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.