A couple of weeks ago I asked my mom to write a guest blog post about her experience at Parent Vision Trip! I think it’s cool to see her perspective of not only PVT but also having her daughter, ME, on the World Race!
I included some pictures and new videos so be sure to check them out!
PS: This is my last PVT blog before moving on to sharing all the new changes and amazing things God has been doing this last season of the World Race!
My highlight
I recently told friends when they asked “what was the best part of the trip?,” besides spending 5 days with my daughter, I loved hearing these young women teaching scripture. Each day we had a time of worship led by the girls and then a time of teaching. It’s one thing for these young ladies to know scripture and understand it and then another to teach it to their parents and peers. They are excellent communicators, and I was so encouraged by these 20 somethings and where they are in their faith.
Back to the beginning
My experience as a racer mom is probably different than many other parents. Ally is 26 years old, she lived out of state and had a full time job for 3 1/2 years before she left on her 11 month adventure. Its basically felt like she’s still living and working in CO.
At her launch in October, they announced our Parent Vision Trip (PVT) would likely be to Thailand in late May. In January we started receiving information regarding our PVT and on April 2nd we received the official “green light”. Finally on May 23rd, I was on a 14 hour flight to Seoul on my way to Chiang Mai with another racer mom Lyn-Nell who graciously met me in Detroit so we could fly together. I gained a whole new appreciation for people who constantly fly for work. I don’t know how you psyche yourself up for those long cramped flights. The flights were all on time and I had checked a bag which made the long trip and was waiting for me on the carousal in Chiang Mai—yay!!! We got to the hotel around midnight and had a chance to catch up on sleep before we met the girls at 2:00 PM the next day.
The first hug in 8 months
All 16 parents gathered in the hotel lobby waiting for the girls to arrive and 2 o’clock could not come fast enough. Some of the moms were talking about crying when they saw their daughters and I was thinking I’m feeling pretty good and I don’t think I’ll cry—WRONG! Before we even embraced, my eyes were already fountains. I think most of the parents could have stood in the lobby for 5 days just hugging our girls but after a couple of minutes, Ally and I headed up to my room and I fished her “goodies” out of my suitcase. Now mind you, Ally eats a vegan diet so her awaited treats were a container of powder energy drinks and 4 boxes of pineapple/kale Kind bars. My mom would have brought me a suitcase full of chocolate.
Off and running
If you’ve had a child live away from home, one of the fun things to do is to visit their favorite hang outs and experience the things they’ve been enjoying. Ally had been talking about bubble tea since her time in Malaysia so off we went to a small shop for my first bubble tea. I was in the paranoid traveler mode and questioning the safety of the water and ice in the tea but Ally assured me it would be ok. Anyway, the bubbles were black and sank to the bottom of the glass. They would come up through the straw as I sipped the tea and tasted like gummy bears. What I didn’t anticipate is Ally with her camera documenting the PVT and every time I tried something new, she video taped me.
Small World
Even though we were on the other side of the world, Wisconsin connections kept popping up. While Ally was in Chiang Mai she stayed at Zion Hostel with a Bella Goose Cafe on the lower level. The owners of Bella Goose are a family from Wisconsin Dells. We were spoiled with wonderful meals prepared by the ladies at Bella Goose and they thoughtfully prepared a vegan version for Ally. I am not a coffee person but their Lavender Ice Mochas were amazing.
Then one afternoon as a group we visited a temple and had an opportunity to talk to a monk. It is a specific program called “monk chats” where the monks are encouraged to learn english through casual conversation. We found a monk in his orange robe was sitting under a canopy at a table talking to a young couple. Shortly after joining their conversation, I learned the monk has a brother who lives in Wisconsin. The monk hopes to come to Wisconsin someday to visit his brother and see snow. This year he could have come in April to experience his first snow.
Light in the darkness
Chiang Mai comes alive around 5PM as all the merchants begin to set up their tables to display their wares. Unfortunately at the same time, hundreds of women young and older (although my perspective of “old” is definitely changing) are putting on their nightly makeup preparing for their “work” in the red light district. In other words, even though the city appears bright and vivacious, there is a spiritual darkness hovering over Chiang Mai. Yet in the middle of the darkness there is the light of God shining through some special people. Two of their names are Danielle and Alli. These two adorable young women are working to build relationships with some of the women trapped in prostitution with the ultimate goal of sharing God’s love with them and relocating them to a safe house.
Another source of light in a depressed slum type area of Chiang Mai is a young woman named Katie. I referred to her as the “Pied Piper” because when we visited this poor neighborhood, the children came from every direction out of their “homes” and followed us to an open gravel parking lot space. It was obvious Katie has successfully gained the trust and love of this community. We brought juice boxes, crackers, a couple of balls and some nail polish and had a lot of fun passing out the goodies and just delighting in the children. Ally found a couple of kindred soccer enthusiasts and drew them in with some passing and juggling.
Jesus needs to be the foundation of ministry and on that foundation, relationships are established. Alli, Danielle and Katie are slowly building relationships and the light of God’s love is becoming brighter in this dark city. Keep them in your prayers.
Shopping buddies
Besides eating—paratha, a vegan cinnamon roll, lots of different teas, several Thai dishes, an amazing vegan chocolate smoothie bowl at a restaurant named Good Souls Kitchen and lastly a vegan brownie with ice cream at Vegan Heaven, our other favorite activity was walking through the night markets. We kind of developed a routine—I would ask how much, the seller would offer a price, I would look at Ally, she would shake her head no, and then they would work out a price while I just stood there. Sometimes we walked away, sometimes I took out my envelop with my bahts (Thai Currency). Before leaving for the airport on my way home, I successfully checked everyone off on my list.
Sawat Dee Kha
It’s crazy to think every month Ally and her squad of 19 women learn words in a different language, new money, and a new city. Even though almost everyone in Thailand warmly greets you with a smile, hands together, a brief nod, and says “sawat dee kha,” it took me all week to remember “sawat dee kha” (hello and good bye) and then I started to say “sawat dee cow”. I think I finally got it right when I got home. Another “no no” is pointing which is really hard when you’re shopping. It’s unbelievable to think that these young people adapt to a new culture every three to four weeks.
Precious moments
Worshipping with Ally, eating at her favorite places, praying together as we walked through the red light district, watching her play soccer with children, giggling while having fish pedicures, feeding and bathing elephants, participating in a Thai cooking class and frankly just spending time together.
I’m excited to see what God is planning for her next adventure. She returns to the states the end of August so I won’t have to wait long to find out. 🙂
