When you have thirty students living together for three weeks in one building and those students come from six different countries (and even more cultures) you never know quite what to expect. I will not say that I loved every part of ABS. There were too many moments when I found myself tired and grouchy about one thing or another. But at the end of the three weeks I still declare myself blessed for being one of the few who get to be a participant in this special program. This gift from God expanded my world. It grew my friend group size. It showed me how God is at work all over the world. It gave me hope by hearing how others are serving Him faithfully.

You should know about ABS. I could tell you about all the things that thrilled my being. I could describe the different values of the groups and how that sparked frustrations. I could attempt to explain what a day looks like during ABS or the fun, extra-curricular things we did. But I believe I have something more precious to share with you. Stories.

A few students shared their testimonies during morning chapel. Some stories I heard while sitting next to a student on a couch, riding to some event, or while enjoying a meal around a table. Each story shaped me in little ways. My wish is that everyone could get to experience ABS at least once. So this is my attempt for you to get a peek into what we love about ABS.

• Pastor D. has a goal of starting one hundred churches in his country. He plans to reach his goal by training others to carry out the work. His home is a part of a school compound where he teaches and trains twenty people for two years before sending them out to plant churches. There is at least one day a week when Pastor D. and his disciples go from house to house telling others in their city of the great love of our Savior. Pastor D. has some health difficulties and needs to be careful with his diet, yet he came to ABS. I wish you could have seen the joy beaming from his face when he sang songs of praise and worship.

• Miss S. asked for prayer. She desperately wants to reach the hearts of her students, but they do not respond very well. The pressure of the culture makes it easy to fall into drug addictions. Miss S. wants a better future for them. One that includes freedom that comes from living in Jesus.

• The “mother” of the group did not speak English very well. But her reply when asked what she likes to do in her spare time was, “I like to study God’s Word and worship Him.” I did not doubt it for a minute, for the peace that rested on her face backed her claim.

• Mr. S. told how a pastor prophesied that he would play guitar in churches one day. He shared how his musical giftings led to a rise and fall in his walk with God. But now he has made a decision to use his talent in the church and for the glory of God.

• Mrs. D. shared her story of great rejection and needing to run for her life. She was working for the Lord in her home village. Through a series of events she found herself being evicted from her home. When she tried to pack her bags and leave peacefully she was accused of being a thief. Someone in the village hired men to find her and kill her. Mrs. D. heard of this, left quickly, and drove to a remote area where she shivered from the cold while talking to her pastor on the phone and tried to figure out what to do next. She was able to escape, but the event caused her to sink into deep depression for a year. She wanted to give up and never do ministry of any kind. But God gently pulled her back and is still healing her little by little. She is now married and working in another country with refugees from her homeland. When she dares to go back to see her parents she stays in their house because there are still people who believe the lies spread about her. Mrs. D is only two months older than me.

• Mr. P. speaks broken English. But he is eager to learn. After classes you will find him asking someone what a certain word means. He asks questions about their explanation until he is sure that he understands completely. His dedication inspires all the students. He translates his homework into his own language, writes his response, then translates it back into English. Everywhere he goes he shares the gospel. When he is not attending ABS he travels around giving haircuts, advice about how to live healthy and well, and the love of Jesus. He was everyone’s hero at ABS. When a decision needed to be made about what vehicle to jump into there was often a quick scan to see where Mr. P. was riding. Or there was a chorus of voices asking him to join their ride.

• Young Miss H. felt God telling her she would study in Korea. Her plans were cancelled when her visa was denied. This opened the door for her to come to ABS. Though she was grateful for the opportunity to study here she was still confused about what her future would hold. She requested that we pray for her to have faith in God’s plan and patience as she waits for Him to show her the next step.

• Mr. C. is at the right age to be drafted in the army. His country will take (literally) anyone between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. Once, he opened his door to men with guns. They began to question him, and God blinded their eyes as to who he really was. Eventually they left and Mr. C. was safe for another night. In his country it is not safe to be outside after dark. You can not even trust those driving ambulances. The ambulances might be hiding soldiers who will jump out the back and kidnap people off the streets to take them to fight. Many young people leave this country to seek work and safety abroad. Mr. C. chooses to stay and teach the young people. He was given a chance as a young person when he and his siblings were raised by a godly family in an orphanage, and now he is giving back. The terror is real, but so is his dedication to living out the calling God has placed on his life.

• A couple families are involved in raising village children in their own homes. One man teaches those at his home how to grow vegetables. Not only is it a life-skill, they need the food to survive. Another family runs a school while also raising eight children plus two biological sons and one adoptive daughter. It is a great responsibility. You do not hear these men mention the burden often though. Most times you will hear them joking and finding something to laugh about. They brought spice and depth to ABS. As one of these men left he declared his wish for Jesus to return quickly. “Then we would not have to worry about anything,” he said.

• Miss C. excitedly told about the work God was doing in the hearts of the people in her church. “They now have boldness to share with people in the village about the gospel,” she said.

• Mr. A. reaches out to children in the slums. He has a school where they are taught in hopes of providing them the opportunity to find jobs and have a brighter future. He and his wife are in the process of finding another location to start another school.

• Mr. J. trudges the mountains sharing hope and encouragement with the believers in his village and taking the gospel to those who have not heard.

Hearing the stories of the students is my favorite part of ABS. Through their stories we see the power of God at work in many places in the world. That is what I wanted you to taste. I realize now how weak my attempt is though. Stories hold more power when you know the person whom they are about. I can’t give you that part of the experience, but I pray God spoke to you through at least one of the stories you read. When you think of it in the days or weeks ahead you can pray that God will provide for them as they labor for Him.

Click here to see more photos from ABS. Most of them (at the time of this writing) are from this year. Make sure you read the testimonies too. When I hear how God is using these people to reach the unreached it sobers me and reminds me again what life is truly about. God is able to empower each of us to expand His Kingdom. May we fully surrender to His plan for us so that He may be given the glory of which He is worthy!

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1. Riding Bikes

You get to experience what is around you with all of your senses. The grilled meat smells from the little road side stands waft their way into your helmet. The cool breeze while on the move feels delightful. The sun upon your skin while stopped at a light can also be a pleasure. Eavesdropping on conversations is a possibility (if you know more Thai than I do or if English speaking people are around.) The sights seem closer when not viewed behind a glass. Okay, the tasting sense may not be a part of the biking experience, though you could quickly stuff your mouth with your salabao breakfast when making your early morning way to Thai class. Helmets do impede the enjoyment of foods or drinks on a drive. Below you will see the outside of a Thai mini mall and Walmart. You will also see evidence that many people transport themselves via motorbike.

2. Market Foods

This makes me hungry. I love that you can buy cheap, delicious food almost anywhere you go. You order your food, take a seat at any available chair, and wait for your food to be made. Once it is prepared you pay then enjoy your dish while watching the people around you and trying to understand any Thai words you can from the conversations happening near you. The first picture below is one of my favorite Thai dishes. The next photo is an easy meal to grab on the go and enjoy anywhere. Actually, the Thais have made taking ANY food with you quite practical. Whether it gets put in a box or a bag, they make it easy to transport.

3. Reminds Me I Am a Pilgrim and Stranger on Earth

I do not belong here. This world is not my home. These are thoughts that have extra impact when you live where one is not a citizen. Immigration demands lots of paper work if you wish to reside in this country. Doing an early morning run to Immigration can be exhausting. If you just returned from the other side of the world and are jet lagging it is a perfect time to go. Since you are already up at 2:00 AM it is no problem to get to the office at 5:30 AM. (Not that you get to decide the time to go.) Check out the size of the stack of papers I took with me to immigration. Almost every one of them signed by yours truly. Sign with a blue pen, please.

4. Trustworthy Mechanics

I needed to change the oil in my bike. The mechanics noticed that the back tire had traveled its allotted kilometers. I said, “Yes, change the tire.” While changing the tire they saw the brake pads were worn down. “It is better to change,” they said. “Yes,” I said. As I was leaving Mr. Mechanic said that the next time I come to change the oil I should also get new ball bearings because it will make the bike ride more smoothly. I said, “Okay.” I really do trust them. They are quite nice! But the bike did funny bumping jerks after I had that new tire. They should have changed that ball bearing right away, I thought. Days later I checked the air and discovered the old tire had too little air and the new one had too much. After adjusting the psi in each tire I found no need to continue on my journey back to the bike shop. Changing the ball bearing can wait until the next oil change. He was right.

5. Sabai, Sabai Culture

This means a relaxed way to take life. Everywhere you go you see this value in action. While at the bike shop I saw some linemen block off a section of the road. They cut some of the power lines from that extraordinary jumble and let them drop to the ground. Ambling back and forth, they rolled up the lines and took them to a destination unseen to me. No one gets frustrated with blocked entrances to stores/shops. Drivers take it in stride and switch lanes to move around them.

When you go to immigration, banks, or phone stores you will need to get a queue. No standing in line and waiting your turn, for this might take a while. Grab a queue, and take a seat. Of course you have plenty of time.

6. Thai Children

All around the world children thrive when they are noticed and loved. In Thailand there are a few places where I get to be a part of loving children. It gladdens my heart. The setting below pictures a school where children from Thailand and surrounding countries are taught by both Thai and English teachers.

7. Rainy Season

Is this something I love about Thailand? Mostly. The days tend to feel a bit cooler because of the overcast skies. The humidity can cause its own kind of suffering. This year I have almost avoided driving my bike in the rain. (I have been back in Thailand for all of under two weeks.) The day/s may come yet. I did get pummeled on one of my drives, but the rain coat saved the day. Kind of. Somehow my dress sported some damp spots by the time I made it home. But, really, I am not complaining! What you can not see in the picture below is the fan that is directed at helmet and rain coat. They are now ready for the next wet ride. Did I mention that rainy season brings a glorious green back to the mountains? The colors in Thailand are simply wonderful right now! On to the next point…

8. Green Spaces

Who says that you need an acre or five to grow anything? During a walk one day on a concreted road with houses all around I marveled at the growth that was happening in the middle of cement. Cities have their own spots of glory. I consider Chiang Mai beautiful!

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Our dear weekend cook, Glenda, had to make a quick decision one weekend. Should she go home and care for her father? The decision was a yes. In a few days she was packed and heading out without a return ticket. It reminded us that though we plan our days the Lord directs our steps. God supplied us with a cook who has been doing an incredible job. Our stomachs are well filled, but a hole still remains because a friend has gone. You see happy smiles in the picture, but there was a tearful send-off.

Karita (our secretary) and I flew to Cambodia over 5th term break. Glenda originally planned to come along. We went to visit a family who had attended ABS last summer. They showed us around their town, made sure we had coffee every day, and told us about some of Cambodia’s history. If you examine the picture you may be able to detect weariness in my eyes. I enjoyed my trip but would have loved it more if I could have entered it with more energy. I decided that if another trip is taken I need to give myself some time after break begins to simply rest before heading out.

We spent part of one day at the beach. It was lovely. Our hosts fixed us a little lunch and we relaxed. The Khmer people are very friendly. One little guy invited us to kick around a beach ball with him. How did I recognize his invitation? He kicked the ball towards us and gave us a big smile. That event became the highlight of my day.

Malls abound in the capitol of Cambodia. We spent a good bit of time walking around inside multiple ones throughout our time there. They are a hub of activity, massive, and beautiful.

We enjoyed our last meal in Cambodia in the food court of one of the malls.

I was overjoyed to be back in Thailand. I do not pretend to know the Thai language, but I know more of it than I do Khmer. Traffic is more structured and less hectic in Chiang Mai. We drive on the left side of the road here versus Cambodia driving on the right. Basically, Thailand feels more like home to me. I could not stop smiling after entering Bangkok airport.

And shortly after getting back it rained three days in a row. The skies cleared and the air felt wonderful. Take a note of how clear the mountain is in the picture below.

And appreciate with me the beauty of a purple flowering tree against a clear blue sky.

All the students stayed in Thailand for 5th term trips. They came back filled to overflowing with excitement for how their trips had gone. Some were not sure they wanted to return to IGo, but all were delighted to see their friends again. Each team did a little reenactment of a scene or multiple scenes that took place during their time away. I think everyone loved how it gave us a peek into what each team experienced. We also loved the laughter that it brought us.

There were many meals this term where the crowd was smaller. Students would sign out for one reason or another. One evening we had a small enough group that we pushed two tables together for a bit of a family feel.

One evening students, and any staff that wanted to participate, gathered in the classroom for a “Find Your Cousins” party. This was part of the homework for the Christian Family Living class. We discovered that most of us were related somehow. There was a person or two who did not uncover any relatives in the room. As you can see from expressions, everyone had a good time.

After English Club I often motored back to Mae Hia market to pick up a little supper from a stand called Pink Box. They have delicious Korean Pop Chix Bowls. There was a week or two where I was stunned by the beauty of the scene below. God used it to remind me of His Goodness. That He is the designer of Beauty. I am tempted to crop the picture so that you do not see the buildings, cars, or spirit house. But that is not how life is. There is often beauty amidst hard. Pain. Squalor. I was doing a lot of processing, a lot of wrestling in those weeks. God used something as simple as a sunset and a lovely tree to speak peace to my heart.

SatCom planned an Saturday evening activity for us away from IGo. Playing mini golf brought out competitive spirits in some. I blame getting a worse score this time than when we went as staff on the fact that my arm was still in a cast. :) This mini golf place also has board games. Since we had reserved the entire place we ordered smoothies and hung out for a while.

Once a semester we pull out our clothes from other cultures and wear them for the day. Then we sit on rice mats on the floor and eat Thai food with our fingers.

One Sunday evening we were invited to Michael’s house for dessert. Before we ate we were divided into groups and did a few fun activities. One was making a scene from the Easter story out of air dry clay. Michael and Diane were the judges. A lot of talent and creativity emerged. Diane prepared a tasty spread of dessert options. After enjoying the sweets we sang for a while. It is always special to spend time in a home. We do miss that feeling with living in a concrete institute.

StuCo planned creative Friday chapels this semester. This one was an egg toss in the park. Did you know that eggs can be tossed an impressive distance and caught without them breaking. After the fun of throwing eggs around groups were arranged to prayer walk back to IGo.

Do you remember that clear crisp mountain picture from earlier? Here is another photo taken at the same spot. We were blessed with lovely weather in the beginning of March, but the last week or two the smog covered the mountains. The temperature rose and energy dropped. Multiple people had headaches and/or scratchy throats. If a stranger to Thailand had been dropped into the middle of Chiang Mai they probably would have argued that there were no mountains anywhere close. I thought of the lyrics, “I believe in God even when I can’t see Him.” It is true. I do not always feel God or understand what He is up to, but since I have felt and tasted Him before I believe in Him. Just like I believe that the mountains have not moved away from Chiang Mai. And, I am pleased to announce that there were spots of rain and some serious winds that helped to clear the air and bring some relief.

We ladies enjoyed a dorm meeting at Linda’s house. She shared a bit of her story with us as well as copious amounts of flowers so we could arrange our own bouquets. Food was also involved. And air conditioning. We do love going to the homes of staff!

Our last chapel we had a special time of prayer for Val and Barb as they prepared to head back to the states. This is one of the special things about IGo goodbyes.

Our English Club ended for the time being. The students in charge planned a fun evening of games, a candy throw, and food. You can get a pretty good idea of how our class interacted by examining expressions in the picture below.

These children hold a part of my heart. I hope they come back next year.

The students did a fantastic job of planning each English Club evening. We staff came along to help as we could, but mostly that meant we could show up and have fun. One evening of the final week we went out for supper together.

The little man below was not able to be at the party because of sickness. Every student who had been at Club thirteen out of the sixteen times (I think those numbers are accurate) was given a certificate. He came later to claim his. I added this picture so you could enjoy his adorable smile.

Easter Sunday was a special day. A sunrise service took place on the grounds of a beautiful resort. The air was a bit cooler that morning. We ate cinnamon rolls before the service and a brunch afterwards. The colors in the sky delighted us even though the smog hid some of the sun’s brilliance. Our God is alive. He conquered the grave. We have hope!!!

A picture of my girls and me just because the location is so stunning.

Our day ended at Luke’s house where we were treated to a traditional Seder meal. I had tried to do something like this with my students once so I was delighted to sit and participate. It was a meaningful time.

The internal wrestling that I mentioned earlier was a bit of pre-grieving I was doing. I was facing the end of another semester and more goodbyes. There were staff changes that had just happened and more that were coming. There were a few things happening back home that meant more change for me. One day I could hold the weight no more. I wept. And in that weeping God sweetly met me. I was not instantly better. I have cried numerous times since. But God is here. God sees. And I believe that God does make beauty in the middle of what seems to be ashes. And I do love the place God has me.

God also healed my wrist well enough for me to be free from the splint. The Dr. said that a bit of the fracture is still visible, but I should be okay with it off as long as I am careful to not fall. He also seemed to think playing volleyball was a bad idea for a good while yet. I intend to listen to his advice to wait for six weeks. He also seemed to be surprised by the amount of movement I have in it already and never mentioned physical therapy. The journey was much easier than I anticipated at the beginning. For that I am most grateful.

This is a bit of goodbye from me for now. Maybe I will feel inspired to write again come May, but I go back to the States towards the end of May and return the beginning of July. Do not expect inspiration to hit before then. Lord willing you will hear from me come July.

And now, a final picture that says, “Goodbye,” for me. This is how we send off students on their trips. We stand and wave until their vehicle is not longer visible. So long for now…

February started with so much joy! I stood on a pedestrian overpass to watch the plane carrying two of my friends land in Chiang Mai. Small tears of gratitude fell while as I completed the drive to the airport. The big smiles you see above accurately represent how we felt about being together again. Words can not fully capture how much this visit meant to me.

There was a lot to do in order to show them this part of my life. Jet lag begs our bodies to collapse in the middle of the day, but jet lag must be beat. So we went directly from the airport to market to get a taste of the delicious Thai cuisine. We packed a lot of other things into that first day. By the third day we marveled that they had not been here a week considering all that was accomplished. Quite a lot of the photos below are of our time together. This was a major part of my February.

My friends brought me an entire suitcase, plus a bit besides, of gifts and goodies from family and friends. It took awhile to unpack it. Thanks to all of you who gave to me! I waited to read the cards until I my friends left and I had more time to savor the reading.

We traveled up the mountain to visit a Hmong village. There was a short walk through narrow streets lined with shops to this garden. We gloried in the coolness of the air and the gorgeous colors all around. (Don’t ask me if I tried driving back those narrow streets to the garden before being told that I must turn around and go back to the entrance to park.)

I think that my favorite moment with my friends was when I got to sit in a Thai class and observe them learning Thai. P’Icy taught them the first lesson she taught me. I still get these excited little feelings inside when I think about it, and a smile breaks out on my face. They did a phenomenal job. By the end of that lesson they could say numbers up to one hundred and had a basic knowledge of the vowel and tone sounds. I am a long way from where I would like to be with my Thai language skills, but I was able to see that what was rather hard for me six months previously I easily heard/knew now.

One day we went up the mountain to ride elephants. It was rather warm, but the views of the mountain ranges were stunning and the rides fantastic. The trainers who walked along with us treated us well and had fun with us, but they were not great photographers. I will give credit to them for getting most of the elephants on at least one of the photos they took.

This activity was another highlight of mine. Wearing the traditional clothing is not just for show. Those big beasts are rather dirty.

There is so much of what we did that I am leaving out, but I think the day at the fabric market should be mentioned. We spent six hours wandering around this market, buying fabric, drinking some wonderful Thai tea, and savoring a delicious Thai noodle dish. By the end of our time we were brain dead and body weary. But we had a lot of fabric to show for our efforts. There was only one or two trips back and forth to our parked vehicle to deposit bags of goods.

Here you see me with one load. It was such a fun day!

There were many coffee shops to visit. This is the entrance to one that is close to IGo. Since students and deans frequent it I thought is necessary to bring my friends to this one. Not pictured are the ten or so other ones we visited.

We shopped at a couple night markets.

They ate roti for the first time. It is a sweet treat that you can usually find cheap at little roadside stands.

We treated ourselves to a Thai massage.

We visited Wisdom Tree Home and played with the children.

If you are in Thailand you must visit a 7/11. They are on every street. Sometimes there are two almost next to each other. This convenience store boasts great snacks which is perfect for the nights you come back hungry from futsal. The one pictured is at the corner of our street and the main road. It only takes a minute or two to walk there.

There were a few times where we three piled on my bike for a ride to the pool or a staff family’s place for supper.

We did a small hike to a waterfall.

Ate lunch at a lovely restaurant called The Imaginary Jungle but known as Waterfall Restaurant to the Mennonites around here.

We spent five days together before the students returned from their trips and a week with life happening like it normally does when the students are around. It gave me great pleasure to have my friends see my world and meet the people with whom I work. I do not have pictures of the chapels they sat in or the activities they joined. They also cleaned my dorm for me while I attended a farewell and patiently waited on me when unexpected meetings arose one day. The time passed quickly and we were soon at the airport again, saying goodbye. But now I have people from back home who have entered my world in Asia, and that is a gift that will always be with me.

Another treat this month was getting to visit Compassion Home again for a Sunday service and an afternoon of playing with the children. It was sweet to see the students from first semester reconnecting with children they had met on the previous visit. I left with my heart feeling full.

Another gift this month came wrapped in a different package than normal. I only know it is a gift because I believe that God is GOOD. Truly good. And what He allows can be turned to good.

I was playing futsal like I do every Tuesday night during term. We were nearing the end of the evening, and I had taken the goalie position. There was a hard kick of the ball not far from the goal I was defending. The ball hit my hand, and I immediately felt a numbness spread through my hand and arm. No pain though. I could still move my fingers a bit, but it took a lot of effort. I sat on the side of the field while the games finished, holding ice to my wrist. It began to swell and throb a bit. It was decided that I would go into the emergency room to get it checked out. Turns out that my bone was broken. Breaking a bone is a new experience for me. Thankfully it was a minor break. Everything stayed in alignment. The Dr. splinted and wrapped it in an ACE bandage and said to come back in two weeks. I just went to the Dr. yesterday and had it checked to make sure everything stayed in place. It did! I will have to wear this splint for four more weeks. Through it all the pain has been almost non-existent. The thing that hurts me the most is that I cannot ride my motorbike to get me places. I can drive a vehicle though, and I am choosing to be thankful for that. (For those of you who are wondering about whether a goal was made or not from the shot that broke my wrist….it wasn’t. :D )

On Saturday before the students leave for their trips they usually do an activity with their teams. This time our trip coordinator had them building balloon towers. They got rather creative with it and thought out of the box. That was the goal. Along with learning how to communicate with and encourage each other.

SatCom planned a volleyball tournament one Saturday. I had been eagerly anticipating playing but needed to sit on the sidelines because of breaking my wrist. It took a bit of discipline to not have a little pity party for myself. I usually enjoy watching, but I enjoy it more when I can be a participant too. This I learned about myself at the futsal game I went to after the little accident. But, like I stated previously, God is good and has a good plan. I have felt His peace through all of the month, broken bones and all.

Just an interesting note on the weather here. We are entering hot season. People burn off their fields, and a smog settles over the city. We relish all the days where the air is clear. One day I took a photo from the girls’ dorm of the mountains. This clarity is not normal. One week later I was flying to Cambodia (more about that in my March update) and could hardly see the mountain for the smog. Currently we are once again enjoying fresh air as God sent a wonderful windy storm and whipped the clouds of smoke out of Chiang Mai.

God graciously gives. I have experienced His grace being sufficient once again within the past month. His goodness is becoming more real to me. I experienced the peace that only He brings in the joyful times as well as the stressful or difficult. Praise Him for that precious gift!

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Isn’t it wonderful how God gives grace for all the changes that He calls us towards? People ask if this place feels like home to me. It does. I do not know that I have fully adjusted. Maybe in a year I will look back and realize that some things in this culture still give me some stress, but I feel almost fully acclimated. (By the way, when I saw a photo of someone in the states driving down a snowy road I almost panicked for a minute. I felt they would certainly collide with another vehicle if they continued driving in the lane on the right. Watch out for me when I come back this summer!) And I love this city in Thailand.

A new semester began a few days into the new year. Our student body more than doubled. There was a lot of excitement over meeting the new students and also apprehension over how the adjustments would go. It has gone more smoothly than I ever expected. All glory be to Jesus. And a shout out to the wonderful young people that came.

Also a shout out to the students who stayed over from first semester. They were a big help in answering questions and showing the new students how to find their way around.

It has been a joy getting to know these ladies. Their sincere desire to know Christ more fully inspires me.

The young men seem to be a sincere bunch as well. :)

It is always a special privilege to introduce people to the markets in Thailand. We also try very hard to keep students busy when they arrive so there is no time for naps. We want to overcome jet lagging as quickly as possible. This was on Friday before most of the students had arrived.

On Saturday we had an airport run where we picked up fifteen students. It was a joy-filled time with a hint of chaos. We had a plan for the afternoon and we stuck to it. Never mind the weary eyes and the piles of suitcases longing to be unpacked. After a bite of lunch we moved into culture orientation and a building tour.

Nat does a great job of explaining what is considered impolite in Thailand and how to show respect. I think they were awake enough to remember it. We then shipped them off in groups to explore parts of the city and get to know each other better. One of their assignments was to get things to make a fruit pizza. It was a competition between teams to make a pizza that was tasty, beautiful, and present it with a commercial.

The judges above did a great job of judging. The pizzas then served as our dessert.

Eventually the bags did get unpacked, and a bit of order returned to the dorm.

We started an English Club at IGo. Four of the students and some of the staff are involved in this ministry. We hope that it will give us more opportunities to get to know our neighbors. We have between fifteen to twenty students joining us. We start with a bit of singing and a Bible story. Then we split into three groups based on age as well as English ability. Below you see me helping with the youngest class. Since that evening I have moved to the oldest class. They know English almost as well as I do. We have been having a good time drawing and playing games together. If they have as much fun as I do they will continue to return.

The kind ladies on the left bought extra drinks and treated their secretary and dean. Not pictured are the flowers I received from two kind souls or the money and sweet notes that appeared in my mailbox and on my nightstand. These people are very generous!

We love to be invited to staff homes. Whether inside of outside we appreciate getting to experience fellowship and food outside of the institute building. Tim’s hosted us (above) as did Michael’s (below).

Tim had a monk come in for his World Religions class one day. I was glad to be able to sit in and listen.

The students spend four hours (at least) of their day in this classroom and hours afterwards doing homework. Somehow they manage to find time to do their laundry, buy bubble tea or roti, chat at coffee shops, do some shopping, and play some spike ball. There is a lot of energy in this place!

This semester there was a need for another mentor. I agreed to the task, and it has been a delightful experience. I love getting to hear the hearts of these beautiful ladies and imagine with them how God will choose to use their giftings in the future. And we get to plan how we want to spend a day together at the end of each term. The past Tuesday we visited some friends we had made at their coffee shop, bought some handmade pottery, and drove up the mountain to a beautiful Thai village where we enjoyed lunch and ice-cream and walked the street a bit. There was a final stop at a hot springs. We tried, to some degree of success, to soak our feet in the hot water while eating eggs that had been hard boiled in the water. The eggs were boiled in a different area than where we soaked our feet. I thought an explanation was necessary lest you believe we were able to stick our feet in boiling water or were disturbed by the fact that eggs and feet soaked in the same area.

The students have all departed for other places. And that means we staff enter what we label “break”. This does not always seem an accurate term. It is a change of normal schedule, for sure, but a break…..maybe. :)

My break does not give me much time off. But it does have many delightful things scheduled into it. One is meeting up with a young Thai lady for a coffee date. There is also a glamping trip with some teenage ladies. But what excites me the most is that I have two friends coming from America to visit me. They are my first visitors, and I can not wait to show them around!!! They may get to ride elephants, go swimming in February, visit a Hmong village, eat Thai foods, take a Thai class, and hopefully many more things. It is only four more sleeps now.

Because of the lack of break in my break I have no time to proof or improve this post. Here goes…

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Here. Chiang Mai, Thailand. It has been quite a journey between my time as a student at IGo and a dean nine years later. Who would have thought that God would bring me back? But what a gift it has been. And He knew that I would need nine years to prepare my heart for this task. (Some of us take longer to learn than others.)

December at IGo is a reflection time for staff and students as we wrap up first semester and either prepare to go home or welcome new students for second semester. The entire schedule is quite different from normal, and is designed to give some space for thinking through what God has been doing in our hearts.

Wrap-Up Week was the biggest week of the month. It is a whirl of activity yet provides pockets of time to reflect, spend time with mentoring groups, and think through what the next step looks like. It also gives opportunities to spend time with the entire group as no one is stressing about homework. There are so many fun things to do like a long night of futsal, a gingerbread house contest (or cracker rather) on the roof, a banquet, and a picnic. But there are also things like cleaning, sharing in mentoring groups, organizing our stuff so that we can accommodate twenty-eight new students, and saying good-bye .

I do not know how to properly organize my thoughts, so here is a bit of a photo dump and hopefully the thoughts will come.

Cram as many people in the songthaew as possible and enjoy jolly conversations. Notice the water jug and cups being carried. This means we are headed to some active event. And we do travel home just as crammed as we go, while slightly more dirty.

Get a photo before you play futsal for hours. We played extra long this night because it was the last game night of the semester.

After the game buy snacks at 7/11 and sit on the curb to enjoy them.

Have a friend named Glenda who puts together beautiful Christmas breakfasts for you just because she loves it. She makes delicious food and creates a festive atmosphere.

Create teams by pulling names from a hat. Then let them go wild creating.

Vote this creation the winner.

Take the students you chose to be assistant deans out for breakfast to thank them for the wonderful help they have been

.

Go to a banquet early so you can take pictures in all your finery and remember how you did not know these people four months ago. Appreciate and savor the memories you made together. Thank God for sending such a wonderful bunch and for the growth He has worked in their hearts throughout their time here. Ask Him to continue to grow within them a desire to tell the nations of His love.

Take a staff photo and thank God for such a lovely bunch to work with. Also remember back to meeting some of them for the first time in the airport at around 11:00 p.m. …..

Be grateful the first semester is behind you. But also be extremely glad that you had the support of this group to walk you through learning how IGo operates as well as adjusting to living in a new culture.

Have an adorable, happy baby nearby.

Go back to IGo for a little program. Pass out certificates to the students in recognition of them completing one semester of IGo. Feel humbled and honored by the kind words of blessing the students offered for each of the staff and the notes they wrote on the backs of pictures given to us.

Sit around the table and talk awhile

Have a picnic on the night before students begin to leave. Sit around a campfire and share with the group. Then spend some time singing. Finish by singing “Go Light Your World” while holding lighted candles. Be happy and sad at the same time. Think about eternity where partings will no longer cause an ache in our hearts.

Saturday morning stand around the students who are leaving and pray for them. Know that tears are okay. Take the students to the airport, pray once again, give big hugs, and wave them off, once again holding happiness and sadness simultaneously. Remember that the reason IGo exists is to send students off with a greater vision for the Kingdom. Believe that God will continue the work that He began in each of their hearts.

And that is what Wrap-Up Week looks like. Along with cleaning and a variety of other things.

One highlight from my December was getting to do a bike trip up a mountain and spending the night under the stars. It was a gorgeous place! And it was deliciously cool.

The owners of our little hut brought us coffee and breakfast in the morning . We ate while watching the the sun rise over the top of the mountain.

December was beautiful. It brought Christmas celebrations and New Year’s celebrations. It held moments of rest and moments of weariness. It had difficult days and wonderful days. There were goodbyes and preparation for hellos. I heard God speak in love and correction as He walked with me in each moment. Not only in December but throughout the year.

And because of His abiding presence in the past I can walk with confidence into the new year.

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We were chilled and thrilled by the cooler weather that arrived in November. Supposedly this is also not normal. The stack of blankets on my bed grew to three. I realized I had not packed clothes for this kind of cool season. There was a day I hauled a blanket to chapel just to keep from shivering. It reached the low fifties a time or two. The outside air has free range throughout our living quarters so we felt the chill deep within, but we were not complaining. It felt like we got to experience a bit of autumnal coolness for which our souls had been longing. It has been glorious! I did feel it was necessary to buy a coat to make riding a motorbike at night bearable. I also wear it in the mornings before the sun has had a chance to warm the earth. I may have to find a pair of gloves yet.

Some of my girls experienced some unexpected things this month. The most tragic one being a house fire. It was hard to watch them walk through difficult things, but it was beautiful to see how they handled the tough situations, learned from them, and grew. It was also lovely to see how they cared for each other in those times.

Is it unexpected that I am now reading Thai sentences? My one month younger self would say it is quite unexpected. I still need an interpreter when reading, which is where my teacher comes in. I read, she corrects tones and sounds, and then we discuss what I just read and what it means. Usually I know a few words and we work together to figure out what the other ones mean until I understand what the sentence is saying. If the sentence is saying what someone likes to eat I can usually understand it on my own. Today I was told that my only “gan baan” (homework) for the next class is to review the vocab we have learned in this book. No needing to practice reading pages as fast as possible. The challenge can be fun, but I do tense up when the timer appears.

We all enjoyed an unexpected treat of Dairy Queen ice cream cake one Sunday night. This was compliments of one of my girl’s parents. They asked to treat everyone since it was their daughter’s birthday.

We also had many ordinary moments in this month. Ordinary for life at IGo, that is.

One Sunday we drove a couple hours north to a beautiful children’s home. The home itself was beautiful because of the joyful children. But the views surrounding the home were truly breathtaking. The drive had us craning necks to see the glorious views all around. And the children made us feel like we were celebrities. There may have been a language barrier, but showing love is easy to do without words. The boys played futsal after lunch. The girls jumped rope and did some paper activities. It was a joy filled day. Saying goodbye was hard for many of us.

Living in Thailand with the visa I have required taking photos of things I do around IGo. It is best if the photos include Thai people. That means I have many photos of me doing dishes in the kitchen. It also means that the times I help at Wisdom Tree Home I am taking photos.

There are the ordinary views that are a part of most days here. We love the opportunity we have to view the sunset from our dorm windows. We also have a lovely little park, complete with a fountain, within a short walk from IGo. The mountain backdrop enhances the beauty.

Chapel is an ordinary part of life here. Every day we meet at 8:35. Mondays we enjoy a time of singing, which is the chapel I look forward to the most. I also have been richly blessed to hear testimonies of many people during chapel talks on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hearing of God’s faithfulness in the stories of others strengthens my own faith.

We enjoyed a few volleyball games on a couple Sundays this month. The first time we went to the park we opted to play even though the yard was soggy. The driest location was carefully chosen, but it was by no means dry. There were a couple mud troughs by the time we were finished playing. All agreed that it was great fun and worth the scrubbing needed afterwards

I look back on the month of November and remember how God impressed on my heart the need for praise in order to experience victory and freedom. When I look back on this past year and how God has led, His guidance and care are so obvious. Why would I not trust and praise Him? The God of the past is the God of the future. His grace will be sufficient for all that is ahead. In the middle of facing the changes that come with beginning a new semester I remember and hold onto the faithfulness of God. And I praise Him for what He will do through the unexpected and the ordinary.

The students all made it back safely from their ministry trips. But they did not come in on the original schedule. One team was delayed and came back Sunday afternoon instead of Saturday night. We were beyond thrilled to finally have them in Thailand again, but the delay kept them from having a day of rest before getting back into a life full of schedules. We started out the term a bit more tired than we would have liked.

Then, during the first week back to classes I had two girls who did not feel well. Eventually I took one to a clinic. She improved fairly rapidly once she was taking some medication. But not feeling well can make time creep by. And not being able to get your homework done while being sick can cause one to feel anxious or, at the very least, overwhelmed. Being overwhelmed makes time feel as if it is crawling.

It was not just the sick ones that felt it. The homework load was significantly more than first term. Students settled down, dug in, and only emerged at random intervals to refuel. Yes, I am stretching things a bit. But there was that one night where only two of the fourteen students made it to rec night. Homework is good. Homework is what one should expect when one signs up to come to IGo. But homework does make one tired. Being tired can make time go slowly.

I did not know that this was making me feel heavy and tired as well. Then, enter the day at the end of term when homework is behind for a delightful two weeks plus. As I watched the light shine on the faces of my girls as the exited the homework tunnel I felt weight being lifted from my back as well.

And we celebrated!

For girls’ dorm meeting we pulled out foot spa paraphernalia and ate a lovely snack. The students enjoyed ice skating on Saturday evening and going out to eat for supper. The evening ended by sitting around a small fire on the roof (see pizza party photo which was also held on the roof to give you an idea of how a fire on a roof is possible) and roasting marshmallows. Sunday we walked over to Glenda’s house at 4:00 p.m. to assist her with supper. She had the focaccia dough entirely prepared for us, and we were delighted to be able to create lovely pictures on the bread by cutting veggies and arranging them on top.

We enjoyed all manner of good foods that evening, including homemade ice-cream. We sang some, played tone chimes, and had a block stacking competition. The weekend was a beautiful gift of joy delivered specially from God.

There were many other gifts of joy throughout this long month of October. One being the pizza party I alluded to. The guys took off one Wednesday evening to play a guys’ game of futsal and to eat at a meaty location. We ladies took advantage of them being gone by traipsing through their dorm to gain access to the roof where we enjoyed yummy pizza, veggies, chips, and a few hours where everyone forgot (mostly) about the fact that they had homework waiting on them. We may or may not have tried out that equipment located behind us.

Once while I was studying Thai in the lounge our kind Thai cleaner came over and gave me Thai Bubble Tea. It was a belated birthday treat, and it was a lovely way to continue studying. I completed that little Thai book you see in the picture. How is that for happy news?

To be honest with you about how Thai classes are going I must add to that last paragraph. I am trying to learn to read. It sounds exciting, right? It is. But it also has thrown me for a loop and humbled me a good deal. Thai has forty-four consonants. Those I learned in a flash. It only took two lessons. So far so good. Then I hit Thai vowels. Forty-five of them. Given to me in one lesson. I think I began to shut down. And my attitude turned sour. Two lessons and a lot of studying, and some overdue repenting later, and I still do not have them. But now that God has made me aware of my need to change my attitude towards it, and I experienced His forgiveness, I feel that learning to read in Thai may be possible. Today I read small words. Yes, it took about ten seconds to figure out what tone to give the word, but it was reading. Baby steps still mean progress. There were many days where I complained much too much about how illogical Thai vowels are. I repented and told God that I commit to no longer complaining. If you think about it you can pray that I will be able to memorize the vowels for, complaining or not, I still struggle to be able to remember what combination says what. In the photo below you find me learning the first set of the consonants. I certainly appreciate how my teacher uses flashcards and different methods for teaching in our classes.

Another happy part of the month was getting to spend time with a friend whom I met here as a student. She was in my mentoring group. Her family is currently serving in Asia, and they were visiting Thailand for a short while. It was such a life-giving couple hours.

One “free” evening a few ladies, including two of my girls, took some time to enjoy the sunset over a nearby lake. It was glorious! The colors kept getting prettier. Our food we took with us was delicious as well. It was a perfect way to take a step back, appreciate the beauty that God has put in front of us, and, through that, find refreshment and a corrected perspective on life. I should make a habit of this!

Team Dynamics class ended in an exciting way one day. All the staff were invited to come watch as the individual ministry trip teams cast their team mascots out the fourth story window wells and hoped they made a safe landing on the sidewalk below. Safe landing means that the egg somehow held by their mascot was not broken. All teams did quite well with maybe one egg suffering only a slight crack. No passing vehicles suffered damages either. And the mascots happily accompanied their friends as they left a few days ago for the second trip of the semester.

And there is my month of October (as much as I will be mentioning in this post) wrapped up and delivered to you from where I live behind the earth (as my three-year-old- nephew figured it out when his mother showed him on a globe where I currently reside in relation to where he lives.)

I often think of the verse, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Everywhere you go in Chiang Mai you can see mountains. They surround this city. May you find yourself lifting your eyes upward wherever you are and remembering that the God who created the universe is always willing and able to aid you.

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I was thankful to finally welcome the fourteen students that arrived for first semester. My co-dean and I do the airport runs to pick them up. I love this part of my job. We welcome them, give them a chance to exchange money, and load them into whatever vehicle we brought to fit the size of the group. The largest load is pictured below.

Energy and excitement overflowed from the students, jetlagged though they were. The building came to life. And so did I. I was not sad to say goodbye to the two week break and have people around all the time again.

We took them to play volleyball the first Sunday before classes began. It was going to be a sunny day and perfect for playing. Then a storm came. It began as the last stakes for the volleyball net were driven in. We tried to wait it out. Time was against us, and we eventually played in the dumping rain. It made for memories, but not great volleyball.

The first week of term felt like about twelve. Not in a bad way. The students schedule was new to me. I had an entirely new schedule to figure out as well.

An overwhelmed feeling followed some students like pesky smoke from a campfire. But they all persevered and gave it their all. I loved when I got to hear from the students what they were learning in classes. They were tired from studies, being in a new culture, and the hectic schedule that is set for them, yet they were able to see God at work in their hearts. They were pondering important things and asking important questions.

A few of us celebrated the completion of the first week by getting bubble tea. Then there were those who decided to celebrate by eating bugs. Two students picked up a smoothie and a box of fried bugs at market. Maybe it’s my age but peer pressure did not induce me to sample any that were offered to me. Supposedly they were good.

In the course of first term I was able to take three of my girls for a coffee date. This is one of the best parts of my position. I get to hear a bit of their hearts, and that is the greatest honor that I feel can be given. I was also blessed by some of the conversations we have had in the ladies’ dorm. These girls are the reason I am here, and they make me glad to be here.

We love every chance we have to visit the homes of the staff families. The hominess draws us and fills a part of our hearts that are hungry. The food they serve always seems extra special too.

One Saturday SATCOM planned a hiking trip. We traipsed our way up and back to Crying Dog waterfall. The threatening rain did not dump on us as we anticipated. After watering us a bit it moved on, and we were able to hike out and enjoy our picnic lunches around a nice campfire. We then sang for a bit before hiking the rest of the way to our vehicles in the dark.

One Sunday afternoon we loaded up and headed to Doi Kham Temple. We can see this temple perched on the mountain from the street in front of IGo. Our purpose in going was to spend time in prayer for the people around us, the people of Chiang Mai, and all Buddhists. We parked below the temple and groups left at intervals to hike the steps. The photo below only shows part of the climb.

We would love to have you join us in prayer for those who live in fear of spirits and in darkness. Pray that they would hunger for truth and begin to search for it. Pray God would send forth laborers into His harvest fields.

There is a lot of Hinduism mixed with the Buddhism in this area. It is heart wrenching and sobering to see the many who come to offer prayers to these bits of metal. One thing that tore at my heart was seeing the children who are brought to the temple. From their cradle they are immersed in this religion of fear.

One of my favorite places to be in IGo is the lounge on first floor. You may find me here at any given time, Thai workbook in hand. But the reason I do it is not simply to study Thai. There are probably better places for that. I love to be there for any of the comings and goings that the students do. I especially love it on Monday and Friday evenings. Those nights I get to hear about the people interactions they had on their ministry nights. Writing this makes me anxious to have the students back again.

We are nearing the end of what we call “break.” The students have been gone on their ministry trips for a week now. They have a few more days before coming back “home.” After a bit of solitude to process what happened in their hearts through what they saw and did on their trips they will dive back into three more weeks of study.

God has been at work in my heart too. I am grateful for the people He has placed in my life who have been faithful listeners and who help me to process the things He has been whispering to me. I have many faithful prayer warriors as well. I feel the prayers. I need them. Thanks to all who have lifted me to our Father.

May God bless you abundantly, and may you never get caught on your motorbike without your poncho in a mighty rain! (One of the best blessings I could think of currently. :))

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August brought many new friends into my life. These friends had worked hard to learn English. They were brave people who ventured away from home to study and grow in their knowledge of the Bible. And they brought along their beautiful accents.

We had students come from six different countries attend ABS. Each culture was unique. Some brought boisterous conversation and laughter. Some brought beautiful singing. Some were generous beyond belief. With all blended together we enjoyed a picture of how heaven will be with people from all nations gathered together.

I will admit that I had low expectations for how much I could connect with those coming. I underestimated the way God connects His children regardless of background or cultural differences. For the first few days I had to often ask students to repeat what they said. Some accents were more difficult to understand. On occasion we had to resort to spelling out the word being spoken. After being around it long enough the effort to listen closely lessened, though it never went away completely.

And yet we talked. I had the joy of taking each of my three girls out for coffee. In that time we discussed parts of our lives, where God has us now, and what we anticipate in the future. That was a highlight from the three weeks. It was also a blessing to hear the things God was showing them through the classes. There were discussions about that in the dorm and around the tables at mealtimes. There was also a dear brother who was determined to deepen his knowledge of English. He would ask about English words he had heard in class or read in the Bible. I realized that my ability to explain words from my own language is sadly lacking.

There were challenges with not being from the same culture or having the same native tongue. But, for me, the joys outweighed the challenges by far. I have often said my life is rich in people. That is more true now than before I met these lovely Asians with their beautiful accents. Maybe I can get to see them in their own countries someday.

Activities:

We sang a lot through the three weeks of ABS. We sang and prayed over the city of Chiang Mai. We had some talented guitarists. We sang when we visited the homes of the staff families. Each country presented a song in their own language. This revealed a lot about their cultures. It was lovely!

We ate much Thai food during the week and devoured the English food on the weekends. The Indians prepared a meal for us. We helped to make and eat a Nepali meal. There were also the evening runs to the Roti stand just down the road for a delicious sweet treat. Food was an important part of ABS. As one student said, “ABS is all about food. Physical and spiritual.”

We played futsal every Tuesday and Thursday night. This is basically soccer on a smaller field. Some of the students were familiar with the sport as they played it often in their countries. One student was a coach. And some had never played before. We all joined together and had a jolly, good time. I was surprised to love it as much as I did since it really is a lot of cardio. Usually I stay away from that. Unless you consider volleyball cardio. I will play that any chance I get. Even if the sun is blasting you with its intense heat and the grass is almost baking your feet. Which is exactly what happened one afternoon here. Turns out there were some great volleyball players in our group of students too.

We hiked back to Crying Dog Waterfall. The songthaew slipped and slid in the miry red dirt so we parked it and walked farther than we were intending. I loved every minute of it. There was a narrow path with tall grasses towering over us. At the end of the path we crossed the water on rocks in order to climb a dam and wade through the murky water to a rocky barrier. But the barrier was not insurmountable. I believe it would have been for me except for the helping hands at the top. Then we could cautiously find our way over rocks and through water to the real treat. The waterfall itself was fully enjoyed by our standing under it and leaning back against the rocks. We came home soaked and thoroughly happy. There is something energizing about being out in God’s creation where man rarely goes. You catch a glimpse of His magnificence.

Chapel consisted mostly of students sharing their personal testimonies and how God is using them in their countries. God was glorified time and again as it was shared how He brought the students out of impossible situations and gave them life and hope. There were those who grew up in loving, Christian homes who still had to make the decision to surrender and follow Christ for themselves. God’s power and love was no less evident in their testimonies.

Ministry nights happened on Mondays and Fridays. We did some prayer walking, street evangelism, and joined a prayer service at a local Thai church among other things.

I started Thai class. I love it. I do not know that I will ever be able to speak coherent sentences though. My teacher is a lot of fun, and we usually laugh during each lesson at the way I botch the tones or stick words in the wrong places. I try to study and practice and do my homework. I believe I should have tried this before teaching. It helps me to understand first graders much more.

I got to do a lot of the driving for the evening activities as we were a bit short staffed. I loved being able to do that. It helped me to remember the location of places much better than had I been riding in the back of the songthaew. But, that leads me to my final point.

Accidents:

There were a few students who wanted to do some shopping at a night market. ABS was officially over, and they had some special people back home for whom they wanted to buy gifts. It was just one songthaew group, and I agreed to drive them. Along the way we passed under a bridge on a narrow road. As the oncoming traffic was heavy I was doing my best to avoid them. Suddenly there was a bump and the truck did a bit of a jump to the side. I immediately assumed that I had hit some kind of shrubbery as greenery was all I had noticed along the passenger side (which is the left of the vehicle, you know). Upon arrival at destination we discovered the damage was greater than scratches. The passenger door refused to completely open. There was a dent in the front wheel well and by the passenger door. Of course I felt awful! It did not completely ruin my evening, but it sure dampened it. The staff was extremely kind and understanding. The students hated it almost as much as I did. They took up a donation to help cover the cost. Let this be a lesson, Ashley. Drive extra carefully through narrow passageways. I am extremely grateful that no other vehicle was involved. I still had not been able to get my driver’s license at that point. God truly was gracious to keep something more severe from happening.

Which brings me to the next “accident.” Okay, so it isn’t an accident, but it is a failure. A failure twice. I was finally able to take a motorbike test this morning. I failed. And I retook it this afternoon. I failed again. I wonder if trying tomorrow will go any better. I hope so. I do not want to spend the rest of my time here going in every day to attempt to pass a driver’s test. I felt such peace and confidence as I took the test. I felt even greater confidence in the afternoon as many of the questions were the same as the morning. Turns out I got the same amount wrong. Three more than the allotted amount. Wonder what God wants me to learn. To study more? (Or is studying Thai more important?) Humility? Patience? To build relationships with the ladies who run the testing area? Hmmmm….

And just like that, August is almost over. In a few days the students will be arriving and semester will begin. I do not know what exactly to expect, but I have confidence that God is going to continue to do His work in each of our hearts. And with that confidence comes a peace though the way ahead is unknown. Praise His name!

Goodbyes:

June and July were full of getting ready to move to Thailand. During that time I traveled to different states. Every trip meant a few more goodbyes said. Then July 14 came. I walked through airport security and waved one last goodbye to a few family members before turning and heading alone toward a new life.

I had been secretly, or not so secretly, hoping for an empty seat or two next to me for the fifteen hour flight from Atlanta to Seoul. As I was turning into my row to settle into my seat by the window I heard a woman’s sigh. “Oh, no! They gave me the middle seat.” I smiled a little sympathy smile at her and reminded myself that a window seat is a pretty good deal even without an empty seat next to me. Turns out the lady was quite nice and also short. It is convenient to have a small person next to you on an airplane.

After a meal, a snack, another meal, and sleeping in between, the fifteen hours passed by, and I arrived safely in Seoul. The fourteen hours spent in that airport felt just as long (I am afraid of stretching the truth if I say it felt longer, but I am almost positive I could truthfully say that) as the flight. God did provide for me a quiet section of the airport. Once I decided to walk the airport a bit. I was quickly overwhelmed by the masses moving and mingling and hurried back to my quiet area. I decided I did not need any food besides the pack of trail mix a kind friend had been forward thinking enough to give to me.

The stories about jet lag scare me. I knew the best thing for me to do would be stay awake on my last five hour flight. I would arrive around 22:00 in Chiang Mai and should be able to sleep hard and keep myself from waking in the early morning hours and falling asleep again when one should be getting up. My resolve to stay awake collapsed as soon as we boarded and it was announced there would be a forty-five minute delay due to weather. I crawled into the empty window seat next to me (yes, the Lord knows what we need and when we need it), reclined my seat, and gave way to sweet rest. I could hardly open my eyes to adjust for take off, and as soon as we were in the air I pushed that seat back once more. There was a slight interruption to my five hour nap when they brought a meal around. I must say that I felt much better as the plane descended into Thailand than I did when it was leaving South Korea.

Going through customs was a breeze. They did not ask me any questions. I later learned this was a special gift from God. The He also gave me all my luggage. You know how it seems you are always the last one to wait at baggage claim. Well, it was not me this time. I loaded my bags on a little luggage cart and walked into a very warm welcome.

Hellos:

Smiles, hugs, and handshakes are what I remember from that night. “Welcome to Chiang Mai,” were the words I heard many times. And the prayer prayed for me before I was left to settle in my new home touched that little aching part of my soul. I knew that Thailand would become home to me, but home felt very far away.

The welcomes continued throughout the following week. Invites to staff families homes flowed in. People asked me how I was. They asked me who I was. The hellos on this side of the world soothed the sorrow of the goodbyes in the west. They created a desire in me to be that warm and welcoming to all the students who will come through IGo’s doors.

Helmet Hair: (Life in Thailand)

Being welcomed to Thailand means needing to learn how to operate in a country where I am not a citizen. Paper work, and plenty of it, needed (and needs) to be processed and purchased. The words Certificate of Residency, TM 30, Work Permit, Medical Records, Visa, Passport, Driver’s License, Bike Transfer, Immigration, Ninety day Reporting, and Bank Account caused my head to swim with confusion. What do I do when? Thankfully I had a great support here in the form of the previous dean, and she walked me through the first steps. By walking through I mean taking me to where I needed to go and telling me what I needed to do and why. And there are plenty others who will continue to guide me through all the firsts.

I needed to learn how to ride a scooter and wear a helmet. How does one comb ones hair so that it fits well into a helmet? How does one extract ones head from said helmet without taking off ones veil and creating chaos of the hair? I think the past two days have been going better. Wait! I did not ride my bike the past two days. I miss it but not the helmet hair. I also do not miss driving through a downpour. A poncho helps, but they certainly are not comfortable.

Then I needed to step it up a notch and learn how to drive an Avanza while sitting in the right seat. Another friend guided me in this. The most troublesome aspect ended up being the blinker. Often the wipers unexpectedly swished across the windshield when I was getting ready to turn or merge.

I need to learn where things are around me and how to get to those things. I need be adventurous and find my favorite foods, restaurants, markets, and coffee shops by myself. I need to become familiar with the schedule of IGo and then begin to learn Thai. I need to think of ways to communicate when I can not speak the same language as the person to whom I am speaking.

In all the goodbyes, hellos, and learning that comes with moving to a different country and culture, I am thankful for the faithfulness of God. He does not change. He is always present. He knows no language or cultural barriers. He is not surprised by anything. He is always working things out for my good. He is a safe place, a strong refuge. He is taking care of those to whom I said goodbye and those I just met. He is God of the United States and Thailand. He is sovereign over the past and present. He is enough for me in goodbyes, hellos, and life in a new land.

This update was written in the course of a week. My tears happen less often now. The ache of saying goodbye has lessened. Life here is becoming familiar. And God is reminding me that only when life on earth is ended will the ache be completely gone. No more goodbyes, hellos, or adjusting to new cultures when we stand around the throne of God.