Essentially Uncomfortable - Thoughts on Cross-Cultural Learning

I stand for a while on the patio enjoying the warmth of this March sun on my skin.  It's 16 C out here at the moment, and I'm loving it.  In the roller coaster ride of temperatures we've had in Ontario over the past several weeks, this peak is welcomed as a hopeful hint of the true Spring that is yet to come.

In Chiang Mai right now, temperatures are peaking at 39 C.  March is one of the hotter months.  I know this because I've been there then.  This was at the beginning of our times going back and forth, before we figured out that November and February are much more conducive to meaningful participation for farangs who can be easily laid low by the extreme heat and humidity.  July and August are okay for visits too, because by then the thermometer in Thailand had fallen way back down to similar temperatures we would be having in Ontario, making it feel so much less of a shock.

And there's the interesting thing about temperatures on any given day.  Whether you feel it's hot, warm, cool or chilly, all depends on what you're used to, what you're expecting, what you've just come from.  Me basking in the warmth of 16 C on my patio in March is the same as me, shivering at early morning worship time at Hot Springs in the 16 C chill.  

Suradet, a bone-chilling 16 C

It reminds me, as I stand in the sunshine on my own back patio, of how much, if left to my own devices of temperament, I might prefer to avoid having to make such adjustments.  Not just in temperatures, but in almost everything.  When I get comfortable, I sort of want to stay like that.  My routines, the food I eat, knowing where my toothbrush is, waking up in my own bed, communicating in my own language, driving on the 'correct' side of the road...all of it is well within my ability to navigate comfortably.  

Except, of course, in perpetuity this is no life at all.  And everything in me is unspeakably grateful that regularly I have the great gift of being flung way out there into all manner of things that require me to adjust, to figure things out a different way, to be surprised and pushed and challenged and made uncomfortable enough to become oh so much more human.

I remember when I was first planning Team trips to Hot Springs.  There was a long list of things I thought I could do to help make sure everyone was comfortable.  I didn't want them to have to experience the same degree of disorientation and shock I did my first time out.  But then I heard, "Don't deprive your Team Members from the same essentially uncomfortable opportunities given you."

These thoughts come to me on my patio on a this "warm" March morning, likely because I am gearing up now to bring another Team with me in November.   

And I'm already praying for them.

All the Moving Parts of All the Things

 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him."
Romans 8:28

A cooler, clouded sky hangs over the morning, and it seems fitting somehow. We are welcoming this day with faith for God's leading in all that is presenting itself to us.

For one thing, it's a day of comings and goings. I've mentioned this before, I think, that a unique feature of our time together as a Team is that we haven't really spent the whole time together as a Team. Roger and Karen will return from Phuket this afternoon. Norma and Angela will return to Canada later this evening. Flight times and vehicle capacities make two trips necessary. There's a fair bit of packing, texting, and synchronizing of watches going on.

Of course, this means a time of goodbyes this evening. Bitter sweet in that we come here willing to give our hearts away, and end up leaving pieces of it behind. Every. Time. Angela and Norma are already expressing their feelings about it all. And truth be told, as we've said around the table, if something doesn't hurt about leaving maybe one shouldn't have come in the first place.

A harder thing. Yesterday we had the sad and difficult task of informing one of our girls that her father had passed away. She had already lost her mother three years ago, and had found the grieving difficult. This has hit her hard. We're only into day one of the mourning process, and she has stayed home from school today to regain her composure a bit, and just shadow Dtu in some every day chores, slowly, as she's able. The circumstances of the death were difficult enough that I will respect the privacy and not include the details here. But it is just an added layer to the weight of it all.

Travel stress, grieving, health concerns. All coming together on this day. I have in mind a scene from a movie, I think it's from one of the Dr. Strange episodes, where all the buildings, the streets, everything is heaving and moving at odd and impossible angles, while the characters battle for their lives. At any moment the ground gives way and a new stance is needed to keep your balance and keep the danger at bay.

And while I don't want to portray any sense of real danger or inflate anyone's experience of disorientation - mostly we are staying calm and going with the flow as best we can - there's a certain theological picture in the movie reference that reminds me of something essential.

When so many moving parts are in play, and it seems rather confusing and disrupting to me, there's a God at the helm, controlling the levers, orchestrating everything according to His plans and purposes. And even as we face what we cannot control, we trust in the One who's in charge.

"All things" include, well all the things. And while Romans 8:28 has sometimes been given a bad rap for its glib recitation to people in pain, it's still true. Either I believe it or not. And I do believe it. With my whole being.

So, if you are so inclined, prayers are welcome.
For comfort for one young girl.
For travel safety for four Team members.
For wisdom in caring for and leading our family here through a time of support in mourning.
For all the comings and goings and moving parts of a day that hold so much potential to see what God will do.

Amen and amen.

Books and Books and Books

 

No nap today!  That’s a hurrah on two counts.  One, it means jet lag is pretty much had its way with me by now, and I’m on the other side of it.  Yay for that.

But more importantly, and much more fun was that it made for a great afternoon of sorting and culling our Hot Springs English library.  By the end, we were left with six bins with a fairly equal assortment of books, based on reading levels, subject matter, and simple variety.  This means that later this afternoon when the kids get home, we can each take a bin for a more balanced reading experience. 

By the end, I was also left with no small sense of realization as to just how beautifully our library has grown these past several years.  When we started the reading initiative here, all we had were some library discards from various and sundry sources I really know nothing about.  It was better than nothing, but in another sense, enough were in such rough shape that it sent a vastly different message than “Books are our friends,” or “Reading is fun!”

Over the years, and through the generosity of friends and Sponsors from within and outside of Highview, we have gathered quality reading material that is not only a joy to interact with but communicates a better level of respect for both reading and, quite frankly, our kids. 

Side note:  Getting something new is a ‘thing’ here. 

This trip, however, we’ve been able to up the ante one more level.  Through the generosity and expertise of Cheryl Wilton (retired English Learning Intervention consultant) and her associate Pat Harrison (of Blueberry Hill Books), we have added some first class early readers written and designed by people who really know how children learn to read.   The books donated by Cheryl and Pat were added to the bins today, and will be show-cased in this afternoon’s reading time.

But that’s not even the best of it.

Cheryl has created for us no less than four books that were written and designed to depict the life of our family here!  No kidding!  The pictures and the story lines are all about us!

Four books all about us!  And each of the nights at evening worship when I’ve pulled them out and called the kids forward to gather around, their wonder and delight at seeing themselves in the books is written on their faces just as clearly as the text on the pages. 

“Everything we need for life and godliness….”  It’s a phrase from 2 Peter 1:3 I quote often, claiming that promise for each step of the way as we raise up these sensational human beings.  And here’s just one more example.  I did not go out and seek this professional assistance for our English learning initiative at Hot Springs.  It came to us. 

So a huge thank you to Cheryl Wilton, who is our primary contact and enthusiastic source of learning materials.  And also to Pat Harrison and Blueberry Hill Books, which you can check out for yourselves at this link.

We’ll be hearing more about all of this as the days go by, for sure.

Especially since we just found out today that the younger kids won’t be going to school tomorrow (something about a sports tournament happening on their campus that they are not involved in), so we’ll have the whole day with them.

Yay and yay!

 

 

Plans and Plans and God's Good Grace

 

And we're off!

Not getting on the plane yet....just catching that wave now of planning, planning, planning.

After the 'travel drought' brought on by the pandemic, it does indeed feel rather 'abundant' for me to have three trips in the works.  Yes, three.  As Missionary in Residence I most certainly have my work cut out for me!

July 

Ken and I will celebrate 45 years of partnership on August 19.  This trip will just be the two of us, and will mark a stage in our lives together that very much centres around all that is the goodness of our Thai family.  We are doubly blessed.  Our "DNA" family is close at hand, and we enjoy the happy presence of all five of our grandchildren in our lives on a regular basis.  The Thai part of our family is quite literally as far away as possible, making our visits with them that much more cherished.  Especially for Ken who normally cares for things at home while I'm gone.  Even though this trip will just involve two people, Ken and myself, there's still a lot to get ready for in terms of sermons, Bible Lessons, ESL and gathering up the packets from Sponsors.  

October

Suradet, Yupa and Bell will come this way.  We are inching closer to purchasing the tickets.  That's when any trip feels 'confirmed' to me, so I'm hoping that can happen in the next week or so.  Meanwhile, plans for their time here are shaping up.  It will include a fun night of music and dessert with a mini 'Thai market' all towards raising funds for New Family Foundation.  Yes, lots of plans underway for this as well.  (And if you'd be interested in contributing to the cost of their ride here, your donation would be most appreciated.  Email me at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.

November

Had a first meeting last night with potential Team Members for a trip to Hot Springs in November.  Oh the logistics of gathering seven for such an undertaking.  LOVED the energy and curiosity of everyone at the meeting, and the excitement of those who've been before.  Again, plans are coming together.

For how far out all that sounds, I am reminded again of our dependence on God's loving direction in all our planning. 

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."  Proverbs 16:9

And that's exactly how we prayed last night, and how we're approaching all of these trips.  With diligence and surrender both.

Looking forward to reporting on all of these adventures.  

Grateful for all of you who 'go with' me, even when your stay put.