Our Last Day In Chiang Mai

Laren and I had one whole day to do something special together without anyone sick or any scheduled appointments. The first time since being here in Chiang Mai!  First things first, we did want to go to the bus station to buy our tickets, although Maria told us we didn’t have to if we didn’t want to, in fact you could just buy the tickets on the bus if needed. But being Americans and who I am, I wanted to make sure we knew what we were doing since we had the time to do it. 

We scheduled with Maria to go whenever she had a space of time in between her moving back to Chiang Mai and Jabez’s Dr.’s appointment to check his surgery site. While we waited Laren went to find an ATM to get the money we needed to buy our tickets and pay for our last few nights stay at Sripoom Guesthouse.  After the kids left the cost was just under $17.00 dollars/night for just the 2 of us. It seems so inexpensive, but believe me it adds up quickly when you are there longer than you expected. There are much more expensive places and cheaper places, of course, but this place was a huge blessing, with 2 rolls of toilet paper a day and 5 waterbottles of safe drinking water, besides any utensils, kettles or machetes we needed, plus safe hot water for tea which we used often with the “Chiang Mai bug” we experienced, all this as we needed to use while we were there.  

So Laren took off hunting for an ATM, I began packing up and getting ready for the bus trip. Maria called during this time and soon Laren was back and off we went to meet her at her guest house. We headed off to find a reasonable Song Tau and headed to the bus station. We found very long lines for the Green Busline, which is one option going where we were headed.  The good thing about it is that it goes straight through to Mae Sot where Adams would meet us for the last 2 hour part of the trip. It took a good 45 minutes to get up to the window to find out what the bus times where for departure.  We found out the first bus did not leave until 11:45 am, which was a good time to allow us to eat breakfast, gather our things and get to the station without rush, but the sooner we got going the sooner we could meet the Adams at the other end and get to Sunshine Children’s Home.  When we found out how late the bus left, Maria lead us over to another busline in a different part of the station with no line, found out their first bus left at 7:00 am. Quite a bit earlier.  We bought our tickets and found out we needed to be back there by 6:45 am the next morning.  Yeah, that was done. We were very thankful for Maria's help and knowledge in how the system works and how to do it. Thank you, Maria!

But before I leave this, I want to share why I think we were in that line.  While we were standing there just 10 minutes or so before it was our turn a young woman from Europe with her back pack on her back came over to ask us if we knew if this busline went to, and she named some village. Of course Laren and I didn’t know, but even Maria was unsure. She told us she had 10 minutes to buy her ticket and get on her bus (that is what I did not want to do, be in a rush). Maria suggested she go up to the window and ask someone behind the counter her question.  She tried to do that, but got no response from anyone, so she headed to the back of our line, which as you remember, was a long wait. She would never make it in 10 minutes. Soon here she was in front of us again, asking if we would please buy her 2 tickets to, whatever the name of her desired destination was. Laren agreed to do it for her and then there we were at the window.  Laren bought the tickets gave them to her and her change and she was off, I’m sure she just made her bus.  We got our question asnwered and we were off to go to another bus where we could have bought the tickets on the bus if we had wanted to do it that way (if I understand it correctly, you cannot buy tickets on all bus lines). So apparently we were in that line for her and her friend, not us. I love it how that works that way.  How God uses us in various situations, to answer other peoples prayers even if they aren’t praying people.  God works that way so well!

It was nearing the time Maria needed to go but on the way back to the mote area we stopped at a large Thai market, where few Farangs or Galawa’s shop at. It was very big, very crowded (more with things being sold than people, at least this time of the day) and quite interesting. You could buy a fancy 10 oz or so container of dried larvae if you were hungry, besides, pigs feet, pork balls, and mirades of other things from clothing to snacks, blankets o purses, etc.  We had gotten a phone call during this time from Steve Rawlings and we were planning on eating supper together and then going to the walking market later that evening, which starts at 4:00 pm.  In the mean time Bucky Knecht called to ask if we wanted to come out to their place for a snack, he would pick us up as he had to go into town anyway.  We had to pass as we already had plans, but we hope to get to do that again if we are back to do it. But while we were at this large market we received another phone call from Steve, letting us know that they weren’t going to make it after all. So it turned out to be a date with just the 2 of us, which was nice too. 

While we were wondering around, (I was looking for a blanket), we found little tiny picnic style tables where we could sit and drink the coconut’s we had gotten for our lunch. The bad thing about where we found to sit was that it was right across a single, narrow, walkway where 2 ladies were selling sea food and toads.  She had 2 larger tubs full, of 2 sizes of eels, a tub of baby turtles, several tubs of different fish, some kind of snail or something, and on the table were some live fish amazingly still alive after having laid their for who knows how long. Soon a man came bringing a net with quite a few large toads (Ponape sized toads) which he sold to her and she placed in one of her large net covered tubs to sell.  It was amazing how many people came to buy from her. While we were there one of the more lively fish who really wanted to live, managed to fling himself off of the table and landed in the isle, splashing my arm as he went by. Just before we left that area a man came and ordered a lot of these items.  A big bag of eels, all the toads, live fish, and 3 of the big fish on the table, including the want- to- be escapee. It all took my appetite away. I felt sorry for all the living things that were going to be eaten by mankind. Just wasn’t appealing to me at all.

Later after walking to the mote area  where the Walking Market is located we enjoyed walking along the blocked off street to see what people were selling.  It was very interesting. Besides things to sell (no fresh produce), there were several different groups of people singing or playing instruments to make money.  Some were quite nice, others weren’t our style. 

We returned to our room, finished getting ready as much as we could. Laren went and paid for our stay so we wouldn’t have to find them so early in the morning to pay.  I had bought a couple of cards and wrote thank you's to Leah and Anong and gave each of them a set of 2 CD's that have the Great Controversy read in both English and Thai. Please pray they will listen to either one of them. It was a very nice relaxed day for our last day. 

Note: Currently I am unable to add pictures. I will add as able.

Soap Making, Worms & Mushrooms

Dorothy instructing about soap

Sadness, having not posted for several days, I spent time writing up another long blog to let you know what has been happening the last few days.  I completed it all but the pictures and had to figure out how to transfer some that were not available to pick from.  By the time it was all done, it was time to go to bed. When I got up this morning, "Oh, no", I could not locate the blog that was ready to go anywhere! So here is version #2.  I tend to be to detailed anyway!

Wednesday was the first day of the seminars put on by ECHO Asia, that we have been waiting here in Chiang Mai to attend. Laren went for this first day which was on Moringa, and all the benefits of growing it and Grafting & Propagation.  Thursday morning was about soap making and I went with Laren so as to learn all I could as I research and learn what areas or courses would be good for the vocational training center.

Stirring until it "traces"

I was hoping that this would be a natural soap making class, but it did use sodium hydroxide which was disappointing. Several people asked about that very thought I had and the answer given was that there is no other way to make what is classified as "soap". Glycerine "soaps" are technically not a soap and I also learned, that it is not

Moringa Soap 

very good for you.  Not sure about the correctness of this info, but I believe they believe it, will have to look some things up on the internet.  If any of you have info regarding this I would be very happy if you would pass it on to me.  Thank you!

After instruction on how to make it, warnings, etc, we watched a demonstration on how to do it.  Then they separated us up into groups with one person from each group as the leader who would lead out in making another batch of soap just like we had been shown.  It was a really effective way to teach.  We were in the English speaking group, of course. In our group was a missionary from Indonesia, a lady who is originally from Billings, MT who is now leading out in an International College Program here in Chiang Mai.  She had a biology major student with her.  Also a lady from Chiang Mai who works in another orphanage with different tribe children of Thailand.

Participants came from all over the local countries to attend these 3 days of workshops, to learn and strengthen the various programs they are involved in.  People from: Cambodia, Philippines, Laos, Indonesia, Burma and the USA. Some of the people originated from countries like, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and of course many were from the very country they are helping as mentioned previously. We were able to network and learn valuable info from the participants themselves which is a priceless tool.

Feeding the worms

Mushroom growing

Laren went on Friday alone, although I was planning on going all along, but I could tell I was fighting the same "bug" that my whole family had had and I didn't want to succumb, so I laid low both Friday and Sabbath and PTL! I was over all the symptoms I had been fighting.

On Friday the seminars were on Vermiculture and Growing Mushrooms.  Laren took my camera and took pictures.  It looks and sounds very interesting.  This conference was well worth the money it cost to attend.  I am so thankful that the Lord lead us to learn of it and it was at a time that we were going to be here in Thailand to attend.  God works in miraculous was for his children.

Myself, Leah, Thersa and Onong

Thursday was my last day to work with Leah and Onong doing Thai Massage.  I was sad to say good bye, but we had some warm friendship times beside just the time of learning.  Leah told me that if ever I should come and visit France that we would have a place to stay.  Very sweet!  We have each others email addresses so now to be faithful in staying in touch.

The Adams came up to Chiang Mai on Wednesday evening to pick up some things needed at the school.  So on Thursday they took

Eating supper together and planning

our children with them as they ran their errands. That evening when I was finished with massage, I ran over to Blue Diamond, a Vegan/Vegetarian Thai restaurant very near us and saw the Habercams, Gayle, Bradley, and Micah.  What joy to visit with old friends once again.  We caught up on the many, many things they have been through in the last few months. Bradley is healing, but still casted and wrapped up as he ambulates on crutches. Please keep them in your prayers and listen if the Lord impresses you to support them in any way as they have been so much but God is still very present to them. Gayle's faith is strong, but, oh, what a blessing when others surround you with love and support when the trials have been many.  Please remember to pray for the workers in the field.

Adams left that evening for the 7 hour trip back to the school with our children and Micah who is going back to teach as he loves to do.  He teaches English for grades 1 - 7.  We called the Adams Friday and they made it back home safely!  We also heard that our children, plus Anna, Josiah, Will and Jason all went camping at some caves a ways away from the school.  What fun memories they will make, what experiences they will have that will draw their hearts more and more to these people and helping them learn of God's love for them. It is a double blessing, you cannot give without being blessed yourself.

The ECHO Asia Group

Visiting Chiang Mai Academy

We were up early, ate quickly and off we were on our way to met with Steve and Elyssa Rawlings over at the Song Tau station.  Originally planning on walking as it isn't even a 1/2 mile, but since Davis is still coughing a lot and weak, we waved down a Tuk Tuk and loaded up.  Tuk Tuk traveling is my favorite way to go, but it was cozy with all 5 of us, but warmer (are we acclimating already?), all squished together.  All along the way we saw the monks in their burnt orange outfits, bowls and purses heading down the streets collecting their morning breakfast from the people they passed by.  I still have not gotten a picture of that yet.  The city is just beginning to wake up, set up and begin again like so many other days before.  I have thought a lot about it, how monotonous to go about your life the same each day.  No hope for the future, no change from the past, just hoping to get enough merit to pass into the next life in a better existence.  So many people need to hear about Jesus and the hope of eternal life He has to offer to each one.  Not everyone can go throughout the world as missionaries, but there are so many people to reach, please pray for those out in the fields around the world, sharing the truth with a lost and dying people.  Become a part of the work in whatever capacity you can that God leads you to do.  You will be greatly blessed despite the trials and deprivations!            

Steve and Elyssa were there in the cut flower market waiting for us as our Tuk Tuk drove up.   After

Getting settled in the Song Tau on our way to the academy

morning greetings, we headed off following Steve to where we thought we were to go to get a Song Tau, but alas we needed to back track and go in a different direction.  There they were all the white Song Tau's the color we needed to head out toward the Academy.  We loaded up and off we went heading North out of the city.  The Song Tau's have set spots on their various routes that they sit and wait until the next Song Tau comes to load up the next group of people.  They want to be as full as possible making more money that way.  We came to a stopping point and waited the allotted time before we headed off at a rather slow speed in case someone along the way will want a ride.   Going slower allows the driver to stop closer to the person wanting to get on.

Steve & Laren talking with the Song Tau driver

We had the Song Tau to ourselves until a young college age girl hopped on with her Chihuahua

"Cute Cabbage" and her mistress

puppy she told us was 2 months old.  I don't remember her name, but the puppies name meant "cute  cabbage". The girl told us it only meant cute or cabbage to those that are children you could not use that same word for an adult as it doesn't apply for that age group.  She was friendly and happy to tell us that she had been to university in America, Maryland, last year.  She has since finished school and is returning to American next month, but this time to New York, Manhattan, to study in the English program there.  She is excited, she said she likes America very much.

More people were picked up all along the way and some dropped off, a teacher at a school, we saw nurses by a hospital, a young father with his 12 month or so little girl got on.  He positioned her hands to "Y" us in greeting.  We saw large pasture area filled with the Thailand armies horses.  So interesting to see how these gentle people live in this busy world.

Walking from the academy towards the church

We arrived in the little village Mai Teng, about 10 kilometers from the academy.  We needed to walk a short distance to get on the right road and find another Song Tau to complete our journey.  Steve gave us a tour of the academy, radio station, ICC (International Children's Care which is an orphanage), the church, Paul Food industry, where we got to met Paul himself, Pastor Phamor's gardens,  the television station where we met Bill Osborn the manager of it, Maria's

Eggplant in Pastor Phamor's garden 

house and finally Larry Daughtry took us by pick-up to the Bells house to meet Annabelle the wife of the school administrator for tea and a few minutes of visiting, before we needed to start back to meet our appointment with Onong along with her husband, who are the owners of the guesthouse where we are staying and where Onong who is the Thai massage teacher, for lunch.  Everything was interesting on our tour.  I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked to, but got some.  My favorite part was probably the radio station New Life 103.25 FM.  The lady
who helps the manager is a very sweet Christian Thai lady, named Oh (pronounced Ahhh).  She gave us some CD's of the Great Controversy in English and Thai to pass out to people we meet.  Before we left she asked if we could have prayer together, so kneeling down, Steve lead us in prayer.  It was very special.

In front of the radio station with Oh

Coming back into Chiang Mai was slower than going out.  There were a lot more people wanting into the city than were wanting to leave.  Ummm, that has spiritual lessons to ponder.  Laren called the Sripoom house to let them know we were going to be late and we were, but we finally did make it.  Ohang, had prepared a tasty mushroom soup with herbs and gouge berries in it that we dipped over rice noodles with mug sprouts.  On top of that we placed torn chinese

Onong and Leah in Thai Massage lesson

cabbage and cilantro.  It was very good.  We stood in the kitchen and watched her cook the noodles then we added the soup and toppings as we liked.  Later in the afternoon during a break in the Thai massage lesson, Onong, Leah and I got to talking about me being a vegetarian, what we ate and didn't, etc.  Onong told me her husband likes to eat vegetarian and after his birthday on Dec. 9 he wants to eat vegetarian all the time.  Onong, brought out large chunks of TVP, soybean product that she told me her husband likes better than pork or fish.  Leah, wasn't sure what to think of us, I'm sure.  She couldn't believe we didn't at least eat cheese. Back in France she makes and sells goat cheese from her 33 goats.  I could see why it would be a hard thing for her to understand.

All this lead into talking about gardening, GMO's, chemicals etc.  Everyone is very aware of the dangers of these things.  In fact, Ohang's husband, not sure of his name, has a Bachelors in Agronomy and a masters in some kind of management.  He joined us in the conversation.  We ended up visiting so long we never did go back in to finish the lesson for the day.  Tomorrow, Leah said, she would study longer.

Laren and Miles left right after lunch as Laren had a followup visit with the Dentist.  Apparently they were 45 minutes late not being able to find a Song Tau that went in that direction and the Tuk Tuk driver refusing saying it was to far.  But they both showered up around 4:30pm with fruit and sticky rice for our supper.  The tropical fruit has been delicious.  We eat it for breakfast and supper every day.

ADRA

I headed to be the receiver once again this morning.  The teacher, Ohng, was reviewing with Leah the supine position for hand, head, face and stomach.  I always try to remember everything so I can do it later on my family if we ever have an opportunity to do so before I forget.  Towards the end of this mornings lesson Ohng, invited Leah and my family to eat lunch with her.  She would cook for us.  That was so sweet, but today would not work because Laren had scheduled an appointment to go out to  ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency).  She said no problem she would fix us lunch tomorrow, vegetarian, after we had told her we were vegetarians.

Chiang Mai SDA Church

As soon as I could get ready after massage, Laren and I left to walk to the Adventist church where one of the ADRA workers was to met us and drive us out to the ADRA office. The church is about a 15-20 minute walk along a busy one-way street.  Many of the people here wear face masks due to the high pollution with all the car/motorcycle exhaust fumes in the air.

We made it with 10 minutes to spare before or appointed meeting time, in fact the appointed time came and went. Finally we connected and away we went on highway 108.  It seemed complicated so we were glad to not have to try to figure out how to tell a song tau or Tuk Tuk driver how to get there since we didn't know ourselves.

ADRA Office in Chiang Mai

We meet with Thomas Benton who is the program director for Thailand ADRA. We are seriously trying to gather all the information we can to help us in the work that needs to be done at Sunshine Orchard Children's Home and Learning Center.  We talked about budget, courses, hiring teachers, connecting with ADRA when they did training sessions at the various refugee camps, etc, etc.  He kindly said he would email more info to us and will connect us to another person who is more directly involved in some areas that we need more info in.  What a blessing this meeting was and how it will help us with the vocational training program we are needing to implement.  It wasn't as helpful for Laren, as ADRA does very little agriculture programs at this time here in Thailand.  I am very grateful for their unselfishness in sharing info and resources with us.  It is another answer to prayer.

After we were done with our appointment, Thomas took us to a nearby restaurant where the lady spoke some English and we could get some vegetarian food.  We had not had time to eat before we came so were rather hungry by 3:30pm.  This was a typical "rustic" eating place and sure enough we asked her what our options were and she started listing off different dishes she could make vegetarian.  It was a one woman show, she did everything, waitress, cook, dishes and taking the money.  Laren told her to make the food just a "little" spicy.  Oops, that was a mistake,  A "little" spicy is to spicy for me.  It was really good flavor, a kind of noodle soup, but my nose started running and eyes watering.  I ordered some rice to help decrease the hot a bit.  It did help so I was able to eat it all.  The total cost for lunch was only 70 baht, or $2.10. Lower costs for things is another real blessing especially to volunteer workers like us :)

Traffic on the roads

We had to walk a bit of a distance to get back to highway 108 where we could get another Song Tau to go back to our room and the kids, probably about 1/2 a mile in distance.  It took only a couple of minutes to catch our ride back to the mote area where we are staying.  Once there we had some more walking to do.  We walk a lot for 2 reasons: 1) It is good exercise and 2) It doesn't cost anything so it preserves the money we have.  Laren and I looked for a bookstore that the Rawlings had told us about to look for a bird book.  Studying birds is part of our homeschooling and we needed something to identify the birds we have and would see.  We found the bookstore (after quite a bit of a jaunt), and we found a bird book!  Now we are ready to identify all the beautiful birds that we have been seeing!

Finally, we were back.  It was a good day, but busy and tomorrow we were planning to leave early to meet the Rawlings to take a song tau out to Chiang Mai Academy and see Pastor Phamor's gardens and greenhouses.  We had to leave early so we could get back in time to eat lunch with the owners of the guesthouse or motel where we are staying.

Being a friend, not just saying you want to be a friend, is the key to establishing relationships. Thank you, Lord, for all these opportunities that you give us to grow and learn.

Sabbath in Chiang Mai

There are several places I really enjoy visiting whenever I get a chance to do so.  One is health food stores. I have always thought it would be so much fun to own and operate a health food store.  Don't know that it will ever happen but it sounds like a lot of fun.  The other place I enjoy visiting is new churches.  How do they do things, what is their focus, how many people attend, what is the age of the church, etc.  Well, being here in Thailand is no different.  I was looking forward to going, but it was not to be.  Davis was still under the weather so even though Laren thoughtfully was willing to stay home so I could go, I knew he was hoping to meet the ADRA workers so he could schedule a meeting for sometime this week regarding the school/orphanage.  So it ended up that he went and I stayed with Davis.  So everything I share will be second hand.

A family working with AFM in a closed country near here and who attended the same meetings Mike and Marilee attended offered to come and pick up our family and take us to church which was very thoughtful. We walked out to the end of Soy 9, the name of the street, where they were going to meet and pick us up.  So I got to meet the wife as her husband was also home sick!

The church had about 100 attending with translation provided, which is always a plus when you do not speak the language! They had one big SS class for all of the English speaking people and one for the Thai speaking people.  After church there was a fellowship meal which Laren and Lexi stayed for but Miles walked home and ate lunch here in our room. Some time later in the afternoon Laren and Lexi came back and brought the Rawlings with them!  We sat out in the open lobby area where there are wicker chairs to sit in.  We spent several hours visiting, learning what they are planning on dong here in Thailand, some of their past mission trip adventures, etc. It was pleasant.  At sundown we had sundown prayer and then everyone but Davis and I headed out to find some supper.  They brought me back some Kau Soi, a kind of noodle curry soup.  It was yummy, but towards the end it was to spicy for me to finish.  And they say that this is the mild kind!

What a blessing Sabbaths are!  A time to come away from a busy life schedule and come together with others worshiping our Lord and Creator God.  Spending time in reflection and thanksgiving for all that God has done for us, through us and inspite of us.  He is good and he loves each one of us so very much. I am so thankful He has so much love and patiences for me and that he can change my heart and character to be like His if I will only let Him.  How about you, will you let Him?

Volunteering

Volunteering is an interesting position.  This is the second time we have done volunteering as a family where we left our home to do it.  Although the first time, I was pregnant with Davis, so we were all there but not in person quite like we are this time.  That first time was when we were helping at the medical missionary training school for John and Wendy Skeet, in Lady Smith, Wisconsin, back in 2000.  It was there we met the Rawlings family: Steve, Lynette, Allyssa and Micah.  What a fun surprise it was to learn they are here in Thailand doing language study of Thai as they prepare themselves for whatever or wherever God wants them to work.  Now while we have been here in Chiang Mai we have gotten to do several things together which has been a lot of fun.  It is always so special to get to be reacquainted with friends from the past.  

What are some other volunteering I have done?  I sat in for my friend Cheryl Null, (before she was a Null), at her cosmetology class.  They were needng someone with naturally curly hair to demonstrate how to cut it and since I had (have) curly hair, her teacher wanted to demonstrate the technique using my head of hair.  I was a college student and it was a free hair cut.  It worked for me!  A different volunteering experience was when I was 13 -14 years old and again with Cheryl.  We were candy stripers volunteerering at St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA. That was interesting. It was there I first started leaning toward therapy of some kind as a career, but I think it was Physical Therapy back then.  Remember those days Cheryl?

Another time was when Miles was just a little guy and I was in for my regular check up with a Pap smear.  My Dr. had a PA training and asked if she could observe during my procedure. Why not?  There were already my Dr. and the nurse present. What was one more?  Besides having been a student myself, you have to start sometime.  It is nice when someone is willing to be learned on.  

There have been lots of volunteering for various church positions, school positions throughout all my school years and work related volunteering.  When Miles and Lexi were little and my 2 nephews were living with us we saved our money to sponsor having a Belarus boy for a summer.  He was one of the many who had been affected by the melt down of Chernobyl.  He was 10 years old.  His father committed suicide, his mother was an alcoholic, his brother was a solider and his sister lived at home but worked out of the home to help support the family, but looked very, very sad in a picture that Denise brought with him.  Not a very happy sounding family.  But what a sweet boy, Denise, was.  There were several times when he was very homesick for his mom.  He would come sit down by me and we would attempt to communicate with one another, he trying English and I Russian.  He would cry a little and I would hug him and soon he was better and out he would go to either play or do his chores.  I have often wondered what has happened to him.  I wish we could find him again, he would be around 23 years old now.

It has been quite an experience volunteering for the Thai massage teacher here in Chiang Mai.  The young woman learning Thai message, Leah, is originally from Belgium, but now lives in France only 12 kilometers from Spain.  She said she lives in the mountains and anyone visiting her home gets there e by walking the last 30 minutes or by riding a horse to get there.  There is no road for a car or motorcycle. She is here alone in Thailand to specifically learn this massage that she can take it back and use it in her village.  She is 34 years old. The Thai teacher and I both agreed we would like to go together to visit her someday.  The Thai teacher spent 30 years teaching in the primary schools in various places here in northern Thailand.  Seven years ago she quite or retired, not sure which, but it was at that time that she leaned Thai massage and has been teaching it ever since.  She is a very fun, happy person 58 years old with 2 sons, ages 32 and 35. She has 2 grandchildren a boy aged 3 and a girl 5 months old.  What fun it is after the massage is over, to sit together on the floor, where the massage took place and visit, laughing and learning from one another.  Leah speaks little English, the Thai lady, I haven't yet learned her name, has fairly understandable English.  I am thankful they are speaking English as I know neither of their native tongues. I pray for both of them, I believe they are both Buddists. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the people we interact with could meet together in heaven with us?   They have asked me to continue to help as a receiver of massage this coming week, not sure how my schedule will mesh with the class, but what fun it has been to be a part of something very interesting and unexpected. 

Please keep all the friendships we form in your prayers as we work here in Thailand.  Many are looking for something different, something more out of life, but do not know what that is.  

The Move

I awoke Thursday morning with a prayer on my mind, "Oh Lord, please give me the strength and wisdom I need to move our things and my family to our new room today.  And please, dear Jesus, keep me well, so I can take care of my family and all that needs to be done.  Thank you!"  So after my worship and then family worship, I took off to find something to eat, as I was the only member now eating, although Miles was beginning to be interested again. Once I ate, Laren, Miles and I each took a load to our new room. Miles was shaky and weak, but beginning to feel better. Laren thought he was already getting better, not nearly so dizzy now, but as we would find out, not exactly well. We did the paperwork that needed to be done. They write down each person's passport number that is staying in their guest house. We got the key to our room and placed our passports in the safe. Back to our original room we headed. We began to pack up our remaining things.

While we were packing, we got a phone call from M & M. They had a window of time before their next meeting, would we like them to come and help us move? Although I didn't think we had that much to move, I didn't know how I would get my family there. Laren had collapsed after returning from our first trip to our new room, still very weak with little energy.  So, YES!  I was very thankful to God's answer to my early morning prayer!

By the time M & M arrived we were ready to go.  We took our items down to the car which was parked right in front of the S.K. House. Laren carried Davis on his back down to the car and Mike assisted Lexi.  Everyone loaded up except Marilee and I because I needed to check us out and pay.  Once that was done we walked over.  It was not a very far distance, maybe a block, but far for someone not feeling well.  We unloaded the car while Laren, Lexi and Davis rested on their new beds.  While I was trying to get us settled Marilee asked me if I wanted to be a volunteer for the student who was taking Thai massage class from the wife owner where we were staying. I thought if I volunteered I would learn what Thai massage was like while I helped at the same time.  So hugging Marilee good-bye, Mike wasn't around right then so I was unable to give him a proper thank you and good-bye. This would be the last time we saw M & M until we leave at the end of our time here.  At least that we know of. What a huge blessing they have been in helping us transition in so many ways!  TY M & M!

I followed the owner as she lead to a room right behind the front desk area.  There I met Leah, a young woman from France who was the student.  Then for the next two days (so far), I was the receiver of Thai massage.  Wow!  Thai massage is nothing like Swedish massage or typical American massage that I had experienced before.  Thai massage is done to the whole body, stretching, rolling and flexing.  I was looking forward to the time she moved to the shoulders and back, knowing if I could just endure getting through the legs massage (I am very stiff and sore in part to some fused vertebrae and in part to fibromyalgia and mostly because I am just out of shape and don't stretch like I should), that then the top part of my body would get massaged.  I did get my head, face and shoulders 1x, but mostly it was review of, yes, my legs.  I know it is good for me and probably helping me not to get sick!

Before Laren reached the peak of his illness, he and I took a quick trip to the hospital to check why my ankles swell and hurt so much which has continued to get worse over the last few weeks.  Of course I have been sitting a LOT with my feet hanging down, which is a significant part of this problem. So prior to our moving day, on wednesday, I went to see a Dr. at the hospital. I went through the hospital system, being called "Mrs. Donna".  The Dr. wanted me to have some blood work done and urine test.  He suspected some kidney issues. The lab work results were going to take 2 hours we were told, so after I was finally able to pee pee (as the nurse called it), into the cup, Laren and I took another Tuk Tuk (our favorite mode of transportation when it is just a few of us), and headed over to find the ECHO Asia office to meet Rick Burnette, the founder.  We found it, met him and his wife Ellen.  We visited for an hour or so, getting advise and ideas how better to accomplish some of our goals at Sunshine Orchard.  It was valuable time well spent. We look forward to the time of the seminar next week with such topics as: Moringa propagation, Basic fruit tree grafting & propagation, Soap Making for Development, Backyard mushroom production and Introduction to vermiculture.

Back at the hospital, I went back to the internal medicine section of the hospital and was immediately wisked back to wait for Dr. Taratorn Thamprasit. After a short wait, I was called back in to see him.  Apparently my thyroid has been acting up. Dr. Thamprasit said it was "dangerously high".  He wants to see me in 1 month to the day, Feb. 9, and take more blood tests to see if the medication I will now be on is at the appropriate levels.  So according to him, my ankles should begin to be more normal again.  This explains a lot. It is nice to have answers. It would be nice to get some more hormone issues taken care of, but I don't see how we can at this time.

Hospital visits, sick family, moving and Thai massage all add up to keeping me busy.  But what a blessing it has been. There is so much to learn from these sweet, gentle people that currently surround us.  I also look forward to feeling better as my Dr. said I will once my thyroid is running at its proper speed.  So much to look forward too!  Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.  It means a lot to us and we are grateful. I am especially thankful that I continue to be well. Even with all the coughing, fevers and runny noses, God has protected me.

Staying or Going?

I have not yet figured out how to put pictures on here.  If any of you know how to do that, please let me know, as it would be a lot more interesting for you reading.

The question came whether we should just plan on staying here in Chiang Mai until we were all well and since we were registered to go to a ECHO Asia seminar on agriculture later next week anyway, or go back.  Staying would save us a trip back to Sunshine Orchard and back again, a long drive, plus more importantly prevent everyone at the school from getting our sickness.  We called Lena and asked her what she would advise and with her recommendation we just planned to stay, get well, and then attend the meetings next week we had already planned on attending.  But that brought a new problem, where would we stay?  The place we were at was already booked.  This cooler time is tourist time, plus the Chinese New Year and all it's celebration is going on starting next week and the following 2 weeks after that, for a total of 3 weeks.  Mike and Marilee came by Wed. evening to drop off some Emergency-vitamin C, as they were going to be in the area visiting a friend anyway.  We had originally planned on being together Wed. evening, but with all the kids sick and now Laren was beginning to succumb also, we did not want to share this bug with them anymore than Miles already did on our way up.

While M & M visited Claire, they also were looking around at any possible places that we could stay at that wouldn't use up all our money on this unexpected lengthened stay.  They found a good option, but I felt it to risky as it had very steep stairs without handrails that we would have to use to go from our rooms to the shared bathroom downstairs.  Everyone who got this "bug", was VERY dizzy.  I could just imagine trying to help Laren down the stairs and both of us tumbling down to the bottom in a heap.  We ruled that option out.  M & M and I started walking to see what else we could find.  We walked to the Sirproom House.  Yes, they had a room.  One even, that was big enough for all 5 us to be in the same room on the ground floor for 700 bath (roughly around $25) a night!  It was an answer to prayer.  The owners said we could come as early as we wanted the next morning.

I knew the next morning I would be busy transferring everything down the narrow road way (it seems like alleys to me, but they are very busy with people on foot, in cars or motorcycles), to our new location.  But we had one more night to sleep in our original rooms and then we would move. What a blessing having a place to stay, with warm water, a shower, a toilet (western at that!), toilet paper and beds.  It all seems like such a luxury knowing how we will be living when we return to our home at the school, but so be it, it is all such a privilege to be able to help, to be needed and to have God making the path clear before our feet.  Tomorrow will be another day.

Chiang Mai

Tuesday morning, with so much to do, can we get it all done today and tomorrow?  Miles is still down, but everyone else still seems well, PTL!  First thing, lets go get something to eat. So off we go to find something nutritious and palatable. Shouldn't be hard here in the tropics.  We found a little restaurant called the Blue Diamond with lots of healthy options, including bread!  Not common here in Thailand, let alone whole wheat options.  Laren and Davis are especially happy as the bread eating people in the family.    The four of us eating all choose something different to eat, all vegetables with rice or noodles except Davis who ordered an avocado sandwich and french fries!  Salt is not used very much here, so everything is slightly bland unless you add salt yourself (if you have it), or soy sauce.

After eating we went back to check on Miles, who has been fasting since he first began to feel ill.  Now Davis says he is beginning to feel, "not so good", and later in the day Lexi was looking a little sick.  Oh no, guess it is going to go through the ranks.  Hopefully, Laren and I can hold on and keep well.  We are praying hard and taking such things faithfully as: Olive Leaf, Grapefruit Seed Extract and Garlic capsules along with Oragano Extract and drinking water.

Laren, Lexi and I found a ride in a Tuk Tuk, a 3 wheeled little covered truck type motorcycle, that only holds the driver in the front and 3 passengers comfortably in the back.  No sides, but the roof comes down rather low so you have to duck down to see out very well, especially if you are tall like Laren.  Off we went headed to a recommended dentist. Laren has been having trouble with some of his teeth for quite a while and we decided to wait to have them worked on until we were here where it is considerably cheaper for all medical work.

After being checked, Laren finds out he has cavities and the tooth he had pulled years ago on the Left side of his mouth needs to have a bridge to prevent such loss of enamel on the right side of his mouth.  The dentist said he had lost 1/5 of his enamel already, since Laren uses only his right side to chew on now.  This is costing much more than we had anticipated. We knew he had issues but didn't know that it was that much. Yikes, so much for any extra money we had.  But it really is a big PTL as he can get  his teeth problems taken care of, plus this dentist has a huge soft spot for missionaries he cuts the bill by 50%. It is still a lot of money being we are not working for income, but still way under what it would have cost us in the states.  Laren will have to come back several more times to get everything done and squared away.

Later that afternoon, Miles got up and managed to go with Laren to the hospital to have his ears checked.  For several years now, whenever he puts his head under water he reports having terrible pain in his ears.  He does not swim because of it.  So I stayed home with the progressively worsening younger 2 while Laren and Miles headed to the hospital to see a Dr.  Apparently there are no regular Dr. offices here.  If you want to see a Dr. you go to a hospital.  If the Dr. wants any tests run you do them right then and there so the Dr. can read them and determine what you need to get well.  It is a great system!  More efficient, more timely and less expensive.  Miles came back with some medicine to take whenever he is going to be swimming to help open his eustachian tubes, thus in theory, causing no pain. We will see when we test it out.

We all went to bed early.  Those sick to feel better.  Those well to prevent getting ill.  Miles is feeling a little stonger, Davis and Lexi a bit worse.  So far Laren and I are still well. I am so thankful!

2 Hours at Sunshine Orchard

We were finally at Sunshine Orchard Children's Home and Learning Center! And as it is typically, it was not at all like any of us had pictured it in our minds. It is quite steep from Adam's home down to the lime orchard where the school is located.  We took a tour down to the school and where we will be living. The trail from Adams house down to the school besides being quite steep and also runs with water, we are told, in the rainy season.  Our bamboo hut is the first building you come to as you head down this trail.  There are teachers houses on both sides of ours and the girls dorm past the teacher's house on our left.  The outhouses are directly behind our hut next to a kick ball pit.  Just from seeing it briefly I can imagine we will be in a busy area with the dorm and bathrooms nearby.  It is on past our hut that you find more homes, the learning center and then the garden area.  We did not get to the chapel or walk to the cafeteria.  Laren was anxious and excited to see the garden areas so we headed straight to them.

Let me describe as best I can, our home for the time we will be here. It is much larger than I had pictured in my mind.  It is about 14' x16' divided into 2 rooms. The back room is a bedroom roughly 4' x 8' with a platform made of wood for the bed.  There is a small 2' x 3' lowered section in the main part of the hut that Maria told me was the kitchen where you cook Thai style. The main part will be where the kids sleep and our "living room".  That's it. Pretty simple. We were told that our hut is the only hut that has ever had to anyones knowledge, a very poisonous snake in it.  It was when Micah Habercam was living in it. Apparently he had decided to tidy up his bedroom and as he was moving things on his bed he found the snake all curled up.  If he hadn't been impressed to clean his hut he would have gone to bed with this deadly snake whose bite kills in mere seconds.  Wow! Psalm 34:7 is a great promise!  Now we don't have to worry about another snake, right? Since there was already one in our hut.  Nothing to fear when God is leading!

Right after we first arrived at Sunshine Orchard, Lena met us in front of their house, announcing that there was no more propane, they had just run out in the house as she was fixing breakfast.  So everyone from her household was going to head into the village to eat at their landlords restaurant.  The children at the school eat at the school where a cook prepares all of their food.  Adams prefer not eating there giving the children all the food that is fixed and as much nourishment as possible. So after our tour, we headed into the village.  Met Lena there as she had gone ahead while we were on our tour of the school, with all her babies, Jason, Will, Maria with Jabez, Josiah and our group to make a total of 15 people.  We ordered and ate delicious, large portioned rice or noodle dishes along with fresh coconuts. All this food for $15 US dollars.  Pretty amazing.

After we ate, we headed up for a quick tour of the new piece of property where the down payment has been paid. This property cannot be used by the school or orphanage until at least half of the price has been paid.  It seriously needs to be paid off so the school can use it for the needed vocational training school the government is requiring.  Please keep this in your prayers as the school is crowded and cannot transition as needed until a move can be made onto this new space.  What a beautiful location and lay of the land this new property is right on the river across from Burma.  We got to see buildings, ponds, fruit trees and more on this perfectly placed piece of property that God prepared for the work of these precious Karen children.  Again please pray for donations to come in so this property can be paid for and then the school can begin to use it as needed.

We were not able to explore all of the 100 acres like we wanted to, because we needed to get going as we headed on to Chiang Mai with Mike and Marilee. We had some medical issues that needed taking care of and M & M were headed there to attend some meetings.  We decided to take the mountainous road from Maesolit instead of back tracking to Mae Sot and on up to Chiang Mai that way which is longer in distance but shorter in time.  It was a steep, curvy, narrow road, but Mike was a good driver over all the various road conditions and safely maneuvered around all the other drivers.  Marilee promoted ginger to us all in hopes of preventing car sickness.  We added 2 new riders on this leg of the journey with Maria and Jabez heading to Chiang Mai for potential surgery for Jabez on his hernia.  It was the day before that Miles began to feel ill.  So he spent most of the trip to Chiang Mai sleeping.  The rest of us were hoping that he was keeping his germs to himself. You will find out later if he succeeded.

We arrived in Chiang Mai before the sun set so were able to see as we made our way to the S.K. House where we had made reservations for a family room. We would be staying in the old part of the city inside the mote where there are many places to stay and lots of vegetarian restaurants and markets all within walking distance.  Which is what we needed being without transportation.  Unfortunately when Marilee called to confirm our reservation, we were told there was a problem and we would have to have 2 rooms instead of the one room we had reserved.  When we went to check in sure enough the family rooms were not available so they gave us 2 rooms next to each other for the same price.  Another blessing of many!

We unloaded our stuff from M & M's car and started to settle in.  Not completely on our own, as we could call M & M or Maria or the Adams as needed, but we weren't around any of them now.  What an adventure! To bad Miles was still not feeling well.  But at least we had a place for him to sleep comfortably.  We had only 2 days to get everything done on our list of things to do before we headed back to Sunshine Orchard with M & M on Thursday morning.  We would have to learn how to get around with public transportation and how to communicate in a productive way.  How very reassuring to know we may not have human beings with us now, but we certainly had a ever present and loving heavenly Father leading, guiding and caring for us every step of the way.  We are so thankful!

Heading North

Sunday was the day we headed north, going up to where the Adams and the school are and drop off some items before heading on up to Chiang Mai to take care of some medical issues that need to be done for us and some meetings for Mike & Marilee. It gave us a couple more days to more completely recover from jet lag before we are full time at the school, plus more time with M & M to learn more words, customs and culture of our new home.

We loaded the car, had worship, ate breakfast and headed out. Several stops needed to be made by M & M, but by 9:30am we were headed north on the Asiatic Hwy, destination: Sunshine Orchard. How interesting it was to see the Central Valley of Thailand with all of its agriculture. We passed by all stages of the rice farming process: watching the field be prepped for planting to watching the seeds being broadcasted for another crop of rice,  we saw the harvest to processing the harvest and storage. The bright green planted fields are so pretty to see at all stages of growth. We also saw fields of corn, tomatoes, tobacco, cassava, pumpkin (which we would call winter squash), luffa sponge or bitter gourd, mountain rice and greens of some kind, not all in the Central Valley necessarily. All along the hwy were periodic groups of little bamboo shelters where a family would be selling mainly one item such as: roasted corn, jicama, baskets, sugar cane, mangoes, pineapple, guava, bananas, ant larva (anyone hungry?), hammocks, big steel bowls, etc. The interesting thing is that if you find a shelter selling roasted corn, for instances, all the roasted corn will be found in that same short section of hwy. All lumped together. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of one to show.  

We stopped at several little shelters on our way up to get lunch items: roasted corn, jicama, jack fruit and sugar cane, yum! Because of our various stops it took us longer than anticipated to go from Ayutthaya to Sunshine Orchard Children's Home and Learning Center. Instead of the 7 hours we had been told we managed to lengthen it to 10 1/2 hours. We stopped to eat our lunch at a pleasant little rest area, which is quite unusual, with grass, flowers, a bathroom with western toilets and toilet paper, which added to our travel time! Toilet paper is a rare commodity in this part of the world so is greatly prized and appreciated when found with a toilet. Typically, you must carry toilet paper or tissues with you if you want to have them to use.

As we neared our destination we came to what appeared to be a village snuggled between the road we were traveling on to the mountains which ran parallel to our road about 500 yards West.  But "this little village", went on and on and on. Mike pointed out that this was probably one of the refugee camps. Sure enough, it all made sense now. A VERY large refugee camp.  Amazingly sad.  

It was dark by now but we finally arrived at Maesolit, the little village not far from the orphanage and school.  Marilee was the only one in our group who had been there before so she was on high alert to help direct us to the correct place. As she was watching, looking, she looked over in a parking area and saw a truck, she thought was the schools truck!  Mike called the Adams and got Paul's phone and guess what, it was his truck! It all seemed amazing to me.  Soon there was Paul, giving us instructions on best places to stay (there is no guest accommodations at the school and the hut our family will be living in is being "remodeled", (they are adding a door and not sure what else. The Karen people do not have doors on their huts giving an "open door" way of living).  

We finally found a guest house where we all settled into for the night.  We found out in the morning that this guest house was owned and run by some Christian Thai's.  We were happy to support others working for the harvest of souls.  In the morning we would get our first glimpse of our new home! We could hardly wait!

Our First Complete Day

How could it get any better than to have the first full 24 hour day in our new country be Sabbath?! After a good, very sweet night of rest, (it is so wonderful to have bedtime and rest, horizontally after over 24 hours in mostly a sitting position!  Even Davis, the one who states, "I'm not tired", most of the time, responded to the question during worship of "something that we were thankful for", said, "For rest")!   After personal worships, family worship and a breakfast with Rose Apples, papaya, fresh pineapple and mangosteens, we headed for church about 30 minutes away.

The church here in Ayutthaya, is located on an island, in a business section.  The sanctuary is upstairs and the area where they have fellowship meals is downstairs in the Buddist Study Center office.  It is small but cozy with air-conditioning! Scott Griswold translating during Sabbath School and one of the young pastors translated during the sermon time.  For the sermon we along with the Knecht family were asked to share in about 15 minutes each, "How God has Lead to Bring Us to Thailand".  Afterwards they gave baptismal certificates to the two women that were baptized on Christmas.  The team was so excited to see this fruit of their labors and God's tender wooing.  There were many tears.

I counted how many people were present: 15 Asians (Thai, Filippinos, and East Indians), and 18 Farongs or Americans. One of the Pastor wives who was SS Superintendent, while welcoming said (per translating), they were excited to have all the foreigners so they could have foreigner food during the fellowship meal!  That was a different thought for my mind!

We ate a very fun, a bit spicy, delicious vegetarian meal. Visiting with the various people while we ate.  After lunch Scott was taking anyone who wanted to go to pass out tracts. So our children along with all the children and various adults headed out, but before they left, Scott came back in to make an announcement.  Unknown to us, the church group had taken up a collection of money to give to us to send us off on our mission.  How amazing, here in the mission field where money is tight, they took up a collection for us to help with the mission work we were going to be doing.  Several times during this preparing time, we have been given money from missionaries.  They are the ones that truly understand the need for more laborers in the field to help with the harvest. Tears were present as all this went through my mind on their sweet and generous gift!

My ankles have been having a hard time with the long time sitting with them dependent (hanging down) and not being able to walk as I need to, they have been swelling.  So M & M, along with Miew, Laren and myself took our tracts and headed to a beautiful park where we could walk and pass our tracts out.  It was so pleasant!  What beautiful trees, flowers, birds and bridges.  It was near old temple ruins, large ruins. We saw elephants giving people rides (for a fee of course), small ponies pulling people in carriages, several medium - small Water Monitor lizards and one larger one and people we could share our tracts with. Laren and Marilee were enjoying everything that reminded them of Africa and reminiscing. What fun it was to see them together enjoying their sibling relationship.

After both groups finished we made a plan to met at the elephant corrals.  There were lots of babies and the two smallest were 2 and 3 months old!  So cute!  One ran all around us, rubbing up against us to be petted, checking us out with his trunk, exploring everything around him.  It made you want to just be able to take him home!!  We got to go down to the river and watch several elephants taking their baths, obeying very well their trainers commands!  We would like to go again sometime on a weekday so we could ride one.  Don't know if that will happen since we head north Sunday a.m.  There was a couple there with their baby boy, around 9 months, taking pictures, riding the elephant, enjoying it all.  Scott began a conversation with them and found out the Thai man's father was a Christian and lives in Ayutthaya.  So Scott wanted to met him.  Thai Christians are rare with their culture so intwined with Buddism.  We found out later that the young Thai mans wife, who was American was Mormon.  She and her husband live in Utah.  Her brother who is also Mormon and lives in Utah had some health issues and ended up going to Weimar for the Life Style program. He is now very interested in the health message and what Seventh-day Adventists believe. What a Divine appointment! All while watching and enjoying God's large creatures, the elephants!

M & M had a Bible study to go to after the elephant corral and then a funeral.  So we transferred over with the Griswolds and Knechts and headed to the Griswolds for an evening of games and fellowships which had been planned on Friday. After worship we began the various activities the Griswold children (and parents), and planned for us.  What a fun time we had as families being together, enjoying our children's joy and all of our deepening friendships.  We played, we ate, we visited, we laughed, we grew closer, but the time came when we needed to leave as we still are working on the jet lag issue and it was time to go to bed. Now it was time to say good-bye as we would leave early Sunday morning.  What a special Sabbath and day in every way!  Wouldn't you say is was a great day for an anniversary?  Laren and I  met on an island as student missionaries and here we were 22 years later, celebrating again on an island, in the mission field.  A very special first 24 hour day!

Thailand!

After we landed in Bangkok, being nearer to the front on this flight than any of the others, we were able to get out quite quickly and headed to immigration, luggage pick-up and finally customs. Made it through all the check points at the airport after picking up our mass of luggage. Did you notice that small word - all? What a blessing it was that it all arrived with us, not one piece missing, we were so thankful. So we headed down with 4 carts of luggage and started watching for Mike & Marilee, (Laren's sister and her husband who have been living and working here for 4 1/2 years now, but in a different part of Thailand than which we will be working in).  We were all lined up following Laren as he lead the way. Then up ahead there was Mike waving his hand above the many people's heads.  What a thrill went through our tired bodies to see someone we had been anxious to see, someone we loved, family.  Then all of a sudden both Miles and I (we were pushing the last 2 carts), didn't know where Mike, Laren or Lexi went.  It was as if they just disappeared.  Then we spotted Mike again coming back towards us from a door that lead outside.  All at once we were all together, Mike, Marilee and our family out in front of the airport in the 86 degree F, humid air.  We gathered around and had a thanksgiving prayer of our safe arrival. The car was loaded with our many pieces of luggage, and 7 bodies and prayed again that God would give us a safe 1 1/2 hour journey by car to M & M's home in Ayutthaya.  We visited and shared all the way home as we watched out the windows at our new and fascinating home, Thailand.

What fun it was on Friday, to go with M & M to various places such as the local stores to pick up a few items we needed. Driving on the "wrong" side of the road, seeing the beautiful different birds and rice fields, the people, the way the people live, the various smells, etc, etc.  The only thing that could have made it better would have been not being in the middle of our bodies time zone switch over! But keeping busy and interested in our surroundings and fellowship definitely helped.

For lunch on Friday it was fellowship meal to meet the Griswolds, Knechts and Lundquists.  Miew stayed home (she is part of the Buddist Study Center Team who lives with M & M and has been a huge blessing to them in every way imaginable.  A delightful person that radiates Jesus in everything she does.), in the morning while we went to town to make all kinds of delicious food which was taken for lunch. Instead of eating right away, everyone was so busy talking, getting reacquainted or acquainted for the first time that it took awhile to start the meal.  Laren and Marilee while youth had gone to the same church with Greg and Sue Lundquist, in Tacoma, Washington. In fact, they reminded Laren that he painted their house one summer while he was earning money for college.  After eating, the eight children, ranging from 7 - 18 years began playing games and soon several fathers along with Miew was involved.  No one wanted to quit, but it was Friday afternoon with baths and things to get done, besides wanting to get to bed on time for us and the Knechts as we had both just arrived Friday Morning and jet lag without question was present!

The sense of connectedness, closeness and same purpose was very present in that initial meeting among the missionary families.  It was such so special to our family.  Everyone of our children had a age appropriate friend who they felt bonded to almost immediately.  Lexi had 3 girls besides herself who were instant friends.  Now of course we will not be near any of these people while we are up north, but we will be near them in all prayer and a common purpose.  This was such a powerful way to start our time here in Thailand. It made our hearts sing.  Another gift from our loving, caring heavenly Father.

How good it was to fall asleep that night not only because of our very tired bodies, but because we were finally here in Thailand, we were among family; both literally and spiritually. Our hearts were comforted and at peace.  Our time here will fly by, we know.  Everything experienced is precious in the whole skeim of things, in our mission trip experience.  Their will be a lot of adjustments, especially when we get to the school/orphanage, but we will adjust in God's strength and continue to trust Him to lead.

Extreme Journey

Every time I get to travel to other countries my heart rejoices with the excitement of the adventure, the learning and experiencing all the "new" that goes along with it.  This trip was no exception, if anything it was intensified as this was not just a week or two long trip for the joy of travel, but a several month long trip with the opportunity to be of service and make a difference for others!  We continually thank God for this gift. The gift of serving.

So back to the next part of our journey.  We were awakened by the ringing of the alarm 3:45am PST starting our very l-o-n-g day.  On our way down the elevator to get on the shuttle provided by the hotel; Fellow Traveler #1: a young man got on from floor 2, and we began to talk.  We found out he was from MN on his way to FL.  Then he asked us where we were headed.  Laren told him Los Angels, as that was our next lay over.  But as the conversation continued, Laren shared our destination was Thailand and shared we were going to work in an orphanage/school there.  Wow, he was excited!  He started sharing all about the ministry he was involved in in Brazil, what they did, etc, etc.  Then he would ask more questions about our ministry, our calling, more details.  We were hoping to take the shuttle together as that was why he was headed down also, but we had so much luggage that only one other group of three besides ourselves were on that first shuttle of airport directed people.  He didn't look like us, with his bandaned head, 2 large studded ears, etc., but he was on fire for doing God's work. What do we look like to people? Wonder what people think of us when they see us?

After standing in a very SLOW moving line, we finally got all our checked luggage on its way, all 10 pieces, and without a single one being over weight!  What an answer to prayer!   Now moving swiftly to the security check line, long line, but moving.  Off came our sandals (we left all our enclosed shoes home knowing we would not need them, wearing only usable shoes/clothes that we would wear while gone), jackets, carry-ons on the table, pocket items out and through the metal detector we each went.  Whoops, we hadn't taken out our little zip locked bags of toiletry items or computer out and laid them out where they could be easily seen.  So 2 TSA workers went through 2 of our bags with Miles and I as observers while they pulled out what they needed to see and ran it through the scanner again.  We were gently scolded and made to promise we would never do that again and we gathered up all our items and raced to our gate.  One of the last ones on the plane, but PTL we made it.

We had to complete this same process at the next 2 lay overs but those times we did them properly without any problems. Not one of us was asked to be scanned or patted down (which is what we would have requested if asked to be checked) during our whole trip!! We had been praying very specifically about this very thing, and God heard our prayers.  We were very grateful!

From Seattle to LAX Laren sat in between 2 fellow fliers that were not family; Fellow Traveler #2; the women sitting on the isle to Laren's right was a friendly person.  Again all the general information shared; where we each were from, going to where, why, etc. Laren shared about Rev 13, and the times we are living in, etc.  It was good, she was listening and open.  We only wish we had brought material with us to share, to give them a way to easily contact someone or ourselves for that matter.  But we hadn't thought that far ahead and were found unprepared.  How sad!

Fellow Traveler #3; was a very friendly very sweet Chinese man on his way to Hong Kong where he works part of the time, between there and Los Angeles.  Laren visited with him for quite awhile.  Not as long as the other man wanted, but Laren doesn't want to pry and has not trained himself to ask questions and be interested in others on a deeper level.  He tries and I'm sure he will improve as he listens to God lead in a deeper way.  There was an insident that happened on that part of our trip where an older woman LOUDLY accused a young father that he elbowed her in the eye while they were standing at the bathroom.  It was ongoing situation the rest of the way to seoul, with a steward and what appeared to be a captain talking with both parties, giving the old lady medicine for her eye, and finally taking both parties and their husband and family for talking.  This lady shouted how old she was (78 y/o) and how she had never flown Korean Air before and how she neer would again, and besides that she was going to sue if things weren't made right.  Wanting her rights. Did it even happen?  If it did was it on purpose or an accident?  We don't know.  The older lady sat in the row in front of us so we heard everything that went on, after the "supposed or actual" incident happened.  The man next to us, along with all of us watched.  It was rather sad whether true or not.  Many hurting people in this old world.

While we were on our lay over in Seoul, we were getting pretty tired.  Davis, our 10 year old was so excited about flying and the whole traveling experience, as were Lexi and Miles, but Davis was more verbal about it.  But by the time we got to Seoul, Davis had decided that he didn't like flying so much now. The 13 hour flight from LAX to Seoul had cured him of that.  We knew that all he needed was some sleep and the world, including flying would look a lot better.  We all slept some on the last leg of the journey.  Although, airline seats are not the most conducive to good rest.  But it sure was a lot easier and safer than taking a boat like so many faithful missionaries of many faiths had done years ago.  We have much to be thankful for!

While we were on the long flight from LAX to Seoul, we were being watched quite closely by a woman; Fellow Traveler #4: who was sitting behind and across from me.  As our flight was nearing it's end, she got my attention and started asking questions.  Where were we going?  What were we going to be doing?  How long were we staying?  We were Christians weren't we?  Was this a mission trip?  What denomination were we?  I told her we were Seventh-day Adventists.  "I thought so, I thought so, I could tell when you were vegetarians and wouldn't eat meat."  She and her husband, both oriental, along with a team were on their way to a Myanmar to hold a crusade.  They were from LA.

Extremes, all kinds were part of our trip.  Cold (-5 degrees C in Korea) with heat, (to 89 degrees F in Bangkok); kind people to harsh ones, excitement to discouragement, energy to exhaustion, being clean to feeling grimy, and many more. We know we ourselves will experience many extremes.  Like Elijah, who had a mountain top experience and then feel into deep despair, we need to hold tight to God and let him bring us to the letting go of self so he can create new creatures in Him and have our characters ready for His soon return.  Lord, please change our hearts, and while doing that in us, keep us safe under your wing!

We did safely arrive in Thailand and have seen and experienced a lot already.  But more on that in my next blog.