The Book That I Read...

Back in the day, I helped my little brother write a lot of book reports. A Lot. Usually, they were written in a mad dash the night before they were due. I would love to go back in time to a night before a Hersson book report was due. I'm sure there were tears and frustration on both our parts, but surely we must have also had some sweet book talks, one of my current favorite pastimes. As usual, I brought too many books with me on this trip. I did finish Jane Eyre, but that was mainly due to my 48 hour travel day to get to Mae Sot. 

Today, I added another book to my collection.  I rented it for a 300 baht deposit at a local restaurant. Yeah, there was a little library in the corner. *sigh* :)

I feel like puzzle pieces are drawing together. They're not in their secure places yet, and there are still gaps, so I can't quite tell what the picture is, but nevertheless, a few pieces came together. After lunch, a new friend and I biked around town. We shopped a bit then ended up at a coffee shop. Our conversation was lively and centered around education, future hopes and dreams, and the random. My heart knew it was in the presence of a kindred spirit, and it pleased me to be having these types of talks again. Later, we took a songthaew (rickshaw) to the border. As we stood in the pouring deluge, and looked at Burma, we were given a brief history lesson on the conflict within that country and the strip of land called, "No Man's land," which runs between Thailand and Burma.

People with no home and no safe country in which to live, reside in that strip. They partake in sex trafficking and slave labor in order to survive. What's eerie and heart breaking as hell, is seeing little kids living in that tall grass. I saw little boys chasing each other and little girls staring at me with bright eyes, while their mom's sold all kinds of depraved sex paraphernalia. It's awful and at times, just plain unbelievable.

Of course there are places like this all over the world, and I'm not sure where or for what purpose the Lord is calling my future self, but I'm here, so for now, I'll just write about what I see, hear, and think to help me process. There is a tendency to get disheartened or overwhelmed by the huge gravity of the situation, but here is the beauty in the horrific rough: There are people all over this town who have a heart for the Burmese refugees. I have met folks who have given their whole lives to serve the Lord by serving these people. He has not forgotten them.

My new book is called, Burma Voices. A Burmese refugee interviewed his country folk from many different life situations in the hopes of bringing light to their situation, and that they would not be forgotten by the international community. I'm fascinated and moved by their stories.

Wife of a political activist...

 

Burmese Monk...

Herss, the book that I read... :)

P.S. If you're still reading, bless your loyal great friend heart! I wrote this at 4am whilst sleep eluded me.

Up Next... We started teaching grammar and conversation at a Burmese Migrant school. It's AMAZING. 

It's Staaaaarting!!

We're all still pretty jet lagged, so it's 7:15 pm right now, but it feels like a million o'clock.  

Today  *sigh* was, "just one of those days," and I mean that as in the best possible day. I woke up to the sound of pouring rain, but by the time the 5 of us in our neon running attire were ready, the rain had abated just for us and our run. :) I think it rains 21 out of every 24 hours. Had a great run! The weather was good and several cars slowed down to take our picture.

After breakfast, we met together to begin the vision for this trip. Ashley and Christin, the leaders, shared with us what the Journey looked like for them when they started it back in January, how it's evolved, and showed us what they envisioned and then accomplished in their 4 months. Then, they asked us questions to help us get to know each other and our hearts for the next 6 weeks. They taped giant pieces of paper to the wall, and I got to green marker all over my sheet. I'm bursting with excitement! I like my team a whole bunch, I loved hearing their thoughts and hopes, and this Journey program just has such an amazing purpose, providing a place for people to use their talents and resources to love and help people all in the name of Jesus. It's really beautiful. 

                

  The group! 

Later, we biked for 4 hours all around Mae Sot. Our objective/goal was to get to know the city and make some new friends. We stopped to eat some Sri Lankan food, (preeety similar to Indian with the curry n the spice) and I met a girl who was researching for her graduate degree about education for the Burmese refugees- what is working and what needs to be revamped. What are the odds?! She gave me a list of NGO's in town who have started educational non-profits, we're excited to check those out!

 

                     

What's been humbling is how many people have a passion for the Burmese refugees in Thailand and are actively trying to be a part of a movement to address and change, "unacceptable realities" that are normal in their lives. I am grateful to jump on board with them and hopefully start something that is lasting.

   

P.S. Had the sweeeeeetest mango for breakfast this morning, and it cost 1 baht. That's about 3 cents, folks. Oh, and while zipping around town today, I bought a bag of flower cut pineapple, and that cost 20 baht. LOVE inexpensive super tasty fresh fruit! :)

The Land of Smile

Made it to Bangkok after 24 hours of travel and thankfully *just now* so did my bags! We're hanging out in Bangkok for the day until our 8 hour night bus to Mae Sot! 

PS: There are succulent plants everywhere! 

Travel Day Thoughts

I've been rereading Jane Eyre. I definitely closed the book and smiled when I read the following passage.

Jane, although content in her life, has this vision of the "real world," that is waiting for her with all its enormity and passions. It always takes courage for me to leave home because I get so attached to my people and to head out alone always terrifies me. Ironically, with the same intensity that I fear the leaving of home, I grow to love the places to which I venture.

Now that Jane's arrived at the new place, her mind is all a flutter with the possibilities. This thought she has encapsulates all that I hope for these next 6 weeks, flowers and pleasures as well as the thorns and toils (I guess). 

I fall in love easily, and that's what I look forward to most on this trip, the relationships with the people I will build. 

I'll leave you the 20 that captured my thoughts, exhausted me, and stretched me (this year) by being their unique selves. I taught them the whole readin writin rithmetic business, but I also taught them how to do handstands against the fence and cartwheels.

This kid made me feel all the intensity that goes into the teacher/student relationship. He's brilliant, fascinating, and just got me. I love him much, but he also drove me absolutely bananas, Ev.Er.Y.day. So, of course, he was my favorite.

P.S. My plane is about to leave! 

Fundraising Dinner News

Saturday, my family and I hosted the big Fundraising Dinner. Later that night, while opening cards, my biggest takeaway was, I am one blessed chick.




My family is AMAZING. No, that word isn't enough, Altruistic, Magnanimous, there ya go, those words. I get choked up just thinking about how for 2 straight days they cleaned, cooked, and served. They did it with so much love and joy. I think it all turned out tasty, too. ;)


50+ friends came and went throughout the night, friends I have known for 15 years and others just a few months. All gave generously and had such kind words to encourage me in my hopes. I got to reshare (albeit a bit nervously) with everyone the details of the trip. I remember being in awe as I looked around at the rad people the Lord has placed in my life. Thank you, folks, you enrich my life!

Through the intense generosity of my people, 

I raised a grand total of $2,100!!

THANK YOU,

 Abby and Brendon, Adam and Kristen, Adrienne, Amy, Anna and Javi, Arwa, Berenice, Brad and Lindsey, Brandie and Warren, Brooke, Bryan, Catherine and Chance, Creusa, Genelle, Haley, Hersson, Josh, Julianne and Jon, Kay, Laura, Lauren and Nathan, Martha, Mary, Nick and Janel, Norma, Polly and Tyler, Rhonda, Richard, Rosie and Victor, Tara and Bryan, Zinab and Mario

Pictures taken by the fantastic, Amanda Guevara