Food Poisoning...in America?

Yes, though I survived (Praise God!) Thailand with only one food poisoning experience, I have already gotten it after being home for only two weeks. I am walking around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Not too bad, but I wondered for a while if I was having sympathy pains for my pregnant friend I visited today. No, it was just a turkey sandwich from a good bagel shop here.

Neighborhoods

Yesterday I took a walk around my neighborhood. I've been so amazed lately at the quietness of the neighborhoods here. There's three cars outside of one house but I can't hear a sound or see anybody. Where is everybody? Inside, I guess.

In Thailand (you know, I've said that phrase way too much already, and I'm sure people are tired of it. But I'm processing here, so just try to listen.)...In Thailand, when I opened our front door, the noise could push me back inside. My neighbors were playing Isaan folk music from the NE of Thailand loud while pounding their papaya salad down to get all the juices out. Trucks would drive by full of vegetables with the guy in the front seat screaming in the microphone something about cucumbers. The motorcycle taxi drivers would wizz by looking for someone needing a ride. They'd honk their horns to let people know someone was coming back to get them. Across the street people were sitting and eating fried pork, going in and out of the convenience store, ordering pork balls at the cart passing by, as well as fruit from the fruit stand.

Now you can understand why it seems quiet here.

They've Grown!

I visited the church I've grown up in today, Back Creek ARP in Charlotte, NC. What a crazy feeling to know I've been there since I was in first grade. My parents picked that church for us because our Sunday School teacher gave us gum and the pastor's prayer didn't make us all fall asleep. That's what I remember at least. As I found people to sit with today, I noticed they were all sitting without their kids. The youth were on a mission trip to Mexico. All those kids were first graders when I was a senior in high school. I taught their Sunday School class. That same year, I went on the Mexico mission trip and felt God's calling to return as a missionary. Now those same kids are taking their first international missions trip. Praise God. May he raise up more servants from that trip this week.

Missionary Approval

I spent the week at Readiness Evaluation week with Mission to the World. All career missionary candidates attend this week for the purpose of seeking approval and a confirmation of their calling to missions. Thankfully the Lord has approved my calling through Mission to the World to continue pursuing missions past this two year term. Now I am planning the next steps towards returning to Thailand.

During the week, we spent time with refugees in Clarkston, Georgia as well as doing many simulated activities relating to church-planting on the mission field. It was a strenuous week since I had just returned from Thailand, yet the Lord was faithful. The assessors were able to speak valuable insights into my life that will help me process my time in Thailand as well as grow me spiritually. Thank you for your prayers.

Want a Bot?

Finally got to go to O'Charley's on Saturday night. I had been thinking about that place while in Thailand a lot. After our meal, we were getting out our change to pay the waiter. I have all these Thai coins in my purse. So, I gave one to my waiter thinking he'd like it. He did. His response made me laugh. He looked at it and said, "That's what's up!"

Beauty of the Sea

While in Thailand, visiting the beach, our short-term team found a cute little baby octopus. I love that about Thailand, all the amazing wildlife there.

Going Back on a Pagoda

Part of re-entry supposedly is getting used to people's comments upon your return. I haven't had much experience with that yet, seeing this is my 6th day in America. But while Rachel and I were having breakfast at the Holiday Inn, a nice elderly lady sat down with us at our table. Shortly into the conversation, we told her we were in Atlanta for debriefing as missionaries from Thailand. I explained that I'd be here for an evaluation week as a missionary candidate to go back long term. She replied, "Candidate? What are you going to be doing? Being in a bathing suit competition? If you even want to go to Thailand, they should let you. They should seat you on a pagoda with four oarsmen and take you there!" Hahahaha....

Full Party House!

Here's a cute picture from my goodbye party, where Becky captured me surrounded by my friends. Som-O is sitting on my lap whispering important things in my ear. To my right is Somboon, the community leader from Mahathai. It was a great honor for him to come to my party. Before he left, he made a point to come up to me and thank me for my work in Mahathai. Nicholas, my team leader's son, is sitting on the other side of me. Behind me are a lot of other friends from the Mahathai community. It was an honor for any of my friends to want to come to my party to wish me farewell. I miss them.

Debriefing happened today at the Mission to the World headquarters. It was a good time to think about the past and talk through my two years in Thailand. Now I rest through the weekend to try to get over jetlag and be ready for Monday!

Wrong Side!

While driving to Atlanta today, I stopped by to pick up Rachel in South Carolina. She was an intern in Thailand for a year with me, and is a good friend of mine. We're going to debrief together and spend some days together here in Atlanta. As I pulled out of her neighborhood, I naturally pulled out to the left side of the road. So calmly, Rachel said, "Melanie, you're driving on the wrong side of the road." Aah! First time for everything today. First time to drink American milk today. First time to pay tips at a restaurant again. First time to eat at Chili's again!

Debriefing at the Mission to the World headquarters is tomorrow.

Melanie Sightings

July Schedule
16th: off to Atlanta for a health physical
17th: debriefing in Atlanta with Mission to the World
18th: shopping, I need clothes!
19th: visiting one of the churches that came to Thailand for a short-term trip
20-24: Readiness Evaluation Week with Mission to the World--to see if I can go back to Thailand as a longer-term missionary
25-31: helping my Mom to be a 1st grade teacher in Charlotte
August 1: headed to Asheville

Please pray for my week of evaluation with MTW. Pray for God's wisdom for the assessors, as well as my flexibility and openness during the week. I will know by the end what my future has in store. I'm feeling tired and overwhelmed with all that's happening, so pray for good time with me and God as I transition here.

This morning, I read Psalms 60-63, where David is running out of his home away from his son who took his throne from him. While David had nothing and was quite confused, he wrote some amazing prayers to the Lord. Psalm 62:8 being my favorite. Pour out your hearts to God. He is our refuge!

Home Sweet Home

I'm home safe. The plane ride was fine, just long. My calves got all swollen which reminded me of a bad episode on Grey's Anatomy when they had to cut his legs open while he was still alive. But thankfully I didn't have to do that to myself. I sat beside a Vietnamese-American from my hometown of Charlotte. I had a hard time figuring out what language to speak with her.

First impressions of America:
-a lot of English! I turned my head in the Chicago airport anytime someone screamed something. I looked like a crazy person.
-coldness! I have been so cold inside my parents' house. Even the toilet seats are cold!
-carpet! I love this invention. It's so soft and warm.
-air conditioning! I don't have to turn it on when I go in my bedroom. It's always on. That is so strange.
-driving! I love it and it is easy to remember how. I've only had one incident of almost being run over by a semi, but that was because I was talking on the phone.
-my family! It is just like a dream to see them again, but also normal at the same time. My nephew was so excited, he cried when he saw me coming down the escalator at the airport.
-I miss Thailand.

Please be praying for my aunt. She's in ICU after not recovering well from back surgery. I may have to drive my mom to Raleigh to see her tomorrow.

The Goodbyes

The goodbyes happen tonight at my goodbye party. This morning I walked around to tell everyone at Mahathai I was leaving. The people were so encouraging to my sadness. One lady said, "Don't worry, we won't go anywhere. We'll be here when you get back." And another lady said, "We feel better about you leaving knowing you're being a good daughter going to visit your parents." Just at the points of tears, their words help ease the leaving. Yet I'm sure tonight, the tears will fall. It has been a blessing to be here. The challenges and learning have been an uphill journey, but that must be how we reap the most. Thank you for tracking my blog during my time here. I pray that it has blessed you by seeing God's kingdom across the world as well as seeing life as a missionary. See you on the other side soon!

The Faces I'll Miss

These are the small fruits I leave behind here to change their families' lives with their growing ability to share the Gospel, pray, and sing Christian songs.








I'm faced with two days left for blogging and so many pictures to share. So, I think picture sharing will last long after I leave here.

The Bags are Packed...

For those counting, I have five more days before I'm on American soil. Crazy wierd feeling. Yep. Wierd.

Teen Night

While the short-term team was here, we had an awesome teen-to-teen night. The American teens spoke with the girls about their testimonies, about inner beauty from the Lord, and about boys! Then we all went out to a karaoke restaurant together to eat, fellowship, and sing!The whole group on one long table together. I am on the far end.

The teenagers singing together.
Singing some Thai song with Name.

The sea- food menu!