Saying Goodbye

Life got too busy at the end of my time in Thailand and so its been too long since I posted. Sorry folks!

I have now been home 12 days and thought I should just 'sign off'' and let you know that blogging is over for now - until I go travelling again.

There was a week of saying 'Goodbye' before I left.

We said Goodbye to the ladies who ran the little local restaurant in Doi Saket, where we ate most week days and who served the best Thai food I ate the whole time I was in Thailand.

And we had to say Goodbye to 'the donut lady' we bought donuts from at the market each Tuesday evening. She knew each of our orders and always greeted us with a very big smile.

 

Then there were the members of the YFC Asia Pacific team (not all pictured here!) and the AP Area office.

And 'the Christian lady' who cooked the second best Thai food I ate whilst in Thailand. Her restaurant was very close to the Area office and so we ate there a number of times. She always smiled her beautiful big smile when she saw us drive up.

And, of course, I had to say 'Goodbye' to our beautiful tropical paradise home which I enjoyed for three months.

And 'my Thailand family'. Thank you, beautiful women. God brought us together 'for such a time as this' and He sure knew what He was doing!

And then, without any hitches with timetables or luggage, I was home to kids and grandkids. It felt sooooo.. good to be almost knocked over at the ariport by little grandchildren trying to get to Granny first!

 Thanks for coming on the journey with me. I look forward to travelling with you again sometime in the future.

I don't know when or where that will be, but God does.

A Day out in Chiang Mai

On Wednesday last week I spent a lovely day in Chiang Mai with Melinda.

Melinda is an Aussie who is a dorm assistant with OMF at Grace International School in Chiang Mai.

 I began my day out by catching the song taew in our small town of Doi Saket. They leave every few minutes to take the half hour trip into the city of Chiang Mai. I really enjoy chatting with the locals on the journey.

On my journeys in the song taew I have met a Danish/Thai girl who grew up in Denmark, who is taking a gap year to come to her mother's homeland to learn Thai.

I also met an older woman, who tried to speak to me in Thai. Of course I couldn't answer but told her I liked her hair (It was just like mine!). She said, in really good English: "I like yours too!". Thus began our lesson as she tried to teach me Thai all the way into town!

 While I was waiting for Melinda I saw this guy selling brooms from his pushbike along the side of the road - as you do!

Melinda and I ate lunch at a very traditional Thai restaurant on the second floor of the Warorot market. Was good food.

Then Melinda and I decided to take a cruise along the Ping River in a rice boat. Reminded me of cruising the French canals with Mal. Lots of happy memories there.

And today was another day for making good memories.

Dom, our driver, was such a lovely guy who spoke good English - learned from the tourists - and told us about the things we saw along the route.

We stopped at a Thai Farmer's house - well, it used to be a farmer's house! Now it is more like a museum of farming equipment with rabbits and ducks, a great garden with many herbs, all labelled, plus a restaurant where we were treated to delicious fruit and cool drinks.

We asked our boat driver, Dom, to take a photo of us and he wanted us to sit on the water buffalo! So we did!

 

There is also a Thai cooking school at this venue and if I return to Chiang Mai sometime in the future I'd love to do a one week cooking class here.

 When our boat cruise was over we walked some of the streets of Chiang Mai, browsed, bought a few gifts for family and checked out an art gallery.

Then it was time for me to go to meet the rest of the Embark team to go teach English to the Chiang Mai YFC staff - our usual Wednesday evening activity.

It was my last opportunity to catch a tuk tuk while I am in Chiang Mai, so I couldn't resist!

I really enjoyed my tuk tuk experience. The driver was so helpful and showed me photos of him with his son and his mother! I needed donuts for my English students to party at the end of our classes and so he took me to the supermarket, found donuts for me and we continued on our way. Another very positive experience in Thailand.

Meeting the girls at the Holiday Inn was a bonus. I was able to have a wash and refresh after a long warm day on the town and before heading off to our last English class!

Living with a cat

I've never lived with a cat. I grew up in a family that had an 'attitude' towards cats. We were a dog family, right brothers?

But at our house in Thailand there is a pretty nice cat! (Never thought I'd hear myself say that!)

His name is Pee Paw. He got his name from the owners of the house when they were living here. As a kitten he made puddles on the floor and walked through the puddles leaving paw marks behind him. Hence the name - Pee Paw!!

 

 Pee Paw really likes to smooch.

 He loves us to spend quality time with him.

And because he wants to be part of 'the family' he sleeps on top of the truck hoping that he can come along with us next time we're heading off.

 

I'm not sure that I'll become a cat-lover in my senior years, but I do quite like Pee Paw.

The rainy season in Thailand

It's rainy season right now in northern Thailand.
Well, it's nearing the end of the rainy season. Soon it will be what they call 'winter' but it's nothing like the winter that I'm familiar with.

The rainy season goes from the end of May until end of October, but it's wettest in September. 

Check it out here, if you like http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/about_cm/seasons/

The rainy season is characterized by torrential downpours. They can be sudden bursts that only last for half an hour or so or solid rain for hours at a time - mostly at night, thankfully.
Meanwhile the temperature remains in the thirties!

And the mini lakes in our garden form within minutes of the start of a downpour. And our tropical paradise becomes a wet tropical paradise!

Here Alicia is wondering if she'll venture out in the rain or not.

We're not inconvenienced by it too much. The downpours are usually over pretty quickly, the water drains away and we go on as if they hadn't occurred, except that it's very slushy underfoot.

I was sorry I didn't take photos of us caught in a downpour a couple of weeks ago at the night bazaar in Chiang Mai. It was raining SERIOUSLY and we got VERY wet 

and I LOVED it!
You would have enjoyed seeing me in my mauve disposable waterproof poncho.

Living in Community in Chiang Mai

Kristi has just sent a newsletter to all her friends, family and supporters. We all contributed our thoughts about living in community. I thought you might be interested to read what we had to say.

Kristi shared: "There is nothing like living in community. We have all lived in families with people who were called to love us and sometimes did it well. However, living in community is volunteering to enter a family you did not choose. In community, I walk between being known and unknown, being seen and unseen. I waver between rebellion and surrender every day. It is like living with a mirror in front of my face. I see the best and the worst of myself when I see myself reflected in the eyes of those with whom I am living. I asked each of the women I am living with right now to talk about community and what they are learning."

Lana confessed, “I am going to be honest, I was as apprehensive as excited about the idea of living in a houseful of women. I have been brought up in North America where 'making it on my own' has been placed as a much higher achievement than living in community. Six weeks in, I can see that something beautiful and unique has been set into motion here and I am thankful for the growth, sharpening and refining that has happened before my eyes and in the mirror. I look forward to walking with years of EMBARK students because I know it will leave them (and me) changed for good.”

Jane wrote, “We are all different. We didn’t choose to live together. God chose it for us. But He knew what He was doing and as we learn to live together, He is growing and shaping us to be more useful to Him. Living, studying and working together 7 days a week, we are continually confronted with each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s in our strengths that we help to carry each other’s load. It’s in our weakness that we are forced to rely on each other. We are all pretty independent, competent and determined women, but as the weeks go by we are learning to let down our defenses, to be open and honest, as we are listened to and loved without judgment, and as we grow in love for and trust in Jesus and each other. I have a new appreciation for the way living in community can shape us to be more like Jesus and more useful to Him.”

For Alicia, “Living in community is a good challenge. I was ready to let God stretch me when I left for EMBARK and there’s nothing better for me than living with four other people, who I hardly knew six weeks ago, to grow me. Although stretching, it has also been so rewarding. There’s nothing I can compare to our times of giggling with each other, playing games, having meaningful conversation, prepping for ministry and TESOL, learning together, and experiencing God together. We were created for community and it is so good to learn to live that out in a context that is so welcoming to community.”

Olivia said, “Living in the EMBARK community has been beneficial for me because not only am I having to deal with challenges that come with living in any community, such as working around everyone’s schedules and making compromises, but also because in this particular community I am constantly surrounded by women who love God and want the best for me. Constantly having people to hold me accountable when I need accountability and encourage me when I need encouragement has been such a blessing and I have been
growing more than I ever have before in my relationship with the Lord during my time here. The advantages far outweigh any discomforts or inconveniences that come along with living in community.”

In his book 'Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places', Eugene Peterson wrote, “I often found myself preferring the company of people outside my congregation, men and women who did not follow Jesus. Or worse, preferring the company of my sovereign self. But soon I found that my preferences were honored by neither Scripture nor Jesus. I didn't come to the conviction easily, but finally there was no getting around it: there can be no maturity in the spiritual life, no obedience in following Jesus, no wholeness in the Christian life apart from immersion and embrace of community. I am not myself by myself. Community, not the highly vaunted individualism of our culture, is the setting in which Christ is at play.” 

The EMBARK curriculum is awesome. The things we are learning about evangelism, culture, and teaching English are invaluable skills. The ministry we are having with our neighbors, our English students, our regulars at the shops and markets in the Doi Saket community is exciting. However, nothing is changing us the way living in community is changing us. Life together is where maturity is being tested, obedience in following Jesus is required, and wholeness is being found. It is in the immersion into this community where Jesus meets us and transforms us.

Thanks Kristi for allowing me to put your newsletter onto my blog.

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Yesterday we sang this beautiful old hymn at church. Great is Thy Faithfulness.

It holds so much meaning and so many memories for me. 

Mal and I sang it on our wedding day nearly 14 years ago.

 

One of the lines that stands out for me is: 'Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow'

'Bright hope for tomorrow'. An exciting life ahead of us with Jesus.

 .

  

 What fun we had! What adventures! What  priveleges God gave us as we served Him together.

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Mal.

  Three years ago we said 'goodbye for now'. 

We sang Great is Thy Faithffulness at Mal's thanksgiving service. 

That same line was full of meaning for me then too: 'Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow'. Amidst my tears I believed it wholeheartedly then and I still do. God is so good to me and although I go now without my dearest companion in life, my journey is exciting and fulfilling. God knew. God knows and He's awesome. He gives me strength for each new today and my hope for tomorrow is in His promises.

Yesterday, when we sang in church I couldn't sing again through my tears.

They were tears of sadness because the love of my life is no longer by my side. And they were mingled with tears of thankfulness to a God who gives wonderful gifts and has seen me through each day and will continue to do just that.

We live in a tropical paradise

How good is God to give us SUCH a beautiful home to enjoy whilst studying and equipping young leaders to serve Him in others cultures. 

There is constant noise here - frogs, birds- both local and imported, geckos (surprisingly these very small lizards make quite a noise), roosters, dogs and the house cat, Pee Paw.

Thailand has a tropical climate which is defined as: a climate which is typical of equatorial and tropical regions, that is, one with continually high temperatures and with considerable precipitation, at least during part of the year. 

Right now it is 4.30 pm and the temperature is 32 degrees C, with a comment on the weather forecast - 'feels like 36!' precipitation 55%. Tonight's forecast is 23 degrees C, 80% precipitation.

Tropical indeed!

You can check out our weather here http://www.accuweather.com/en/th/doi-saket/317508/daily-weather-forecast/317508

 

This 'fire-pit' is in our garden and is where we can have a barbeque or campfire. In an earlier post we shared this with our neighbours when we had them over for dinner.

My bedroom is on the corner downstairs. I have windows on two sides and have them open all the time. I also keep the fan going whenever I am in the room and never have more than a sheet over me at night. It's serioulsy warm and humid all the time here at this time of year.

I've let you see this picture BIG because it is breathtakingly beautiful! This is the view we all love most from the house. This photo is taken from the upstairs window in the living area and so we get to enjoy it very often.

Before I sign off I must make a couple of corrections to my last blog post. 

Olivia THROWS me under a bus rather than pushes me under a bus! Far more violent!

Some Amercians call the evening meal dinner. It depends on which state one comes from

 and I forgot to say that my American housemates 'make' an egg for breakfast rather than 'cook' an egg and they 'make' a right instead of 'turning' right in the traffic.

What a diverse and beautiful world we live in!

Living with Americans

Last night,on our way home after Lana's youth group, we stopped for icecreams. I shouted everyone!  Americans don't shout, they treat.

People can think that just because Australians speak the same language as Americans and some of our historical roots are similar, we will understand each other well.  Not necessarily so!

 Olivia enjoys 'pushing me under a bus'!! In Australia we'd say 'she dobs me in'!

Early on, I talked about putting something on the bench. My housemates wondered what I was talking about. They call it the counter!

North Americans eat supper but we eat dinner as our evening meal. They don't even know about 'our' supper. I asked what they call it when people go out for something to eat after a movie, or after youth group - a snack. I asked what they call it when they have something to eat at home around 9 pm. We don't! 

Americans put trash in the can. Aussies put rubbish in the bin.

Both Aussies and Americans can speak fast and be difficult to understand. That is certainly the case in this house! With accents on top of that, sometimes we have no idea what the other has said.

This week has been a bit different for me because we've had another Aussie in the house! 

 Derek Tucker, YFC trainer from Australia, has been here teaching us lots about missiology. The girls noticed that I communicated differently with Derek from my usual communication with them. Interesting! Not sure what that says!

But I must say I did enjoy having another Aussie around. Great to have you here, Derek!

Not wrong, just different!

What a privilege it is to be able to live, for blocks of time, in cultures other than my own. When I do I realise that there are so many things that are different from 'my normal'. It's so easy to think that 'my' way is right and 'the other' is wrong. Who says?

'Not wrong, just different' 

is a really helpful phrase to keep in mind whilst living in another culture where many things are different from home.

Take toilets, for instance!

Anyone who has travelled in developing countries knows about squat toilets. 

Not wrong, just different! 

There actually are advantages if we take time to find out about them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squat_toilet 

In Thailand we have many opportunities to use 'western' toilets. But here it is customary to put the paper in the waste paper bin next to the toilet after you have used it. And then flush!
( I do need to say that there are cleaners who empty the bins every few hours in public places or daily in homes. I also believe that the water table is high here and things don't flush well)

Not wrong, just different!

Last Sunday morning as I was reading in bed at about 7 am a man drove up on his motorcycle, beeped his horn and tried to catch my attention through the bedroom window. When I went out to see what he wanted he handed me a bill!  I paid it. It was 105 Thai Baht (about AU$3) for our monthly water bill. Water bill $3 a month! Sunday morning 7am hand delivery!

Not wrong, just different!

I am so thankful to God for allowing me the opportunity to experience the variety and richness of life in other cultures where so many things are so different from 'my normal'. I love it. Only occasionally am I uneasy or uncertain - like when I have to put my paper into the bin beside the toilet!)

 

Thai flora and fauna

Little creatures at our place here are different here from what I find at my place in Australia.

We have many tiny little frogs in our garden. When we walk across the lawn we are likely to disturb quite a number in just a few metres.

 

This little fellow is about the size of my thumb nail. 

And this is one of many little geckos that keep our place almost mozzie free as they climb on our wire screens and eat the insects. I have counted up to eleven of them on the screens at one time. Very cute and very useful!

But I don't think the lizards do anything to keep the ants away! These are about the size of my thumbnail and aparently they give a nasty bite. I haven't had the misfortune to be bitten by one.

And have you ever seen anything like this? I haven't! I have no idea what he might be but I think he's really interesting!

This stunning orchid is in flower outside my bedroom window right now. What we might see as exotic and exceptional orchids at home are commonplace here. I marvel at God's amazing creation. How diverse! How magnificent! 

And last of all a gorgeous water lily growing in some water along the street in the city.

The tropical climate here grows very different things and grows things very differently! 

The bamboo is HUGE in our garden!

TESOL Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

We have just completed 4 weeks of TESOL training.

It was lots of hard work, stressful nights and I am thankful that it is over. I had no idea it was going to stretch me so much. But I am certainly glad I stuck it out because each one of us is now well equipped to teach TESOL just about anywhere in the world.

During the first two weeks we learned all the basics. We sat up together revising for our grammar tests

and spent an afternoon at Starbucks in the airconditioning working on our syllabuses (syllabi!)

We were all very good students

 

 with an excellent teacher.

The second two weeks of the TESOL training were our practicum and our students were the YFC Chiang Mai staff and volunteers. We had such a great time with them putting our new skills into practice.

  Our students were eager and we had a lot of fun together

with all sorts of activities that got them up and enjoying learning English.

Kristi and I taught the more advanced students and our goal had been to give the students the tools they needed to share their faith stories by answering what, which, who, where, when , how and why questions.

 At the final class each student was interviewed and they were awesome. Their English had improved so much and their faith stories were inspiring. We were really thrilled with the way they responded to the English classes and to us.

We will continue teaching them each Wednesday evening from now on.
What a wonderful way to build relationship and a great skill for Senior Servants to have.

Youth for Christ Thailand is looking for 4 native English speakers who are certified to teach English to come to teach in schools in Chiang Mai. Please do let me know if you'd like me to connect you.