Just a little up date.....

It was naptime and I was in the girls room helping them get settled down and ready to take a nap. One of the girls insisted I lay with her first. As tired as I was, I did not even hesitate. So I lay with her on her bed, crowded with her stuffed animals, blankets and many pillows. I could smell a stale scent of pee. As I lay there she was scratching my back, as to assist me in falling asleep. I thought, hey, it’s me who’s supposed to be helping her fall asleep.....cheeky monkey! She’s good!! I enjoyed every minute of it and actually fell asleep for a wee bit, only to find that they had taken full advantage of me not paying any attention to them playing a game on the other’s bed. Ah, kids! They are the same all over the world. I got to experience my first rainy day here. It was amazing! I absolutely loved it!~ I just got an e.mail from a friend sharing with me the news of her engagement! I, with tearfilled eyes, was so full of joy for her and her new fiance. It’s been a long awaited day for her....which is where I see myself headed. I’m not sad. I’m excited....because I know that it will be amazing when it happens. I know my friend Emily doesn’t regret the timing of this time for her at all. I am sure she is so glad she awaited this day. Because sometimes what we think our life should look like, it doesn’t. And we get very disappointed when it doesn’t turn out the way we want it to. So then we become angry and closed off. But when we are living in the moment and roll with what life gives us, we can rejoice when the blessings come our way. I am really excited for my friend and I am going to try my best to make it to her special day. But it’s hard when I don’t have the income to use for stuff like that. So I am praying that if the Lord wills that I go to Virginia in the summer time to be at the wedding, He will make it happen.

Life at Baan Nam Jai is everything and more that I had hoped for. There are the occasional days that I wish so badly I could meet a good friend for coffee, or have a time of prayer and worship, or attend a service at my church, or sit at mom and dad’s table and enjoy a good dinner with the tv’s blaring......times when I miss home so badly that I can smell it, taste it. But then there are days that I feel like I need to pinch myself that I am not living in a dream! I love the life of Thailand so much. It’s so simple. So easy and yet so frustrating because I can’t communicate with the people I see everyday. I am learning thai. I started thai lessons last monday. So I am very excited about that. We also started a new roster (or schedule for those of you who don’t speak australian) and I have slots of time working with one of the guys that needs a little extra time during the day. If I were to diagnose him, I would say he is at a high functioning level of Aspergers. He’s very smart but has a lot of behavioral characteristics of Aspergers. So I feel like I am going to pull everything out of my little hat from what I learned from the amazing team back at Millwood (where I was an aide at in spokane) and do my best to help this little guy. I am very excited about this. Alison, I might be e.mailing you soon to get some ideas. Also I might be asked to take on some other responsibilities such as taking over the child sponsership role that Pen Wilcox has been doing. This summer there is going to be a lot of changes going on. People leaving and hopefully people coming. I am sad but know that the Lord will continue to bring more servants who feel called to help out at Baan Nam Jai. So I could use some prayers. I will be going to the border in Mai Sai again tomorrow to get my visa stuff worked out. I am praying that I can get enough time until I leave for Perth to work out my one-year visa. I will be in Perth for a week and then I won’t have to worry about it for a while. Whew! This has been such a hassel! But I am trusting that the Lord will work it all out. Sorry that this is so long. It’s been a while since I have updated everyone. So I’m trying to cover all grounds. I am doing ok financially. I am keeping track of my support as much as I can. It’s hard when it goes through a couple different sources and then to me. My mom is doing a wonderful job as well as Faith Community! Thank you guys so much! I really appreciate it! As for those of you who are not sending me financial support I am still greatful for the spiritual support you all have been to me. I am loving getting little updates and e.mails and messages from you all. Thank you all so much! If you do have a desire to know more specific needs at Baan Nam Jai, please check out the website- baannamjai.org . We have a bunch of projects going on and are waiting for funds to come in so that we can finish them. Two of the major ones are the hospice building and the other baby house to be completed. When these are finished we will be able to house more children and also have better accomodations for those moms and children who need a little more intensive care. Also we are working on some more homes located in the lakeview part of our property to be completed so that we can house more mother’s with children who are infected with HIV. So those are a few of our needs. As for me and my needs I am pretty well taken care of. I have been given a bike....which is a blessing but it’s slowly going to it’s last leg. It’s pretty shabby. But it gets me around. As hot season slowly creeps up on me I am trying to figure out if I should go big and purchase a used motor bike to get around or a new peddal bike. I priced the brand new Fino, which is the one I am totally coveting right now....and it’s around $900-1000. It’s not a need but it’s really nice....it looks simular to a Vespa but way cheaper. Ok, but if I wait, in June I will be able to buy a used bike from a couple girls who are going back to the states for half that. So I’m praying about what to do. When it’s hot here....it’s hot!! So a peddal bike is going to be miserable. So if any of you want to send a little extra my way just because....I would not be sad! I would be very blessed. Just something to think about. Well, I should probably wrap this up. I hate it when I’m so long winded! Sorry! I love you all and can’t wait to hear back from you all to see how you are doing!
Blessings and pruh jaow way pone khoon (that means the Lord bless you in thai)..........