I’ve begun to write several blogs since my last update, but then I give up because I have so much to say, and just can’t seem to put it into words.

November really has flown by, as we all had anticipated.  Now we have 3 weeks, and 12 school days until the Christmas Program (and Christmas Break of course!).  Last weekend was the church retreat, which I mentioned earlier, and it went really well!  Aside from me being sick and running to the bathroom ever 10 minutes, it was wonderful!  Haha, I did spend a significant time sleeping and just relaxing, so that was nice. Here’s a picture from one of our worship times:

I’m not really sure what to say.  I’ve been going through times of such deep discouragement at times, marked by short times where I’m filled with so much joy that I can’t even explain.  I don’t even know how to be myself at times… if you’ve ever been overseas for a significant amount of time, I think you’d understand some of the things I’m describing.  It’s hard for me to think about making rational decisions about the future, when everything seems so cloudy at times.  My friend Joni and her husband Paul are the Youth Pastors at our church, and she told me once, “Here in Thailand, you never really feel ‘normal'”, which I think is the truth.  This isn’t my culture, this isn’t ever what I pictured my life to be, and therefore no wonder I feel so weird at times.  For the past week, I haven’t even been able to really eat Thai food.  That’s partly because when I got sick (for the second time) it had been because of some Thai food I ate.  So, I’ve been on an all-American food diet (consisting of : KFC, McDonalds, Pizza, Sandwiches….).

Anyway.  Our Thanksgiving day quickly passed, just like any other day that we’ve been here.  That night we did however eat a nice dinner ad McDonalds.  🙂  We will be having a dinner here at the school on Sunday with turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie.. and everything else!  So that is definitely exciting.

In less than a week, I will also celebrate another significant event: my 6 month anniversary since arriving in Thailand.  I can hardly believe it.  It seems like it’s gone by really fast (which is good NOW I suppose!).  On June 5th I left home and arrived here in Bangkok.  In many ways, it still seems that I’m eternally stuck in June here.  It’s still hot, and everything is the same around me.  Weird.

Christmas break we will also have another two weeks off of school!  I’m not sure exactly what my plans are, but I will probably be heading back up to Chiang Mai to the orphanage we were at over October break, then a bunch of us will meet up on Phi-Phi (pronounced “pee pee”) Island to celebrate New Year’s together!  It’ll be nice to have another break, and try to feel not so far away from home over Christmas.

I’m told January-March goes by really fast, and isn’t quite as unbearable as things have been lately.  That’s a relief to hear.  Anyway, it’s now Saturday morning, and I’ve eaten my oatmeal breakfast, and now I’m going on a run before taking off to visit a friend downtown (and of course go shopping!).  Please keep me in your prayers, I know God has me here for a reason, and I need to hold onto the peace that I felt deep down when I first arrived here 6 months ago.  

 

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, 
an ever-present help in trouble.

 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way 
       and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

 3 though its waters roar and foam 
       and the mountains quake with their surging. 
       Selah

 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, 
       the holy place where the Most High dwells.

 5 God is within her, she will not fall; 
       God will help her at break of day.

 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; 
       he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; 
       the God of Jacob is our fortress. 
       Selah

 8 Come and see the works of the LORD, 
       the desolations he has brought on the earth.

 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; 
       he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, 
       he burns the shields with fire.

 10 “Be still, and know that I am God; 
       I will be exalted among the nations, 
       I will be exalted in the earth.”

 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; 
       the God of Jacob is our fortress. 
       Selah