Hanging out with kids, hiking on Doi Suthep, little time at the beach, my birthday, watching me work, sitting next to fat smelly men on the truck taxi = awesome and encouraging!!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Merry Christmas!
Wow I have now passed my four month mark!
Honestly, it is difficult for me to summarize and lately I
don't fully understand my own thoughts let alone have the ability to
communicate them through a mass email. Don't think I have forgotten
about you because I think about each of you far more than you would
even believe.
As of late:
-still living with my awesome children and enjoying them as much as ever
-teaching part time at Chiang Mai University Language Institute and
some occasional children's camps
-taking Thai class with my precious tutor Bee who is now my friend
-teaching kids on the weekends at two churches
-meeting tons of people from all over the world doing all kinds of
cool stuff and trying to make meaningful relationships with them
-trying to eat something and somewhere different for lunch every day
-running and trying to relearn the guitar with my free time
So my first holiday away from the US… Coming soon and on my thoughts
is a feeling that I am missing Christmas or skipping it or something.
I don't normally go crazy over this holiday to the extreme, I don't
have an extreme amount of sentimentality, am not a very talented gift
buyer or giver, and sometimes I am turned off my the American media
version of Christmas; but I never imagined the opposite in a place
where there is a complete void of the entire holiday (at least in its
real meaning- I did see Santa stuff at the market). Children will be
at school, work will go on and food will be rice and noodles as usual.
I will miss my family and at a time when most of us have that on the
forefront of our minds, though I am surrounded by many people, none of
them really know me. I realized the other day that no matter what
house or state or part of the family I have been with on Christmas, I
have been with my brother for 18 years straight and this is the first
year for that to change. But I praise God who "sets the lonely in
families" (Psalm 68:8) for he has given me a breakfast date with some
other girls working here and an invitation from a New Zealander couple
(the associate pastor at the English church I go to who I just love
and want to be adopted family) to join them for Christmas dinner! I am
so encouraged by their hospitality and for a God who sees me and
provides. I will also be spending New Years in Vietnam which will be
very fun!
Otherwise, life is continuing in its strange way here. Lately I have
been squirming over circumstances that are uncomfortable and
stretching but exist so that I can serve and love just because God
says to and not according to my conditions.
To those of you who have supported me financially in the past, I would
like to let you know that this part off my budget has been going
towards medicine for the kids, my visas that must be renewed, my
motorbike and Thai lessons. If you would like for more details I would
love to let you know more and can give you a copy of my budget and
expenses. I am so thankful for God's provision while I have been here.
If anyone is considering a last minute Tax deduction, the ministry I
work with has had two churches cut funding this month and the
construction of the new home (as the current one has tons of termite
damage) has been put on hold. Any donation no matter how small will go
to the kids that I work with every day (and my future home as well!)
Please go to www.saltministries.com for some info (some a little
outdated but generally helpful) on the foundation and send checks to:
SALT Ministries
P.O. Box 58145
Jacksonville, FL 32241
(you can make a note of "Children's Home" in the memo)
If you think of me, please pray for:
-my next visa run where I will be spending some time praying about
future decisions and being near to God
-funding for the new house especially the boys as they have a pretty
limited accommodation
-My Thai students and friends to be drawn to God
-the children's health and knowing God's love
-My relationships with those that I work with in the ministry
(cultural and language barriers, love and patience, etc.)
I am so thankful for all of you who are praying and have been so
supportive of me. I miss you a lot right now.
Merry Merry Christmas!
Maggie
Honestly, it is difficult for me to summarize and lately I
don't fully understand my own thoughts let alone have the ability to
communicate them through a mass email. Don't think I have forgotten
about you because I think about each of you far more than you would
even believe.
As of late:
-still living with my awesome children and enjoying them as much as ever
-teaching part time at Chiang Mai University Language Institute and
some occasional children's camps
-taking Thai class with my precious tutor Bee who is now my friend
-teaching kids on the weekends at two churches
-meeting tons of people from all over the world doing all kinds of
cool stuff and trying to make meaningful relationships with them
-trying to eat something and somewhere different for lunch every day
-running and trying to relearn the guitar with my free time
So my first holiday away from the US… Coming soon and on my thoughts
is a feeling that I am missing Christmas or skipping it or something.
I don't normally go crazy over this holiday to the extreme, I don't
have an extreme amount of sentimentality, am not a very talented gift
buyer or giver, and sometimes I am turned off my the American media
version of Christmas; but I never imagined the opposite in a place
where there is a complete void of the entire holiday (at least in its
real meaning- I did see Santa stuff at the market). Children will be
at school, work will go on and food will be rice and noodles as usual.
I will miss my family and at a time when most of us have that on the
forefront of our minds, though I am surrounded by many people, none of
them really know me. I realized the other day that no matter what
house or state or part of the family I have been with on Christmas, I
have been with my brother for 18 years straight and this is the first
year for that to change. But I praise God who "sets the lonely in
families" (Psalm 68:8) for he has given me a breakfast date with some
other girls working here and an invitation from a New Zealander couple
(the associate pastor at the English church I go to who I just love
and want to be adopted family) to join them for Christmas dinner! I am
so encouraged by their hospitality and for a God who sees me and
provides. I will also be spending New Years in Vietnam which will be
very fun!
Otherwise, life is continuing in its strange way here. Lately I have
been squirming over circumstances that are uncomfortable and
stretching but exist so that I can serve and love just because God
says to and not according to my conditions.
To those of you who have supported me financially in the past, I would
like to let you know that this part off my budget has been going
towards medicine for the kids, my visas that must be renewed, my
motorbike and Thai lessons. If you would like for more details I would
love to let you know more and can give you a copy of my budget and
expenses. I am so thankful for God's provision while I have been here.
If anyone is considering a last minute Tax deduction, the ministry I
work with has had two churches cut funding this month and the
construction of the new home (as the current one has tons of termite
damage) has been put on hold. Any donation no matter how small will go
to the kids that I work with every day (and my future home as well!)
Please go to www.saltministries.com for some info (some a little
outdated but generally helpful) on the foundation and send checks to:
SALT Ministries
P.O. Box 58145
Jacksonville, FL 32241
(you can make a note of "Children's Home" in the memo)
If you think of me, please pray for:
-my next visa run where I will be spending some time praying about
future decisions and being near to God
-funding for the new house especially the boys as they have a pretty
limited accommodation
-My Thai students and friends to be drawn to God
-the children's health and knowing God's love
-My relationships with those that I work with in the ministry
(cultural and language barriers, love and patience, etc.)
I am so thankful for all of you who are praying and have been so
supportive of me. I miss you a lot right now.
Merry Merry Christmas!
Maggie
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