Beautiful Goodbye

So this is the worst part. The part that hurts the most. The bitter-sweet part. The part that's labeled "goodbye."

Or, hopefully, "So long." "Until then." "See ya later."

This week, since teaching school, has been really relaxed, really free. Sometimes this was great, and others I felt a little lazy. I haven't had many responsibilities, which means I got to hang out with people and do a lot of English Corners.

Saturday I took the new Journey girls to JJ weekend market. It was cool to use some of my experience to help them adjust to life in Bangkok. They will live here for three months before they move to Chiang Rai, a town in the north, to do agriculture and water projects. It was a lot of fun hanging out with them.

Sunday was my last service at New Vision Baptist Church. I haven't been there since Chiang Mai, so it was great to get to experience that one last time before leaving.

Monday I think about all I did was the English Corner in the evening from 4-7.

Tuesday I went to see Chang Noi (Little Elephant) Ministries. It was through Chang Noi that we taught in schools last week. They have a nursery school for pre-K children and we got to see that place--called the Abba House. Lee Davis, the director of Chang Noi Ministries is seen below. She also showed us some of the slum in the surrounding area.

Wednesday I went shopping/hung out with some MKs (missionary kids). They were a lot of fun and so helpful! They know their way around and speak a good deal of Thai. It's great to see not just this country but the world through their eyes. Plus, many vendors give a better price to anyone who speaks Thai! They just got a new Dairy Queen in one of the malls here, and they give free refills! This is a big deal here; I've heard a lot of talk. So we had lunch there. The whole day was just a lot of fun. (Caleb was there too, but he was sitting by me, so not in the picture.)

Today I went to the English Corner again and had some great conversations with people. Afterwards I met my Thai friends and we all went to supper together one last time. I thought it was just going to be the three guys, but it ended up that just about everyone was there! Joe, Jack, and Mart (my three best friends); Cherry; AK, Opal, and Joe (from Prathunam); and all four moms! (Ote, Add, Eet, and Elle)! I was so happy to see them as I haven't seen them since Chiang Mai. I couldn't believe it; it was so amazing of them to all get together to see me off one last time. I'm really going to miss them. I wish I would have had even more opportunities to get to know them. Mom Ote got a little teary-eyed, and I wasn't far myself. She even gave me a hug and a kiss (which is a big deal to this culture--and because they know that we do that). As I was walking toward the SkyTrain, they kept waving and waving until I literally was out of sight. Everyone else is planning on meeting me at the airport.

So my goodbyes really began in Chiang Mai. I had to give them to people I just met a few days before, but felt so close to, and grew to love and love their ministries. Shortly after Chiang Mai, I met a couple in Bangkok on their way to the south and told them goodbye. They have been so wonderful to me. I (along with many of the Journeymen) call them grandma and grandpa. The last thing grandpa said to me was "Love Jesus." That is the most important thing. I must try to remember that.

This week I have been making rounds doing the same. Monday I told the Journey girls, Heather and Anna, goodbye as they are moving back to the Northeast. They have been so kind and helpful and I've loved hanging out with them. I'm glad I got to hang out with them some again. Today I told Becky goodbye and told her to tell David (her husband) goodbye for me. (He's who teaches the class at Prathunam Center.) I also told Jennie goodbye. She is the one who organized the conference in Chiang Mai, whom I worked under while I was there. We had a good little chat and she said she hoped this was more of a so long. I hope so too.

Of course goodbyes are always difficult, but I really do feel like these are not goodbyes. I really feel like I might come back--and that is exciting! I have no idea what God has in store at this point, but I feel like another trip to Thailand is a definite possibility. I hope this will be the case. If not, then aren't all Christian "goodbyes" merely "farewells"? Praise God for that.

Well, here I am, two days left, and I'm not sure exactly how much this has sunk in. I guess all I can do is make the most of it. Praise God ever for his goodness and mercy which will follow you always. He knows what he's doing, and it's perfect. Even his timing. See you soon :)

What Does a Farang Feel Like?

Here is a delayed picture from Chiang Mai. Just the view from my hotel room, but maybe you can see the mountains in the background.

After the few orientation days for Craig and Sarah, I've been involved in a new project. Three days this week and next I have been / will be teaching English in public schools. So far this has been a blast! I have to leave very early in the morning and as I was walking, I saw a monk collecting his alms. Every morning the monks go out and collect food and other necessities from people. The people then earn merit, or basically points that help them in their future lives. Women are not allowed to touch monks so they must either put their alms in his collection bowl or hand it to a man who then hands it to the monk. (When I was at the airport and they were checking tickets, the monk handed his to a man who handed to the lady and then back again.)

The school where we are teaching (a team of six: Carrie-the pastor's wife at Calvary Church, Kameron-a short term volunteer like me, and Rachel and her daughters Rebecca and Chelsie who are here for about three weeks) is in a poorer area further out from the city. We were told that this may be the first time some of these children have ever seen a farang (foreigner). They were all told to shake our hands so every time they have opportunity they come up and want to shake our hands! It's funny. There are 1,000 kids, grades K-9. Over the three days, they each will have been taught by us for an hour period. It's been a great time. I will let the pictures do the talking.

Every morning begins with a flag raising ceremony, exercises, and Buddhist prayers, followed by meditation.

We mostly taught colors and numbers, but some of the older kids learned more conversational English.

And of course every student takes his/her shoes off before entering the classroom.

We finished for lunch time, but then got to hang out for recess. That is when the hand shaking was most popular!

Teachers like to have their pictures taken too! Here are Kameron and me with the kindergarten teacher (center) and two others.

Ninth grade may have been the most fun even if at first it was most intimidating. Since some of them spoke a decent amount of English, it was easier to communicate. I'm really glad I had this opportunity.

We had an extra period today, so we had an assembly for the older grades and taught them some songs. Then they did a performance of some traditional Thai dancing. I love it when they do that!

Not Home Yet

Hello again, Bangkok! It's good to be back. Don't get me wrong; Chiang Mai is beautiful. The sun rising over the mountains wrapped in the mist was incredible. The slower paced, small town feel was a welcomed change (even though Chiang Mai has a population of over one million). Thai hospitality certainly wasn't lacking, and smiling faces were likewise ubiquitous. The noticeably cooler weather was wonderful. Chiang Mai sits comfortably in a valley surrounded by gentle, forest-covered mountains. The whole area was simply beautiful.

I rode a tuk tuk for the first time. This is a little three wheeled cart with a seat in the back and drives kind of like a motorcycle (or motosai as it sounds in Thai). There are many in Bangkok, but I just then took the opportunity to ride one. Tuk tuk drivers have a bad reputation (probably warranted) for overcharging, but I don't think I over payed for my short little trip. In the mountains in the North of Thailand, near Chiang Mai, there are many smaller people groups collectively called Hill Tribes. They have their own languages and to a large degree their own culture. They also have some crafts and goods that are unique and (hopefully) will make great gifts!

I was in Chiang Mai for eleven days to help with a conference. I got to meet and work with some incredible people and got to hear some amazing stories which I can't wait to share with you all (or ya'll as I'm getting used to saying thanks to the SOUTHERN Baptist Convention). It's amazing to hear stories from those serving in countries that are very closed and require great security and caution. These stories include miracles and healings that we in our comfortable, logical, rational American minds so easily explain away or ignore.

But now I'm back in Bangkok, and it's good to be surrounded not by mountains but by the familiar. It's amazing that I can classify Bangkok, Thailand as 'familiar.' I just realized that Bangkok is the first real city I've lived in. I've lived near St. Louis for two years now, but this is the first time I've actually lived in a city for a real period of time. I think everyone needs a city they can claim. Not necessarily a city to live in (I love the country just as much), but a city for which they have a special affinity. Maybe Bangkok will be mine.

I got back around 9:30pm Wednesday and met two people at the airport. Craig and Sarah are hear from the States for nine days to work at a ministry called The Well. They will be teaching English in the afternoon and doing some outreach at night. Yesterday was orientation day and it was great to be able to lead some people around the city and teach them about this beautiful culture I have come to love so much. They are great, and I'm looking forward to working with them. Craig just finished his second year of seminary at Southern, in Louisville, KY. They came for several reasons, but one is to see if missions is something they might be interested in later. I'm praying it will be!

The Well is a ministry in Bangkok that works with "bar girls," i.e. prostitutes. They have two centers and a few houses where girls come out of the bars to live. They teach them to make things like jewelry or greeting cards, have Bible studies, and especially help them work through the serious emotional and psychological scarring that many of them face. Some of the girls are as young as 13. Most often either these young girl's parents push them into that life because its easy and they need the money. A few of the girls are highly educated and for whatever reason, devalued themselves enough to choose that life for the money. But when they come to the well, they are exposed to the gracious value given only by Jesus Christ. Pray for this ministry and the many women at the well.

Two weeks from tomorrow I will be boarding the plane for my 30 hour return home. I have mixed emotions about this. It will be great to see everyone at home again, to tell my stories and share more pictures. But at the same time, this summer has been amazing. I have met some great friends here that I also will miss. I will miss the bustle of the city, the smell of the street food, and the smiling faces. But let's not go there now, I have two more weeks to enjoy!

Finally!!

Well, this has been the biggest gap in postings, and for that I apologize. I will try my best to bring you up to date.

My last week in Bangkok (don't worry, I'll be back for 2 more) was not too busy, really. I did prison ministry on Monday and Thursday and English at Prathunam the other days and all went as usual. I will really miss seeing those guys on Mondays.

I finally went up in Baiyoke Tower, the tallest building in Bangkok (there are pictures in older posts). It was fun to go there after having been here for a while because I could identify some familiar places from a different view. It was pretty cool even if it did cost 200 baht (6 USD). I also went to the flower market again. I will try to get pictures later. It is busiest at night, and I went in the afternoon. But there still was a lot going on. I still haven't been to ChinaTown, but maybe that will happen soon.

Last Saturday (the 4th) I flew to Chiang Mai where I have been for the last week. Chiang Mai is the 2nd largest city in Thailand. I could tell as soon as I got off the plane, however, how different it is than Bangkok. I'm not sure I could really identify the ways, but it's just different, a lot smaller of course. And it's really beautiful. It's quite a bit cooler, which is very much appreciated! And there are mountains basically surrounding the entire city.

I've been able to get away and see the Night Bazaar, but hopefully I'll be able to go see some more of Chiang Mai later. There is a wat on one of the mountains (there not really tall mountains, by the way); that would be great to see. Most of my time here has been spent preparing for and helping with a conference. Pray that everyone here will have renewal and leave refreshed and ready to serve. Also pray for a smooth transition for this new reorganization.

So, that's about it really. As busy as I've been, I've had a lot of fun and met a lot of new people. Thanks for reading even if there have been no updates for quite a while. Sorry there are no pictures, but hopefully I'll have some soon.

Coming Soon...

I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I know it's been forever. I didn't update for a while in Bangkok, and now I've just gotten internet in Chiang Mai. I will get an update up as soon as I can. They're keeping me busy up here!!

-Timothy

Elephants and Tigers and Coconuts? Oh My!

I think I'm getting worse at keeping up with this, not better.

Friday was English class as usual, but after class Saturday we went out to eat and then for a boat ride on the Chao Phraya River! It was fun even if it did rain in the end. You can see some beautiful buildings from the river. I still love Thai architecture!

You also can see some not so great architecture. There are many little houses built like this right over the water. Someone saw these pictures on my camera and asked why I wanted them. I'm sure he didn't want me showing a bad view of Thailand. I said, "Because people live in there!" Those houses matter because the people who live in them matter. And those people probably have no one among them who can tell them the gospel...

Here's me again with Mom Ote who continues to take great care of me! It was her idea to take me out on the river taxi.

We walked to a wat basically out in the jungle...okay, maybe not quite, but I did have to walk on a raised boardwalk through a banana grove.

And there were some stalls outside where we got some food. I had been wanting to try these coconuts and Jack just happened to buy me one! It wasn't very good though. Kind of a disappointment. Oh well.

There also was a baby elephant we got to feed. Now don't tell me that happens everyday in Southern Illinois!

Then, on our way back, we ran into these tigers! Or maybe that was when we went to the zoo after church Sunday. Right, while it was no STL Zoo, it wasn't bad. I had a good time.

The weekly schedule still continues mostly the same. Monday I went to prison as usual. This week the guys had a lot of questions about things they've been reading in the Bible and so forth. It is getting even greater to see them every week. Continue to pray for God's guidance in their lives and that he would continue to provide strength and encouragement to them.

Monday I also moved out of the Guest House and into the home of a missionary family. They have been great and it's nice to have some people around. I'll be here until I go to Chiang Mai July 4.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I went to Prathunam for English classes. That is still going well. I found out today that one of the students became a Christian just seven weeks ago. Please pray for her as she grows in her faith. Wanda, the lady who teaches the English class on Thursdays and Fridays said, "It's so great to see someone so excited about reading their Bible."

In the afternoons I've been working on several excel documents for the upcoming conference, but I think I will be finished tomorrow which is such a relief! Then next week I'll be preparing for the couple coming at the end of July. So pray for me as that happens. It should be a lot of fun though.

Sorry there are no great stories to tell, but I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Everything is still beyond great, and thank you for your continued prayers!

Once Upon a Time, In a Magical Land of Cabbages...

Sunday we went site-seeing again after church! We went to a place called Suan Pakkad..."the Cabbage Garden." It's actually a palace assembled by a prince. He collected several traditional Thai structures in this central place (which had been a cabbage garden) and then turned it into a museum. Here we all are outside/under one of the buildings:

It's interesting to see these traditional structures surrounded by tropical gardens, and then notice all the modern skyscrapers in the background. This particular building happens to be the 84-story Baiyoke Tower, the tallest building in Bangkok.

After we toured Suan Pakkad (admission to which costs more for farangs than Thais. I did get a free fan though, and Mart asked why I got one and I said, "I guess that's why I had to pay more.") we went out to eat. I had KFC. There are more KFCs in Bangkok than I ever see in the States in one place! Anyway, a farang is a foreigner (depending on the way it's used, it can be a simple fact or a derogatory title). It's also the word for guava. So there are lots of jokes about eating farang. And here we are again. They are better at taking pictures than I am! They always say, "Go stand there, I'll take a picture." So I do...

Monday I went to prison again. Keep praying for the guys there. Here are some names, if that helps: Jesse (the American), Stephen, Judge, Prince, Godfrey, Patrick, and the others. There is a guy here, Rick, from Arizona for three weeks helping with the prison ministry. He came with a group from his church in February and decided to come back (where have I heard this story before?). So he's here for three weeks. I got to hear a little of his testimony which is pretty cool.

He has been in prison several times. He escaped twice and once from a county jail. He was even on America's Most Wanted. When he escaped from the county jail (in Hays County, KS--I've been there!), it was in the middle of one of the biggest blizzards in Kansas history. He said he shouldn't have survived. He prayed that God would just let him die. Then he woke up two days later in a hospital in a tub of ice water. They were going to amputate his feet, but he wouldn't let them. He said he realized that for him and for many God is only an option when nothing else is. He sees himself coming back to Thailand frequently.

Tuesday and Wednesday I went to English class at Prathunam Center. This week is the last of the term, so there are no English Corners at the BSC. I did have some homework to do for the vocational English class we're teaching on Thursdays: Get a massage so I know what English is needed for that job. This sounded fine to me! So Wednesday afternoon that's what I did. I may not have mentioned this (I hate to rub it in that I got an hour long traditional Thai massage for less than $13), but one thing really struck me. The first thing they did was wash my feet. Since this doesn't happen to me everyday (well, I wash my own feet of course...), I couldn't help but think of Jesus washing the disciples' feet and how humbling that really is. Especially in this culture. In Thailand, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body. You never touch someone on the head, not even children. And the feet are considered the lowest. So you never touch anyone or anything with your feet; you don't step over anyone, and you don't show the sole of your foot to anyone. Someone here recently reminded me that Jesus was from an Asian culture, so it could have been just the same for him. That just amazes me now more than it ever has. And God never ceases to amaze me.

Unfortunately, after the massage, I got a migraine and spent the rest of the evening asleep. Please pray that that doesn't happen again.

Today, I went with Mark and Nilda to the ladies prison for the vocational English class. Mark said that there was going to be a special teacher appreciation ceremony today which is common in schools across Thailand. There were about 200 ladies assembled and various teachers were there to participate. The ceremony included some Buddhist chants and prayers, the lighting of incense before a Buddha image, and the presentation of flowers to the image and then to the teachers. So, it ended up that we didn't teach a class at all, but it was cool to see that ceremony. Buddhism isn't like Christianity or other religions in that there is no 'holy day.' They don't go to a wat (temple) on a certain day, and there's really no services. So this ceremony was kind of a unique insight into Buddhist practice.

Things are still great as always. I'm not tired of Thai food yet either! That is definitely a good thing. I can't believe my trip is almost half way over. That doesn't seem possible, but I guess it just means I'm half way to getting to tell you all the stories in person! Thanks for reading, and even more for your prayers.