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.

Eighty Five Days and Counting

 

Photo by Angela Schultz

To be honest, it begins the moment I board the plane in Chiang Mai on my way back to Canada.  My heart sets a countdown.  One, two, three...like a quiet little tick, tick, tick.  

How long until I can come back?  

Since the pandemic, I think it's been worse.  That stretch of 2 years 8 months and 11 days was brutal.  And it had its own set of implications on my connection with the children, for sure.  That's a big space between when you're 10 and when you're 13, as was the case for many of our girls.  So who is this white lady again?  And where was she when everything was all so awful?

Yes, the disruptive factor of longer absences is definitely always on my mind.  

And it lays heavy on my heart.  

And it goes with the territory.

Just to be clear, I love my life in Canada.  I am rich in relationships.  My grandchildren live close to me, and they are very much part of my life.  I deeply appreciate the benefits of living in the true north, strong and free, even with our health care, economic, and general state of government challenges (which are real, but in no way compare to what others on the planet have to contend with, just sayin').  I am always glad to be back in my own bed, and to settle myself into the comforts of home.  I'm crazy about my husband and always glad to get back to him.

There's just this reality about my life now.  Both places feel like home to me.  

In a very real way, I'm always homesick.

For the past eight-five days I've been holding my own pretty much okay.

There was an unusually intensive fall to recover from.

There was a longer-than-normal jet lag to recover from.

There was Christmas in all it's glory to plan and then enjoy.

There was an equally missional Haiti Dinner and Auction to participate in.

And under it all, there has been and continues to be an all out effort to prepare our house to sell this spring.  (More on that as things unfold.  For now I'll just reassure everyone that we're NOT leaving KW, as that seems to be the first question about the move.)

So I've been fairly occupied.

But now?

On my list now are things like "Email travel agent for airfare costs for July and November."  And, "Begin work on Bible Lessons for the 'This Is My Family" unit for July."  And "Map out cottage plans to coordinate with next visit to Thailand."

And the countdown on my heart is louder.

In all of this I am so glad for the companionship of other missionary pastors who get it.  Through reading their excellent books, articles and autobiographies, I know that this sense of having my heart ache in different directions is par for the course.  It's just something we must learn to live with as part of this unique and humbling call to that 'other place' where God has allowed us to serve Him.  Hey, Paul knew it too.  Just try reading through any of his letters to the churches, which make up most of our New Testament by the way, without finding some expression of overt longing for the people in that place.

Some of you might get this too.  Anyone who loves anyone who is far away is probably on a countdown of their own.  Love does that.  

Some missions organizations function differently.  They discourage emotional connections for a whole lot of their own reasons.  And while I obviously disagree, and we approach this and other missional partnerships very differently, I do admit the risk is there.  

This is hard.

But it's oh so worth it.

Eighty-five, eighty-six, eighty-seven...

Tick, tick, tick.....

Family Day Praise

May the righteous be glad

and rejoice before God;

may they be happy and joyful.

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,

extol him who rides on the clouds;

rejoice before him -- his name is the LORD.

A father to the fatherless, 

a defender of widows,

is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families,

he leads out the imprisoned with singing.

Psalm 68:3-6

Not for one minute do we take for granted

 what an incredible gift it is to be belong to a family.

On this Family Day, 

we are so grateful to all our Sponsors and Supporters.  

Not only do you help us provide the basic needs of life, 

and the opportunity to further our education,

you also have given us the place of healing, safety and stability 

we so desperately need in order to grow up strong.

We join with the psalmist is offering praise to God

Who, by His good grace, placed us together 

to be a family for each other.

The mission of the New Family Foundation 

is to provide a loving home 

for at-risk and orphaned children

in Northern Thailand

to help them achieve their best potential in

education, vocation and service to society.

 

Congratulations Bell!

Congratulations and blessings to Bell, daughter of Pastors Suradet and Yupa, on the successful completion of her high school studies at Ambassador Bilingual Academy in Chiang Mai!!!

We are proud of your accomplishments as a student, and delighted to see you develop into a godly woman eager to serve Him.  You bring such joy to our family at Hot Springs, and to your Canadian Grandparents, Ken and I, as well.  Blessings and prayers for your future.  

 

When Far Away Is Close to Home Part 2 - Esther Weatherall

 

Looking forward to hearing from Esther Weatherall this morning at Highview.

Esther has returned from more than a year in Phuket, Thailand, serving with For Freedom International working to empower those who have been marginalized or exploited by human trafficking.  Her report to us is full of God's power and presence in that ministry, and will include an update about her plans for the coming year.

Hope to you see you there.

10:30 a.m.  at Highview Community Church Kitchener.

Esther (2nd from left) with Roger, Karen and Norma in Phuket last November

When Far Away is Close to Home

 

"The One Suitcase that Made It"

"Only a Boy Named David"

"A Leisurely Stroll Down the Goat Path"

"Jenga Jamboree"

"Insert Your Name Here"

Plus more...

We are so looking forward to telling these stories this coming Sunday at Highview Community Church.

The Team that went to visit our Thai family last November has gathered the best of what we experienced and observed as God's very real presence and interactions with all of us while we were there.  

We have pictures to show and a video to share.  You can even buy some Thai coffee after the service to help support New Family Foundation's Property Development Project.

This will be the first in a three-week series that features the wonderful partnerships God has given us as a congregation, moving us up and out of our own cultural comfort zones to see His hand at work in places far away on the globe, but very close to our hearts.

If you are at all within driving distance, we'd love to see you there.

WHEN FAR AWAY IS CLOSE TO HOME

Thai'n It Together: November 2023 Team Report

Highview Community Church

295 Highview Drive

Kitchener ON N2N 2K7

10:30 a.m.

"Winter Festivities"

Can we really ever call it "winter" in Thailand?  I suppose if it's Christmas, then New Year's, and the nights are a little cooler, it counts.  

As I described in the last blog ("Christmas Lights" December 21) celebrating Christmas looks and feels different for our kids at New Family Foundation.  So I thought I'd just share some of the photos that I've received.  

Hope they warm your cold Canadian winter day :).

Christmas Fun

Receiving Our Christmas Cards from Our Sponsors!!

Cooking up some pounded sticky rice, hot dogs and pork!

Hosting a Christmas Party in Yupa's home village.

Christmas Worship Celebrations

Thailand's National Children's Day - January 12, 2024

Wanmai and Beemai on a 'ride' at a Children's Day party in Sahakorn.

Pakin and Goon in their fun car.

Suradet and Yupa are invited to hand out the snacks at the Sahakorn Party.

Lots going on these past months since our Team visited.

It sure feels like a long time since we were there.  Maybe it's just that I'm missing the warm weather and sunshine.  But of course, I'm missing way more than that.

Heads up.  

If you're in town or nearby, 

the November Team will be sharing our stories 

at the service at Highview on Sunday, January 28th.  

We'd love to have you join us.

295 Highview Drive

Kitchener ON N2N 2K7