Our Day in Phuket

Our travel continues. We left Bangkok and flew south to an island in the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) called Phuket. We liked visiting Bangkok, but we were glad to get away from the big city life and into a more slower place. Phuket is beautiful. We stayed close to Patong beach and had the opportunity to take a speed boat an hour off the coast to three Islands called the Phi Phi islands. We saw crystal clear/blue water, monkeys everywhere, snorkled in the Indian Ocean, and enjoyed a pina coloda on the beach watching the waves crash in. It was so relaxing and a much needed break from city life. I had a mini breakdown on the speed boat. All of a sudden another round of culture shock set in and I was ready to come home because I missed my home in Blissfield and all my kids. It lasted for about half an hour and then it went away. Culture shock is so weird. It comes and goes, but when it comes, it attacks your mind and all you want is to be comfortable and be in a place where you are in control. I guess this is a process and it will be a longer process once we move permanetly. We left Phuket and flew to our future home, Chiang Mai. We have only been here a few hours and we already love it and we are sensing that God is turning our hearts towards living here. I will blog more about Chiang Mai in a day or so. Below are pics of Phuket, Patong Beach, some weird animal experiences, the boat ride, and the islands we visited. Enjoy!!

Culture Shock- Last Day in Bangkok

Our last day in Bangkok and lets just say, we think a little culture shock has set in. The first couple days our excitement was over the top and we were embracing the differences and were handling being out of our comfort zone. Yesterday, new feelings started to creep in. We went to the biggest mall in Bangkok, called MBK and lunch time rolled around. We went down to the food market and walked around for half an hour because we had no clue what to order, what the food was, and the smells of different Asian spices and the foods were overwhelming and very foreign to us. We must of walked around the whole food market at least 5 times trying to make a decision, because we really wanted to venture out and try things that we couldn't even pronounce much less tell you what they were or what ingredients were in them. I guess this is what they call a little bit of culture shock. We all looked at each other and decided that we wanted something comfortable and we went to Pizza Hut. Even that did not taste like the pizza hut back home but it was close enough to feed our desire for "normal" food. We loved the mall. We love to barter prices and found quite a few deals on gifts, clothes, and other misc. items. We actually went to see a movie in the mall. It was an American new release with Thai subtitles. After previews and right before the movie, a song to the king along with a video/pic montage played. We all stood up in respect. Come to find out, this homage to the king plays before every movie and to show respect, you must stand until it is over. We made it back to the hotel and for dinner we went to a nice Thai restaurant and tried some wonderful Thai dishes like chicken satay, massaman curry, shrimp thai rice, garlic chicken and some appetizer that I can't pronounce that had coconut, bay leaf, crispy fish, peanuts, and ginger in it. It was a beautiful restaurant and the food was very tasty. When we got back to the hotel at 8pm we crashed into bed and fell right asleep. All in all, it was a great day, but we finally experienced a little of the culture shock everyone warned and we read about. It was expected and I am sure there is more to come. God has and will give us grace to deal with it all. He has called us and he will uphold us. Today we are flying out to southern Thailand to experience the coast in Phuket. More to come...

Trains, Boats and Tuk Tuks- Day 2

Our first day out into the city of Bangkok. The sights, smells, and tastes were as various as ever. We started the day by taking a tuk tuk (a 3 wheeled open air taxi with a pick up half bed on the back)to the Chao Phyara River to board a tailboat down the river,to the floating market and our final stop at the Grand Palace (the king's home). The tailboat was wonderful. The river bank was full of houses and shops on stilts and we must of seen at least 5 temples along the way. Also crocodiles and monitor lizards were sunbathing on the banks On a side note, Andrea had to go potty before boarding the boat and she asked for a bathroom and they showed her a half walled hole in the ground that she had to squat down. It was rather funny; for me that is, not so much for her We then visited Wat Pho, a huge temple by the Grand Palace. We walked in and saw the world's biggest Buddha statue, called reclining Buddha. We removed our shoes to enter and Alli had to wear a fluorescent green trench coat to enter. It was an impressive statue but I couldn't help think to myself how sad that Buddhists worship and give their life to this dead, made by human hands God. As we walked around the temple,people dropped money into these buckets in belief that they were paying off the Gods to bring them blessing and favor. After this, we took another tuk tuk to a 8 floor mall, called Terminal 21 where we walked around and I for the first time learned how to use chopsticks. Yes, it took me an hour to eat my lunch but I was rather proud of my new accomplishment and considered this a huge adjustment to culture. By the way, the bathrooms were equipped with bidets and that was an unexpected strange feeling. That is all I will say about that After the mall, we took the sky train back to the hotel and rested for awhile. Then Alli and I ventured out that night to a massive grocery store, Tesco Lotus Superstore, and then we shared dinner together. All in all, it was a great day exploring and learning the culture. My favorite part is bartering with tuk tuk drivers and floating market retailers. You can get some good deals and talk down a good price if you are patient and hold your ground. Pictures are below of our day. Enjoy!!

We are Here- Day 1

Well after traveling for over 30 hours, plane food, customs and taxis we finally made it to Bangkok and to our hotel. I've already given over 10 wais (common greeting for thais) and almost overpaid double for our taxi by being confused by Thai baht (thai currency). We have not been out yet, except for the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel, but even then, it was dark and could not see much. My first impressions are shaded by the excitement of being on the opposite side of the world in an Asian culture. Today we are venturing out hopefully to the floating market, royal palace and whatever else we stumble upon as we blindly explore the Bangkok area. The breakfast spread at the hotel this morning was vast with a huge variety of food I have never seen before or could not pronounce. I forced myself to try as many new tastes and textures as possible. We only have 2 weeks hear and I want to embrace as much of the culture, food, and people that I can. Seems very surreal that this will be our home very soon. One embarrassing moment was getting into the taxi last night and realizing I was on the driver side. The driver was waiting patiently while giggling at my mistake. I have a feeling, that a lot more humbling, embarrassing situations are still to come. Anyway, that is about it for now. Today, I am sure, will be full of new experiences and cultural observations. More to come tomorrow!!!

August 7th 2012

Lord, I want to live out the sermon on the mount lifestyle. I want to live a lifestyle of fasting. I want to give out of my lack and not my surplus. I want to serve others in humility and not have a critical or judgmental spirit. I want to learn how to restrain my tongue and bless my enemies and not focus on defending myself. I want to pray and get deeper into your word. Lord, help me to sow to my spirit and not my flesh. My flesh is so strong sometimes. Give me strength to kill it and let my spirit man rise up and become stronger. Speak to me holy spirit. I will obey. Show me where you want me to go and what you want me to do. I will obey. Test me, try me, use me. I will obey. You can trust me god. I am your man. You can trust me with your gospel, with the destiny you have for me.

August 2, 2012

Lord, as I sit in this prayer room this morning, I feel you. I have been asking all this morning to fill me with your love so I can serve you more out of love and not out of duty. What do you say in return to me? You ask me to give 1200 dollars to Amanda and Daniel to help them do track 2. That was not the response I was looking for. I was expecting an overwhelming rush of your presence and a sensation of you touching my heart. You work in mysterious ways lord. Are you teaching me something here? I know you are speaking to me, almost to the point of tears. I felt you. It was almost like your touch and interaction with me was for the sole purpose of teaching me to respond in sacrificial giving. It was like you were saying,in order for me to fill your heart with more love, I must expand it more first. I must get your eyes of yourself and your self trust and then you have to trust and love me more because you have no self made resources to lean on. I don't know if this is what you are doing or not lord, these are just my thoughts. Whatever you are doing, don't stop. I want to be obedient and walk a sermon on the mount lifestyle. I trust you to provide for a trip to Thailand if this is what you want. I trust you to provide for my family while we itinerate. I trust you to give us a place to live. I trust you to take the care of our cars. I trust you to keep us healthy. Lord, all these things are nothing for you, so I give out of my lack and not my surplus. Keep on teaching me lord. Help me to hear and immediately be obedient.

August 1, 2012

Lord, I need your revelation. There are so many mysteries in your word that I want you to unveil and reveal to me. There is so much I want to know and understand. Show me the wondrous things in your word. Give me the treasure map to find the priceless gems and nuggets of truth that will revolutionize my heart. I want to know your heart, your thoughts, your feelings, your plans. Stir my heart. Awaken my passion and fan into flame my hunger for you. I am so dark lord, but you still call me lovely. Lord, I don't boast in anything other than I understand and know you.