I was about to say that this week was mundane and routine...and then I thought of all the things I have done and seen and it really wasn't mundane at all. My schedule so far looks like this:
8:30-9: prayer at the Mekong Center
9:30-10: bike ride to class
10-noon: Thai class
noon-12:30ish: bike ride back to the Mekong Center
lunch whenever I get back.
1ish-5: childcare for Preston or helping in the TCK library
Preston is Tim and Jamie's (my mentor) son and he's generally a really happy 1 year old so watching him is a lot of fun.
The TCK library is for resources for missionary families to use and was fairly disorganized. Some other people and myself have been working to make it more user friendly. By the way, TCK = Third Culture Kid aka a missionary kid.
the rest of the night is pretty much whatever I make of it. Usually there is some reading involved, some hanging out with the swiss OMF-ers, and some eating. One night this week I went bowling and another night I went out to eat with Tim, Jamie and Preston. (Just in case you were wondering, bowling here is pretty much like bowling in the states.)
On friday afternoon I left the TCK library early to go to the hospital. To get immunized. I waited to get my immunizations here because they are about a third of the cost here and because there aren't any outbreaks or anything right now, so I'm pretty safe. However, I definitely paid in time. What would have been a relatively quick ordeal in the states turned out to be a 2 hour event in Chiang Mai.
So far I have the weekends free, which is awesome. However, once I am finished with the Thai class I'll be working at least one day every weekend until late April. Last weekend was pretty much for overcoming jetlag. This weekend I was able to have some fun, thank goodness! Friday night I went to see the movie The Elephant King. The movie theatre was in the biggest mall I have ever seen. On saturday I went up to Thailand's highest mountain (I think...). There is a buddhist temple up there and good views of the city. I've been told that you can't come to Chiang Mai and not visit, so I guess I can cross that off my list of things to do. Here are some pictures from the temple area and a view of Chiang Mai.
8:30-9: prayer at the Mekong Center
9:30-10: bike ride to class
10-noon: Thai class
noon-12:30ish: bike ride back to the Mekong Center
lunch whenever I get back.
1ish-5: childcare for Preston or helping in the TCK library
Preston is Tim and Jamie's (my mentor) son and he's generally a really happy 1 year old so watching him is a lot of fun.
The TCK library is for resources for missionary families to use and was fairly disorganized. Some other people and myself have been working to make it more user friendly. By the way, TCK = Third Culture Kid aka a missionary kid.
the rest of the night is pretty much whatever I make of it. Usually there is some reading involved, some hanging out with the swiss OMF-ers, and some eating. One night this week I went bowling and another night I went out to eat with Tim, Jamie and Preston. (Just in case you were wondering, bowling here is pretty much like bowling in the states.)
On friday afternoon I left the TCK library early to go to the hospital. To get immunized. I waited to get my immunizations here because they are about a third of the cost here and because there aren't any outbreaks or anything right now, so I'm pretty safe. However, I definitely paid in time. What would have been a relatively quick ordeal in the states turned out to be a 2 hour event in Chiang Mai.
So far I have the weekends free, which is awesome. However, once I am finished with the Thai class I'll be working at least one day every weekend until late April. Last weekend was pretty much for overcoming jetlag. This weekend I was able to have some fun, thank goodness! Friday night I went to see the movie The Elephant King. The movie theatre was in the biggest mall I have ever seen. On saturday I went up to Thailand's highest mountain (I think...). There is a buddhist temple up there and good views of the city. I've been told that you can't come to Chiang Mai and not visit, so I guess I can cross that off my list of things to do. Here are some pictures from the temple area and a view of Chiang Mai.
There was a lot of smog, but if you look closely you can see the city.
Prayer requests: continue to pray for my mind to be sharp, especially with learning Thai. My sinuses have been bothering me for the last couple of days. Also, would would you pray for me to find contentment in the work I am doing? Since most of the work I do is behind the scenes (because I can't speak Thai) it is easy for me to get discouraged and forget that what I am doing is still ministry. This was definitely what I struggled with the most last week. Thank you so much for your prayers--I am so grateful for them.
Hey! I've totally been there! How awesome. So, I think that you should learn "Lord I lift your name on High" in Thai. I learned it while I was there, but i've forgotten the last part of it. So you should learn it, write it down, and then share it with me! YAY!
ReplyDeleteSawadee Kaaaa!
Sawadee Kaaaaaaa!
ReplyDeleteSawadee KAAAAAAA!!!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness how i miss my overseas friends. I just want you to know that I'm praying for you Jess. We don't always know what an impact just our presence even makes on the lives of other people. God works through us and in us in the most remarkable ways. Keep the updates coming!!
wonderful! Lovin the pictures, and most of all I love you!
ReplyDeleteglad you like the pics. there's more on facebook if you want to see them all.
ReplyDeleteJess,
ReplyDeleteIt certainly sounds like you are accomplishing a lot out there. I mean, let's face it, you, for now, are not permanent out there, but the missionaries are and so anything you can do for them will be extremely helpful in the long run. You never know what cleaning up a library or babysitting will mean in the future when you aren't, physically, around any more.
The one thing that made me sad is all the smog surrounding that beautiful mountain. I cannot help but feel saddened by our ruining of God's creation. Nevertheless, the mountain was stunning and it is always good to get some perspective of the task God has given you. Such a small person on top of a large mountain that shows the city you have been sent to impact is much smaller than the things God can do and has done.
Blessings on you and your internship/ministry there.
Jessica your pictures are awesome. God will waych over you adn keep you safe. Remember it is only a short itme and you will be back home and graduation, then your new life begins. What an experience this can be for you. Let God use you and your talents for him Best wishes. Cheryl
ReplyDelete