Riding through the breathtaking Fang district of northern Thailand. My mind and body are confused seeing the driver in what I’ve always known is the passengers seat, seeing motor bikes and cars flying towards us on the other side of the road, I have to constantly reassure and remind myself that this is normal. Hearing my team all laugh, chat, and sing random songs in the seats behind me, my heart is full of joy. And I feel this overwhelming sense of blessing flood over me. We drive by massive, beautiful and ornate buildings that are often next to run down, tiny shacks. The landscape is unique. Green, lush, hilly, dotted with vibrant color from a variety of flowers.
We are definitely living the upscale life of Thailand. Staying and working at a gorgeous, state of the art government school for middle school and high school students. The school directors and teachers treat us like royalty. We have our own house that the six of us share at the back of the large campus. We teach English, each in different classes each day Monday-Friday. My students had LOTS of questions for me and after finding out about my past career life, have begun calling me the fashion designer from America. “Why does teacha look SO different, but good? She’s a fashion designa.” I die laughing inside every time.
Two of the teachers took us out for an adventure day on them as a treat for us and to say thank you for our help in their classes—what? They’ve bought us coffee, driven us around, shown us the sights, provided lunch, taken pictures, and given us the coziest and nicest quarters we’ve had since the world race began. I am constantly in a state of-is this real life? Especially each evening as the sun sets over the water and one of us calls throughout the house “GUYYYYS COME LOOK AT THIS. It’s insane.” And we all scurry to the large window in awe of God’s creation.
To quote one of my teammates, “I’ve had more fun in the last four days, than the last four months.” We have each entered this season with such intentionality and purpose. We’ve already begun cultivating the kind of community where you are always free to speak and know you’ll be heard, where deep conversations happen on the reg, where prayer is a first priority-not a last resort, and where belly laughs and outbursts of singing are the norm. In short-we’re all weirdos and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Jesus, you’ve outdone yourself this time. Thank you for blessing me just because you can. And to my new wolf pack chicas, thanks for being as weird as I am and for choosing to want to know me, so pumped for our journey together this season.
