This month we are in an itty bitty village in middle of nowhere central Thailand. It honestly hasn’t been as hard as I would’ve expected, but we have had to get creative in coming up with ways to entertain ourselves…
1. Build a wall. What’s 11 able-bodied young women to do? Manual labor of course! This month we are building a cement wall around the YWAM Chaiyaphun. I was kicked off the masonry job, but I am quite a good mixer.
2. Play hand games with the local kids. They’re following you around anyway, why not have some fun? This is also a perfect opportunity to help them practice the English you taught them earlier in the day at English Camp! (How arrree yo-uu? I am….goo-ood.) They usually don’t remember much, but they do remember how to high five and pound it (which is clearly the most important skill).
3. Talk to the locals. As I walk along, someone will inevitably come try to speak to me. The thing is they don’t seem to realize that I don’t speak Thai. As much as I try to tell that to them, they just keep going. I love it.
4. Try to be clean. Yeah….you try that.
5. Talk to Pa. Pa is the father of our contact, Ram. Well into his 60’s, he is still extremely active and can often be seen climbing onto the roof and using his machete. You might not understand him at all but he will certainly make you laugh.
6. Buy a bubble tea or a popscicle. In the afternoon, I often go for a walk around the tiny village. Inevitably I get too hot and am forced to buy something cool. Cantelope bubble tea has become my favorite, but durian popscicles are growing on me. Be careful, though. Depending on the time you go for a walk, the shopkeepers may very well be asleep on the shop’s floor!
7. Drive two hours in the back of a truck for a/c and Starbucks. Bonus: wi-fi! Oooooh, fancy.
8. Bananagrams. Best game ever. ‘Nuff said.
9. Go to the Big C. The Big C is basically a Thai Walmart. But it’s truly an event for us all to pile into the truck and get to go.
10. Get to know your sisters real well. This month our all girls team is joined by 4 women from Team Se7en. Having so much estrogen around is both a challenge and a blessing. We’ve had a fight or two, but I am learning a ton about women and who we are in God’s eyes.
