Things are moving along here in Hua Hin, Thailand!
The last few weeks have brought lots of changes both in me and around me. I'm getting to know people here better and better each day, which is very comforting. It's fun learning new and surprising things about each person. The biggest changes though, have been IN me, in my perception of both current and future life overseas. My picture of Father has expanded and grown 10-fold, and each day brings new discoveries in my relationship with him. It is exciting and stretching, and sometimes even scary realizing that I need to expand my comfort zone. If you'd like to know more about that journey, I'd love to share more details with you when I return home. Please feel free to ask me! The days and weeks have started to take on a certain routine. Class in the morning -- We have been hearing some amazing speakers, experts in culture and what Father has to say about that. We have also been able to share and hear each course member's personal testimony, which has been a really sweet time of learning about and encouraging each other. Most afternoons are open -- Lots of the course members are couples with children, so everyone spends a lot of time outside at the pool, soaking in the sun, chatting with each other. It has also been a great opportunity to have time and space to process and grow with Father in all that he is teaching us individually and corporately. Moment of confession: I've never read the Book so much before on my own, I don't think. It's amazing to me how much I am motivated and intrigued by the OT! I'm taking advantage of all this time on my hands! It's also been great to get caught up on some HS stuff, like a new promo video (coming soon!) and homework I got from the Board (thankful for them for moving me along in the right direction!). Class in the evenings -- Three nights a week we have class. Mostly these are for personal growth and discovery, learning about each of our strengths and how we are uniquely wired for the kingdom. I love this kind of thing, so I really have enjoyed these sessions! Others are not so keen on it, because it also tends to bring up a lot of internal baggage that AC really encourages people to process and dig through. You can be lifting them up in that process. Weekends are for fun! -- I have been able to get out on the town several times during weekends, and these have been my favorite times! I'm a sucker for culture, and I love how Thai people tend to live their lives on the street. Markets, sidewalk sales, men playing games on stools in the shade, and restaurants that all have outdoor seating. I could walk the streets for hours. I'll try to take more pictures the next time I'm out. One last point, that I'd like lifting up for. There is a family here, part of the course, that are living in the same house as Donna and me, that is going through a very rough time. Just this past week they found out that they miscarried their baby; this is their second miscarriage in the last 6 months. They have two children already, and are an incredibly sweet family. Considering the circumstances, I think they are doing very well. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts as they go through the grieving process. I'll write again soon!
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We are almost one week into the Connect Course, and I feel like saying much has happened and nothing has happened all at the same time.
For one thing, we have made so many friends. There are 23 adults and 16 children a part of this training time. We are staying in a compound of vacation villas, and our group fills up three of them. Between each of the houses, there is always something crazy going on--especially with 16 kids running around! I have been stretched a lot relationally, for a few reasons: One is that I naturally don't get filled up by meeting new people or making small talk. I'm always much more comfortable with people I know, and people who know me. So spending time with almost all people I've never known before this week has been stretching. That being said, they are wonderful people, which I know now that I have had a week to get to know them deeper! Every morning we have training sessions from 9-12:30, which have thus far consisted of learning about AC's core values, and sharing our testimonies. This sharing time has actually been very sweet. I so enjoy and am encouraged by hearing each and every person's story of how Father has worked in their lives and why they are serving in Asia. I shared mine this morning and was so encouraged by their following response while lifting me up. Very sweet. As far as free time goes, there is much of it. And that is what urges me to say nothing has happened. These seven weeks were very intentionally designed to have built in rest and relaxation, to make it possible for people to grow and learn however they need. I have spent lots of time thinking about J, and my relationship with Him. If you're interested in hearing more about that, please feel free to ask me personally sometime. Tomorrow begins the weekend. Donna and I are excited to get out of the compound where we have spent most of our time secluded from the Thai culture, and go out on the town. We hear it is a touristy city, but that there are still great sights and sounds and smells. We plan on experiencing them all! I'm excited to go out and see Thailand and experience the culture. Last but not least, today was a monumental day for one of the kids in our group: he turned 5! We had a pirate birthday for him, everyone participated. It was complete with a treasure hunt, pirate hats, two scraggly silly pirates, stolen treasure, a "walk-the-plank" moment, and a water balloon fight to wrap it all up. I've put some pictures below. It was a really great time; for me I felt like I was able to bond more with the rest of the team members simply because it was a unique shared experience. And because I got thrown in the pool... along with every one else. Apparently it's a tradition: Chris (the AC director) always throws everyone in the pool at sometime during training. Enjoy the pictures! The adventure has begun! Donna and I made it into Bangkok Thailand late last night... or rather, early this morning. It was a grueling day of travel: 13hrs from Minneapolis to Tokyo, a short layover, and then 7hrs on to Bangkok. I can't say my knees are recovered yet from being squished into a plane for 20hrs, but I'm workin' on it. We arrived at the guesthouse where we spent the night and found out our reservation had never been confirmed, but thanks to Father's grace, although all the rooms had been booked there was a no show, so we got their room. Hallelujah for being able to sleep in a bed last night!
We slept for only about 4.5hrs before jetlag woke us up. That was a few hours ago. Since then we have had breakfast and walked around the neighborhood. The Asia Connect vans leave in a couple hours to bring us to where we will be staying the next seven weeks, so now we are just killing time. It is pretty warm here, supposed to get to 91F today. Thankfully it's not too muggy though! I have found that Thailand is very similar to China. Already I have had to hold myself back from responding or asking questions in Chinese, because I feel like I am in China! I regret not bringing a Thai pocket dictionary, I always enjoy being able to at least say the basics in whatever the native language is where I am. Perhaps I'll be able to learn from someone soon... We haven't met anyone from AC yet, but we are looking forward to it in a couple hours! Thank you for all your uplifting thoughts, ill write again soon! |
A note from Rebekah...If you've ever wondered what it would be like to start a nonprofit from the ground up, to open a home for ORPHANS with special needs in Asia, you've come to the right place. Archives
August 2019
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