June 29, 2011
Greetings!
So I am now in week four...I think. It seems like I have been here alot longer than that! The kids at the Happy Home are completely warmed up to me now. When I first arrived they were a bit shy but after about four days they started to get comfortable with me. Now when there is free time they are always shouting "Pee Edica!" wanting to get my attention and wanting me to play games with them. They are so easy to love and they are so loving in return! I already know that I am going to miss them terribly when it is time for me to leave. I am slowly learning some of the language. I know the numbers between 1 and 10 and know a few words such as delicious, thank you, this, and beautiful. With the younger kids I don't even really notice that we cannot speak the same language, we understand each other fairly well and don't need too many words to have fun together. The older girls have fun trying to teach me Thai words and are constantly laughing at my bad pronunciation! Life here is a constant game of charades and I have to be very expressive with my facial expressions in communicating with those around me, it has been a fun challenge!
This is my second week teaching English at the elementary school in Chaing Saen. It has been so much fun and another confirmation that teaching is what God has cut me out for! I work alongside the English teacher here at the school on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I am here for two hours and work with the 3rd and 4th graders. We have alot of fun together and I enjoy teaching so much! I am actually at school right now. There was a slight misunderstanding, this morning the whole school is having their safety day with the police officers and nurses, so I didn't have to teach English this morning, so I am just waiting for Maow to pick me up, she will be here soon with the motorcycle. There are motorcycles and mopeds everywhere here, they are ridden rain or shine, with or without helmets. Well, I will be leaving soon so I shall say goodbye for now!
-E
July 3, 2011
Family and Friends,
Hello once again! It’s a relaxing Sunday afternoon here. It is rest time right now and many are still taking their naps. The birds are happily chirping and there is the faint sound of chopping coming from the kitchen as Lee and some of the kids have begun preparing dinner. Now that I have gotten used to the flavors and foods here, my appetite has returned in full force. As I reach for seconds or thirds at meal times the staff jokingly asks if I am on a diet. The cooked, bamboo shoots is one of my favorite meals. Saturday is a work day and Lee, along with a few helpers goes into the wilderness/bamboo forest behind the property here to search for the young bamboo shoots. Two Saturdays ago I went along, it was sweaty and dirty work. We all had to wear pants and sweaters to protect our skin from the underbrush and from mosquitoes, this is what lead to the sweaty part of the work. The dirty part comes from getting down on your hands and knees when you find a young bamboo shoot and digging around it so that you can use your chopping knife to free it from it’s roots and toss it in the large sack. I contributed five small bamboo shoots to the sack along with one larger one while the other girls probably found at least 20 each. I was not too efficient with finding or cutting the bamboo! The following Saturday I stayed at the home and cleaned the dinning room floor, that was much more productive! Well, it sounds like more of the kids are up and about now, so I am going to go now. Blessings!
-E
July 7, 2011 Thursday
Simple things have been such a blessing. Like Kauai, it is completely legal to ride in the back of a truck. The home here has two vehicles, a standard American sized truck and a much larger one, not sure what to call it exactly. Both are covered in back with benches bolted into the floor. One of my favorite things is to ride in the back of the trucks with the kids when going to church or traveling to different cities. I love the feel of wind on my skin, it is a cool break from the hot weather. From the back I can easily soak up the beautiful sights of rice fields, green mountains, and blue, cloud covered skies. The kids either gaze out at the passing sights or play little games among themselves. The staff may or may not have a younger child on their lap as they either close their eyes for some rest or talk with those around them. As everyone is bumping around contentment and peace is all over everyone’s faces, including mine. I love to just observe everyone and everything as we bounce around. It is a great time to think, to pray, and reflect on what’s been going one. Sometimes I’ll play games with the kids, such as the staring game where the first one to smile looses, I’m usually the winner because the kids are amused and brought to laughter so easily!
During the early afternoon while the kids are still at school I like to listen to sermons as I work on a project or simply sit in the patio area. I recently was listening to a sermon on the 10 Commandments by Pastor Bob Hallman and God was convicting me, how even now, today, I am guilty of breaking so many of them because God does not only look at the outward actions but also what is in the heart and mind. It was convicting but at the same time encouraging because I was reminded that I am a sinner who is deserving of death, but God who is rich in mercy because of His great love for me saved me. May we never forget what Jesus has done for us and may we never stop giving Him the glory that He deserves! God has been using the quiet mornings and afternoons to teach me so much. Almost every morning is like a mini retreat with God as I have time to study the Bible, pray, and listen to sermons and pod casts. I am built up during the first half of the day and when the kids come home it is time to pour out as I spend time with them.
One of the verse that keep coming up is the one about how God works all things for good to those who have been called according to His purpose. I always thought of this verse as it related to hard times and bad circumstances, but the verse says all things, this includes the good things, the big things, the small things. One way in which God has been teaching me about this verse is that He is working my talents and skills for good according to His purpose. There are two keyboards here and I have been able to teach some of the older girls and the Staff ladies the basics of keyboard and chords so that they can play worship music. As many of you know, I was in Tae Kwan Do for four years and made it up to the level right before the black belt. God is using my knowledge and remaining skills of Tae Kwan Do to teach the girls self defense. God can use all things for good and for His glory!
Prayer Requests:
-I'm going into Cambodia for a week to stay in the Happy Home there, pray for a safe journey and for God's will to be done while there, I'm really not sure what I'll be doing once I'm there!
-My time is starting to wind down, so pray that I redeem the time and use my remaining time here wisely and for God's glory.
-Pray that I'll be selfless each day.
Blessings!
Me and Sarah from the Babies Home
The Whole Gang
Some of the Younger Kids Being Hams for the Camera
