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.

And, as always, Leave a Comment!

(click the image above to be taken to the actual Operation World page for more details)

Join us in prayer and leave a comment!

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…

11 of the craziest Thai TV commercials this decade

Read more: 11 of the craziest Thai TV commercials this decade | CNNGo.com

Although most Thai TV commercials are only 30 seconds long, the talented, creative and, yes, sometimes mildly disturbed writers manage to come up with some very original stuff.

We’ve scoured Youtube.com looking for 10 of the best from the past decade but we’ve ended up with 11, as we couldn’t bear to leave any of these out. The range of emotions they cover is stunning, from goofy and tragic, to sexist and downright gross. These are the ones that made us laugh, spam our friends with them on Facebook and shake our heads with bemusement. Enjoy!

1. Politically incorrect toothpaste

Thailand generally lacks the fine lines that Western countries use to define political correctness, as this ad by brand Twin Lotus Herbal shows. It’s a noble message — appearances can be deceiving — but it would have made more sense had Terry Gilliam directed it.

2. High quality ceiling tiles

The ubiquitous gecko takes center stage as a lizard romance that is tragically interrupted by cheap ceiling tiles. The men at the end take their anger out on their friend as they choke him. “Why are you so cheap!?”

3. Sylvania lights

Thais are famously afraid of ghosts and can recognize several hundred different types of them to prove it. This brilliant ad for Sylvania lights shows that nothing’s really scary. As long as the lights are on.

4. Diet tuna

An oft-forwarded classic that plays with the legendary beauty of Thai females and, again, how appearances can be deceiving.

5. Thailand: Land of (painful) smiles

This ad takes aim at the famous Thai smile and how it brings in tourist dollars. But in order to offset how much oil Thailand burns, those smiles would need to get a whole lot bigger. A sweet ad with a macabre edge.

6. Staying healthy for the lads

Another example of Thailand’s refreshing lack of political correctness shows Thailand’s male/female demographics with a bit of visual flair. Too bad the ad is for fish strips, which smell bad enough to keep the boys away no matter what you look like.

7. Cheers Beer

Cheers Beer came out with a series of ads that showed how the little things in life can be cause for celebration. Not sure what that has to do with beer, but it’s well done.

8. Pay your bills!

A straightforward story with a slight Tarantino-esque edge, this is a good example of Thailand’s love affair with goofy visual humor.

9. My car! Eh, nevermind

A hotel valet gets a bit too excited behind the wheel of a nice car with disastrous results. Not to worry though, the car’s owner has some pretty good insurance.

10. Smartpurse Debit Card

A reliance on physical money can often be a liability, as this very funny but slightly distasteful ad shows.

11. Bad Eyesight

Possibly the most tasteless and/or funniest Thai commercial in history (depending on where you draw the line). A clearer example of the need for proper eyewear simply cannot be made. Best part – the look of ‘oh my God, they wouldn’t…’ on the guards’ faces at the 0:37 mark.

So, which one was your favorite/least favorite?

Thanksgiving Message from Michael Brook Sarver on Vimeo.

A short Thanksgiving message and update on us here in Thailand!

Lopburi, Thailand. November 2009.

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I’ll be real honest.  I don’t really know what Darla does or what the company she works for does either.  I’m lazy in that manner.  What I do know is that this video should rock your understanding of this world that we live in.

This morning I watched a live broadcast of a U2 concert via YouTube.  I sat in Bangkok, Thailand and watched a live video feed via YouTube of a U2 concert back in California.  But what really blew my mind was when they had a feed coming from the international space station > YouTube U2 concert > us in Bangkok while I carried on conversation with people from all over the world in real-time!  Blew me away!  What is this world that we are living in?

Exactly how small is it?  I can video chat with family and friends Skype.  I can host a conference video chat with several people at one time from all over the world at once.  And share conversation in a split second with content generators all over the world.

How can we as ministers of the Gospel redeem this technology for His work?  How can we, as missionaries, use the understanding as we reach out to those around us, be it in Indiana, USA, Southern California, or in Bangkok, Thailand?

In the coming months and years before us we will see this technology unfold and our understanding/embracing of it should move forward also…  How will we be a part of it?

Your thoughts?

Anyways, check it out….  It’s good….  Real good….

So, why aren’t we happy?