Beautiful Feet: September 2013

...and other things that make up my life in Southeast Asia.

The markets sell anything from fried worms to fried cockroaches - apparently they are a good source of protein!

Did you know that over 50 varieties of bananas grow in Thailand? They are used in all kinds of foods
and desserts and are so sweet and delicious. You can buy a huge bunch or stalk for under $1.

So, what have I been up to these days? Please enjoy the latest collection of happenings from this side of the globe. I can't thank you enough for the ways you continue to stand with me. I am grateful for you and think of you often!

Language and Culture

A huge part of my daily routine still consists of language and culture study. I am now at a level where I am able to understand and speak the language used for common social situations in everyday life. I can initiate and participate in simple, direct conversations on predictable topics related to daily activities and personal environment. I still make plenty of mistakes and have a long way to go but it is nice to have the ability to carry on conversations with neighbors and friends without seeing so many confusing looks. I am also able to read and write much faster which has made living life here all the easier. My friend wrote me a special birthday note all in Thai and I was able to read and understand every word. Looking back a year and a half ago I wasn’t sure that this day would ever come! Through much observation, interaction and many conversations I am gaining more insight into this culture that surrounds me. Southeast Asia is such a fusion of old and new worlds merging together (as you will see in the pictures below). Each day I learn more about what people appreciate and prioritize in their lives, the motivation behind what they do, as well as their underlying beliefs about life.

Real, natural language fluency is best acquired in the context of the culture and life of the people who speak it; and a culture cannot be fully comprehended or experienced apart from the language in which it is expressed. The best way to learn culture and language and to develop relationships is to be a part of the community, sharing in their world. Learning the language and understanding the culture takes a lot of work, stretches me way beyond my familiar, comfortable little world and often leaves me exhausted at the end of the day. Yet it is key to discovering the heart and soul of my new community, so that I can become an active, functioning member of this society, with the hopes of opening the door for me to have a positive impact and share an effective life-changing message. Culture and language study is more than simply learning, or acquiring, new information – I must actually change, becoming a different person, one who can live in a different way in a new world. I don't change who I am in the Son but this idea of becoming is at the heart of the incarnational model of cross-cultural work: I must follow the Son’s example where he fully entered our world in order to effectively reach us. As Paul said, "...I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some."

A lesson with our lovely language helpers. We are using our Thai to retell stories they had previously shared with us.

My Thai script :)

View of an apartment building by my house

These boys were serious about their fishing...and it paid off. Here they are proudly showing off their catch

Buddha statues are plentiful. In this picture Buddha is seen in one of his most famous positions.

Daily prayer

Most people travel in the city by bus. During certain times of the day it can take an hour to go just a few miles.

Even monks take the bus


If you don't want to wait for the bus you can wait in line for the Sky Train

Sometimes I feel like there is no way one more person will fit onto the train but somehow they always do

It is a rare sight to see someone not using some form of technology even on this side of the world

Early morning alms-giving ceremony

Early morning market

Would anyone like to buy some snake?

If you don't care for snake then maybe frogs are more your thing

Or maybe crabs?

This market sells everything from fruits and veggies to rice and meat

Playing on the way home from shcool

Our language helpers' family is taking part in a prayer ceremony honoring their deceased grandmother who passed away 100 days prior

Playing Takraw - an extremely difficult sport that is similar to volleyball except you use your feet.

A very common sight and daily occurrence for us

Ruins of the ancient city of Ayutthaya, the capital of Siam

In 1767 the Burmese army destroyed Ayutthaya, one of world's largest cities at that time

Wat (temple) Mahathat, built during the 14th century. After the Burmese invasion the area remained abandoned and overgrown until the 1950's. Nobody knows for certain how this Buddha head became entwined in the roots of the tree.

Headless Buddha statues can be found scattered all over the city amidst the temple ruins

Planting Rice

Rice and Blankets

The villages up in the northern mountains do experience cold weather at certain times of the year. Temperatures in these areas can get down to around 30 degrees at night. Many families don’t have enough clothes to help fight against these freezing temperatures so they struggle to stay warm during the cooler months. The foundation that I partner with gathered blankets and clothes from different communities and a small group of us personally delivered the load to one of these struggling villages. We were also given monetary donations which we used to purchase enough rice for each family in the village to receive a 5 pound bag. The kids were especially excited about the “new” clothes and new faces visiting the village.

Helping Women Shine

Over the last year I have partnered with Goodwill Group Foundation to provide job skills training (i.e. computer skills, resume and interview preparation, etc.) to underprivileged women in the Bangkok area. Goodwill Group’s mission is to improve the quality of life of young disadvantaged Thai women via skills training and career services. In a male-oriented society where education opportunities for the poor are few, women are less likely to receive them. Most of the women have migrated to Bangkok from the Northeast and are working to support not only themselves, but also their parents and quite often, children living upcountry with them. With little education and few job skills, these women often face a lot of pressure, both direct and indirect, to enter the sex industry. The lack of universal access to education is a major challenge in Thailand, yet Goodwill Group believes that women are more in need of a helping hand so that is where they have placed their focus. The women we encounter are unique and beautiful and they are striving to make a difference in their lives and the lives of their families. Many have never had proper education and are lacking the skills needed to maintain good paying jobs or even to get a job in the first place. Our goal is to assist in meeting this need. We are helping women find the resources to make their "possible" a reality.

A Story about Neena

In our basic computer skills course I met an older woman who ran her own small sewing business. She wanted to promote and grow her business but didn’t know how or where to begin. This led her to seek help from Goodwill Group. Through attending the different courses she was able to learn the skills necessary to improve her business and ultimately her life situation. She attended two of the courses that I taught, Job Interview/Resume Preparation and Basic Computer. She had never used a computer much before and she was very excited to set-up her first email account to use for her business. I was very encouraged by her motivation to put in the hard work to learn these new skills which was not an easy task at her age. She reminded me that it is never too late to see your dreams become a reality. All it takes is a little perseverance and a helping hand.

Worth Defending

Throughout this year I have had the opportunity to teach women’s self-defense courses in local tech schools and poorer communities around Bangkok. The majority of the women who attend the self-defense course have experienced some kind of danger or abuse in their past and, sadly, many are the victims of some form of domestic abuse. Providing women with not only the physical skills needed to defend themselves, as well as the knowledge and awareness in minimizing assaults, but also giving them a connection to people and groups who can help them has given them the confidence to protect themselves and their future. Through this class they are also reminded that they are strong and beautiful women who have value. It is important for these women to believe that they are worth defending and this course is often the first place they start believing this.

Long Time No See

This summer I was able to see family for the first time in a year and a half. My brother, Christian, along with April’s sister and niece traveled half-way around the world to get a taste of our new home in Southeast Asia. We were counting down the months till their arrival as we have both missed our families terribly. It was fun showing them around and sharing this part of our lives with someone from back home. It is so much better to explain and share it in person. I enjoyed watching them experience the strange new foods, customs, sights, smells, and sounds that have now become so familiar to me. It’s difficult to imagine that I was experiencing all of this for the first time less than two years ago. Their visit was a great encouragement and just what I needed to give me that comfort of family I have missed.

An exciting reunion

Taking Christian for a a ride on the town. He was petrified of the traffic but he quickly got used to it.

Christian LOVED the food and he couldn't get over how cheap it was. Each dish on this table was about $1.

The beauty of the Thailand mountains

Trekking through the jungles with our awesome guide

I know it's difficult to see, but there is a herd of wild elephants standing behind us

It was a treacherous hike but we eventually made it to this amazing waterfall

The monkeys were having so much fun playing on this bridge

Oh no! You caught me!

Eating Tom Yum Goong, a delicious and very popular soup in Thailand

Christian got to try all kinds of new foods...and he loved it all (well, most of it)

Honey Toast with Ice Cream. Christian and Amber practically died over how delicious this desert was.

More food to try at one of the biggest markets in Southeast Asia, Chatuchak Market

His trip wouldn't be complete without an elephant ride

Elephant hugs and kisses

Bath time

We also got to travel up north and I was able to show Christian around where I used to live

We had a wonderful visit with some of our old friends from Chiang Mai

You could never do this at home

We found this little guy roaming down the street at the zoo

The craziness of Chinatown. BKK has the biggest Chinatown in the world.

Every Thursday April and I play badminton with two of our good friends. Christian and Presley joined in the fun and got to experience just how intense this game is over here.

The giant reclining Buddha at Wat Pho

Wat Arun - Temple of the Dawn. One of the oldest wats in BKK.

We had to make time for a visit to the beach. Thankfully we had beautiful weather even during the rainy season.

Snorkeling with our friend Ly. The tropical fish around here are so beautiful.

A sad farewell :(

Neighbors and Friends

It is incredible to see all the friends I have made during my time here. Many have become very close and are now like family to me. They are definitely a gift and I thank my Father for allowing these friendships to grow in spite of the initial language and cultural barriers. A smile really does go a long way and I think when our neighbors and friends see that we are trying to understand where they are coming from it has opened the door for a much deeper friendship to form. Each day I ask that through our interaction they will see something different and Someone different who desires and has the ability to give them true lasting hope and joy. The roots of their beliefs go so deep but I know that He who is in me has great power and great love for these people. I have really been encouraged through hearing the life-changing stories of my friends from the local fellowship I attend. Many of them are new children and brothers and sisters in Him. They were raised in a Buddhist home, taught the principles in school, and carried out the practices in the workplace. Buddhism is so strongly embedded into everything here and is such a part of who these people are. For many, being Thai is being Buddhist – you can’t really separate the two. But I know that the Son is working and it is neat to see how He has worked in the lives of my friends who have chosen to follow Him. Please continue to remember them!