I can see the stars tonight. I noticed them as "Such Great Heights" came on my iPod. They are a little faint because the moon us so bright, it's reflecting off the flooded rice field outside my apartment.
It's been a while since I could see lore than one or two stars. It's no view from velveetaview, or underwater bridge, or Stockton, or pomme de terre, or even Oklahoma on a clear night. But I like it.
It's a nice rest.
I've been pretty busy here lately. Between making up classroom material on the fly, picking up three students outside of class to make some extra dough, trying to find a balance between working and staying afloat while trying to keep focused on the reason I'm even here. All this with trying to stay on top of the things I'm supposed to be back in the states and deciding if I'm coming back to live or visit this fall.
Nights like tonight, with the postal service jammin in my earbuds and a sky half clouded, half starry, completely moonlit remind me how little it all matters. If the guy who designed all thus is taking care of me, I think I'll be alright. It just a hunch.
Not much new news to tell. I did get to go to a VFW fourth of July party in Chiang Mai. There were imported dogs, good drinks (sweet tea, a&w cream soda, they were sold out of DP by the time we got there), traditional American music, including Billy Ray Cyrus, a raffle, darts, and fireworks. Followed up with about 4 or five hours of playing rockband back at Baan Kanoon. It was good.
People at BK have been getting randomly sick. People are leaving to go back to the states (more) and i've met a fee new people that will be coming around that are pretty cool. Three of them are from Arkansas actually. It's been ever changing.
Anybody ever heard of Bahrain? Me neither untli I started with one of my students who is going to live and work there.
I'm putting together my portions of midterms this weekend, that's weird. I'll have been teaching for a month next week, that's weirder. They still like me as a teacher for some reason, I think that's the weirdest.
but I'm still alive. I'm feeling good, healthy at least. And things are rockin along like they usually do. Well, i don't actually have anything else to say, so enjoy, and I'll post again at some point. Thanks so much for those of you keeping up with me and praying for me. I think the next few years of my life are going to be very interesting.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
How to Become a Teacher
Welcome to teaching. Here's your books. Go have fun.
That's about what it's been like so far. Yeah, but I like it. But to catch you up to now. The week after I got back from Bangkok. I spent the good majority of it laying around my room, occasionally venturing forth to pretend I knew how to prepare for a class at the office. It was a little annoying at the end, just not doing anything, but it helped me get my bearings back.
I got rested. I got into a bit of a routine. And actually got a little prepared for my first week of class. I went to Fantastic Friday that week as well. It was so nice. I played games and got to just be with people. Met Jeff, Rob's brother who is hanging out for a while.
Then spent the weekend preparing for the rest of the week. The first week went well. I got a crash course in the differences between an American university, and a private Thai one. Like that the entire student body starts registering for classes the Wednesday before classes start. So the first two weeks of class is spent shuffling around getting in the correct sections. Like the 70+ in my technical English class that has since dropped to about 15.
They also don't know what book or supplies they need for class until their teacher tells them the first day. Found that out after my first class, so had to wait till their second day to tell em. And my personal favorite. There isn't really a copy budget. So sometimes when I want to make copies for my students I have to collect money (very little mind you, but still) to pay for them. How would you like to pay for university, and then on top of that have to pay for the tests you take in each class? Think about that a bit.
Also, as a part time teacher, I don't get my check until the semester is over. Found that out at the end of next week. But I might have money to get me through figured out. So don't worry too much about. I've always been provided for.
Went to fantastic Friday and church this past weekend, and got to hang out with Nonf Dream, she just got back from the states. Went with Ken to watch UP, it's a great movie. I highly recomend. This week getting rent and pay details worked out, keeping just barely ahead of my classes, and starting to put together a tutoring schedule. Yeah, that's my grand plan, I'm teaching cheap english on the side.
So my life is still amazingly awesome. Love it. Except the waking up at 6 part. That I'm not so much a fan of, or the dress clothes at work. But still, it keeps me on my toes.
Please pray for me as I am giving my first tests and learning how to be an effective teacher. Also my renters have broken off contact with my parents. So pray that we have wisdom about how to proceed there. Also pray for me as I'm trying to seek what's next. I'm not too worries about it as of right now. But within the next two months I will decide on if what will happen after the semester is over in October.
Also, this is my biggest one here. Pray for my friends here, both farang and Thai, believer and non. A lot of them are dealing with some heavy shtuff that Im not going to post online, but pray for God's confort and will. Pray that our friends who are on the fence will decide what they are going to do with Christ. And pray that hearts we come into contact with are being softened.
Love y'alls. I'm out.
That's about what it's been like so far. Yeah, but I like it. But to catch you up to now. The week after I got back from Bangkok. I spent the good majority of it laying around my room, occasionally venturing forth to pretend I knew how to prepare for a class at the office. It was a little annoying at the end, just not doing anything, but it helped me get my bearings back.
I got rested. I got into a bit of a routine. And actually got a little prepared for my first week of class. I went to Fantastic Friday that week as well. It was so nice. I played games and got to just be with people. Met Jeff, Rob's brother who is hanging out for a while.
Then spent the weekend preparing for the rest of the week. The first week went well. I got a crash course in the differences between an American university, and a private Thai one. Like that the entire student body starts registering for classes the Wednesday before classes start. So the first two weeks of class is spent shuffling around getting in the correct sections. Like the 70+ in my technical English class that has since dropped to about 15.
They also don't know what book or supplies they need for class until their teacher tells them the first day. Found that out after my first class, so had to wait till their second day to tell em. And my personal favorite. There isn't really a copy budget. So sometimes when I want to make copies for my students I have to collect money (very little mind you, but still) to pay for them. How would you like to pay for university, and then on top of that have to pay for the tests you take in each class? Think about that a bit.
Also, as a part time teacher, I don't get my check until the semester is over. Found that out at the end of next week. But I might have money to get me through figured out. So don't worry too much about. I've always been provided for.
Went to fantastic Friday and church this past weekend, and got to hang out with Nonf Dream, she just got back from the states. Went with Ken to watch UP, it's a great movie. I highly recomend. This week getting rent and pay details worked out, keeping just barely ahead of my classes, and starting to put together a tutoring schedule. Yeah, that's my grand plan, I'm teaching cheap english on the side.
So my life is still amazingly awesome. Love it. Except the waking up at 6 part. That I'm not so much a fan of, or the dress clothes at work. But still, it keeps me on my toes.
Please pray for me as I am giving my first tests and learning how to be an effective teacher. Also my renters have broken off contact with my parents. So pray that we have wisdom about how to proceed there. Also pray for me as I'm trying to seek what's next. I'm not too worries about it as of right now. But within the next two months I will decide on if what will happen after the semester is over in October.
Also, this is my biggest one here. Pray for my friends here, both farang and Thai, believer and non. A lot of them are dealing with some heavy shtuff that Im not going to post online, but pray for God's confort and will. Pray that our friends who are on the fence will decide what they are going to do with Christ. And pray that hearts we come into contact with are being softened.
Love y'alls. I'm out.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
new
Too much has happened these past two weeks to do too much detail, but it's still going to be long
After I wrote the last one, I went to mine and Bekas farewell party, picked up a couple of nice old ladies from the airport and wandered about the Chiang Mia province, the cities of Bangkok and Rayong, and the island of Koh Samed.
The farewell party was good. It was good to see so many of my friends from here gathered in one spot, and a get a chance to say hi and bye to them since I won't see them as much the next few months. I had a good conversation one night in Louisiana with a lady named Cindy about how people and relationships move in and out of our lives. How they impact us and the seasons of our lives. I've been thinking about that conversation a lot lately. About the time you start depending on people or they on you, life changes and neither are able to keep that former dependency.
I have yet to decide how much I like or dislike that part of life.
But after the party I went to the airport and picked up my mother and mimi, and headed back to my room to spend the night.
Over the next week and two days we traveled all over this area of Thailand. We saw an umbrella factory, giant jewellery store, carpet and silk factories, tons of teak furniture, elephants, movies, rafted a river, and moved me.
Then if that wasn't enough we flew down Bangkok for a couple of days to see the park, mall, palace and big temple and eat on the river, and caught a bus three hours away to go to a beautiful beach to watch it rain and then clear up breathtakingly. Then I left their tired rears in the Bangkok airport an came home.
Also during that time, I got my books and class schedules for this semester and found an apartment for me near the university.
On saturday, I woke up, and met some guys to look at a bike. Had breakfast with them. Went to my new home, and finally unpacked and set up my room a bit, bought some things I needed at the local department store and read and at different points during the day, read through my books I'll be teaching out of.
Today I laid in bed most of the day. It was nice. Then I went in for worship, picked up a bike, and went to buy a helmet, then came back home.
It still feels new, but it really does feel like home. And now I'm relaxing to Nickel Creek, and letting y'all know what's up. This week I'll make up some lesson plans and start getting to know some of the people I will be working with. Yay!
I'm excited.
After I wrote the last one, I went to mine and Bekas farewell party, picked up a couple of nice old ladies from the airport and wandered about the Chiang Mia province, the cities of Bangkok and Rayong, and the island of Koh Samed.
The farewell party was good. It was good to see so many of my friends from here gathered in one spot, and a get a chance to say hi and bye to them since I won't see them as much the next few months. I had a good conversation one night in Louisiana with a lady named Cindy about how people and relationships move in and out of our lives. How they impact us and the seasons of our lives. I've been thinking about that conversation a lot lately. About the time you start depending on people or they on you, life changes and neither are able to keep that former dependency.
I have yet to decide how much I like or dislike that part of life.
But after the party I went to the airport and picked up my mother and mimi, and headed back to my room to spend the night.
Over the next week and two days we traveled all over this area of Thailand. We saw an umbrella factory, giant jewellery store, carpet and silk factories, tons of teak furniture, elephants, movies, rafted a river, and moved me.
Then if that wasn't enough we flew down Bangkok for a couple of days to see the park, mall, palace and big temple and eat on the river, and caught a bus three hours away to go to a beautiful beach to watch it rain and then clear up breathtakingly. Then I left their tired rears in the Bangkok airport an came home.
Also during that time, I got my books and class schedules for this semester and found an apartment for me near the university.
On saturday, I woke up, and met some guys to look at a bike. Had breakfast with them. Went to my new home, and finally unpacked and set up my room a bit, bought some things I needed at the local department store and read and at different points during the day, read through my books I'll be teaching out of.
Today I laid in bed most of the day. It was nice. Then I went in for worship, picked up a bike, and went to buy a helmet, then came back home.
It still feels new, but it really does feel like home. And now I'm relaxing to Nickel Creek, and letting y'all know what's up. This week I'll make up some lesson plans and start getting to know some of the people I will be working with. Yay!
I'm excited.
Monday, May 18, 2009
last week at BK
So. After I finished my blog last time. On wednesday, I took a nap. And then tried to be productive that night, though I don't remeber what I did.
Thursday I got up and checked on prices of hotels and plane tickets for my mom, mimi and myself. Then made up a resumé for a local english tutoring center that pays their teachers called CEC. Took my resumé to CEC and filled out the application, then after eating dinner made my way through massive traffic towards CMU's front gate.
The reason for all the traffic is because may 8th of this year, Friday, was the celebration of buddha's birth, death, and enlightenment. So on Thursday night buddhists in Chiang Mai walk the 20 km up Doi Suthep. The walking shows strength and determination and the temple at the top of the mountain stays open all night for people to perform tamboon, or things to earn merit to counteract their karma.
Ken and Dew were going so I decided to tag along for the fun of it, and to say I've walked up Doi Suthep. There were a couple thousand people that walked and it was actually more of a party atmosphere. People walking and talking and drinking and smoking, the school was hazing freshman. So not at all like I expected. It also poured while we were walking. We were soaked, but had fun. Ate some egg omlette on the side if the road on the way, I'll come back to that. When we finally reache the top, we still had 300something steps to walk up to get to the temple. Dew was tired so she stayed at the bottom while Ken and I and their friend A walked the rest of the way up. While in the temple, I started feeling queasy. And the other two were tired, so we didn't stay long. Caught a song teaw most of the way down, then walked to our bikes and went home.
That stupid egg omlette gave me good poisoning so I was up the rest of the night... Getting rid of it.
But fortunately we were leaving early the next morning for a team retreat. So I rested quite a bit while enjoying the retreat. Worshiping, learning, "talent show", swimming an all. It was great and helpful in my recovery.
Sunday we came back, then I napped a little more, and then went met up with Ekk and Meaw and Brook and a few others to eat dinner at walking street, then walked with Ekk, Meaw and Poi to help them with last minute shopping before they left.
Monday and Tuesday I tried to hang out with Ekk as much as possible, and then went to the airport Tuesday night to see the three of them off.
Wednesday woke up and headed to the prison with O, Richard, Thum, and David. There were activities going on in the jail so no class, but we got to sit down and David and Thum talked to Luksit for a while. It was actually a very informative talk. And this wednesday may be my last visit.
Got home and rested, and then went to teach, my student again didn't show. So that as pretty much the last time I would have been able to teach her.
Thursday I ran errands, bought tickets to Bangkok for mom mimi and myself, and then got their hotel rooms reserved. We also had a meeting on thursday, to continue our training from the weekend.
Friday, Glenn and I went and grabbed stuff for Baan Kanoon, and then went and ate. While we were eating I got a phone call from North Chiang Mai University.
I had heard that they wanted some English teachers, so I had called earlier, told them my lack of credintials, and said I would be willing to try. They said they would love to have me so I now have a job working for a university teaching English. Which means I'm not coming home in June.
Friday night we watched a movie, Hancock, and had milkshakes and just hung out. It was a lot of fun. Saturday, outside of talking with a friend online, I was pretty unproductive. I went and watched star trek (AMAZING!!) by myself, and then met up with Ken and Dew. We then waited on Beca and went and ate dinner together at a hidden little spot in MaChaw I never would have guessed was there. Great, cheap food. Love it.
Sunday I woke up and called home, got a few more details ironed out, then spent some more time with a couple friends online, then we had worship at Brookes house. It was really good and increadably fun. That night went to watch Angels and Demons with friends, and then went to bed.
Today. Had lunch and dinner with Ken and Dew, and wrote this. Thursday will be my last day to be officially with Baan Kanoon. Friday farewell party for Beca and me, and then saturday the family arrives.
Then June 5th they leave, and I will move out to Hang Dong, and my semester starts June 15th. So please be praying for all of that. My last few days with this job, my mom and mimi's flight, our travels around thailand, and the new job. Thanks y'all.
Thursday I got up and checked on prices of hotels and plane tickets for my mom, mimi and myself. Then made up a resumé for a local english tutoring center that pays their teachers called CEC. Took my resumé to CEC and filled out the application, then after eating dinner made my way through massive traffic towards CMU's front gate.
The reason for all the traffic is because may 8th of this year, Friday, was the celebration of buddha's birth, death, and enlightenment. So on Thursday night buddhists in Chiang Mai walk the 20 km up Doi Suthep. The walking shows strength and determination and the temple at the top of the mountain stays open all night for people to perform tamboon, or things to earn merit to counteract their karma.
Ken and Dew were going so I decided to tag along for the fun of it, and to say I've walked up Doi Suthep. There were a couple thousand people that walked and it was actually more of a party atmosphere. People walking and talking and drinking and smoking, the school was hazing freshman. So not at all like I expected. It also poured while we were walking. We were soaked, but had fun. Ate some egg omlette on the side if the road on the way, I'll come back to that. When we finally reache the top, we still had 300something steps to walk up to get to the temple. Dew was tired so she stayed at the bottom while Ken and I and their friend A walked the rest of the way up. While in the temple, I started feeling queasy. And the other two were tired, so we didn't stay long. Caught a song teaw most of the way down, then walked to our bikes and went home.
That stupid egg omlette gave me good poisoning so I was up the rest of the night... Getting rid of it.
But fortunately we were leaving early the next morning for a team retreat. So I rested quite a bit while enjoying the retreat. Worshiping, learning, "talent show", swimming an all. It was great and helpful in my recovery.
Sunday we came back, then I napped a little more, and then went met up with Ekk and Meaw and Brook and a few others to eat dinner at walking street, then walked with Ekk, Meaw and Poi to help them with last minute shopping before they left.
Monday and Tuesday I tried to hang out with Ekk as much as possible, and then went to the airport Tuesday night to see the three of them off.
Wednesday woke up and headed to the prison with O, Richard, Thum, and David. There were activities going on in the jail so no class, but we got to sit down and David and Thum talked to Luksit for a while. It was actually a very informative talk. And this wednesday may be my last visit.
Got home and rested, and then went to teach, my student again didn't show. So that as pretty much the last time I would have been able to teach her.
Thursday I ran errands, bought tickets to Bangkok for mom mimi and myself, and then got their hotel rooms reserved. We also had a meeting on thursday, to continue our training from the weekend.
Friday, Glenn and I went and grabbed stuff for Baan Kanoon, and then went and ate. While we were eating I got a phone call from North Chiang Mai University.
I had heard that they wanted some English teachers, so I had called earlier, told them my lack of credintials, and said I would be willing to try. They said they would love to have me so I now have a job working for a university teaching English. Which means I'm not coming home in June.
Friday night we watched a movie, Hancock, and had milkshakes and just hung out. It was a lot of fun. Saturday, outside of talking with a friend online, I was pretty unproductive. I went and watched star trek (AMAZING!!) by myself, and then met up with Ken and Dew. We then waited on Beca and went and ate dinner together at a hidden little spot in MaChaw I never would have guessed was there. Great, cheap food. Love it.
Sunday I woke up and called home, got a few more details ironed out, then spent some more time with a couple friends online, then we had worship at Brookes house. It was really good and increadably fun. That night went to watch Angels and Demons with friends, and then went to bed.
Today. Had lunch and dinner with Ken and Dew, and wrote this. Thursday will be my last day to be officially with Baan Kanoon. Friday farewell party for Beca and me, and then saturday the family arrives.
Then June 5th they leave, and I will move out to Hang Dong, and my semester starts June 15th. So please be praying for all of that. My last few days with this job, my mom and mimi's flight, our travels around thailand, and the new job. Thanks y'all.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
3 countries, 1 day... Finally!
I bought a Bachi ball set today for 200 baht. Shoulda got two so I could compete with people. I well, hindsight and all that. Course I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.
Where to start? More like what can I remember. So, it's been like 3 weeks since I updated, around that. Sorry, never meant to wait that long. But as I sit in a cheap motel room in Burma, lit by a green light, yeah here we go.
When I last posted, Lili had about a week left with us here in CM. So on that Friday night we had a farewell party. We all ate together, sang some of Lili's favorite songs, and listened to and shared with her. It was a great time to get to spend with her. Though it's only a blurb here, it's got a lot of great memories. After we finished up, we headed to bed. I was thinking about our big event on Saturday, and so decided to sleep in to be prepared. People who pay more attention to this blog than I do my own life will notice the little problem there.
I teach on Saturday mornings. Fortunately for my students (and Beka's) Lili was there early and taught our kids for us. I was embarrassingly reminded of my mistake on the way out to Mae Wang. Ah, well.
By after we loaded up everything, and split into vehiculars, we headed out and started setting up around 2ish... maybe. Everything got set up nicely, and quickly, and the events went rather smoothly even though I managed to destroy a chair. When you went through the "entrance" (which was the part the cars could come in, it was an open field) there was a registration/welcoming table where the people could find out what was going on. They also got their tickets for the raffle. We gave away like 6 identicle buckets that had everyday needed things, hangers and dishsoap etc. It was great. Two of our friends who work at the House of Blessing orphanage MC'd the event, and brought some of their kids to perform. We also had kids from the nearby local church show up to be a part.
Thennwe broke for supper, which we paid the village to make. We got amazing food and also got to help out the local economy without resorting to charitable giving. I'm all about that. And one of the Thai ladies with us got up and shared her testimony. But it also looked like a storm was about to break on us. I think I was just a little hurry up nudge from God, because we got it all rolling and all we had to contend with was wind, wich naturally knocked over the screen causing it to land on the lappy and projector showing the Hope video.
Now the hope video for those of y'all who ain't heard of it yet, is a video developed for cultures that have night concept of either God or the orgin of man. This is because in Buddhism, the past is ilrelevant since the goal lies in letting go of everything, and moving on to a state of nothingness. So the video starts at the creation of the world, and follows the Jewish history up tip the resurrection of Christ and the recieving of the Holy Spirit. So it's intense to be able to show it on a large scale to people who have just in the last year or even last month or even some maybe for the first time that night have begun to hear about this God that actually wants to know us.
So we diverted with another raffle while we set everything back up then continued the movie. After it was over we said another thanks to the people still there and then as they were leaving had people available to answer questions and hand out Bibles and Hope videos. It was an awesome night. Thank you to all of you who prayed for it.
My sleep schedule got all messed up the next few days, so they are kinda blurry. On Monday we hung out with Lili all day and night and then saw her off on tuesday. Bekah and I started planning for our Cinco de Mayo themed Fantasic Friday. Beka put all the planning together and I made a piñata and provided the music. On Wednesday I went and watched the Haunting in Conneticut with a few people which in itself is not worth mentioning except when we got out it's was storming hardcore. And Ekk and I came on the bike I'm using and Maew came on hers. So we all got a ride with Brooke.
Thursday. Had lunch with Glenn, an then went to our team meeting. Then headed to the mall to get supplies for Friday and to get my bike unlocked. They don't like you leaving your bike overnight. Then we hung out with various children of the families in our group while the parents went out. After which we flew back to the mall to see wolverine. That's right. I saw it on Thusday night. Before anyone else in America. Just saying.
Friday we had language and then did fantastic Friday, which was a blast. The piñata actually held out for a while. Afterwards I went out with friends and watched a local band do covers. It was awesome. I actually heard a version of apple bottom jeans I liked.
Saturday I got an and taught my students for the last time. Then attended the cooking class downstairs. And got some good s'ghetti and some really good banana bread. Went to the bookstore that afternoon. Then went to watch wolverine again with my friends who couldn't go on thursday, and met a new couple in the area. Sunday I rested.
Went to worship in the afternoon, then to walking street.
Monday I woke up a lil late, went to talk to another English tutoring place that pays their teachers. Then went and got tickets for yesterday.
Yesterday I woke up too early, and then Bekah, Sa, Sa sister and sisters friend and I went north. We headed towards Chiang Rai stopping at a hot springs, that was neat, and a the creepiest temple I have been to yet. It was solid white, and as you walk up you pass over a bridge that has sculptures of hands reaching out of hell. Then you walk past two angry sword wielding guardians over a bridge (that made me think of the dragon road in DBZ) into the actual temple. When you first walk in it looks very ordinary, two white walls on your sides and a monk sitting in front of some statues and an old painting depicting Buddha in what appeared to be heaven.
Then you realize the monk is actually a wax statue. And you turn around and are confronted with a painting. Basically it's a giant demon head with scenes interwoven ranging from bullets to superman. That's not an exageration. I don't generally mind going to different temples, but this one is not one of them.
So we left there and headed up to the golden triangle. And this time we actually got to take the boats. So Bekah Sa and I road over to an island controled by Laos, and walked around the market. It was worth the boat ride but not the admission fee. We also road by the paridise hotel in Burma where there is a large casino and rooms only cost 500 baht a night. Now 15 bucks doesn't would too bad till you find out that Thai people only pay 60 baht. While shopping I picked up those Bachi balls I was talking about, and was tempted to grab some whiskey that had real snakes and scorpions in the bottles. That would be a fun conversation peice.
But then we headed to Mae Sai, said goodbye to Sa and the other two, and then crossed the border into Tachiliek, Myanmar. This is what most people normally do, but because of the dates that Bekahs visas would expire, we had to spend the night. And we were basically flying blind cause no one we know has done it yet. So we found cheap hotel rooms for 300 baht. Then went to the market to pick up some stuff during which it proceded to pour.
Then went back to the hotel, rented the staffs DVD player from them, and watched some movies cause niether of us felt much like exploring after dark. That was when I started this entry. Since then we have crossed back into Thailand with no incedent there.
We ate some breakfast, then grabbed some snackage and realized we were cutting it close to get to the station on time. Then our songteaw driver decided to just cruise along at a leisurly rate and we missed our bus.
That was a little annoying. Fortunately, there were a couple of guys at the station that worked for the line we were on that had the drivers number. They were only a few miles down the road, so it was kind enough to pull over and wait for us to get there, and we hopped on the back of a couple of motercycle taxis and caught up with it. The rest of the trip was fine except for they had the ac at full blast and it got all the way down to 17 degrees celcius. I don't remember what that translates to exactly for farenhieght, but it was cold. Now I'm finishing up this journal after having a nice hot shower, and am sending it out from Baan Kanoon.
Hope you enjoyed it. Lata
Where to start? More like what can I remember. So, it's been like 3 weeks since I updated, around that. Sorry, never meant to wait that long. But as I sit in a cheap motel room in Burma, lit by a green light, yeah here we go.
When I last posted, Lili had about a week left with us here in CM. So on that Friday night we had a farewell party. We all ate together, sang some of Lili's favorite songs, and listened to and shared with her. It was a great time to get to spend with her. Though it's only a blurb here, it's got a lot of great memories. After we finished up, we headed to bed. I was thinking about our big event on Saturday, and so decided to sleep in to be prepared. People who pay more attention to this blog than I do my own life will notice the little problem there.
I teach on Saturday mornings. Fortunately for my students (and Beka's) Lili was there early and taught our kids for us. I was embarrassingly reminded of my mistake on the way out to Mae Wang. Ah, well.
By after we loaded up everything, and split into vehiculars, we headed out and started setting up around 2ish... maybe. Everything got set up nicely, and quickly, and the events went rather smoothly even though I managed to destroy a chair. When you went through the "entrance" (which was the part the cars could come in, it was an open field) there was a registration/welcoming table where the people could find out what was going on. They also got their tickets for the raffle. We gave away like 6 identicle buckets that had everyday needed things, hangers and dishsoap etc. It was great. Two of our friends who work at the House of Blessing orphanage MC'd the event, and brought some of their kids to perform. We also had kids from the nearby local church show up to be a part.
Thennwe broke for supper, which we paid the village to make. We got amazing food and also got to help out the local economy without resorting to charitable giving. I'm all about that. And one of the Thai ladies with us got up and shared her testimony. But it also looked like a storm was about to break on us. I think I was just a little hurry up nudge from God, because we got it all rolling and all we had to contend with was wind, wich naturally knocked over the screen causing it to land on the lappy and projector showing the Hope video.
Now the hope video for those of y'all who ain't heard of it yet, is a video developed for cultures that have night concept of either God or the orgin of man. This is because in Buddhism, the past is ilrelevant since the goal lies in letting go of everything, and moving on to a state of nothingness. So the video starts at the creation of the world, and follows the Jewish history up tip the resurrection of Christ and the recieving of the Holy Spirit. So it's intense to be able to show it on a large scale to people who have just in the last year or even last month or even some maybe for the first time that night have begun to hear about this God that actually wants to know us.
So we diverted with another raffle while we set everything back up then continued the movie. After it was over we said another thanks to the people still there and then as they were leaving had people available to answer questions and hand out Bibles and Hope videos. It was an awesome night. Thank you to all of you who prayed for it.
My sleep schedule got all messed up the next few days, so they are kinda blurry. On Monday we hung out with Lili all day and night and then saw her off on tuesday. Bekah and I started planning for our Cinco de Mayo themed Fantasic Friday. Beka put all the planning together and I made a piñata and provided the music. On Wednesday I went and watched the Haunting in Conneticut with a few people which in itself is not worth mentioning except when we got out it's was storming hardcore. And Ekk and I came on the bike I'm using and Maew came on hers. So we all got a ride with Brooke.
Thursday. Had lunch with Glenn, an then went to our team meeting. Then headed to the mall to get supplies for Friday and to get my bike unlocked. They don't like you leaving your bike overnight. Then we hung out with various children of the families in our group while the parents went out. After which we flew back to the mall to see wolverine. That's right. I saw it on Thusday night. Before anyone else in America. Just saying.
Friday we had language and then did fantastic Friday, which was a blast. The piñata actually held out for a while. Afterwards I went out with friends and watched a local band do covers. It was awesome. I actually heard a version of apple bottom jeans I liked.
Saturday I got an and taught my students for the last time. Then attended the cooking class downstairs. And got some good s'ghetti and some really good banana bread. Went to the bookstore that afternoon. Then went to watch wolverine again with my friends who couldn't go on thursday, and met a new couple in the area. Sunday I rested.
Went to worship in the afternoon, then to walking street.
Monday I woke up a lil late, went to talk to another English tutoring place that pays their teachers. Then went and got tickets for yesterday.
Yesterday I woke up too early, and then Bekah, Sa, Sa sister and sisters friend and I went north. We headed towards Chiang Rai stopping at a hot springs, that was neat, and a the creepiest temple I have been to yet. It was solid white, and as you walk up you pass over a bridge that has sculptures of hands reaching out of hell. Then you walk past two angry sword wielding guardians over a bridge (that made me think of the dragon road in DBZ) into the actual temple. When you first walk in it looks very ordinary, two white walls on your sides and a monk sitting in front of some statues and an old painting depicting Buddha in what appeared to be heaven.
Then you realize the monk is actually a wax statue. And you turn around and are confronted with a painting. Basically it's a giant demon head with scenes interwoven ranging from bullets to superman. That's not an exageration. I don't generally mind going to different temples, but this one is not one of them.
So we left there and headed up to the golden triangle. And this time we actually got to take the boats. So Bekah Sa and I road over to an island controled by Laos, and walked around the market. It was worth the boat ride but not the admission fee. We also road by the paridise hotel in Burma where there is a large casino and rooms only cost 500 baht a night. Now 15 bucks doesn't would too bad till you find out that Thai people only pay 60 baht. While shopping I picked up those Bachi balls I was talking about, and was tempted to grab some whiskey that had real snakes and scorpions in the bottles. That would be a fun conversation peice.
But then we headed to Mae Sai, said goodbye to Sa and the other two, and then crossed the border into Tachiliek, Myanmar. This is what most people normally do, but because of the dates that Bekahs visas would expire, we had to spend the night. And we were basically flying blind cause no one we know has done it yet. So we found cheap hotel rooms for 300 baht. Then went to the market to pick up some stuff during which it proceded to pour.
Then went back to the hotel, rented the staffs DVD player from them, and watched some movies cause niether of us felt much like exploring after dark. That was when I started this entry. Since then we have crossed back into Thailand with no incedent there.
We ate some breakfast, then grabbed some snackage and realized we were cutting it close to get to the station on time. Then our songteaw driver decided to just cruise along at a leisurly rate and we missed our bus.
That was a little annoying. Fortunately, there were a couple of guys at the station that worked for the line we were on that had the drivers number. They were only a few miles down the road, so it was kind enough to pull over and wait for us to get there, and we hopped on the back of a couple of motercycle taxis and caught up with it. The rest of the trip was fine except for they had the ac at full blast and it got all the way down to 17 degrees celcius. I don't remember what that translates to exactly for farenhieght, but it was cold. Now I'm finishing up this journal after having a nice hot shower, and am sending it out from Baan Kanoon.
Hope you enjoyed it. Lata
Saturday, April 18, 2009
well, yeah
Since my last update, a ton of nothing has happened.
Well, that's not entirely true, but you'll see what I mean in a second.
The Wednesday after I updated, PiiThumb and I went out to the prison together. The two guys from his church bailed on us, and I hadn't been able to get together a solid lesson the afternoon before, so we were a little nervous going out there. But, once again we couldn't get to our classroom so we sat outside and they talked about God. We've hit the point where they have a good amount of information, but they are asking the same questions over and over so something isn't sinking in, it can be a little aggrivating. So pray for us that we would have the words and patience needed, and also for our kids that they would gain understanding. That their ears would be opened to hear and their minds opened to understand and accept.
After that, I basically hung around BK the rest of the afternoon. My student cancelled again.
Thursday we had our prayer time. The rest I the day passed pretty quickly, I don't really remember what we did.
Friday, went to BK to have our language lesson, then got set up for fantastic friday. Beca had a load of games to play and activities for the night. We made ressurection cookies, had two different Easter egg hunts, pin the tail on the bunny, and whatnot. It was awesome. We had a blast and got to talk about it being good Friday and about Easter as well.
Saturday da3, ken, and dew all went out to Borsan to do some shopping and check out the umbrella factory. There were a lot of cool things that you could find cheaper than at the walking street. Then at the umbrella factory they will paint on. Whatever you would like them to paint on, so I took a pair of my jeans and got the legs painted on, and then got the back if one of my shirts painted on. It was really cheap too. So we played around there and then started heading back. A random guy picked us up and gave us a ride to Kad Luang which was nice, except for when he was telling Ken about how Christanity is a Farang religion, and that we believe in the same final destination as Buddha, just taking a different route to get there. Pray for Ken as the enemy is putting up a big fight for him, weird things like this keep happening. Pray for me and beca and Lili as we hang out with him, that we would be lights to his life. But after we got dropped off, we caught a ride out to Dews familys house and had a SongKhran celebration dinner with them. That was a lot of fun.
Sunday we woke up and went to a little waterfall and had an Easter morning celebration. It was all believers that morning so we worshipped and had a great time of fellowship. Then we were going to go to a swimming at 700year stadium, but it was closed so we went to Kim and Quintins little village and swam there. We went back to St, then I went to walking street, back to hang out for out friend Where's birthday, then back to walking street for a massage with Ekk. Then went to bed to prepare for SongKhran.
SongKhran is the Northern Thai new year. Back when the country was called Siam and made of 3 kingdoms, the northern kingdom, or Lanna Kingdom, celebrated the new year around April 14th. For the tradition back then, they would perfume water, pour it on Buddha statues to cleanse them, and then pour on each other, kids on parents then back around, to give and recieve blessings. Also the water represented the cleaning off of all the bad stuff of the past year and starting over clean for the new year. Well, over the centuries it has evolved a little.
Now for anywhere from 7 to 10 days around the 14th, cities all over Thailand celebrate SongKhran by having citywide waterfights. The number one city to play SongKhran in is Chiang Mai. So people come from all over to this city for the festival. This year the 13-15th the whole city shut down (except for like malls and resturaunts and whatnot) and everyone came to the middle of the city to the old moat, and threw water at each other.
It's impossible to really explain the scope of this, even pictures don't do it much justice, though I wouldn't really know since my camera busted. But that's what we did for three days. Well, two for most of us but different two days each time.
Thursday we finally got to go to 700 year stadium and go swimming. Well, basically just jumping off the Olympic sized diving platforms. It was awesome.
Went to a used bookstore on Friday morning, had language then went to Kim and Quintins for a party. Grilled out and hung out with most of the BK team. Came back and then went to the North Gate with our new friend Kathy and Lili (oh yeah, I can also drive with three on the scooter now. I'm a little proud of that). Slept in late on Saturday and read most of the day, then went and watched Race to Witch Mountain with Ekk, Maew and Kathy. Then slept in this mornig and headed to worship at four thirty.
The main reason I updated today is for this.
This coming saturday, the entire BK team as well as our Thai friends are going out to Mae Wang. We will be sharing with the majority of the village the story of the bible from creation through Christ through a movie called the Hope Video. The movie is in Thai with Thai actors. It's going to be a minor event. It's also going to be under major attack by Satan. Things have already been going rough with getting this all going, we are expecting a major, major spiritual battle this weekend. So please make this one of your major prayer concerns for this week. For Gods protection and blessing and the strength and ability to carry out His will. This is a huge opportunity. We need everyone we can get praying for us. Especially during the time of the event. If you happen to be awake from like 4-8 am CST, next Saturday the 25th, keep us in your prayers. Thanks to all of you. Love you.
Well, that's not entirely true, but you'll see what I mean in a second.
The Wednesday after I updated, PiiThumb and I went out to the prison together. The two guys from his church bailed on us, and I hadn't been able to get together a solid lesson the afternoon before, so we were a little nervous going out there. But, once again we couldn't get to our classroom so we sat outside and they talked about God. We've hit the point where they have a good amount of information, but they are asking the same questions over and over so something isn't sinking in, it can be a little aggrivating. So pray for us that we would have the words and patience needed, and also for our kids that they would gain understanding. That their ears would be opened to hear and their minds opened to understand and accept.
After that, I basically hung around BK the rest of the afternoon. My student cancelled again.
Thursday we had our prayer time. The rest I the day passed pretty quickly, I don't really remember what we did.
Friday, went to BK to have our language lesson, then got set up for fantastic friday. Beca had a load of games to play and activities for the night. We made ressurection cookies, had two different Easter egg hunts, pin the tail on the bunny, and whatnot. It was awesome. We had a blast and got to talk about it being good Friday and about Easter as well.
Saturday da3, ken, and dew all went out to Borsan to do some shopping and check out the umbrella factory. There were a lot of cool things that you could find cheaper than at the walking street. Then at the umbrella factory they will paint on. Whatever you would like them to paint on, so I took a pair of my jeans and got the legs painted on, and then got the back if one of my shirts painted on. It was really cheap too. So we played around there and then started heading back. A random guy picked us up and gave us a ride to Kad Luang which was nice, except for when he was telling Ken about how Christanity is a Farang religion, and that we believe in the same final destination as Buddha, just taking a different route to get there. Pray for Ken as the enemy is putting up a big fight for him, weird things like this keep happening. Pray for me and beca and Lili as we hang out with him, that we would be lights to his life. But after we got dropped off, we caught a ride out to Dews familys house and had a SongKhran celebration dinner with them. That was a lot of fun.
Sunday we woke up and went to a little waterfall and had an Easter morning celebration. It was all believers that morning so we worshipped and had a great time of fellowship. Then we were going to go to a swimming at 700year stadium, but it was closed so we went to Kim and Quintins little village and swam there. We went back to St, then I went to walking street, back to hang out for out friend Where's birthday, then back to walking street for a massage with Ekk. Then went to bed to prepare for SongKhran.
SongKhran is the Northern Thai new year. Back when the country was called Siam and made of 3 kingdoms, the northern kingdom, or Lanna Kingdom, celebrated the new year around April 14th. For the tradition back then, they would perfume water, pour it on Buddha statues to cleanse them, and then pour on each other, kids on parents then back around, to give and recieve blessings. Also the water represented the cleaning off of all the bad stuff of the past year and starting over clean for the new year. Well, over the centuries it has evolved a little.
Now for anywhere from 7 to 10 days around the 14th, cities all over Thailand celebrate SongKhran by having citywide waterfights. The number one city to play SongKhran in is Chiang Mai. So people come from all over to this city for the festival. This year the 13-15th the whole city shut down (except for like malls and resturaunts and whatnot) and everyone came to the middle of the city to the old moat, and threw water at each other.
It's impossible to really explain the scope of this, even pictures don't do it much justice, though I wouldn't really know since my camera busted. But that's what we did for three days. Well, two for most of us but different two days each time.
Thursday we finally got to go to 700 year stadium and go swimming. Well, basically just jumping off the Olympic sized diving platforms. It was awesome.
Went to a used bookstore on Friday morning, had language then went to Kim and Quintins for a party. Grilled out and hung out with most of the BK team. Came back and then went to the North Gate with our new friend Kathy and Lili (oh yeah, I can also drive with three on the scooter now. I'm a little proud of that). Slept in late on Saturday and read most of the day, then went and watched Race to Witch Mountain with Ekk, Maew and Kathy. Then slept in this mornig and headed to worship at four thirty.
The main reason I updated today is for this.
This coming saturday, the entire BK team as well as our Thai friends are going out to Mae Wang. We will be sharing with the majority of the village the story of the bible from creation through Christ through a movie called the Hope Video. The movie is in Thai with Thai actors. It's going to be a minor event. It's also going to be under major attack by Satan. Things have already been going rough with getting this all going, we are expecting a major, major spiritual battle this weekend. So please make this one of your major prayer concerns for this week. For Gods protection and blessing and the strength and ability to carry out His will. This is a huge opportunity. We need everyone we can get praying for us. Especially during the time of the event. If you happen to be awake from like 4-8 am CST, next Saturday the 25th, keep us in your prayers. Thanks to all of you. Love you.
Monday, April 6, 2009
fun times ahead
Well, let's see what I can remember from this last week. Tuesday after prayer I printed off a load of stuff for prision on Wednesday. Then Lili and I rode out to Quintin and Kims house where Beca had prepared and awesome Mexican feast. We ate and talked an played games, then I ran over to Airport Plaza mall to meet up with people to watch the movie knowing. I still haven't made up my mind whether or not I enjoyed it. But it's deffinitely worth seeing.
Wednesday woke up and headed out to the prison where we didn't really get much accomplished, but I think Richard and I have some good solid plans for what we really want to get done before we leave. Most of it involves getting everything organized so that as people rotate in and out of this ministry, we can have good records of who is in the class and what not so there is very little of the akward transitions. Also we want to raise the stakes for the kids coming to class, find some way to get them invested into it.
Afterwards I met up with Glenn and he and I had some Pizza Company for lunch, and chatted about all the stuff going on. Then went back to BK to hang out for Kanoon club. We had quite a few people come over late, and then my student cancelled. I'm racking my brain but I honestly can't remember what we did after that.
So Thursday we met up for a lunch netting at The Dukes for Robs birthday, the big 25, had our meeting, and then Beca and I headed to Rim Phing Plaza, big computer store, so I could look for some connections for various things at BK. But only could get one of the 3 items I was looking for there. By the way I hate Steve Jobs.
Went from there back to ST, then I went and grabbed some dinner and went to meet up with Chang. He and I hung out for a good while, and got started on the interview, and had some good conversation. Then he headed out and Ken and I got started on ours as well. Then we got interrupted because he had loaned his scooter to a friend who got sideswiped by a truck. She was fine but Ken still had to go help get things settled. Then I worked on Lili's compy for a while trying to get some programs put on there (I hate Steve Jobs) and then gave up and went to bed.
Friday I woke up and scouted out some movies for Fantastic Friday and then went back and did some more work on Lili's compy, but it was too late to try and stuff downloaded, so we went with the DVDs. Got BK all rearranged and set up and had a slumber party theme night where we watched classic Micky Mouse and Goofy cartoons, and ate unhealthy snacks and sat around in our PJs. We also played Mafia and some other group games. It was a great night and we had a really good turnout for a non major event night. Afterwards we cleaned up and headed home to bed.
Saturday I woke up and taught my two students, and then was feeling a bit worn out so I took the rest of the day as a personal day.
Sunday, we woke up and met down at BK to go traveling for church. We drove about 40 min out to ObKhan which is a national park where there is a river running down through where you can swim and cliff jump. So we did. I think it's funny that this is the second park we have gone to that we have taken pictures in front of danger signs. But we got there, set up camp a bit an then headed down to swim. Climbed around and found a good little spot to jump that had like an 8, 14, and 20 foot spot to jump. So we had spots for all ages and experience to jump from. Then we went back, and played some ultimate frisbee, and hung out waiting on food. Got our grub on with amazing grilled chicken and fish, pico de gayo, sticky rice, fruit, brownies, ambros con leche (Mexican rice pudding). It were tasty. So we ate and fellowshipped and talked and then cleaned up and sat down for some worship. We sang and then Ekk taught about Mary annointing Jesus's feet, getting the young donkey, and the triumphial entry. Then we all got to act out a scene from the stories and that was a blast as well. Ekk did a good job putting it together. Afterwards we did some more swimming, a local guy showed us a good place to jump from about 35 feet, so of course I went for it. But by the end of the day, everyone had gotten to jump that wanted to, we had got to fellowship with friends who don't generally come to our worship time at BK, and got to worship with them as well. We got back to BK and some of us went to dinner together, then Ekk and I went to chill at walking street and get massages. So it was an awesome day.
Woke on up on Monday morning and got ready, and then went with Ken and Dew and Beca and Lili to the zoo. We had a good day walking around being together, Ken and I found a place that can get us really good airsoft guns for good prices (if I had a job and my own money I totally would, they had a fully auto M-4 that was remarkably accurate, and a bolt action sniper. It was awesome). Then we all headed to a market to get ingrediants, and on over to Dews parents house to cook dinner. So we had homemade Thai food and after we sat an got to talk to Ken about some deep stuff, then came back to ST and stayed up late watching Will Smith movies with Ekk and Meaw.
And todays prayer time got moved to Thursday morning, so I slept in and then woke up and decided to update. Gonna get stuff together for tomorrow, if you get this in time, please be praying for that. Richard is on vacation since his son has a two week break from school for Song Khran so it will be me with PiiThumb and a couple people from his church. So that will be interesting.
I'm also not sure of the details yet, but I think Beca is doing and Easter themed Fantastic Friday, so pray for us there as well. And also be praying for April 25th. The BK team will be going out to Mae Wang for a big event. I'll give more details as I can.
Love you all. Ttly.
Wednesday woke up and headed out to the prison where we didn't really get much accomplished, but I think Richard and I have some good solid plans for what we really want to get done before we leave. Most of it involves getting everything organized so that as people rotate in and out of this ministry, we can have good records of who is in the class and what not so there is very little of the akward transitions. Also we want to raise the stakes for the kids coming to class, find some way to get them invested into it.
Afterwards I met up with Glenn and he and I had some Pizza Company for lunch, and chatted about all the stuff going on. Then went back to BK to hang out for Kanoon club. We had quite a few people come over late, and then my student cancelled. I'm racking my brain but I honestly can't remember what we did after that.
So Thursday we met up for a lunch netting at The Dukes for Robs birthday, the big 25, had our meeting, and then Beca and I headed to Rim Phing Plaza, big computer store, so I could look for some connections for various things at BK. But only could get one of the 3 items I was looking for there. By the way I hate Steve Jobs.
Went from there back to ST, then I went and grabbed some dinner and went to meet up with Chang. He and I hung out for a good while, and got started on the interview, and had some good conversation. Then he headed out and Ken and I got started on ours as well. Then we got interrupted because he had loaned his scooter to a friend who got sideswiped by a truck. She was fine but Ken still had to go help get things settled. Then I worked on Lili's compy for a while trying to get some programs put on there (I hate Steve Jobs) and then gave up and went to bed.
Friday I woke up and scouted out some movies for Fantastic Friday and then went back and did some more work on Lili's compy, but it was too late to try and stuff downloaded, so we went with the DVDs. Got BK all rearranged and set up and had a slumber party theme night where we watched classic Micky Mouse and Goofy cartoons, and ate unhealthy snacks and sat around in our PJs. We also played Mafia and some other group games. It was a great night and we had a really good turnout for a non major event night. Afterwards we cleaned up and headed home to bed.
Saturday I woke up and taught my two students, and then was feeling a bit worn out so I took the rest of the day as a personal day.
Sunday, we woke up and met down at BK to go traveling for church. We drove about 40 min out to ObKhan which is a national park where there is a river running down through where you can swim and cliff jump. So we did. I think it's funny that this is the second park we have gone to that we have taken pictures in front of danger signs. But we got there, set up camp a bit an then headed down to swim. Climbed around and found a good little spot to jump that had like an 8, 14, and 20 foot spot to jump. So we had spots for all ages and experience to jump from. Then we went back, and played some ultimate frisbee, and hung out waiting on food. Got our grub on with amazing grilled chicken and fish, pico de gayo, sticky rice, fruit, brownies, ambros con leche (Mexican rice pudding). It were tasty. So we ate and fellowshipped and talked and then cleaned up and sat down for some worship. We sang and then Ekk taught about Mary annointing Jesus's feet, getting the young donkey, and the triumphial entry. Then we all got to act out a scene from the stories and that was a blast as well. Ekk did a good job putting it together. Afterwards we did some more swimming, a local guy showed us a good place to jump from about 35 feet, so of course I went for it. But by the end of the day, everyone had gotten to jump that wanted to, we had got to fellowship with friends who don't generally come to our worship time at BK, and got to worship with them as well. We got back to BK and some of us went to dinner together, then Ekk and I went to chill at walking street and get massages. So it was an awesome day.
Woke on up on Monday morning and got ready, and then went with Ken and Dew and Beca and Lili to the zoo. We had a good day walking around being together, Ken and I found a place that can get us really good airsoft guns for good prices (if I had a job and my own money I totally would, they had a fully auto M-4 that was remarkably accurate, and a bolt action sniper. It was awesome). Then we all headed to a market to get ingrediants, and on over to Dews parents house to cook dinner. So we had homemade Thai food and after we sat an got to talk to Ken about some deep stuff, then came back to ST and stayed up late watching Will Smith movies with Ekk and Meaw.
And todays prayer time got moved to Thursday morning, so I slept in and then woke up and decided to update. Gonna get stuff together for tomorrow, if you get this in time, please be praying for that. Richard is on vacation since his son has a two week break from school for Song Khran so it will be me with PiiThumb and a couple people from his church. So that will be interesting.
I'm also not sure of the details yet, but I think Beca is doing and Easter themed Fantastic Friday, so pray for us there as well. And also be praying for April 25th. The BK team will be going out to Mae Wang for a big event. I'll give more details as I can.
Love you all. Ttly.
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