Life is full of transitions. You may expect some transitions to be easier than others, but after yet another one, I have to admit they are all pretty much still hard.
After a year and a half of coming and going from Chiang Mai, I finally made the big move to Mae Sot. Mae Sot is about 6 hours (by bus) from Chiang Mai and lies on the Thai/ Burma border. The two cities are very different in comparison. Fewer Westerners, fewer English menus, less Thai language, more Burmese, and generally not much to do on the “weekends.”
Since the move, a lot of people have asked me if I like Mae Sot. My basic answer is: I like the ministry. I’m not so excited about the town, but I’m excited about the people I get to serve here. There’s not a whole lot to do here though (outside of ministry), and the community has shrunk significantly. If you want a more complicated answer I would say that as soon as I moved here, I realized it was going to be hard. Not that I regret moving here at all, but God has continually confirmed that this is definitely going to be a hard season. I’m supposed to be here and I’m going to learn a lot! So…even though it’s tough, and I often miss my life in Chiang Mai, I know I’m here for a reason and God is at work. Plus, I really do get to work with some amazing people!!
Its kind of funny, after studying Thai for a long time, I find myself working with Burmese-speaking kids. My Thai is still useful at times, but I have put it aside for now to start learning some basic Burmese. Sometimes you just have to adapt, and I guess I don’t mind so much. That is kind of how the whole move looks- it’s just for a season and I guess it’s about time for a little more “stretching.”
Stay tuned for mini blogs Mae Sot Part 2-5 about the ministries I am involved in here!
