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.