Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Celebrating Small Victories

I remember that in my first "cultural transition training" in Buenos Aires we were told to 'celebrate the small victories', meaning take pride in the things we are able to do that may seem small, but are actually great victories in the world of cultural transition.  So today, I am going to take this moment to celebrate some small victories from my day:
  • My mimio pen (the electronic pen I use to write on my electronic white board) stopped working today in the middle of class and I was able to fix it all by myself.  Usually, an event like this would necessitate a consult with another math teacher, or an email to IT, at the very least. 
  • I found the medical clinic without getting lost.  Not even one bit.
  • I successful went to my appointment without messing up the system.  Helps that it was a British one-doc clinic instead of a massive Thai hospital, but still, we're sticking with small victories here people.  
  • I got blood drawn. I confess, this has nothing to do with transition, it's just a personal victory anytime I let them suck my blood.  
  • I rode a moto-taxi by myself in a skirt (side saddle) without falling off. Does it matter that I was holding on for dear life like a maniac? No. 
  • I caved in a bought a "Christmas tree".  It's fake.  But I suppose it had to be, seeing as there just aren't many evergreens around here.  I got a few lights (need more) and a few ornaments (need more of those too) and got it put up while listening to Luciano Pavarotti belt out Noel and Ave Maria and other favorites on LP.  
  • The taxi driver on the way home (I couldn't very well get on the bus with my tree) complimented my Thai.  For real.  Now, all I'd really told him was where I was going and where to turn and stop and such, but still, this was perhaps the greatest victory of the day.  In Argentina, I frequently heard that my pronunciation was very clear, and I'm beginning to hear that here as well. I hope this makes up for my lack of correct tones all the time and for using the wrong words here and there...
The picture didn't come out wonderfully, but here's my little tree all aglow.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Advent

Advent: a coming into place, view, or being; arrival. 

I love the season of advent, the season where Jesus comes into place and into view, where the New Covenant comes into being.  When I was young, our family had a daily advent wreath that we lit each night at dinner when we prayed.  We also had a huge advent banner that we hung on the living room wall, adding one piece each week to the picture of Joseph leading Mary into Bethlehem on the donkey.  On Christmas Eve, we placed a star above the little scene of Bethlehem.  This was our favorite part, and every year we fought over who got to put the star on.  I loved the flickering lights of the advent wreath, lit up in a cold Michigan winter.  I loved the prayers we said as we watched for the coming of the King.  I loved placing those felt figures on the wall banner, watching Bethlehem come into view, and then that final star.  

I miss those things now.  I miss that daily reminder that we are preparing our hearts for the coming of the King. I miss the candles and the gradual build up to Christmas, not to shopping and gifts and parties, but to celebrating Christ's birth.  I've bought my own advent candles in some recent years, and lit them in the morning or if I was at home for dinner, but it's not the same as gathering around the table and quieting our hearts together.  


And I know that advent lies more in our hearts than in wreaths or candles or banners.  Advent is more a season of the heart than a season of traditions or rituals, but for me, many times those traditions help me focus my heart.  I'm not quite sure how I'm going to celebrate advent this year, in a place where the fan I keep running constantly would blow out the candles (and it's hard to find the right type of candles in the right colors, even in the States!), where I haven't got a banner or even a calendar of chocolates (I did win one in a white elephant exchange on Thursday, but it got taken from me) to help me stay focused.  I know that for me advent will include, as always, a close examination of the events surrounding Jesus' birth, and of the prophesies that foretold it.  I know that it will include a thousand and one playings of O Come, O Come Emmanuel and some good heart reflection.  But I'd like to find something else to help me in this pursuit, this meditation on the coming into place, view, or being, on the arrival of the King of kings.  


O Come O Come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Isreal
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears

Rejoice!  Rejoice! 
Emmanuel shall come to thee
O Isreal

Friday, November 25, 2011

With Hands Lifted High

One thing I love about moving to a new culture is that I also get to taste a new flavor of God's people around the world.  This week I had the opportunity to go to a praise and worship night. It was hosted by one of the international churches, but it was most definitely a Thai event, and I really liked that.  The vast majority of the crowd was Thai and everything was either said in Thai or translated into Thai (the visiting worship leader, Brian Doerksen, is Canadian). 

It was a joy to stand and worship among Thai believers, especially Thai believers praising God with hands lifted high. I've only been to two Thai churches here so far, and they were both a bit more, emmm, subdued.  Which is fine, completely fine, but just maybe not my favorite style.  I expected (and saw) that kind of outward show of passion in Argentina; it was less expected here.  It was also cool to hear the testimonies that were shared (and I was very grateful to my friend who translated for me!) and hear how God is moving and working in hearts and lives in Bangkok. 

In Argentina I feel like I learned and grew so much in the area of prayer.  That work has continued here, through a friend I meet to pray with on Saturdays and other times of prayer I have had with friends, but I also feel like God is working in my heart in regards to worship.  As I look for a church home (still living in that ambiguity) I've been trying not to allow the music and worship to be much of a factor. But I realized on Tuesday night how good worship can be for my heart and soul when I can get through and connect with God in that way.  It allows me to both praise God and hear from him in ways I wouldn't otherwise.  And while music is certainly not the only thing that is an important factor in The Church Decision, I've realized that it really is okay if it's a fairly significant factor. 

God has been using music and lyrics in powerful ways in my heart, and I can't wait to be on a sheet of ice with my skates and my iPod to just worship him.  There is just something about worshiping from my fingers to my toes, about moving freely to express my heart in motion (and the ice is really the only place I can move freely), about allowing the Holy Spirit to express things through me that words could never say.  And that, I think, is precisely where God is moving and working right now.  I sure hope there are more events like the one on Tuesday night where I can join with this stoic culture in joyful praise and worship of our great God! 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A Thai Thanksgiving

I can vividly remember the first time I went "home for the holidays"- Thanksgiving 1999, my freshman year in college.  We sailed south on US-23 until it splits with M-14 and came around the curve by Barton Drive, you know the curve, right?  The one right before you cross the Huron River.  As we came around the curve, my favorite view of Ann Arbor came into sight: downtown lit up, with the Christmas tree made out of lights on the roof of the one building.  My heart was home for the holiday. 

Last year I had the privilege of going to real Thanksgiving with my family in Michigan, but for the three years prior I was in Argentina.  My first year I celebrated with a large group of friends from school and church at the beach.  It was wonderful, but it wasn't Thanksgiving, you know? I'm big on traditions when it comes to the holidays.  My family is pretty big on traditions, and I generally lead the charge.  No one messes with certain things, with watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade, with tree ornament placement, with roast beast and yorkshire pudding, with Log, or December Dim Sum.  My last two years in Argentina I didn't actually "celebrate" Thanksgiving, and I'm okay with that. When it's 80 degrees out, you don't miss the turkey.  When it's just another Thursday to the world/culture around you, you don't feel left out for not being with your family.  Sometimes, if I think about my family being together, I miss it, but since it doesn't actually feel like Thanksgiving here, it doesn't really bother me that much to be gone. 

That said, I'm going to give Thanksgiving Abroad another shot tomorrow (I am calling it Thai Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Abroad to appease my friend, who insists that I stop calling it Fake Thanksgiving).  I am confident that I will have a great time. I am confident that the food will be delicious.  I am less confident that it will be Thanksgiving. But that's okay. 

No proper Thanksgiving blog post would be complete without giving thanks at least a little, so here's my list.  I am thankful for...
  • A God whose Love Will Find Me, even when my home is on the far side of the sea.
  • A family who loves me enough to give me 'freedom to fly' and pursue God's calling in my life. 
  • Friends- in the US, Argentina, Thailand, and scattered throughout the world who love me, support me, pray for me, and make me laugh.
  • Music and the way it has inspired me and soothed me and ministered to me recently. 
  • Little tiny Thai oranges that melt in your mouth. 
  • A great job and a wonderful boss- I am quite confident that he is the best boss I will ever have in my life. And I am not the only one of his teachers who thinks that. 
  • Life in a school and in a country where I can freely speak of the Good News of Jesus Christ, where I am allowed and even encouraged to let my primary passion bleed into every corner of my life.  
  • Air Conditioning, even in Bangkok's "cool" season. 
  • That there has never been a day in my life where I have known hunger or homelessness or poverty or the devastating affects of natural disaster. 

Friday, November 18, 2011

Dear Thailand, the honeymoon's over.

Preface: For those of you who have either experienced cross cultural transition or have dealt a lot with those who have, this post comes as no surprise.  I am sure that many of you, dear readers, have seen this coming, just as I have.  Problem is, like a speeding train barreling down on, seeing it coming does not necessarily make it hurt less when it runs you over.  

Dear Thailand,

The honeymoon is over.  Don't get me wrong, dear adopted country,  I still love you and want to be with you; I have no plans to leave you.  But I would like to make a few things clear to you. 

Thailand, I don't necessarily understand your systems, and just because I hang back and observe for a moment before jumping in, it doesn't make me stupid.  I am not an idiot just because I don't  know which room or window to go to at the post office or the bank.  No one every told me to write down that number or save that special paper, so I'm sorry that I didn't.  I might not know what to call the piece of paper that I need from you because in my country, that piece of paper does not exist.  And, although it's very convenient that all your doctors have their offices right there at the hospitals, please also know that that is very intimidating and I haven't a clue of where to go or what procedure to follow in order to see the doctor that I need to. 

And my dear Thailand, know that I do love your language- its sounds and tones and the way you say all the fun words twice.  But you should also know that I have only been here for 4 months, so even though you don't fully understand me when I speak your language, I think it's actually pretty impressive that I know as much as I do.  So speak softly, and try to listen closely to me when I speak to you.  And be patient with me when I'm not ready to speak, because I mix up so many words or don't know the right words, so I'm not sure I'm really ready to communicate with your language yet if I don't have to. 

Thailand, I like that you are new, that you are an adventure, but sometimes I wish you were a little less exhausting.  That you gave me a little more personal space on public transportation, that you took the heads and the legs off the shrimp in my fried rice.  Sometimes I wish you didn't have U-turns or so many stairs to climb to cross the road.  That I didn't have to take my shoes off quite so much when my sandals have a buckle.  Sometimes I wish that you didn't have so much pollution that my boogers turn grey or that you could lower the humidity so that I could straighten my hair for just one day. 

I love you Thailand, I really do.  And I'm so glad that I am here.  I love your fried rice and noodles, your chaa yen (even if it keeps me up at night) and easy going attitude.  I love the high value that you place on family and the smile that is so often on your face.  I love the plethora of green plants all around me, and that the air is soft and gentle on my skin year round.  But I have to tell you, that even in all that love, the honeymoon has most definitely come to an end. 

Here's to working out a way to still spend our days together,
All my love,
Clare

Monday, November 14, 2011

Can I punch the wall now?

Most days, I'm really glad that I live in Thailand and that things are adventurous.  But in every cultural transition, there are moments where you hit a wall, where some teeny tiny thing happens and you just want to punch the wall that has suddenly landed in front of you.  Today was just such a day.

It all started by my trying to be good and responsible and pay my electric/water bill to the school early.  It's not due until Friday, but I had a few minutes so I figured I'd get it done.  I was just about out of cash anyway, so it wouldn't be an extra ATM trip to get cash for the school finance department (I pay them since I live on campus).  Well, I've only had my Thai ATM card for about 3 months, which for any math minded person ought to be enough time to memorize your PIN.  Except for whatever reason this PIN has been giving me trouble and I always end up more or less guessing my gut instinct.  And every single time, I have been right. Until today. When I was wrong, three times in a row.  At which point the ATM locked me out and ate my card.  I should mention that I never changed the PIN number to something I could actually remember because I simply didn't know how.  Welcome to cultural transition

So now I'm down a PIN number and an ATM card, and I have about $20 in my wallet.  Good thing that electric bill isn't due till Saturday.  So, I head into the office to find out what to do with my predicament and lo and behold, one of my dear friends is on her way to the bank to get a new ATM card because she lost hers- score!  I won't have to find and brave the bank alone!  So right as I am regaining my spirits and we're about to leave they tell me I need my "bank book". I look at my friend's bank book, and I've never really seen anything like it before.

I do, however, remember receiving something from the bank when I got my account.  It didn't look the same as hers, but I'm thinking maybe there is a newer version.  So I sprint up the 4 flights of stairs to my apartment to get mine (we're short on time because we need to get there and back before the next class starts, seeing as the bank closes at 3:30 so we need to go during work hours and we just had the one prep period).  About 6 weeks ago I had a lady start coming to clean my apartment, and I remember right before she started I saw this little bank book thing and thought, maybe I should hide that important financial document. So I put it in the back of my make up drawer.  Now, for some reason, a few weeks later, I decided that wasn't a good spot. So I moved it.  To somewhere safer.  So safe, in fact, that even I cannot remember it.

I arrive in my apartment, panting and sweating, and start searching drawers and tearing apart the room looking for this book so I could go to the bank and get a new ATM card so I could get some money to pay my bills... but alas, it could not be found. Hot, sweaty, and now very much frustrated and mad at myself, I told my friend to go ahead without me and walked back to school to pout and drink tea in my other friend's office.  Cause nothing helps a bad attitude like pouting and tea.  After a bit of cheering up I got back to work, but the reality is this.  Without that booklet, I have to go to the police station to get a piece of paper to take to the bank to get the ATM card to get the new PIN to get the cash to pay the bills...  Epic fail.

This becomes a cultural nightmare when one doesn't know where any of these place are.  Or how their systems work. Or which line you are supposed to stand in. Or what the official name is for the thing that you need.  People can tell me where to go, or what to ask for, but at this point in the process, all you really want is for it to go away, to snap your fingers and have the problem solved, for me to not have to spend my next few days sorting out the mess.   And all the while you feel like a BIG DUMB IDIOT because you forgot your PIN number and lost your booklet and can't speak the language and know that you're going to make mistakes in your attempts to fix everything and get it straightened out.  Bam, the wall drops.  And bam, I want to punch it.  But I don't.

Instead, I return home and calmly (or maybe not so calmly) comb my tiny apartment for the booklet, which, I have yet to find.  It hasn't got legs, so it must be here somewhere.  If I think about it too long I just want to sit down and cry, which of course, does absolutely no good in finding the blasted thing.

Mom says some days are like that, even in Australia.  - Alexander

Two side notes: 1) It's not that I don't trust the woman who cleans my house, it's just that the bank book had been in a main drawer where there are lots of items she may need and I figured why leave it "out" like that.  2) What once was lost has now been found: I put it in the ziplock bag where I keep all the CD's and manuals that came with my laptop. And I only keep those because I eventually ditched the ones to my old laptop and my cousin who helped me try to fix the old one told me to hang on to that stuff.  So I wedged the bank book in between random computer documents.  Lovely.  

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Every year it happens: we get older

I wonder who first came up with the idea of birthdays, not of date-of-birth, but of birthdays, as a celebration.  As a child, we celebrate getting older.  As an adult, we emm, eat cake and try not to think about the number.  I have always loved birthdays- my own or anyone else's.  And I really enjoyed the fact that in Argentina people tend to plan their own birthday. I, of course, love this concept because it means that come my birthday, I am the one in control of the day :)  Not that I love control or anything, but I'm just sayin.  This year, I wanted to have dinner with some friends, but I wanted to do something else with it- I just wasn't sure what.  But while my friend and I were killing time downtown waiting for my visa to Myanmar to process, we stumbled upon a new ice rink at a mall in Bangkok and after thoroughly checking it out (I even inspected some rental skates) we decided that I would have a skating birthday party :)  I wasn't sure my friends would go for the idea, and even less sure of how I would feel in rental skates, but we went ahead with it. 

And boy was it fun!  The rentals, other than being duller than a dumb joke you've heard five times, were just fine and I didn't feel ready to topple over every 5 seconds (though I do look forward to returning some time with my own skates, once I have suitcase space to get them here from MI).  We had a great time zipping around the rink and drinking hot chocolate before heading to a new restaurant for dinner.  A very fun and girly place.  Afterwards, a couple people came over to celebrate with Nieto Senetiner (my favorite Argentine bodega, wine courtesy of Juan's visit) and eat cake.  By the time the girls left at midnight I dropped happily off into bed. 





I should mention that my entire weekend was actually pretty awesome.  Friday night was a night of worship and prayer at my friend's church.  Saturday morning I got to walk to the morning market with one of my dear friends, who wasn't able to make it to the festivities later in the day. Then there was the obvious fun documented above.  Then Sunday morning, bright and early before church, I met my friends for tea and biscuits while we watched a slide show we made of our trip to Burma.  So great to reminisce over those days and again join together in prayer for the nation and all those we met there.  Then, got to visit a Thai church and had lunch afterward with my new friend who is visiting churches with me (we met at a different church several weeks ago).  We had a great time getting to know each other over lunch and laughing and sharing stories.  And now, I can rest and catch my breath in my quiet apartment, certain to go to bed early tonight as I have gotten no sleep this weekend :) 

It's been amazing to see how God has blessed me this weekend- both in the tangible way he has provided amazing friends for me here in Bangkok, but also as I reflect back on the amazing ways I've spent the last few birthdays- different countries, different people, but always surround by those I love, those who are my support and encouragement.  God is good!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

The flood: it's still there

So, it's been awhile since I've given a flood update, but that unfortunately does not mean that the flood has gone away.  It does mean, however, that a) my area is still dry and b) the waiting has become the new normal and we (or at least I) only half pay attention any more.  We are one of the few dry districts remaining, although the city center also remains thankfully dry.  In the past week, several more staff member's houses have flooded and the on-campus apartment building is now full.  ICS got special permission from the MOE to open this week and we started back with students yesterday. It's nice to be back in the classroom and into routine again.  The water, however, continues to move towards the sea. If all barriers hold, my district of Bang Na "should" be okay.  Maybe.  Or, in about another 10-12 days it could flood here. And ICS would have to close. Again.  The most northern parts of the flood area, in the central part of the country, are seeing much lower water levels and soon, the clean up work will begin.  We'll probably have flood water with us for several more weeks and the clean up will go on for months. 

So that's about it right now for flood news.  Here's a link to some information about what YWAM (a Christian mission organization) is doing for flood relief.  One of my friends goes out everyday with them, wading through nasty unsafe flood water, out in the hot sun, to bring much needed supplies to people in their homes.  He looked exhausted when I saw him over a week ago. I can't imagine how he's feeling now!  The pictures and videos he posts daily on facebook are truly amazing. 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Awakening: Five Days in Burma Part 4

Today's soundtrack- my current personal life soundtrack :) 

I've been wrestling with this fourth and final Burma post.  It is one thing to explain the events and experiences of the trip- quite another to explain my heart.  The truth is, you don't have to travel to Myanmar to find people in need. They are in Detroit, in Buenos Aires, and daily I see them here in Bangkok, especially now with the floods.  Truth is, the needs are great, overwhelmingly so.  And truth is, we cannot help everyone. 

But the stirrings of my heart in Burma go well beyond the poverty and hardship we witnessed there.  God is much bigger than that.  While there, we cried out to God on behalf of someone else, and that is something that stirs the heart mightily.  We read about and listened to the Voice of Love, a voice that calls us ever deeper into relationship with the Savior,  a Savior who comes with peace, yes, but also a sword. 

Perfect in love
Lord, You came to earth
To rescue me
You took my place upon that cross
The stains that held me back
Were washed away
You made me whole

A voice that reminds us that we are not in control, that freedom is not complete clarity and it is not relief from pain.  We met those who know these things all too well- they cannot pretend to have control over their lives, the way we so often do, they know that pain is not an "if"- it just is.  We heard the Voice of Love that beckons us to rest in Him, to rest in the ambiguity, to rest in our neediness and his love. 

Your love has set
The broken captives free
Your love released
The chains once binding me
I'm found in grace
In love's embrace
My heart is overwhelmed

So, where do I go from here?  I acknowledge how little control I have.  I don't control the flood waters. I don't control whether or not school is open tomorrow.  I don't control whether or not we will have a summer vacation after all this craziness.  I don't control the people around me- their actions or inaction or imperfect love.  I don't control where I'll be in a few years, where this journey of life will lead me.  I don't control my health.  I don't control the cycles of life, the living and dying.  I don't control much of anything, really.  And, neither can I control the circumstances of other people's lives.  I cannot change the situations my friends and family suffer through.  I cannot change the immense social and economic and political problems in the worlds around me.  I cannot help everyone. 

Sings my soul of how
Your love has set me free
Sings my heart of how
Your mercy rescued me
Hear my cry of endless love
To my Saviour and to my King
My heart is overwhelmed

But, I can help someone.  That I can do.  My time in Burma was in many ways an Awakening.  Just as we prayed for spiritual awakening in that nation, we pray also for awakening in us.  Awakening to need- need within our own hearts as well as in the world around us.  Awakening to what we can do, and it is much.  In two weeks I will have the opportunity to send items to the children I met last week. Next semester I will have the opportunity to spend most of my Saturdays teaching English to underprivileged kids from the slums of Bangkok (more on this at a later date).  I can be an open listener to my friends and family, helping them carry their burdens and allowing them in to help me carry mine.  I can pour into my students on the days I do see them (like today!) even if I don't know how many of those days I'll have in the coming weeks.  And, I am sure that I will have many more opportunities in the days and weeks and months ahead- if I have the courage and obedience to take them. 

I stand redeemed
Your Spirit now alive within my heart
I walk with you all of my days
I shall live to glorify You God
Hear my soul rejoice

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Awakening: Five Days in Burma Part 3- The Children's Homes

Soundtrack #2, from the same album as the first one, linked here for your listening enjoyment.

As mentioned previously, we spent our day Saturday at two different children's homes with our friend Chan Chan who works at MCP.  We spent the morning at the girls' home, a small studio-type apartment not really much bigger than my own.  They seemed to in the process of building a wall dividing the room into two.  The home houses 12 girls, who seemed to range in age from about 8 to 17.  They were warm and welcoming, if a bit shy at first (hey, we were too!)  We played several different games with them- a rock paper scissors competition, duck/duck/goose in Burmese, a group clapping/leader game that I can't explain, and telephone (hilarious with the language barriers).  It was a lot of fun just to see them laugh and play and engage, even if it did mean we were dripping with sweat the entire time.  Literally. Running down.  Here are a few pictures from our game time with the girls:

Rock, Paper, Scissors game

More RPS

Hahahaha. Telephone in Burmese!

After we had played for awhile, the woman who cares for the girls invited us to sit down and eat.  In the back kitchen room, she and one of the older girls had prepared an oatmeal drink (so delicious!) and biscuits for us- you could tell that they really were wanting to give their guests the very best they had to offer.  Such a great example to me as a Westerner of true hospitality.  We ate and talked with her, and then asked her if there was anything we could send to them, and what we could pray for.  She told us they needed clothes, as those were hard to get, and asked us to pray for their education, health, and salvation.  Some of the girls are believers, some are not.  You could read the weight on this woman's shoulders as she spoke to us about the great obstacles they face, just educationally.  What a privilege it was to encourage her and walk with her, even just a tiny bit.  After that all the girls came in and we had the opportunity to pray with and for them!  What an honor. 

God is able
He will never fail
He is almighty God
Greater than all we seek
Greater than all we ask
He has done great things
 
We believe that God is able, even in the lives of these girls, even as we recognize the challenges.  They sleep on bedding on a cement floor, yet they are worth more than the sparrows.  They struggle to find clothing, yet they are more beautiful than the lilies of the field.  They were known and loved in the womb, yet they face an abandonment and poverty that we cannot comprehend.  It is a dichotomy that we cannot understand, but we know that He is able.  So, we do what we can. We will send clothes later this month, and some funds for education, but it is a small thing really.  One thing I have realized on this side of the world (heck, I could learn this even in Detroit) is that the needs are immense and we cannot allow ourselves to be swallowed by them.  Even still, I live daily in the tension of knowing, deep down, that I do not do enough.  
Oatmeal, biscuits, and tea- with the woman who cares for the girls.
Next, we headed to a boys home that is a "sister home" to the one for girls.  By this point I had nearly forgotten about the gallons of sweat pouring down my body.  Nearly.  When we arrived we were ushered to sit down where we were presented with fruit and bottles of cold water.  Not only that, as soon as we sat down several of the boys were standing around us, fanning us.  For a seriously long time!  They wouldn't stop!  

Part of the fanning team.  The woman seated in red takes care of the boys along with her husband.
After refreshments the boys introduced themselves to us.  Many of them stated for us, in English, their name, age, and what they want to be when they grow up.  Talk about touching!  My friend has some video of them saying it, and I'll get it and post some if at all possible.  Designer.  Engineer.  Doctor. Pastor.  Such hopes and dreams.  And, because of this home, they may become a reality.  We taught the boys some songs and played games with them as well.  And then, well, we just hung out.  The boys loved playing with our cameras, listening to music from my friend's iPad, playing guitar, and dancing around.  A great time was had by all.  This was also roughly when my camera battery died :(






Discovering the iPad...

Bedding/beds

Phillip, the son of the couple who cares for the boys
Before we left, we were brought back into the first room where lunch had been set out for us- noodles with either chicken or pork.  What gifts of hospitality.  We sat and ate and again spoke with the woman who cares for the boys and lives there with her husband and four year old son Phillip.  There was such a spirit of discouragement on her face, despite her smile and laughter.  She also requested clothes for the boys, and storybooks if we were able.  And then we were able to pray for the boys, and perhaps just as importantly, for her and her family.  Their goal, she said, is to raise them to be strong leaders in their community, to have strong morals and be followers of Jesus, to be good men.  
God is with us
God is on our side
He will make a way
Far above all we know
Far above all we hope
He has done great things
 
One of the other gifts of this day was the time we got to spend with our dear friend, Chan Chan.  What a gift she gave us- taking us to see the kids (she even took us on the bus to get there, always an adventure!) and we were blessed by her presence and friendship all day.  Encouraging her and others who work day after day for these kids was part of the whole point of going.  He will never fail us. 
 
That evening, one of the missionaries who works with the homes through MCP was having a going away party to prepare for her furlough and she invited us to join them at a nearby park.  Why not?  We jumped into the back of a pick-up truck (read: bus) and headed to the park.  There, we met up with all the girls along with several other of this woman's friends (side note: it was interesting to sit and talk with these women serving in Burma, not an easy country to serve in, and to just get to know them and hopefully encourage them).  It was a joyful celebration- though I must admit, it had been a long day, we were still dripping with sweat, and I was, emmm, playing large group games with a bunch of strangers (gag).  It actually wasn't too bad and we were talked into staying and eating with them after the games.  At this point we had to say good bye to Chan Chan, as well as all of our other new friends.  We limped back to our hotel where we showered, dropped into bed, and slept for 10 hours.  Whew!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Awakening: Five Days in Burma Part 2

The soundtrack, just in case you love it as much as we do, or want to hear the song that goes with all the random lyrical interjections.


Every Nation Church Yangon
We spent a little extra money on airfare in order to fly back to Bangkok on Sunday night instead of Sunday morning.  Our reasoning was that we wanted to be able to attend church in Burma before we left.  We got the contact information for this church from a friend who had previously attended there.  What a privilege it was to worship with them!  There is an Every Nation church in Bkk as well that I attended once and really enjoyed.  It was awesome to witness what God is doing in Yangon.  Basically every person there outside the pastors had come to know Christ through this church, primarily through their English outreach program.  I had the opportunity to talk to one girl who came to the English program and came to know Christ 7 years ago after finishing high school.  Since that time her brother has also become a believer and they are praying for the salvation of their parents.  We met many other young people with similar stories and spent time talking with them and the pastors about the challenges their church faces.  While the government is somewhat tolerant, they were shut down a number of years ago and have had to start over.  In addition to worshiping in the house of God and hearing a sermon about being dedicated to the cause of Christ, we were also able to connect with people and get information on how we can continue to pray for their church and for Myanmar.

For the world You love
Your will be done
Let Your will be done in me

Aung Sang Suu Kyi's HouseOne thing we wanted to do while in Yangon is see Aung Sang Suu Kyi's house, where she had been under house arrest for so many years.  On Friday afternoon we were looking for a taxi to see if someone would take us there.  A taxi driver stopped for us, even though he already had a passenger in the front seat.  I'll just drop this guy off first, he told us, just right over there.  We laughed and asked him if he could take us to Aung Sang Suu Kyi's house.  Her house?  Why?  We told him we just wanted to take a picture.  Pictures?  No.  No pictures  But you can look.  We agreed, and after dropping off this other dude, we headed up there.  Funny thing was, after we turned down her street, he told us to get our cameras prepared and he would give us a count of three to take pictures while he drove past.  He made one pass, then did a U-turn to head back towards downtown and we had a second go.  All you could really see was the white wall around her house and a row of flags sticking up above the wall.  As we went back passed the driveway, an SUV pulled out with two men riding in the back.  Our driver told us that these men were democracy party leaders, very high up.  My friend gave them a Thai wai and he waved back- but the best part of all was our driver's exhilaration!  After we took the pictures and this guy waved to us, he was all giggles and shrieks and goose bumps.  It was fun.
In Your presence
In Your power
Awakening

"Blending in" 
Living in Asia is very different from Buenos Aires: I can't hide, can't blend in, no matter what I wear or how I carry myself.  It has its pros and cons.  On this trip, we all stuck out, which made me feel a bit better.  One thing we noticed right away, and asked our guide/friend Lilly about was a yellow 'powder' that many women (and even some men) wore on their faces.  What is it?  What is it for?  It's a bit like make-up apparently, but one that is worn not only for beauty but also for sun protection. Ahhh, smart.  (As a side note, this is another umbrella-in-the-sun carrying nation, even more so than Bangkok.  While I hadn't brought my umbrella, I did frequently wear my sunhat without shame.).  We decided that we wanted to get, and wear, some powder too.  Easier said than done.

On Thursday we set out to find the Myanmar Compassion Project HQ in order to hopefully connect with a children's home or two.  We had an address, but the phone number we had didn't work, so we and our taxi driver did teh best we could he eventually dropped us off at a spot that he said was the address, and we got out.  There was a shop there, and a vaccination clinic, but no MCP.  We walked down the road a bit to look for it, but soon decided to head back.  We tried asking in the shop for directions, but the language barrier proved too much.  We did, however purchase some of the yellow power from them :)  It came in a small rectangular block, like a bar of soap almost.  We weren't sure how to use it, but at two for 20 cents it was worth the risk.  Next we stopped in at the clinic to see if they could help.  We had to wait there for a bit, so we tried out the powder bar, much to the amusement of the girls who worked there.  They did come to our rescue a bit to indicate that we needed to put some water in our palm and rub the bar in the water in order to make a yellow liquid and spread that onto our faces, not just rub the bar on directly as we had first tried.  We still couldn't get it to work all that well though.  Once all the people there had gotten their shots, the nurse (only one who spoke English) came out to talk to us. She was extremely kind and helpful and got us pointed in the right direction. 

Within a few minutes we had arrived at MCP and were greeted by one of their English teachers, Chan Chan.  She told us that a team had gone out to one of the homes that morning and would be returning Friday night.  They didn't usually send teams out on the weekend, and we were leaving on Sunday, but Chan Chan agreed to arrange some visits for us on Saturday.  We were thrilled.  We then were invited to join her for lunch at the small shop/food spot next door.  What a treat it was to not only spend time with her but also to have a translator help us with food!  After we finished eating, we asked Chan Chan for help with our powder.  The people at the 'restaurant' were incredibly entertained by our laughter and feeble attempts.  But man, did we have a good time!

Chen Chen shows us how it's done.



Chan Chan was very brave to let some American girl put the powder on her face! 

Saying good-bye until Saturday!
Blending In, Part 2
I think the very first thing I noticed about Myanmar, even before leaving the airport, was the skirts.  Everyone was wearing them.  And by everyone, I include the men. Here's a picture with our driver from the airport to our hotel to illustrate:
All the skirts were long, ankle length, and straight.  The men's skirts seemed to be one large circle of fabric that they would knot in the front.  The women seemed to have to varieties, one that I couldn't quite figure out and another that was a wrap around.  While exploring the market on Thursday afternoon we each picked out fabric for a wrap around and had them made (15min each) while we had tea/smoothies.  On Saturday, when we met back up with Chan Chan to visit the kids, we wore our skirts and our powder- we did find an easier form of the powder at the market and used that instead.  We still may not have blended in at all but it was neat to see people's reactions and appreciation for what we were wearing.  Saturday, as we ran around, played with kids, got up and down from the floor and climbed in and out of cars, buses, and the back of a pick-up truck, may not have been the most convenient day to wear our new skirts, but it was probably the best day culturally.  Plus, if I'd been wearing anything any shorter you'd have been able to see the sweat running down my legs.  Bonus for me. 
 Heading out from the hotel in the morning

We felt a bit like penguins at times, but I really enjoyed my new look!

Awakening: Five Days in Burma Part 1

This blog post comes with a soundtrack.  Click here to listen to it. 

I have decided to call this post "Part 1" because I know that there is no possible way I'll be able to put all my thoughts together in one sitting, nor would any of you, my dear readers, have the time and patience to read all my thoughts in one sitting.

Early Wednesday morning I flew to Yangon, Myanmar (or Rangoon, Burma, as it was known beofre the military took over and changed it) with two friends for five days.  We returned home Sunday night.  Our school was scheduled to reopen today, but that has now been delayed until this Wednesday (Nov 9th) at the earliest.  We await the decision of the MOE and the flow of the water, which continues to move and still has potential to come our direction.

Before I left for the trip, a friend of mine who has been there and has traveled SE Asia extensively told me that if I could handle Burma I could go anywhere.  It's like going back in time, he said.  And in that respect, he's right.  I was younger than most of the cars.  The internet speed and availability reminded me of the monstrous computer in my family's basement when we lived on Martha.  Some of the taxi's we rode in had upholstery and interior panels, but many did not.  AC?  Hahahajajaja555 (that's me laughing trilingually :)  I have rarely (never?!) sweat so much in my life.  There is a natural beauty to Yangon, a city of lakes and parks, despite its dusty poverty, uneven sidewalks, and lack of infrastructure.  There is a spirit that somehow, despite years of living under a military junta, life goes on.  What I want to share with you are some glimpses into things I saw or did or experienced in those days, and some reflections on what it all means, on how you look into the face of a child who lives without hope, knowing that God alone is able.

In our hearts Lord
In this nation
Awakening
Hello. Money. 
On Wednesday, late afternoon, we were walking towards the downtown area from the biggest Pagoda/temple in the city when I was spotted and approached by a young girl.  She knew only two words in English: hello and money, but these she repeated to me, over and over.  She followed us for blocks, right there at my elbow, hand reaching out, palm up.  Hello.  Money.  We walked on, but she persisted, and we even talked amongst ourselves- what do you do?  Her cries reach our ears and our hearts, yet everything you read about such situations says not to give in this way, that it in fact does more harm than good.  We eventually sat down at a sidewalk table to an Indian restaurant that looked (and was) amazing.  She stood among the parked cars next to our table.  Watching.  Even under the glare of the restaurant owner.  When bread arrived at our table, my friend wrapped it in a napkin and walked it over to her.  A half smile lit her face as she began to eat it, but before you could say 'chicken curry' an entire family of 6-8 people had appeared.  Awake my soul.

Me enjoying some chicken curry on naan and some strong but delicious Burmese tea
Lilly
After we arrived on Wednesday, we headed out to see the big golden Pagoda in the middle of town.  On the way we stopped by a noddle stand for lunch, where my regimin of pepto with every meal started (miraculously, none of us got sick, and we kind of ate wherever).  We walked up all the steps to the top of the Pagoda, but opted not to pay to go into the temple itself.  Instead, we sat on the cool shady steps in front of it to pray.  No sooner had we gotten through the "Dear Heavenly Father," when a woman named Lilly who was a guide at the temple sat down to ask us why we weren't going in.  We started talking to her about her job, family, life, beliefs, and about Jesus.  While one of us did most of the talking, the other two prayed and listened- what an amazing divine appointment, just hours after arriving in the country!  We seemed to attract a lot of attention, just sitting there talking, and I was somewhat amazed that no one else came and sat with us.  Many of them certainly looked like there were about it!  After chatting, we went back to praying, including this woman and her family in our prayers.  
Holy Spirit
We Desire
Awakening


First meal in Burma!
With Lilly


Moments
We witnessed lots of "moments" in the park along the lake near our hotel.  Let me explain.  This park- the grassy bits surrounding the lake and the wooden walkways connecting everything- was covered in couples, sitting together, sometimes making out, and often with an umbrella.  For me, it was a bit like Buenos Aires, only maybe less intense.  But being Asia, it was hilarious.  We literally couldn't find anywhere to sit where we didn't feel like we'd be interrupting.  We spent lots of time in the park, walking, talking, sitting, reading, praying and journaling over the course of our days, and did eventually figure out how to just plop down wherever.  I did my best to get a picture of the scene, without being too intrusive, so you may need to click on the picture to blow it up to see the umbrellas and couples scattered across the grass. 

Moments beside Kandawgyi Lake
more later,
love,
Clare

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Koh Mak

In Thai, the word "koh" means island- last week I had a chance to spend 4 days on "mak island" with Juan and Claudia.  I had never been to the tropics before, not a proper tropical beach, and it was really hard for me to believe that was I was seeing was real, not a postcard or picture.  Koh Mak is a small island in the Gulf of Thailand- it's about 4.5 hours by van and then another 45min by speed boat to get there. It's right next to a big popular island named Koh Chang.  I'm sure Koh Chang is great, but we chose Koh Mak for it's small size and relatively small population.  There were other people on the island to be sure, but we saw very few other people on the beach.  Awesome. 

So, we spent 4 days taking naps and walks on the beach, exploring the tiny shops and restaurants nearby, snorkeling, reading, talking, and enjoying long meals.  It was a great way to escape everything here.  Juan and Claudia actually even stayed a few extra days because of the chaos and panic here in Bangkok.  I'll upload as many of the pictures from the trip as I can possibly stand- my one complaint about blogger is that uploading pics is a slow and arduous task. 
Noodle stand on the pier where we got lunch while waiting for our boat to the island.

View from the porch of my bungalow


The light in the evening was awesome- this doesn't do it justice.

View from our breakfast table

I mean, seriously, is this real life?

We did actually see a coconut fall and were quite glad not to be underneath it!

The adorable pant-less girl at the little shop who was enamored with my camera

Juan and Claudia at lunch


bliss.