Down By the River, Took a Little Walk

I was torn for a title to this entry, "A River Runs Thru It," "Crossing Over,", and "In the Jungle, The Lion Speaks Tonight,"  I've reverted to a former T.A.P softball chant!

My team and I traveled from Chiang Mai, Thailand up some winding mountains to the Burmese border.  We quickly moved our stuff into our new lodging, mats & mosquito nets, open doors and windows, & squatty potties!  To be honest, that felt more like home than our 3BR, 3Bath, airconditioned home in Chiang Mai!


We decided to explore our surroundings. Through the back gate is a small school that is a part of our feeding program.  There's a wooded area that's all grown up, our translator tells us that the church wants to buy it to add on to the school & church, but the owner of the area had a dream that the spirit of a young girl lives there and that if it is sold and cleared she'll have no place to live, so it just sits, unused. Many Buddhists have spirit houses on their land to house the spirits that inhabited there before they built on it, they daily put out food and gifts for these spirits.

This is a spirit house at a restaurant.  There are food
and gifts & of course shade provided!

We walk further into the tropical area, we pull up short by a moving river.  I turn back, but the translator rolls up his pant legs and steps in.  Skeptically, I follow.  We cross quickly and climb the small bank to what appears to be just another area of dense foliage.  We pass some abandoned structures, made mostly of bamboo and thatch.  Our translator explains to us that this is an abandoned refugee camp, as he's talking a man passes us with a clear plastic bottle of the largest crickets I've ever seen.  He offers us some, we decline.  Up ahead small children are playing and there's what looks something like a volleyball net apparatus, minus the net.  As we approach, we find that there is one family that has not vacated the premises.  They are friendly, we are friendly, we say hello and good-bye and head back to our lodging for the night.

We did our English camps, we explored the beautiful village around us, and went about our business, but our minds had stayed on the people across the river.  We asked if it would be appropriate to take them some food and things.  We were told of some things that they might like to eat and that would not upset their stomachs.  We purchased the items and headed over.  We had our translator explain that we were going to be neighbors for a short time and wanted to bring them these gifts.  They shared the food with the entire family and began to ask us questions, "Why are you here?" "Why did you bring us gifts?" We responded briefly, Convoy of Hope, Jesus, etc. and then we asked if they would teach us how to play takraw.  However, the male leader of the group began to gather the other members,  and within moments the entire group men, women, and children were sitting at our feet peering up at us curiously.  I looked at my translator as if to say, "What's going on?"  He inquired for us and replied, "They want you to tell them everything."  "About what?!" I replied. "Jesus," he smiled.  So we did.

I shared a testimony of God's work in my life and in my family and then Sara took it from there and laid out the Good News of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ beautifully.  We prayed for them and then they schooled us at takraw until darkness fell.

Sometimes ya just need to take a little walk...

The Funny Frog Story

We traveled to the Burma border for a few days of ministry with refugees.  Our host asked us if we'd like to experience a morning market! We said yes, before we knew morning came at 6am and offered some special delicacies. Like these yummy Crickets!

You would think it would be the eels swimming angrily back in forth in their bags, or the live and dead display of rats, or snakes that would get me! But it wasn't!

We rounded the street corner and something HUGE jumped out at me! In turn I jumped out of my skin and may or may not have screamed like a little girl! The Thai women, who are usually very quiet and show very little, if any, emotion, LOLed! So, thank you, Mr. Big Huge Frog on a leash the Thai and the Farang got quite the chuckle out of our encounter!

                                         

It's Hard not to Give the Finger in Thailand

Man! I'm glad I got a pedicure! What you may see as frivilous is a down right necessary for any time in Thailand! Did you know you have to take your shoes off and leave them outside the door everywhere?!

 Not just temples, but restaurants, shops, schools, churches, and houses! I love being barefoot at church, it's cozy!

 Feet here are considered the lowest of lows, dirty! (Maybe you people who hate feet have some Thai blood in you?!)  You keep your feet hidden when you sit and you never point your feet at someone!  You should never use your feet to pick up anything- (evidently we do that more than we realize) as they call the feet, "the foreigner's hand" here in Thailand! You never put your feet up on the furniture! If I'd know this was a Thai rule, I'd have had a new comeback when I was told to take my feet off the furniture as a kid, "We're not in Thailand Mom, this is 'Merica!"  How important is it to remember this?  Well, how do you feel about THIS???


 Why yes, one of our missionaries DID flip us off on the 2nd day here! Here, it's silliness to think sticking your middle finger up could be offensive to anyone, it's just a finger, but pointing your feet at someone here = giving the bird!!! So whether it's stretching our legs, or forgetting to tuck our feet out of sight, or sitting with our legs crossed, it's hard NOT to give the finger in Thailand!

Ever failed culturally? We have!!!

(This blog was hand written on our first day of ministry here in Thailand!)


We started a camp at Ban Pong, there were about 30 kids!  To put them into groups we passed out pictures of animals, pigs, frogs, owls, tigers, and ducks, & they were to make the sound of their animal to find their group! "Oink! Ribbit! Who, Who! Roar! Quack!" Easy enough, right?!  Except that evidently animals are NOT bi-lingual! The owl and the tiger are a bit! But the Thai duck says, "Kop! Kop!"  The Thai frog says, "Up! Up!"  and the Pig says, "Oot! Oot!"  We laughed, they laughed, crisis averted!

We made name tags, where they were gracious enough to use American characters as the Thai characters look like this!
 Thai children are neat and orderly, respectful, and very quiet!  Weirdest culture ever! ha!

Showing emotion is a sign of weakness, to show too much excitement, or anger, or sadness will cause the Thai not to trust you.  To say my name is as a female is: Chan followed by your name But a male is to say: Pom Chuu followed by his name.  Unfortunately for Adam, he missed that memo! And introduced himself on the first day as Chan Adam! (Girly Adam!)  There were quite a few giggles on that one! No need to plan ice breakers with this crew!!!

They love basketball so we thought we'd play a game of "Knock Out!" or "Shoot Out" as Sara calls it! We're such an individualistic culture while they're collectivist to the core! The sweet Thai children would wait until the child in front of them made their basket before even attempting to shoot! Needless to say we failed culturally more than once on our first day, but they were forgiving!
We switched games and evidently "Steal the Bacon!" brings out the non-polite in ANY culture!

While we await our Pad-Thai to be ready for lunch, our iphones are in the hands of polite children playing Angry Birds, there's a group playing Ninja, Taylor is showing the boys pics of his girlfriend and teaching them to say, "Pretty!" And Colton is making somewhat of a failed attempt to teach the children dodge ball, it's not entirely a failure though because they don't mind to throw the ball at Colton just not at each other!  Ha!

To end the day, we announced, "Tommorrow Tye Dye!"  Opps! That could have been heard as Tomorrow Thai Die! Maybe I should do a blog series on how to fail culturally in any land, I've got lots and lots of material!!! We don't just pray grace over our meals, but over our days in Thailand!

My Not So Political Election Day Post

I woke up today in the year 2555!  Seriously, there was no flux capacitator involved! I'm in Chiang Mai, Thailand where it is the year 2555!  Why?! Because their year is based on the life of Buddha.  No A.D. / B.C. here in Thailand.  It made me think, our (us 'Mericans) EVERYTHING is based on the influence of Christ!  I know some of you will disagree, but our calendar B.C. / A.D, our pledge "One Nation Under God," our dinero "In God we Trust," our zoning codes take into account our houses of worship, some states even limit or prohibit the sell of alcohol on Sundays, many establishments remain closed or open later on Sundays, we even have songs about it "God Bless America!"

I sit here in a beautiful nation where only 1% of them are Christians.  To be Thai is to be Buddhist.  95% of Thailand is Buddhist.  There is a temple
on every corner!


 In my country there is a church on every corner.  According to the Thai, to be American is to be Christian, Christianity is the westerner's religion.  Sure we have our problems, we're no doubt a sinful nation, I half agree with Ruth Bell Graham, "If God doesn't punish America, He'll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!"  We've ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of God! Romans 3:23.  (Why, Yes, yes I was an Honor Star!) Thank God for Jesus, Thank God for grace, Thank God for Mercy, Thank God for His love! I know some sit and wring their hands and say, America is going to hell in a handbasket.  I say, "Love Wins!"  Not in a creepy, Rob Bell, there is no hell kind of way, but in a, "My God is Greater, My God is Stronger, My God is Higher than any other!" kind of way! For you old timers, "A Nothing is Too Difficult for Thee" kind of way.  Merica, We got it good! We're free to do ridiculous things like this if we are so inclined! (Man on Chicago Street corner earlier this fall!)

We're a nation saturated with the Gospel, we're free to worship, we're free to stand on street corners and tell people they're going to hell, tell people TO go to hell when they cut us off in traffic, and how to get to heaven every Sunday! Nearly 80% of Americans claim to be Christians.  Praise God.  Only 30 or 40% of those attend church regularly & 100% of those complain about the songs the worship leader chose, the volume of the band, the pastor's attire, and his wife should sure act more pastor wifey, and oh my goodness, they pass that offerin' plate every single Sunday. Love still wins.  HIS love still wins!

I woke up at 5am on my day off and climbed with my team to the top of a mountain, okay, I climbed half way and took a song taew the 

Can you see it, it's in the clouds up
 there at the top of that mountain!
We're on our way up as I take this photo!

other half, to the most prominent temple in Chiang Mai Wat Doi Suthep. I was struck first of all by my underestimation of how out of shape I am! 2ndly by the vastness of it all, millions and millions of dollars in architecture before my eyes, but 3rdly and MOSTLY by the patrons.  

In droves, they filed in purchasing flowers or candles, they gave money in one of the many offering boxes or in the baskets of the monks, they hit gongs, they rang bells, all in an effort to earn
merit!



 I thank God I am not on a merit system! "It is finished!" "Jesus paid it all!"  They continued to hit the gong and ring the bells, I have to admit I couldn't resist this row of bells, but all I could think about the resounding gong clanging cymbals of I Corinthians 13!

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues,they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

God bless America! He sure does, every single day! Be grateful.  Be prayerful.  Be His nation today! Pray for your nation today, but remember too the nations that do not have a church on every corner, the freedom to worship or even the opportunity to seek God, the ones that don't just go without good healthcare policies, but without clean water and food, the ones that can't pray in schools or even in their own homes!  The ones pounding gongs & clanging cymbals, in a futile effort to pay a debt that they'll never be able to pay! I love my country, I love my God, I will share 
His Love!
                                    

So... She Emptied Her Piggy Bank!

Yep, I'm in Chiang Mai Thailand about to write to you about my time in Chicago last month! I'm a little behind, but this story HAS to be told!

The Convoy of Hope interns were invited to minister at a kid's conference in Hammond Indiana (right outside of Chicago!)  The theme of the conference was set to be, "Tell the World."  It was pretty much a mission's convention for kiddos!

We went to challenge them and expose them to missions.  We played the parts of not so super heros.

 They laughed, but somehow along the way they got the message that there are people all over the world that need food and clean water, and most of all need to know Jesus.  They were challenged, they got it, they understood.  How do I know?

I watched the tiniest of them all lift her hands in worship to God and pray that she could be a better sister.  (What if we adults prayed this prayer?!)

I watched them write letters to the children of Thailand sharing the love of Christ in each note! (What if WE all wrote letters of love to those we know need Jesus?)

Top part the Hammond kids making their message in a bottle for the Thai kids, bottom the Thai kids writing them back

I watched them write the names of their friends and family on little pieces of paper and commit to pray for them and share Christ with them.  A couple of them came and asked for more paper. Then I watched them kneel and pray. (What if everyone in our church made this commitment?)

I watched Parker on her 10th birthday get up and share the gospel and about how bad the nations need Jesus.  (What if we ALL had this boldness?)

And then during the last service they were challenged to give to missions, to Convoy of Hope.  They were told about the opportunity to give the day before.  I watched a 5 year old make her way to the offering basket with her piggy bank and shake it till every last penny was out.  We told her of the need so she emptied her piggy bank?!  (What if every Christian gave this sacrificially to missions?!)  All my missionary friends just said, Yes and Amen to that one!  Evidently the secret to a successful mission's convention is down the hall in kid's church! :)

We went to challenge them and in turn they challenged US, in their worship, their prayer, their commitment, their help, and their giving! Needless to say they have a great children's pastor in Debbie Wells, who had them primed and ready to receive from God!  If you have a great children's pastor, show them some love today!

This blog doesn't do the sweet children of Hammond, Indiana justice, but if you want to be challenged I can introduce you to some inner city & suburbanite kiddos that just plain GET IT!

"I tell you the Truth, unless we come to Him like these little children...."

Here are some of the sweet Buddhist kiddos who got the messages in a bottle from the conference. I KNOW the kids in Hammond Indiana are praying for these guys and I'm excited to be their missionary representative, their hands extended here in Thailand!

I Freed the Birds

Outside the ornate temples we've found ladies selling flowers & trinkets & renting shawls,  (wouldn't want to be scantily clad when you go in to worship the idols.)  In our 2 weeks here we've seen dozens of Wats (Buddhist temples); Sara thinks she's pretty funny with her new favorite phrase, "If you've seen Wat you've seen'em all!"

At each wat we see worshippers purchase these things & drop money into the baskets of the many monks in an effort to earn merit.  
However, today as I exited the wat and went about putting my shoes back on, a woman approached me with a different offer.  At her feet were several enclosed baskets filled with tiny, chirping birds.



 She began to use the universal language of "human video" (or "charades," for you non AG folk) to let me know that for 100 baht (about $3.25) I could untie the cords holding the basket together and free the birds.  While her human video of the birds flying away lacked the necessary lusture & allure I'd have hoped for, she does get bonus points for her English attempt, "You have good luck!"  In other words, if I gave her 100 baht I could free the birds and "I have good luck." DONE! Who passes up that kind of deal?!

Before you stop sending me mission's dollars, which if you'd like to here's a brand new link plus if you DO donate then "you have good luck!" My account is about $1,000 short this month with only a couple more days on my October statement to give!!! Don't miss out! Birds will fly free! Click Here to GIVE

But seriously, before I proceed, I must tell you:
#1)  I do not believe freeing these birds would give me any good luck, but possibly bird flu.
#2)  I realize 100 baht is highway robbery as my team just had lunch for 185 baht (about $1.05 per person)
#3)  I've seen Brokedown Palace & I know that when Claire Daines freed those birds that they flew right back to the hand that fed them until the next Farang (foreigner) pays their ransom!

So why release the birds you ask?

Same reason my brother and SIL give to & serving with F.R.E.E. International- a really cool anti-human trafficking organization to FREE women & children. Check out FREE International 

Same reason your mama paid the bail bondsman!

Same reason we honor our military men & women & why they're willing to go!

Same reason my therapy friends help addicted clients get FREE!

Same reasons kids bolt out of their desks at the final bell of the day!

Same reason Dave Ramsey created Financial Peace University.  So we can call in and scream, "I'm debt FREE!"

Same reason you take your kid to Sunday school & pray for the prodigal son!

Same reason you adopted those children!

Same reason you give to missionaries & why we missionaries GO!

Freedom is our heart's cry because it's in our DNA, we have our Father's heart.  It is for FREEDOM that He set us FREE! Much more than 100 baht was paid for my freedom & it is my mission that other's will know that freedom as well! So, I freed the birds!