Montana A (A is for A-team) #3

So, after the team was showered, and refreshed and filled with a nice breakfast of eggs, toast and coffee, we were off on another adventure. This morning we were headed to the village of Pakham Mai to finish the final task of the building project: Painting. When we got to the village they had already started putting the white base coat on the outside and inside. It was a bustle of activity as several kids were running around playing, people were unloading supplies, others were cutting down bamboo poles for painting high areas, and even a bunch of piglets were busy munching on jack fruit. Once Ning explained what was going on the team got straight to work. Ning was the director of the show and knew just what was going on. If anyone needed paint, a paint brush, paint thinner, a bucket, a tray, a bamboo pole: Ning was the one to ask. Near the church they had placed some water containers which were used for washing hands and paint brushes if someone needed to switch colors. Pastor Schultz and Frank almost had the second coat up and on the front wall within the first 20 or so minutes. The paint dried so quickly it wasn't a problem and let another group of people begin the trim on the bottom. The other team members had begun the same system on the other 3 walls, and the rest worked on the inside. By the way things were moving, we were pretty sure we would be finished that day. This team was a machine! By lunch time the outside was nearly completed. The upper part of the outside was a light Robin's egg blue and the bottom a deep burgundy or wine color. Much precision was done in this project including making sure that the paint specs were wiped off of the sign. I of course, being the clumsy one manages to spill a huge puddle of the burgundy on the sidewalk by the side door. Hopefully when people go in there they don't think of the clumsy American that did that! My fun was working on making sure the trim looked as straight and even as possible. When we took a break for lunch we were well-satisfied and made our way to Ning's house. Everyone agreed that the food was delicious. Really the Hmong way of cooking is very simple. They use greens and herbs that they find growing wild or around their yard, add a little salt, saute it and it always turns out to be a great meal. They have a wonderful chili salsaish dish that them make too and it is fabulous.

Back at the church: they had decided earlier that a white cross on a white background didn't show up very well, so we took it down and I painted it with the burgundy and later on hung it from a tree so the whole thing could dry. Stain work began on the doors with Carrie, Melissa, Jetta, and Billye, while several other people began trim and wall work on the inside or finished up the final touches on the outside. Paint on the bathroom started also. By 4 or 5 it was time to start cleaning up. In the mean time Sierra, and Frank had long established a friendship with several of the kids that were there or joined them after school. The kids braided Franks hair, played with Sierra on a rope swing and were fascinated that pulling on Franks beard made him sound like Donald Duck! It was so fun to watch. Melissa and the other ladies eventually got a group to teach them school yard songs and games like London bridge is falling down. Everyone was having a good time. While Billye, Suphan and I were cleaning trays we sang songs, and even sang our national anthem for Suphan to hear.

That afternoon was just so nice and relaxing. Everyone was busy doing something, chatting, playing singing, cleaning, trying to get stubborn paint off of our bodies, etc. We finally packed everything up in Ning's truck and called it a day. The kids whisked our team away to go down by the lake and play in the water, while Frank continued to entertain them as well. Dinner was well under way and was a combination of many cooks, including our driver Amnot, Suphan, and Ning's wife. Dinner was no different than lunch meaning that it was also delicious. Afterwards, the guys removed a bunch of chairs and sat out in the yard together shooting the breeze while the women and kids came into eat. At that time, bubbles were presented to the kids and the yard turned into a cloud of bubbles everywhere. Eventually, several more people had joined the crowd, when Pastor's Schultz and Suphan led a bible story using the new pictures that they had presented the church. We sang songs together and eventually it was time to go. I think our group had mixed feelings about leaving. Everyone was so happy being there that it was sad to go, and many teary eyes could be seen. That is the awesome wonder I get every time I go to that village. It's just incredible to know that they welcome you as their family and form a bond with you in just a few short hour's time.

For more pictures of Pakham Mai click here!

Montana A (A is for amazing) #2

Now that we are in Tak the next place to go is the Hmong village of Loh Koh where we will spend 2 days. We met the Hmong Pastor Suphan at our hotel and then headed towards the Klongwangchao National Park. On the way we stopped at a market where we got enough food to feed an army (us) and things like boots, hats and straw mats. Here is Dang and Pastor Suphan picking out the meat. Can you guess what kind of meat it is? On arrival at the park it was just a matter of waiting for enough trucks to get us up into the village. One truck was completely full with all our belongings, a cooler for the food, and a refrigerator and other things for some people in the village. The other 2 trucks carried our team, Suphan, 2 government officials, the village leader's daughters and some other villagers who had to come down to go to the doctors. The trip up into the village is not an easy one and is passable only by motorcycle or 4-wheel drive vehicle. The views however are amazing! In a way it brings a sense of wonder and amazement as well as suspense for what is waiting for you ahead. It is so remote that you wonder how people live there. As you leave the park the road slowly degrades until you are crossing bridges made out of fallen trees, climbing rock mountains, sliding through ruts and rivers of mud, bumping along through corn fields and up steep inclines followed by a rush down the other side all the while honking the horn for people on the other side who might not give way on the one-laned path. Then an hour or more later, we arrive! We parked at the daycare and unloaded a few things. The food went to the village leader's home and our belonging were trucked up the hill to a house that is empty for us to stay in. Suphan led us through the woods on foot so we would know the way between the house and school. The house has steps leading up to the porch where we form an assembly line of people unloading our bags and camping gear. Essentially that is what we are doing as there are no real windows or doors on the house to keep out bugs and other critters. We didn't stay long to make house though instead we headed back to the school to get started on painting.

Painting is a new concept to this community, so we got things started, by doing things like opening the cans, mixing the paint, thinning the paint and giving everyone a brush. During our absence at the house, it seemed like the news spread like wildfire that 3 trucks full of farang had arrived. When the first coats of paint went up, we had quite an audience. It didn't seem like 15 minutes before lunch was announced and we were pulled away from the work.

The village leader and his family are such wonderful people. They always open their home for us and are such gracious hosts. They of course had waaaay too much food for us to eat, we ate very well. This would continue to be the trend for the remainder of the trip. Our team soon discovered that they would need to get used to sitting on the floor Indian style. They also would get used to eating lots of rice which was served with every meal.

When we returned to the school the base coat was nearly finished on the outside! We were literally stunned. All the 20 some people standing around took our brushes and went to work while we were gone. They had only needed someone to show them how it worked and they were on it. They also chopped down some nearby bamboo sticks to put the rolling brushes on so they could reach the high spots. They had constructed a couple makeshift ladders before but only two people could use it.

Some of our team went to work on the fence around the daycare property while the rest took up their paint brushes and went back to work. Billye, Melissa, Carie and Sierra had quite a system going on the fence and got it up pretty quickly. The atmosphere was so energetic simply because of all the activity that was going on around. Children were running around everywhere, a group of men were cutting bamboo for the fence because they were going to run out of wood slats, another group was putting the wood slats on the posts, there were people painting on all sides and all levels of the school, and of course there were a whole bunch of other people just milling around talking, watching and playing. As the afternoon wore on it started to rain and then it started to pour which stopped all work. We tried to wait it out in the school building. By then everyone was tired from the long trip and the several hours of work. At dinner time the rain hadn't let up, so we called it a day. Pam and Frank went up to the house for everyone's rain gear and boots, but they didn't see mine so Suphan lent me his shoes which were too big for me but they kept me from slipping in my flip-flops. We ate dinner in the dark and then had to find our way back to the house on the hill in the dark and pouring rain. By far my least favorite part of the experience, only because I don't like going on steep, muddy inclines in daylight let alone pitch black darkness. I eventually carried the shoes after slipping and falling and walked barefoot. When we got to the house we were pleasantly surprised to find it filled with children and several oil lamps so we could see each other in the big room. It was quite a contrast from the dark, rainy night outside the building and filled the place with warmth and welcome. The children and several adults came for fellowship and a chance to learn from the bible and sing songs. Melissa taught the children how to sing "This Little Gospel Light of Mine" which was perfect in such a setting. It felt like we were among the early Christian church in a makeshift home gathered around dim lights and anxious to hear from God's Word and spend time in fellowship, encouraging one another. Towards the end, Suphan asked Pastor Schultz if the following day they could do a baptism. There was a family there that had been waiting for a long time for a Pastor to come, but they hadn't been visited in awhile and didn't know the next time someone would come! They of course didn't want to wait, so the following day we planned for their baptism! This was cause for much excitement of course to see a family so eager to receive that gift. The evening was closed in prayer and the Doxology which was led by Suphan in the Hmong language. As our guest made their leave, we prepared to go to bed. Billye, Dang and I slept in the area that was more like a bedroom. Jetta, Carie, Melissa and Sierra slept in the alcove next to that off the big room and Pastor, Pam and Suphan slept out in the big area. Suphan and I took one of the floor mats to cover the entrance way and keep out creatures and hopefully some of the cold. The bathroom was up the hill a ways so we went in groups and had to use our headlights. Fun fun! Once Dang, Billye and I settled in to listen to the noises around us we couldn't help but laugh listening to the people snoring after having made arrangements for Frank to sleep in the daycare by himself because he snored! It didn't make a difference anyway, the sounds of nature were so loud, it seemed deafening. Thankfully Kristin gave me earplugs which came in handy, even when the roosters started crowing at 3:30am!

Tuesday morning most of us were up with the sun and the roosters. By 7 we were at breakfast and not long after that we were at the school opening up fresh cans of bright PINK paint. I think our team was a little shocked at the color. After seeing the green from Bamboo Island, the pink wasn't as much a shock. The base would be brown, so it would look pretty good for a school. By early afternoon the entire outside of the school was finished, the fence was nearly done and the villagers were finishing it up, the inside of the school had painted the concrete on the bottom and the bathroom was also painted. With nothing left to do, because we were out of paint, we cleaned up the show and went to lunch. The rest of the afternoon was planned out for us so we hurried along. Our next event was taking the Hmong version of a tractor ride up to the King's project with a stop along the way to cool off in a river we crossed. I think everyone appreciated the swim and chance to semi-bathe. The lady driving the lead tractor even got in the river to catch some fish. On the way further up to the project it started to rain and one tractor had to be pushed by several people. They finally just decided to have everyone walk the short way up to the headquarters (more slippery mud). Thankfully I had my boots with me. At the top of the hill it stopped raining and the team was introduced to the plantation and how they are developing new crops besides corn and rice like coffee etc. After that we headed back to the village. A group of the girls planned to go see how Hmong food was cooked, so they took off pretty quickly with Dang and the 2 daughters of the village leader. Billye and I decided this was the perfect time to check out the shower house. Suphan was already there ahead of us, so we sat and visited then took turns showering. I am pretty sure I pulled a muscle in my neck trying not to scream when I poured the first bucket of rain water over my shoulder because MAN, it was freezing!!! Despite the cold, it felt so good to be clean from head to toe! We headed back to the house to lounge while waiting for dinner and Suphan prepared for the baptism service that evening. He was fully ready for any situation with all of his service books and bible. Meanwhile the rest of the group was scattered around the village. Some resting, some with kids at the school playing with bubbles, playing soccer, making crafts with stickers, or in the kitchen learning Hmong cooking style. Dinner was once again delicious and early enough that we made it back to the house before it got too dark.

This evening we had time to actually get ready for our guests, light the lamps and move our camping gear out of the way. Just like the night before, bibles had to be read with flashlights and there was just enough light from the lamps to see the intent faces of all those present. I think everyone was excited too to be there and see the baptism of this man, his wife and their 3 children. I laughed when I saw the little girl hitting her brother who was in her way, and thought to myself, "you have no idea how your life has just changed do you?" Pastor Schultz led a brief devotion on the cleansing of Naaman the leper. Then Pastor Suphan led the baptism in the Hmong language and asked Pastor to perform the baptism while he spoke the words. You could just tell from the smiles on their face that they were so excited and eager for this event. The team from Montana gave them each a gift including a cross to hang in their home. The following morning Suphan and Pastor Schultz would go to their home to remove their idols and bless their home. This evening ended with the doxology again in all 3 languages present: Hmong, Thai and English.

As everyone was leaving, the Lord blessed us with a very special treat. The night sky was perhaps one of the most beautiful sights many of us had ever seen. I mean it was just absolutely glittering! The milky way was a prominent sight, and I couldn't even distinguish most of the constellations because there were so many stars that the constellations couldn't stick out! It made me think of star gazing with my Dad on the back porch in Ohio. That night I slept much better and was awake t 3:30am when the roosters started crowing. They seem to have a snooze button too because they all stopped at once and half an hour later started up again.

Oh well, by 6am everyone was up and relatively packed. Pastor Suphan took us around to visit some of the church members who couldn't make it the evening before and then we went to eat breakfast for the last time at the village leader's house. The truck ride down to the national park was much more fan than every other ride I've had to or from the village. I rode with Pam, Pastor Schultz, Amnot, Melissa, Suphan and a husband and wife who were going to Chiang Mai for theology training with Suphan and other Hmong leaders from the US. It was fun for 2 reasons. 1) I got to talk with Fone, the 16 year old girl (yes, she is married) going to Chiang Mai and 2) because towards the end I got to stand up and have the wind blow in my hair! I felt like we were surfing on the truck as it zoomed around corners and under low tree branches! We had one glitch when the truck couldn't get in gear going up a steep hill and we were rolling back towards the stream but not on the tree-log bridge,

so the guys got out and took care of that "situation". And just like that, half of our trip was over! It was off to Mae Sot, near the Burma border where we would spend time recovering, showering, shopping at the border market and eating at the Imaginary Forest restaurant before heading to Pakham Mai the next day! For more pictures and descriptions of our adventures in Loh Koh click here!

Montana A (A is for awesome!) #1

Well, I think I am going to break this up. Otherwise there would be too much info lost in this last incredible week.

This post will cover my team's arrival, orientation and travels to Tak.

When I found out that we would have 3 teams coming within 3 weeks of each other I quickly found out that it is a lot of work! Our third team however ended up being 2 teams because 18 people signed up to serve in Thailand! Way to go Montana district! The teams were split into team A and team B, very original I know! A was slated to serve with the Hmong in Northern Thailand and team B was to serve in Bangkok with our local ministries. Most of team A arrived early in the week to spend the time recovering from jet lag and visiting a few places they wouldn't get to see in the city. So they came into the office on Thursday while my supervisor Kristin was coming to work with me. On Saturday we got to do orientation! This was actually unique for me as I wasn't able to do a formal orientation with the Bamboo Island team. I really enjoyed it because I got to hear from Dennis Denow who has served in and out of Thailand for many years as well as Christie Nelson who I mentioned before served here for 15 years. Goi from our church also came and did a neat activity with them about culture and certain things to be aware of concerning the differences between Thai and American culture. Seth even got to come along for the fun! Here is our group afterwards before we left for lunch at Big C. For their "cultural learning" we took them to the Grand Palace where everyone got a chance to see the unique architecture of the Wat of the Emerald Buddha and learn how Buddhism is such an intricate part of Thai culture. Following that we went to the Jim Thompson house where they learned about Thai housing styles. To end the evening we all got to eat at the Siam Paragon food court and then peruse the Thai style street foods!

Sunday, everyone was up bright and early and had all their stuff packed into the van by the time I arrived at the hotel at 9am. We departed for church at Phongphet at 9:30. Pastor Schultz was the guest preacher that morning. The church then provided lunch for us afterwards which included an absolutely delicious Panang Curry!!! After lunch we packed it up and moved it out! Our team then headed for a 4 hour drive to the Suan Sin hotel in Tak province and enjoyed a nice Chinese style dinner which everyone agreed was delicious! That night we headed to bed early for our last night in comfy beds. We planned to start the next day early! Here are the rest of the orientation pictures!

Kristin's Visit

Oh my! What a week! My Deaconess Intern supervisor Kristin from CUC came to visit Sarah and I last week for our internship supervision. The time just flew by while she was here too! Sarah, Christie and I went to the airport to pick her up. She stayed in my apartment on my new mattress that Dang and I got from Makro. The next day we decided to take our time getting ready and went over to the Kayes apartment for lunch. Grace came with us to go to Siam and MBK with Kristin. It was so nice to have an afternoon to spend with the girls. The next day was Sunday, so Kristin got a chance to go to church with us at Phong Phet. Sarah brought her girls from the daycare with her, so we all ate lunch together with Dang who then dropped us off at the Southern Bus terminal. The bus ride was a little shady, and things didn't improve much when we made it to Jomtien and were dropped off on the side of the road. We had to take a motorcycle taxi to our hotel which included me sitting on the 5 inches of seat that was left after the driver and Sarah were on without foot rests. Believe me I was praying that we wouldn't hit a bump and I would go flying off. My thighs and butt got quite a workout! Too much info...I know.
Our hotel proved to be pretty nice, unlike the beach which we discovered the next day that parts of it attracted gay men that come to Thailand to hire young Thai boys to be their "friend" for the week or two! In between our beach walk and dinner Sarah got a pedicure while I got my hair cut. I needed a trim so I asked the lady to cut it just a little. A little to her meant that the first cut took off 4 inches. When I turned with wide eyes in shock to Kristin who's expression matched mine, she quickly assured me that it would look cute! LOL! That's ok, it will grow quickly enough and I'll be nice and cool working in the Hmong villages. Moving on...Kristin and I enjoyed oil massages at the hotel and the last day the sun actually came out and we got a chance to work on a tan! The food there was good and Kristin got plenty of pictures of the washed up jelly fish to bring back to her kids.
Tuesday we had a much nicer bus experience heading back to BKK. Kristin and I went to MBK for her to finish her souvenir shopping and then we headed back to my apartment in the world's longest traffic jam. It occurs every weekday in BKK at 6pm.
Wednesday we joined the Mother's Day celebration at the Bang Na daycare with Sarah and then went to the crocodile farm with the Kayes. I enjoyed spending time with Nathanael, though we didn't get to ride the train or feed the crocodiles a dead chicken. We did see an elephant show and lots of crocodiles in small cages as well as a crocodile show that made me sick to watch, only because I was waiting for the guy that stuck his head in the crocodile's mouth to get it bit off!
On Thursday Kristin went to work with me and we got to meet our team from Montana that arrived the night before. They seem like a fun group to work with! That's next week. That day I handed off Kristin to Sarah at Siam Paragon after we snacked on all the free food samples from the gourmet market! It was such a great week with her, and I was sad to say goodbye! It's hard to believe that my first year is almost over! ~Thanks for the pictures Kristin!

The Kayes are here!

Well! I have certainly been to the airport a lot in the past couple weeks! I love it! This day was especially exciting because Pastor Carl Kaye and his wife Grace and son Nathanael are finally here! It has been several months since the retirement of Pastor Bob Hedtke and Diana. Our team here was very much looking forward to welcoming the Kayes! Dang, La, Dennis, and I all went to the Suvarnabuhmi to meet them. When I first caught sight of them I thought Pastor Carl was pushing two carts, but really Nathanael was pushing one that had bags stacked so high I couldn't see him! We got them loaded into a van and headed off to the Wanpaka House. They will be living in the same apartment that Pastor Bob and Diana lived in! We are so happy to have them here! Please pray for their belongings to get shipped here soon!