Christmas in Thailand

Merry Christmas!! 

(okay, so I know it’s a little after Christmas, but at least it’s before the new year). 

We drove out to the village in the afternoon and stayed there for the night. That evening we went caroling through the village, stopping at the church members homes.

Christmas caroling in a village

Caroling without snow on the ground isn't an experience I've had often.

The next morning we got up and held a Christmas service. 

The church was decorated inside and out with balloons and streamers for the Christmas celebration.

The outside of the church

Before the morning service I answered medical questions and gave out medications.

The afternoon we arrived there was a pig tied up outside the church, in the morning the pig had disappeared and there was lots of fresh cooked pork for breakfast and lunch.

We also held a Christmas party for the AYDC kids the Saturday after Christmas. At 9 a.m. there were stands set up around the compound for them to play games. Then we all ate lunch together, during the afternoon there was homemade coconut ice cream to be eaten! (it's so good!!!!) Dinner was served, and then it was time for the Christmas program and handing out the gifts to the kids. 

 

That's shows you a little of my Christmas experience in Thailand. There was so much good food to eat, and fun time to had by all.  

Rice Harvest

A couple weeks ago it was time to harvest the rice. There are 2 different ways of harvesting the rice, by hand or by machine. Doing all the work by hand takes time and is backbreaking work and if you also need to hire people to help. Hiring the combine is faster but a little more expensive. of course, all this depends on the size of your rice fields.

The foundation decided that it was worth the money to hire the combine, it was faster and the cost was about equal to having others come help for several days. It was fun to watch the combine out in the field and to see the rice being harvested. After the field was cleared we sat and ate lunch together surrounded by lots of rice.  

The combine harvesting the rice

Rice

Saving every grain

The combine unloading the rice it's harvested

Filling the rice sacks

Changing out the full rice sack

Loading the full sacks onto the pickup truck

The combine is hard at work while everyone else sits around talking 

Drying the rice 

 Hope you have enjoyed the pictures of our rice harvest! If I remember correctly, we harvested 7,340 pounds of rice that day. That rice will feed the 100 kids here for 5 months, after that it's back to buying rice for the remaining 7 months. 

The following two pictures are of people harvesting their rice fields by hand. 

Broken Pieces

Last week has been really rough. I was/still am struggling with some old issues, being in control and being independent. When I came to Thailand, I came to serve. I’m finding that I don’t have a servant attitude though and it’s making it a real challenge. I’m willing to help if 

 1)I want to do it or….

2) If it’s something I’m interested in or even if…

3) I feel that it is something that I can do

I think most people would say the same thing, they'll help if it meets one of the 3 things I listed.

It’s a  real struggle in a non-confrontational culture where you are expected to do what’s best for the group and not yourself therefore I must stay quiet and happy. How does an independent introvert who very much loves to do her own thing fit into a culture that is built on relationships and sacrificing your needs for the betterment of the entire group? What do you do when you realize that you really are selfish and holding onto old self makes you feel empty and alone in a new culture? If I let go, who do I become? My boundaries, my barriers won’t be in place anymore. How do I protect my heart? 

Those and many other similar questions where running through my head all of last week. I quickly reached my coping limit and withdrew. That sudden withdrawal may have hurt those around me, it wasn’t on purpose I just need time and space. Then I get frustrated with myself because I feel that isn’t showing love to those around me and I’m being selfish about what I want. 

Sunday evening I was able to check out an international christian fellowship for the first time. It was great to be able to worship and hear the message in my own language. The message was very interesting, the speaker chose to preach on the passage in Matthew 14 where Jesus feeds 5,000. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples to pick-up the leftovers and they picked up 12 baskets of broken pieces. 

  

Jesus had just preformed a miracle in feeding the masses, but there were broken pieces left over. The speaker also went on to say, that often we experience the miracle and think we are fixed, suddenly all our issues are gone but we don’t see them laying at our feet in broken pieces. Just as Jesus commanded his disciples to pick up the broken pieces, we need to stop and pick up the broken pieces and hand them over to Jesus. 

As he went on, he also said that sometimes we become fixated on the broken pieces and then they become our identity. I know this is what I have done. He kept talking, and picture flashed in my brain for just a second as well as the meaning. A little girl was sitting on the floor, (me) so focused on putting the broken pieces back together that were scattered around her that she didn’t see her father kneeling before her asking with his eyes, ‘will you look up at me?’ He was kneeling patiently waiting for her to realize that she couldn’t put the pieces back together but that it didn’t matter, all he wanted was for her to look at him and hand him the pieces. 

I have become so fixated on my broken pieces, the pain, hurt, betrayal of my past that it has become my identity. I’m broken and empty and don’t know how to fix my life so that I can love as God loves, so that I can serve with a willing heart. 

How do I let go? Who do I become? Maybe I’m broken, but I have come to feel safe in that brokenness. Part of me wants to let go and embrace who God wants me to be, but part of me fears what that will look like. I am at war within myself, what do I do with the broken pieces. I know that I should surrender them, but what happens after that? 

(The pictures I used are really cool, but I can't claim them as mine.)

Thailand: Buying Food

I know that I need to eat healthy foods, but sometimes I want junk food. The problem with that is that here the junk food is more expensive than the healthy food. It’s cheaper to eat fruit and vegetables than it is to eat ice cream. It’s a struggle…needless to say, I’m eating much healthier now than I think I ever have before!

There is an 'organic' store in town where some of this produce is from. 

Bag of green beans: handful already eaten...purchased at the organic store for 25 Baht ($0.78)

Bag of fresh Chives: bought at organic store for 15 Baht ($0.47)

Large Apple: expensive (but I was craving an apple) 35 Baht ($1.09) Later I found a place where I can buy them a little bit cheaper, at least now I know for next time. 

Lettuce: bought at the organic store for 25 Baht ($0.78)

Tray of cherry tomatoes: bought at the organic store for 20 Baht ($0. 63)

Cucumber: bought at local market for 3 Baht ($0.09)

Ice Cream cone: (the cheap one) 20 Baht ($0.63)
The expensive one (Magnum bars) are 40 Baht  ($1.25) a piece. 

This is just to give you a little bit of an idea...I still love to eat ice cream and potato chips, it's just that when you compare the prices I don't know that it always makes sense to buy the snack food. Right now, I'm wishing I had an ice cream bar in my freezer. I could easily go at get it...I haven't decided if I'm going or not. 

Serious Thoughts: What are my tools?

        I just finished read “The Heavenly Man” by Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway. Brother Yun shares his story of becoming a christian in China along the highs and lows of his walk with God. He spent time in prison where he was beaten and tortured for his faith. 

As I read, there were a couple different things that stopped to make me think. Here are some excerpts from the book that share what has been impressed upon my heart and my mind the last couple days.

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“Today, the nations along the ancient Silk Road are the most unevangelized in the whole world. The three biggest religious strongholds that refused to yield to the advance of the gospel - Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism - have their heart here. More than 90% of the remaining unreached people groups in the world live along the Silk Road and in the nations surrounding China. Two billion inhabitants live and die in this area, completely oblivious to the Good News that Jesus died for their sins and is the only way to heaven.” (on page 278)

“A closer examination of history reveals there were actually three main ‘silk roads’ leaving China. The one starting in Xian and heading through Central Asia and the heart of the Islamic world is the best know one. The second major trading route went through Tibet, across the Himalayas to Bhutan and Nepal, then towards Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran connecting up with the main highway to Jerusalem. The third Silk Road went through south-west China, where the majority of unreached minority groups live today. It headed south into Vietnam and then westward into countries like Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and India. This route went deep into the heart of today’s Buddhist and Hindu worlds.” (on page 285)

“Then I want to challenge not only the Western church, but the believer all around the world, to join hands with us in partnership to train and equip workers for this mighty harvest; to establish God’s kingdom not only throughout China but also all the way back to Jerusalem.

A new church era has begun.

I believe the west’s role is to be partners with us so that together we can get the job done. 

We’re not looking for handouts, but partnership.

I don’t know exactly what the future holds, but I do know who holds my future! Since the Lord saved me as a teenager it has been an exciting ride! I’ve never known what was waiting around the next corner.

One day I may be killed for the sake of the gospel in a Muslim or Buddhist nation. If you hear this news, please don’t grieve for me, but grieve for the millions of precious souls who are enslaved by Satan without any gospel witness. Death ins;t the end for a servant of God, but just the start of indescribable everlasting life in the presence of Jesus. 

If you hear I have been called home to heaven, please of on in my place with the gospel, preaching and discipling the people groups of the world util Jesus comes again.

My Lord Jesus in the most wonderful friend you can ever have. He has been so loving, patient and kind to me over so many years and through so many valleys.

Many people have said to me. ‘Yun, you must really love Jesus.’ You need to realize that any love I have in my heart for Jesus in only because of his love for me. We love him because he first loved us. I John 4:19

Jesus is truly worth knowing. He is worthy to receive our whole lives. If you do give hime your life, you’ll surely never regret it.

Will you follow him?” (pages 346 and 347)

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Throughout the book he talks about how prison can be God’s training ground or seminary and that sometimes it is necessary for people to go through it. Brother Yun shares that what many don’t have and rely on the western world for is the Word of God, the Bible.

I finished reading this book and then went to bed that night still thinking about the stuff that I’ve already shared. Then when I woke up the next morning and did my devotions I read this in ‘extreme devotion’ by the Voice of the Martyrs.

Day 162: extreme tools (United States)

The smoke of the train wreck was thick as cries of agony came from the sea of passenger's bleeding, broken bodies among the ruined cars. Among the wounded and dying walked a surgeon who was unharmed in the collision. His luggage, though, was lost in the confusion, and he cried out, “My tools! My tools! If only I had my tools!”

With medical instruments, the man could have saved many lives. With his bare hands, he stood virtually helpless, watching as many died.

Today’s persecuted church is like that surgeon. They have the knowledge and the willingness to save many lives fought in the wreckage of Communism or Christless Islam. What they lack are the tools.

“Hear the cries of you brothers and sister in captive nations!” wrote Pastor Richard Wurmbrand when he first cam to the United States. “They do not ask for escape; they do not ask for safety or an easy life. They ask only for the tools to counteract the poisoning of their youth-the next generation-with atheism. They ask for Bibles. How can they spread the Work of God if they do not have it?”

Christians in restricted nations cannot provide these tools for themselves. They count on Christians in free nations to help. “Give us the tools we need,” one Christian told us, “and we will pay the price for using them!”

Day 163: extreme travels (Vietnam)

Each clicky-clack of the train wheels bounced the Vietnamese Christian woman’s frail body painfully on the hard wooden seat. But she was on a mission.

She needed spiritual food for the Christians she let in North Vietnam. Three congregations of people were praying that their leader would be successful and bring back precious copies of the Bible.

Her work back home was tiring. She was the only mature Christian in the area, and she had planted the three churches from nothing, winning one soul at a time through her personal witness. She had no car or even a bicycle. She walked or paddled a small wooden boat to her church meetings.

She had faced police threats and harassment and her Buddhist parents’ dismay because of her faith. Now she rode the train across eight hundred miles for three consecutive days, hoping to find on believer who could help. Finally she reached Ho Chi Minh City. 

There she met visiting western Christian who gave her Bibles for the Christians in the North. They also gave her bicycle to help her minister to the three congregations. Before leaving, they prayed together, asking God’s blessing on her travel and her ministry.

“How old are you?” one of them asked, just as she was about to leave. 

The women smoother strands of black hair away from her face and whispered, “I’m twenty-two.” 

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         I find myself wondering, what are my tools? What is the best way for me to use those tools for God's glory; to let His light shine through my life onto those who don't know him, and also encourage and minister to those who do?

I don’t know if it’s coincidence that while I was in Liverpool last June I was able to go hear Brother Yun speak in person. Now I’ve had a chance to read his book while I’m in Thailand, where I know I have come into contact with unreached people groups. I’m not sure what God’s purpose is for me here in Thailand, but I want to open to his plans. 

During my second week in Thailand I was helping out with a medical clinic, where the majority of the people we saw were not saved. The owners of the compound where we held the clinic are Christians and they are working and witnessing within their own people group (the majority of these people are unreached). The husband would help me translate when he wasn’t busy talking to the neighbors. At one point, we had some down time in the pharmacy and we started talking about life and God's call. I don’t remember the exact question he asked, but I remember my response was “I’ll go where ever I feel that God leads me. I don’t know what direction that is right now.” Immediately, his response was, ‘What if God is calling you to Thailand?’

Is God calling me to Thailand? That I don’t know, right now I’m taking one day at a time and trying not to figure out what my future is. Instead, I pray that God will give me wisdom for today. If I follow him today, He will direct the path through the future and I don’t need to stress about it.  Maybe this doesn’t make any sense to anyone other than myself. 

Early Thanksgiving

Last Friday I was able to visit a village. Now getting there is not to hard in the car, but if you get car sick easily then you should take dramamine before you get into the car. I didn’t and was sitting in the truck telling myself “I’m not sick, I don’t need to stop and throw up. I can make it.” I did manage to keep everything down that I ate for breakfast. 

After we arrived we had a cup of tea and then walked up a really steep hill to go to the church. Rice harvest is just beginning and so they were have a rice festival (or Thanksgiving service). It was a simple church, but was decorated with colored string, some silver garland, sugar cane, and then a bunch of pumpkins, banana’s and other fruits and vegetables were at the front. 

There was singing, and then as people wanted they could go up front a present a special song or scripture reading that they prepared. After that, there was a message shared, offering taken and then everyone walked down to the bottom of the hill where they had a couple large tents set up with tables and chairs. It was a community feast, where everyone participated in preparing and serving the food. There was rice, noodles, a potato soup with meat, and grilled green beans. It was delicious! 

Once everyone finished eating I walked around a little. There were kids around, but like Africa they hadn’t seen many foreigners and so they were very shy. 

I had my camera with me and was able to get a couple pictures of some of the boys that were around. When I finally convinced them that it was ok and they could see themselves by looking at the pictures they warmed up very quickly and started to be silly. They were acting for the camera, and seemed to be loving it. By the end, they weren’t nearly as scared and would actually crowd around to see the digital photos.  

  

The entrance to the church was decorated as well as some decorations inside.

I'm up at the top of the hill by the church looking down.

They loved to run around

Looking out the church window

Being silly

Fun Photos

I know that the last couple blogs have been more serious and so I've decided to post some pictures.

One Sunday afternoon while the team that I originally came with was here, we took the kids to the zoo. It was and interesting time, some of the kids ran through the zoo and saw everything as fast as they could. Afterwards, we all had ice cream.

 

Watching the monkeys

Some of the kids didn't run through and would walk along with us

The method of transport to church that morning and the zoo was piling into what looks like a school bus with long benches. Up, you sit in the back with no seat belts and hang on to the bars along the top if you want.

I've also tried some things that I never thought I would. For example, the picture below is one of fried bamboo worms...yes, I ate one after learning how they are cooked. 

Just in case you are wondering, you take the live bamboo worms after picking out the dead ones. If you choose to you may wash them before putting them in a frying pan and turning on the burner. The heat quickly kills them and then you continue to let them fry until they start to pop and straighten out. That's how you know they are done. An interesting fact, you don't need to fry them in oil, as they are frying they produce enough oil. Time to eat!

Fried Bamboo Worms

There is an abundance of coffee, which makes me really happy!

Thailand: Week 2

The adventure and stressful situations never stop! Since I’ve been doing so much traveling, I was beginning to wonder if something new that I’ve never experienced would happen. That’s a very bad thing to wonder about, I’m in a situation that I haven’t ever experienced stateside let alone international. 

Since you are probably wondering what happened, here it is. I lost my credit card so now I’m in Thailand without access to my money which I was going to use to live off of while I’m here. I don’t know how I lost it, I just know it’s gone but I’m praising God that it wasn’t used before I got it cancelled. 

I’ve figured out the easiest way for me to get the money that I need, but it’s going to take a little time. I’m not completely out of money, but if I run out before I get more then I’m going to have to borrow money and then pay people back. That’s really not what I want to do, but maybe there is a lesson in here that I need to learn. Holding onto finical security is really easy to do, but then it means I’m not depending on God. Maybe it has nothing to do with that, I don’t really know. 

Onto a better topic, the second week here was a little easier. Maybe I’d adjusted into the routine a little more, but I had fun working in the medical clinic’s that we did that week. Each clinic was in a different place, and so we would see different people. 

During all of the clinic’s I was the pharmacist. After the patients had seen the doctor they would bring over their paper with the medication written down and I would give it to them and explain how to take it. For the first 3 clinics I had the same translator which made it fun, but by the end he had everything memorized so I didn’t have to say much. 

The last clinic we held, was a good 3 hour drive from where we staying and so we drove up to the village the evening prior and spent the night there before having clinic in the morning. Since, it was so far away, we worked with different translators. 

After the clinic started I lost my translator for part of the time since he was needed for other things. Motions became my explanation because I haven’t learned enough Thai vocabulary to explain it myself. It was also an entertainment show for those waiting to see the doctor. As people would walk over to get their meds, those who were waiting would turn and watch, waiting to see what I would do and we’d all start laughing. Eventually, a very helpful lady who didn’t speak English but understood my gestures would translate from my gestures and that seem to help. It made for an interesting day in the pharmacy. 

I do think the best part of that trip was sitting in the bed of a pickup truck with three others as we went speeding down the road at 70 miles per hour. Most people have trucks here and it’s not illegal to have people riding in the back, so transport has been a fun!

The rest of the team that I came with left and so now I’m working on starting to figure out my routine and what I will be doing here for the next several months. I think it’s going to take a little bit of time, but eventually I’ll get there. 

Thailand: The first week hasn't been easy!

It’s crazy to think that I have been in Thailand for a week. The country is beautiful and the people are very friendly and welcoming. Even with this I’ve really struggled with my first week here.

A view from the balcony where I will be living during my time here.

There are many things that factor into my struggles, some of which are the frequent and major transitions that have been recently happening. The constant feeling of being in limbo and completely out of control is starting to have physical effects on my body. 

I know that I’m here to share God’s love, but right now I feel completely empty and void of all love. While I was reading my Bible this morning, I read Hebrew 12 and verse one resonated with me. 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance that race that is set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1

As I read it, I felt encouraged. The phrase, ‘let us run with endurance’ means that not everything will be easy but to persevere through the though times. It’s not easy and right now I’m asking God for the strength to continue, for Him to overflow my heart with love. This coming week is going to be very challenging, and without God’s help I don’t know if I will get through it right now. 

Around the World: Day 58 - 61

Singapore was great for the short time I was there and then all to soon it was time to move on. After leaving Singapore I headed to Bangladesh for a few days. If I'm honest, by the time I left Singapore I was ready to be done traveling. I also had mixed feelings about going to Bangladesh. 

Those feelings weren't because of the possibility of political instability or danger. I was going to meet my sponsored child and her family. I think I was more worried about making a connection with them. What happened if it was really awkward? Would we be able to make a connection? Is my sponsored child going to be shy and scared or excited? 

I had a total of three full days there, 

Day 1: security briefing at the international office in Dhaka and then drive all day (7 hours for 250 km) out to Barishal a city close to her village

Day 2: The Meeting -
I really didn't have much to worry about, when I met them for the first time it was great. My little girl was very excited and so eventually we started playing games and laughing together. It was actually lots of fun! It was a fabulous experience and so someday I'm already wishing that I could go back. 

Day 3: drive all day back to Dhaka, we left Barishal at 8 a.m. and returned to Dhaka at 5 p.m. Later that night (at 12:30 in the morning) I headed to the airport to make my way home. 

It was quick and there really wasn't time to relax much, but I did notice the people of Bangladesh are friendly and the country is beautiful. 

After spending a very long time sitting in planes I finally made it back to the states on July 23rd. My sister-in-law picked me up from the airport and then I spent the night with her and my brother at their place. 

The next day, we headed up north and I surprised my youngest sister on her birthday. She didn't know that I was coming home and so she was really shocked to see me which was great! I think it was one of the best reactions I've had to coming home. :)

Around the World: Day 54 -57

After leaving Japan I stopped in Shanghai for a couple hours and waited for my next plane with a destination of Singapore. I arrived in Singapore, and made my way through customs (this time without any excitement). 

After customs I had 2 options...I could pay for an airport shuttle to my hotel, or I could take the subway to the closest stop and then walk. I decided to ask about the shuttle service and it was going to take almost 2 hours. First, I would have to wait until the shuttle would leave and then the drive with drop off's at other hotels along the way. It was already 10pm and that makes a very late night. 

I opted for the subway...I could start right away and also possibly arrive sooner. I purchased my ticket, got on the train and went to my stop...then it turned into somewhat of an interesting adventure. I looked at the map and had directions, but I was turned around when I first came out of the subway so needless to say I walked the wrong direction. I didn't get far before I realized what happened and so I turned around. 

I was finally on the right road but then I missed a street sign so I walked to far and had to turn around, again...it would have been so bad if I wasn't carrying all my stuff with me. With the humid temperature even though it was after dark I was drenched in sweat by the time I arrived. Even though I was dripping in sweat they still checked me in and gave me the key to my room (which has AC). I'm in a really cute little boutique hotel (Hotel Kai), that I absolutely love.

My bed...I actually have a wind too...apparently not all the rooms have a window

It's a studio room and so space is limited...but they have used space in interesting ways

For example...the phone is tucked away in this little space, but if you pull down the wall

you end up with a desk... :) 

The next morning I walked around for a little bit, before jumping on the city sightseeing bus. Here are some of the things I saw. 

The Singapore Flyer (which I wanted to ride)

At the gardens by the bay

One of the many, many place you can find food...I think I've seen places for just about every ethnicity  

Around the streets

The three pillars are a very large and expensive resort

The Merloin

Around the streets

At the botanical gardens

Someone offered to take my picture for me...and this is it

I was able to ride the flyer after dark

Singapore at night

Another shot of Singapore at night

One thing that I wanted to do was take a ride the Singapore Flyer at night to see the city. I'm so glad that I did...but there is a story behind it. As I was riding the city sightseeing bus earlier in the day an older couple and I kept crossing paths. At one point, they asked if I had ridden the flyer or if I wanted to ride it. I told them I hadn't ridden it, but that I wanted to and so they said 'here, we have 2 tickets but won't use them so you take them and have fun.' I did! I was hoping that I would be able to find some random person that wanted to use the second ticket so I didn't waste it, but unfortunately that didn't happen. 

There are so many street venders to malls here that I find I want to go shopping. I have done a little bit of shopping but have kept in very tight control. That's pretty much what I did this morning. I meandered through one of the many malls. Soon it will be time to start re-packing some and leave again tomorrow. It's hard to believe that my trip is coming to an end and soon I'll be back in my own country.