Wonderment Reflections on the First Few Days

Escargot, anyone?

This is Steve, a new friend I named and who gave me permission to post his photo, as well as send it along to Jayden who has a fondness for snails.  So, no, we won't be having him for lunch.

Strangely enough, Steve is helping me to feel right at home.

It's these quirky little touches, for example, the fact that a rather large snail in the bathroom doesn't phase me in the least, that remind me of how far away from home I am, and how I've come back home all at the same time.

I think that's what surprising me most in these first few days.  The lack of intensity I sort of expected since I was gone for as long as I was.  [Two years, eight months, two weeks, six days, eleven hours and 33 minutes, to be exact, in case I haven't mentioned it.]  With that much time in between, I expected things to feel strange and different again, or to have to get adjusted all over again.

But no.  Just two days in, with two decent night's sleep under me, and it sort of feels like I never left.  I feel calm, safe, happy, healthy, and ready and able to serve in the ways I'm called to while I'm here.

First night handing out the Sponsors' packets, I was still travel-weary, and a little jet-lag spinny.  But being there to watch the kids receive with such delight all the treasures in their pouches....so much energy from that right there.

Im's new shirt fits perfectly!

I've slept well already, although still getting up too early, which is an advantage for morning worship.  By 5:30 when everyone else gathers, I'm up and dressed and have sent out a few emails already.  Then breakfast, and great news is that I'm eating well, taking it easy on the over-travelled stomach for the first few days, and experiencing the benefits of that.  

Fresh and cold.

And while I think I've lost a bit of ground in pronunciation, I'm quite surprised that my Thai language comprehension is as good as it is.  Not bad for this old brain, considering how easily language leaks.

So things are very, very good, and I am very, very relieved.

To take this a bit deeper...

Last January when I was beset with a three-in-one health challenge (difficult tooth extraction, significant sciatic pain, suspicious kidney stone activity) that literally kept me in bed for the better of three weeks, I sincerely wondered if I might be done the travelling thing.  I was not sleeping and not eating probably for the better of six weeks.  The medications I was on caused a wretched amount of heartburn, and made me dizzy.  

The idea of putting this unsteady body on a plane and hauling it halfway around the world provoked no small degree of anxiety during those cold, dark nights last winter.  My heart was wrung out at the thought that the physically demanding part of what I do now might not be possible.  

And yet....

Here I am, feeling amazing.  Feeling like I never left.

Don't worry.  I'm quite aware that my gut might betray me at some point.  And it hasn't really been all that hot yet.  Also, there are any number of unexpected 'friends' more sinister than a bathroom snail to be wary of.   Still, I am so very encouraged by this very strong start.

All our girls are growing so tall and lovely!

Father God, I am amazed again by Your tender intimacy.  

To hold me so beautifully those uncertain weeks last winter.  

To carry me safely here now.  

To provide everything I need, as promised.  

My heart is Yours.  

No matter what. 

No matter where.

 

For This

It's another Thai-style  Saturday at Hot Springs.

 Starts early enough as does every day, with sleepy voices singing worship and reciting Scriptures.  Jaroen leads with the guitar. while Praweet tries to wake up.  Ahjahn Suradet is talking about seeking God's wisdom, moving us through Proverbs 21, and encouraging us to embrace the day with joy.  We pray for David, and Laywee and Eak who are on a school trip to Bangkok for three days.  We pray for Praweet who will be playing in a cricket match today.  We pray for Kuhn Linda, for healing and strength.  And of course we pray for every sponsor of every child.  We do this twice every day; here in the mornings, and then later after supper when we will be together again like this.

The sun is just rising as we are dismissed to chores first, then breakfast.  I set up my table on the porch, even though this won't be a full out desk-work kind of morning.  I only hope to get everything ready for tonight's ESL and Bible lesson, prepare a little for the short meeting Suradet, Yupa and I will have closer to lunch, and rehearse again the sermon I will bravely (and probably foolishly) attempt to preach in Thai tomorrow.

It's getting warmer sooner in the mornings.  I find by 10 a.m. it's wiser for me to come inside, even though everything in me wants to soak up as much warmth and sunshine as I can before heading back next Tuesday.

Never mind.  By 10 all the chores are done and the younger girls are wanting to work on projects for their Sponsors, and to read.

I've read and read and read this visit.  Some of the kids have completed three cards and are working on a fourth!  I should say, I've read and been read to.  These are good moments, breath-taking in their simplicity and gentleness.  After school.  After evening worship when it's cooler again and we sit down by the fire.  Book after book.  Up close with the younger ones who like to snuggle.  Around the table still having fun with the teenagers.  Little voices, changing voices, Thai voices.  I just might be able to recite Robert Munch's "Andrew's Loose Tooth" by heart by now.  And all the phonics readers from Usborne.  And no end of other treasures donated by so many who are so generous to help us learn English.  I'd recite them, but likely with a Thai accent by now.

The meeting this morning is easier than the first two, with less business, but still requires all of our attention.  These days of getting everything set up for The New Family Foundation are exciting but sometimes, to be honest, a little tedious in the details and the translation of those details.  I marvel at our ability to work though so much business together now.  Can't help but remember that first visit when I didn't know one word of Thai, and their English was very much at the beginning stages.  Figuring out when supper would be served was the big challenge then.  Now we comb through legal documents, agreements, insurance policies.   To coin a Thai phrase, "Oy!"  But I'm so honoured to be serving God together with these heroes.

After lunch I rehearse the sermon again, and feel a little more confident that maybe I will actually preach this and not just read it - poorly.  "Waiting For God" is the title, all about how we respond when God doesn't seem to be answering prayers.  I so know those times.  But I have to admit, that tomorrow I'm preaching this particular subject matter from a time that's quite the opposite.

Abundance.  Flavour.  Colour.  Warmth.  Seeing the fruition of a long investment here.  Watching God answer and come through and provide in ways I can hardly describe without sounding like I'm making it up.  But I'm not.  I'm here and it's real.  And it's so, so good.

I confess to a longing for a solid English conversation.  The first-week struggle with my Thai language skills is long over, and I've been speaking and listening and thinking in Thai with no native English speakers to speak of (ha!) in sight for the past four weeks.  And, I've been saying that I miss Ken, but I don't miss the snow.  And, yes, it's truly amazing to me that I have not one, but two sensational lives, one on each side of the planet, and I am looking forward to be home there too.

But this.  This has been so rich.  So good.  So reassuring.

I did a big thing in making this my only thing.  Last year was a big year of change and adjustment.  And likely the adjustments are not completely done yet.

But being here right now at the beginning of 2019, and having it be like this -- So much abundance.  So much flavour.  So much colour and warmth and confirmation and gratitude and being appreciated and loved.  So.  Much.  This is good.

This is why.

For this, and so many other astonishing reasons, I willingly lay it all down.
Again and again.

Four more days.

And just on curious note:
EVERY Wednesday including and since the Wednesday I left Ontario, there has been a major storm of some sort.  I am arriving home on a Wednesday.  Could be interesting.