Hello everyone!
This past week was Song Kron. It is the Thai New Year. This Holiday lasts around 3 -4 days. Almost everyone has off work, and most people return home. Song Kron takes place over the hottest part of the year. Thais celebrate this time with a huge water fight.
For this holiday I went to 101 (Roy Et), the home of my host family. It is a province in the eastern part of Thailand. A normal trip with out traffic and take any where from 6 -8 hours. Our trip took 12 hours, due to the traffic. Every one was going home.
Traffic was like this almost the whole way.
We were lucky. The family was able to barrow a pick up truck to go. I got to sit in the back of the truck almost the whole way. It was alot of fun, and diffidently an adventure. At one stop we were getting some snacks in a market, when I saw green hot dogs! P' Great asked the seller what it was, the seller said it was green tea hot dogs. I was not brave enough to try the bright green wieners, but I am sure it would have been an interesting experience!
Anabell and Me. Anabell is from Nicaragua.
At another stop Anabel and I were heading to the rest room. I saw the sign for the ladies room, but I did not see the door. So I continued to the back of the building. To my shock I realized the ladies room was diffidently not there! I think the guys standing at the urinal where just as shocked as I was!
Needless to say, after a second of shock I turned around and headed back and was able to find the right door. :)
I loved sitting in the back of the truck. But when night came, it became a fight for survival. Ok, that is a bit dramatic, but it was so cold! Anabell and I had a blanket, but eventually had to share just to barely keep warm. The funny thing was the only thing we could do was laugh. For some reason I thought the whole situation was entirely to funny. I loved it!
Making Breakfast in the Kitchen.
The stove.
Derailed after along night.
We arrived at the home around 2am. But the was not much sleeping for us. We arose at and early 6:30 to go to the market. I was so derailed! After breakfast I took a bucket bath. They decided to go play water. It was alot of fun! The good thing about being a foreigner is you have lots of opportunity to get people wet, the bad thing is that they love to get you wet too! I don't mind getting wet, but it kinda wears a person down when they target you all the time.
Armed and Dangerous.
Playing water. I think we were both a little scared.
Trying to take me OUT! haha
That afternoon we went to the temple. There they ushered in the New Year. They prayed to the monks and then to the Buddha. After that, they poured water on the Buddha as a blessing. It was interesting to watch and do. But it raised questions in my mind. Is it ok to participate? What acts are cultural and what ones are religious? How do Thai Christians know what to do? It is a really difficult subject.
Grilled Pork! Yea, it was amazing! I loved it!
The next day we took a truck around to play water! That was alot of fun. I liked it alot. Driving around throwing water on people and motorcycles. Some of the people saw us and ran to safety before we could get them, others surrendered and accepted their fate. There was nothing more fulfilling then hearing the smack of water hit a passing motorcycle or the scream of children as they feel cold water run down their backs.
Me and Dow, P'Great's daughter.
Grilled fish! Yummy!
That afternoon we again went to the temple. There they had loud music and dancing. As soon as they saw me, I was pulled in. They formed a parade walking and dancing around the village, I think in a way of blessing it. They threw water and wiped powder on faces. People loved putting powder on me. Every time I would get into a good groove to the music, another person would come powder me up. It was alot of fun. It soon became clear though, if you did not want to get wet, you should not stand beside me. :) While I loved it all, I wish I could have blended in more. Being a foreigner, or at lease a white foreigner you really stand out. It is good in some ways, but it is also hard.
That evening they played a movie at the temple. It was really cool! It was out side and the projector was really old. The man had to watch the bulbs and some times I saw smoke coming out of it. :)
The last day we were there we picked mangoes, went fishing, and relaxed. I had a great time there. I hope that some day I can go back again! P' Great said that even after we left people would come around where I was. What can I say? I make lasting impressions. :)
country side.
Rice fields in the off season.
Mangoes, when we picked them we had to watch out for red ants.
Country road.
The Fish pound.
People had red shirts hanging outside their homes to keep the ghosts away.
Hello all!
This past weekend was the SEAAR Retreat, South Eastern Asia Anabaptist Retreat. It was made up of 5 or 6 different Agencies. MCC, RMM, EMM, were included among others. There were workers from India, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, China, and Nepal. It was a wonderful time of getting together and worshiping Our God!
Two things I loved about this retreat were the times of group worship and prayer. I never realized what a difference worshiping and praying in a group can make. It was so encouraging. There were over 50 voices singing praise to God at one time! It was beautiful! I felt like we were unstoppable! And prayer was so much easier. There were not as many distractions and you could bounce off each other.
I never knew that I was missing out, until I was there. It is true that I can worship and pray here everyday by myself. The spirit is still there. However, being in a group was so freeing. I was free to let go, I felt protected, and lifted up.
I want to encourage all of you who do have opportunity to worship and pray in group settings to take advantage of that opportunity. So many times we let the distractions of the week and day take over our mind. But this chance is truly a gift form God. There is a reason God says that where 2 or more are gathered there His spirit is also. We must cherish and protect this time. Worship and prayer is our time to go before God, this is when we present ourselves to him. I don't want to come before God distracted, I want to come before him fully focused on him so that he can be blessed though me.
It is a weird thought, blessing God. But you know, that is relationship. Blessing each other, both receiving and giving. What an awesome opportunity we have! God is pretty Awesome!
During the retreat I met a boy. Don't get excited, he is only 2 years old. haha God reminded me of what it was like to be loved by a child again. It was the best gift ever. Every time I saw this little guy or waved to him he would smile shyly and wave.
He even danced with me! I loved it. Leaving was hard. But that little boy taught me God's love. I did nothing to start being friends with this little boy. He chose me, just like God chooses us.
I was just my silly self. We danced, sang, and played together. That is all God wants with us, just to be with us in our life, to experience the ups and downs with us.
While I am sad I had to say good bye, I would not have changed that time for anything. Definitely, a highlight for this time in Thailand!
Hello All!
Life here in Thailand is flying by. It is hard to believe I have been here for almost 10 months. It seems to go by in a blur.
Most of my time, approximately 8 hours of the day, is filled with going to language school and doing homework. By now I have studied 7 levels in language school. I can now speak, read, and write Thai. Unfortunately, I still feel that my level of proficiency in those areas is not where I would like it to be. This Tuesday is my last day. I have enjoyed language school very much , especially these last 2 levels. They focused on reading stories about social problems in Thailand. It has been a good experience studying language, but I am ready for a break. Getting up at 5 in the morning, spending 1 hour or more traveling, and studying for 4 hours everyday for 5 days a week has taken it's toll on me.
Oh, I just wanted you all to know while you all are enjoying the nice cool snow, I am toasting here in 100 degree weather, and it is not even the hottest part of the season yet. :) Yea, you can send that snow over anytime! haha
I guess now you are all wondering now that Language school is done what the next step is. I was wondering that too. I had been looking for a job, but nothing seemed to feel right or work out. There was also a question of where I should live. I finally had a meeting with the leaders of the team here in Thailand. After talking to them we all decided it would be best to move closer to the team members form Nicaragua. I told them I wanted a reason to move there other then for spiritual support, so my Thai friends would understand when I move. It was decided that I go to KBU or Kasem Bundit University. I feel alot of peace about going there. I think God was telling me to go there for awhile, but I doubted what I was hearing.
They have a 4 year program that teaches Thai to foreigners. As of now I will only study for 1 year. I am very excited about this opportunity. It provides a chance to be on campus naturally, make relationships, and study Thai. I can also get a Visa through this which is awesome! I really feel like God has his hand on this and am looking forward to seeing how he will continue to open up doors.
This year I will also spend time praying and discerning what God would like me to do in the future. I have decided I will be in Thailand until God tells me to move on. I hope to have a plan in place for my next term in serving God. That will include hopefully a job, a visa, and a place to live. You can be praying that God will give me guidance in that.
I wanted to share with you all about my Easter considering it is pretty different form what you all experienced.
First of all it was hot! Real hot. I had to buy fruit for our meeting. So After I got ready I got on the motorcycle and headed out. It was a nice day to be driving. The sun was bright and the birds where singing. For me it was a special day. This is the whole reason I am here in Thailand, to tell people of the risen savior. For everyone else it was just a normal day.
I stoped by a vendor and bought some bananas and watermelon. After that I headed to the Mast's home for a international celebration. We gathered from 5 different countries. America, Thailand, Laos, Nicaragua, and Philippines. When we were all gathered, we worshiped in Spanish, English, Thai, and Laos. We then took communion using grape juice out of plastic cups and sticky rice. It was such a cool moment for me. Just knowing what Jesus has done and seeing brothers and sisters form around the world celebrating together was awesome. We also did a bible studied about Jesus and how he had risen.
I missed all the traditions that we do in the States. The Easter baskets, and candy, the Sunday meals, and the family. But I felt like I saw a bigger family. I feel like I really appreciated for the first time what Jesus really did. I hope you all had a blessed Easter. He has Risen, he has risen indeed!
Where do you go when the side walk ends? Do you stop and wait for
the next brick to be put into place.... Do you just step off...Does
the side walk really end or is it just our perception...?? I
have kinda reached that point in the path over here in Thailand. I
will finish Language school next month. I would love to study more,
but school funds have run out. Thus I get to begin something new. :)
I bet you all are wondering what that next thing is..... so am I.
:)
The situation:
By the end of May around half the team will be headed back to the
states. If I stay here at JP Mansion I will be completely alone. I
have no leads for a job or something to do. My Visa is also coming to
an end. Basically after school it is a big question mark. Today I
found out that I could potentially move closer to the Latin team and
help them with their ministry. They work at an university.
As I think and pray about the future God continues to be close to
me. Some things he has spoken to me are, “When you find your
completeness in Me, you can help other people without using them to
meet your own needs.” and “Rather then planning and evaluating,
practice trusting and thanking Me continually.” I feel like he is
asking me to trust him and not to worry about what is to come. He has
given me lots of peace about just living now and not thinking about
what is to come.
That has been occupying my mind for some time... and getting this
update written. :)
In other news, my days are filled with school and talking with
friends. Well more them talking and me listening. I have one friend
who talks my ears off twice a day! Her name is Pooh. One time she
came and talked to me for 2 hours and I did not even say a word.
Really! She is a sweet girl and and good friend. I have another
friend named Bwii. He is quiet, but laughs at my jokes. Then there is
New who loves to tease and talk English.
My Friends : L to R: Mec, Me, Anabel, New, and Bwii
Pooh and Mec. They are a couple. I love them!
Me and Pooh!
I love School. My teacher is great and my class mates keep me entertained. I can now read just about everything. But I still don't understand everything. Speaking is going ok, but I do wish I could speak better. It is hard to to be able to express myself to my friends.
Please continue to Pray for me for the future. Please pray for my friends. Thank you all for your support.
Much Love!
Dani
Dear readers,
The pigeon has landed. This is the latest news she has brought.
This Christmas was a nice Christmas.
The weather cooled down noticeably, but it was still considered hot. Getting into the spirit of Christmas was slightly difficult considering the hot weather and that no one in Thailand really celebrates Christmas. People still work and students still go to school. Christmas decorations are difficult to find. Any kind of celebration if there is a celebration is just a time for friends to get together and drink. This of course makes sense due to the fact that Christmas is a christian Holiday and less then 1% of the population is christian.
On the 21st a Christmas party was held for all of our thai friends! There was much Joy and merriment! Pizza and KFC were a big hit, as well as the chocolate peppermint truffle. We played several games which filled the house with laughter. Gifts were also exchanged and the Christmas story was acted out. I was able to invite 4 of my friends to come. All had a very good time and wanted to come to any parties we have in the future. :)
On the 24th a team Christmas party was held. We had appetizer type foods and shared reflections of Christmas.
As I listened to other people's reflections I thought about Christmas and what it meant to me. Then it struck me. In November the reach team came to Thailand and is staying at JP Mansion where I am at. Since they came I have noticed a change in relationships. One relationship that I thought was lost was reforged. Several others grew deeper. I thought if their presence did this at Jp mansion, what did Jesus's presence do here in this world. I felt like the world was able to take a deep breath and let it out. Now there was hope, a chance for man kind to be redeemed. The impossible had just been made possible. The bridge was reforged. Now everything clicks together. I may never see reproducing churches here, or any of my friends accept Jesus. But I can show people Jesus. I know they can see him. I invite you to reflect on how you can show Jesus to people.
On the 25th the room mate, Anabel, and I slept in and had a special breakfast of egg sandwiches. A Christmas movie was watched and gifts exchanged. It was a nice relaxing day. It the evening a random dance party was held. It was the coolest thing since sliced cheese! It was so good to let loose and go crazy... well not to crazy! haha
New Year eve came faster then anyone could have thought. One of my friends invited me to go home with her. We left the 28th and arrived there that afternoon. Her home is in a small village about an hour or so outside of Bangkok. It was so nice to get of of the big city. For the first time ever since I was in Thailand, I can say I was cold with out the use of a fan or AC. Her family is a lively bunch of ladies and men. I have never seen so many little old ladies with voices loud enough to bust ear drums! I am sure you can imagine my amusement. The days there consisted of making and eating food, parties, playing with kids, and visiting watts.
I helped to make some Thai sweet candy like thing. In the middle was an ovel of a dry dough, that was dipped in an egg yoke mixture and boiled. It was yummy! We also made noodles and grilled pork with soup. I had the opportunity to try pigs tongue. It was actually very good.
The parties consisted of dancing, musical chairs, and drinking lots of coke. Everyone was so worried about me not having anything to drink, that they kept my cup filled to the brim! I have come to realize that I am not much of a public dancer. Here in Thailand it is ok though cause people just dance however they want. I think they were just happy I got up and danced. :)
Visiting watts was very interesting. I went along to observe. It began with my friend offering flowers and burning incense while praying to a golden Buddha. They then moved to a place where they sat and confessed all their sins. Monks prayed over them. After confessing was done a blanket was pulled over them to symbolize death and removed for new life. After words my friend got her future told. It was really interesting, he not only told her her future, but some of her past, and present. And it was all right on the spot. My friend asked me if I wanted him to tell me mine, but I decided it would be better to trust God then to know what would happen. While I was there I did not feel a heaviness, but an emptiness. Everything they did was for naught. It felt like such a wast.
While my experience was great to see thai culture and meet my friends family it was also very hard. The second day I was there I missed my family alot. My friends family was alot like mine, teasing each other and making food together. I had no one I could really communicate clearly with. I had no one to share jokes with. In thai most of my jokes just don't translate... well I guess in English they don't really either, but still. haha There were no other foreigners in the area, so every where I went I got stares and comments. I think the hardest thing was that I was the only believer there. I have learned that there is a reason that the Bible says "20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." -Matt 18:20. You need some one to have your back, to pray for you when you need it it, for you to help them up when they fall.
This time has brought me to think about the future and what I am going to do. How will I be supported spiritually? Mentally? Physically? Where will I live and work? I must choose daily to fight worries and fear with trust and truth. It is an up hill fight, but God is faithful. He is always with me. While I was there he loved me through children, he spoke to me through the stars in the night sky, and he comforted me with a blanket. While I felt far from him, he was fully present with me. Praise God for being so good! Until next time folks! God bless!
It has been along time since I last wrote an update. I have alot to tell you all! God has been so good! But first I want to tell you all something, writing can not describe what I want to say, so maybe this Video can!
Thank you all again so much!
Here in Thailand there are always changes happening, some big and some small. But this year is different. My team will be changing drastically. Several days ago a team member had to return home do to health problems. It was a surprise to all of us, but as we prayed and discerned God's will I think we all felt a peace about it. She will be home until she is better and the Lord brings her back. I know it was very hard for her. In January, A Nicaraguan couple will potentially be joining us if all their money is raised. In May, my room mate, Rhonda, will be returning home. She hopes to return to Thailand, but does not yet know when. In June the Mast family will be returning back to the states for two years. That will leave the Troyer family and I here, for the English speaking team. As I am sure you all know, changes are very hard. Please keep my team in your prayers.
Speaking of changes I am now studying thai, but in a different form. I am learning how to read and write! Who would have thought I would have moved to a different country and learned to speak, read, and write a different language?! Not me. I am really enjoying leaning to read and write. It is challenging, reading is much easier then writing. But I enjoy the challenge. Speaking has slowed down, but I know that with time i will get better. I understand alot more then I can speak. Learning a new language is very interesting! It is alot like when we learn language as a baby. As a baby we understand alot more then we can speak, but as we grow we continue to be able to speak more and more. For me reading and writing is the same. I could read pretty well, but spelling, well lets just say if there was not spell check you would probably think I am writing in Thai phonetics. haha.
Studying thai fills alot of my day. I spend the morning studying Thai at home and in the afternoon I go to school and study for several hours. By the evening my brain can not handle any more thai. Sometimes I just relax and watch thai tv shows, play with the neighbor kids, or talk to my thai friends.
God has been trying to teach me to live in continual thanksgiving and trust in Him. He has show his faithfulness in so many ways. Here are some stories.
Almost every Monday night we study the bible with the mast family, P'Great and her family, and Lung Seeree. Lung Seeree (Uncle Seeree) is a nice old man who likes to take care of reachers and feed people! One night after the bible study we were getting ready to pray, and he asked me what I wanted prayer for. I told him I wanted prayer that I would meet and make real friends. We prayed and everyone went home.
The next morning Lung Seeree called me and invited me out to eat. He said all night long he thought of me and wondered why I don't have any friends. He was worried about me. He said "I think maybe you think serious. I think maybe you miss your family. And maybe you are not happy." I have never had a thai person take time to care about me like Seeree did. He was so worried about me that he took time out of his day to take me out to eat. He told me he knew what it was like to miss his family. (he was a soldier in Vietnam.) I asked him what he did when he missed them. He said, " I drank the whiskey." :) I laughed and told him ok that is what I would do. He said no, no, that is not good. I must call to him and we will go eat. He said we will make me laugh, laugh alot! haha That really touched my heart.
Every time I see him he ask me if I think serious. Some times he calls me to make sure I am ok. This weekend Rhonda was gone. Lung Seeree took me to a water market, he told me if you stay home you will think serious and be lonely. He is a dear old man. God has blessed me so much through him.
I have made some new friends. There is a girl named Pooh. She is so funny. I am beginning to really enjoy hanging out with her and talking to her. We don't have alot in common, but God has really blessed the relationship with her. The other night she was having problems and I went to talk with her, we cried, and I got to affirm her. I am so excited to see what God does with her!
Another friend is named Bpwii. He is just a quiet guy who lives on our floor. We both enjoy alot of the same music and movies. The other night Pooh, Bpwii, and I watched a movie together. It was so good to have friends to just be with. I feel very blessed.
I am learning to Trust God. Life here is very tough. But life here is good. Thank you all for your support! I miss you all so much!
About a week ago my team here in Thailand took a 4 day retreat to Chang Mai, the northern part of Thailand.
The team met at the train station at 7:00pm Thursday. From there we boarded an over night train headed to Chang Mai. I imagine most of you have never rode on an overnight train. So I made a little video giving you a tour.
We arrived in Chang Mai at our destination around 10am Friday morning. In the mornings we had team worship and a bible study. After the bible study there was a speaker who spoke to us about different aspects of soul care. Positive thinking, setting boundaries, resilience, and how to deal with stress where the topics. After lunch was free time to sleep, swim, or go out.
After supper we did fun group activities. One night was game night. We played minute-to-win-it games. One of the games was to cover your nose in Vaseline and then get as many cotton balls from one side of the line to the other in a minute. You could not use your hands, but no one said anything about using you lips! haha I won with 18 cotton balls on my side! It was awesome!
Thailand Team!
Another night we went out to an American restaurant called Duke's. It has American Food. I got a big old Man burger (that is what I call them). It was so good, but to my shame I could not eat it all!
The burger! With onion rings and a side of ranch dressing!
What I had to leave behind. I did pick the bacon off and eat that!
After the delicious dinner, we went to the night market. I love the night market! I was able to haggle and get lower prices on everything I bought! That was a big boast to my confidence in my language skills.
After the retreat Rhonda and I stayed 3 extra days to have a mini vacation. Those 3 days were some of the best days ever! The first day we did a kind of silent retreat. God really used that time to speak to me about trusting him. During the retreat we had to write down all the things that were stressing us out. God asked me to write them down and then He gave me truth to fight off the worries and stress. It was so goood! Some of the things that God brought up was my struggle with being single, relationships with thai people, language, believing that God is using me, and my self image. He took these things and covered them in truth. I can't even argue with the truth he put forth. I left that time with a feeling of peace and carefreeness.
The 2nd day we went and did some sight seeing. We went bungee jumping! Lets just say I did it once and I think I will be ok if I do not do it again. :) Rhonda had to pep talk me into jumping.
Near the top. I am so scared!
The little dot at the end of the rope is us. :)
I still cant believe I did that. I also realized that I have a fear of heights. Which is kinda strange considering I want to fly airplanes and skydive! haha
After the jump we saw a monkey show and a snake show. The monkey show was cute. The monkey rode around on bikes and did cool tricks. The snake show was awesome! I am scared of snakes, but am also fascinated by them. The people in the show realized that I was scared of the snakes, and decided to have fun with it. :)
At the snake show! This was a cobra!
Monkeys at the monkey show!
I have to admit I have never had so much fun. I laughed so hard I was crying. At one point they brought a snake over to touch. I kept scooting over, to the point I was on top of Rhonda and she was basically on top of a thai person beside her. haha. I loved it!
Coming back has been good. It is good t get back in the grove. I feel though the longer I am back the more I want to see my friends come to Jesus, and the more helpless I am. I know I must wait on the Lord. I know he is faithful, and he wants to know these people to.I just have to be patient. :) Well That is all for now. I pray that God would bless your day! Thanks so much for reading!
Love
Dani
Had an awesome surprise waiting for me when I got home!
One of my friends and her kids made these in Ohio. She heard
that I was missing fall, so she sent some along! They are waxed covered leaves, I love them alot!
