I know that it took a lot of thought and concentration to have a simple conversation with me.
I was standing in line for lunch at the canteen, this is our first full day at the school and I have absolutely no idea what I am going to eat, and how I am going to order what I think I want. As I stand there in pure confusion about the words that are about to come out of my mouth she turns around and says…”are you eating here?” Without knowing it I kind of chuckle and think to myself “that’s what I’m trying to do.” But I simply say “yea…well I want to!” Through broken sentences and poor Thai on my part she helps me order my lunch and we are on our separate ways!
Fast forward three and half weeks…
We both order our pad Thai and go sit down at a table. We have a few friends join us. She ask me “are you sad to be leaving?” Trying to hold back tears I say “you have no idea, I have really loved it here.” As lunch and the conversation are both coming to an end she hugs me and says “I want to say…God Bless you on your journeys and I will miss you.”
I am sure that I have shared with you most of you about how much I loved Thailand, and how blessed my team and I were by our contacts, our host, the staff, and the students. If given the opportunity I would go back, no need to think it…bags would be packed in a heartbeat. For me this was a really hard place to not make promises about coming back, even about talking to them again(future world racers…no matter how hard it is don’t make a promise you can’t keep). But I did it, no promises made here!
I got the honor to meet a sweet seventh grader on my first day of school, she helped me when I was lost and confused and when I was hit again with the fact that I couldn’t(still can’t) speak Thai. Throughout the month of being at the school I got to see her around the campus all the time, we even got to have a few intentional conversations.
During our last week there I was free for a period so I walked back to the office to wait until school was out, she had been sitting on the lawn with some of her friends. She yelled “Leelawadee, come here!” She asked me to sit with them, so I did and out of nowhere all these questions begin coming my way. The students there are so interested in American food, music, sports, dance; all enthralled by American culture(also people were videotaping me speaking #celeblife). More students came and in the middle of the beautiful chaos she ask, “Leelawadee, are you christian?” I nod and say “Yes, are you?” She nods with a smile and proudly says “Yes I am!” My heart begins to leap for my new found sister!
Out of nowhere thoughts begin to flood through my head;
why didn’t I ask her sooner?
we could have had so many more conversations…
and as soon as they begin they stopped. I was brought back to the reality of the moment and the fact that I get to spend the next 3 or so days continuing to love her how I have been the whole time.
On our last school day I see her early in the morning and tell her I have something to give her when I say goodbye, with a smile she tells me the same thing. We plan to meet for lunch and have another meal together and just enjoy each others presence. I gave her an encouraging note and she gave me a tiny present, we exchanged hugs, and then once again went our separate ways.
Thailand was hard to leave, this is one of the many stories of the amazing people I’ve come in contact with, that have forever impacted my life.
I am sad to not be in Thailand anymore. I am once again left with that unsettling feeling of joining into a community and leaving a few weeks later.
BUT…
As I enter into this new community I am excited and expectant of the Lord to reveal more to my soul and my hear than He did last month.
We are in month 7!!!!
Pray for our squad, especially for health issues and for more financial support!
Thank you all,
Leondra
