Week 4 - Birthdays and Bannanagrams

My birthday was this past week. I always feel a little awkward about having things done for me on my birthday. The Thais even have a word for it: "kreungjeu" is a rough transliteration. Despite that, my new friends did a lot to celebrate my birthday and I'm grateful that people I've known for less than a month would go to the lengths they did to make me feel loved. At my request, we played basketball in Klong Toey with Boo, our Thai teacher on Fridays, and her husband. Later that night, we had a potluck dinner with our neighbors. I ate deep-fried grasshoppers. Jeff fashioned a birthday hat out of a large plastic water bottle and a candle. Exotic food, basketball, and silly hats. One would have to be pretty sour not have a good time given those elements.

When we played basketball, we met another Australian couple who live there in the slums. We do not live in the slums and there is a very good reason for that--a reason that is probably best left revealed by Tim and Amy--but I am amazed at how many Christians have taken up the call to live here in Thailand among the poor. I have been keeping my eyes open for the fruit of this wide Christian presence. Conversion? Economic healing? A decrease in violence or drugs? At times like these, I'm reminded that I see through a glass darkly, that the Holy Trinity is actively working here and elsewhere. I'm reminded that his kingdom comes like a seemingly innocuous mustard seed and fluorishes in its own time. The presence of these sons and daughters of God may not bring immediate relief, but we need only look at the promises of Scripture for a description of what a sweeping victory it will one day be.

Our English teaching is hitting somewhat of a stride. This week, it seemed as if we were able to finally pinpoint the subject areas that need the most care in teaching. We played bannanagrams with the university students and they seemed to benefit from it. I was teamed with one of our regulars and had a hilarious time trying to explain the meaing of "awash." Give it a try some time.

This morning, I was not able to attend my new, "regular" church since Tim had arranged for us to speak at a small Thai church associated with Jaiseman. Really, it was just Bethany who was given the responsibility for drafting a sermon and delivering it. She had a pretty good case of nerves last night, but she did very well, preaching on Mark 2 and how we should use our faith to put our friends in front of Jesus.

As I have been mentioning, this week we will begin our street outreach. I don't have any specific expectations and I've been told this is good, but I anticipate having much more to report next week.