Come over by the old red truck and let me tell you a magical story of sorts.
See over the Quai River and just around 30 kilometers through the winding mountains of the Kanchanaburi Province lies a quaint and peaceful home. This home’s immediate backyard is a series of banana trees and further in the distance lies the misty mountains. In the quaint home lies the elderly couple of Nan Noy and Lou. This may appear to the the prolog of a old folk tale. Let me reassure you that it is not. Just a sweet older lady who has this gentle and peaceful soul about her that suddenly reminds you all that is right in the world. And her adoring husband who chooses this deep profound joy to seemingly live into daily.
Welcome to the real life of Nan Noy and Lou in a readable three paragraphs.
It was a hot October day at the farm and my teammate and friend Maddux was cutting some grass. Nan Noy had a little grin on her face as she snuck up on the beaten dirt trail to Maddux. Mysteriously she had her hands behind her back. Maddux made eye contact with Nan Noy and knowing who this lady was could not resist letting out a joyful smile through his drenched body of sweat with a likely dehydrated headache and blistered hands. As Nan Noy got closer her smile grew and without a bit of nervousness and delay she whipped out a cold Pepsi from behind her back and gave it to Maddux. Maddux lit up and exclaimed NAN NOY as many of us often do. Oh, one cannot help sincerely loving this lady.
It was just three nights ago when Nan Noy and Lou threw the team just a rager of a party. We brought the peanut butter cookies they brought the party. The music was on and the chairs were cleaned up. We talked through translation sharing fun things of our lives and they went on so excited to show pictures of their family that was scattered throughout the house. Lou brought out the dart board and ensured all the darts were just right for our talentless game. Next Lou turned up the music as it began to downpour. We danced. Lou really danced-best dancer this side of the Nile I kid you not. He passed out snacks. We prayed over them as they got teary eyed. The party ended, yet the memories live on. Us boys have been talking about that rager for days now. It was hype.
Oh Nan Noy and Lou. The way she gives us empathetic looks and rubs on the back when she knows we are not well. The way they gives us little treats at just the right moments. The way Nan Noy nods off a bit every Sunday at church. The way Lou provides wisdom through scripture.
The way she takes off her helmet and attempts to sway her motherly haircut in the wind while getting off her suave and perfectly tan husband’s bike. The way Nan Noy giggles. The way Lou laughs. The joy they gets when they see you daily as if many moons had passed. Oh Nan Noy and Lou.
Language barriers are rough at times. Nan Noy and Lou have this unrelenting joyful faith in Jesus. They speak about as much English as I speak Thai. Yet I have been encouraged, cared for, and loved by the two of them. I guess one might say genuine love is the universal language. But hey, I’m only 22. (semi-quote from Hilary Duff in my favorite ‘chick flick’ A Cinderella Story).
