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. 

Around the World: Day 46 - 53

The week that I have spent here has gone by really quickly! Now it is almost time to leave and I realize that I never shared my story that I was going to. 

I’ve come to the conclusion that Japan and I have an interesting relationship…the first time  I came it took 3 days to arrive, and then I arrived without any luggage. This time I arrived on-time with my luggage, but they pulled me out at customs and searched my bag. I was taken into a room where everything was pulled out onto the table, and searched. I didn’t have anything to hide so I didn’t mind, but that is the first time that I have ever been singled out and searched. 

 After I was given the all clear and repacked my bags, I made my way to my friends house taking public transport. It really wasn’t that hard…then again, I already knew where I was going and how the transport system works here. 

I didn’t do much the day I arrived because I was so exhausted. 

The next day I took the super express train to Hiroshima and walked around the Peace Park. For lunch, I found myself at an outdoor cafe where I started talking to a waiter. His English was excellent, I found out that he had been working in Australia for the last 2 years and just returned to Japan a month ago. After I was finished walking around in Hiroshima, I took the ferry out to Miyajima Island before heading back to Kobe. 

A-Bomb Dome

There are several water fountains around the Peace Park

Some of the many paper cranes

The Peace Flame

The famous gate on Miyajima Island (it's completely made out of wood and this is the 8th one)

The following day (Friday), I went to Nara and saw the deer. It was a quick trip because I had to make it back in time to meet up with my friend for dinner. While I was waiting for the train in Nara I overheard some other people talking behind me in English and so eventually I joined in on the conversation. 

A girl from China had her map eaten by the deer (who will eat anything) and so she asked another tourist (who was from Spain) if she could follow him back to the train station. That is where I meet them. Anyway, we started talking and the girl from China and I really hit it off and decided that we should meet up on Monday to hang out and sightsee together. 

Deer in Nara Park

More deer!!!

Saturday, my friend and I decided to stay in the Kobe area and went to the Herb Garden. It was something that I did 3 years ago, but really enjoyed and so I went again. We took the cable cars up to the top of the mountain and then walked all the way down. It was a leisurely day, we soaked our feet in the herbal foot bath, and enjoyed some delicious treats. My favorite was the lavender ice cream (I had it 3 years ago and never forgot it!!!) So,  Yummy!!!!

Flower in the herb garden

There were lots of different types of flowers and herbs

The colors were amazing

It's a field of lilies

On the way down we passed several different waterfalls

Sunday morning we went to church, and then went out for coffee with some other people from church. After coffee, we came back played a game then read books and just lounged around for the afternoon. It was fabulous!

Monday morning I went to Kyoto and meet up with my new Chinese friend and checked out some temples and local sights in Kyoto. It was fun to hang out with someone else for the day, I really enjoyed our conversation and time together. 

At the pagoda in Kyoto

The river

Today, I found a place to stay in Singapore (which is where I’m headed tomorrow), before meeting up with my friend and going out to eat. We went to this place where you buy a ticket for the buffet for 2 hours and eat all you want in that time. The best part, they have some salads meats and healthy stuff but most of it is desserts! Ice cream, chocolate fountain, cakes, and so many other options. It’s very filling and absolutely amazing! 

Now it’s time that I start the packing process, again. As much as I love all this traveling I’m ready to stop unpacking and packing all the time. Soon I will be home again, for a little while.