"Bai Tiaw"

In Thai, "Bai Tiaw" means going on a vacation. Ying, one of my roommates, has invited me to visit her family with her and then go to Koh Chang, elephant island! Its an honor to be invited to someone's home. When Thais want to hang out with you here, its not usually at their house. Usually, you meet in a common place. Due to social classes and honor values, they would rather not devalue you or feel lower themselves. However, when you are invited over, you must bring a gift. The gifts can be pomegranates, cookies, etc...

While all my roommates work with our team in Bangkok, they all live in very contrasting areas to this big city of street dogs and traffic. Ying's family is planting a church to the East about 4 hours by bus...I think its near the water, because I'm expected to eat lots of fish. My week should include some fishing with her dad and herself...lots of their food comes that way. Then Ying and I take off for a few days on our own to an island to enjoy the beach.

Please pray for my week. May I be humble, encouraging, a servant, gracious, patient with my language abilities, and communicate clearly. Happy New Year!

A Sweet Christmas

I just got off the phone with my family. Though I wasn't present for the unwrapping, I got to hear it happen. I talked to God about today a lot. After reminding myself that He knows my heart, I just upfront said today was going to be hard. But I don't want to wish this holiday away due to the difficulty. I don't want to busy myself to indifference. I don't want to cry the whole time either. The Lord met me there.

Wierdly enough, He encouraged me with reading about the Israelites in the wilderness. I always learn a lot thinking about that. They complained about where they were. They complained about what they had to eat. They were in fear about all the things God promised he'd do because they just couldn't believe He'd do it.

I'm here, and its because God purposely took me out of my home to use me here, like He took the Israelites out of Egypt. Though home looks more appealing at times, and I have to depend on God's provisions that I don't understand here and I don't get very much control of, He's over this. Just like how the Israelites left camp when God's cloud led them out and set up camp when God's cloud stopped over an area....I must just see how God moves....and right now, it's be being here. So, I'll use my time to pray for Thailand. One day, may the Thais celebrate Christmas, not go to school or work, and sing about Jesus on this day! And may I remember all the great things God's doing here. Just look at all the posts so far!

A Laugh for You

In what country do people neither win or lose?

TIE-LAND!

Merry Christmas,
Thai Melanie

Caroling to Bangkok

The merchants sat on the counters at the market cheering after we finished our round of "Joy to the World." Possibly ten aisles of fish vendors, fried pork sellers, and other food assortments were serenaded Saturday night by our team as we caroled our neighborhood. We sang on the corner to two noodle shops. On to the slum community, we caroled to those surprised by our coming, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (Raw Khwaamsuk Wan Christmas).

The motorcycle taxi drivers, all fifteen of them at their normal part of the market, etch in my mind the most. The angels of the Lord chose to sing of Jesus's coming to the shepherds in the field. I'd say this motley crew of motorcycle taxi drivers would be an excellent modern day comparison in our Bangkok neighborhood. Hanging out all day, sipping on whiskey, waiting to cart people from their bus stops to their homes, these guys worked. As we sang to them, I was excited to think how we are here now also singing of Jesus's coming to these guys. May all those people one day understand the reason.

Today is Christmas Eve. I'm celebrating at my team leader's house with their family. And as I bought fruit at the stand, vegetables at the market, and got on the bus and motorcycle taxi to their house, I desired so much to awaken all these Thais to what tomorrow is! Keep on praying for all of Thailand!

Thinking Back

At the age of 17, I met this woman named Vanessa on a mission trip to Mexico who was a three year missionary. She taught me the language, shared with me her stories about ministry, and shared with me her heart for ministry. On the flight back to America, I decided I wanted to be a missionary.

Today I sat at the end of a long table of our Thailand ministry team and realized I WAS HERE. Though sad and homesick some, I'M HERE. In Thailand, telling people about Jesus, experiencing life across the world, and all that comes with that. So, here's a moment, ten years after that day on the flight back from Mexico, where I thank God.

Merry Christmas to you all, around the world, between here and home.

Conversations about Life with a Monk

A couple days ago I stood by the skytrain tracks, talking with my friend, Jian Di about the Christmas program happening at my church that evening. Jian Di, if you havne't kept up, is my Taiwanese monk friend in my language class. He understood the basic idea of Christian Christmas. He said, "So, you believe Jesus is coming back?" You know, I read the Bible, and hear it at church, but its an enlightening experience to be able to say, "Yes, I do." I know its a crazy idea, but I believe it! We talked about what He'll look like and how many have distorted his words and promises.

He asked about Jesus's disciples too, if they will go to heaven as Gods. I believe this question came from some Buddhist thoughts that when you study enough and do enough good work, you reach a "state of enlightenment" and reach heaven as a "god." Pardon my lack of understanding, that's why God's given me this friend. Jian Di helps me understand Buddhism. I explained that in Christianity, we can't ever become "gods" or be good enough. It was an excellent conversation motivated by Jian Di's personal questions....yet, surprising to us both, the skytrain was at his stop and he had to go.

I'm blessed with that friendship. I'm blessed to understand Jian Di's life, his perceptions, his religions, his pursuits. May I be an encouragement to him. May I continue this conversation or at least somehow he may learn about Jesus. Jesus came to die for us because we can't ever do enough or study enough to reach heaven alone. What a blessing it is to discuss these things with people, making my beliefs more real to myself.

The King's Birthday

This past December 5th was the Thai king's 80th birthday! With fireworks, huge flower festivals at the King's Park, and lots of yellow shirts, we had a great holiday together.

The Mahathai community and our team celebrating the community leader's birthday and the King's birthday together. What a happy night. The king spoke over a small tv pulled out for all of us to watch. We lit candles, sang the King song, and prayed that the King would continue to live a healthy life.

Me and my new friend, Mai. I met Mai as she sat by herself at this big dinner. I was told her parents have died and she's been sent to be cared for by the community leader here. She kept talking to me in Thai even though I didn't understand a word. She asked me if she could talk with her mouth full and why were there so many foreigners here? (translated by my Thai roommie for me) Quickly becoming friends, she's participating in the kid's programs at our church.

The altar for the King's Birthday. He seems to very revered, being the Thai leader over the Buddhist religion and protection of all religions. Altars to him were seen all over town.

Yum, Yum, fried chicken, fried pork, papaya salad, spicy soup. Good food, though my nose does sniffle from the spices. I'm still amazed and thankful to be liking the spicy food here.

My Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Have you ever read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever? My classes would usually get that story read-aloud every year about this time. This crazy family of misfits participates in this church’s annual Christmas play. Amidst chaos, they make the whole church think over what Christmas really means.

Today eighteen kids from the Mahathai community were given their roles in theirs and my first Christmas play for our Christmas outreach service this Saturday. As the “shepherds,” “wise men,” and “Joseph and Mary” sat in the church floor, they listened for the first time to the Christmas story told. A couple parents also were given the privilege of listening while waiting on the kids. Sitting wondering how to make the girl beside me feel better about being a “sheep,” I was surprised when I heard the girl next to her ask “Is Baby Jesus God? How can He be here and up there?” Wow, God is working in their hearts.

I celebrate Christmas where there are a few Christmas lights on a couple streets, trees only in my American teammates’ houses, and otherwise, no sign of Christmas in this neighborhood. The people here get Santa Claus and Jesus mixed up. Thais know the holiday but not the reason for the season. I pray that our outreach events around Christmas may be eye-opening experiences for the many Thai who don’t know why God chose to come to Earth, live life as a man and as God, and die for our sins.

You Know You are in Language School if....

1. The sight of a drugstore is so exciting because its the only sign you can read.
2. Conversations end when you can't understand anything the other person is saying.
3. You give yourself homework of reading for thirty minutes.
4. In thirty minutes, you can read six sentences.
5. Your head hurts all the time. Is it from the studying or the nodding even though you don't understand?
6. You speak in Thai to Americans.
7. Kindergarten teachers become miracle workers in your eyes.
8. While kids talk to you, you know you can't understand a word they're saying so you just think about how cute they are.
9. When you talk, people laugh.
10. Writing in hieroglyphics doesn't seem so hard anymore. :)

How to Complement in Thai

Last week at my teammate's surprise party, one of our Thai church members said to me, "Huaro koon aroy!" translated as "Your laugh is delicious." They use the word delicious for much more than just for food, in a GOOD way. And I attended our women's brunch we have at another house this week and a Thai woman beside me said to me, "Koon mee phat wan" which means that "Your mouth is sweet." I had complimented the hostess on her food and was admired for my compliment.

Thank the Lord for the easy ways to make friends and the sweet compliments given to me as encouragements this week from my new Thai friends. I am presently reading this book about Cross-Cultural Servanthood. Servanthood looks different in other cultures. We must be careful not to call ourselves servants here quickly because we must first observe and learn how to be a servant here. The author explains that we are only servants in another culture when a national tells us we are. I pray that the Lord will continue to help me be a Light in others lives, serving and encouraging through Him.

Another Side to Bangkok

Since God first directed me to Bangkok, I was exposed to the problem with prostitution in Bangkok. I shared with you about it, prayed about it, and you sent me here to help spread the Gospel here. Jesus always found the places of most darkness to share His light, and I visited one of those places a couple of weeks ago with my friend from language school. She works with a mission agency who cares about the women who work in the bars. She invited me to outreach with her one evening and meet some of her friends.

The building is actually three floors high composed of multiple bars.

The place was full and the music was loud. But as we walked around, many women waved at my friend and we easily found some friends of hers to chat with.

We chatted with these two friends for almost an hour. It felt like we were in a bubble of reality with all the customers and women around us being fiction. These women shared about their families. One's mom is too old to work, so this woman to the right sends her money (Thai custom) and cares for her. She asked many questions about God and we talked about Him and her own life. She's been in this business for three years. The girl to the left, only one year. My friend said she almost left to be helped by this agency last year, but was persuaded against it by her sister. Another woman, not pictured, who's been working for the bar only a year since a divorce happened, and has found out that both she and her infant daughter now have HIV. Reality. The first person I have known that had HIV. Please pray for her and her baby and all these women. Pray that the Lord works through this agency and in these women's lives.

Some Light: my friend's agency helps these women to have another choice for life. They offer housing, education, Bible teaching, and a means of earning money. These girls have come into this home and out of the bars.

Please pray for me as I look at finishing language school in February. There are so many areas of darkness in Thailand--so many who need to know the Lord. May God direct me to where he wants me to minister. Jesus ministered to the tax collectors, Pharisees, prostitutes, and disabled. May He show me where He wants me. May His Word shine to all of Thailand!

Christmas Shopping

My roommates and I went to a market area to Christmas shop which is supposed to have amazing discounts. Come to find out, in order to get the discount, you must buy six items at least. When we arrived, the stores were side-by-side and so were the customers. To move, you squeezed between people. And as you ventured out in the road between stores, you'd have to watch not only around people, but not to be run over. Somehow cars fit in those streets and squooshed through the people. And random pushcarts stacked about five high being pushed also through all of us. Some streets did have men screaming into megaphones to move, but I'm only assuming thats what they said.

Amidst all that, yes I bought some things, and I looked up. I saw a beautiful plant growing from the third floor of a building. And we ate at a noodle shop right on the street (which is a favorite thing about being here), and I bought tiny seedless oranges from this pushcart old lady. And God showed me the beautiful and eccentric things about this country.

After about an hour and a half on a bus getting home, our bus decided to stop working. So we all had to get out and get on another. Oh the adventures never end. I smiled, popped a tiny orange in my mouth, and breathed in the exhaust...

Turkey Day without the Turkey

No turkey, but you know, I never cared for turkey that much anyway, so its ok. Now the first Thanksgiving included Native Americans and English colonists around a table. Our Thai Thanksgiving included American missionaries, Thais, and Filipinos around a table. We combined mashed potatoes and green bean casserole with papaya salad and sticky rice with mango. I was still satisfyingly stuffed and very thankful.

A small pang of homesickness happened only that morning after talking to the whole family. I ran into a fellow American Thai language learner at language school who sympathized and made me feel better.

And just to let you know, you can smuggle a turkey into Thailand from America. I heard the rumor that my team leader's daughter's friend's mother did it! And since it takes three days to defrost, it can handle the 24 plane ride!

Novice Monk Book Review

As I ride the bus to language school each morning, I don't only see adult monks walking around receiving their daily alms, but I see boys. Wishing to learn more about their lives, I found this book. The author, a Buddhist monk from London living in Thailand, shares the lives of twelve novice monks.

All of these boys mentioned in this book, began their lives as novice monks because they were from poor farming families in the North with little money. Very sad and horrifying pasts led them in desperation to their only choice, to become a novice monk. Many others also got in it because it made their parents happy and gave their parents merit with the spirits if they were novice monks.

Peter, the author, has seen so many novices have to ordain as monks when they reach the ordination decision age of twenty because otherwise there's no choice for them. He does not want the monks to make this decision out of desperation but because they desire to live this life. He began a foundation to raise money for boys so they could disrobe as novice monks and pursue education beyond their normal means. Interesting how poverty leads many girls in this country into prostitution and boys into monkhood.

Am I a Stalker?

"To learn a language, you must make a million mistakes."
-my language acquisition trainer in NYC

The Thai language has a word for "look" and a word for "watch." It took a while to learn the difference. At the beginning, I thought there was only one word for all uses of your eyeballs, which I was sadly mistaken. Here's one of my first attempts at using my new vocabulary:

Since I use the same transportation everyday, I start seeing some of the same people. One day, I noticed this guy on the skytrain that I'd been seeing many times. I attempted to say to him, "I see you everyday!" He looked at me strangely and chuckled. Thankfully mostly ignoring me and going on with his business. Then I started thinking, oops! I used the wrong word. I think I actually told him, "I've been watching you everyday!" Aah! I'm a stalker!

May the 999,999 mistakes continue until I learn the language. Thanks to God, I passed my second Thai class last Friday. Tuesday I begin to learn to read and write in Thai. Woohoo! To be literate, that would be amazing.

A Reason to Wake up in the Morning

I went to the night market a couple nights ago to search out an alarm clock. The night market rocks. Billions of stands are out selling everything. Shirts are displayed with English writing that makes no sense. I love that. Used shoes for only a dollar! You can even go behind a curtain and get a tattoo or lay down in the open for a foot massage.

We found alarm clocks in one shop, with a little girl being the salesperson. Buying it quickly, I realized once home that I had no clue how to use it. My roommate tried to explain it to me but decided she was too tired to speak in English and passed me off to my other roommate.

Now I am daily woken up by a blare to the tune of "It's a Small World." Who would have thunk? I have yet to find the volume button.

Some Inspiration

"I sought to hear the voice of God
so I climbed to the upmost steeple,
but God said, 'Go back down again,
I dwell among the people.'"
-Anonymous

Given a poetry book at the age of 13 possibly, I memorized this poem. Its amazing how God can speak to us at such young ages. Yet the poem holds a good message for all of us. To truly know God, serve God, hear God, be more like Him, we need to "feed His sheep", "love our neighbor", be in the world as Jesus came to the world for us.

As I dwell here, I pray to dwell among the people and hear the voice of God there.

What is Thanksgiving?

Yesterday I asked my Thai teacher if we'd have school on Thanksgiving, just in case. For some in my head, since its a Christian school, they should celebrate Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving isn't a Christian holiday. And just because they're Christian doesn't mean they celebrate American holidays, but anyway...

My friend beside me asked me what Thanksgiving is. Have you ever thought about how to describe it? Well, some people discovered America and came over to live there. They ran out of food in the middle of winter and these people already living there (he doesn't know Native Americans or Indians so...) had to give them food. So they were thankful. Now we celebrate by giving thanks, eating a huge amount of food, and watching football?

No school off and turkey here is SO expensive. I was trying to brainstorm ways to smuggle a turkey on a plane from America because part of the team is going to the MTW Global Conference this week in GA. The best one was pretending I'm pregnant and holding the bird under my shirt for 24 hours? :)

The Mosquite Racket

Yes, friends, its what you always dreamed of but didn't know existed. The mosquito zapper fashioned to look like a tennis racquet. Plug it in, charge it up. Flip the switch, hold the button, and zap those guys right before they take your blood. At the beginning, I did feel merciless, but not anymore. Not after sweet they think I am.

I was introduced to this amazing creation by my American roommate, Dana, who was here. Our kitchen has no barrier to the outside forces, ok, just the bugs. So, while Dana washed the dishes, I hovered around her with the racquet and took out about thirteen mosquitos. Just a small "zap" and life is a safer place.

Celebrity to Someone

Another class field trip sent me off to talk to strangers at a nearby park with my Thai Language class. My two friends, a missionary woman and the monk, and I were walking and looking for someone to interview when a tourist asks to take a picture of us with her husband. Bewildered, we posed for someone else's camera. I guess some people think its fun to have a picture of two random white girls and a Taiwanese monk with their husband? Made us laugh definitely.

Life as a Guinea Pig

Where do guinea pigs find their feelings of productivity and security in life? The only thing to do in those cages is eat and run on the wheel. No matter how much Mr. Guinea runs on the wheel, he's gone nowhere. Full-time language learning is much like running on that wheel. Though I've been running for about 32 days, comparing myself to those off the wheel in "ministry", I've done nothing so far.

I have struggled with not feeling a sense of productivity while in language school. Looking at it in a more positive light, it is good to be stripped of the occupations and positions that made me feel success so I know that my only sense of identity should be in Christ's death on the cross. My God loves me and that is why I should live each day here out of that love, securely. If God wants me on that wheel, then I desire to run happily.

News today is that I'll be on the wheel until about mid-February. In order to have my mind around the writing system here, I'll need to take two writing modules. The first begins in two weeks, and the other after Christmas. Pray for me as I run on the wheel, that I might delight in the Lord, my position presently, and the beauty of language.

a good laugh for the neighbors

The other day I took my first motorcyle taxi alone to the really beautiful King's Park near my house. I had a good time jogging around and then hailed a taxi for the way home. I thought of all the right words to say for "turn right", "Through the intersection", "Yes, I am from America." Then we approached my house and I tried to say to "stop here on the left." Then we passed my house. Then we did a u-turn in the middle of the road. Finally, he figured out what I was throwing my arm at towards the right and stopped at my apartment.

My neighbor next door with the front door restaurant and the fruit stand guy across the street got a real laugh from watching me pass them, turn around, and come back. I tried to tell my neighbor what happened. Then she screamed across the street to tell the fruit stand guy. We all laughed. Then I realized I was still standing in the middle of the street and about to be run over by motorcycle taxi! :)

I Feel the Need, the Need for Speed!

I confess, I love public transportation. I love riding in a Taxi weaving between traffic going really fast. I think Thai drivers have amazing skills and will tell them as soon as I learn how. Also, I love city buses. In between stops, they go so fast its like you're a kid again riding a school bus. It hits a bump and all the kids in the back hit the ceiling. Yep, small silent giggles come from my seat when we go fast on the bus. And lastly, motorcycle taxis. Special love for the ability they have to weave in traffic. Yes Mom, I know they're dangerous. But lets just appreciate how fun it is for a minute.

I do miss my car though. My family takes this really curvy 2-lane road on the way to the beach where we can pass cars and fly. I miss doing that myself. But I can freely withdraw that desire here. I don't want to drive. I do not have the skills. But I will admire and appreciate the skills God gave others.

Disclaimer: These driving abilities only happen in countries other than the US, Canada, and Western Europe. Do not try to attempt these stunts yourself. Just come visit me, I'll show you how its done.

The Eternal Summer

What's the weather like here? Hot. I think that's why people don't use that as a part of regular conversation like in the US (or maybe I just can't understand them if they are talking about it). But at the same time, they do say we're approaching the cold season. Right...the cold season. At the doctor the other day, he said I might have had the flu, because of the season change. Season change, right. Whatever. But I am liking the lack of rain, my flip flops don't splash oil mud on to all my clothes.

Friends are asking what to send me for Christmas? Christmas? But its summer? And my teacher friends just sent our their first report cards? Nine weeks already? Wow. I seriously missed a whole leaf change-over? Are these two years going to feel like one big short-term summer mission trip? I wonder if they'll play "White Christmas" here?

Mahathai Slum Beach Retreat

What an awesome group from the local slum community to take on a retreat with our MTW team. We passed many fields as we traveled there with families, moms, dads, and kids. What a privilege. We played games, sang, and played in the ocean. Though I could understand little, I could play a lot. The girls pictured, in their community, I had a ball forming relationships with. Praise God for the great time. Enjoy the pictures.

Showin' Up my Thai Skills

Witness my amazing Thai yourself, right here with this video. I am discussing how we got to school today with Deanna, my fellow classmate. Be aware that my tones are not up to par, definitely. How do I sound? Wierd enough?

Studying hard with my fellow students before class. If you wonder why Rhianna and I are in the same shirts, its Monday. We wear our "We Love the King" shirts always on Mondays with the rest of the Thais. And we bought our twin shirts together b/c stripes rock!

Union Language School is on the 7th floor.

Fun Team Times

Team Baby Shower: our the womenly members of the team join together to celebrate a new baby of Paul and Crystal Henry! Its a girl, Adele Grace.


At Andrew and Becky Bronson's house, we had dinner with some English students that are friends of ours.


For a last Hoorah before my American roommie left, we found a Mexican restaurant! Here's a cool picture in Khaosandana, a backpacking road for all the Foreign travelers. Reminded me of Asheville. :)

PS...the Mahathai camp was awesome. Pics TBA...

Contemplations in the Mud

Saturday I decided to take a stroll through this place I call "home." I have to take odd leaps between sidewalk and street over puddles. Upside down crates are used as medians for motorcyclists to walk on as they park their bikes in the puddles along the side of the road. A truck rolls by and hits the board that is bridged over a puddle causing a crazy splash that makes me grab the guy's shoulder beside me out of surprise. With an "excuse me," I think I was forgiven. I get almost to Mahathai slum, where our church ministers and reach the lake. Yep, water prohibits me from getting there because my shoe is already pure mud.

That makes me think of the people who live in the squatters shacks in this community near us. The government gave them this land to live on but its practically swamp land. That causes sickness and difficulty in travel during this rainy season.

This weekend, our church takes the Mahathai community on a retreat. 80 people are coming, all families! And VERY few of those are attending our church plant. Pray that the Lord may meet those people and speak into their lives.

Class Pictures!

My first Thai class is finished! Pictured above is a wonderful class who included me in the newcomers to Thai community and joined me in the adventure of beginning a new language. Coming from all over the world, I made some great friends, some of which will stay with me on to Module 2. I passed my first test involving a five minute Thai conversation with a fellow classmate and a written test of twenty questions, reading comprehension and vocabulary based. Thanks for your prayers. I'm amazed that I have learned so much already and so thankful for the chance to learn this language. Dichan chop rian pasathay mak. (I love learning the Thai Language!)






Field Trip Day!
The second to last day of class, we put our new Thai skills to practice by heading towards a market/residential area on the river front. Given ten questions, I interviewed a sweet lady, pictured above, in Thai about her family, what she had for breakfast, and what she was going to do tomorrow. Being given the change to walk along the sidewalk next to the river, past people's indv. businesses/houses while canal taxi boats passed was an awakening experience. An awakening experience to their lives and to my need to go out, make relationships, and practice my Thai!

Jim Carrey

One of my fellow students in my Thai class is a Korean missionary. He says that I remind him of Jim Carrey! I am funny with my jokes and make comical faces. Isn't that great? But crazy all at the same time?

When I first arrived here, I was recovering from jet lag, but told my roommate that I really was funny, just give me some time. And shortly afterwards, she turned to me and said, "You really are funny!"

So amidst still adjusting, I seem to still work humor into this place. Woohoo!

Thai Progress Report

Good news, I now sound like a more intellectual monkey who can make sentences with my five tonal sounds! Today I learned how to say what time is it. Yesterday I learned the days of the week. I feel like if we had one of those charts up like they do in primary classrooms it would be easier for me. You know, we'd sit on the color carpet and look at the "Today" bulletin board. We'd discuss what day it is, what the weather is, and all that. Kindergarten Thai. Good thing.

Tones are still hard but I'm amazed I can say sentences!

Test is next Wednesday. Feel free to start praying now.

A Pain in the Ear

Yes, it was like having a softball stuck in your ear and you just can't reach it. That's how the ear infection has felt this weekend. I was down for the count for the whole weekend.

Yet good things came out of it. My team prayed for me on Sunday. I don't think I've had that many people pray for me over an ear infection before and it was really special to know that they had. I went to the hospital in Thailand for the first time. Before you freak out, know that people go to the hospital for routine checks here, doctors don't have offices it seems. The ear doctor was nice but should speak up, especially for all his deaf, or partially deaf, patients. And also, God reminded me of his protection and care for me. Last time I was at a hospital in a foreign country was in Honduras after a tragic truck accident. Every time I've been hurt and "alone", God never leaves me alone. Community is awesome.

Aisles of Squid

While trying to find real mayonnaise today in the grocery store, I navigated the aisles by looking at the aisle markers saying what I could find on each aisle. Thankfully, they're written in Thai and English. "Squid" has an entire aisle marker to itself, an entire aisle! If you feel a shortage of good squid over there in the US of A, I invite you grocery shopping with me.

Thai Test Tongue Tone Twisters

I can now successfully say that test anxiety exists in both the Western and Eastern Hemisphere. Yes, I know you were wondering about that phenomenon. Now, pretend you're a bit nervous and then try to say the word "cow" in five different tones perfectly. Ok, now faster. Yep, that was me just yesterday. Woohoo!

I also was tested ordering at a "restaurant" correctly thanks to that ability I have of cramming huge amounts of material in and then forgetting it after the test. Thats why I have a history degree without the complete knowledge of who was the president during WWII. I know, I should be ashamed.

Phantom Thai Aerobics

In Thailand, as a woman athlete, the only choice I see available is aerobics. To befriend the local college students with my fellow Thai roommie, we head to the gym. I wonder if the sweat coming off my body is from my cardiovascular activity or just the heat? It is the latter due to my inability to achieve the former.

The aerobic sequences kick my tail. They activate my mental capacities more than my physical appendages. But hey, that'll keep me alert when I'm eighty! Here's one example. Ok, skip five steps to the right, then twirl left. High kick behind, then turn to do it in front. Sidestep to the right, then twirl back. Once I get that, we take on another sequence!

Time for cooldown! And to what music, Phantom of the Opera, the techno remix! Yep. I then participate in Fear Factor ballet balance challenges while listening to the soprano achieve notes that no one else should reach without being in a split, like I am about to be in. But, hey, what fun!

North Carolina Sighting

North Carolina was in the Bangkok Post, the English paper here! Yep, Maiden, North Carolina! Yep, some guy found a foot in a cooker he bought at an auction. And that is what Thais call news! So, be proud North Carolinians. And be sure that if you get your foot amputated and save it for "religious reasons," don't forget to take it out of the cooker you stored it in before selling the appliance!

Thought for the Day: Siamese Cats

There is a breed of cat called Siamese, right? But Thailand used to be the King of Siam? Doesn't that actually mean that every cat here in Thailand is actually a Siamese cat?

Think about it.

The 411 on Thai Food

Burning lips.
Large gulps, not sips.
With fork and spoon,
Becoming tough very soon.

Noodles or rice
add meat and some spice
looks like Chinese food
but with a Thai 'tude

"Moo" is for pork
not cow on a fork.
"Guy" is for chicken
not real finger lickin'

A mountain to eat
for oh so very cheap
Two chiles I may try
Once I've kissed my lips goodbye.

Kuhn Thai Phuut

"You speak Thai," directs my teacher, Khruu Arindra everyday. I awaken at 5:30 (before the sun), meet Rhianna and a taxi at 6:30, and go to class from 8am until noon. After noon, I pick up some snack like popcorn or peanuts at the 7/11. Then its back home on the SkyTrain and then the bus. I get home around 2pm. Yep, I just called this place "home" and didn't catch myself until afterwards. Wow, its finally setting in.

My class is so awesome, it covers my need for new and interesting faces everyday! And they are colorful characters- the retired lawyer married to a Thai who lets me read his English paper, the Canadian yoga instructor, the Taiwanese monk-to-be (who I just realized speaks English!), the Indonesian married to a German who lives in Thailand, and the French guy who I think must have once been a runway model with the strut of his. There are other missionaries too, but their stories are much like mine.

Somedays are very hard and others make me feel really good about myself. As my team leader reminds me, my identity is in Christ, not in my Thai language performance. I can't differentiate very well between the sounds of the various consonants and vowels yet, but it is a bonus to have Thai roommies.

Moments in Malaysia

A week long trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I will summarize the trip as a week of feeling comfortable again in a hotel, being reminded of how many missionaries God has around the world and what we're all going through, taking a quick trip to wander a forest, and most of all being reminded of how much God loves me.

Everything in the Malaysian forest was huge, including the leaf found on the ground. Once we reached the top of the canopy, KL was very visible below us. Looking up at the canopy from the trail, it looked like a cross between algae and broccoli!

Very striking differences between Malaysia and Thailand are found in the dominant religions. Malaysia is primarily Muslim, shown in the clothing, food (no pork toppings for pizza), and rituals. We were there during the month of Ramaddan and many were awakened and reminded of that five times a day by the drones from the Blue Mosque nearby. Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, making even the feeling of the country different. Yet both have a visible sobering need to know about a God who loves them no matter who they are or how many times they do things right.

Have you ever almost run into an elephant?

Picture taken by fellow teammate as she spotted the elephant walking down her street. I promised a picture of an elephant and I found one!

Yes, third elephant sighting. At night, on the phone, walking down the sidewalk and not paying attention. I almost ran into him except for my great roomies helping me!

Language school is awesome! I can now sound like a monkey in five different tones. I've just learned sounds and tones in two days, but its so liberating!

Malaysia was awesome and pictures will come soon. I love you all!

Malaysia! Woohoo!

The Mission to the World Pacific Area Retreat starts tomorrow and goes through September 19th in Kuala Lumpur. So excited! This event only happens every three years and I get to go! I get to see some of my missionaries friends and mentors again. I don't feel fully grounded here yet to be leaving again, but excited for the opportunity to learn, be encouraged, hug friends, and all that. Please pray for safety, rest for the team, and for the Thai staff and Henrys that are holding up the fort in our leave of absence. Crystal's having a baby in a month or so and needs to stay back. While I'm gone, check out my photos in Facebook or recap on my past blogs when life was more predictable. :)

The New MelanieLand

Do you see all the water in the road? It rained last night as my roomies and I were headed to the market. Aren't they cute?


We eat at Au's booth at the market almost daily. She just started coming to our church, so pray for her!


Rhianna and I registering for Thai language classes. They start Sept. 20 until Christmas!


All my roommates, (except Pawn in blue who works at office too)

Why did the Elephant Cross the Road?

Second Elephant Sighting! This time the elephant walked down the street in front of my apartment. I looked up and just stared. Wow. For real? Here? Still no camera near me of course. He was a smaller elephant with his owner on an elephant seat type thing chilling wondering why this farang (foreigner) is staring.

My roommate says he's the neighborhood elephant but usually he doesn't come out but for holidays. The owner usually calls out for donations so the elephant can eat.

We followed them on the way to our church office. Elephants don't have to stop for traffic, or play frogger like we do. How fun! That reminds me of a nonsense joke my sister used to tell as a kid, "Why did the elephant cross the road?" Answer, "To get the newspaper." She thought that was hilarious. My answer is, "Why not. They can do whatever they want. They're elephants!"

The Challenges of Coconuts and Noodle Soup

Missionaries get days off in the middle of the week and it screws up my internal calendar. So, if yesterday was my day off, then today is Monday? Nope, its Friday. I wandered downtown with my American roomie and a soon-to-be possible Thai campus ministry teammate.

Coolest thing: Drinking coconut milk from a straw from a coconut. Yes, I did do that in Honduras. But this time, we were walking down the busy streets of Bangkok where they don't even believe in designated lanes of traffic or even sidewalks. And we stopped at one of the many vendors and my friend, Moo, ordered me a coconut. The lady chopped off the top, stuck in a straw, and handed it to me. I walked around slurping from a coconut. So wierd, yet shouldn't I start to realize that is now my normal?

Challenging Thing: Noodle soup. I was ordered noodle soup with duck. It came with chopsticks and a spoon. I tried to use the chopsticks but the noodles slid off. The spoon wouldn't hold anything. Dana says pull up the noodles with the chopsticks and then put it on the spoon. Then put the spoon in my right hand and eat from it. Moo is finished before I get my second bite. Everyone is done and I am still crafting my third bite. I told them to stop staring, so they look on separate walls and laugh. I did finish, and it was good, but challenging. I don't remember it being that hard in Japan? Everything seems harder when you want to learn to do it for two years!

Being a Substitute Teacher

Yep, I can never run far from teaching. One of my teammates is on vacation, so I'm taking about four classes for her. I've taught English before to Japanese, Chinese, and Colombian. Not Thai and not full-on grammar. Past participles!! For those of you like me without that knowledge, that's when you add have + the particle of a verb like "I have already washed the dishes."

I had nine students, mostly my age-ish. One girl is in high school. They all have short nicknames here. Their real names are really long, so they are called things like "Yu" or "Moo" or "Gluay" (which means banana!). I think I talked really fast, but I smiled a lot which helps. Friday is my next class with them, and I have to combine past tense and participles!

Our team offers about seven English classes for about 60 students. From these classes, we establish some awesome relationships, hang out outside of class, and hope to connect them to our church and JESUS! Very fun because I know how to teach (somewhat) and they can speak English somewhat. Woohoo!

How Harry Potter and I are Alike

Just completing the last Harry Potter book has found me once again identifying with book characters. Let me set the stage...Ron has just rescued Harry Potter from drowning and kills one of Voldemort's horcruxes (if you haven't read these, just stay with me as best you can). He's sharing how he feels with Harry Potter, the hero of many such adventures.

"That sort of makes me sound a lot cooler than I was," Ron mumbled. "Stuff like that always sounds cooler than it really was," said Harry, "I've been trying to tell you that for years."

It does sound pretty cool that I've traveled all the way to Thailand. It makes me sound much cooler than I really am and than this experience seems. I try to imagine a globe and myself on the other side of it than the US. It doesn't feel like that. And I'm the same. Just a bit overwhelmed, confused, and slower. I bet Paul felt like that in the Bible. His adventures for the Lord sound amazing, yet while He was living them, it was just life around him.

Soi Dogs

No, its not a type of organic veggie hotdog, its what Thais call "street dogs" here. "Soi" means "Street". And they are in abundance. Six of them are found on the porch of my apartment in the late afternoon. I pass five in the two blocks to work. You might ask why are so many dogs around? In Buddhism, (forgive me for not explaining this well, take in account my week and a half here so far) they believe in reincarnation in some way. These dogs might be the reincarnated image of someone they know. They can't kill them or treat them badly because that could affect their own karma. Therefore, the dogs roam in abundance.

Mostly they're harmless. My roommate has had a few scary moments with a couple of them but I hear I can swing my bookbag at them if they snarl. Many nights I can hear them behind my apartment howling, moaning, or fighting. My last apartment in Asheville did have three dogs that woke me up every Saturday morning howling. But not this way.

I wish I had pictures....but still haven't really got my computer connected to the wireless office internet. And I still don't have internet at the apartment.

Furniture Shopping

As soon as I was picked up from the airport, Tim turned to me and said I'd be shopping for furniture Monday. Furniture! That sounds permanent. As I thought about it, I've never shopped for furniture. I've always taken my family and friends' hand-me-downs.

So, Rhianna and I conquered the big Seacon Mall yesterday, specifically the furniture floor. Yes, there are like five floors. Rhianna couldn't remember the word for "bed" which was the first obstacle to overcome. Then we found out after a billion salespeople kept walking up to beds and pulling up the sheet, that we were using the word for "mattress". Somehow, I have ordered a bedframe that should be delivered in a week. I already have a queen size mattress in my otherwise empty, other than four suitcases, bedroom.

Other fun things: On the way to the mall, there was an elephant walking down the road! And after shopping, we found a grocery store in the mall. Once you buy your groceries, you must push your cart across the whole mall to the parking lot you parked in. The grocery store was multi-floored, with an escalator type thing that was flat instead of with stairs so you can take your grocery cart up and down floors! All very interesting.

Are You Easy to Get to Know?

I had a friend ask me that once and I felt like I said I was. I remember discussing that once with a friend at my new church about how you best get to know people. I told her that she'll really know me when I cry in front of her. Well, that didn't take long with her then, and it hasn't taken long here in Thailand.

Yep, already cried in front of three of my teammates. But hey, now we know I'm a real person who's really taking this culture shock hard at times. Its hard to be diminished to maybe a three year old's social skills. All I can do around all my new Thai friends, neighbors, and the like is smile. Yep, I can barely pronounce hi.

I did try to notice the people around me today, which is hard sometimes because I've been so tired. I have a fruit stand right across the street from our apartment. The guy stands out there from mid morning until late evening. I greeted him and did the "Wai" (like a small bow), and he smiled pretty big and returned it. But then I realized that the "Wai" is what you do only first to those of higher age or class. I should have just said hi. See, I can't even do that right! But either way, at least I was able to smile and get a smile in return.

Falling asleep on the Bus

In the last 3 days, I've been on a plane, bus, motorcycle taxi (don't tell my mom), pickup truck, boat, train, and taxi. I think the motorcycle driver thought I was hilarious because I was so excited, I had to let out a small "wheee!"

Yesterday I traveled in Bangkok all by myself!! It took extraordinary measures to get me out alone because it took much longer in NYC. Yet to see my friends, the Wingfields, that flew in with me, I had to get to them. So, at 6:45 am, I got on a taxi who had written Thai directions to a hotel about an hour away. And I got there! With my friends, we toured around by boat, train, and taxi. Then I left them to head home by the SkyTrain and then on a bus. Home at about 6pm.

Jetlag caught up with me on the bus that I was riding to the end of his route. I just fell asleep. Yep, I fell asleep in a new country that I don't speak the language and I didn't know anyone! But no prob, woke up at the second to last stop and walked home.

Thai Currie is really in Thailand!

Friends, family, country men, lend me your ear. I felt like some kind of crazy announcement words, thats what came to mind. I'm here! In Thailand! All is well.

Thanks for your prayers. I'll give you more info soon, but had to tell you!
I miss you all and am thinking of you.

FYI: all the commands on this blog site right now are in Thai. Thankfully I know my way around or I'd never even find "New Post". :)

The Time is Upon Us

"Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, trust in the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore."
-Psalm 131

As I head out tomorrow, I want to remember I can remain that close to God even on the other side of the world. "Like a weaned child" and I never have to let go. And I'll remain that way "from this time forth and forevermore."

Great times the last week. God has made it go so slow. I'm out the door and flying away at about 11am. I look forward to talking to you from the "side of the world." (The Whipple kids call it that.)

A couple pictures from Trinity Church send-off last night: The left picture is me surrounded by some great, Godly, loving guys, Steve, Mark, and Donnie. I've learned so much from them. The right picture is when Mark asked the youth that have been impacted by me to come forward and I was mobbed.

How being a missionary is like getting married

Making my support list was like making my guest list. My goodbye party was like my reception. How do you talk to that many people? I always dream of having every single person I know surrounding me and how much fun that would be (an extrovert's dream). I had a small intimate party of fifty people last night. And leaving the country is about as much trouble as changing your name, as I hear.

Here are a few pictures of people I love, below. Some pictures of my youth group I have helped with the past four years. Lara, my fellow missions dreamer and I back-to-back, Emily hugging my neck, before she also leaves for Alaska. And yes, I wasn't kidding when I said I had a lot of friends having babies. Here are a few all together. I am so blessed and feel so loved. For more pictures, check out my facebook.

The Thai Currie Identity

While preparing to be a missionary, I've been trekking through the Bourne books. I really want to watch the third movie before I leave, but have to watch the first two first. Last night and this morning, I watched Bourne Identity.

So the credits run and I get out of bed with the credit soundtrack song still playing in the background. mmm, cha, mmm, cha...Always makes me feel like I can identify with Bourne. Self talk begins, "Alright Melanie, its time to be a missionary." Four days. Its time for final mission preparations.

Dude, I wonder if all missionaries feel like this four days before liftoff. Hudson Taylor went all by himself! Wow. Time to weigh all suitcases to fifty pounds each. Time to say farewell to past contacts. Time to identify people on the other side to pick me up. Yep, Bourne can do it. So can Thai Currie.

Thai Mother's Day

Sunday was Mother's Day in Thailand! Everyone wears blue and gives fake jasmine flowers to their moms in gratitude. Our Thai Church Plant (as told by the Henrys blog on the right) had many newcomers on our special Mother's Day Sunday, 15 moms, some dads, and kids. Pictured above is Phii Nong, one particular sweet woman that attends English class. Lately though, work is hindering her attendance, so please pray for her. She is a major "mover and shaker" for our Mahathai slum community outreach.

The crazy thing is I'll get to meet her soon. I'll be in Thailand in six days! Excitement, thanks to the Lord, is arising more out of the nervousness and sadness lately. Call or email or something to say bye if you haven't gotten to yet. Two years, here I come. I can't even imagine, but I keep trying to.

Currie Clan Time

The Whole Currie Clan


Me and my seester


Wrestling with my nephew, Aidan