25 Things about Arm and I

I thought I would do a 25 things blog about Arm and I so you can get to know both of us better. I hope this is a lighter note for this week and something just to enjoy :D.

1. Arm is Thai and Danelle is American.

2. Arm's real name is Sunyaluck. Everyone in Thailand has a nickname since their real names are pretty long. His dad gave him the nickname Arm because right before Arm was born his dad saw a really cute little boy whose nickname was Arm, so Arm's dad gave his son the nickname Arm.

3. Our most common date when we were dating was to go walk around a mall and eat 9 baht ice cream from KFC. Gotta love soft serve vanilla :D.

4. We're both night people, but Danelle had to become a morning person and wake up at 6am for work. Next term it changes to 7am since she doesn't have any 8am classes :D. YEAH!

5. We both experienced "attraction/love at first sight", but didn't know it until 2 and a half months later when we went on our first date and then actually told each other after several months of dating.

6. On our first date, Danelle didn't know it was a date until we were sitting in the restaurant. She thought we were just hanging out.

7. Arm thought he bombed on our first date (even though Danelle was head over heels), so he left her a white rose on her doorstep. He wanted to deliver it personally, but she was out shopping for Christmas presents.

8. Arm keeps me laughing from all of the crazy things he does whether it be crazy dances or just making jokes.

9. Danelle is the organized one and Arm is extremely patient. God knew exactly the man Danelle needed.

10. After Arm came back from the Work and Travel US program in 2006, he said he never wanted to date a foreigner because they were louder than Thai girls.

11. When Arm told Danelle before meeting me he had never wanted to date a foreigner, she was thrilled because there are some guys in Thailand who ONLY want to date and marry foreigners for various reasons (money, going to America, or for people to think they're really cool).

12. We are both cheap, but it's like a game. We love finding good deals.

13. On Arm's first birthday after we were dating, I threw a surprise party for him. I invited everyone from church and made a bunch of Mexican food. We were running late on cooking and the guests were late, but Arm was on time. He saw everything and realized what had happened, but then he disappeared and came back later with a white rose for Danelle :D.

14. Our first couple picture was taken by random people who wouldn't stop taking pictures of Danelle. No, they didn't ask to take pictures of her and they wouldn't go away, so we gave them our camera. Arm had quite a few things to get used to haha.

15. We both love the beach and are so happy we are close enough to go to several beaches for a day or two.

16. The first time Arm tried to tell me he loved me, I inserted the word LIKE instead. It takes me awhile to say that.

17.Before Arm was a Christian, he saw becoming a monk as his only hope of getting rid of his sin. I saw a picture of him when he was a kid as a monk to earn merit for his grandfather who had died when he was young, and it made me shutter. I never want to see that picture again.

18. Danelle graduated from Moody Bible Institute with a degree in TESOL. Arm graduated from Kasetsart University with a degree in veterniary medicine.

19. Arm timed his wedding proposal while my parents and their friends were in Thailand. He even involved Danelle's mom and e-mailed with her for months before he proposed. Danelle had no idea, but was so happy.

20. We really want to have 4 kids.

21. Danelle is the loud one, but Arm is quieter. However, with the right combination, Danelle can get him to be loud as well.

22. While growing up, we had completely different lives! Danelle grew up in suburbia far away from extended family in the USA and I moved to a different state 5 times. Arm lived in the same house out in the country his whole life surrounded by extended family and rice fields.

23. While dealing with cultural issues, Arm looked at Danelle one day and said "It's not about Thai culture, it's about what me and my family do". A lot of pressure disappeared when he said that.

24. If Arm picks the place for us to eat, it will be Sizzler or a steakhouse, however, he will literally eat everything! Danelle's goal is to find something he DOESN'T like to eat, but so far she's only found onions, but he eats them anyway. It makes cooking really easy though.

25. God is the One who brought us together as those who really know us can see. He is our everything and without Him, we can't even imagine what our lives would be like.

I hope you enjoyed our fun little blog for this week :D.



This is Arm's sister (Eff), mom, dad, and cousin (Mae). None of them are Christians, but since our wedding, his mom and dad have been asking for us to pray more and more. Please pray for his family. Currently, they have been asking for prayer for his dad. His dad is preparing for a test to become the head of a school. If he gets this position, he will get a raise, which will make it easier for them pay for his sister's school. Thank you so much.

Missions Seminar

Hello to you all. I hope this finds you well. It is still rainy season in Thailand and so the weather is still hot and muggy, however soon, we will be entering the "cool" season.

Arm has been VERY busy lately. Every Saturday (starting last Saturday and ending on October 3) from 8:30-4pm our church has been holding a missions seminar for our church members. They talk about missions around the world and teach how to do ministry. Arm has something to present every week, so he doesn't get as much time to rest, but the people at church really seem to be enjoying it, so it is a beneficial thing.

My teaching is going well and this term is almost over. This next week is the last week of teaching and then finals week is after that. My students are making me feel very special as now they know that I am leaving by saying they will miss me because I am a teacher and also a friend, rather than only a teacher. I just pray that they will remember I'm a Christian (as I tell all of my students on the first day of classes) and that God will use it in their lives later. Praise God that many of my students were able to get past the "teacher" status and see me as me. It is truly difficult for students to do, but thankfully, God allowed it. Pray for next term as well. I will be teaching a new group of about 200 students total and I will be teaching all listening and speaking classes. During this term, because of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I show the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Christmas movies as listening activities in my listening and speaking classes. I can bring them in class as a "cultural lesson" and I chose these because they have Scripture in them. I would really appreciate you to start praying for my students and these movies now. Thank you so much.

Last Sunday night, Arm and I went out to eat with a teacher at KU. We had a lot of fun and she took us to a really nice restaurant. Below are some pictures from that night.

And Time Marches On

Hi! These last couple of weeks have been fairly normal. We've adjusted to the idea of leaving in February 2010, so the shock has worn off and we're beginning to figure out what we want to take with us and how we're going to do it. If anyone has any information about sending small amounts of things via boat, we'd much appreciate the information.

My teaching is going well as we're wrapping up this term. Final exams will be given at the end of this month, so my students are presenting final projects and finishing up their units in anticipation of their final exams. The university has been wonderful as they have given me Listening and Speaking classes to teach next term so that I will be able to finish all teaching before I leave and possibly the final exams. However, if it doesn't work out for me to stay for the final exams, it will not be a big burden for other teachers at the university.



Arm's work at church is going well as well. He continues to teach and train the younger students at church. On Monday nights they have the guy's cell group and Tuesday night is the reach out cell group where the students can bring their friends. He will also be leading worship on Sunday, which keeps him busy as well. At the beginning of October, several of them will go on a mission trip to the northeast of Thailand and help a sister church there. Some of the missionaries who used to work with this church in Bangkok moved to the northeast and planted a church there several years ago, so our church staff and a few others will be going there from October 5 to the 8. Then, we have 2 new missionaries coming the second week of October. One single guy, Nate, and a married couple with two children. Then, during the thrid week of October, our church is joining with another church for a retreat. So, October will be a very busy month.



We thank you for your prayers and support. We ask that you would think of giving one time gifts just to help Arm and I move back to the states. No gift is too small. $5 is the same to us as $200 and we appreciate them all. We praise God that he provided the support for this month and we trust He will continue to do so. Thank you so much for everything you've done for me and my family throughout the years. May God bless you.