So this month our ministry has been set up through Heart of Isaan (they drove us out to Ma and Pa who I miss greatly) and we have been blessed to get to spend last week and this week with them. Our contacts are Noom and Karis and last Wednesday we drove out to do ministry in Noom’s home village. The first day we prayed over the town and went to this beautiful flower garden. Once we got back some of us walked over to the school and while we were all going to play soccer with the kids, it quickly became apparent that my soccer skill were sub par which was sad since some of the kids were probably third graders, but lucky for me I was welcomed whole heartedly onto the volleyball court. It was fun playing with some of the girls and then Karis walked out and played some games with us. Once back at the house Base taught us a worship song in Thai which we decided to sing when we led Sunday worship.
Thursday we got to help do some construction projects which ended up meaning using machetes to trim down bamboo into no splinter poles. Needless to say I thank God all my fingers are still attached, but am incredibly impressed with how easy it is to go from Novice to Professional with such a skill. We ate lunch and then went back to the school to do games, stories and songs with the kids.
Friday went pretty much the same except we were given the chance to eat snake. Yes, snake. And not the kind you find at the market, but the kind that slithers across the road and someone gets the idea to bludgeon and eat it. While I’m grateful for the experience, frog with Pa was more appetizing. Saturday we spent all day with the kids doing games, bible stories and dancing. We had such a great time working with these kids and helping Karis and Noom build relations with the people they minister to. 
Sunday we came back to Ubon and went to a local church where we sang and worshiped with an awesome group of people! There’s a saying here, “to be Thai is to be Buddhist� and for a lot of people, to be anything else is to turn away from being Thai as well. During the service a lady went to the front with this little girl, Karrie, whose father recently past away and her mother lives in Belgium and sent her and her brother back to Thailand to live with her mother’s ex-husband, who drinks and gambles. This lady is her teacher at school and something told her she should pick up this girl and take her to church. Karis then invited Karrie to come and spend the day with us. This turned into me playing Uno for three torturous hours and only being able to explain in very broken Thai the rules and what she should play. I will admit, my body played and smiled, but my heart wasn’t in it. I was tired from being with kids all Saturday and my patience was low. I wanted to take some personal time and yet here I was playing blue threes on green ones and repeating the 15 Thai phrases I had down pat.
Sadly, it wasn’t until I awoke at 2 am with an ear infection that any part of this month really made sense. We had been playing and teaching English and singing songs, but somehow I’ve missed the picture completely. I played with a girl who has a broken family life and is going through a difficult time by herself and yet I was able to give her 3 hours of undivided attention. Instead of thinking of my pains and weariness, I should have appreciated what I could give her. And that’s why I’m here. That’s what makes the cold showers and sleeping on the floor worth it. The chance to be what someone needs, to pour into someone the same spirit that God fills you up with. She rode with us silent, not saying a word and when she left she was laughing. Sometimes I think I need to be reminded that it’s the little things people do that make us feel loved. 
Then yesterday I was given time to reflect as we went on a prayer drive around Ubon and to different parts of the city. I must admit I’m growing very fond of the days we just spend in prayer. I feel like so often we set prayer aside for times when we need something. But to have a day to just pray and listen, it’s tiring and filling all at the same time.
Today we worshiped with Karis and Noom and all the guys here. I have to admit I’ve grown quite attached to the Heart of Isaan guys. They’ve taught me to play guitar, to speak and sing in Thai, and today they sat with me to explain the Thai writing system and help me read a sentence in the Thai Bible. (which was really only three words) They pour out so much to the groups that come and stay with them so I hope you take a few seconds of your time to say a prayer for them. Ice, Base, Top, Pedro and Bom have been such a blessing; I begin to cry a little every time I think of leaving them in 3 days. 
P.S. These dogs next door bark all night, every night and Carrie just sat up and said “Let all voices but the voice of God be silent� and I am very pleased to say that they have quit for the evening! Goodnight!!!!!!!
