In My Element

Today was the first of many to come getting to share joy and love with some of these precious kids in Manila, Philippines. I found myself in familiar territory in the preschools with the kids and remembering so many things from the last time I was here. The mom's are so greatful for us to come....and the kids have so much fun. These preschools allow kids that wouldn't otherwise get a chance to learn at an early age. They have found that these kids score in the top 10% when they move onto 1st grade and beyond....what an amazing gift to be given a chance at education!

We were here to pass out bags of gifts - to these preschool kids that are learning all year long. We are here supporting the missionaries, the pastors and the preschool teachers that work so much each and every day to provide for these kids, build relationship with them and get to be part of their lives. We only get a quick glimpse into the daily life but it's an honor to get to bring these gifts, encourage and share many laughs and smiles with these kids.

Here are a few photos to share.....

Flickr Photos - My favorites of SE Asia

Click on the title to see the rest of my favorite photos from SE Asia. Enjoy!

Flickr Photos from Nepal

Here is a link to photo album of my Nepal Highlights.

(Click on the Title)

30 days, 14 flights, 5 countries and 10 cities later....

Well, I've made it back here to Seattle where it's freezing cold!! And have begun to catch up on my sleep and trying to get back into life here. I'm in the strange reality of happy to be home and in my own bed, etc....but realizing wow....I'd so rather be living in another country!! Not really ready to do life here again yet so happy to see all my friends here again. It's so hard to explain but I didn't realize I would feel this way again after only being gone for 1 month. It's that reverse culture shock thing going on I think.

Anyways, I hope to get all my photos up on line soon to tell more of the story of my trip. I'll add it to the site here but outside of that...I'm signing off until my next trip with my passport! :) Thanks for all of you that took the time to follow along with me on this trip!

Feeling the love - Nakhon Pathom

These posts are very out of order as I've so often found myself at a loss for time and access to computers this trip. So I'm going back almost a week to last Sat. when I got a chance to hang out with my kids in NP again.

This time we had 2 other kids join us and for some of them it had been 6 months since they'd seen each other so there was much catching up to do! And we had the joy of Ms. Matt, our thai teacher, join us for the evening....what a fun time again and once again amazing thai food! Thanks to the parents of our EP kids for making all of this possible. It was fun to see each of you again and catch up a little. Here are some photos of our evening together....

Back: Ms. Matt, Pop, Christy, Phu
Front: Prael, Ploy, Jun Mint, Mon, Jun, Phu


Phu is still great at making everyone laugh!

Pop, Fah, Ploy and Prael had to sit soo close together.

EP Student's parents: Pop's mom, Phu's dad, Mint's mom, Jun's dad & mom. (left to right)

Fah, Pop, Prael, Ploy, Ms. Matt



Me and my kids....

Everyone in front of the restaurant.

Gotta run, he's closing the shop....see below for more photos added to other posts too.

Raccoon Eyes

Hua Hin Beach

Today was my one full day here at the beach and yes, I was adamant I come back showing I've been in the sun. Except....I forgot HOW hot the sun is here and how little 15 Sunscreen does here!! So yes, I'm a bit crispy in some places and my sunglasses were on much too much today! I'm hoping to even it out a bit tomorrow with the few hours I have. But, I'm not sure how possible this is.

(These 2 little ones have been on the beach each afternoon...loving this little river coming from the ocean to the pools on this side of the sand bars. )

Anyways, searching for a cheap but nice guesthouse here was quite challenge...unfortunately, the place I decided upon wasn't the best choice. :( It's ok but not nice like many I've stayed in over the years. However, I'm not really confident there are too many that are good here in Hua Hin, Thailand. I found one a little better up the road that I have been having meals at but...still not like I've found in other places. Oh well, I spent the day on the beach and am loving it anyways!! So relaxing and replenishing for my soul!! What a gift to get to spend time on the beaches in Thailand!

Another favorite past time.....football on the beach. Notice the one farang (white) one that joined in...just tourist taking part in the fun! He wasn't shy about either...)

I hate to end on a negative note here but I have to comment on something that I've seen more of here than ever before and definitely more than anywhere else this trip so far. Farang (caucasian) men (usually older) with young thai ladies! Ughhhhh! I'm not sure all of them are necessarily prostitutes but....when you see a 70 year old man with a girl that looks 25...it's pretty suspicious and makes me want to puke! It's really hard to get away from....

But I'm still enjoying my time here!! :) I fly out back to the states late tomorrow night and will be home 11 am on Sat! See you all soon.

National Pride

Thailand has such a sense of National Pride - much greater than anything we have in America!

Monday's - Today is Monday and I was sitting at the hospital waiting to see the Dr. I noticed how many people were wearing yellow shirts. Here in Thailand, every day of the week has a specific color assigned to it. Whatever day of the week you are born on is your color. Monday is the color yellow, and the day of the week the King was born. It's not just a few....but many, many people....if you look out at a crowd of people it would almost look like a sea of yellow. Not quite but close. Even my friend's helper here at her house has her yellow shirt on. And usually it's a special shirt, one with the Kings emblem or I saw one today that said, Long Live the King.

National Anthem - Last night we were just beginning our time at the Sunday night market when suddenly the national anthem started playing out of loud speakers. Every night at 6 pm all across the country the anthem is played and people stop whatever they are doing and wait. All of the market stopped, we were buying some food, they waited to give my friend change until the song finished. Can you imagine this in the US? Even in the big supermarkets, people will stop...everywhere. It's pretty amazing.

Movies - I haven't made it to the movies yet this visit to Thailand. But, going to the movies is always an experience. At the beginning of the movie, everyone stands and they play the King's song (I think it is this and not the anthem) and show photos of the king from the beginning of his reign (over 60 years ago) until recent.

The people here LOVE their king and are very proud to be Thai.

P.S. I forgot one....Every night at 8 pm they do a 10 min. segment on every news station showing what the Royal did that day. Can you imagine...every day??