This is your first Thai lesson. In the American colloquial sense of "all set," "set" means the same thing in both English and Thai: finished. English camp is now set as we finished up the second week this past Thursday, Friday being the celebration of King Chulalongkhorn's (Rama V) death.
I do not think of myself as a kid person. Most people believe this speaks poorly of one's character. The same is often thought of those who con't consider themselves "dog people." I have historically been neither, which is why I was surprised to find myself teaching English conversation in a loud, expressive voice and even enjoying it. I particularly enjoyed the youngest group--5 to 6 yrs.--who normally sat in rapt attention--out of fear or interest I could never tell--for the bearded, tattooed hobbit yelling "one building, six buildings," over and over with wide eyes. I do not know if any of my three classes learned anything from me, but I got to know some very cool Thai kids and hopefully they got to know me a little bit.
On Tuesday, Pastor Anon wanted us to present topics on American culture at the English camp. I all but demanded to be in charge of music. I was fastidious. Believing American music comes primarily from two fountainheads: Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta. To be short, these are the artists I included: Robert Johnson, Son House, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Jack White (Cold Mountain Sdtrk), Hank Williams, and Dolly Parton. I also threw in Jenny Lewis, Sufjan Stevens, and Jay Z as examples of modern American music. Tragically, I believe Thai children may be less passionate about American music than I am as their attention often waned.
We did not all go on outreach this week. On Monday, Tim and Amy took a group of Christian leaders from this region of Asia on the same walk we do on outreach nights. On Wednesday, outreach was voluntary. Consequently, I did not go on outreach this last week. This next week will be a welcome return to normalcy, after two weeks of English camp split by a week in India. We will resume our morning devotions, study of Thai, and Monday and Wednesday outreach. Additionally, Jeff and I will join the work of the MST project for the first time this week as we minister to visiting foreign men in the bar district every Tuesday.
Prayer Requests:
--That the Lord would open my eyes. I can hardly believe I've been here ten weeks already. I often worry that I am missing something vital that I will regret ignoring after I've left. Much of the past several weeks has been full of reasoning and lacking faith. I want less of me and more cross.
--I will begin working on my WMF project, locating squatter communities around Bangkok. Pray the Lord blesses this work so that I will be dilligent in it and so that it will bear fruit.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Week 9 - Kolkata
Or Calcutta. You can wikipedia this later; they're the same place.
I was in Kolkata all week. The pragmatic side of the trip was that we had to leave Thailand and renew our visas for another sixty days. But the main reason we went to India--as opposed to a more obvious choice like Cambodia or Laos--is that we were able to see what WMF was doing in Kolkata as well as meet up with the servant team from Nepal who were going to be in Kolkata at the same time.
Other than completing the red-tape marathon necessary for a visa application, the first half of the week was spent visiting some of the places WMF works in Kolkata. We visited Freeset and volunteered for some small tasks at Sari Bari. Both manufacture bags as well as blankets and t-shirts and both offer an alternative to those working in the red-light district. This is the dignity of life or what some might call God's common grace. This is thought only came to fruition later in the week, as you will see if you read on. I could say a lot about these businesses and the importance and kingdom-relevance of their work, but the founders could say it a lot better. In lieu of my regular prayer requests, I'm going to post links to both businesses. Christmas is drawing nearer and Freeset and Sari Bari have honestly great products. Please give them a look and consider them if and when you do some Christmas shopping. Also, I suggest you get your order in now, because they go quickly, particularly for Sari Bari.
While we visited Freeset and Sari Bari, we were able to walk a good portion of Kolkata. The difference from Dallas or even from Bangkok is dramatic. Sanitation is a problem: large piles of trash are everywhere. That people would live on the street seemed to be a foregone conclusion. I have seen homelessness in every city I've visited, but never to this degree. Additionally, the coming festival dedicated to the idol Kali added a menacing touch to the delapidated condition of the place. Which is not to say I didn't witness moments of extreme beauty in the architecture, in the food, even in the disposable sculptures of Kali. But there was an air of oppression I cannot quite describe.
On Friday, we were able to volunteer at two of the houses founded by Mother Theresa. These were started by Mother Theresa, as far as I can tell, because, in the tradition of their merciless religion, society was almost literally throwing away their people, leaving them to die an animal's death in Kolkata's traffic-jammed streets. Theresa, however, saw only the image of God and, indeed, Jesus in "the least of these." This is the dignity of dying. For over fifty years, sisters, workers, and volunteers of varying terms have sought to give these men and women just that dignity. Giving our fellow men and women dignity from birth to death, led and guided by the saving grace of the Holy Spirit. That, I think, or something like it, is the vocation of the every member of the church and can only be done as the church.
Other than that, I had great fun meeting the Nepal team, the Kolkata staff, trying great food--Thailand's still got it beat--and experiencing another country. I've still got a lot of undeveloped film and now I've added one more roll. Pictures forthcoming. For now, I'm back in Bangkok and preparing to finish up the English camp at Jaisamarn church this week.
For all your Christmas shopping needs:
http://www.saribari.com/
http://www.freesetglobal.com/
I was in Kolkata all week. The pragmatic side of the trip was that we had to leave Thailand and renew our visas for another sixty days. But the main reason we went to India--as opposed to a more obvious choice like Cambodia or Laos--is that we were able to see what WMF was doing in Kolkata as well as meet up with the servant team from Nepal who were going to be in Kolkata at the same time.
Other than completing the red-tape marathon necessary for a visa application, the first half of the week was spent visiting some of the places WMF works in Kolkata. We visited Freeset and volunteered for some small tasks at Sari Bari. Both manufacture bags as well as blankets and t-shirts and both offer an alternative to those working in the red-light district. This is the dignity of life or what some might call God's common grace. This is thought only came to fruition later in the week, as you will see if you read on. I could say a lot about these businesses and the importance and kingdom-relevance of their work, but the founders could say it a lot better. In lieu of my regular prayer requests, I'm going to post links to both businesses. Christmas is drawing nearer and Freeset and Sari Bari have honestly great products. Please give them a look and consider them if and when you do some Christmas shopping. Also, I suggest you get your order in now, because they go quickly, particularly for Sari Bari.
While we visited Freeset and Sari Bari, we were able to walk a good portion of Kolkata. The difference from Dallas or even from Bangkok is dramatic. Sanitation is a problem: large piles of trash are everywhere. That people would live on the street seemed to be a foregone conclusion. I have seen homelessness in every city I've visited, but never to this degree. Additionally, the coming festival dedicated to the idol Kali added a menacing touch to the delapidated condition of the place. Which is not to say I didn't witness moments of extreme beauty in the architecture, in the food, even in the disposable sculptures of Kali. But there was an air of oppression I cannot quite describe.
On Friday, we were able to volunteer at two of the houses founded by Mother Theresa. These were started by Mother Theresa, as far as I can tell, because, in the tradition of their merciless religion, society was almost literally throwing away their people, leaving them to die an animal's death in Kolkata's traffic-jammed streets. Theresa, however, saw only the image of God and, indeed, Jesus in "the least of these." This is the dignity of dying. For over fifty years, sisters, workers, and volunteers of varying terms have sought to give these men and women just that dignity. Giving our fellow men and women dignity from birth to death, led and guided by the saving grace of the Holy Spirit. That, I think, or something like it, is the vocation of the every member of the church and can only be done as the church.
Other than that, I had great fun meeting the Nepal team, the Kolkata staff, trying great food--Thailand's still got it beat--and experiencing another country. I've still got a lot of undeveloped film and now I've added one more roll. Pictures forthcoming. For now, I'm back in Bangkok and preparing to finish up the English camp at Jaisamarn church this week.
For all your Christmas shopping needs:
http://www.saribari.com/
http://www.freesetglobal.com/
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Week 8 - Hello, how are you?
I've repeated the above litany many times this past week, expecting an emphatic "I am fine, thank you. And you?" Monday thru Friday was the first week of English camp at Jaisemarn Church 68, an offshoot of the larger branch in downtown Bangkok. The Hupes have a relationship with the church and volunteered us for two weeks of the three week camp. For me, the week consisted of a daily cycle of waking not early enough and teaching conversational English to three age groups, usually with hilarious results. As most of you know, I have no formal training in teaching conversational English. Luckily, we all have a free period. I used mine efficiently, hiking to Ramkamhaeng rd. to have coffee and read The Possessed. During the morning period, I have an older student named Beer (sic) to whom I have nothing to teach, so I dedicate a portion of our 1 hr. 15 min. session to "stump Beer time." I've yet to succeed.
Although street outreach was optional this week, due to the rigors of lesson planning, I and a couple other people did venture out on Wednesday night. We made a point to limit ourselves to visiting beggars we had met. We visited a few people whose names I already knew. This is a simple, but huge portion of WMF's ministry here: giving names to those forgotten by the secular empire. On Saturday, one of the girls who begs with her sisters on Nana St. had a birthday, so we visited her there amidst the bars and carousing and evil and confusion and simply wished her a happy birthday.
Street outreach is a short and eloquent way to say we walk up and down Sukhumvit Rd., sometimes seeing people we know, with whom those skilled in Thai can have a decent conversation. Sometimes I'm the one talking and, in broken Thai, I ask for a name and place and little else. Sometimes we hardly see anybody. And yet I can't get away from the mystery of being a walking temple of the Holy Ghost in such a rote task. I can't see Him and I certainly can't feel Him, but a word tells me He is there in my bones. Last week, I was reminded that He blew over this planet once already and made everything and I wondered at Him having to breathe over it all over again. I cannot, for all my big words, tell you that I understand it entirely, but I hope while I'm out there that I'm some redeemed bit of the King's Body and not just a plodding loner with a big beard and pious habits.
Tomorrow morning, we go to India to renew our visa and see a little of what WMF is doing in that country. We will also volunteer a day at the home established by Mother Theresa. I can hardly believe I get this chance and that it's so soon. I can hardly believe I've been here for half my time already. Additionally, the WMF team from Nepal will be traveling there during the same time and I will get to see a long lost friend from college. Even halfway around the world, I'm bumping into Golden Eagles.
Prayer Requests:
--Pray for the team and for our community. Scripture attaches a lot of importance to our relationships with the rest of the Body of Christ. Pray the devil will find no foothold in our frustrations.
--Pray for my prayer time. I am giving into the subtle temptation to put off prayer. Refer to request #1. This is just such a foothold. Sin is great, but greater the grace.
Although street outreach was optional this week, due to the rigors of lesson planning, I and a couple other people did venture out on Wednesday night. We made a point to limit ourselves to visiting beggars we had met. We visited a few people whose names I already knew. This is a simple, but huge portion of WMF's ministry here: giving names to those forgotten by the secular empire. On Saturday, one of the girls who begs with her sisters on Nana St. had a birthday, so we visited her there amidst the bars and carousing and evil and confusion and simply wished her a happy birthday.
Street outreach is a short and eloquent way to say we walk up and down Sukhumvit Rd., sometimes seeing people we know, with whom those skilled in Thai can have a decent conversation. Sometimes I'm the one talking and, in broken Thai, I ask for a name and place and little else. Sometimes we hardly see anybody. And yet I can't get away from the mystery of being a walking temple of the Holy Ghost in such a rote task. I can't see Him and I certainly can't feel Him, but a word tells me He is there in my bones. Last week, I was reminded that He blew over this planet once already and made everything and I wondered at Him having to breathe over it all over again. I cannot, for all my big words, tell you that I understand it entirely, but I hope while I'm out there that I'm some redeemed bit of the King's Body and not just a plodding loner with a big beard and pious habits.
Tomorrow morning, we go to India to renew our visa and see a little of what WMF is doing in that country. We will also volunteer a day at the home established by Mother Theresa. I can hardly believe I get this chance and that it's so soon. I can hardly believe I've been here for half my time already. Additionally, the WMF team from Nepal will be traveling there during the same time and I will get to see a long lost friend from college. Even halfway around the world, I'm bumping into Golden Eagles.
Prayer Requests:
--Pray for the team and for our community. Scripture attaches a lot of importance to our relationships with the rest of the Body of Christ. Pray the devil will find no foothold in our frustrations.
--Pray for my prayer time. I am giving into the subtle temptation to put off prayer. Refer to request #1. This is just such a foothold. Sin is great, but greater the grace.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Lord's Week - Pictures
I'm taking a week off from my long monologue style and posting some pictures. I brought camera technology of the Andre Aggasi era and consequently don't have the ability to take and post pictures immediately. Buuut, my fellow teammate Melanie does and she was kind enough to send me these pictures.
The culmination of our first contest: eating weird food. Ultimately, I accumulated the most points and won myself a traditional Thai massage, which I hear is something like professional wrestling.
Respectfully greeting Mr. McDonald Thai-style
The birthday morning feast and entertainment--MGMT--prepared by my teammates.
The Servant Team: Back-Jeff, Melanie, Emily; Front-Me, Bethany, Boo, and Jim. Boo and Jim are friends of the Hupes and have been helping teach us Thai language and cooking.
The team singing at a Thai church with Tim at the far right
Melanie, Bethany, and me putting our lives in the hands of a reckless Tuk-Tuk driver
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