1 Samuel 12:20-24

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."

sights, smells, sounds, VISION

Talk about giving your senses a wake up call. everything here is so new, everything waiting to be absorbed into my teeny brain. I take in what I can and leave the rest for later. This past week has been a lot more of learning, adapting, but by no means, anywhere near "getting used to." And I hope I don't ever get "used to" things around here - things like, greeting my neighbors on the streets with a "wai" (traditional Thai bowing) and "sawasdeekaa", things like going to the same coffee stand to get my coffee for 15B ($0.50), buying fresh fruit from the same fruit guy (I'm currently writing this blog while eating a fruit called Pomello - my favorite yet), seeing well-fed, docile stray dogs EVERYWHERE (I've started to name all the dogs on my street...Milo, Pepsi, Muzzle, Mam), jumping on the song tao, seeing babies and families riding a motorcycle to get around town, beautiful flowers in the market, on the trees, in cars...and most of all, I don't want to get used to what God is doing here. I can't say for certain that I know what it is...actually, I don't know what it is at all - hahahaha, but I do know that as the body of Christ, New City Fellowship Church is having a great impact on the community here by offering some great programs, opportunities and casting a vision to do the same in other communities. I've really taken a liking to the missionaries here - so humble, so compassionate, such visionaries. SO for now...I don't know where my nook is yet, but I don't mind shadowing their vision.

some SMELLS:

Lotus blossoms

these flowers are often used to give gifts to one another, but also used to use as alms to Buddha. The white flowers are jasmine flowers...smells so yummy.

some SIGHTS:

A side street food market in Siam Square

whew...good thing. don't worry about me guys! the Bangkok police are here to protect me!

:)

This is very very very common - sometimes you'll see a family of three hoppin on a bike!

Ironic that my blog name is "Eating Pad Thai" and I have yet to eat pad thai - it's a very Westernized dish and is hard to find outside the touristy areas

some of EVERYTHING:

Carolyn and I are excited for our tuk tuk ride.... wuhahahaha!

On a tuk tuk on our way to Khao Son Rd - one of the more trendy, hippy, shopping streets

On our way back from a nice day at Khao Son Rd. A nice end to the day :)

And....VISION

a glimpse of Sunday worship at the New City Fellowship Church
in Ramkamhaeng 2 (where I live and work)

Wind chimes and barking dogs

It has been exactly 3 days and 2 nights since I've arrive in the Land of Smiles and well, it's kept me smiling. Every night I go to sleep to sound of barking dogs - which are as many as taxis in New York, and I wake up to the beautiful sound of my neighbors wind chimes and to the sound of hoses spraying house plants. Toto, we're not in NJ anymore. :)

From NJ:



To Thailand:



It's been awesome. As soon as I landed in Thailand Sunday morning, I went straight to the New City Community Church service (MTW church plant) and worshipped with a variety of people: MTW missionaries, YWAM missionaries, and native Thai, and myself. Despite my 2 day old airplane clothes, God's presence broke through the smell and I knew that I was exactly where I was supposed to be. There's something really comforting about that. :) After a long day at the church, we visited a local park, went grocery shopping and I did myself a favor and knocked out at 7pm - only to wake up at 12am, clean and go back to sleep at 2am. Here's my room:





What has been a really great blessing is that there is another intern who also arrived the same day I did, and she's my housemate! We're pretty much doing everything together! It's weird because she's younger than some of my old youth group students but I guess because of our context, I don't really feel like she's younger...until we start talking about college and stuff (which she has yet to go...) haha...i am old~ But she's been a great blessing - we're a lot alike, and she's fun...so I love it. We're taking language classes together and it's been so much fun learning together - otherwise, practicing tonal sounds and vowels would just sound like a dying horse...which at this point, I do sound like one, but it's just more fun when you can laugh at yourself and at another. I wish I could record it! it's too hilarious.

Something else that's been a real great blessing is spending time with one of the full-time missionary families here. They have 3 gorgeous children age: 7, 4, 2. And what an answer to prayer! For those of you who know me well, you know that I was devastated to leave my beautiful and awesome and lovely niece - especially devastated that I would miss this special stage in her life where she will begin to articulate her speech, put sentences together and be awesome. Something I was praying for was a baby about the same age as M, who I could just play with, love and follow the developmental stage. Well, I'm so happy to announce that the 2 year old in this family is only a day, ONE DAY, older than M and is also learning bilingually - so development wise, I feel like I've found a supplement to hold me over until I see M. Hahaha..is that bad? He's a boy and adorable! Blonde hair, blue eyes... :) I've already offered to babysit, and they've already accepted my offer. hahaha

Tuesdays are my days off, so we ventured to downtown Bangkok today, which is actually not as close as I thought...it's literally a bus ride, train ride, and another bus ride over...the area I live and work in is Bangkok, but this city is HUGE...the area I live in is somewhat on the outskirts, and because of a flood that recently passed by, the roads are all ripped up and its really dusty here!
This is the street/area where the church is located


This is the street where my home is, and my home!





Anyway, downtown was fun - we went to a few museums: The Jim Thompson House and the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center

This here is a Song Tao - which is my main mode of transportation...It literally means 2 benches, and that's literally what it is, and it sits on top of a back up truck. Haha...it's 8 Baht for one ride which is about 25 cents. awesome huh??? It takes me to the market, to other people's homes, to the park and those are the only places I've been so far...but it's so much fun too ride!!!!



And look...a PINK taxi...there are as many as the yellow ones in NY!



Until next time! Sa wa dee kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

: )

I'm officially recognized by the Kingdom of Thailand as a volunteer worker!
Let the good times roll!!!!!!

27*F vs 27*C

I'm a winter baby...so I love winter. I'm thankful that I get to see my last snowfall before I head out! I'm staying at my sisters place tonight and I hope that I get to make snowmen with my niece tomorrow...she calls them "ow-men" cutie...

So yep, I have a lot of hot weather to look forward to in the next couple of months. Just fyi, on average the weather is about 95*F and about 95% humidity. I just might die of heat. -__-

You can see the dilemma...me loving snowstorms and all. <3>

I recently had this revelation the other day that I may need to start working on the common sense side of my brain. I completely brain farted while booking my tickets for my flight...Somehow I failed to realize that planes do fly both East and WEST. The cheaper flights included Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, all making their layovers in Asia. When I looked at a map I thought to myself: "hmmm...I would be passing Thailand if I go with those airlines, so I'll pay the little extra and go in a straight line from New York, to Dubai, and then to Bangkok."

Smart huh? That's what I get for doing things in 10 minutes. aaaaaahhhh...my life - i love. :)

JFK - Dubai = 12 hours 30 min -__-

Dubai - Bangkok = 6 hours

On a happier note, and perhaps one smarter than before, I have my mailing address! So if anyone would like to send me some CARE PACKAGES or LETTERS (cough cough)... here it is!

Hopefully when I come back from Thailand, I'll be able to pronounce it for you too.

91/1 Baan Niran Ville 1

Moo 8 Ramkhamhaeng 2

Dokmai, Phrawet,

Bangkok, Thailand

10250

Mission to the WORLD!

To find out more about what I'll be doing in Bangkok, check out this website! It fills you in with all ministries I'll be involved in, as well as more about the country and people of Thailand!

:)

http://www.mtwthailand.org/

Dates are in!

Dates are in!

December 21, 2010
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So I bought my tickets today! In between studying for my last final and writing my last paper of my seminary career, I managed to steal away 10 minutes to purchase my tickets. I’ve been following prices for some time, and I am so blessed to have been able to find considerably low airfare on an airline that I’ve flown before, and love…with only one layover, shortest flight time, and reasonable arrival time – going both ways.

Here’s my itinerary:

Departure: Friday, Jan 14, 2011 – JFK @ 10:40am

Return: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 – JFK @ 7:45am.

I’m so excited! I was slightly tearing as I made my purchase…it’s finally happening. All I need to do is keep myself in one piece for the next three weeks and then I’ll be off!

And, by the way, the only reason I’m able to buy my tickets now, and not later, is because I have raised 100% of my funds! It has been a whirlwind of contacting people, doing follow-ups, trying to encourage support but at the same time not step on toes, and a bunch of things I’m not good at…So for those of you who contributed…THANK YOU for making this process so painless. It really was so awesome to experience people just pouring into my life and calling and I felt so loved and so supported in these last few months. So thank you! And if you weren’t able to donate, thank you for praying for me! Seriously! Everyone’s prayers made this is a breeze and brought to life the reality of God’s calling and confirmation for this trip. So THANK YOU EVERYONE! (I feel like I’m giving a speech for winning an oscar!)

All that’s left to do is to apply for my visa, and ladies and gentlemen, that’s a wrap.

until next time! ta ta!