that day, I will leave and forget all about it and then a few hours
later enter again and the room seems brighter because of the tangy
aroma remaining.
I periodically have these moments where all of a sudden I escape
consciousness and my brain reminds me of the mysterious fact that I am
still in Thailand. Today I realized I have become accustomed to the
chattering of my little brothers and sisters and their Saturday
routines and the chance to be a part of a world that many other
foreigners living here will never taste because of their cultural
isolation. I visited a friend’s apartment today and was so grateful to
be able to share life with twenty people so different than me and not
be able to escape into a self-made mini America. I am guilty however,
of running from the shear shock that results from not understanding,
never being understood and being shouted at in Thai many times a day.
I retreat to coffee shops and western restaurants and my favorite
refuge “the gym” and crawl back reluctantly to my beautiful home that
is never boring or predictable.
The gym is greatly appreciated now because the PM-10 levels are like
almost to 200 in Chiang Mai which means that if I choose to run
outside, my lungs fill up with tiny smoke and pollution particles that
will one day result in cancer. The beautiful mountain that I normally
gaze at while driving to work is currently invisible in the haze.
Don't worry I wear a super stylish surgical mask now and stick to the
treadmill.
I have been here more than six months and I can’t compute the
realization of that amount of time, but in faces, friends and
experiences it could add up to six years. Life is so full here, and
just a daily drive and schedule brings adventure, but I am just as
pleased with the things that have become standard or customary. I no
longer notice the huge billboards of the King everywhere or the
ancient and crumbling walls that pop up randomly around the city and
the vendors of Papaya salad and everything fried lining the streets
are a part of my daily intake. It is like no other feeling to realize
you are becoming a part of another place and are no longer a brief,
outside observer.
In other news, I had a little art time with the kids while I was the
only adult at home the other day and they are learning bits and pieces
of English which is encouraging.
I also got to have a relaxing touristy day with my future Aussie roommate Judy! Here we are riding an elephant!
As to the matter I asked for prayer about, it has turned out to
potentially be one of the neatest opportunities I’ve ever had. In
December I met for coffee with a nurse who works for an organization
called Partners, who do relief and development work with Burmese
internally displaced and refugee ethnic minorities in Myanmar and in
camps along the Thai border. I knew very little about the situation in
Burma and talking with her sparked a huge interest in the matter as
many Thai people are affected by it. Through reading, I learned of the
million people that are being killed and raped and oppressed by their
own government, are fleeing through the jungle and are largely ignored
by the international community who could provide relief. I knew of the
devastating cyclone, but didn’t realize that the dictatorship withheld
aid to its people purposefully for political and intimidation reasons.
I discovered the situation there to be one of the most unjust I have
yet encountered and it is so morally offensive that I felt compelled
to do anything in the work against it. My nurse friend Kath also
turned out to have the job that I think I have wanted all my life and
I groveled at her feet offering to clean toilets or lick envelopes-
anything to learn more and help out. She gave me a short-term
volunteer application and neither one of us expected much to come of
it really.
I filled out the form and with the help of the Holy Spirit, found
myself in the good graces of those in charge and they asked me to come
chat for a little while. Basically, the interview was so encouraging
and they offered many ways that I might get involved. It resulted in a
mini-internship where I am going to get to assist with the community
health directors in some projects they are working on to get health
care to the people of the Shan state who have some of the worst health
statistics in the world and have absolutely no access to healthcare
whatsoever.
I quit my teaching job at CMU in order to be available to go on trips
at the last minute and it was a step of faith as I still don’t really
know what to expect and when I might get to go. I am hoping to
continue to live at the home and serve there as I do not have to pay
rent, since I won’t be earning income working with Partners.
I am asking for prayer for:
- The people of the Shan state and this organization and others would
be used by God to bring hope to the people there
- An opportunity to help with a project coming up in late March, that
I would be a blessing there
- My acceptance into grad school and if and when I should return home
- The children’s home I live in is suffering from the economy and the
loss of many sponsors, that they will be able to pay back loans and
finish building so the kids will have a better place to live
- That I would continue to be diligent in language study as I have
struggled lately
- That I would continue to be a blessing to SALT ministries as
circumstances and people here are still difficult to understand and
relate to
I miss you
all and pray for your lives to be filled with peace and purpose in
Jesus Christ. He is worthy of all praise!
Love,
Maggs
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