Landed!

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

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.

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

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

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!!!!!

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

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

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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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

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

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

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

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!!

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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