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.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
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.
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Monday, March 7, 2011
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!!!!!!!!
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
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!!!!!!!!
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Friday, January 21, 2011
Here I Go Again!
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.
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.
Friday, January 7, 2011
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!!!
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