Sawatdii khrap/kha! Sabaaydii may khrap/kha? Praise God! We can’t believe that it has already been over two weeks for us in Thailand and over a month and a half since we left the States. Although there have been a few difficulties along the way with the transition (homesickness, culture shock, etc…), God has been very gracious and faithful to us. Our stay in Singapore was especially difficult, but God used that interim time there to help us adjust to overseas and to strengthen our calling to obey through missions.
During one of our debriefings within the first few days of arriving to Lopburi, Thailand, our language/orientation training director asked us how we were feeling. We must admit that the first word that came to mind was, “helpless.” You see, back in the States, it was so easy for us to undertake simple tasks such as grocery shopping, ordering food at a restaurant, or getting a haircut. Now, it seems that all that is familiar and easy have been stripped away. In essence, we are re-learning how to do everything again. It gives us a greater appreciation for how our parents must have felt as first generation immigrants to the States as well.
It is said that most people avoid or resist change. For us though, change has been something that we have had to get used to, whether we like it or not. We have shared many times with people, “Be comfortable with the uncomfortable,” but now we are living out that phrase ourselves. We are getting used to the heat and humidity (although it is actually quite comfortable in Lopburi right now). We are getting used to the traffic and weaving through it on our bicycles to and from language school (Dave has mastered riding a bicycle with both Caleb and Caden on it at the same time!). We are getting used to our dip-and-flush toilets (there’s definitely a technique to it!). We are getting used to Thai food and the kids are getting used to no McDonald’s (although there are frozen chicken nuggets at the larger grocery stores). And we are getting used to homeschooling our kids (teaching them Bible, history/geography, & math in the mornings and reading & writing in the afternoons).
Perhaps change is not always bad. It is helping us get to know ourselves better, forcing us to rely on God more, and teaching us to extend grace to each other. Most of all during this season, it is reminding us that our Lord came into this world as a helpless baby to bring good news to all the earth. Thank you for your prayers and support, and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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| Early Christmas in Singapore |
