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

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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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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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And, honestly, it’s been a really good change of pace.  You know, some days have just been language learning in the past year… even some entire weeks.  But it’s nice now to have other things on the to-do list.

I’m in the middle of said to-do list now with much more to finish up before the day ends here in Thailand, but I was just reflecting on the blessing that it can be to just be busy sometimes.  I like feeling productive (and sometimes even like feeling unproductive on certain days), but this has been a nice change of pace for me.

So, I’ll leave you with a HOT picture of my wife and I!

November, 2010.

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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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One another note, protests once again brought downtown Bangkok to a stand-still as the Redshirt protesters came to the city celebrating the 4 year anniversary of the coup that started the most recent turmoil in Bangkok.

This just another reminder that, although the protesters have gone home, and the most recent bloodshed has ended, at any moment the Thai government may find themselves once again the middle of another siege on their city.

Where does “freedom” of speech and overall “freedom” to gather combat Thai “democracy”?  Well, that’s something that I feel is still yet to be seen…

This short video helps to shed some light on today’s gatherings downtown, where just a few months ago, Bangkok was halted to a stand-still, shopping malls were burnt down, and lives were lost.

Pray with us as we hope to be a light in this darkness…

Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara was born in 1932. Her parents were Mom Chao Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara and Mom Luang Bua Sanitvongse. Sirikit’s father was in the Diplomatic Corps and served in the Siam Royal Embassy in Washington DC, in London as Ambassador at the Court of St. James and in Paris as Ambassador to France. It was in Paris that Mom Rajawongse Sirikit was to first meet with the new King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej and their engagement was announced in 1949 on July 19th. Their wedding took place on April 28th 1950.

The Coronation of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej took place on May 5th 1950 and on that day, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit was honoured with the title Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand. H.M. Queen Sirikit has won a place in the hearts of all the Thai people because of her tireless work on many projects to improve the lives of the Thai people and is especially concerned about conservation issues and traditional Thai handicrafts.

But this day isn’t just limited to honoring HM the Queen.  It’s also used by the Thai people to honor their mothers, wives and grandmothers, thanking them for their unconditional love.  The day usually starts by giving alms to the monks.  Then, the children (no matter what age) will kneel before their mother to show their love and gratitude.  They present her with white jasmine flowers or garlands, in return, mothers shower their blessings on their kids. On this day, white jasmine flowers are a common sight in Thailand as they are the symbol of maternal love. The white color of the flower symbolizes purity of mother’s true love, which will never change.

While this holiday is similar in some ways to what we celebrate as Mother’s Day back in the U.S., it is very much different…  …And also a bit sad to think back to the families that we have left behind as we see our new neighbors gathering together as a family to spend the day together.

Ah, but such is life as new missionaries in Thailand…

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(Large portions of the historical side of Thai Mother’s Day was taken from here.)

There is still a LOT of unknowns having to do with the protests, the government crackdown on the redshirts, and the deaths/injuries that came from the month + long rallies held in downtown Bangkok a few months ago.  Many Thai people still don’t know how to react and many are still hurt from all that happened during that time.

It’s difficult to explain all that happened during that time and the deep, deep tensions that drive apart the Thai people.  But today I came across this great story that explains both sides and the “what’s next” for our new city and this country.  Yes, it is long at 45 mins., but break it up in segments and watch it all to get a better understanding of the conflicts and please continue to join us in prayer for the Thai people and Thailand.

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I even got to ride my lang. tutor's 4-Wheeler for a bit. Sweet!

The exam went well today also.  Spent nearly the entire time just talking about the little victories I have had lately in using my Thai and getting things fixed or done.  It’s nice to once again… finally …feel useful.

Coming from the States I felt useful.  I was involved in a lot of things, I was effective at what I did, had a lot of things on my plate (as is my personality).  So, coming to Thailand has been a bit rough in some ways.  Without a good amount of Thai, I felt useless.  I couldn’t tell the mechanic that I needed my motorbike tire changed without both getting a headache and handing them out to everyone I was trying to talk to.  If something needed done at our home, I didn’t know how to give directions to our home and describe what the issue was over the phone. Early on, I couldn’t even describe how short or long I wanted my hair cut when going for a trim on the ole’ Fohawk.  But, finally, I am able to do all of these things… and once again feel a bit useful here.  I bought the parts needed and replaced a sink drain in our bathroom yesterday afternoon, I’ve helped move air-conditioning units at a local church, I’ve taken our washing machine to get repaired, I’ve called for a professional to come and service our Air-con unit when it stopped working…  Oh, and I’ve ordered pizza over the phone and it was successfully (after them calling nearly 4 times because they were lost) delivered.

So, maybe, just maybe, we’ve turned a bit of a corner in our language learning and our lives here after 10 months.  And in good time.  We’re looking to buy a vehicle soon, next weekend we will be traveling to look for housing in Bangkok for when we move next month, and the following week we will sit before the church board in Bangkok to finalize details of us partnering with them to plant a church in the coming years.

Thanks for all your recent prayers and encouragement.  Maybe we’ll be able to do this missionary thing after all…

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