As I walked near the King's palace and throne hall yesterday, I could see workers putting up lights around what equates to several city blocks' worth of fencing to prepare for the King's 82nd birthday on Dec 5th. It's not Christmas, but it does give the sense of a new season, which is appropriate given that the temperature sank drastically over the last half a week. I nearly didn't use my fan at all last night until I heard the high-pitched flapping of a mosquito above my ear.
Yesterday, we had our last day out at Klong Toei. I thought we would be teaching, but activities were limited to a two hour party. There was a lot of dancing and, strangely, a lot of throwing baby powder in our own faces and at each other. Not all of the kids were there, but most of the familiar faces. I think sometimes one underestimates the depth of connection made with another person, particularly with adolescents who hide it better.
On Thursday, and to a lesser extent on Tuesday, we celebrated Emily's birthday, the third and last birthday of our group of five during these four months. The only thing lacking was the Thom Yum soup our neighbor, Bah Oot, prepared for our last two parties.
Monday and Wednesday outreach per usual. We are coming up against the reality that we will be leaving and that we'll have to tell this to some of the people we see twice a week on the street. I began this ordeal with B__ and it was more difficult than I thought. Difficult, because it seems to me she saw more of God in me than I saw in her, appreciative as she was of the meager relationship I'd formed with her. She said all of our group had Jay Dii, literally "good hearts." Great are God's works and unprofitable are His servants.
On Tuesday, Jeff and I joined with the MST project, which seeks to engage in conversation Western men visiting the popular sex tourist areas in Thailand. It wasn't nearly as confrontational as I imagined, but that made it all the more frustrating. The Devil often comes masquerading as foggy logic and cyclical debates. I can only pray God did something through all this, will continue to do this in my life and their lives.
This coming week, we will visit American friends for Thanksgiving in Phayao, with some opportunities for working with them and for hiking.
Prayer Requests:
--That the relationships that the five of us have formed with transfer as seemlessly as possibly to Tim and Amy and that these relationships would bear fruit for the Kindgom of God.
Yesterday, we had our last day out at Klong Toei. I thought we would be teaching, but activities were limited to a two hour party. There was a lot of dancing and, strangely, a lot of throwing baby powder in our own faces and at each other. Not all of the kids were there, but most of the familiar faces. I think sometimes one underestimates the depth of connection made with another person, particularly with adolescents who hide it better.
On Thursday, and to a lesser extent on Tuesday, we celebrated Emily's birthday, the third and last birthday of our group of five during these four months. The only thing lacking was the Thom Yum soup our neighbor, Bah Oot, prepared for our last two parties.
Monday and Wednesday outreach per usual. We are coming up against the reality that we will be leaving and that we'll have to tell this to some of the people we see twice a week on the street. I began this ordeal with B__ and it was more difficult than I thought. Difficult, because it seems to me she saw more of God in me than I saw in her, appreciative as she was of the meager relationship I'd formed with her. She said all of our group had Jay Dii, literally "good hearts." Great are God's works and unprofitable are His servants.
On Tuesday, Jeff and I joined with the MST project, which seeks to engage in conversation Western men visiting the popular sex tourist areas in Thailand. It wasn't nearly as confrontational as I imagined, but that made it all the more frustrating. The Devil often comes masquerading as foggy logic and cyclical debates. I can only pray God did something through all this, will continue to do this in my life and their lives.
This coming week, we will visit American friends for Thanksgiving in Phayao, with some opportunities for working with them and for hiking.
Prayer Requests:
--That the relationships that the five of us have formed with transfer as seemlessly as possibly to Tim and Amy and that these relationships would bear fruit for the Kindgom of God.
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