It has been a great 10 days in Michigan so far, but I must admit, the introvert in me is beginning to throw a fit and demand that her rights be recognized. I keep telling her she's just going to have to wait until I get back on the plane. Then she'll have 23 hours to be as much as an introvert as she'd like. Usually I sleep on my long flights, so they pass rather quickly, but as I examine my flight times and develop my jet lag prevention sleeping plan, I am realizing that the best thing may be to stay awake for all or most of my itinerary. I'll arrive ready to keel over, but seeing as I arrive at 11:20pm, I figure that's a good thing. I hope I'll be able to find enough ways to amuse myself.
In the meantime, the beat goes on here in Michigan, with days filled with family and friends. I haven't really blogged at all not because there is nothing going on but because there is so much going on that I haven't got two thoughts or two minutes to rub together. I've had a short window this afternoon to nap and relax and just be a blob, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Hopefully I'll be up for conversation again in about an hour, when I need to be at dinner!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Nail Pierced Hands
May I just state for the record that I am in bed under three blankets with fleece pajamas on and my fingers and nose are numb? It's 5am and I can't sleep- no it ain't Santa Claus, it's my new friend jet lag.
Aside from being cold and tired most of the time, it has been a wonderful few days in Michigan. I've been able to catch up with friends and hug my siblings and eat home cooked meals and was even able to send a salad back and get a new one on account of it being covered in white dressing. It's the little things in life.
I'm not quite sure how the birth of Jesus turned into winter and snow and presents and trees and family dinner and candlelight services, but we'll have fun with all those things today, except maybe for snow, which has yet to make an appearance. Last week as I was reading the Christmas story out of Luke as part of my Advent readings, I was also finishing up the book of Matthew as part of my regular daily readings- the birth juxtaposed against the crucifixion- and it was rather intriguing. Many times I think when we read about Christ's birth we read it in its humble context, but coming in contrast to his last few hours, Jesus' first few hours took on a rather regal quality. I was struck not by the simplicity of the surroundings or the poverty of his parents, but by the majesty of the announcement and the reverence of the visitors. In him was life, and this life was the light of men.
There is something to be said for putting our main emphasis on Jesus' humble beginnings, but I am wondering if maybe sometimes we pay so much attention to the fact that there was no room in the inn, that we miss the activity of the cosmos, the grandeur of the heavenly hosts, the glittering wealth of the gold (for royalty), frankincense (for Priests) and myrrh (a prophetic burial spice). At Easter time we talk about the triumphal procession into Jerusalem as showing Jesus' majesty- but to me palm branches and a ride on a donkey pale in comparison to unknown stars appearing or a company of angels singing praises. No wonder Herod was scared.
We celebrate Christ's birth today, not so much because he was born, but because he died. We give gifts in honor of the greatest gift, the sacrifice of the Son of God. We live not because of how the story started, but because of how it ended. As we peer into the manger scene today, as we gaze longingly with the shepherds at this miracle birth, may we see also the crown of thorns, the nail pierced hands, and the empty tomb.
Aside from being cold and tired most of the time, it has been a wonderful few days in Michigan. I've been able to catch up with friends and hug my siblings and eat home cooked meals and was even able to send a salad back and get a new one on account of it being covered in white dressing. It's the little things in life.
I'm not quite sure how the birth of Jesus turned into winter and snow and presents and trees and family dinner and candlelight services, but we'll have fun with all those things today, except maybe for snow, which has yet to make an appearance. Last week as I was reading the Christmas story out of Luke as part of my Advent readings, I was also finishing up the book of Matthew as part of my regular daily readings- the birth juxtaposed against the crucifixion- and it was rather intriguing. Many times I think when we read about Christ's birth we read it in its humble context, but coming in contrast to his last few hours, Jesus' first few hours took on a rather regal quality. I was struck not by the simplicity of the surroundings or the poverty of his parents, but by the majesty of the announcement and the reverence of the visitors. In him was life, and this life was the light of men.
There is something to be said for putting our main emphasis on Jesus' humble beginnings, but I am wondering if maybe sometimes we pay so much attention to the fact that there was no room in the inn, that we miss the activity of the cosmos, the grandeur of the heavenly hosts, the glittering wealth of the gold (for royalty), frankincense (for Priests) and myrrh (a prophetic burial spice). At Easter time we talk about the triumphal procession into Jerusalem as showing Jesus' majesty- but to me palm branches and a ride on a donkey pale in comparison to unknown stars appearing or a company of angels singing praises. No wonder Herod was scared.
We celebrate Christ's birth today, not so much because he was born, but because he died. We give gifts in honor of the greatest gift, the sacrifice of the Son of God. We live not because of how the story started, but because of how it ended. As we peer into the manger scene today, as we gaze longingly with the shepherds at this miracle birth, may we see also the crown of thorns, the nail pierced hands, and the empty tomb.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Light in the Darkness
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him everything was made. Without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life and this life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:1-5
Changing Places
More thoughts later in the week for sure, but for now, here are the randoms bits about being back in Michigan:
- It takes my body about 18 hours to switch places, but my head about 36 to get used to it.
- I can drink the water right from the tap :)
- I'm in nearly the same time zone as Buenos Aires- perfect for skyping with friends!
- My body is responding to the jet lag by requesting a snooze and a light meal every 3-4 hours. I can live with that.
- What I'm not liking so much is that today from 11am-4pm I felt like it was the middle of the night and I had that "I'm awake in the middle of the night" sick feeling. Blech.
- A White Christmas would be nice, but I'm not going to complain about a 45 degree Christmas.
- It's really really quiet here. I mean seriously quiet.
- I really wish I didn't need to drive everywhere or anywhere. In part because I hate driving and am not looking forward to getting behind the wheel tomorrow, but also because I like getting around without a car.
- I sure do love drinking tea all day!
- I watched TV last night for the first time since I left in July. I really like that I don't watch it or miss it when I am gone.
- Mis libros! Mis libros! How good it is to be reunited with ones books :)
Sunday, December 18, 2011
From sandy beach to white Christmas... I hope!
In a mere 6 hours I will leave my apartment to head "home for the holidays". I spent the weekend at a lovely Thai beach where my dear friend got married yesterday. This morning I walked along the beach, basking in God's glorious creation and thinking, in less than 48 hours I'm going to be freezing my behind off in Detroit. Not only was the seaside setting beautiful and the wedding a wonderful celebration, but it was also good time with some of my friends- and a new friend (que habla español!)- and just a really good note to leave Thailand on. I'm going to attempt to stay up all night before my flight leaves at 6am- I figure I might as well get this jet lag thing started and maybe now I'll sleep on the plane tomorrow during a good part of the Eastern time zone night.
Here are a few highlights from my weekend in Rayong:
Here are a few highlights from my weekend in Rayong:
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| With the bride the night before the big day! |
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| No, we did not break into the chocolates early... |
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| The setting was just perfect! So beautiful! |
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| A beautiful wedding, and very "them" |
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| My favorite part of the ceremony: instead of a unity candle they lit a lantern and let it fly! |
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| Loved spending time with her this weekend! And her hubby, who was kind enough to speak English with me (next time, Thai!) |
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| On the drive home we passed an elephant, and since I'd never seen one before, we stopped so I could say hi and give him a snack. He was just a baby. |
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| Hungry guy! Apparently these aren't the best animals to see, as they are often mistreated :( But we decided it was okay since it was my first chang (elephant) in Thailand. Really makes me want to get to an elephant center! |
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| We also stopped for snacks and this place was amazing! Tons of squid and seafood snacks especially. Feast for the senses. |
Thursday, December 15, 2011
One foot, two foot, red foot, blue foot
And so begins the classic Dr. Seuss book.
Before coming to Thailand I read a number of books or articles with "do's and don't" for Thai culture. It wouldn't surprise me if at least half of them had to do with feet. Feet are a tricky thing here- for Westerners at least. I read a lot of things about being careful about crossing your legs (don't let your foot point at someone), or about not pointing with your feet (you'd be amazed how often we do that!) or not putting your feet on things (that probably goes for most countries...). I figured I would remember what I could and just watch when I got here and see how it all played out.
Some of the things I read seem abundantly true but others I can't quite interpret yet. For example, if the whole foot thing is such a big deal, why do my students routinely remove their shoes in class and sit on their feet? This is something I would never allow in an American classroom- you just don't take your shoes off in public- but here it seems kind of natural and comfortable and no one seems to mind, so I let it go. I've got a Thai student who leans forward on his desk, knees on the chair with his feet sticking out in the air behind him- the soles of his feet very much showing and pointing at whomever walks by. And sometimes I see Thais sit cross legged on a chair or something like that which would seem taboo to me based on what I read.
All of this perplexes me because I like sitting on my feet. I like sitting cross legged or with my knees drawn up and my feet on the chair or couch in front of me. So if that kind of thing is okay, I'm going to do it. If it's not, I really don't want to offend anyone. And granted, though they may be scandalized if they knew, no one is in my apartment to care that my coffee table often serves as both a foot rest and a dining table.
It's taking me a while to get all the foot rules down. My first week here I pointed at something (that was on the floor) with my foot. Luckily, no one really saw but my friend, who though a new teacher had lived in Thailand before, and she ever so discreetly and kindly reminded me I shouldn't do that. I've "messed up" other times with my feet. Sometimes it's quick and no one says anything but I notice half way through and think oh crap! I pointed with my foot again! Other times it has been pointed out a bit publicly to me, not meanly, but publicly, and I get really embarrassed. I know it is yet another thing that will take time, take mental training to remember all the time, but it is definitely confounded by the fact that I'm still a little fuzzy on all the details.
I feel like there's a lot to learn about shoes too, since they go with the feet. I went shoe shopping on Monday and was getting ready to try on the first pair, and suddenly thought, oh no! what if there are special unwritten rules about trying on shoes, seeing as I'm going to put my feet in them! I was definitely glad I had the vocabulary to at least ask if I could try them on before doing so! Then today I saw a Thai holding a pair of shoes for a bit. They put them back in the bag and said, "Now I need to go wash my hands." Makes sense, with the foot bit, but it never would have occurred to me!
Luckily, I have a few good friends who are my 'culture and etiquette guides'. I asked one of them at lunch last weekend a whole bunch of questions about feet, and another one about different wedding protocol today. You need those people in a foreign country. In Argentina Vale was my 'go-to' person. Whenever I needed a cultural interpretation, or wasn't sure how to dress or what to expect at an event, I could ask her and she wouldn't be offended by my weird questions and not knowing.
Sooner or later, I'll at least master these basic aspects of the culture here, the surface level ones that people can see. Now for those hidden cultural things, I'm going to need a few more decades :)
Before coming to Thailand I read a number of books or articles with "do's and don't" for Thai culture. It wouldn't surprise me if at least half of them had to do with feet. Feet are a tricky thing here- for Westerners at least. I read a lot of things about being careful about crossing your legs (don't let your foot point at someone), or about not pointing with your feet (you'd be amazed how often we do that!) or not putting your feet on things (that probably goes for most countries...). I figured I would remember what I could and just watch when I got here and see how it all played out.
Some of the things I read seem abundantly true but others I can't quite interpret yet. For example, if the whole foot thing is such a big deal, why do my students routinely remove their shoes in class and sit on their feet? This is something I would never allow in an American classroom- you just don't take your shoes off in public- but here it seems kind of natural and comfortable and no one seems to mind, so I let it go. I've got a Thai student who leans forward on his desk, knees on the chair with his feet sticking out in the air behind him- the soles of his feet very much showing and pointing at whomever walks by. And sometimes I see Thais sit cross legged on a chair or something like that which would seem taboo to me based on what I read.
All of this perplexes me because I like sitting on my feet. I like sitting cross legged or with my knees drawn up and my feet on the chair or couch in front of me. So if that kind of thing is okay, I'm going to do it. If it's not, I really don't want to offend anyone. And granted, though they may be scandalized if they knew, no one is in my apartment to care that my coffee table often serves as both a foot rest and a dining table.
It's taking me a while to get all the foot rules down. My first week here I pointed at something (that was on the floor) with my foot. Luckily, no one really saw but my friend, who though a new teacher had lived in Thailand before, and she ever so discreetly and kindly reminded me I shouldn't do that. I've "messed up" other times with my feet. Sometimes it's quick and no one says anything but I notice half way through and think oh crap! I pointed with my foot again! Other times it has been pointed out a bit publicly to me, not meanly, but publicly, and I get really embarrassed. I know it is yet another thing that will take time, take mental training to remember all the time, but it is definitely confounded by the fact that I'm still a little fuzzy on all the details.
I feel like there's a lot to learn about shoes too, since they go with the feet. I went shoe shopping on Monday and was getting ready to try on the first pair, and suddenly thought, oh no! what if there are special unwritten rules about trying on shoes, seeing as I'm going to put my feet in them! I was definitely glad I had the vocabulary to at least ask if I could try them on before doing so! Then today I saw a Thai holding a pair of shoes for a bit. They put them back in the bag and said, "Now I need to go wash my hands." Makes sense, with the foot bit, but it never would have occurred to me!
Luckily, I have a few good friends who are my 'culture and etiquette guides'. I asked one of them at lunch last weekend a whole bunch of questions about feet, and another one about different wedding protocol today. You need those people in a foreign country. In Argentina Vale was my 'go-to' person. Whenever I needed a cultural interpretation, or wasn't sure how to dress or what to expect at an event, I could ask her and she wouldn't be offended by my weird questions and not knowing.
Sooner or later, I'll at least master these basic aspects of the culture here, the surface level ones that people can see. Now for those hidden cultural things, I'm going to need a few more decades :)
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
All I Want For Christmas
I have to confess, this post comes directly from other missionaries at my home church in Ann Arbor. Their post on the subject re-stirred something in me that I have felt for some time, and also gave me the great link I'll include further down. I also want to say that I wrote this post mostly for myself, mostly to remind myself of just how rich I really am...
It's very easy in this season of giving (and getting) to feel like we don't have very much. We easily focus on what we don't have or would like to be able to afford to give to our families. And even though I see the Black Friday pictures of people walking out of Walmart at midnight with 3 gigantic TV's and think, I would never be so obsessed we all still do it in our own ways. Every year families go into debt in order to buy their children happiness or prove their love or friendship. Every year after Christmas, after receiving a large collection of gifts, we go back to the stores to take advantage of the after-Christmas sales, because- we still don't have enough.
You can click on this link to the Global Rich List to see where you fall globally based on your annual income. A missionary salary puts me in the top 10%. And that's just salary, it doesn't include the health insurance benefits or other benefits that come with my job- both financial and otherwise. What do I give up to serve abroad? Not much. Even in Argentina, where my small stipend didn't even qualify me to pay US taxes, I was in the top 14% worldwide. I have traveled to and visited a host of countries. I have a helper that cleans my house for me once per week. I can afford to buy special treats at the expensive grocery store full of imported foods (there aren't many foods I have to go without here). I work and sleep in AC every day. I have more food than I can eat and more clothes than I can wear. I get to learn languages and interact with people from many different cultures. I have a safe and comfortable home. I have resources beyond imagination. I am rich.
I think it is especially easy for missionaries to think that we are "poor" simply because we often have less than expats in the corporate and diplomatic communities, but the truth is, we still have more than just about everyone in the countries where we serve (with the exceptions of those who serve in the US and Western Europe I would think). Our definition of "less" is still far more than most of the world's definition of "more". It's an easy trap to fall into- no matter how much we have there is always someone who has more. But you don't have to look around very hard or read many news stories to see that we actually have far more than we need- even in comparison to many Americans.
Perhaps this Christmas, as we pause to celebrate the gift of God's Son to the world, we can also consider how we can be Christ's hands and feet in that same world today. Heifer International and World Vision have some great ways for us to do that! Not sure what to get the person who has everything (or the person who has to fit everything into a suitcase)? Try a goat or a chicken...
It's very easy in this season of giving (and getting) to feel like we don't have very much. We easily focus on what we don't have or would like to be able to afford to give to our families. And even though I see the Black Friday pictures of people walking out of Walmart at midnight with 3 gigantic TV's and think, I would never be so obsessed we all still do it in our own ways. Every year families go into debt in order to buy their children happiness or prove their love or friendship. Every year after Christmas, after receiving a large collection of gifts, we go back to the stores to take advantage of the after-Christmas sales, because- we still don't have enough.
You can click on this link to the Global Rich List to see where you fall globally based on your annual income. A missionary salary puts me in the top 10%. And that's just salary, it doesn't include the health insurance benefits or other benefits that come with my job- both financial and otherwise. What do I give up to serve abroad? Not much. Even in Argentina, where my small stipend didn't even qualify me to pay US taxes, I was in the top 14% worldwide. I have traveled to and visited a host of countries. I have a helper that cleans my house for me once per week. I can afford to buy special treats at the expensive grocery store full of imported foods (there aren't many foods I have to go without here). I work and sleep in AC every day. I have more food than I can eat and more clothes than I can wear. I get to learn languages and interact with people from many different cultures. I have a safe and comfortable home. I have resources beyond imagination. I am rich.
I think it is especially easy for missionaries to think that we are "poor" simply because we often have less than expats in the corporate and diplomatic communities, but the truth is, we still have more than just about everyone in the countries where we serve (with the exceptions of those who serve in the US and Western Europe I would think). Our definition of "less" is still far more than most of the world's definition of "more". It's an easy trap to fall into- no matter how much we have there is always someone who has more. But you don't have to look around very hard or read many news stories to see that we actually have far more than we need- even in comparison to many Americans.
Perhaps this Christmas, as we pause to celebrate the gift of God's Son to the world, we can also consider how we can be Christ's hands and feet in that same world today. Heifer International and World Vision have some great ways for us to do that! Not sure what to get the person who has everything (or the person who has to fit everything into a suitcase)? Try a goat or a chicken...
Monday, December 12, 2011
Waiting
Waiting is a big part of this time of year: kids wait for Christmas morning to come, parents wait for Christmas morning to be over, teachers and students alike wait for school to end, workers wait for their holidays, shoppers wait for the sales and salespeople wait for their commissions.
I'm doing a lot of waiting myself right now. Waiting for the last few days of school to pass. Waiting to find my niche in Thailand. Waiting to see my family and friends next week. Waiting to settle into a church. Waiting to start at Nak Suu in January. Waiting to go to Argentina next summer. Waiting for friendships to grow. I'm not very good at waiting. Impatience characterizes me much more so than patience, I'm afraid.
But I was reminded this morning in my Bible study of how important it is to wait on God. When I try to take things into my own hands, I mess things up, and sometimes in rather spectacular ways. But when I wait on God, I find that not only is the result better, but that the process can have its benefits as well. I was reminded today that God operates outside of time, that for him a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. He is never early, never late, never too quick, never too slow. For thousands of years the Jewish people waited for the Messiah, and now we wait for his return. We wait for the day when there is no more death or mourning or crying or pain. We wait for every knee to bow and every tongue confess. We wait to see a gathering of all the nations praising God together. But what a comfort it is to know that our waiting is not in vain.
These last crazy days of the semester will eventually end. I will in fact carve out my place here in Thailand. I will see my family and friends next week. I will choose a church and be able to settle in and connect there. Nak Suu will start back up. July's trip to Argentina will come. My friendships will continue to grow and deepen with time. And by then, I'm sure, I'll have a whole new list of things to wait for.
I'm doing a lot of waiting myself right now. Waiting for the last few days of school to pass. Waiting to find my niche in Thailand. Waiting to see my family and friends next week. Waiting to settle into a church. Waiting to start at Nak Suu in January. Waiting to go to Argentina next summer. Waiting for friendships to grow. I'm not very good at waiting. Impatience characterizes me much more so than patience, I'm afraid.
But I was reminded this morning in my Bible study of how important it is to wait on God. When I try to take things into my own hands, I mess things up, and sometimes in rather spectacular ways. But when I wait on God, I find that not only is the result better, but that the process can have its benefits as well. I was reminded today that God operates outside of time, that for him a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. He is never early, never late, never too quick, never too slow. For thousands of years the Jewish people waited for the Messiah, and now we wait for his return. We wait for the day when there is no more death or mourning or crying or pain. We wait for every knee to bow and every tongue confess. We wait to see a gathering of all the nations praising God together. But what a comfort it is to know that our waiting is not in vain.
These last crazy days of the semester will eventually end. I will in fact carve out my place here in Thailand. I will see my family and friends next week. I will choose a church and be able to settle in and connect there. Nak Suu will start back up. July's trip to Argentina will come. My friendships will continue to grow and deepen with time. And by then, I'm sure, I'll have a whole new list of things to wait for.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Nak Suu Rugby Academy
Yep, you read that right. This post is about a rugby academy. This is where I was last Saturday, and where I'll be most Saturday's next semester. But I will not be there teaching rugby :)
Nak Suu is a ministry of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Thailand. It is a rugby program for kids from children's homes and slum communities in Bangkok. The program includes learning to play rugby and being a part of a team, but it also includes life skills, evangelism, lunch, and English class- that's where I come in. Next semester I'll be teaching the English lessons. On Saturday I went to check things out and get a better idea of what I would have to work with as I plan my lessons.
I had an awesome time! Around 70 kids attended last week and after getting everyone signed in and reviewing the rules, they were split into two groups based on age. The younger kids went off to the rugby field (with people who, you know, can teach rugby) while the older kids stayed for their English lesson and then a project about the fruits of the spirit. I had a great time interacting with the kids. One thing that was awesome was that I got to use my Thai! There was a visiting YWAM mission team there, who didn't know any Thai, so it made me feel quite helpful in that regard. The kids mostly understood me and I mostly understood them, when they were talking to me. Their chit-chat? Not yet :) After an hour, the groups switched and we redid the lessons with the younger kids. After that they were served lunch and then headed home.
To be honest, I was pretty hesitant to make this commitment. When I was looking for somewhere to volunteer with local kids a few months back, I was thinking of roughly once per month. What I found was a Clare-shaped hole at Nak Suu that needed someone around 3 times a month. But I spent time praying about it and have really felt called to bring this particular gift that God has given me (teaching) to these particular kids. All of last year in the States God and I were dealing with this issue of not just giving, but giving sacrificially. I read so many books and saw so many situations where people were called to give beyond the norm, and it inspired me. So when I went to pray about this opportunity, what God said was, Clare, this is your chance to give, not just out of your abundance, but to give sacrificially. Yes, it will cut into your sleep. And your social life. Yes, there will be weeks you'd rather do something else. But for this time and season, this is where I want you.
After visiting last Saturday, I am very excited to start. I'm also excited to pick up some basic ESL materials in the States, at least to get some fun ideas. I have not been able to get the Nak Suu website to work, but this is the Ark International page on the YWAM site, and Nak Suu is a part of Ark. There is also an article about a tournament that Nak Suu was able to enter.
Please pray for me as I take on this added responsibility. Pray for physical strength and energy on Saturdays, for quick progress in Thai so that I can communicate more with the kids, and for wisdom as I plan what and how to teach them. Please also prayerfully consider donating to their program through the YWAM site. I'll try to talk to the director soon to see if there is another website that will work better as well. Thanks!!
Nak Suu is a ministry of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Thailand. It is a rugby program for kids from children's homes and slum communities in Bangkok. The program includes learning to play rugby and being a part of a team, but it also includes life skills, evangelism, lunch, and English class- that's where I come in. Next semester I'll be teaching the English lessons. On Saturday I went to check things out and get a better idea of what I would have to work with as I plan my lessons.
I had an awesome time! Around 70 kids attended last week and after getting everyone signed in and reviewing the rules, they were split into two groups based on age. The younger kids went off to the rugby field (with people who, you know, can teach rugby) while the older kids stayed for their English lesson and then a project about the fruits of the spirit. I had a great time interacting with the kids. One thing that was awesome was that I got to use my Thai! There was a visiting YWAM mission team there, who didn't know any Thai, so it made me feel quite helpful in that regard. The kids mostly understood me and I mostly understood them, when they were talking to me. Their chit-chat? Not yet :) After an hour, the groups switched and we redid the lessons with the younger kids. After that they were served lunch and then headed home.
To be honest, I was pretty hesitant to make this commitment. When I was looking for somewhere to volunteer with local kids a few months back, I was thinking of roughly once per month. What I found was a Clare-shaped hole at Nak Suu that needed someone around 3 times a month. But I spent time praying about it and have really felt called to bring this particular gift that God has given me (teaching) to these particular kids. All of last year in the States God and I were dealing with this issue of not just giving, but giving sacrificially. I read so many books and saw so many situations where people were called to give beyond the norm, and it inspired me. So when I went to pray about this opportunity, what God said was, Clare, this is your chance to give, not just out of your abundance, but to give sacrificially. Yes, it will cut into your sleep. And your social life. Yes, there will be weeks you'd rather do something else. But for this time and season, this is where I want you.
After visiting last Saturday, I am very excited to start. I'm also excited to pick up some basic ESL materials in the States, at least to get some fun ideas. I have not been able to get the Nak Suu website to work, but this is the Ark International page on the YWAM site, and Nak Suu is a part of Ark. There is also an article about a tournament that Nak Suu was able to enter.
Please pray for me as I take on this added responsibility. Pray for physical strength and energy on Saturdays, for quick progress in Thai so that I can communicate more with the kids, and for wisdom as I plan what and how to teach them. Please also prayerfully consider donating to their program through the YWAM site. I'll try to talk to the director soon to see if there is another website that will work better as well. Thanks!!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Light and Momentary Troubles.
Note: I tried a new blog template for a few days there, and there were things I liked about it, but it also bugged me. So I'm back to the original template and it will stay that way unless there is an outcry from the readership to go to the new template.
Wow. 5 1/2 days of school left in the semester. I should say, only 5 days because the last half day is a class party and grade level party (gag). I'm all for Christmas, but I hate class parties- it's one of the main reasons I don't teach elementary school. All that hyped-up craziness. Shoot me now.
In a mere 12 days, I will be home for Christmas, and I can't wait. It's good to be home for Christmas anytime, but this year has a few extra special things. For one, I have just learned that both of my best friends from high school will be with their families in Michigan for Christmas this year- the same time all three of us will be together since one of their weddings in May 2007. In addition, in the 6 months since I left two of my other friends' little boys have turned 2 and started to talk. They are both characters and I CANNOT WAIT to hear what they have to say :) But perhaps the best reason of all, besides the usual greatness of seeing family and friends, is that I could really use a break.
I love Thailand. I like living here. I like my job. I am glad that I came here and I can see God's fingerprints all over it. But, it's also been really hard. In many ways, harder than Argentina- for a million reasons. Moving overseas is never easy, but rarely have I been so glad to put any 6 months of my life behind me. There have been many great moments and fun times and times of growth, don't get me wrong, but it's also been a semester of challenge and turmoil and humility (nothing humbles you faster than not knowing anything) and crisis (aye the floods!) and sometimes even hurt.
Perhaps the strangest thing of all is that if I had to do it over again, I would do it over again. Not because I like pain, but because I believe that no matter how much it sucks some days, it is achieving purposes on many levels. I do believe that some day I'll get the hang of all the procedures our school has and won't feel like an idiot constantly when I have to ask for help. I believe that the work to learn Thai will pay off, that I will speak it and that it will be useful to me in life and in ministry (it was already helpful on Saturday!). I believe that friendship, which is sometimes slow and arduous and painful to build, will one blossom. I believe that one by one I will conquer the cultural systems around me (like the bank, where I need to go again tomorrow because I lost my ATM card again). And, I believe that all of these light and momentary troubles are indeed achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. I am not here for myself or for my happiness, but to serve the king of King and lord of Lords, and if that means putting up with some of this stuff for awhile, so be it.
So yeah, even if I limp to the end of the semester dragging, even if I'm crabby with my students, even if the journey isn't always pleasant or pretty, I know that it's part of transition. Transition from the US to Thailand, from knowing and being known to being new and from temporary to eternal.
Wow. 5 1/2 days of school left in the semester. I should say, only 5 days because the last half day is a class party and grade level party (gag). I'm all for Christmas, but I hate class parties- it's one of the main reasons I don't teach elementary school. All that hyped-up craziness. Shoot me now.
In a mere 12 days, I will be home for Christmas, and I can't wait. It's good to be home for Christmas anytime, but this year has a few extra special things. For one, I have just learned that both of my best friends from high school will be with their families in Michigan for Christmas this year- the same time all three of us will be together since one of their weddings in May 2007. In addition, in the 6 months since I left two of my other friends' little boys have turned 2 and started to talk. They are both characters and I CANNOT WAIT to hear what they have to say :) But perhaps the best reason of all, besides the usual greatness of seeing family and friends, is that I could really use a break.
I love Thailand. I like living here. I like my job. I am glad that I came here and I can see God's fingerprints all over it. But, it's also been really hard. In many ways, harder than Argentina- for a million reasons. Moving overseas is never easy, but rarely have I been so glad to put any 6 months of my life behind me. There have been many great moments and fun times and times of growth, don't get me wrong, but it's also been a semester of challenge and turmoil and humility (nothing humbles you faster than not knowing anything) and crisis (aye the floods!) and sometimes even hurt.
Perhaps the strangest thing of all is that if I had to do it over again, I would do it over again. Not because I like pain, but because I believe that no matter how much it sucks some days, it is achieving purposes on many levels. I do believe that some day I'll get the hang of all the procedures our school has and won't feel like an idiot constantly when I have to ask for help. I believe that the work to learn Thai will pay off, that I will speak it and that it will be useful to me in life and in ministry (it was already helpful on Saturday!). I believe that friendship, which is sometimes slow and arduous and painful to build, will one blossom. I believe that one by one I will conquer the cultural systems around me (like the bank, where I need to go again tomorrow because I lost my ATM card again). And, I believe that all of these light and momentary troubles are indeed achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. I am not here for myself or for my happiness, but to serve the king of King and lord of Lords, and if that means putting up with some of this stuff for awhile, so be it.
So yeah, even if I limp to the end of the semester dragging, even if I'm crabby with my students, even if the journey isn't always pleasant or pretty, I know that it's part of transition. Transition from the US to Thailand, from knowing and being known to being new and from temporary to eternal.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Christmas Cookies
I have several blog posts in my head right now, just waiting to be written. My Saturday, for sure, is going to be written at some point. But not right now. Instead I will bore you with more mundane details about baking overseas. And maybe some other random things that are floating around my head today.
I was able to spend the afternoon baking because today is the king's birthday, which means it is a big holiday and we all get the day off. For some reason I decided I would spend this delightful sunny afternoon attempting to make Christmas cookies. Now, some time ago I blogged about my first try at chocolate chip cookies. Disaster. The second batch come out much better after some recipe tweaking- not perfect, but better. So I'm not really sure what made me think that these two new Christmas cookie recipes were going to be as easy as they sounded.
For starters, I was a bit limited by ingredients, utensils, and motivation. Ingredients because I couldn't find powdered sugar or chopped nuts. Utensils because I don't have a food processor to chop up whole nuts or even a great knife to try to mince them without mincing my fingers. Motivation because I wasn't willing to haul to the import grocery store at a different mall that would have surely had both of the above.
So I went with the peanut butter cookies with the Hershey's kiss in the middle and the thumbprint cookies with jam in them. I started with the peanut butter cookies but the dough wasn't forming quite right. I am guessing it was either the brown sugar (every country has their own definition of brown sugar) or the butter. But in either case, the dough was more like like drop cookie dough than roll cookie dough. So I couldn't roll them, just drop them. So you know, I bake them up and put the kisses in them and they look okay. And then I tasted some dough off the spoon and it tasted funny. So I ate a cookie and sure enough it tasted funny. I can't quite put my finger on it.
The thumbprint cookies went together surprisingly easily, even if it took ages to get the butter and sugar "light and fluffy" with nothing but a wooden spoon. The dough was the right consistency- yeah :) I couldn't roll them in nuts as called for (see above) so I thought I'd roll them in sugar, because you know, what cookie isn't better rolled in sugar? They look great and taste pretty good, but are a bit dry. Not sure why. And they would definitely taste better with a little nutty flavor on top. Ah well.
My plan with making Christmas cookies, with making any cookies really, is to give them away. My sweet tooth is just too big and powerful to tolerate them being in my house more than overnight. So the question is, what to do with the peanut butter cookies which are not quite as they should be but still look okay. Give 'em away anyway? Even the first few that seems just a tad under baked? Try to find someone just honest enough to tell me if they really are bad?
I sure do miss baking with my friends in Michigan. For one, they have completely stocked kitchens. No substitutions necessary. Although I believe one of them is out a cookie press after last year's cookie extravaganza. That's my fault. Would love to have some Mrs. Trella's cookies, or even Pfefferneuse, but if I can't manage a simple peanut butter cookie there is no way I am trying either of those. Guess I'll just have to eat a double portion on Christmas Day. Darn.
I was able to spend the afternoon baking because today is the king's birthday, which means it is a big holiday and we all get the day off. For some reason I decided I would spend this delightful sunny afternoon attempting to make Christmas cookies. Now, some time ago I blogged about my first try at chocolate chip cookies. Disaster. The second batch come out much better after some recipe tweaking- not perfect, but better. So I'm not really sure what made me think that these two new Christmas cookie recipes were going to be as easy as they sounded.
For starters, I was a bit limited by ingredients, utensils, and motivation. Ingredients because I couldn't find powdered sugar or chopped nuts. Utensils because I don't have a food processor to chop up whole nuts or even a great knife to try to mince them without mincing my fingers. Motivation because I wasn't willing to haul to the import grocery store at a different mall that would have surely had both of the above.
So I went with the peanut butter cookies with the Hershey's kiss in the middle and the thumbprint cookies with jam in them. I started with the peanut butter cookies but the dough wasn't forming quite right. I am guessing it was either the brown sugar (every country has their own definition of brown sugar) or the butter. But in either case, the dough was more like like drop cookie dough than roll cookie dough. So I couldn't roll them, just drop them. So you know, I bake them up and put the kisses in them and they look okay. And then I tasted some dough off the spoon and it tasted funny. So I ate a cookie and sure enough it tasted funny. I can't quite put my finger on it.
The thumbprint cookies went together surprisingly easily, even if it took ages to get the butter and sugar "light and fluffy" with nothing but a wooden spoon. The dough was the right consistency- yeah :) I couldn't roll them in nuts as called for (see above) so I thought I'd roll them in sugar, because you know, what cookie isn't better rolled in sugar? They look great and taste pretty good, but are a bit dry. Not sure why. And they would definitely taste better with a little nutty flavor on top. Ah well.
My plan with making Christmas cookies, with making any cookies really, is to give them away. My sweet tooth is just too big and powerful to tolerate them being in my house more than overnight. So the question is, what to do with the peanut butter cookies which are not quite as they should be but still look okay. Give 'em away anyway? Even the first few that seems just a tad under baked? Try to find someone just honest enough to tell me if they really are bad?
I sure do miss baking with my friends in Michigan. For one, they have completely stocked kitchens. No substitutions necessary. Although I believe one of them is out a cookie press after last year's cookie extravaganza. That's my fault. Would love to have some Mrs. Trella's cookies, or even Pfefferneuse, but if I can't manage a simple peanut butter cookie there is no way I am trying either of those. Guess I'll just have to eat a double portion on Christmas Day. Darn.
I love winter!
At least, I love winter in Bangkok :)
Here are a few of the things I love about winter:
Here are a few of the things I love about winter:
- Sometimes in the morning the air is cool.
- I don't need to carry my umbrella everywhere I go, as it rarely rains.
- Sometimes, I can wear jeans without getting all sweaty.
- I can run before the sun goes down. Or I could. I've not been particularly motivated to run recently. :(
- For 2 nights running I have slept without the AC, with fresh air and breezes streaming in the windows. Of course, light and noise also stream in that way, so I've taken to sleeping with my ear plugs and eye cover and now it's awesome.
- I can drink tea in the afternoon without breaking out into a sweat.
- I don't sweat just sitting in my apartment with the fan on.
- My hair is not always a bit jumble of insanity.
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Fast Lanes
It's surprising, really, that this is the first time I've sat down to blog about Bangkok traffic, considering that Bangkok is among the worst cities in the world for traffic jams. Okay, maybe I did rant and rave about a particular taxi ride a while back, but that was more about him and the experience than about our hour long traffic jam. Anyway, traffic here is bad. Really bad. Bad enough that people plan their lives around it- they arrive at work and school early to avoid it, or dive home late at night, or go totally out of their way to avoid the worst areas and routes.
Today, I would like to tell you about riding the bus home, in the fast lanes. But first, I will have to explain this monstrosity of a road that I live off of. I'd like you to picture for a moment, a smallish freeway, say US23. Then, just outside of that, add Woodward, or for my Bs As readers, Centenario. It's set up like "express lanes" and "local lanes" of US freeways. (This is why missing your turn is so annoying, you can't just turn around and go the other way) There are periodic 'exits' for you to go back and forth between the two. At 5:30, when I was coming home from downtown, the local lanes were gridlocked, like always. The buses always drive in the local lanes because they, you know, need to stop at the stops to let people on and off.
Well, apparently my bus driver was not in the mood to sit in traffic. As soon as we turned onto this main road, he got in the center fast lanes. As we sped past the traffic jam, I was thinking that hopefully no one would need to get off before the next exit. Except he didn't rejoin the locked up local lanes after the next exit. We started to approach a very busy stop in front of the mall and I thoughts, okay, now he's going to exit so he can stop. Nope. He just pulled onto the narrow shoulder and let people off- people that now needed to cross a median and then several lanes of traffic. I started getting really curious, and slightly nervous as we were approaching my stop- would I have to climb the median in my dress and then cross the busy road? Someone else rang the bell to get off and the driver did the same thing- pulled to the shoulder. At least this was a grassy median and not a 3 foot cement wall!
There is an exit right at my stop, and after I rang the bell, much to my delight, he exited to the local lanes. He didn't make my stop, of course, as he then had several lanes of traffic to cross before he could pull over to the side of the road, but at least he only overshot it by 200meters or so and I didn't have to do any climbing or crossing. I was greatly relieved, and rather entertained by the whole thing.
And, a completely unrelated side note: I left my ATM card in the machine today. That's right. After 15 years of ATM banking without ever needing to replace a card, I have needed a replacement card two times in a matter of three week. Now I have to go back to the bank yet again next week for a new one. Brilliant.
Today, I would like to tell you about riding the bus home, in the fast lanes. But first, I will have to explain this monstrosity of a road that I live off of. I'd like you to picture for a moment, a smallish freeway, say US23. Then, just outside of that, add Woodward, or for my Bs As readers, Centenario. It's set up like "express lanes" and "local lanes" of US freeways. (This is why missing your turn is so annoying, you can't just turn around and go the other way) There are periodic 'exits' for you to go back and forth between the two. At 5:30, when I was coming home from downtown, the local lanes were gridlocked, like always. The buses always drive in the local lanes because they, you know, need to stop at the stops to let people on and off.
Well, apparently my bus driver was not in the mood to sit in traffic. As soon as we turned onto this main road, he got in the center fast lanes. As we sped past the traffic jam, I was thinking that hopefully no one would need to get off before the next exit. Except he didn't rejoin the locked up local lanes after the next exit. We started to approach a very busy stop in front of the mall and I thoughts, okay, now he's going to exit so he can stop. Nope. He just pulled onto the narrow shoulder and let people off- people that now needed to cross a median and then several lanes of traffic. I started getting really curious, and slightly nervous as we were approaching my stop- would I have to climb the median in my dress and then cross the busy road? Someone else rang the bell to get off and the driver did the same thing- pulled to the shoulder. At least this was a grassy median and not a 3 foot cement wall!
There is an exit right at my stop, and after I rang the bell, much to my delight, he exited to the local lanes. He didn't make my stop, of course, as he then had several lanes of traffic to cross before he could pull over to the side of the road, but at least he only overshot it by 200meters or so and I didn't have to do any climbing or crossing. I was greatly relieved, and rather entertained by the whole thing.
And, a completely unrelated side note: I left my ATM card in the machine today. That's right. After 15 years of ATM banking without ever needing to replace a card, I have needed a replacement card two times in a matter of three week. Now I have to go back to the bank yet again next week for a new one. Brilliant.
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