Khao Yai National Park

A few weekends ago we were invited to join in on a youth retreat to nearby Khao Yai National Park, just a few hours outside of Bangkok.  It was a simple overnight trip and we were happy to be asked to join them.

It really was a great few days.  We visited some nearby waterfalls, saw some of the local Thai wildlife, had one heckuva cookout, a time of worship, games, etc…  What we found to be the best part of the weekend was the ability to connect with some of the other young people in the church outside of the normal Sunday morning setting.  I mean, you can’t get to know someone much quicker than when you are all yelling at each other in a heated game of Dutch Blitz!

Nothing like starting your Sunday morning with a rowdy game of "Dutch Blitz". http://t.co/bHxd6Vp

March 19, 2011 9:37 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@two10eleven

Brook Sarver

One thing in particular that I enjoyed was being able to chat for a few hours as we drove to the park with a young Thai guy that I really didn’t know all that well.  I was a bit apprehensive at first.  The idea of speaking in Thai non-stop for a few hours while I drove down the highway was daunting and seemed more dangerous than a 16 year old texting her girlfriends while driving.  But in the end it was a great time.  We joked.  We talked about the Bible.  Talked about the church.  We even enjoyed those awkward silences from time to time…

The first night we were there we had a time of worship and prayer.  Being around these young people who love the Lord in deep ways was very encouraging to me.  After our time of sharing I busted out my guitar and began playing.  Throughout the next few hours I worked my way through a song book of Thai worship songs.  It was great to be able to play and learn these songs in Thai…

We’re so grateful for the opportunity to spend a few days away with this young group of people.  We were also encouraged by the fact that we both feel that we survived with our broken Thai and that we built deeper relationships with those who were there…

It’s nice to have some good news to share every now and then!  If you’d like to see more pictures from this weekend, check out Sara‘s Facebook Album here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025593&id=153800143

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We started our journey in Thailand nearly 5 years ago when Sara and I came to Thailand as college students looking for a 6 month internship overseas.  It was that several month experience that broke our hearts for the people of Thailand.  We’ve never been the same since.  From that point on everything that we did was pushing us toward the goal of getting back to Thailand.  We were young in our marriage?  Fine, we spent three years in counseling and preparing ourselves for life together overseas.  We were inexperienced in ministry?  No problem, we invested nearly 3 years (which in reflection isn’t all that much as a 27 year old) as pastors at our home church back home.  We grew a ton and learned a lot about ourselves and working with people in ministry.  We had a mountain of debt to pay off for our collective 8 years of private, Christian higher education?  Fine.  We’ll wait and pray for that to come together also…

All of these things helped prepare us for our lives here in Thailand this past year and a half, yet all of the sudden we find ourselves running on empty.  The daily grind of life in a new culture, language and being so far removed from all of those whom we love and miss has gotten to us.  Now, we’ve studied the books, had classes specifically devoted to burnout as part of our 4 year degrees in Missions from Huntington University and are aware of the warning signs of burnout; yet it still found us.

The stress we experience here in Thailand isn’t anything so acute that we can’t stand it.  We still tackle each day as it comes.  It’s more of a dull stress that accumulates over time.  The feelings of inadequacy, frustrations in language learning, and general sense of being lonely eventually gets to you… …no matter how much you’ve read or prepared.

Which brings us to now.  Some time ago everything that I did came out of a deep passion for doing that thing, but lately I feel like I’m operating from a place of emptiness.  Where did that passion go?  Where’s that thing that when all else fails, pushes me to keep doing what I am doing?

These are questions that I’ve come to understand that nearly every missionary experiences at some point.  But I miss it…  I miss feeling like I’m accomplishing something.  I miss feeling like I’m good at something…  I miss that passion I had to do what I am doing…

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Click the image above to download our latest Newsletter!

So a lot has been going on in the past few months, thus it is time for another newsletter!

If you haven’t already, check out our latest newsletter by clicking on the image above.  It’s an exciting update on all that’s been keeping us busy in the past few months…  and even some exciting news on page 2!  Your thoughts and prayers continue to be such an encouragement to us…

If you are not currently receiving our newsletters and would like to get them delivered straight to your email inbox, please fill out the online form here!

Thanks for your ongoing prayers and support…

Blessings!

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Blog posts have been few and far between around here lately. I’m currently working through some ideas on how to better share with all of you what’s going on and what the Thai people/ ministry in Thailand is like.

As updates continue to come from the blog there are several other ways to keep up with us and our ministry!

Facebook provides a great way to stay connected with us as we share pictures, links, videos and status updates. Many of you already use Facebook to connect with us between the blog posts, but if you haven’t done so yet, head on over to our Facebook pages to check it out!

Much like Facebook, Twitter is a social networking site built around the idea of making small status updates easy. Sara and I could be at the market and have a photo taken and uploaded to Twitter along with a short message in less than a minute! Check us out at http://www.twitter.com/two10eleven and http://www.twitter.com/unglamorouslove

Skype provides a great way for us to communicate with you…. FOR FREE! Skype provides free video and voice chat from the Skype software to any other computer in the world with a decent enough internet connect! So, go to Skype.com, download their free software, and GIVE US A CALL! We’d love to talk with you personally or set up a time to connect with your church on a Sunday morning or Wednesday night!

Yes, that’s right, I just linked to myself in my own blog! The reason I did this is to let you know of some of the cool things around here you can use to stay up-to-date on what’s going on. Obviously, there is this blog which many of you come to several times a week just to see if there is an update. Thank you for that! But, did you know there is an easier way to receive this blog posts? You can subscribe to receive these posts via email! Every day that there are new blog entries added, you will receive an email version of that entry! It’s as simple as clicking the link above!

Also, did you know you can sign up for an electronic version of our prayer newsletters? Check it out at the bottom of our Thailand page. Simply fill in the form with your contact information and you should receive our next prayer newsletter! And if you are looking for a convenient way to get involved financially with our ministry in Thailand, you can also GIVE ONLINE! Simply click the contribute button at the bottom of this page!

You guys continue to bless us with your prayers and interest in how we’re getting along in Thailand! Thank you so much!

And always, get involved by leaving a comment!

This past month has been filled with quite a bit really.  In early February we spent a week at a marriage course put on by the OMF Medical Adviser for Thailand and her husband.  Sara and I have had our fair share of marriage evaluations, counseling, etc leading up us moving overseas, but it was nice to get away for a week and once again reflect on the things we do well and things we could do better–which is all the more important when we find ourselves living our lives so far removed from the support of family and friends back home.

The weekend following the marriage course we were once again off to another retreat.  This time it was a retreat for all first-term missionaries with OMF still in the language program.  At first we were less than looking forward to this retreat.  Sara hadn’t been feeling the best due to Baby Sarver and the idea of another several days away from our own bed didn’t make us too excited for this adventure.  And, as often happens during those times, we were pleasantly surprised.  It was a great weekend!  We got to catch up with old friends from Language School days and meet some of the new students that have come to the field since we left Lopburi many months ago.

Then that next weekend we were once again off to another Thai province.  OMF in Thailand runs two guesthouses primarily for missionaries serving around Asia.  We had been asked to help fill in at the guesthouse for 4 or 5 days so the couple that usually runs the holiday home could have a bit of holiday themselves.  We looked forward to seeing a new area of Thailand and being right next to the sea.  Sadly we didn’t have much free time to play around in the ocean as the guesthouse was completely filled!  But even then we were able to have a few minutes to take a walk on the sandy ocean-side and soak in the view so different than the concrete playground that is Bangkok.

A beautiful sunrise in Prajuab, Thailand

Finally we are back home here in Bangkok.  I’m still figuring out life having a pregnant wife…  Still figuring out how to navigate day-to-day problems such as broken water pipes, oil changes in the motorbike and being locked out of our own home…

But the key is just that…  We ARE figuring out… Thanks for your prayers!

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Back in December we took our (semi) secretive trip home to the States.  This was the first time in a year and a half that we had been home…. …and it was amazing!  We got to spend Christmas with family, New Year’s with friends and snow up to our knees throughout most of our trip!

It really was a great trip.  Once “home” in the US we realized just how much we probably needed a break from the daily grind of Thailand.  For the first time in a long time we were actually able to completely relax, let loose and just “be” around family and friends…  And honestly, it’s helped us get a new passion for the work we are doing here in Thailand.

Christmas with Sara's family

My Mom's side of the Family

You can see more photos of our trip home via Sara‘s Facebook album here:  http://www.facebook.com/saraj.sarver#!/album.php?id=153800143&aid=2024629

So, what else is new?  Oh yeah, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!!

We found out early in December but have waited to tell everyone until just recently.  Since coming back to Thailand we’ve chosen a hospital, met the doctors there and have had one of our first ultrasounds…  To say that we are excited/nervous would be an understatement.  We are completely filled with both of those combating feelings!

So, yeah, that’s what we’ve been up to!  Now that we are back and getting settled in, stick around for many more updates on life, ministry and that little Sarver baby that is soon to come!

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Another few months have come and gone.  And life over here has yet to really slow down, make sense, etc.  We still feel like we are holding on for dear life at times!

But we are doing well.  If you haven’t already, check out our latest newsletter by clicking on the image above.  It’s an exciting update on church camps completely in Thai, language tests, and prayer meetings (again; all in Thai!).  Your thoughts and prayers continue to be such an encouragement to us…

If you are not currently receiving our newsletters and would like to get them delivered straight to your email inbox, please fill out the online form here!

Thanks for your ongoing prayers and support…  Life has been crazy over here and we look forward to sharing more and more about our lives here in Thailand!

Blessings!

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His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great was born on December 5, 1927 to Prince Mahidol of Songkhla and Mom Sangwan. His Majesty is the ninth King of the Chakri Dynasty and the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Thailand.

His Majesty the King is well recognised as the heart and soul of the Thai nation. He is held in the high esteem not only by his own subjects, but His Majesty also commands enormous respect from people in all parts of the world.

Everywhere he goes, people turn up to greet him in hundreds of thousands. The manner in which His Majesty conducts himself, giving his whole heart and attention to the people, immediately linked the living symbol of the nation to the people in a bond of matual understanding and personal affection.

The main concern of His Majesty is for the uplifting of the general well-being of the people. Evidence of this can be drawn from His Majesty the King’s ceaseless efforts to visit his subjects in the rural areas. The aim of his Majesty’s visits is to learn at first hand about the needs of his subjects. (although in recent years deterioration in health has prevent HM from traveling as he used to)

To obtain such information, His Majesty has to travel many thousands of kilometers throughout the kingdom and, whenever possible, suggests ways to overcome the difficulties. These visits have led to the establishment of over 1,000 Royal and Royally-initiated projects. They are implemented by the relevant agencies of the government after having been given advice and assistance by His Majesty.

His Majesty is the first member of the Royal Family to be granted a patent for an invention. The registered patent is for one of His Majesty’s “Chai Pattana Machines” – the Chai Pattana Aerator Model RX 2. The patent rights call it an “apparatus for water treatment”, which is used for agricultural and industrial purposes and can be seen operating in many polluted waterways.

Buddhism is the national religion of Thailand and His Majesty can stantly shows himself to be a convinced and dedicated disciple of the Lord Buddha. To follow the tradition of young Buddhist men to go into the monastery for a period of time, His Majesty entered the Buddhist monkhood at Wat Bovornnives on 22 October 1956. The Constitution of Thailand, however, does not prescribe the King to be only the Defender of the Buddhist Faith, but also to be the upholder of all Religions. He gives equal attention to the protection of all forms of worship and also to the problems of other religious communities inThailand.

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great came to the throne on June 9, 1946. The meaning of his name is “Strength of the Land, incomparable Power”. Since that date he has reigned over the Kingdom of Thailand as a constitutional monarch. At the Coronation Ceremony on May 5, 1950, His Majesty the King pronounced the traditional Oath of Accession which stated: “We will reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people”. His Majesty’s actions since then has thoroughly reflected those words and have always been directed towards increasing the welfare and prosperity of the Thai nation.

On his birthday, which is observed as a National Holiday, all his subjects rejoice in demonstrating once more their affection and loyalty to him. Religious rites are held, houses and buildings are decorated with flags, lights and his portraits. The whole nation prays to the Holy Triple Gem and all the sacred things in the universe to bless His Majesty with good health and happiness and the strength to carry on his onerous task.

This story comes from “Essays on Thailand” by Thanapol Chadchaidee. It is used here with his permission. The book contains 60 essays about Thailand written in Thai and English.
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It’s not always this way.  But it happens surprisingly more often than we had anticipated experiencing a year and a half into.  Sure, we can joke with our neighbors, translate parts of the sermon on Sunday and bargain for lower prices at the market, but every week we make some sort of a mistake that makes us feel just like this:

So many things can go wrong just when you need it the most!  Yet we keep at it every week.  Studying more.  Practicing more.  Communicating more..  Overall it’s been a frustrating sort of fun.  As people come and visit us in Thailand we get a sense of just how far our Thai language ability has come along.  We can translate for them.  Help them in nearly any situation that arises.  And yet I still struggle with the correct tone to use when saying “behind” or “downstairs” (they are literally only a voice inflection away from each other…  Which doesn’t help when I try to tell people where they can find Sara!)

Another thing that we have encountered are Thai people who pretty much refuse to speak Thai to us.  I’m sure they want to practice their English and in some instances it really does help, but other times I ask someone a question in Thai and they answer in such broken English that I have no idea what they are trying to say.  Then, when I ask them again in Thai, they give me the same broken English answer!  I CAN SPEAK THAI PEOPLE!!!  (on some occasions better than others…)

And still in other instances all of us are speaking Thai, but none of us have any idea what each other are trying to say.  All too many conversations wind up a lot like this:

In just a few days we will travel back to Lopburi for our periodic language tests.  We’ve both been working this week to prepare for these tests.  Please continue to pray for us.  Pray for an increasing ability to remember things we’ve already learned and for stickiness of mind as we study new vocab and sentence structure.  Pray also that this hard work in language study in the past year+ would translate into increased meaningful relationships in our new community and ability to be involved in ministries at the Thai church we are partnering with.

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Video courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand – www.loikrathong.net

As you can see from the video above it really can be quite beautiful.  But, as we made our way through the massive crowds of people this year to get a few pictures of the local festivities (this was our first Loy Krathong here in Bangkok), the darkness began to creep into the cheerful scene.

Yes, the lanterns and floating krathongs are quite beautiful, but the people releasing them believe that in doing so also goes their bad luck and misfortune.  The people floating their krathongs are also doing so to ask for forgiveness from Phra Mae Khongkha (the goddess of water) for using and dirtying the water and to wash away their sins.

I’m frustrated with how complacent we have become sometimes.  Language learning is important.  Partnering with the local church is important.  But how in a year and a half have I come to the point that people believing that floating a banana leaf raft down the river will wash away their sins doesn’t just break my heart?

So much of Thailand and the Thai people is so beautiful.  The rich culture, festivals dating back 1,000+ years, etc.  But this culture and these Buddhist/Animist festivals go to further show just how far removed the Truth of Jesus Christ is from this place.  We’re excited to be a part of God’s work here in SE Asia, but sometimes I wonder how on earth the job will get done…

I guess we’ll just hang on for the ride and keep stepping out in faith…

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