Are We There Yet?

Yesterday we had our first school field trip! We travelled in two song taws (driven by my student's dad a a friend of his) to Mae Rim. Our trip was about 45 minutes away and took us to Queen Sirikit's Botanic Garden. On the trip I had the inevitable conversation with one of my students that went something like this...

Student: "Are we there yet?"
Me: "Almost, about ten more minutes."
Student: Exasperated sigh.
Me: "What's wrong?"
Student: "I just wish we were already there."

I smiled while thinking to myself, how often in life do I say, "I just wish I was already there." There being spiritually mature, professionally skilled, or personally in my ideal life situation. I told my student that I understood but that maybe we could focus on enjoying the trip. So, now I'm reminding myself, "It all goes by so fast. Don't worry about when you will get there just enjoy the many delightful moments along the way." I hope you enjoy these pictures of my six beautiful children and some of our fun moments on this wonderful journey.

(Click on the pictures to see them full size)

More Than a Statistic

There are two students at our school, a brother and sister, who I have known are on a pretty big scholarship. Big deal. Most of the students at our school are on a scholarship of one kind or another. Today I found out why these two are able to come to school paying only a fraction of the actual cost. Their only mode of transportation is also their business. Their dad is a song taw driver. He makes between 300 and 400 baht per day. Which is about $12. However, gas costs about 200 baht per day, meaning that the total income is about $6. A family of four survives off of roughly $180 per month.

(Song taw)

Now transition with me...

It is estimated that the number of prostitutes in Thailand ranges from 800,000 to 2 million.

Rhode Island's population: 1,053,209. There are more prostitutes in Thailand than there are people in the state of Rhode Island.

Approximately 20% of these prostitutes are 18 years old or younger

Thailand is currently called the Disneyland of Pedophiles.

There are up to 600,000 cases of AIDS.

There are 1,300,000 Orphans in Thailand

Sex work has been become "normalized" in Thailand

Thai women believe that prostitution reduces cases of rape.

Back now to my student: my bright, beautiful, friendly little first grade girl. What does her future entail? When do her parents get tired of barely making ends meet and decide they need her to help make a little extra money? At what point does that become a decision a parent, a Buddhist parent with no hope, would make?

And then I think about the over one hundred children I have met face to face, who I've laughed with and talked with who have been rescued from this life of hopelessness and cruelty. Each child with an unimaginable past. One, a girl who at 5 years old was nursing her mom as she died of AIDS. Who after her mom passed away, was passed around her village, with no one taking her in, caring for, or loving her. Another a girl whose father was killed in an opium deal gone wrong, and whose mom now works in Bangkok as a prostitute. A third, a boy with scars on his face from his battered childhood and hidden scars from sexual abuse by foreign men. I then I think of the millions more who will never be rescued, and it breaks my heart.

Odds are stacked against them. Odds are stacked us as we try to fight for their freedom. However, the Lord has put on our hearts the desire to join these precious children in this battle. Our weapon of choice...education. "Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army." Edward Everett. However, the ultimate battle is for their souls and is won only by the power of the love of Christ which we seek to impart as we teach each day.

Please pray that The School of Promise will be a safeguard of liberty, educating children so as to break the cycles of poverty and oppression that hold so many. Pray that The School of Promise would bring hope into the lives of our students as well as their parents through the truths of the gospel. Pray that the girls who attend our school will see their value before God. Pray that the boys at our school would grow into men of God who treat women with respect and lead their families in paths of righteousness. Pray that each child will come to know Christ and walk in a manner worthy of the gospel.

Beauty

"Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth." Psalm 50:2

Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:6

I just wanted to share with you one of my favorite things in Thailand right now. Chiang Mai always has amazing flowers but this tree is my new favorite. They have started to bloom everywhere and they make me quite happy.

This morning we walked a to a restaurant a couple miles from our house for a Western breakfast as a special treat. Our walk took us past rice fields, cows, dozens of terracotta shops, temples, and my favorite kind of tree. So much fun! Thank you Lord for creating beautiful orange trees!

1st Grade

I love teaching first grade. Now, those are words I never thought I would say. When I was a substitute teacher in Texas first grade was the grade that most often caused to me to question my life choices. All of my horror stories were from first grade. But now for the second year I find myself teaching 5, 6, and 7 year olds.


Little children who...

• don't speak/understand English and several who don't really understand Thai yet


• when I say something in an excited voice gasp and act excited even though they have no idea what they should be excited about


• say that they want to color pictures just like I color them


• come running to me for help when their traditional Thai skirts and uniform skirts (which are all about four sizes too big) come unwrapped and are falling off


• weigh about as much as the backpacks they attempt to carry


• struggle under the weight of their chair at the end of the day when they put them on their desks


• make me smile at their childish delight of life


• tap their feet along with the praise music we listen to in the morning


• come running when I say, "Follow directions quickly."


• when they repeat after me match my tone perfectly while not always making distinguishable words


• ask after a short visit with a Thai friend whether she was speaking in Thai or English


• when praying over lunch thank God for the delicious delicious food


• speak from the Lord when I am telling a Bible story that I really want them to understand, and they recognize the story and say it in Thai for those who have never heard the story before.

Basically all this is to say that I am thankful I teach these little ones. I am thankful to be able to love them and to be one of their first teachers. My roommates and I were joking the other day that everyone remembers their fourth grade teacher but no one remembers their first grade teacher. That's okay with me, I just want them to learn without a doubt that they are loved by me and even more by God. I want them to enjoy life without the added burdens the years bring. I want them to be excited by small things. I want them to not be afraid to ask for help. I want them to come to know the Lord, the salvation He gives, and the life He desires them to live. I want them to start out with a strong foundation. May the Lord give Khruu Kae and I the strength and wisdom to teach them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

1st Grade Class Picture 2010

Visakha Bucha Day

Friday here was a school holiday and because we follow the Thai government schedule most of the holidays our school has are Buddhist related. Generally, we have no idea exactly what they mean or why we have a day off. This holiday however, was a little bit different. The holiday is Visakha Bucha Day which is a memorial to Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death. It is one of the most important holidays to the Buddhist people. During this holiday people are supposed to make merit (to try to cancel their bad deeds), give donations, mediate, give food to monks, and abstain from alcohol and immoral behavior.

A long held tradition in Chiang Mai during this holiday is a seven mile hike up to the temple perched on the mountain Doi Suthep. People walk up the mountain to make merit at the temple. Khruu Ooy offered to take us to the base of Doi Suthep so that we could walk up a little ways and observe this cultural experience. She said that they all hold candles as they climb in the night and that it is very pretty. As we got close to the base of the mountain it was packed with cars inching forward, people were covering the sidewalks. We joined the crowd of thousands walking the road. At times people were a bit spread out and other times we were squished into tight spots where we would all cram together to let a motorcycle fit through where there really was no space. Please keep in mind that it is hot season here, which makes being smashed against hundreds of other people a really unpleasant experience. During one of these times a "gutui" or a man who is now a woman commented to us in English "its hot" as he/she began fanning Amy.

Due to the recent political unrest there were many policemen and soldiers at several places along the way. At one point I was unnerved by a large group of young men in black shirts with white bandannas around their heads who were yelling loudly (people in Thailand are not generally loud). Khruu Ooy told us that they were from a nearby university. Apparently it is tradition for all the freshmen men from the several universities around Chiang Mai to dress alike and run and chant up the mountain.

At one point on the trek, at a particular curve in the road, many people were stopping and going up to a spirit house where a monk was chanting. This is the same spot that song taw drivers and any other Buddhist will wai as they drive up the mountain on any normal day. At about that same time there was a Buddha statue that was being transported up the mountain. Everyone who walked by waied the statue and bowed under it.

Really it was a sad thing for us to observe. One of my roommates commented on the fact that it is one thing to know that the huge majority of the people in this city are Buddhists, it is completely different to see those people all together in empty worship of a god who can not save. Please pray for the true "enlightenment" of Thailand. That they would see the light of Jesus and turn to Him.

I've included a video of a little bit of what we saw that night. I'm sorry it is not entirely clear. At the point we took this we had stopped on the side of the road and things were not as crowded as they had been. Here is just a little glimpse of the annual trek up Doi Suthep.

Dreams...

This last Monday night while at my boss's house for dinner, an interesting topic came up. We were talking about how someone told my boss before he moved out here, "That is so great that you get to fulfill your dreams." We began talking about whether this (our living and working in Thailand) was our dream for our lives. My boss explained his feeling as, "I enjoyed my last job but it was not deeply satisfying. I do not enjoy this job, but it is deeply satisfying knowing that I am doing what God desires." I think that explains it pretty well. This feeling is a little hard to explain, especially without a lot of background information so please do not misunderstand. I do not want this to sound as if we wallow in the fact that we live and serve here, because we know this is something that we do not have to do. We do it because God desires it and we desire to please Him (and He deserves our obedience). I do not want it to sound like self-pity because we are thankful for this opportunity and know that many people, even if their hearts desire it, are not able to move to another country following God's call. I do not want to sound like it is miserable because I love my students and enjoy teaching them. I merely mean to share with you a struggle that I face: desiring God's will no matter what, especially when it is not my "dream" and purposing to obey it when it is revealed. Right now, life over here is a temporary thing - however long God desires - but what about next year and ten years from now? Where is God calling me? I'm learning to believe the following lyrics:

I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
Losing control
Of my destiny
Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
So I’m letting go

This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace

The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone
Knowing You are holding me
I’m not afraid

Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
Feels like I’m falling and this is the life for me

Francesca Battistelli - Letting Go

They're telling me they're concerned for the way I am living
That I'll miss it all why would I think that God is that trusting
I can't explain all the words He has spoken to my heart
Why'd I want him more

I don't regret choosing You
And I'm not ashamed
That it's You who holds my heart

Why do we think if we trust God too much He will fail us
Nothing has come when I chose that it's in me I'd trust
Separate me, You have called out to follow You blindly
I won't fear You're leading me

You have shown my ever wondering heart what love is
What on earth is more important than to have all of you

Barlow Girl - I Don't Regret

After all, this life is not about dreaming up the life I desire and then working towards gaining that life. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me." Galatians 2:20 I am learning to live by faith: wherever, whenever, however, and with whoever.

Back to the Monday night conversation for a minute. One person said that they had seen on Facebook a half-marathon that all their friends had run in in the States. This person was feeling a little bummed that they had to miss this (and so much more) and my boss said, "You know Satan is in it when you are jealous other people are running in a half-marathon." At which we all burst out laughing.

This week we have carried on with our lives knowing that this is what we desire: to be transformed to look more like Jesus Christ, however our loving Father may decide to accomplish that goal. Trusting that whatever He calls us to is good and that we are safe forever in His arms.

First Week of School!

The School of Promise had its official first day of school Monday! That is such a huge praise! All those hours of scrubbing, painting, building, and planning have finally paid off! I now find myself in a much more challenging role, that of teacher. I am again getting used to the fact that during the day I have five small people who depend on me to teach them and love them. Children who I remind to wash their hands and whose skirts I continually fix because they are about four sizes too big. I pray that I can teach them to speak and understand English, add 2 +2, and know how a plant grows. But even more than that is the responsibility to share with them about the Lord, to speak grace and love into their lives, and to trust the Lord to cause hearts to soften and change. It is times such as these that I see how inadequate I am and how desperately I rely on the Lord's strength.

This poem by Amy Carmichael has been an encouragement to me recently.

God of patience and endurance,

Steadfast as the steadfast stars

Stands Thy promise, Thine assurance

Unto Thine ambassadors:

"I, thy God, will strengthen thee...

Where I am, there thou shalt be."

Lord, we would endure; O sift us

Clear of weakness; make us strong.

Lord, we would endure; O lift us

Into joy and conquering song.

Cause us in Thy peace to dwell,

Seeing the Invisible.

Let us welcome all life's weather,

Whatsoever it may be;

And, or singly, or together,

Find our heart's delight in Thee,

Our Redeemer, our Adored,

Lover, and beloved Lord.

Anyway... more about the students. It is always amusing when you ask a question to have the question repeated instead of answered. This week we are learning about living and non-living things. I said a statement that the students were supposed to repeat and then I said, "That's a hard one isn't it." To which my class parroted, "That's a hard one isn't it" which caused me to smile.

My poor lone boy sometimes has a hard time focusing on our lessons. Apparently that is the case when my Thai co-teacher is teaching as well. Amy and I were standing outside the classroom waiting to help with dismissal time when my student looked up and saw me standing outside the door. He had been looking around and not focusing. When he saw me he did the gesture for our classroom rule #2 "Stay on Task." Which as he was not on task appeared as if he was turning himself in.

I have been experimenting with Whole Brain Teaching strategies and they suggest having a gesture for each vocabulary word you teach. Great! If only teacher could remember all the gestures. ;) In all seriousness I think that is necessary especially when teaching ESL or what we jokingly call ETL (English as a third language). Instead of thinking of my own gesture I did what the program suggested, which ended up backfiring a little bit. The word is green and the gesture is to point to the ground and say 'achoo' because the picture is of grass. A little odd I know. Well now I have the situation of anytime any of my students see anything green whether in the classroom or outside they starting pointing and sneezing. I'm sure the other teachers think all my students have a cold.

Here are some pictures to give you a taste of what the school is like and what we do everyday.

These are our 12 students Grades 1, 2, 4, and 5 with our director Joel on the first day of school.

This is FUN reading time. The next to last period of everyday we spend thirty minutes reading. I normally read two stories and then let the kids chose a book to look at. Often times they bring it to me to read which is what is happening in this picture. I can't tell you how many times I read Goodnight Moon and The Three Little Pigs this week.

These are Amy's three boys (and Amy with her head cut off.)

My five 1st graders are working on writing the letter Nn on whiteboards.

Everyday we start school with an assembly where the students raise the flag and sing the national anthem.