A Bunch of Burts

Actually, we have already arrived.

Rice fields in the NE with the mountains dividing Thailand and Burma in the background

This past Sunday we arrived for the second phase of our out-and-about summer. The first phase, being pseudo students at a Bible school for tribal believers in the NW of Thailand finished on the 18th of July.

We packed up, drove back to Chiang Mai, washed laundry load after laundry load, and left bright and early on Sunday morning to drive across the country to begin phase 2.
Well, it was early on Sunday morning, but not so bright. The sun was not up yet. We needed to make the trip in one day, so we needed to get on the road by 4am. We almost made it — 4:30– not too bad.

We are living in a village with one of the other Thailand NTM teams for the next 3 weeks. We are hanging around with them, watching how they go about language and culture learning on their own, (no language schools out here!) and observing what life in the village is truly like.
We are getting a taste, that is for sure.

The donging of the bells around the necks of the kwaai (water buffalo) as they walk past the house in the morning to the fields. (and the distinctive aroma of course. )
The chickens that roam free and squawk and chatter.
The daily morning annoucements that are broadcast over a PA system, which is pointed directly at our house. (Hey, no need for an alarm clock!)

I have walked around the village a couple of times, just exploring and meeting people.
This village has some very friendly people and the ladies are eager to have me sit and chat with them. Of course, I can only speak with them in Thai, and their first language is Isaan. Some of the older ladies speak little to no Thai, but still will happily chatter away, while I try to pick up the thread of conversation.

The rice planting has just been finshed, and the fields are all green and beautiful.
The rains have arrived, along with some pretty impressive electrical storms.

As hard as is it to be a sort of permanant transient, we are praising God for the opportunites we have had this summer to step out of our comfort zones, to improve our Thai, to learn so many new words, and build new relationships. We are beginning to see the end of our time in Thai study, anticipating moving out to a village of our own and are eager to begin that work which the Lord has been preparing us for, and preparing for us.

Stay tuned for some pics of this village!

Hard to believe we only have two more weeks out here at CDM. Isn’t that always how it is, just when you get used to a place, familiar with the stores and begin to build relationships, it is time for us to move on again.

We are eager to move on to our other adventure this summer, our week with a team in the NE getting our village or upcountry orientation time and seeing the culture and language learning in a non-school environment at work, but sad at leaving behind the friendships we are building here.

We do have plans to sneak back at some point for a visit before they are done with the whole course of study.

Just wanted to share some more pictures of the gorgeous area we have been living in for the past month or so. God’s creation is so wonderful, and we cannot help but praise Him for His mighty hand and be in awe of His greatness.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For His Name alone is exalted:
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
Psalms 148:13

Thought you might like a quick peek at our home for the last month.

This is our kitchen. I have had to adjust my cooking and meal planning to use only the cooktop. There is also an ant cabinet, (to keep them out of the food!) and a small fridge.

Doesn’t Ema have a cheerful smile as she scrubs the shower! Thanks Ema! Notice the bucket with orange dipper. That is how the toilet flushes.

A view of some of the student houses from the takraw court.

Another view of a students house. The upper area is the sleeping living area and the lower area is the kitchen. Bathrooms are separate.

These little pots are the cookstoves for the students, and like what many people still use in the villages. They are out back of the kitchens and use wood for heat. I am very thankful for my cooktop!

Of course there is a soccer field! Go Zach!

Oh yes, the classroom! Greg spends most of each day in there along with the 18 other students.

Thanks for taking the tour!