School's out!

Today was my last day to study in the Payap University "Intensive Thai Program".  I've gone through all the levels that are offered.  I have mixed feelings. I had dreams of being totally fluent once, I finished their program.  I've come to realize that will probably NEVER happen. I've definitely made progress in the past six months of study-but am not near where I want to be.

This has been my turn off each day as I travel to campus and study for the three hour class. My schedule will be more free now.  There are limitless ministry opportunities all around me, but I plan to still work with a tutor in the midst of our other activities. 

Yesterday, I stopped by a market to pick up some mangoes.  Yipee... as hot season is approaching that means mango season too. Always excited when our favorite fruit comes in season.  But no matter what time of year and no matter what I am looking for- there are always an abundance of bananas here.  It's just too bad that even after living in the tropics for most of my life- I have never liked bananas. No problem- plenty of other fresh fruits to keep us happy! 

Update on Judy's health

Thanks so much for your many prayers during my unusual health issues these past few months!  It's been awhile since I've mentioned it, because I've been waiting  for that final diagnosis. However everything  that the doctors have suggested does not really match up with  those unusual symptoms that I had.  If you're not sure what I'm talking about; the posts labeled Judy's health on the right here tell the story. I've come to accept that I may not ever know what I had and get a diagnosis.  But as long as the symptoms are gone and never return, I'm ok with that.

My whole health issue started exactly three months ago.  I finally feel like it may be something in the past now and it's over. Tonight I met with two doctors and and am very thankful to report that:
1- the symptoms are gone. So....
2- I can go off the medication now, and
3- no future follow-up appointments were made. 

There is no guarantee that it will not return, so she wants me to keep the medication on hand in case it reoccurs and come back in right away. Of course, we'd love more closure and would like to know what in the world I had- but that may never happen.

Thanks too for praying for me at my Thai classes last week.  We had a few good days of discussing Thai beliefs and our own beliefs together.  I prayed and asked God for wisdom and help as I had my opportunities to share. Initially, I felt disappointed that I did not say more- but I decided to believe that God answered my prayers by leading me to say what I did. I have now finished level #6 and have moved into level #7. This was the last day with my teacher from the last few months.  She is a very good and gifted teacher and I am so thankful for her. I learned alot from her!

One day while studying about the spirit worship, I passed these offering in front of a new restaurant being opened as a ceremony was taking place with alot of chanting. Notice the variety of offerings including the two pig heads. Just today I was reading in I Timothy 2: 4&5- "that God desires for ALL men to be saved and there is one God and one mediator between God and man."  May we be His instruments for the people of Thailand to help them find that one way that they can reach God their creator.

Thai belief system.

I am still plugging away at language school this month.  The photo is an assignment I turned in today of writing a comparison paper between Thai culture and my home culture.

I really appreciate your prayers for me as we discuss our lesson the next few days.  Today our vocabulary which will  lead into our discussions was words like: your religious beliefs, ancestor worship, principle/main teachings, results of your behaviour, heaven and hell, miracles, magic, horoscopes, amulet, spirit house, ghosts, angel, etc.  I have really come to enjoy and care about the people in my class after studying and being with them every day for the past 6 months.  I almost feel a little stressed about the opportunity before me, even though I know that is not what God would want.   It is my chance to share more in depth with them about what is most important to me and yet do it in another language.  We are a diverse group from 6 different countries with many beliefs.  I know that God wants them to know the truth way more than I do, so I want to trust Him to use me as his vessel in our lessons this week.

School Field Trip

Our Thai language school visited one of the Royal King's Projects on Sufficiency Economy as a field trip.  While there we rotated around to many different stations learning local livelihoods.

We made some Sa Paper together.

Here it is drying in the sun.

We experienced weaving our own fabrics and I even bought some hand woven silk from a lady who really needed my business.

I took a turn at the potter's wheel.

The water buffalo's did some tricks for us.  I never knew they could be so smart.

Some people took rides on the water buffalo.

Other people just took pictures with them.

Some of my classmates took a try at planting rice. 

Every field trip must end with a group photo! Actually, I will admit this field trip was a bit on the cheesy side, but I knew it would be a good time to get to know some of my fellow classmates outside of our class time. For a new visitor to Thailand, it may have been more intriguing or for smaller children as it was set up for school groups. We made it as fun as possible and it was a welcome break from sitting in the classroom.

Language School

So what does it look like when a 50 year old lady goes back to college?  Here you go:

I just finished my first month module and have actually been surprised at how much I have enjoyed studying.  In the past it was a pressure on me while trying to juggle other things with my time. I had sort of given up in my attitude. This time I am more focused.  I love reading Thai again.  It also helps that it has been alot of review  causing me to feel on top of it so far, but I'm not sure how long that will last.  I do know that my attitude is very different now.

Our class was an  interesting mix of students. Two other girls from China, and 9 men from Turkey, Holland, USA, France, New Caledonia, and Vietnam. Yesterday I was invited out with the girls to one of their homes.  It was fun to spend time with them outside of class and talk about our lives together. We will all be together again next month.

This school takes a break after each module, so I have this week off.  In my typical fashion, I have a long list of projects to tackle this week. I know it is impossible accomplish them all- so now I need to prioritize them. Looking forward to my kind of week, checking things off my lists!    

loving the routine

For a gal who loves stability, an organized life, dependability, order in my world, consistency, structure... ( I think you're getting the point) in her world, I am a real satisfied gal right now.  My suitcases are unpacked and even put away in a closet this time and I'm planning to stay in my home for awhile.  We've been back in Thailand for 2 weeks today and because of language school, I got into a new routine the 3rd day back.  I love getting up early every morning, having my Quiet Time in the Word consistently, going for my morning walk which includes my prayer time, going to my morning classes, having lunch with friends to catch up again, cooking dinner in my own kitchen, etc.

Mike is out of town this week, and I did not go with him this time.  He has had some important leadership meetings with TCCC in Bangkok and he is also making a trip to our work in the south.  He was anxious to spend time with the team in the south.  Reports have been that the Kids Home is doing great and the children continue to grow in each area of their lives.  There have been some concerns about the Moken villagers, mostly due to the fact that they are still new Christians and need guidance and someone to teach them.

Mike has decided to start meeting with each of our Thai national CCC staff one on one for an initial interview finding out what their greatest needs are and how we can best help encourage them.  I will join him for some of those, when the travel fits in our schedule.

As for now.. time to do my daily homework and do some Thai reading!  :)  Just so you know....

Here's the consonants.... 

and here's the vowels....

Eating Humble Pie

I've gone back to daily language school again! You'd think after living in this country for 25 years I'd be fluent by now.  Not at all- by a long shot! 

When we first moved to Thailand from the Philippines, our girls were ages 5,3,1, and the next year I was pregnant with baby #4.  I had planned to study the Thai language full time right from the start when we moved to Thailand, but we soon figured out that would not be the best choice for our family.  Instead I was up to my neck with homeschooling and then teaching at a co-op school and just being a full time mom to our four little ones.  We decided at that time for me NOT to focus on language study - but on being the best mom possible that our four impressionable time-demanding little ones needed at that time.  If we had the choice to make again- we would do it just the same way. 

However, it is quite crucial to speak some Thai to get around in Thailand.  Over the years, I have gone to night language classes by busses across Bangkok, had tutors come to our home during nap times, and once the girls were all in school, I went to language school.  Over the years, I have achieved a level of feeling comfortable for conversations with Thai's, and able to do business and live here.  I never gave studying the language my full undivided attention as I was still involved in my girls world and taught at an English speaking international school. 

Once we became empty-nesters, I wasn't sure how much longer we would be here and wasn't sure about making the serious commitment to study Thai again.  Our schedule the last several years has involved alot of travel in our ministry around Thailand and trips  out of Thailand- which prohibited a routine schedule that is needed during language school.

This summer, was an amazing summer for us as we took a summer course on Leadership.  Our intent was to gleam out of it what we could to bring back and teach our Thai staff.  The more we learned and the more we thought about what we wanted to teach our Thai staff, the more I realized that I could not do a good job with my Thai at the level it is. Yes, I could teach basic concepts- but not this wealth of info we were absorbing.  Yes, I can always have someone translate for me- but I am tired of that and know that  it is not as effective.  I can read and write the Thai language slowly-- but in my spirit I feel to really be most effective- I need to revisit and seriously study the Thai language. Mike communmicates easily, but I cannot always depend on him.

I have enrolled in an intensive program at the same university that we opened the ministry on 19 years ago. Monday was my first day of class (just 2 days after we arrived back).  As I walked across campus carrying my new notebook, it was a 'deja vu' of many years of walking across this  campus at the start of a new ministry year.

Honestly, I have not made this step earlier partly because of pride.  Sometimes, I feel ashamed that I have not advanced more in the Thai language. I am in class with young whipper-snappers  that have just arrived fresh to Thailand.   When we go around the room and share how long we've been here- I hang my head abit and admit that it's been 25 years. It's embarassing for me and I've wanted to ignore the problem for years.  But it is- what it is. I have a choice now to; continue on with my limited communication at a real heart level OR just suck it up and admit that I'm horrible at the language and dig in to study it again.

Deciding which level to start at was a hard decision.  I'm okay in speaking on some topics and bad at others.  Only certain classes had openings for me to consider.  I decided to skip the conversation levels and start over with reading and writing.  I need to review those basics.  The Thai language has 42 consonants, 28 vowels and at least 21 rules concerning which of the five tones to say each word with.

This is the best part.... I loved the first week of class!  It helps that most of it was review and so far- I'm not too overwhelmed!!  In the past, language study for me has been stressful and  painful but this first week was really FUN. God knows that I need all the encouragement that I can get.  I've prayed alot about this, and the only way I will ever get to the level of feeling comfortable in Thai is with a miracle of God.  I'm doing my part now-- and eager to see what He will do.