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!