Number 8

Yay for checking off one thing from my 25 before 25 list!  This falls under number 8- but even though it will have technically been completed, I know I want to experience as many new places as possible, before I turn 25, and anytime I have the chance after that as well.  I am currently sitting in my room at a "resort" a little outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand.  And all I can think right now is: after this trip, I don't think I will ever have a desire to eat Thai food again.  It was ok the first 3-4 meals as we tried new things, but now it all tastes the same. Weird and way too spicy.  At least I tried right?!  This trip has been eye-opening and exciting in so many ways.  It seemed like a dream, that we weren't actually coming here, and I kept thinking that maybe as we got to LAX, or got on the plane to take off, or landed in Seoul, and finally in Chiang Mai, that it would finally sink in and I would realize that it wasn't use a dream.  And in some ways it was like that.  In the airport in Seoul, there was a  moment where I looked at Josh and with a high-pitched squeal exclaimed "We're in a foreign county.  We are going to THAILAND!"  He just kinda laughed.  Now, even though we have only been here for about a week, I feel like I have fallen into a comfortable rhythm and it feels as though we have been here forever. 

We awake in the morning before 7:45 and have breakfast, usually toast with jam, cereal and some fruit.  Then we take off to whatever is planned for that day- exploring, training, and now taking care of the kids.  Then it's time for lunch and an afternoon rest (which has been absolutely wonderful, and certainly needed). We then head back to the afternoon's scheduled events and then have dinner around 6 and the evening off to rest or explore some more.  I fall asleep fast, and sleep well and wake before my alarm the next morning to do it all over again.

There have been several other moments of pure excitement and laughing in sheer delight.  We got to ride and then feed some elephants on Friday.  From the beginning of planning this trip, the prospect of riding elephants was so wonderful to me, even though it's not like I particularly love elephants or anything.  But as we followed the little trail on the back of this huge animal, I was just in awe.  Of the elephant, the fact the we were here, so far from home, having this wonderful experience and that God had created and orchestrated everything necessary for this moment to happen.

I have been overwhelmed by God on this trip.  The first real epiphany (although it sounds simple and a little like, "Duh, He's God…") came as we having our team training.  We met 6 other people who come from all over the world and have these amazing and beautiful stories (and accents).  As they shared some of their stories and where God had brought them and how they ended up with us at this meeting, I was struck by how amazing it is that I have lived my life in one country, praying and worshipping the same God that these people: Margaret from Scotland to Singapore, Gill from England, Moira from Scotland, Eliza from Korea to America, Josh G. from Zimbabwe to Cambodia to England to Singapore, Brianna from Thailand to Canada and back, and Marissa from Thailand to the Netherlands and back, were worshiping in around the world. That my God is their God, that he is big enough to know and love us all and that he had brought us all together at this precise time.  How amazing!  We also had the chance to visit a friend of ours who lives in Chiang Mai and works at a cafe that reaches out to students at the university and offers English lessons and tells them about Jesus.  This place, WonGen Cafe, feels very much like a college hangout in America.  Many students hanging out, eating, and drinking coffee.  We visited on a night where they were having an open mic time.  It was so cool to see students from the US and Thailand sing together, and to hear some worship, both in English and in Thai. It was the same feeling as when I met our team for the conference: We all serve the same wonderful God!

I am also blown away by the people we are serving at this conference.  Our team is working specifically with kids, called TCKs or Third Culture Kids.  These are kids that have parents from one place, who are serving in another, and the children feel a mix of both their parents home culture and the host culture they are living in now.  4 of our team members are TCKs themselves and their stories are so cool and interesting.  These families are certainly unique and I am feeling so blessed to be able to serve them by helping care for their kids.  For their safety and security, I can't give the name of the conference, or where they are serving.  But that fact alone is crazy to me.  We always hear in prayers "God, thank you that we can freely worship and pray to you here (in America)."  And I know we have told our students that many people do not have the freedom to worship as openly as we do.  But to actually meet people who are serving in the places where they have to be careful not to overuse the words prayer, and God and missionary- it really makes me realize just how incredibly blessed I am. 

We have 2.5 more days here at the conference, and then 1.5 days before we leave for home.  And even though I am looking forward to the next few days here, I am excited to go home.  I miss our puppy, and out bed and the life and friends we have at home.  And I miss cheeseburgers, steak, sandwiches, salads, Goldfish, and I could go on and on about the food I miss.  Like I said, Thai food will no longer be appealing.  But for now, I am so glad and excited to be here, soaking up each wonderful and unique minute.