Early in my trip, James Rao, a friend from the KC office at DST, insisted on taking me to a place called Swagger, where we had a burger called the Dead Texan. Two grilled cheese sandwiches on Texas Toast, with a third pound burger in between, topped with a fried egg and cheese, lettuce and tomato. Holy cow... This thing is huge.
James, Roc, Micheal Overstreet and me at Swagger. (And I have not even stepped on a scale since getting back!)
John Tessalee and Isra Somanas are two of the Young Men in the Young Leaders Group at my church in Bangkok. Currently, they are studying at the University of Nebraska. Soon after I arrived in the US, I drove to Lincoln to bring them down to Kansas City to stay with my family over the Thanksgiving holiday. These two guys mean so much to me... Here, Johnny is playing with my niece, Gabby.
The family had a special birthday dinner for me. It truly WAS special, sharing it with my parents, my sister and her family, and with Johnny and Isra.
My mom worked very hard trying to find the right way to spell "Happy Birthday," in Thai. Well done, mom! I love you!
Gabby, treating Isra like playground equipment.
Johnny and Isra at the Iowa border...
... and at the Nebraska border. Notice just below the sign is a dead deer. There was one near the Iowa sign, too. In fact, there seemed to be a lot of dead deer along the highways.
Now, there is one more. Bringing the guys back to Kansas City, about thirty miles south of Lincoln, two deer ran out in front of us on the highway. There was no time to slow down enough to miss them. One made it, the other did not. What you are looking at is something over $4,000 in damage. I am grateful for insurance with no deductible! (And don't you love Johnny's "Don't look at me, I wasn't driving," look?
Thanksgiving in Kansas City means the Christmas Lights at Country Club Plaza. We braved the cold to join the crowd for the lighting ceremony.
Shawna Kingston, sitting next to Johnny hosted a reunion party for the youth from Pleasant Valley Baptist Church who went on the Thailand trip last summer. John and Isra were here then and went everywhere with the team, translating and helping out. It truly WAS a reunion. And in such a wonderful display of love and generosity, the Kingstons have insisted on Johnny and Isra coming down to their home for the Christmas holidays. Way, way cool!
Shawna was really touched by the kids at Imjai House Orphanage in Chiang Mai. After returning to the US, she decided on her own to raise money to assist Imjai House. By asking for donations at each youth group meeting, she was able to raise 10,000 Thai baht. Here, she presents it to Isra and John.
Johnny, my dad, my mom, and Isra. I'll keep this photo, I think.
Johnny and Isra at Penguin Park, near my parents' home.
Me with my American Young Leaders.
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