A day at the market

I'm sure many people have been to a flea/outdoor market at some point. The weekend market Sarah and I went to yesterday was like none other! Oh my goodness! It never ended! Sarah and I walked for 3 hours and barely touched one part of it. Here's what it looks like inside one aisle. It keeps going and going, and going and usually it's like a dance trying to work your way around all the people. Sarah bought some postcards and I got a couple framed pictures of pressed flowers. I bartered a couple other times, but the people wouldn't come down enough on the price so I didn't get it. You can get literally anything at this place though, home decor, garden products, clothes, accessories, electronics, food, pets, paper products, candles, incense, silk. All of it you barter for and it's really inexpensive too.

Celebration!

Phew! Module 1 of Thai Language is finished. Sarah and I had our oral and written tests today, and both did fairly well. To celebrate we went to Swenson's and got an oreo ice cream sundae. Mmmmm-good! Then we went on an adventure with the Hedtke's. We really haven't explored too much yet so it was nice to learn about the subways there. We went to a place called Esplanade. Here's the Ronald McDonald outside. Basically, a glorified shopping-mall near the Thai Cultural center. There they have an indoor bowling alley, skating rink and movie theatre. We saw the movie Bangkok Dangerous which was awful (Thanks for the warning Ryan T. ;). If you haven't seen it, just don't. We ended the night with some Italian food, which was super good as well. Now that we know where the subway system is, hopefully Bangkok will be more open for us to explore, otherwise we would probably find ourselves hopelessly lost :(

Grrrr....

Ok, so this might just be a minor vent, but since it has caused me to literally have a headache right now, and has slightly inconvenienced other people I thought I would include this as part of what's going on. Working on week 4 and I still don't have internet access! At first it wasn't much of a problem; I figured I could survive without email for a couple weeks. Now though, I have gotten so far behind in my responses, I don't know when I'll ever catch up. Plus, I have a to-do list that keeps doubling every week it seems! For anyone that has sent me something in the past month, I sincerely apologize for not responding sooner. Half of my Gmail is starred so I can get back with you as soon as possible. Today, we went to the office and I was able to send 4 emails then copy about 12 into a word document so I can respond offline then paste my responses in email the next time I'm online. For now, I'm at least thankful that I can get online at the office instead of being stranded for who knows how long. In other news, I have a 2 hour test tomorrow to finish module one of Thai language school. This has also added to my stress and headache, though unnecessarily I'm sure. To top things off, I just tore open a packet of instant apple cider mix to enjoy and help me relax and it instead exploded all over the floor. Right now I just need the power to go out so I can't do my homework, and then I will call it a night and go to bed. In all seriousness I find solace in the hope that "joy cometh in the morning". Goodnight.

Pride goeth before THIS Aunt!!

Here she is folks! The first pictures I've received of Ariana Grace Williams, my first niece (that's right they changed her name again!! I think it's so neat this 3-D ultrasound imaging. I don't know I think she has Becky's nose! LOL Please keep my sister Becky and Anna in your prayers, as their doctors have been closely monitoring her pregnancy due to some major difficulties. Our family breathed a bated sigh of relief when Anna made it past 12 weeks. The doctors are anticipating her to go full-term now, if not just a few weeks early with a due date of December 1st. We are all very excited for this arrival, including Marshall who can't wait to be a big brother. Mom (Grandma Karkan) plans to call her by her middle name Grace as she believes by grace she will safely be received. I am sad I will not be able to see her or hold her when she is born, but regardless I will strive to be the best Aunt ever, even from the other side of the world.

Sauna!

That's right folks, a little over two weeks after moving in and Sarah and I discovered that our apartment complex has a traditional Finnish sauna. I was pretty much stoked, and today since we found ourselves with nothing to do by 7:30pm Sarah and I ventured to try it out. Let me just say it was wonderful, and just how I remember it from my visit to Finland. It included throwing water and everything. I think they prefer people that use it to go in their birthday suit, but we decided against that and wore towels instead. It proved to be the perfect way to take a break after a long day, and now that we know that it's there we want to be able to use it maybe weekly while we live here.

On Spiritual Warfare

Sarah and I have been here nearly 3 weeks. Now that the newness of our surroundings has started to wear off, the novelty of all things Buddhist are starting to wear off as well. It's like we are seeing things for how they really are. Everywhere I go, I am constantly affronted by false idol worship. On my floor the neighbors have trinkets, no doubt blessed by a monk, meant to protect their apartment, as well as script written on their doors. Taxi drivers have all sorts of good luck charms and flowers, as well as inscriptions on the ceiling to keep them safe as they drive. Monks are a daily sight, as we pass them blessing people who give them food offerings. Every building has an altar or spirit house of some sort draped with fresh flowers, and laden with burning incense, fresh fruits and cherry pop. Even in thinking of this I remember too that worship of false gods can take place in any form, only here it's blatant and to wood and stone. For others it is usually hidden and not readily seen or addressed. It might be the love of money, power, people, fear, uncertainty, etc. Regardless of what form it takes, all these things lead people away from God, and the saving work of Jesus Christ. Satan has so blinded the people here that it is all that they have known for countless generations. They can't see just as Jesus said in Matthew 13: 13, "This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

In the end it boils down to the fact that Satan has been at home in this place for quite some time. Therefore, he will be as reluctant as a mule to leave, often rearing his ugly head in the process. We rejoice however in the fact, that God's word is powerful and He has promised that it will not return empty. Please pray for this, that the Holy Spirit who is at work in us, may work in the hearts of people to give them sight and show them THE one and only true God.

Thai Language School and Men >:)

Who ever thought learning could be this fun? Week two of Language school is now over, and  I've already learned so much. Our Kruu (Teacher) is very much into kinesthetic learning, -as well as visual and audio- and has our class practice as much as possible. Here is a picture of Sarah and another student Matthias practicing giving driving directions to a Tuk-Tuk driver. There are four other students in the class for a total of seven. David is a brain surgeon and now missionary from Taiwan here with his wife who is in another class. Roger is a missionary as well from the Philippines. Kate is a nurse from Australia who works with HIV orphans up north near Laos. Mark is a gemologist from New York. Matthias is an American artist who grew up in Spain, and is visiting Thailand on holiday.

So far in class, we have learned greetings, how to order food and drink, give directions, and understand class related commands. It doesn't sound like much, but after four hours everyday my brain is usually ready for a break in the afternoon. We also learned yesterday that the Thai word for "to smell bad" is MEN!!!!! LOLOL!!!!!!! Sorry, guys I couldn't help myself!

Yesterday Kruu Arindah had us learn opposites, and she had us try something sour and then something spicy. Both were absolutely AWFULl!!!! Then she had us try them together like it would make it better and it only proved to be worse. Mark and I ran out of the room for water, and I gagged to swallow it. In the meantime my tongue was on fire from the chilies, and my eyes started tearing up! I never want to go through that again. Of course Kruu thought it was hilarious and couldn't stop laughing. Oh well.

Next week we are going on a field trip to practice what we've learned so far, or so the rumours say. It ought to be interesting to say the least.

Laundry Woes

For some reason I always have trouble when I try to dry laundry in a new country. First, I had to empty a bottle in England. Today when I unloaded the washing machine, I discovered 4 inches of water in the bottom. The rest of the water was still in my clothes. So right now they are dripping dry on my balcony, in my shower, and on my sink. I guess I'll try again next time.

Church at Hoy-Hin, Sii Kiu (UP North)

Wow. today's church experience was like none other. The Phong Phet congregation drove 2 1/2 hours north to a small village of about 200 people where we worshipped in a small Lutheran house church planted by a Scandinavian Lutheran church organization. The church is in the "pastor" or leader's home. He has not been ordained yet, so they depend on visiting pastors to provide communion, whenever they are able to have one visit. The service was led in both Thai and English, and about 25-30 people were there. They ranged in age from a 1 year old little boy who roamed around inside and outside, and a frail woman in her 80's who was bent over from years of hard labor in the rice fields. None of them spoke English, but it was incredible to see how we were able to communicate in other ways. We sang the same hymns, the same confession and absolution, said the same creed, Lord's prayer, and heard the same sermon each in our own language. They were also able to communicate a strong feeling of welcome and generous hospitality. There was no hesitation of greeting and wai-ing each other. Truly it was an honour to be there.

Perhaps what made it unique from any other church experience was just my American lens or way of noticing new things. Not every church has dogs and chickens running around outside in the dirt yard. Towards the end of the service it was really hard to concentrate because there was heat radiating on us from the tin roof overahead. It almost felt like we were baking in an oven. We eventually got used to it, and after the service we all went outside to eat lunch. As the guests, we were served first and sat at the tables on the porch together. All the elderly women and children sat on this platform out in the yard and ate there. Lunch was rice, topped with either fried fish, a spicy herb chicken soup, or a pumpkin and chicken dish. I had the pumpkin and chicken because the fish was staring at me.  They chopped fresh banana's for us to eat, and take home with us.

After lunch we just socialized. I waved at a woman across the yard, but the way I waved in Thai was actually motioning for her to come to me. So, she did and I felt kind of embarassed because she was older than me and I was beckoning her. We talked anyways, as much as we could that is. I think I was able to say my name, found out her name was Sakohnha, told her how old I was when she asked and found out the names and ages of all the children. Dang translated for me that I was very honoured to be there with then, and she returned the thanks.

On the way home Dang and I had fun causing mischief in the back seat, and had a good convo about mission work in Thailand. I'm chomping at the bit to start, but know that it's important for us to learn the language first. I'll continue to learn to be patient until then. Ok, this chapter is done now. Here's the pictures from today.

First day of school!

As Sarah and I made our 25 minute commute to language school at the Church of Christ Thailand language school I reminisced that this first day of school was nothing like when I started kindergarten. There was no big yellow bus, no pink Barbie lunchbox, no backpack full of school supplies, no teary-eyed parents waving as the bus pulled away, and it was definitely more of a cool morning as the fall began it's approach. Instead, I met Sarah on the terrace between our two apartment buildings, forgot to even bring a pen or pencil, only remembering my Skytrain pass, and started towards the station. We passed the spirit house that protects our buildings, and noticed that it had a fresh supply of flower garlands and cherry pop for the spirits to drink to keep them happy. By the time we got to the driveway, I could feel the sweat on my brow, and wiped it away as we continued past the 12 foot picture of the Queen which greets everyone coming to Lumpini Place. We walked down the sidewalk of Saphan Kwai (the street we live on) dodging bicycles, people and a few street vendors, trying not to twist an ankle or lose our balance as it was uneven, broken up, and intersected by soi's (sidestreets) randomly. Sarah just cut off a motorbike, and hurries to get away as quickly as she can. All around us is a sensory overload, and it is difficult to tell which is stronger. The smells are potent and range from exhaust fumes, evaporating rainwater, and flowers to worship Buddha, to curry from a street vendor, charcoal smoke, and grilled bananas. The sounds are mostly of traffic; overpowering motorcycle engines, buses, impatient taxi drivers, etc. As well as shopowners opening their stores, train wheels squealing on the tracks ahead, pigeons, awnings flapping in the wind, bicycles bells chiming, and people talking. As much as I try to avoid the dripping water coming from leaky gutters and pipes that lead to who-knows-where, I fail and briefly ponder whether this is like Chinese water torture. The heat is ever-present and to this point foremost of my senses. Even so we push on through, up and out of the chaos to the Skytrain station where we board and the personal space as well as air-conditioning makes it seem like an oasis. We have but a short walk from our stop to the school where we arrived 35min early. Unsure of what we should do, who our teacher was, or what room we should be in, we were told to sit on a couch and wait. After that it was sink or swim. Our class had already started the week before, and the 5 other students in there already had some basic questions and to review back and forth. At times is was a little overwhelming, but eventually we caught on. I never knew asking someone what their favorite color was could be so intense. By the end of the day, my head hurt and I was ready to commute back to our apartments after a stop at Big C for supplies.

That evening, I stared at the directions for my new rice cooker for an hour trying to figure out what the pictures meant since it was written in Thai. Thankfully Pastor Bob and Diana called to ask how our first day was and they helped out with the rice situation. I feel it was very appropriate that my first meal I cooked here was rice. I'm sure eventually I'll be sick of it.

I called Dang and asked her what her favorite color was and she understood, so I got an A for the day.