culture shock

It almost feels impossible to sum up and convey my thoughts about this trip...so many stories and feelings that I want to share! I will stick with the highlights, so here it goes:

I can't stop thinking about the amazing kids we were able to meet and spend time with. The minute we arrived we got "picked" by some girls and for most if us they stayed glued to our sides the entire time we were there. I was concerned about the language barrier, but amazingly communication wasn't that difficult. And what we couldn't say was definitely communicated in feelings. My 2 girls were May and Dinae (which i discovered on the last day was actually Jenny!!). May is 11 and Jenny is 12. I wish I could tell you their stories and how they came to be in the orphanage, but I don't know their stories. It doesn't really matter how they came to be there, the fact is they are. I can't imagine what it must be like to have no family - no parents to comfort them when they are ill, to be proud of them when they do well, to tell them a bedtime story at night. In spite of this, they are happy, well-adjusted young girls! On our last day there about 12 of the girls performed a traditonal Thai dance for us and both of my girls were dancers. The tears came for me when May, standing up on the stage scanned the crowd and when she saw me her eyes lit up and she got the biggest smile on her face and gave me a little hand wave. Then it occurred to me that this was probably the first time she ever had anyone in the crowd that she wanted to perform for and make proud....even typing this now I can't help but cry. And I was so proud of both of them!! They are beautiful young women and my continuing prayer for them is that they will get a chance to succeed in life and not end up in the sex trade as many of the girls in Thailand do. We are working with the locals there in trying to set up scholarships for the girls so they can attend a trade school there in hopes of providing them a way to make their own way. It's hard not to feel helpless in the grand scheme of things, but I know that our time there just playing with and loving on the girls has made a huge difference and more importantly a lasting impact. To those of you who supported us finacially and prayerfully, I can't thank you enough!! You gave me the opportunity of a lifetime and impcated these children that you don't even know in ways that will affect their entire future - thank you.

Now on to the lighter side! Thailand is a beautiful country and if you ever get the chance to go don't hesitate! We had some amazing food - hot peppers, bugs, ant larvae and all!! And the Thai massage was incredible! Those of you who are my clients (I am a massage therapist) look out!! I stole some pretty good moves from them - get ready to be twisted like a pretzel! As you've seen from previous blogs, we got stuck in the elevator (the sign said capacity was 10 people, but I don't think they meant big Americans!!), fed elephants on the streets & had some fabulous R&R in stunning Krabi. I had a foot massage and pedicure right there on the beach and I went on an elephant trek where I got to ride an elephant (her name was Kamoon) through a rubber tree plantation. Then we got to see how the rubber was made, then explored some caves and went swimming in a mineral springs pond - amazing! Joy and I spent an extra day in Bangkok where we got to explore a bit and then went shopping in the weekend market. We had to cut the sightseeing short though because I was ill - I had been badly sunburned in Krabi - yes, I wore sunscreen!! The sun there is much different though and being a freckled red-head 45 block was no match for the blazing sun! I had heat exhaustion and wasn't able to sweat through my burned skin and sort of went into shock. Fred got me in to see and acupuncturist though and that helped tremendously! This cute little 80 year old Chinese man fixed me up with some acupuncture and some "medicine" that they made for me on the spot - it's like a really foul tasting tea that I'm taking twice a day for the next week - and it's helping! I feel so much better and must say that I'm happy to back in the deliciously cool Seattle weather!

this was a trip of a lifetime for me - thank you to everyone who made it possible!!!

Janelle Wehrman

Back Home...

Well the bulk of us flew back today and arrived safely in Seattle this afternoon. The trip was amazing and a blessing and I am so glad I was a part of it. Just wanted to say a quick thanks to everyone on the trip, it was a blast getting to know each of you! And I can't forget to thank all of you who supported us in every way from home, there is no way it would have been this successful without you guys!

Thanks everyone and I sure hope to be going back next year :)

~Randall

Elephants and Fishes...

Well, after a fun yet hectic week or so in Udon Thani we arrived at the unbelievably beautiful Krabi. God definately had fun when he created this amazing place. It was nice to have a few days to wind down and rest before heading back home. I got a foot scrub and pedicure...ON THE BEACH! It was so great, except that I got so sunburnt on the top of my feet and legs. Whoops! We then went for a sunset snorkel cruise. I actually got in the water and snorkeled - for me that's a pretty big feat. We watched thousands of bats exit their island mountain home to head out for a night of feeding - imagine, standing on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean watching thousands of bats, some as big as dogs, fly overhead. After a great night's sleep, it was time for some elephant trecking. I rode an elepahnt named Chayu through a rubber plantation, explored a cave, swam in the deepest natural pool in Krabi, and got an impromptu lesson on how rubber is manufacutred. It was so fun to get some local flavor and see how some of the Krabi inhabitants make their living. All in all it was an amazing trip. I miss it already, but as I sit typing this in the Bangkok airport I know that I miss you all very much and am ready to come home. SEE YOU SUNDAY!
Loves and Blessings,
Ande

Rest and Relaxation, But I will never forget...

Hey Everyone,
18 of us are in Krabi right now, enjoying the beautiful sun and amazing beaches. Truly a blessing to be here. As I reflect on this experience as a whole, i will never forget the orphanage that touched my heart. Let me tell you about her.
Her name is Bo she is about 8 yrs old. She is quiet, shy, beautiful and sweet. The last day we were at the orphanage she kept holding the right side of her mouth and it was swollen, so i got the translator to ask what was wrong, and she had 3 teeth pulled that morning. After watching her try to eat lunch and could not chew, she tried to be so brave and hold it together, I broke down. I just felt the devastation of living as an orphanage. She has no mom to tell her it will be okay, or to comforter her while she is in pain. She has no one to tell her how beautiful she is, and how much they love her. No one to hug her, or brush the hair out of her face. I thought how can the world be so unfair and what did she ever do to deserve this.
Then i realized God knew she would need someone that day to comfort her. And He loves her so much that he sent some random girl from Seattle to do that. I am forever thankful for Bo and the change in my heart, and am so happy she felt the love of God through me.
That is what life is about!
heather

Second one back to the NW

After a full, emotional last day at the orphanage and a fun series of flights lasting 34 hours from door to door, I just landed in Seattle about an hour ago, and now after a quick shower and change of clothes, I'm off to work. I think I'll sleep well tonight. The rest of the team will be headed back at various points over the next week or two after some decompression time in Bangkok and/or Krabi.

A few lessons from the trip: durian (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian) really does stink, but it's awfully yummy; scorpions are crunchy; prostitution is a sad and prevalent reality (young women walking around with old men can be seen everywhere in Udon Thani); poverty is a hard cycle to break, as it is hard to see beyond the status quo, among many other reasons; poverty and happiness are not mutually exclusive; Thai people are friendly, love food, love spicy food, and love sharing food; deep, honest relationships, with God and with each other, are vitally important to living a fulfilled life.

The entire week has been an incredible experience for me, and working with and getting to know everyone on the team has been a blessing. So, thanks to all of you for coming, giving your time and resources, and working so hard! Thanks also to the many others who supported us through prayer and financially.

Moving forward, my prayer is that God will soften my heart, and all of our hearts, toward the sad realities we witnessed, from prevalent prostitution to child labor to poverty to disease to the emotional needs of the precious orphans, so that we can work together to address them with His help. Working at the orphanage is an important start toward that, which we must continue. By encouraging the kids and continuing contact and relationships with them, we can help them discover that they are valuable human beings, are loved by God, have a purpose in life, and are very special. I know that we can make a difference if we have hearts to listen and hands to respond.
Blessings,

- Andrew Moedinger