9-13-07
When we learned about Tamar Center we found out that they have a program for women committed to leaving the bars that provides classes to learn a skill. Right now there are four ladies who are participating in this 3 month program. They are provided with counseling, mentorship, and Bible classes (I believe 3 times a week) as well as choosing to learn either hair dressing or baking. Two of the ladies are learning in the hair salon from Fon. A hair stylist from California, Kristin, has come in as a missionary for about 4 months to teach these ladies the various tricks of the trade. I was more than willing to be a ginnea pig and jumped on the opportunity for highlights.
Before: slightly after 1pm
I told the ladies that I wanted it to be fun and crazy, knowing that it’s permanent and could be fatal to my hair. To me it is worth them having fun while they learn. They then asked if I wanted more than one color, so I said sure! Whatever you like! They laughed at me, I’d say more with me, and chose green and blue. They then started tearing aluminum squares and prepping the color. Kristin hadn’t arrived yet, but had taught Fon highlighting the previous two days so she started separating my hair and applying color.
Fon spacing the highlights: about 1:20pm
Now, those of you that know anything about coloring hair may be raising an eyebrow right about now. Yes? Well I had my suspicions, but was all for going with the show. They needed someone to learn on and this was my teams slow ministry day. Kristin arrived after Fon had completed two highlights and then reminded her that my dark hair would need to have peroxide first. So out went the two highlights and in went the peroxide!
Kristin doing a peroxide/spacing check: I’d say 2:15pm
Kristin checked the peroxide and showed Fon how to accelerate the process by using a flat iron on the side that was foiled last. The foils were removed and I was sent to have my hair washed along with an amazing Thai head massage! Surprise, Surprise! I then was back to my seat as Fon picked through my hair grouping the strands together that had been treated with peroxide. Green/Blue/Green/Blue/Green…then wait. I’d get an occasional color check and then it was time to do a final wash or so we thought.
During this wash we found a couple of concerns, one green was indeed not green but yellow. Thankfully I initially didn’t care and wasn’t bothered by this. Actually I found it funny that the bottle was mislabeled and now I was going to be honoring the King and Queen of Thailand. (Royal colors are yellow and blue) The second concern was the blue was not the solid blue that it was ment to be, but a baby blue as if it had already faded. This was attributed to the chemical mixture being out too long, remember earlier that afternoon? They then mixed some more and corrected the two blue highlights on the top which were the worst.
While I was waiting for the two foils to set, I met a guy named Prin. He and I started talking about The World Race, which led to him asking me about any future in missions. I told him over the last year, about every month something or someone has mentioned the country Nepal to me. I had never really heard of the country until last October when a friend was telling me about the countries she had just came back from. Out of all the countries and with out any prompting she told me that I would love the people of Nepal.
This is where God’s “coincidences” amaze and encourage me.
Prin has had the same type of occurrences reminding him of the country Nepal. He told me his story that started since 2003. I have no doubt that our days converged just for that moment to encourage each other for a country that has a special place in our heart and lives.
future Nepal missionaries!?! Tamara and Prin: roughly 5:00pm
Prin and I finished our conversation and being the gentleman that he is let me have my final hair washing first. He was still finished and gone before me though, since he didn’t get his hair blown dry.
Rinsing out the die: approximately 5:30pm
It had been a very long day, longer than anticipated, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Fon, Tamara, Na, ?sorry?, Kristin (6:00pm)
Back at the House 8:00pm
