Tiang Aahaan (lunch!)

At least twice a week, Momo and I eat lunch at a little dive just a few doors from the Fenix Building where I work. A lot of the farangs (foreigners) consider it a little TOO authentic for their tastes and won't eat here, but I love it! Yesterday I had rice with sauteed green peppers and squid in a black pepper sauce that was terrific... for about a dollar and twenty cents.

Only six tables or so in the main area.

But we often eat upstairs. Now, it IS hot as all get-out up here, but it is fast, the food is good, it's cheap, and we get back to work very quickly.

Once a week I have mama. Pretty much, it is Ramen noodles supreme. They start with a package of Ramen noodles just like you can get at any grocery in the states for ten cents a pack or so. (Some of us at a LOT of this in college!) But they jazz it up by adding bean sprouts, diced pork, pork sausage balls, some green onion and a veggie a bit like boiled turnip. I add a spoon of crushed red pepper and lunch is served for one dollar American. This place serves a full menu of Thai foods, but Momo and I both like mama and have it, like I said, once a week at least.

Souvenir vendors

Many of the streets here are lined with vendors selling everything imaginable. Clothing, souvenirs, knockoff Rolexes... you name it. And you bargain for everything. You just have to tell yourself that if you feel good about what you paid, the you got a good deal, because you seldom know if you paid too much or not. I felt bad last week after buying one thing and an American lady was watching me bargain and after I agreed on a price, she told me she had paid twice as much for the same thing the day before.

Looking down from the Skytrain station on a vendor selling tee shirts, sunglasses and assorted other items.

Handbags R Us!

A Little Damp Out There

As if to prepare us for the rainy season a few months ahead, we had a downpour today that left the streets in town flooded. All this in about an hour's time. It will be like this several times during rainy season, but it is quite rare this time of year.


Standing in front of the Fenix Building, where I work. Behind me is the intersection of Sukhumvit Road and Soi (sidestreet) 31.

Vendor and motorcycles both up to their axles.

You either get a cab or you take off your shoes and socks... or ruin a pair of shoes.

4/26 Back to Ja Rurat

I was scheduled to speak next Friday at church and again the last Sunday in May, at the early service. Last week, my friend Greg Brown contacted me to ask if I could switch days with him, as he had a conflict and could not speak next week. No problem. So I am now going to speak next Friday and Sunday. Then, this week, Vee sends an email saying he really needs me to speak THIS Sunday. So I end up getting this morning and twice next week. The funny part to me is that just last week Vee and I were talking and I told him I was so glad I had not been called to become a pastor, because I could not imagine having to come up with sermon ideas every week!

But all is well. I have not spoken at church for well over a month, and after next week, I will not be on the schedule again until early June.

My buddy, Son, leads worship in the early service. The whole worship team is made up of people I treasure.

Ah Jan Winit translates while I speak on Romans 3, and two of the most beautiful words in the Bible... "But now..."

Ja Rurat was an unusual experience today. It was just Vee and me today. The others could not make it. Just before we arrived, the heavens opened and it rained heavily. The rain kept most of the kids from making it to join us. Just a handful of the real young'uns. Here, Vee leads them in a song.

Vee gets an assist with leading music.

The last Sunday of the month, we always try to have a small party. Today, Vee brought cake. The kids loved it.

My girl Fern, sporting a new hair color. There are a lot of kids walking around right now with bleached hair. I am still not sure if it is a new fashion statement or if it is somehow tied to the Songkran holiday we just celebrated.

After Ja Rurat, Vee and I headed to another nearby slum area to bring some milk and food to the old lady we visited last week. First, you make your way through a maze of narrow walkways.

Hundreds of homes, most about ten feet by ten feet, packed in right next to and across from each other. I often think of the terrible fire hazard. If a building deep inside the community caught fire, hand held extinguishers are all you have because vehicles can not get back here. And when its hot, as it almost always is, there is almost no breeze at all in here, so it is like an oven.

Today she was in her home. About ten by ten, with linoleum just laid on the floor (which is actually better than most places, where they have bare wood.) There is an old battered wardrobe against one wall and that is all the furniture in her house. The pile of blankets on the floor behind her IS her bed, and the bed of her grandson. They just grab blanket or two and sleep on the floor.

Vee and I visit with her and pray for her. I told her today that there are people reading this blog who are very interested in her life and who are praying for her. She smiled and said that if anyone comes from America to visit, they are welcome to come visit her.

The thing that gets me is that this is all she knows. Tomorrow will be the same as today, which has been the same as yesterday. I believe more than ever in my life that God's heart is with the poor, and that we, who have been so blessed with comfortable lives, have deep obligation to make a difference in the lives of those who have so very little.

Back Where I Belong!

After not being in the slum at Ja Rurat for three weeks, it was so great to get back and see everyone again! My little buddy Ohm saw me coming from a distance and lit up with a big smile and shouted "Big C"!

This week I spoke to the children about being pleased when we tell the truth, even when telling the truth can get you into trouble. After that, the older children got a handout that spoke about telling the truth and the younger kids were introduced to the letter "A."

Ohm, with his contemplative pose.

Giving treats to kids who could answer questions about the day's teaching. I am NOT above bribery!

Note finds a friend to help him with the music. Note has been such a great addition to the team!

Pin translated for me and is so great with the kids.

Vee. Superman. He does it all.

Helping color.

Hard at work.

A is for Ant. (Which is not easy, because in Thai, that critter is a "mot.")

After Ja Rurat, Vee and I went to another slum community to visit an old woman who is a member at Immanuel, but who is too frail to come to church now. Like Ja Rurat, it is a maze of little one room houses all connected and with a small foot path between the facing fronts of the houses.

I've visited this woman several times before. When we arrived today, she was laying in the footpath in front of the house. Her legs are too spindly for her to be able to walk, so she pulls herself out of her house into this footpath where there is a bit of a breeze. Vee brought her some milk so she'd have a bit of nutrition. She has a grandson I would guess to be twelve years old who cares for her. The boys parents are long since gone and Vee had no idea where they'd gone to. It is just the boy and his grandmother. How they eat and make it from day to day is beyond me. And what happens to the boy when grandma is no longer here, is anyone's guess, too.

Friday Nights

On Friday nights we have prayer and praise at church. When I first came to this gathering late last summer, we were averaging a dozen or so. Now we are up to thirty. Interestingly (and tellingly) most of the regulars on Friday night are also the people on the slums team.

We actually have two complete 'services' each Thursday. We start at 7:00 p.m. with an hour or so of prayer and praise and then have a one hour Bible lesson with Ahjan Winit. Currently, we are working through II Samuel. After a half hour break outside to visit and have snacks, we go back inside the Sunday School room where we meet for another half hour or so and another message. I speak here the first Friday of every month. We usually break up and head home sometime between 11:00p.m. and midnight. I often wonder how many of us in the US would welcome four of five hours of worship and Bible study each Friday night? It is actually a great experience. After a week of 'regular life,' it can be like taking a refreshing shower.

Songkran

Songkran is the Thai New Year celebration, held each year in April. It is also referred to as the water festival. Basically, it is a big water fight. People dress in bright colors and line the streets, drenching passersby and cars as they drive past, as well. It's actually a form of blessing. Often the Thais will approach you before dumping a cup (or bucket) of water on you and will smear your face with a mixture of water and (I think) flour. While doing so, they will give a blessing like, "I wish you health and happiness."

Today, I went out on the street with New, one of the guys I tutored in English the first time I was here in 2006. We got soaked several times over. The heat index today was about 106 Fahrenheit, so it didn't exactly feel bad to get wet.

Waiting to catch the next pedestrians.

I get a bucket dumped on me. The first of many.

After getting "blessed."

New got his, too.

Now soaked to the bone and ready to call it a day.

Gang celebrating after dousing New and me.

A crowd at the bottom of the Sky train stairway, waiting for their next victims.

Truck loads of folks with buckets of water to throw, and people along the streets waiting to get them back.

I save all of my change in a bowl at home. When it fills, I bag it up and take it with me when I leave home, looking for a beggar to give it to. Today, New and I came across this little fellow begging on the sidewalk. He's probably three or four.

New pours the bag of change into the little guy's cup. It was about five hundred bahts, which would be a small fortune to this boy and his mother. Just hope they use it for food and necessities.

Lucky Draw

Thailand still has compulsory military service. Each young man in Thailand must return to his home province in his early twenties and participate in what they call the "lucky draw." They report to a military office where they draw a slip of paper from a box. If the slip is red, they are compelled to serve three years in the Thai army. If the slip is black, they are excused from service. The odds differ from privince to province. Each province has a quota they have to fill each year. In some provinces, a lot of that quota is filled by volunteers who see the army as good, reliable employment. In general, I believe the odds of being 'drafted' are about one in five.

This week, two of my young friends from the slums team, Eddie and Son, went back to their home towns to do their lucky draw.


Eddie, sadly, drew red. If ever there were someone ill-equipped for military service it would be Eddie, and he knows it. He had been so worried about this. He does have three months before he has to report. And apparently he will be serving in his home province which is just a few hours north, so we can visit him from time to time. It is just part of life here in Thailand, but I am deeply saddened. We'll miss Eddie terribly.

Eddie's biggest fear right now is for his hair. Hey, if you had hair like that, you'd be worried too! Please do pray that God will prepare Eddie for the adventures that lie ahead, and that he will find favor with his fellow soldiers and with his leaders. We trust that God will go before him and make the crooked places straight.

There is some good news. Sontoya (Son) was excused from service. Son has become a dear friend over the past year, both to me and especially to Jason. As disappointed as I am with losing Eddie from the team, I am equally blessed to know that Son is not going anywhere.

On the latest unrest

Soldiers at the Skytrain station.

As many of you know, the Prime Minister declared a state of emergency for several areas of Thiland, including Bangkok, today. There are some tanks in the street, but most people see no difference in their daily activities at this point.

At its simplest, a group loyal to the deposed former prime minister are pressuring the current prime minister to step down and call for snap elections here. They are convinced (probably for good reason) that in an election, the former prime minister's party would win, paving the way to bring the former PM back from exile to resume leadership of the country.

This weekend, Thailand was hosting a summit of leaders from around Asia. The protesters succeeded in disrupting the summit to the point that the summit was cancelled and everyone went back to their country. There are now questions about whether the current prime minister has the ability to bring stability to the country. A lot of turmoil, once again.

I continue to feel very safe. As long as you avoid a handful of locations around town, you would not know anything was happening. We did get close to the action in one sense last Thursday. The protesters at one point planned to march on the prime minister's home. Until that day, I had not known he lives about a block and a half from where I work, on the same street. That day, the street was packed with police vehicles and officers were everywhere. The protesters, though, changed their plans, so nothing came of it all.

One thing I want to communicate is how miserable this makes the average Thai. They know that this makes their country look bad internationally, and all Thais are intensely proud of their country. A relative handful of people on both political extremes have caused this continued violence. Probably close to 90% of the people here just want things settled one way or another and for the political fighting to stop.

Please pray for peace and stability for Thailand.

#####

We had a wonderful Easter at Immanuel Baptist. I can't believe it, but I forgot my camera this morning. A friend is sending some photos for me to add to this entry later. Saturday night, all the orphans from Baan Imjai, the orphange I visited in Chiang Mai last Fall, showed up to share Easter with us. Forty one children made the eight hour trip. They sang for us today and it was very cool. I hope to have more photos up soon.

My friends on the slum team left today for Nakornsawan, where they will be leading a youth camp the next three days. I am heartbroken at not being able to join them, but my doctor does not want me taking that long of a car ride so soon after surgery. I am, however, continuing to feel fine. Thanks, I am sure, to your prayers, I have had zero pain since waking up after surgery. My surgeon is amazed at my quick and painless recovery.

No more pain in the back side!

As most of you know, I had surgery last week to repair a herniated disc in my back. This was done at Bumrungrad Hospital, which has one of the best reputations in the world, for good reason. Medical care in Thailand is terrific. It is fast, and very very good.

Bottom line is that I came through the experience in great shape. I had been scheduled to do three days in the hospital, but it went so well I was released less than 24 hours after surgery. The moment I awoke, the pain in my hip (the main symptom) was totally gone. Even the doctor was surprised when I didn't even have pain in the area of the surgery, itself, in my lower back. Today, I am walking without a limp for the first time in a long time, and I am feeling fantastic. Thanks so much to everyone for your prayers!

Tiny pic, but this is the food court, with great food from all over the world.

The entrance area to the clinic.


A few visitors dropped by from work.


Eam, the tech lead on one of my teams, is here to cheer me up.

Pastor Winit reaches for his fiddle. He and a couple of friends from church stopped by for a brief time of prayer and worship.

No slum pics this week or next. I am doing great, but under doctors orders to cool it for a couple of weeks. I will be back with more pics from Ja Rurat in two weeks, though. Count on it!