It is really blowing my mind that I say goodbye to Thailand at the end of this week. Goodbye to our hosts who have become family, goodbye to our cozy, little apartment with our “every night’s a sleep over” pallet that we have called home, goodbye to the schools we have taught at and fell in love with, goodbye to Santisuk SiKhoraphum which has been our church home, goodbye to our favorite coffee shop down the street… the list could go on and on! God has used every minute we have spent in Surin, Thailand for His good. From sharing the gospel, to teaching English, to learning valuable lessons, to healing broken hearts, to building houses, to just showing love in all sorts of ways. God has been faithful! Not to say that these past two months have been the easiest or perfect, but I like to think that they have been used for His glory.
Thailand showed me how to be confident in His promises and rid of fear in my life. There was so many nights that I tossed and turned in bed asking God why I was here. So many times I doubted His ability to prove to me that I was here for a reason. All the way across the world, away from anything comfortable, my family, and friends; he managed to give me comfort. He assured me that this was a part of my unique plan. He lit up my heart with joy and adventure. I could see Him in the eyes of His people. I could feel His love in the sunshine on my skin and in the rain that came down to cool us down on hot days. I could hear His promises and reassurances in the laughter of the little kids playing outside the school and in worship at church. I was assured I was right where I needed to be by the countless people I have met and who have impacted my life maybe more than I have impacted theirs. I felt God asking me to trust Him more and more and go deeper and deeper with the mission here.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
He promises me that I am worthy and loved and that His plans for me are good. Thank you Thailand for revealing this to me so many times and in so many ways. These past two months living in SiKhoraphum have been a blast. I have adventured my heart out and I am so thankful for this experience! Goodbyes will be hard, but there is more adventuring and loving to be done in our next stop, Cambodia!
On a lighter note, life in Thailand has taught me oh so much:
- Western toilets and showers are a blessing to be thankful for
- Language barriers are no joke
- Mosquitoes come out with one mission… to kill
- Coffee really is life
- Your brain needs to hear your native language more than you think or you will lose it
- God can make you fall in love with a whole village of people
- It is okay to just relax and be bored sometimes
- Sticky rice soaked in whiskey is a probiotic apparently
- If you are pale, you are a total babe in Thailand
- A pig blood clot is edible but I don’t recommend it
- Living in constant community with five other girls is hard
- Alone time is crucial
- Thai kids love hugging white people
- Never look a stray dog in the eye; they don’t want to be your friend
- I have a new best friend and he is three years old and named Yoel
- Anything with coconut milk on it is probably delicious
- Clearing your weekly lice check is the most relieving feeling
- Elephants are just the best and have real emotions and I love them
- Sunscreen becomes your best friend with these rays out here
- If a Thai person tells you, you are going to a lake, prepare yourself
- Manual labor is surprisingly relaxing
- Thai people love Taylor Swift and George Bush and Brittney Spears
- Life works itself out
- One silk skirt takes two months for five women to make
- Rice for every meal has the potential to be worse than the freshman 15
- Fried chicken is always the safe bet
- Don’t look forward to the kiss at Thai weddings, because it usually doesn’t happen
- Sunsets over the ocean really are the best
- Tiger Balm can heal anything, even scorpion stings
- I am so obsessed and thankful for my friends and family back home
- Homesickness is so real
- FaceTime dates are a blessing
- Be thankful for your dryer at home
- Dancercise in the park is where all the cool kids are at on Mon-Sat nights
- Korean BBQ is not really BQQ
- Nutella is a precious possession
- Thai Halloween aint got nothing on an American Halloween
- Thailand is a beautifully, mysterious place and unlike anywhere I have ever experienced
Thank you Thailand for the memories and many blessings. I will never forget these two months! Prayers appreciated as we travel to Cambodia at the end of the week!
