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.
No comments:
Post a Comment