We're taking on water!!!!!

This is one part of the Joel and Cara adventure that I wasn't able to fully convey because the pictures were on Joel's camera and then I forgot to put them up. However, while we were getting ready to leave for the airport, I heard cars running through water on the street, but it hadn't rained. I knew they had been doing construction outside all day and thought "Oh no!". I went to the front door and this is what I found.
They hit a water pipe. The water is a couple inches deep in this picture. It reminded me so much of Songkran (huge country wide water war that marks the Thai New Year). Thankfully, we still had water in my house.

Here you can see the car going through the water. It got deep pretty quick. Thankfully, we didn't have to cross the street to get a taxi.

Early mornings are over . . . . for a while

For an interesting picture before all the serious stuff. . . this is a fortune teller. I've never seen anyone like this before nor since, but it was definitely photo worthy.

Well, my first term of teaching has come to a close. I now only have to grade 6 classes of exams. 4 of them will be quite easy because it is simply multiple choice, however 3 of my classes are writing classes. That means I have to grade essays. It's amazing how those classes take about 4 times as long as my other courses. However, I'm very happy that I won't be setting my alarm clock for 5:45 am for 3 months. One perk about being a teacher is I get 3 months paid vacation. During these 3 months, I plan on working with my church more as well as studying Thai much more. I can get by, but I'm tired of being able to get by. Please keep that in your prayers.

My students were beginning to see me as more than a teacher before I left. One day, some students asked me to eat with them, but I had to teach. Another student asked if she could find me on Facebook and Myspace. She and I have talked a little bit. Another student invited me to go to a make-up party . . . kind of like Mary Kay, but a big corporation. So, I got to sit through an entire skin care presentation in Thai :D. Everyone at the company was quite excited. Sometimes I'm still amazed at how strangers will treat me like a celebrity. People staring and even people asking to take their picture with me is not uncommon by any means. Everytime students see me for the first time and realize I am their teacher. They all look a little amazed and scared. However, in time they calm down and realize that I'm not scary, I don't bite, and I actually want to have fun with them :D. It's always nice when it gets to that point. Please pray that my students from this term will continue to talk to me next term and begin praying for the students I will come into contact with next term.

Nun's Graduation

This past weekend, Katy and I took a whirlwind trip to Chiangrai. My old roommate (Nun) was graduating from Mae Fah Luang University and really wanted me to be there, so Katy and I hopped on a cheap airline and went to Chiangrai.

It was cold. I got off the plane from Bangkok in my short sleeve dress from work and cringed. As soon as I saw Rachel, she handed me a fleece which I quickly put on. As you can see, we were bundled up on the motorcycle on our way to church. Jacket and blanket for my legs since I was wearing a skirt. Brrrrrr. I do miss driving a motorcycle, but I'm sure my parents are happier that I don't drive one anymore. haha. I'm a brave person, but not brave enough to drive a motorcycle in Bangkok.

In celebration of Nun's graduation, Katy, Rachel, Nun and I went to our favorite coffee house in Chiangrai. The selection of desserts is amazing and they are all the American quality of sweetness. It's like a little bit of home. Plus, the decorations are great! This is Nun and I during the photo shoot that always seems to happen when you go anywhere with Thai people. :) She's my little sister.





Nun is very special to me. I met her in 2003 during my first trip to Chiangrai before she became a Christian. We kept in touch after I went to America and she became a Christian about 7 months after I left Chiangrai. I was so shocked the day she e-mailed me asking for my testimony. Then, after reading it, she e-mailed me again saying it made her love God more. Since then, I've been able to see her grow with Christ and we've helped each other through tough times. She's a true sister and I love her so much.


Katy and I finished our whirlwind tour by riding in the back of a pick-up truck. It is NOT illegal in Thailand, which is part of the fun :D. It had warmed up and I even got a sunburn while I was up at the university taking pictures with Nun. This is the same day Katy and I were bundled up on the motorcycle. The motorcycle picture was taken at 9:00 and this picture was taken around 1:00 pm. By 10:30, it was pretty hot in Chiangrai. The weather changes so quickly. I got a sore throat from the cold and a sunburn from the heat. haha.








Katy is heading back to the states on March 29th. She's not a big city girl and there's a certain boy in America who she started dating a few weeks before coming to Thailand. She would either have to go home in March or stay for another year which would total a year and a half before she could go home. While skype is good, she's kind of tired of seeing her boyfriend's face on a computer screen as well as she misses her family a lot and has a few opportunities she's excited about back home. Think of her as she is finishing up everything in Thailand and that she would have a safe trip back to the states.


More to tell, but I'll leave that for my next post :D. I pray you all will have a wonderful week.

My Reality

Psalms 115:1-8

Not to us , O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory
because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.


Why should the nations say, "Where, now, is their God?"
But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever He pleases.

Their idols are silver and gold.
The work of man's hands.

They have mouths, but they cannot speak;
They have eyes, but they cannot see;
They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses. but they cannot smell;
They have hands, but they cannot feel;

They have feet, but they cannot walk;
They cannot make a sound with their throat.

Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them.

May God give me the strength and wisdom to know how and when to proclaim His name with those around me.

Prayer requests:

1) Ting and her friends are now finished with their projects, so I hope to spend more time with them before they graduate soon.

2) My church is having a Valentine's Day party on the 14th (13th in America) to share Christ with anyone who will come. Everyone is working very hard for this. Please pray those who come will be sensitive to God.

Family Fun

My brother and his family came to visit me for a few days and we had a blast! We went to the university I teach at, the Grand Palace, Ayutthaya (the old capital of Thailand), and ate some really good food. It was so good to have them here. I got to be an aunt again!!!!


Autumn honestly really wanted to do this, even if she looks terrified.

This was one of Isaac's favorite things!
This was built in 1593. I'd never been to an ancient city before.
I think only a dog could get away with sleeping behind a Buddha image.

We were celebrities for a little while. Teachers want their students to do this so they can make contact with foreigners and be less scared of them. It's kinda fun. I also got my picture taken.

Isaac and Autumn really liked the playground.

So, as you can see . . . we had a great time! It wasn't very long, but every minute was wonderful :D.