Sawatdee! [Hello in Thai]! This week marks the beginning of month 5 on the race. The Lord has been teaching me many lessons and stretching me in ways that I did not forsee or anticipate. Personally I am at an awesome place where I can recognize the areas in which I have grown, I am growing, and I need to grow. For me, constant change has been one of the most difficult aspects of the race. I haven’t blogged as frequently during these past 3 months because I have been struggling with balancing the three aspects of my ministry: my team, my blogs, and my ministry location in country. This past year has been one of the most full, challenging, and exciting times of my life.
Here’s a quick update about my where-abouts on the race. I spent the last month in Malaybalay, Philippines working at New Faith Children’s home. The Philippines were a perfect transition from Central America to Asia! I was familiar with some words in their language due to the Spanish influence in the Philippines. During February, I will be serving in Southern Thailand at an orphanage (#3 on my race). This month is the first month that my team is on the same playing field as far as language and culture. We arrived in Bangkok on Saturday afternoon, and my team has already hit the ground running. Here’s a little lesson on Thai culture.
[array of dried fruit at food market in Bangkok, Thailand]
Thai phrases
sawatdee . . . hello
kor toht . . . excuse me
korp khun . . . thank you
chai . . . yes
wan nee . . . today
prung nee . . . tomorrow
mua wan . . . yesterday
diao nee . . . now
[food market in Bangkok, Thailand]
Cultural norms
-Don’t show bottoms of feet
-Don’t touch the top of someone’s head
-Bow to say thank-you
[fried bugs . . . a delicacy. Yes, I tried a fried cricket]
For more photos from my afternoon adventure at the food market go to . . .
More stories about the Philippines will unfold over the next few days to fill in the gaps between Panama and Thailand . . .
