not be the case were I really in heaven.
I am loving every minute. I love how well the Team is walking together in this. I love talking with Suradet and Yupa and knowing them more. I love the hugs and attention from the kids. I am undone by being allowed to be here with them again. God has done a Ps 37:4 thing for me this trip. The deep desire of my heart all winter was to be here with them again. And here I am, undeserving but unspeakably grateful.
Today was the Elephant Show and innoculations at Doi Saket -- more words and some pictures later. Tomorrow is a trip up to the widow's farm at Wiang Pa Pao where we will have an important meeting with Asia's Hope Board members also here from NA, to discuss further the future of our partnership with Hot Springs. I can hardly wait!!!!!
Thank you for praying. There have been struggles, different for each Team member. But in so many ways, we are certain of God's presence with us and that you are praying for us.

Plumbing and fashion

2009-05-05T21:27:00.000-04:00

George: For those of you more interested in the technical aspects of our visit, this post is for you.
1. The orphanage uses well water. During the dry season (if I understand properly), extra water is brought in with tanker trucks and stored in underground tanks. They also have several cisterns to store rain water. Sewage goes to septic tanks.
In each bathroom, there is a toilet, shower nozzle (on the end of a hose), small bucket, and large pail. (There is another device, but I will let the ladies explain that). So, to take a shower, you fill the large pail with water. Then, you pour the water over yourself with the small bucket. It is a good idea to fill the pail in the evening, since the water stops working at night (for some unknown reason).
2. I am not wearing any socks with my sandals.

A beautiful day

2009-05-05T20:54:00.000-04:00

George: It is our third morning at Hot Springs, and the days are starting to blur together. This morning, "Anjean Ruth" and I attended the morning devotion time. (5:00 AM start - good thing the roosters are making lots of noise). We are getting better at our numbers - we can usually catch the page number or chapter/verse. During one of the songs (all the kids singing in Thai, of course), Ruth Anne watched the sun rise over the mountains - beautiful, soft colours. She said it was like a little taste heaven.
We are now enjoying home videos on Ruth Anne's computer. We are clustered around the dining table (tableclothes provided by Air China), watching a video from the first trip in February 2008. (Just saw Jen - hi Jen!!!). Funny, the kids love watching themselves on TV!
Lots going on - yesterday we went to the Hot Springs park with the kids. Today, we visit the schools to pay the tuition. Then, this afternoon, we go mountain climbing! (Well, a hike to the top of a nearby mountain with the kids - bring it!!).

P.S. For now, we cannot post the comments made by people on the blog. We do appreciate your support and prayers!

Small people, big day

2009-05-04T10:15:00.000-04:00

George: Today was a big day. A couple of times I had to stop and ask: did we just get here yesterday? Why does today seem so big?
What is a big day? Might be a long day - I was up by 4:30. Could be a busy day - we certainly did many things. But, today was a big day because it was a full day - full of small people with big hearts. People filled with the spirit of God.
People who were up at 5:00 AM for morning devotions (very quietly, unlike the previous evening). People who continue to cook and serve great meals for us. People who love to play games (Dutch Blitz and Funny Monkies in the morning, chess in the afternoon). People who love to look at pictures of Hot Springs and of Highview. People who love to sing to God.
Many things happened today (diverted water during a driving thunderstorm, a trip to spa), but those are stories for later. Today was a big day because we were with the people at Hot Springs.
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

NEWS FLASH!!!

2009-05-03T21:48:00.000-04:00

George is wearing his vest. Pictures to follow.

We are here! (really)

2009-05-03T19:44:00.001-04:00

George: Now the work starts! No more comfortable guest house with a king size bed and ensuite. No more gated community. Instead, think of Camp Mishewa where the "cabin" is a concrete building with screen windows and doors - no curtains, no cupboards, no shelves - just a matress and rug on a tile floor. I do have a table as well.

We are staying in the community room and guest home. Used for group activites when no guests are here. The shower room and bathroom are the same room - try not to get the toilet wet!

We attended the evening devotions / service - some loud singing and a whole bunch of bugs! Ruth Anne did a quick sermon. We also had a group prayer time, I think. Pastor Suradet started, everyone else joined in - saying their own prayers, and quite loudly. A lot of energy here!

Heading Off to Hot Springs

2009-05-03T05:37:00.001-04:00

Ruth Anne: It's late on a hot, hot Sunday afternoon for us. In 30 minutes Suradet will be here.

We have rounded off our last day here in Chiang Mai by attending worship service at Doi Saket this morning, and it was completely wonderful to be there. I forgot how much I missed hearing the children sing. Made me cry. But it's okay....George is so sensitive he's offered to bring a pail around with him so he can mop me up off the floor any time this happens in the future :P.

Speaking of George, he did a wonderful job leading Communion this morning, working with his interpretor as if he's done this all his life. It was a bit unnerving not knowing what was expected, since we arrived at the same time the service started and "missed the service rehearsal". Hint: There is no service rehearsal. Whispered instructions as the servers are coming forward was all George had. And he handled it like a pro.

I thoroughly enjoyed "preaching" this morning....a far cry from the dismal experience it was for me first time around in February 2008 when I completely bumbled all over myself in Penohm Pehn. Perhaps I'm just getting used to it, perhaps I'm letting the culture of it sink in better. Perhaps I just know people better and that makes all the difference. Either way, the translator and I worked well together and I felt God's pleasure as I preached.

We have spent the afternoon napping and getting ready....and uncharacteristic to Thai culture, Suradet just drove up. So I will have to close off.

Sorry for the brevity. And here's the thing. We may not be able to blog while at Hot Springs, although George has an idea using the blackberry that he's described to me a few times and I still don't understand but we'll try to make work.

We miss you, and can feel your prayers.

Happy Birthday to Starr, by the way, who turned twenty on the other side of the world.

Sorry....no pictures this blog. My computer is taking way too long to upload and the truck is now packed.

Oh my goodness!!!! Can I stand it? All this lavish wonderfulness from such a generous loving Father!!!!!

Wardrobe Wow!

2009-05-02T07:02:00.012-04:00

Ruth Anne: In the back seat, driving through Chiang Mai today, Starr and I agree; we sure feel like we've seen and done way more than a normal 48 hours worth, since arriving Thursday.

We are on our way, past dirty sidewalk stands and glorious golden wats (temples), to order wardrobes. Wardrobes, cupboards - who knew such a rather mundane sounding thing could have so much energy in it, but it does. There are THE Wardrobes! The ones we've raised money for throughout the past several months so our kids could have a place to put stuff, hang clothes, keep it all up and off the floor. We take it for granted, but up until today, our 15 kids at Hot Springs had no hope for such a thing. All their early belongings, not much by any standard, were stored in baskets on the floor and a bamboo stick propped across the corner of a wall. So, in the grand scope of all things Hot Springs, this is big.

Tutu pulls over to the left hand curb to park. An Indian man smiles broadly from inside an unusually bright and airy sidewalk store full of desks and tables and storage cubes. We are shown the wardrobes, two different colours, and we choose the brighter wood-coloured units.

There is some confusion at first. The language barrier, even with Tutu's excellent English, is pressed while we attempt to barter a reasonable price, one within the limits of the actual funds we have brought with us. In addition, there is the option of including a bookshelf for a package rate, and we aren't quite prepared for this. Trying to explain to Tutu that we'd like to, but first we need to determine if we have the money, and next we need to be sure Suradet has the room.

A phone call and some careful communication between George, a calculator, a piece of paper with all this written down so we're clear, and the store owner reveals that Suradet certainly has space, will make space if bookshelves are included, AND the final translated costs is LESS than what we had originally been told! I make George check it over and do the math twice. It's true!

So in the end, we will have 8 wardrobes and 8 bookshelves delivered to Hot Springs sometime next week!!! Wow!!!!

And that's just today's adventure.

Yesterday we went out shopping with Tutu to "Makro" - think Costco only bigger and Asian - to pick up a "few things" for about 160 or so orphans. I thought my shopping was a chore! Tutu's list? Soap (8 packages of 6 bars), toothbrushes (lots), laundry soap (three huge bags of it) and noodles and cookies and cooking oil and chicken (all large quantities). That's two big carts worth, which we then drove out to Doi Saket.

Home 1 is the biggest, and I got to show George and Starr around - the room the Highview Team painted our first visit, the boys' and girls' dorm, the education centre, the nursery. I let Starr hand out the Werthers and she was very popular (not that she isn't anyways :).

Birdie was there, taking care of baby Joshua. It's fun to show her that I'm wearing her beaded bracelet, and to laugh at the height difference between her and George. Ashely was there and we had a drink of cold water with her under a shelter while we waited for Birdie to wait for her son Zachary to arrive so they could....we're not sure. That's how it is, even when it's explained, you're never quite sure, but it's okay, because it's hot and we're on Tutu's time line anyways in these days before Hot Springs.

Very quick visits to Home 2 and Home 3 (Doi Saket) followed, to drop of the rest of the grocery items and take some pictures and hand out Werthers. There was an "orphan moment" when one little guy in particular gave evidence that this might have been the very first time he's ever received a candy. Having trouble opening it, as if he didn't know how, wildly excited by the look and feel of it, almost overwhelmed with delight by the taste, pulling it out and taking another look before popping back in his mouth again, squealing. Beautiful and hard to watch at the same time.

We came back to the Flinchums for some down time, making futile attempts NOT to nap. And after supper we experienced the famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. Only about 15 sermon illustrations right there. And it was great fun to try to work through the language and currency differences, bartering when we could. Picture to the left is of a tribal woman (Lisu I think) with her baby tied to her back. Tribal women come to the Night Bazaar to sell their home made crafts.

Today, on top of the wardrobe order, we stopped at a large Thai bookstore for an English-Thai dictionary for Suradet, visited a very large wat (temple) where we were able to see some funeral rituals (an important monk had died), ate out at a Thai-Western restaurant for lunch where Starr was served a true coconut drink and the smallest cheeseburger any of us has ever seen. Then we spent about two hours at a botanical garden and resort area complete with a museum of really, really old Thai stuff.

Which brings me right back to the moment Starr and I looked at each other in the back of the seat and said, "Wow...we've done a lot!"

Tomorrow I'm preaching at the service at Doi Saket and George will lead in Communion. In the afternoon we will make our final preparations - both our luggage and our souls - for the main reason we've come. Those kids are waiting.

So am I. Not well, I admit. I'd like to be there by now, although I am very aware of how important these very full 48 hours have been. We're rested now. We've eaten well. We've had the time to process things so far. The Team has traveled well together, and done these past two days well together. We've spent good time with Tutu and other Asia's Hope Staff and orphans.

But the main reasons we're here are waiting for us up on the mountain. Tomorrow I will take my heart and put it back together, up on the mountain, where I left a piece of it behind.

For Jen

2009-05-01T07:26:00.000-04:00

Ruth Anne: This quick blog is for the Teammate who isn't here right now but is.

Jen, it was so cool. Tutu took us to this great Thai restaurant by the edge of a large pond, complete with bamboo floors, a banana leaf roof and lots and lots of orchids hanging by the side. While we were raving about the spring rolls (ruined me for anything else back at home, I'm afraid) a small dragonfly came and rested on one of the leaves on the overhanging plant.

We noticed it. And then almost at the same time, we all said, "Jen!"

The cards you sent each of us, along with the bag of goodies, meant so much to us. Inside were words you chose to encourage and support us. Outside was the dragonfly -- your symbol.

I know it's been hard for you not to be here with the rest of us. But in so many ways, you are.

Thank you for all your encouragement. Thank you for praying for us. We are thinking of you.

We are here!

2009-04-30T22:02:00.003-04:00

George: It feels great to be off the plane. After the double red-eye flight, the thought of yet another flight was not exciting. During the long China Airlines flight, one of the passengers mistook me for a steward. Interesting, I thought, considering that in our section there were only Chinese stewardesses dressed in mauve uniforms, and I was wearing my multi-coloured vest, short-sleeved shirt, and khaki pants. I can only assume that he was as numbed by flight as I was.

The last flight (4 hours) felt reasonable. As we got closer to Thailand, my excitement level started to rise. We were almost there! As we approached the Chiang Mai airport, we could see the lush vegetation and the nearby mountains. Landing, then customs - Ruth Anne was growing visibly agitated - I think she was nervous. Then, finally, meeting Suradet, Yupa, Tutu, and eight of the children, along with a handful of others from Doi Saket.

The children gave us several garlands made from flower buds and string (some of the boys laughed a bit when they saw me wearing the garlands - not sure why). Ruth Anne and Starr each received a beautiful bouquet of flowers - roses, lilies, carnations. (The airport itself had numerous orchids and other plants). Ruth Anne was very exited - hugging the kids, saying how happy she was to be there. The kids seemed a little subdued, distracted - they might have been shy in front of the "new" people.

Then, with arrangements made to come to the orphange in a couple days, it was off to the guesthouse. With Tutu driving, we (Starr and I) could enjoy our first look at the main city of Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai is actually the name of the province, Mueang Chiang Mai is the city). In some ways, the view is quite ordinary - there are cars, trucks, gas stations, stores, overpasses, traffic signs. But the differences are obvious and many - huge billboards with Thai script, motorbikes with helmetless drivers weaving between the cars, the profusion of palm trees, the jumble of ornate buildings sitting next to shacks or even empty lots filled with junk and debris.

The guesthouse itself is very comfortable and perfect for our needs. Thank-you very much, Mike and Debbie! The main level includes a common dining / living area with a separate kitchen. Upstairs, we each have our own bedroom and ensuite (Starr and Ruth Anne are sharing a bathroom). The guesthouse is part of a larger community that includes a guarded entrance, a small park, and a pool (just added in the last few months). Each lane is lined with small palm trees, with a large variety of plants on the individual properties.

The final part of our first day here included a trip to the mall - to exchange dollars to baht, to eat dinner, and to shop for groceries. Dinner at the food court included Thai noodles and a slushie - about $1.50 per person - which tasted great. Enjoyed the sunset over the mountains - not the orangey colour at home, but more like a thick, heavy red against the dark blue of the sky and the darker blue-green of the mountains. Then, shopping at Tesco - much like a large Zehrs. A little nerve-wracking - trying to keep Tutu in sight while Ruth Anne went off looking for hair spray - until Ruth Anne explained that she would call Tutu on her cell when we were finished.

What I found most interesting was not the store itself, but the people in the store. I was expecting to see a large number of dark, short people who looked very similar. What I found was a large number of dark people (usually short, but not always) who looked very different. There was a tremendous variety in their appearance - I was not expecting to notice the differences among individuals to the degree that I did, being a foreigner.

Then, back to the guesthouse for sleep in a comfortable bed!

One more flight to go....

2009-04-29T20:50:00.002-04:00

Starr: It's 9ish in the morning here... I have no idea what time it is at home, I've crossed too many time zones! I think I've just had about 5 suppers in a row.

We survived the longest leg of our trip! At least, I did. I was lucky enough to sleep a whole 8 hours...I think George and Ruth Anne are happy, but slightly envious that I was able to. Tylenol and earplugs work wonders. The food was disgusting, we accidentally got vegetarian meals! We've already rectified that mistake for the way home though. We had two meals this last flight, both including rice....I think it's getting to RA already!

For me, it's hard to imagine that the 15 amazing kids I've been seeing so many pictures of will be waiting for us on the other side of our 4 hour plane ride. I've been practicing their names for a while, slowly getting to know them through the stories I've heard from Ruth Anne. I've been waiting for this for so long, but now....what will it be like when I see them? Will they be nervous? They know 'Granny Ruth' well, but will they be hesitant to hug these two other strangers? Maybe if I just stand there and smile...ya, that'll be a safe move...

I have no idea what to expect, but that is what is so exciting about this trip! I've accepted the fact that I can only plan and prepare so much. God's timing is perfect, always. Even if it seems so ridiculous to me. I'm so lucky to be able to be here on behalf of Highview, this is such an exciting adventure.

Waiting In LA

2009-04-29T02:37:00.004-04:00

Ruth Anne: I am so tempted right now to take a picture of Starr sleeping on the floor of the waiting area of GATE 121 LAX. But, really, one ought to get permission for pictures posted on the web, right? But she looks so peaceful.

What the heck.

We are one third of the way through, at least as you count flights. First part of the trip has been remarkably uneventful, except for how George almost left his Tilley hat on the plane, and how spicy supper was at the restaurant here. We're really hoping we don't regret it later, but we were hungry and the food was really good. Derek, you would have loved it.

Thailand still seems so far away. The kids still seem so far away. We're still in travel mode, so for the most part the reality of the experiences that await us are like wispy memories not yet made. All we can do is look at each other stupidly and make up crazy scenarios involving the possibility of a fireworks display for the kids and the high probability of it going amuck under George's supervision.

We are kept nourished by the many wonderful treats our team mate, Jen dropped by the night before we left. Thank you so much Jen. And thanks for making sure Ruth Anne didn't get the Sudoku -numbers? I don't think so.

We are kept encouraged and strengthened by the prayers of so many. We can feel it. Already we've had conversations with three different people, airline staff and passenger, about Thailand and what we're doing there.

We are kept awake by the excitement of what God has called us to do. And by the annoying airport announcements regarding luggage and boarding instructions.

So...here we go guys. Thanks for going with us.

By the way....we did get Starr's permission in the end. Honest.

Test Post

2009-04-28T07:35:00.001-04:00

George: Just trying to figure out how this work. Also tried to adjust for Thailand time by staying up late, but that didn't work.