Sunday I went to a Thai church with 5 other people. It was entertaining because everything was in Thai. They had 2 rows in the back with headphones at each chair. They had a translator there speaking into a microphone so we could understand what was going on. In the Thai culture you take off your shoes when you enter temples so the tradition continued into the church. I have to mention that I enjoyed not wearing shoes in the sanctuary. We should bring that back to America. After church we went to eat and then headed out to an orphanage in the middle of nowhere. It was BEAUTIFUL. I enjoyed that ride so much...even if I was in the bed of a truck smooshed with three other people (Will, Jen, and Emma). We got there..played games, sang songs, made bracelets, and just chilled with the children. Roomer has it that a couple of the kids just became Christians. Praise God! They put on the Christmas story play for us. The oldest ones were 13, but the average age of the children was about 10 years old. They were so stinking cute. The girls also made up a dance for us. It was so special. When we arrived back to Wongen (the place we're staying) we got out of Larry's truck and boom there was a baby elephant on the street right next to us. Two guys were walking around with the elephant trained and following them. We fed the elephant...so stinking random!!! It was sooo funny. I hadn't even noticed the elephant and Carrie was like Sarah there's an elephant behind you. hahah only in Thailand...
Monday we taught English at an elementary school. I taught occupations with Will, Saul, and Max to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. We played red light/green light after, duck duck goose, sharks and minnows. Sometimes the language barrier is a challenge...not for teaching English sake...it's because sometimes I really want to express how much I loved hanging out with them...but I can't. I know they see it in the way we come there and act around them, but at times I wish I could use words to tell them that. There was this adorable 10 year old boy who was fascinated by my blue eyes. I took like 10 pictures of him. Some of our team did a skit for them and we also sang some carols for them! I was completely exhausted when we got back...we all were. I took a 2 hour nap!!! We had our usual class Monday night.
Tuesday we went to a different elementary school and practically did the same thing. We were in the classrooms longer and this time I was in 2nd grade (the best grade ever) with Will. We taught clothing and animals. They were soooo stinking cute. When we entered they stood up and said "good morning teachers" in unison. SOOOO cute. We played games with them as well. I was exhausted Tuesday night when I crawled into bed. I was almost asleep and then God totally woke me up. He was speaking to me hardcore and it was so unreal. It was obviously God to me because 1.) I never have a problem sleeping 2.) He was speaking something to me that I had thrown away the 2nd week of DTS and never thought it would come back up again and 3.) He is a faithful God and during my prayers in the morning I was pleading with Him asking for guidance about direction for the next season of my life and then 14 hours later He talks to me about it. Just keep me in your prayers because God is speaking definitely...it's just that I'm having a hard time figuring out the order of things in my life.
Wednesday we had the chance to sleep in until 9. I got up, showered, and then had an amazing quiet time. I believe God's speaking big time to me so I'm pressing in hardcore. I was talking to Synnove about everything that's going on and then she received an email from a staff person back at the LA base. In this email she was talking about how she felt that God was calling her to something...the same thing as me. Wow wow wow this was sooo encouraging. Literally at that same moment she was typing this email to Synnove I was talking to Synnove about the exact same thing. God does cool things like that to encourage me. I'm not saying I know exactly everything that's going on, but I have an idea. We went on a prayer walk around Chiang Mai University. We prayed against the evil spirits that have these people blinded. The University is covered in idols on Buddha and 'spirit houses.' Their religion here is a mixture between Buddhism and Animism. Crazy stuff...God is bigger and it's awesome that we carry that authority in us with the Holy Spirit. I literally could feel the pressure of these spirits when we were standing right next to one of the spirit houses. My eyes hurt and I felt sick...Synnove's eyes were hurting as well. So crazy! We had class and then after class Ton and Mama went out to eat with Max, Carrie, Tony, Will, Megan, Laura, and myself. Such a great time with them. Ton is in the class that Carrie and I teach. He's so fun to be around!!!
Tonight we are going out to dinner and to see Narnia as a team...plus Ton and Mama are coming with us as well. =) Keep them in your prayers. Today we are preparing for this next week. We are leaving tomorrow morning for 2 different villages. We'll be gone for a total of 6 days. We'll be teaching English and doing a lot of random things. I believe we'll also have the chance to ride elephants and ride bamboo rafts. Wahooo...what a Christmas experience. Kind of excited to get away over Christmas. I think it would be harder staying here not very busy. I would think about being home too much. This Christmas will be a different one...but a rewarding one at the same time. It'll be amazing having the chance to serve Jesus on His birthday. Please keep us in your prayers!!!!
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