Did you know...?

The full ceremonial name of Bangkok is:

"The city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarma." (กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุทธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตนราชธานีบุรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยะวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์). 

Thailand's king is the longest reigning monarch in the world.  He assumed his kingship on June 6, 1946.

Bangkok receives about 60 inches of rain per year.

The average monthly income per person in Bangkok is 7,716 Baht (about $257).

Thailand's population is about 66.5 million, around 10 million living in Bangkok. 

Thailand has a literacy rate of about 94%.

76 provinces make up Thailand.

75 different languages are used throughout Thailand, Thai being the official language.

Thailand covers about 198,456 square miles in Southeast Asia (about the size of Nevada and Utah put together.)

Much of Thailand is fertile agricultural land.  Its top three exports are rice, sugar, and rubber.

Siam was the previous name of Thailand.

Thailand borders Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Gulf of Thailand.

Facts from Operation World and Bangkok Bangkok. 

Girl's Night

"I thank God for healing my relationship with my mom.  We used to fight all the time, but now we are getting along."

"Praise God for teaching me more about him this past year, causing me to love him and know his love for me more."

"I am grateful for God showing his love for my family and me when my cousins died in the car accident this past year.  I wanted to be angry at God, but he kept reminding me how gracious he is." 

"Thank you God for providing in ways far beyond my imagination, beyond anyone could have provided or even imagined providing."

"I am thankful for God giving me strength in my studies and work and being patient with me as he teaches me over and over to trust and rely on him."

As each girl took a turn sharing what she was grateful for in this past year, my thankfulness to the Lord welled inside me even more.  What an amazing God we have! 

After a time of praise and thanksgiving, we moved on to the part of girl's night that is meant to build community and remind the girls of how beautiful they are...facials and nails!

When I told N she could pick any color she wanted for my nails, I had to agree when she pulled out the hot pink.  They came out better than I expected, but my nails probably won't be seeing this color again for a while. 

The Circle of Reaching Out

 "About 9 months ago, I was sitting where you were, in the grass, studying my books.  These people came up to me, just wanting to be my friend, like I'm doing to you now.  Can I tell you what has happened in my life since then?"

On the day I met them, they invited me to English class, their nights of worship, to eat dinner together and just hang out.  They said they were Christians, but I didn't really know what that meant.  I agreed to check out an English class, I needed to improve my English anyway.  

At first I was skeptical, but it didn't take long to realize that these people were genuine, different.  They actually cared about me, and they also cared about their God, Jesus Christ.  They talked about him regularly, spending whole evenings worshiping, praying, and studying the Bible.  I was curious...Who was this god that was so important to them?  I respected them because they respected my Buddhist views.  They didn't pressure me to believe in their God, but allowed me to come alongside them and observe. 

I moved into the dorm last May because I needed to live closer to the university.  To be honest, everything was a little overwhelming at first, but I soon began to enjoy the community I had become a part of.  It was unlike anything I have ever experienced before.

A few months ago, I noticed I was singing worship songs along my friends.  I began appreciating it when they would pray for me and wanting to know more and more about the God they had dedicated their lives to.

A couple weeks ago, their God became my God.  I am filled with more peace and joy than I have ever known.  I know he is the one and only true God.  I am freed from my futile efforts to gain enough merit and please the spirits.  

I now enjoy sitting up on the fifth floor, reading my Bible each morning and going to campus to meet other students like you and like me 9 months ago, when I didn't know Jesus.  I still have so much to learn, but I look forward to it.  And I look forward to seeing more people come to know God for themselves.

"So, would you be interested in joining us for English class or just come play some games in the coffee shop for a while?"

J is a student at the dorm where I live, House of One Heart (BJD).  He told his story to a few students at the university while we were walking around for outreach there. The students he was talking with came back to the dorm coffee shop and hangout for a few hours.  They joined us for dinner and stayed a little while into our night of worship.  The next day they joined us for English class. 

Thank you for praying for these and the other students here in Thailand.

Kids and Coffee

One day of my travels in northern Thailand was spent hanging out with about 30 kids in an Akka village.  The three Thai friends I was with love kids and are great with spur of the moment ideas.  Nothing was planned and the kids didn't know we were coming, but it turned out to be a wonderful day.  

The kids were apprehensive at first...What are these visitors doing here?

 

The big kids were looking out for the little ones, even when the "big kids" weren't so big themselves.

 

After hanging out for a while, my friend asked if any of the kids would like a snack.  No one hesitated to show us how to get to the snack shop.

 

This is one of my favorite pictures.

 

And here is the smile behind the beautiful eyes in the above picture.

 

After a snack, we headed to an open space to play some games. 

 

Getting ready to play "Tigers and Monkeys," similar to the game, "Sharks and Minnows," I played as a kid. 

 

It didn't take long for a few adults to show up, wondering what was going on. 

 

When everyone was tired out from the games, we had the kids sit down so we could tell them the Christmas story.  Most of them knew Christmas was this time of year but could not tell us why it was a special day.  What a privilege to be able to tell them about Jesus!

COFFEE!

Another day in the Akka village was spent learning about coffee.  Many of the families of this mountain town make their living by growing coffee. 

 

Ama (the grandmother of the friend we were staying with) taught us how to pick coffee.

 

Basket full of beans!

(They look a little different than the finished product we're used to, don't they?) 

 

Then we separated the ripe beans.

 

We sold the 161 kilos/355 pounds of beans picked that day to the nearby factory that processes them.

 

The beans are soaked then spread out on tarps to dry. 

 

They are raked to make sure all sides dry.

 

 Dry beans are bagged and kept for one to three years.

 

After aging, the beans are roasted.

 

Finally, the look we are familiar with!

 

The roasted coffee is weighed and bagged to be sold around the world.

 

We got to taste some freshly roasted and brewed coffee. I thought it was strong and delicious. It was the first cup of coffee ever for my Thai friend in the picture. He added lots of milk and sugar, but the look on his face after the first sip was priceless. I could see him thinking, Why would anyone choose to drink this horrible tasting liquid???!!! He politely finished the cup but later said it made his head and stomach ache. It will probably be his first and last cup of coffee.

Camping and Traveling in Northern Thailand

 

We started out with our backpacks full, ready so see as much of Northern Thailand as possible in one week. 

 

Camping looked a little different than I'm used to, but it was fun regardless.  We paid 120 Baht per tent then set up where we wanted. My favorite part was being so close to the river.  My least favorite part was showering with cold water in a bucket when I could see my breath outside.  You know it is cold when you can see steam coming off your body as you pour cold water over you.

 

We cooked Top Ramen over a little fire.  For dessert we cooked red kidney beans in water with sugar.  They were surprisingly good.

 

Our first morning we headed out at 4:00 a.m. to reach the dam (in the next couple of pictures) as the sun was rising.  People in the village near the dam were selling instant coffee, hot chocolate and soup to the crazy tourists (us.)

 

This is the school of the village near the dam.  The teacher led the kids in some exercises before class began to warm everyone up. 

 

Next we headed to another lake.  

 

And then to the Phasua Waterfalls.

 

More travels led us to a hot springs and mud pit. 

 

For a small price, visitors could get their face painted with the mud.  Then they had to sit and let it dry before washing it off and feeling refreshed.  Don't ask me to explain how kids get in trouble for getting muddy but adults will pay for mud to be slathered on their face.  :)  

 

We passed many Buddhist temples. 

 

Wat Phra Thap Doi Kong Mu had an opening with a figure inside for each day of the week.  Tuesday was sleeping, other days were standing or sitting.

 

 At the Karen Long Neck Hilltribe village, these elephants were being led down the street. 

 

Supposedly we passed 1864 curves to get to Mae Hong Song.  One person got carsick.  I slept. 

 

Many peaceful places to enjoy God's creation. 

 

Many beautiful sunsets to praise and stand in awe of the Creator.

 

Picking pomelos.

 

Playing with cousins of my traveling buddies.

 

Another cousin showed us how to play this traditional Thai instrument. 

 

Hiking up a river with a family we stayed with.

It was great to get out of the city and relax/enjoy another aspect of this amazing country I call home.

Next week...Kids and Coffee!