Hey everyone! Here is a quickie! I made it back from Laos. My visa is all set. It is good to be back. I realized I really feel at home in Thailand.I love it here. The thing I like most about my KBU home is the evenings. I sit out with friends. We talk, sing, and, hang out.
Everyone who was returning to America has officially returned. My new team most is Spanish speaking. I am feeling excited about being here. But it is still very hard. I am struggling alot with not being able to speak well. I can speak, and I am pretty good, but when you are with friends you realize how limited you really are. I have also had some struggles with people and my faith. Some people here think my faith is silly or I have to much faith. They tease me alot, I know they are only joking, but it is really hard some times. I ask you to pray that God would help me to stand firm in him. School starts on June 17th. I have no idea what classes I am taking or what my schedule is. When I went to sign up for classes, they told me, on the 17th og to this class room at 10 am. Then go to the office. :) Yep, this is Thailand! haha I am ready to start. I think it will be good. Oh and just a side note, students here have to wear an uniform. So i will put up pictures of it when i get a chance! :) I would love to here from you all!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
New Beginnings!
So I have been here on the KBU campus a little over a week. I have lots to tell, so I will start from the beginning!
I moved on a Sunday. The night before I made sure everything was packed and ready to go! Sunday I got up and showered. I looked out side, and to my surprise I saw dark clouds. Of course it would rain, and it did! It pushed our plans back around 2 hours. The people at JP Mansion said it was because I should not go. haha I am loved there!
The family and Rhonda helped me move. After a visit to the office I was able to move in. I really like my room! It is cozy.
I spent most the day on Monday unpacking and getting organized. It is different living alone. Not as bad as I thought it would be. My room mate is working right now and living at home. She will come here in June when school starts.
Tuesday started out really bad. I had a tough morning. I went to the office for my visa stuff and ID card. The visa stuff was not ready at all. Luckly I was able to get my ID. I then went to the bus station to buy a ticket to go to Laos for my visa . After an hour of travel and being sent to various levels of the station I found out that you can only buy the bus ticket on the day of travel. I just wanted to cry. I did not want to go back to KBU.
That evening I tried to get internet, but that, too, was a fail. I was headed to my room, to recollect my self and go try to meet some people who had invitied me to play volleyball when some girls stopped me and talked to me.
The invited me to go eat with them. I of course agreed. On my way to put my laptop away another group called me over. We begin talking when the group of girls who invited me to play volleyball walked by. They called me over to play volleyball. I told them sorry I could not cause some friends invited me to go eat.
After going to eat with the first group of girls, I thought I would go see about meeting the volleyball girls. But on my way there, another group of people called me over and began to talk to me. I found out they were Christians. It was fun! We sat around, talked, and sang.
I could really see God's hand in bringing me here.
I now mostly hang out with a girl named Emmy, and her group of friends. I really like them alot! During the day we go swimming and play bag-mitten( I have no idea how to spell that.). In the evening We sit out in the grass and talk!
I have been here almost 2 weeks. I know that God has brought me here at just the right time. I think this first year here in Thailand was to prepare me for this second year. I am no longer afraid to be alone. I don't relay on people anymore to build me up. God does that now.
I don't feel like I need a boyfriend, and really enjoy being single. (There are a few guys that want to be more then friends.)
Anyway Thanks for you all being patient with me in writing this update. It took me close to a week to write it, because every time I started, some friends would come and invite me to do something. ahha, i think that is a good problem.
I could really see God's hand in bringing me here.
I now mostly hang out with a girl named Emmy, and her group of friends. I really like them alot! During the day we go swimming and play bag-mitten( I have no idea how to spell that.). In the evening We sit out in the grass and talk!
I have been here almost 2 weeks. I know that God has brought me here at just the right time. I think this first year here in Thailand was to prepare me for this second year. I am no longer afraid to be alone. I don't relay on people anymore to build me up. God does that now.
I don't feel like I need a boyfriend, and really enjoy being single. (There are a few guys that want to be more then friends.)
Anyway Thanks for you all being patient with me in writing this update. It took me close to a week to write it, because every time I started, some friends would come and invite me to do something. ahha, i think that is a good problem.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Where the Dirt Path Ends and the Pavement begians.
Life here at JP Mansion is winding down. The countdown is on, 4 days until I move into a new chapter of my life.
For those of you who don't know I will be attending Kasem Bundit University (KBU) for a year, where I will continue my study of the Thai language.
I just want you all to know that this is completely and totally a God thing. I have a great peace about and excitement about this next chapter. Here is the story.
About two months ago I started praying about what God wanted me to do this next year. I had so many questions. How would I get Work? Visa? Place to live? Spiritual Support? Basically, What the______should I do??!!! I did not feel like I was hearing God, or at least what I wanted to hear. And nothing was working out. I did not know what to do. Finally, It was time to meet with the team leaders.
Now that I look back, I smile, and shake my head. At the meeting the first question was simply, "Dani, what are you thinking?" I shared that I wanted to stay at JP Mansion. The thing is, as soon as I said that I knew my leaders where not thinking that, and that God wanted me to do something else too. You see, during that time of praying and "not hearing God", he had been telling me to go to KBU. But I did not want to go. I like where I live and my friends are here. So I told myself I really did not hear God, or that was just me, not Him.
Well as you can imagine my leaders really felt like going to KBU would be a really good fit for me. My heart surrendered. Ok, but I won't go unless there is a natural reason for me to be there and I can find away to get a visa.
I figure God just chuckled as he finished putting the icing on the cake, and began the sprinkles. I went to visit the university and they were so excited for me to come! I started feeling good about going, and everyone on the team felt really good about me going too!
But the cherry on top is my roommate! I had not even been accepted when Nixon (a fellow team mate, who is a student there.) said that he had a friend who was looking for a roommate and he thought we would be good for each other. I was not too sure about it, as a matter of fact, for some reason I did not want to be her roommate. But I said sure. If it is meant to be, God would work it out. He worked it out. :)
She is an awesome girl. This is the best situation, really. She wants to practice English and I want to practice Thai. We are going to both help each other. She has also mentioned that if we have time she hopes we can study the bible! We met last Sunday. It was a great day! We talked (mostly thai) about all sorts of things, many of them deep. I am looking forward to being able to pour in to her life!
I really feel like God has brought so many things together, university, roommate, and money. While I know God is totally leading me in this, there have been frustrating things. Like: communication about what I need to bring in or things I need to do. They even almost lost my application. For my Visa I have to leave the county for 2 days, by myself.
While those things are frustrating, I can only keep thanking God. I feel like I am stepping into a field ready to hear and see the presence of God! I might be the first girl to really dwell with God there!
Fallowing God is always the best thing, it is not always easy. I will be leaving behind friends and family. It is an 1-2 hour trip, but I can come back and visit, hopefully on a regular basis. I will miss chasing Nong Dow down the hall, eating P'Great's yummy food, and meeting Lung Sarie for breakfast.
Last night Lung Sarie told me "It is good if you can go out there to fallow God, and get a visa. But my heart still hurts. Everyone is leaving. Maybe it would better if I never knew you, Rhonda, or Tom." (All the workers are leaving this area and retuning to America, except me. Lung Sarie has been helping all of us here for the past 6 or 7 years, and now we are leaving.)
I know the life of a worker is never easy, always saying good byes. But I realize it is not easy for those left behind. Thank you all for being willing to send me and support me. Because of you and my friends here I am ready for this next chapter God has prepared for me. Thank you for being willing to be used by God in my life!
For those of you who don't know I will be attending Kasem Bundit University (KBU) for a year, where I will continue my study of the Thai language.
I just want you all to know that this is completely and totally a God thing. I have a great peace about and excitement about this next chapter. Here is the story.
About two months ago I started praying about what God wanted me to do this next year. I had so many questions. How would I get Work? Visa? Place to live? Spiritual Support? Basically, What the______should I do??!!! I did not feel like I was hearing God, or at least what I wanted to hear. And nothing was working out. I did not know what to do. Finally, It was time to meet with the team leaders.
Now that I look back, I smile, and shake my head. At the meeting the first question was simply, "Dani, what are you thinking?" I shared that I wanted to stay at JP Mansion. The thing is, as soon as I said that I knew my leaders where not thinking that, and that God wanted me to do something else too. You see, during that time of praying and "not hearing God", he had been telling me to go to KBU. But I did not want to go. I like where I live and my friends are here. So I told myself I really did not hear God, or that was just me, not Him.
Well as you can imagine my leaders really felt like going to KBU would be a really good fit for me. My heart surrendered. Ok, but I won't go unless there is a natural reason for me to be there and I can find away to get a visa.
I figure God just chuckled as he finished putting the icing on the cake, and began the sprinkles. I went to visit the university and they were so excited for me to come! I started feeling good about going, and everyone on the team felt really good about me going too!
But the cherry on top is my roommate! I had not even been accepted when Nixon (a fellow team mate, who is a student there.) said that he had a friend who was looking for a roommate and he thought we would be good for each other. I was not too sure about it, as a matter of fact, for some reason I did not want to be her roommate. But I said sure. If it is meant to be, God would work it out. He worked it out. :)
She is an awesome girl. This is the best situation, really. She wants to practice English and I want to practice Thai. We are going to both help each other. She has also mentioned that if we have time she hopes we can study the bible! We met last Sunday. It was a great day! We talked (mostly thai) about all sorts of things, many of them deep. I am looking forward to being able to pour in to her life!
I really feel like God has brought so many things together, university, roommate, and money. While I know God is totally leading me in this, there have been frustrating things. Like: communication about what I need to bring in or things I need to do. They even almost lost my application. For my Visa I have to leave the county for 2 days, by myself.
While those things are frustrating, I can only keep thanking God. I feel like I am stepping into a field ready to hear and see the presence of God! I might be the first girl to really dwell with God there!
Fallowing God is always the best thing, it is not always easy. I will be leaving behind friends and family. It is an 1-2 hour trip, but I can come back and visit, hopefully on a regular basis. I will miss chasing Nong Dow down the hall, eating P'Great's yummy food, and meeting Lung Sarie for breakfast.
Last night Lung Sarie told me "It is good if you can go out there to fallow God, and get a visa. But my heart still hurts. Everyone is leaving. Maybe it would better if I never knew you, Rhonda, or Tom." (All the workers are leaving this area and retuning to America, except me. Lung Sarie has been helping all of us here for the past 6 or 7 years, and now we are leaving.)
I know the life of a worker is never easy, always saying good byes. But I realize it is not easy for those left behind. Thank you all for being willing to send me and support me. Because of you and my friends here I am ready for this next chapter God has prepared for me. Thank you for being willing to be used by God in my life!
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