Well, after 28 hours of transit the first wave of the team arrived back in Fort Worth, and 2 hours later the rest of the team hit DFW airport! We were beginning to feel as if we might just live in airports and on airplanes! I want to give a brief overview of the end of our week. I will fill in more details in about a week after the kids have had a chance to share their own stories!
Elephant Day was amazing! We had so much fun and definitely got up close and personal with the elephants--some of us had elephant slobber as proof! Seeing 11 elephants in a row with 2 of our team members on top was quite a sight! They will be memorable pictures! And we spent our evening at a fabulous restaraunt (for less than eating at Chili's). The funniest thing is we were most impressed by the bathrooms--yes, we took pictures of the waterfall faucets! :)
The mango rains began Tuesday evening--we had been warned to avoid the very first rain as it breaks up the pollution--something equivalent to acid rain....had I mentioned the thick layer of pollution type smog that hangs over Chiang Mai? It is a combination of the burning of the rice fields from Cambodia and Laos as well as Thailand, and the unregulated emissions of cars. It was so representative of the oppression that hangs over the people. We have learned so much about Buddhism and how it is much more of a culture than just a religion in Thailand.
The rains in God's AMAZING providence continued through the night. It made the digging of trenches on Wednesday morning so much easier! The boys left the hotel Wednesday at 6 am under Mr. Crisp's direction to begin. The girls followed about 2 hours later. We were able to complete the entire project they had for us (planting a shrub border as protection and a boundary for the new foster home) before 10:30!!!! The kids worked SO HARD! We had really prepared them (frontloaded as Mrs. Deckert calls it!) so that they knew that it would be hot and sweaty and a long day. They hit it hard and knocked it all out (earning themselves an early shower and a brief rest before our evening activities). And the one who fell in the irrigation ditch, covering herself in mud and muck, drenched and muddy kept us laughing! She was unhurt except for a few scratches--we all wished that we had the camera rolling! We would be on our way to $100,00 on America's Funniest Home Videos!!! :)
Wednesday evening we finished up our shopping and were able to connect further with several Thai believers and some who are still in the questioning phase.
Thursday we all left the hotel at 6 am to see the monks come out of the temple and the people giving them food to "make merit". It was eye-opening...then after a sweet time of devotion at the waterfall, we climbed 306 steps to the highest point in Chiang Mai...the Doi Suthep Temple. We were able to walk and pray...it was a great way to end the trip...a quick shower and final pack-up and we were on our way!
Thank you for your prayers as we walked in the uttermost parts of the earth...our hearts have been eternally touched...
At home in Fort Worth with a piece of my heart in Chiang Mai,
Kristen Whitbeck
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It touches me deeply that you would spend literally days in airports and flying half way around the world to give hope and courage and show God's Love to the Thai people. And you all did. I think Brooke and her team will experience a little more depth of His Love, a few more shifts. LCCS did a beautiful work from what I hear and that's just awesome---connecting with your God --- Psalm 50:2 --- to let Him pour out of you. He did!
ReplyDeleteI did missionary work this past summer in Lima. I miss it so much! I fell inlove with the people and didn't want to leave
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