What happens when you don't know Thai yet?

You learn the word Satlong.

I believe it translates to tinsel or garland or just maybe human Christmas tree I'm not quite sure, but I do know that my time here has been good so far. Thai people are so generous and helpful. When you're riding on the bus and you're standing holding a bag you almost always get someone who is sitting down offering to hold the bag for you. Thoughtful.

What else do you do when you don't know Thai? You blunder through a few phrases you've learned and hope you don't get a completly puzzeled look from your nieghbors. You also point at random food stands and hope you get something to eat that tastes good. Which may I say, Thai food is for the most part delicious-spicy, flavorful, and filling. I say for the most part because I already have eaten Fish stomach soup with liver (or coagulated blood, i'm not sure). It has the consistancy of pork fat and looks like intestines. Not my favorite thing I've eaten thus far, but we ate it a Thai Funeral for one of the neighbors in Photong and and I didn't get sick :).

Thai funeral's are quite an interesting cultural experience. The are held at a Thai temple with monks who are invited to chant to help the "spirit" ascend to "heaven". Thai's are greatly afraid of ghosts and being haunted by their ancestors. There is no hope and a lot of fear. So what do you do when you don't know Thai? You pray. You pray for God's hope to shine through and for the neighbors you're meeting ,who are lost, to know peace. You pray Jesus' way will be evident and that people will be free. You pray.

P.S Thankfully, I start language learning officially today, so more interesting stories still to come.

Here in Thailand

Well I arrived. I'm officially in Thailand. After a turbulant plane ride and 21 hours I have come to a foriegn place that I now call home. When I got to the community I'm living in, I was welcomed by 10 running children who quickly took my bags and wheeled them to Sara's front door. I officially felt welcomed. Thankfully I slept really well last night, so hopefully I'll adjust quickly to the time change. It's strange being at home at yet not knowing anything, but Thankfully I've got great teamates who are helping me fiqure it out.
Where do I live? With Sara , A team member whose been in Thailand for a few years now. We live in Photong which is a small Thai slum in Bangkok. There are two bedrooms and 1 community space where Children's church and other community events are often held. Currently Nim, a Thai women, lives in the other bedroom, but she is moving out in a couple of months. Untill she moves out Sara is graciously sharing her bedroom with me.
More to come...

I have a plane ticket

Last night I offically purchased my one-way plane ticket to Thailand. I'm picking up my visa tommorow and leaving in 13 days. Wow time flies. It seems just a week ago I keep saying, "I have plenty of time." Now I have a count down. I'm excited about going overseas, I have wanted to go since I was eight. It truely is a strange feeling seeing your childhood dreams of adulthood become a reality, but it's also strange to know you are really grown up.
In some ways, I don't ever want to be grown up. I still want to have idealistic dreams and hopes for the future, I want to laugh and believe I can do anything, I want to dance around carefree in empty fields with no one watching. Yes I am an adult, yes I am grown up, but really I'm just a wide eyed child entering a new world.