Stickywrites

Our first worship service since being back was last Sunday morning.  Alot has changed and grown in the last year since we left – all in good ways!  It was great to sing some Thai songs again and try to understand the sermon (which was about the Holy Spirit  from Romans 8).  Our friend Phii Cat came with her daughter and we were so excited to see her again after over a year.  

Mindy, Phii Cat, and I at church after Sunday worship

We saw some new faces and some old, but it was great to see the positive changes in our small little church.  The Illinois team left to go back to the U.S. and here we are with some church members and staff following lunch and bible study.

Here's most of the high school group with some of our Thai staff after worship and bibles study Sunday

  We nearly forgot it was the American Father’s Day since their Mothers & Fathers Days are different here. Happy Father’s Day to all the Father’s we know, including ours! 

We also got to walk down our old street and see some old neighbors from our old house across the street.  We were so glad to see Phii Oy & Phii Phon and their little boy, who was crazy as ever.

Phii Oy's wild guy, Phuu

My old neighbor, Phii Oy, in front of her house across from our old house.

 They immediately wanted to take us on an outing somewhere.  Phii Oy was probably my closest neighbor friend from before.  

I also taught my first English class on Saturday of my old girlfriends!  We all talked for about an hour before we finally started “class.”  One of them, Phii Awe, said, “It’s like no time has passed – everything is the same between us.”  This comment really warmed my heart!  It really was like old times.  They’re already planning a weekend vacation for us to go on.  

It’s been a great week of reconnecting.

Andrew riding the songthaew, which we take at least twice a day back and forth between our apartment and the office.

We’re back in the Land of Smiles!  It’s been great to see old friends and feel so welcomed back to our team here in Bangkok.  The first day we walked into our office we saw our Thai teammates and were all so happy to see each other.  We’ve had a pretty busy 3 days despite getting adjusted to the 12 hr time difference.

On the ground here there is one short term team visiting from Illinois of all high school girls, and we have a short-term college and seminary group here for 2 months, led by Trey & Kiki Adams.  So suffice it to say it feels busy and bustling around here.  Our first day we got to go visit our Thai foundation’s purse & bag making craft ministry.  This ministry started a few yrs ago because it was obvious one of the things that was needed at the slum community we were involved with, Mahatthai, was employment. So our missionary team started a foundation that has been working with crafts and trying to sell their products in the U.S and Thailand.  The purses they make are beautiful…let me know if you want one to bring back to you!  They run about $15-20 USD.

Here we are at the purse store with one of the ladies, Phii Wi, who has been given employment through this ministry!

Our team has been hosting “coffeehouses” at our office for the campus ministry as well, and last night the Illinois group starred in kareoking, dancing, and entertaining of all kinds.

Andrew and I are teaching English classes this summer, some of our old groups that we taught before, and will behelping with the short term teams coming in town periodically. More to come!  Thanks for your prayers for a smooth flight and travel!

In 36 hrs, we’ll be boarding our plane to Chicago, to go to Narita-Tokyo, to go to Bangkok. About a 26 hour trip give or take.  I never can quite figure out the travel time door-to-door given the time change.  It sort of boggles my brain, especially when you first get off the plane and are tired, your teeth need brushing, and you’re all dingy-feeling.  We just got home from a wedding in South Dakota (yes, you heard me correctly).  Watertown to be exact.  So suffice it to say we have alot to do tomorrow, but somehow it all must get done.  I have the following shopping list: NyQuil, freezer ziploc bags, a block of cheddar cheese, chocolate chips, and baby cereal.  These are the things my fellow missionary teammates in Bangkok have requested.  I must say I am surprised no one asked for almonds, pecans, walnuts, craisins, and Cheerios.  These were the items most-requested by me when I lived there before…

It was great to see our good friend Mike get married this weekend.  I didn’t realize I lived in a state bordering Iowa, but apparently, I do. We drove through it to get to the beautiful state of SD.  I can’t believe how huge the cows are.  And I saw a prairie dog for the first time.  But we are so grateful we could be there before going to Thailand to attend this most important event of our friends.  Thanks Mike & Kristin for everything…

When we talk about Bangkok, people always ask us, “Where do you live?” with a sense of desperation in their voice.  I think this question and that desperation stems from the fact that it’s hard to imagine living conditions, neighborhoods and infrastructure in another city that’s so far removed from one’s realm of experience.  

A view of our room at Baan Fah Luang

The view from our apartment...the fantastic King Rama 9 Park. The only place and best place to exercise

This summer we will be renting a serviced (that means it provides furniture, sheets, towels, water, electric, etc) apartment that we previously lived in for a few months when we first arrived in Bangkok in 2006.  It is called Baan Fah Luang meaning House Royal Sky.  While it is a little farther from the office/ministry center than we’d like, it is only a 10-15 min songthaew

This is a songthaew...meaning "two benches/rows"...an adapted truck. It costs 8 baht for every time we go into/return from the office.

 ride in.  It’s also great because it provides a refrigerator and microwave so we can have leftovers and breakfast every morning.  We will likely eat most of our meals this summer out!  It is so cheap to eat in the outdoor market everyday – about $1-2 a plate per person.  Can’t wait to visit the new Carrefour mega-store next door…

I love the grocery mega-stores in Bangkok. Kind of like Wal-Marts...

Here's a recent picture. Bangkok here we come...

Wow! It’s been awhile since we blogged because I just never made the time to do it when we left the field last May.  It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we returned to the States from Thailand to attend seminary in St. Louis.  Now, a week away from returning to the field for a couple of months this summer, we are excited and eager to see our Thai friends, our Thai and American teammates, our old neighbors, our Thai friends from St. Louis, and all of our furry rat and soi dog friends. Okay so maybe not that last one.  But we are fired up to eat our favorite Thai foods again, take motorcycle taxis, battle the rainy season, eat at the market, see all the new babies, speak, sing, and worship in Thai, and catch up with everyone on the Thai side of our lives.  

Please pray for our summer that we would have clear direction for the future ahead.  Pray for effective use of our time, for the Lord to cultivate patience & humility in us as we serve our team in whatever way they need and host short-term teams, and that we would spend our short 7 1/2 weeks there seeking to honor God in all that we do.  Stay tuned for pics and updates as things happen, and thanks in advance for your prayers.