I feel like I have only just arrived in Thailand yet at the same time I feel like I have been here for many months. It’s been a whirlwind but I am finally getting settled in. Last time you heard from me I had just arrived in Thailand and unpacked enough to re-pack in order to head up the mountain to attend a 10 day conference. It was a wonderful time reconnecting with old friends, hearing from fellow co-workers about what He is doing in other regions around Asia, meeting with my Southeast Asia team all together for the first time, and spending corporate time coming before our Father and sharing in the Word. I was greatly encouraged to spend my first few days in Asia in this way.
April and I were able to spend a week after the conference to finally get settled into our small apartment and get to know our city and neighborhood a little better. We travel the city using Sang-Teaus (red truck taxis with two benches in the back) and Tuk-Tuks (3-wheeled taxis). The streets are filled with motorbikes, cars, bicycles, taxis, food stands, and lots and lots of people. Thankfully, we didn’t get lost too many times and discovered quite a few local food spots and markets that have already become our favorites. We even made some new Thai friends who live across the street! They don’t know much English but we’ve been able to communicate a little (with a lot of body language and laughing at ourselves). They already invited us to attend a ceremony with them at a local Wat (temple). We are excited for these new friends and are thankful to begin building some relationships in our new home.
It is definitely a whole new world here and I am adjusting a little more every day. I am ready to start language study so that I can communicate!!! I’ve already met my language tutor who is so sweet. She is 30 years old and is really fun. She knows a little bit of English so right now we just communicate as best as we can. She is also a devout Buddhist. Her name is Khru Jiap (Khru = “teacher”). This past week we have had meetings with our co-workers in the mornings and have been spending time with Khru Jiap in the afternoons. She’s been showing April and I around the city some more before we start our language lessons a week from Monday. Please be thinking of us in this area. This is a beautiful language to listen to but not easy to speak. We will be spending about 8 hours every day in language study so please bring us before the Father as we embark on this journey.
In addition to my language study I am working for a foundation that focuses on sustainable community development here in the country. This foundation works in five areas: teaching English, teaching literacy, vocational skills training, disaster relief, and one-time projects. In a few weeks we will be working with a children’s summer camp in cooperation with the Thai army. I am excited to be a part of this foundation and am eager to see how He is going to use it to make His name known in the least reached parts of this region.
Below are some pictures of our experiences over the last few weeks. I hope you enjoy getting a glimpse of my life here and hope that you will feel a part of it. Thank you for standing with me in this work. I am already being stretched and forced to fall at my Father’s feet knowing that I can do nothing and be nothing without Him. I send my love and thoughts to you from my home here in The Land of Smiles. I think of you often and lovingly bring you before our Father. May you be encouraged with His life giving Word. I love you!
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| February 3rd - All packed and ready to depart from the Houston Airport |
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| Goodbye America - My last glimpse of the familiar before it vanished below the clouds |
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| 23 hours total trip time with 1 1/2 hour layover in Moscow, Russia - We left on Friday and arrived on Sunday |
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| Our first stop was Singapore to spend a few days with April's uncle. We had a relaxing time and were able to recover from jet-lag and see some of the sights. This is the famous Merlion Statue. |
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| Visiting the Chinese and Japanese Gardens - Beautiful! |
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| World's Largest Man-Made Waterfall (Located in the Singapore Bird Park) |
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| Just Feeding the Birds..."tuppence a bag..." |
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| Entering Thailand - Gorgeous Mountains! |
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| My new home - the street view from my apartment |
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| Cleaning my apartment (more apartment pictures to come in a future post) |
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| During the conference we had a day off and joined some friends in an excursion to a local elephant camp. We started our day with a leisurely bamboo raft ride down the river. |
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| They gave me a chance to steer...not used to using a pole |
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| There were hundreds of elephants walking the hills |
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| The elephants showed off all of their talents: strength, soccer skills, dancing, and more |
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| These are paintings the elephants did all by themselves using a paint brush held by their trunks - it was incredible! They even signed their names. |
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| Getting a hug :) |
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| The elephant took us for a ride through the river and up the mountain |
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| The Lisu Village is located at the top of the mountain - this is one of the hill tribes of Thailand |
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| We took an Ox-Cart ride down the mountain - the driver abandoned us and put me at the reigns, yikes! |
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| One of the many rice fields located in Thailand |
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| On the way back from the elephant camp we visited a beautiful orchid garden |
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| Reading Curious George to some of my co-workers' children - it made me miss my nephews! |
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| Cool chair we found at the conference |
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| View from the conference location |
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| Nothing like a mouth full of squid tentacles |
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| One of the many spirit houses that can be found all over the city - at homes, businesses, parks, apartments, restaurants, temples, everywhere |
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| View from my apartment balcony - Most days I can't see the mountain due to the smog |
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| Three-headed elephant statue in my neighborhood |
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| Part of the half mile walk from my apartment to the main road |
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| One of our favorite local drink stands located right across the street from our apartment. The mother and daughter who run this stand are so sweet and have helped us practice the few Thai phrases we know. |
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| Mmmm...delicious Cha-Yen (Thai tea with milk) |
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| This is where I do my laundry...a few stalls down the road from my building |
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| Riding in a Sang-Teau (taxi) |
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| Local food stand making Pad Thai |
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| A band of young men (who are blind) playing at one of the local night markets |
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| Riding in a Tuk-Tuk (3-wheeled taxi) |
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| The Night Bazaar (sets up every night of the week) |
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| A view of the main street in the morning (before the traffic picks up) |
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| I am about to devour this baby octopus - it was a bit squishy but tasted good |
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| Tapae Gate - the old city was built in 1296 BC and was surrounded by a brick wall and a moat. The moat and some of the wall on the corners of the city still remain today. This gate is also still in use. |
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| A street view from within the old city |
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| A local market - they sell everything here! |
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| This is Khru Jiap, our language tutor. We are very grateful for her! |
