Jasper Kids!!!

It feels like I haven't posted in a long time. I guess that's what happens when you keep pushing back writing in the blog for two weeks! Since the last time that I've posted, a lot has gone on. First off, the Jasper Kids are back from their summer break. So two weeks ago I got to see a lot of familiar faces when I went to Wiang Pa Pao, there were also some new students who joined Jasper Kids this year, 5 girls and 5 guys, so it was fun getting to know the new kids and getting reacquainted with the other Jasper Kids. I was a bit nervous at first, seeing the kids, because it would be the first time that I would speak to them in Thai, but my nervousness melted away as the kids made it very easy for me talk to them in Thai. Seriously, it is way more fun hanging out with them this time around, than last time because I can communicate and understand them a lot better.

Since two weeks ago was the Jasper Kids first week back, Pastor JJ and Junya held a PTA meeting to go over the purpose of Jasper Kids and to introduce the staff and the new students, and later that evening, we had icebreakers to introduce the new kids, and as the usual we played corny asian games, but fun nonetheless.

Last week, when I went back to Wiang Pa Pao, there were no events with the Jasper Kids, so it was very chill and relaxing weekend to just hang out with the Jasper Kids, definitely something I enjoyed a lot. We also held Saturday English school registration for the Jasper Kids and other kids in Wiang Pa Pao. Had a lower turnout than expected, but it shall be fun teaching Thai kids English as it also gives me a chance to practice my Thai.

Aside from those few things, when I'm in Chiang Mai, it's been the same routine, learning Thai and teaching English, and at the same time planning for the short term summer mission teams. I guess one one thing that I can definitey praise God for is that oldest student, passed out of his intensive ESL course and will now be entering the 7th grade, so I'm very happy for him. This is also my last week in Chiang Mai because the first mission team will be arriving next Wednesday, so that means this will be my last week studying Thai and teaching at the center, man I can't believe three months have gone by so quickly! Now it's time to put in some work!

Some other highlights from the last two weeks...

- I guess during the first seasonal rains, there are these flying bugs that look like giant termites that come out from its nest, and they come out in hordes, it's ridiculous, but anyways, apparently they are a very tasty treat. So two weeks ago the Jasper Kids were catching them as they were coming out from the ground and later on these bugs were fried and salted. Apprehensive at first about eating them, I ate one and was suprised that it tasted like popcorn, no lie! I can definitely see myself eating more. First Bo Shing Tang now meng maleng (the name of the bug), I wonder what's next.

- Wiang Pa Pao is wonderful at night, at this time of the year. The night time sky is black and clear, no hint of light pollution, as the multitutde of stars shine bright and clear. Then there's the cool breeze, when you stand outside, and as your just taking in the heavens, fire flys dot the surroundings here and there. It feels like a slice of heaven. Did I mention how beautiful it is in Thailand!

- Prayer Requests

• Now that it is June, it's now time for me to spend time at Wiang Pa Pao and help out at the Jasper Kids. This is what I've been waiting for, so please pray that I will be dilligent and serve the ministry with a humble heart.
• Pray that God will use me in presenting the Gospel to the villages we visit with the mission teams, and pray that I will be humble in serving the teams as well
• Pray for my continued language learning, that even though I'm done with tutoring, that I will be dilligent in my self studies.
• Pray for the Jasper Kids that they will come to know the Lord much more in this upcoming year.

Saturday English School Registration

IceBreakers

Eating fried Meng Maleng

This is how many bugs they caught.

Decha catching these bugs.

This is where the bugs come out of.

The new puppies at Wiang Pa Pao

The kids in the soccer ministry.

I want this hat/handkerchief combo.

Introduction to the new Jasper Kids year.

Dog...it's what's for dinner

This is not one of my normal posts, but I thought I should share my first experience eating 보신탕 (Bo Shin Tang) in other words, dog stew, korean style. I know that I'm in Thailand, so how did I come across this dish? Well since I've been helping out at the Symphony Art School, (the Korean center in the community I live in) I guess the missionaries know how to cook it and some how they got hold of some dog meat. Anyways, when I found out that dinner was 보신탕, I got very excited because I always wanted to try it. As I got my bowl of soup, I could immediately tell that there was a distinct smell to it, almost musky. That kind of threw me off, and it made me hesitant to taste it, but once I tasted it, it wasn't all that bad. It tastes like 감자탕 (Gamjah Tang) or Korean potato stew, spicy and savory. Then when I went ahead and tried the meat, suprisingly it was very tender, sort of sweet, and it reminded me of the shredded beef in 육개장 (Yuk Gae Jang), vey spicy beef soup. The only part that I couldn't eat was the cheek fat/tendon, I just kept imagining a dog's jaw, but otherwise the soup was tasty and savory. Would I eat it again? Hmmmm...if it was offered to me, then yes, but I don't think I will go out looking for it. Thought that I would just share this with ya'll. Now on to my next food adventure!

New wrinkles

Oh man I’m not one to like the rain much, but it is a welcome change to have some rain right now.  Why am I so happy that it’s raining? Because it gets so stinking hot in Thailand, so it’s nice to have some cooler weather, plus it’s soothing to hear the rain drops falling on the roof.

The past week has been pretty uneventful.  Last week has been much of the same as the previous weeks.  Learning the language and teaching English.  Only slight difference is that I’m not going to Corner Stone Language School, and I’m receiving private tutoring.  The cost is the same and I decided to go with the private tutoring because my teacher at Corner Stone quit reasons, and I decided that I wanted to continue being taught by her since she’s really good.  Now I just get tutored in Pastor JJ’s home.  I’ve also been continuing to have morning devotions with Pastor JJ and Missionary Alex at 5:30 AM, and those have been really good.

It’s been a good time of reading scripture, prayer, and accountability.  One thing that I’m truly thankful for is my relationship with Pastor JJ.  He’s been very easy to talk to and we can talk about everything and anything for hours on end.  Even within his busy schedule He still finds time to mentor me, so praise God for a wonderful friend and mentor.  I think that’s another reason why I don’t feel the effects of loneliness here because Pastor JJ and I have so much fun.

Aside from the usual goings on of the week, lately I’ve been doubting how effective I really am, as an English tutor for my kids.  I tutor these kids twice a week for an hour, and I feel like it’s insufficient, especially with the 13 year old who’s trying to get out of intensive ESL and put into a grade level.  My heart goes out to him, especially knowing how frustrating it can be to master a language as hard as English.  In the short time since I’ve gotten to know him, I feel so invested him, and I just want to see him succeed…*sigh*…I gotta just put my faith in trust in God, that whatever I’m doing it’s still making some sort of impact.

I guess that’s all for now, I kind of left the last thought just linger, but I don’t know what else to say, but I’m definitely looking forward to going to Wiang Pa Pao this weekend because all the Jasper Kids will be back at the foundation since school started!  I’m definitely excited to get reacquainted with all the kids.  As promised from last week, I’ve posted pictures below of all that happened in the past two or three weeks.

Some villagers just chilling and eating during the medical clinic.

Pondtip and one of the Jasper Kids came out to help out at the clinic!  Always good to see familiar faces.

One of the few pictures of me, I'm watching over all the salon supplies as I eat lunch.

Pastor JJ translating at the dental station.  This lady is receiving a novacaine shot.

Junya (white shirt) is translating at the physicians station.  The doctor pictured was the only doctor available to do check ups and diagnosises (is that even a word)

Dental check up, they had all the dentist tools running on battery power!

The pharmacy station, to pick up medicine.

The clinic had an acupuncture station.

Junya translating the patients symptoms.

There was also a physical therapy station.

Our tour of Wiang Kam Kun's temple ruins, when Eli came to visit. Lef to right: Beam, Abby, and Junya in a carriage.

One of the figures on the temple, I don't know if it's a dragon, or a lion, or something else.

One of the temples, with a bunch of Buddha statues in laid.

Pastor JJ and his niece, Eli, posing in front of a tree at Rachaphruk Garden.

I don't know if this is a temple or a palace, but it's one of the main attractions at the Royal Garden.  The walk way is very long.

Ministry, Devotions, and Blessings...

I have been sitting in my chair the last hour trying to remember what I did this past week, and a lot has gone on, since the last time I blogged.  I'll begin with last weekend, since during the week, it was more of the same as the previous week.

I went up to Wiang Pa Pao last weekend and I was pleasantly suprised that I now have my own living quarters!  I live in a room attached to the garage, but it has its own bed and its own bathroom, so I'm definitely excited to move in my stuff soon!  Only downside is that I got bit by either ants or spiders 7 times when I was sleeping.  On Saturday, Pastor JJ, Junya, and I helped out at a medical clinic in Wiang Pa Pao, run by Yoido Full Gospel Church (aka largest church in the world).  As I got to observe and help out at the clinic, I was just amazed at the scale of the clinic and the resources that Yoido church provided.  From Korea, the church sent out twenty plus volunteers for the clinic.  Within the clinic there were several stations, there was a physicians station, dentistry station, acupuncture station, pharmacy station, and a physical therapy station, and a hair salon station (yes, I know, that last one is very random).  Pastor JJ and Junya helped with all the medical stuff by being translators and I hung out outside with some of the Jasper Kids college students (Pondtip, Narong, Mayuri, and Sompon) as they were translating and helping out with the hair salon station.  Unexpectedly I had to help translate because the Korean hair stylists didn't know English, so Pondtip would translate from Thai to English, the requests of the locals, and then I had to translate from English to Korean, to the volunteers.  At first it was very painstaking trying to translate, especially when there was a lot of words lost in translation going from Thai - English - Korean, but eventually it got progressively easier as the day wore on.  I'd never thought in a million years would that I have to use all three languages at once.  The locals were definitely having fun, as I tried to communicate back and forth from the three languages, because I could see them all smiling and making comments and staring at me.  That was definitely the funnest part of the day.  We helped out at the clinic from 8AM - 2PM, and afterwards headed back to Chiang Mai.

On our ride back, I asked Pastor JJ and Junya how their experiences were, and they were vastly different from mine.  The main sentiment was that the effort and idea was great, but executed poorly.  Lot of it had to do with being understaffed, fatgued, and being overexposed.  I say overexposed because the clinic was not only announced to the town, but to the surrounding villages, so there were way too many people than the clinic could treat or handle.  Because of the huge crowd, I don't know how effectively people were being ministered to, but I trust the Lord and His plan, and hopefully He used the clinic even with its flaws, for His glory!  It was definitely refreshing to see people willing to serve the Lord, and it was encouraging for me that I got to help out in whatever way I could.  Out of that whole experience, man it really hit home, how important language is.  If you know different languages it really comes in handy in different situations, and it definitely makes ministry more effective, as I learned first hand.  Now I understand why my parents kept sending me to Korean school...hahahaha...

After the clinic, we went back to Chiang Mai, and Pastor JJ picked up his niece (cousin's daughter) , Elizabeth, or Eli (pronounced Elly) for short, at the airport.  She came to visit Pastor JJ and the family, from Korea since she had a long weekend because of Children's Day.   From Saturday to Monday, we did all the touristy things in Chiang Mai.  We went to the mall, walking market, Night Bazaar, Prachaphruk Royal Garden, and visited some ruins close by.  I really enjoyed the Royal Garden and the ruins (which being a history buff, it's a given).  One thing I noticed about Thailand is that they have a lot of royal gardens, and they're all really nice.  I didn't enjoy the mall very much, but I've never enjoyed going to the mall, but it has A/C, and out here A/C is man's best friend.  In that time, I just got to hang out with Eli, Pastor JJ, Junya, and the family, and we had fun sharing stories.  I just noticed that all the visitors, and short termers that I've met in Thailand have been girls.  Where are all the guys!?  I definitely miss having fellowship with brothers!

Luckily, I have both Pastor JJ and Missionary Alex to fellowship with and have accountability with.  Since Monday, Pastor JJ, Missionary Alex, and I have been doing morning devotions together at 5:30AM, and to say that it has been good is an understatement.  Just starting my day in prayer and scripture sets the tone for the rest of my day and to have some good accountability and fellowship has been encouraging.  I say this because my devotions had been lacking in the last month.  A lot of it had to do with "being busy" or tired, and when I'm busy the first thing to go is my devotions, whether it's because I prefer the extra sleep  or needing more time for work.  When I first got here, I thought since I'm here as a missionary, I would be doing my devotions diligently, but that wasn't the case.  What I've learned over the past two months is that you get so caught up in the work that you're doing, and all the little unexpected things that occur in the day that you forget to make time for God, and it happens here in the mission field too.  I remember when I went to Uganda, Pastor Dave, who was serving as a missionary for one year in Uganda, told our team that one of the hardest things for a pastor or missionary is to keep up with devotions.  At the time I was thinking, man your doing God's work, how can it be so hard, but now I know, since it's so easy to get caught up in all the other work that needs to be done.  Fortunately I've learned, and I hope to go strong in my devotions.

This past week and a half has been a good week, and God has been showing me different aspects of the mission life, and let the learning continue...

I will post up some pictures of the clinic a little bit later, but for now enjoy some clips from the Thai church retreat at Pattaya...