Learning the Culture

While J is here, I felt it was important to mix in some cultural stuff with the straight up ministry opportunities he would have. I am hoping this will not be his last trip here, and if you hope to work with people in a foreign land, it is vital that you understand the things that make them unique. That is what Monday and Tuesday were about. Monday, we went to the Grand Palace. This is Bangkok's cultural jewel. A believer in Bangkok needs to see it to get a sense of this country's spiritual background and foundation. (And it is also one of the most beautiful places on earth.) Tuesday, we traveled two hours north to Ayutthaya, the original capitol city. Ayutthaya was destroyed by the Burmese army hundreds of years ago, but spectacular ruins remain.

Gold plating is everywhere in the Grand Palace. The grandeur of the place is hard to absorb.

The palace grounds are so big and filled with such intricate and beautiful buildings that photos really do not capture it well.

There are many intimidating figures here.

We took a water taxi back to a Sky Train station to get home. These are dirt cheap. Maybe thirty cents to go a couple of miles down stream. And they are fun.

When you are told you are going to go look at ruins, it can be underwhelming. Until you get there and see. And to think all of this was once covered by gold before the Burmese burned everything to get the gold.

Beautiful and haunting.

OK, sure, it is cheesy, but you can not visit Thailand without riding an elephant. This is J and Bamboo Pai. Pai joined us for the day, and it was great that he got to meet and spend time with J. Most of you know Pai's story. He is a young believer who I first met here in '06. He is a university student,majoring in environmental science. We were happy to have him with us.

Pai and J eat guitio (noodles) at a local roadside shop in Ayutthaya. J used chopsticks for the first time and did fine with them.
Tuesday night, Ah Jan Vee and Mhewy invited us to join them and a few others from church at Baiyoke Tower for dinner. Baiyoke is one of the world's tallest buildings and there is a restaurant near the top. Because Vee is in an intensive week long seminar at his seminary, he and J will get almost no more time together, so it was great to see them laughing and joking and just being friends last night.