Week 2

Hello all,

We are currently on our way to Pai, Thailand to teach English.  We will be the honored guest speakers at a 30 hour English course for the district court staff of this tiny thai town.  This van ride has given us an opportunity to reflect on our last week.

Last Monday, we took our day off and used it for a date night.  Kara and I went to eat at "Tex Mex", a little Mexican resturaunt right here in Chiang Mai that actually serves us cuisine resembling Dallas Mexican food.  We are still looking for that pot of gold that makes food like we had in San Antonio. After dinner we walked around the market near the resturaunt. Then we called it a night.

Tuesday was a typical day without any extra activities.  We teach English on most days from 3-6.

Wednesday, we taught English at the zone as usual, and then went to the Gethsrmene Children's Home to teach and sing songs with the kids.

Thursday, we bought a motorcycle!

Friday, we had cell group and ate some amazing kaow soy.  It's a red curry soup with noodles and topped with crunchy stringy things.  

Saturday, we relaxed in the morning, and then went to eat homemade Chinese food and study the bible.  

Sunday we had worship, taught an English class, got a massage, played volleyball at the international school, and finally watched White House Down at the church. Also, I learned to order my food "piset", which means "extra".  This new word has helped me to get the Texas sized portions I'm used to when we go out to eat.

Yesterday, we took our new motorcycle to the mountains.  We went to see a waterfall and then drove up and down a sweet mountain road, stopping at overlooks along the way.  It was a very nice ride that I hope to make often.  

And now, we are in a van on the road to Pai.  This road is rumored to have 709 curves before arriving in Pai, but I don't plan on counting.  

Until next time,

Ben Wilde

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Our First Week

Our first week has been full of adventure. We have both been under the weather this week. Prayers to get better and to stay healthy are greatly appreciated. Sunday night we went to Walking Street. Walking street is a big market that happens every Sunday. They sell everything from handmade jewelry to fried bugs. Out of the group that was going, only Ben could "drive." Using his optimism he Is richly blessed with, he rose to the opportunity. No left side of the road, stick shift obstacle was going to stop him.

On Tuesday we went to an orphanage to love on some babies. This particular orphanage only holds newborns to 5 year olds. We had so much fun playing with the kids and holding the babies. I  (Kara) held a baby named Da. Da's parents tried to have her aborted, but she survived. Da is a testament to God's will. God's will wins over abortion.

On Wednesday we went to another orphanage. This orphanage has older kids (5-18). Here at Gethsemane home we taught the students English and worshiped with them. We sang songs like father Abraham and Blue Skies and Rainbows. I was in charge of teaching the older kids English. I taught possessive adjective and pronouns, a topic I'm not sure I understood before I taught the lesson.   We will be going here every week to tech English and sing songs with the kids. Can't wait for next week!

On Thursday and Friday we taught English. Every Friday we have Cell group at the church.  We eat together, sing songs and them someone shares a lesson with the church. This Sunday Ben shared about his walk with Christ.

Saturday, we had a mugata party to celebrate the work of the church secretary Bon. He is moving on to a new job so there was a great party in his honor.

Bon's mugata party

Yesterday we had church service at the zone and then we had a church service at the Leprosy home.  We meet lots of people that are missing legs and fingers because of leprosy. One lady that I talked to has had leprosy for over 30 years. She came to love at the leprosy home 30 years ago and that's when she came to know Christ. In the hometown that she moved from no one was a Christian and she had never heard about God. Her story reminds me that God is in control. He makes good out of even the worst situations.

  

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