Mississippi meets Southeast Asia

It’s been over two weeks since we said goodbye to my parents after their visit to our beloved country, but I’m still trying to process our many adventures and encounters to share with friends.

I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to describe their trip, which could only be called a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Oh, I feel sure they’ll make another trip here sometime in the future, but it’s not likely we’ll have as many “that’s the first time I ever did that” moments like we did this go ‘round.

My mother and father rode in taxis, on elephants, in ox carts, in tri-shaws and rickshaws and clinging for dear-life on the back of Thai motorcycles. They tried foods they had never heard of or imagined. They saw pigs being slaughtered for dinner, women carrying huge packages on their heads, men riding on the tops and sides of overloaded buses and golden pagodas everywhere. They saw potatoes peeled with spoons, meals cooked over an open-fire and foods being eaten that were never intended for digestion. They toured places of great wealth and were saddened by areas of extreme poverty. They shopped; they toured; they played; and all of it done in the midst of some quality family time.

It was truly awesome.

The time we had together went by too fast, and as expected, the hardest part is always saying goodbye.

This lifestyle we lead – one in which we try to follow the Father’s leading – has been full of both blessings and challenges. And when I try to overcome the sadness that comes from being separated from our families for so long, I recall that life on this earth is so short. It’s like the dew that vanishes in the morning sun.

Eternity, however, is forever.

FOREVER AND FOREVER…

It’s so much more important to ensure that our “forever” is secured and that those who have never heard receive the message of saving grace freely given by the author and creator of our lives.

So as difficult as it is living on the other side of the world from the family and friends that we love so much, we know this is where we need to be.

So we press on…

For those who helped make my parents’ trip here possible, I don’t know what to say but, “Thank you!”

For those of you who sent us cards and handwritten letters and pictures, you made us feel loved like you wouldn’t believe.

For those of you who prayed and continue to pray for us and for our families, it is our hope that Father will bless you many times over.

Would you like some "whine" with that cheese?

I really try so hard not to ever complain, but can I just say - It is soooo hot!

I feel lately like those words are continually coming out of my mouth: "I'm hot!"

And everywhere I go, I leave a puddle of sweat behind me. 

It's gross!

These days are the hottest of the year, and I know that the rainy season is just around the corner. Not that the rains provide much relief from the heat. If anything the rain makes everything more humid, but at least during rainy season, our electricity gets better.

Part of the problem these days is that we are having continual power outages. 

Power outages mean no air con.
And just so you know I'm not a wimp, the "feels-like" temperature has been averaging around 120 degrees Fahrenheit these days.

I know. I sound like a whiner.

Yesterday, I was trying to get dressed to go to our Sunday gathering place. I had taken a shower and even used the hair dryer (on the cool setting) to try to do something with this mop that's on my head these days. (This weather is killing my hair too!) Just about the time I finished, the power went out. I was at least thankful to have my hair done. Of course, the style didn't last long because within minutes, I was sweating so much that my hair was wet underneath from perspiration. Then I tried putting on makeup, but my face was damp from the sweat rolling down my face. I decided to just go with a little mascara and lipstick. (If you know anything about me, you know how completely UNLIKE me that is.)

I couldn't even put on my earrings because the sweat kept making them fall off. 

"This is ridiculous," I thought to myself.

I was anxious to get in the car to go because at least in there we can have cool air. Actually, it's only cool air when the car is moving. If we're sitting still, the air blows hot. But I am very thankful to have a car when so many others do not, so I'm not complaining about that.

When we arrived at the gathering place, I found us a spot next to an air con unit where I could sit directly beneath the wonderfully cool air. The service could last all day for all I care because at least where I was, it was refreshingly pleasant. 

I have been reading the book "To The Golden Shore" again about the life and times of Adoniram Judson. It's a completely engrossing book that I can't put down until finished, so if you've never read it, I highly recommend it. Anyway, Judson lived in the exact place where we are now. The book recounts his agony of enduring the excruciating heat of this place as well, but in those days they had no electricity EVER. They had hand fans and that's about all. 

I can't fathom it. 

It's no wonder they were sick all the time.

See, now I feel bad for complaining about the heat. 

There's always someone who has worse problems than you, right?

So I won't complain anymore.

A week in the life...

In a recent newsletter, I offered to answer questions about living overseas that anyone would like to ask. The question most often received was, "What does a normal week look like?"
The answer to that question is, "There is no normal week."
Every week is astoundingly different. (Is that even a word?!?)
This city is a juxtaposition in itself with areas of both impoverishment and extreme wealth.
There are people who are highly educated and those who have never been to school because necessity led them to begin work very early in their life. There are people who were born and raised in this culture and then many who are transplants from other countries (especially other Asian countries.)
Different backgrounds, different ideologies, different problems, different demands - we face all these polarities in the people who live here, yet our job is to work with them all.
That's why each week (each day sometimes) we find ourselves in completely different situations.
There is, however, an overall pattern that has figured into our lives that I will attempt to share through pictures to show our friends at home what "normal" looks like in this amazing and beautiful city.


The one constant so far in our time here has been where we live.
We love our apartment and are very thankful that we are able to live here into our second year of being in this place. As this city has opened up to the outside world, prices have increased considerably. Most of the expats we know living here have to move every year, because rent prices are doubling and tripling in places. Our apartment building is one of the largest in the city and is situated above a small "mall" with shopping and restaurants and a department store. We have made many friends with the people who come to work here everyday, and they are often are best source of information and news.

The other constant in our lives has been language learning which is something we do absolutely every single day.
We happen to have the best teachers who are both challenging and compassionate. We enjoy class time with them even though it's so difficult.
Most of our language classes are held inside our apartment, but my favorite classes are the ones where we go to our teacher's house. I love being in her community and getting to know the people who live near her.

Every Sunday we go to a local "gathering place" and three weeks out of four, it's a local language service we attend.
We don't understand most of what's said throughout the meeting because the speakers use a very formal form of the language, but it is a great opportunity for us to connect with local brothers and sisters.
The local language meeting places do not have air con, but they have fans throughout the building.

About once a month, we visit the international meeting place where everything is spoken in English so that we can get refilled and refueled for Father's service. Our children also need the camaraderie with believers their age who are encouragers and accountability partners in the midst of their predominantly non-believing environment.



Each week, we have a group of people who meet at our house for English language learning and Good Book study. This group has become family to us and we look forward to being with these funny, energetic and devoted friends.

We usually spend a fair amount of time each week, out and exploring various parts of our city. We enjoy learning about the habits and culture of the people this way. There are areas of great beauty and serenity in the midst of this bustling city.

We also inevitably spend a lot of time sitting in our car in traffic.

Sometimes we get to do special programs involving teaching or sharing. We love making new friends!

We often visit local tea shops.

And we even enjoy eating the local food - especially when it's homemade.

Sometimes we get to meet other foreigners who come to talk about the best ways to reach our city and how to provide programs to benefit the people living here. Sometimes we get to meet those people in nice restaurants which is always a treat. But the best part is making connections with people we might not have otherwise met in the States.

Of course everyday we get to spend time in the Word which is the most important thing that we do.

But the most fun part of being here is the quality time we get to spend together as a family.

What more could we ask for?

Many years ago, Father put this city on our hearts. We didn't know of the blessings that awaited us here.
Each week is often full of ups and downs, but the love we feel for the people here and the desire to do His work is what drives us. Then it's the joy of family and friends and other followers in faith that amplifies our endearment, making this place feel more and more like home.

Don't you want to come visit?
Our door is always open. Come join us!