I'm resorting to living like a Thai. Sister Rochana is amazing, I'm loving my time with her. But I'm also adapting her lifestyle. Her eating, speaking, showering, everything. I'm just...a Thai. I even eat her ramen for breakfast. Ha. Sister Rochana says I'm the most Thai farang she's ever met! That's a major compliment, I say. Actually, we have people ask often, "Are you Thai?" Seriously? Do you see how white I am and how tall I am? Some people....it's actually pretty fun to tell them I'm half Thai. They really believe me. I tell them I was "born" in Chiang Mai. Maybe my little, squinty eyes just give it away...Sister Rochana just confirms their questions and says, "Yes, she's full Thai." She loves to see the confusion/reaction. She's such a sweetheart, and so genuine, but really loves pranking people. Especially little kids. Never a dull moment!
For instance, we spent this morning rescuing a cat from a net around a soccer field. It had been there all night, I'm sure, and just squeamed (is that a word?) it's way into a big tangle. Until early this morning, Sister Rochana and I found it while we were running. Well, a concerned, 85 year old Thai grandma, an old man jogger, and 45 minutes later, we got it untangled. The grandma went from street vendor to street vendor asking for scissors, the old man grabbed a long stick and was just poking it (I'm not sure what he was trying to accomplish), and Sister Rochana just tried over and over to get it untagled and it would just try to bite her. I decided to sit on the sidelines for this one. But it just reaffirmed my love for Thai people and this country.
Another instance, we were planning the other night with the fans on full blast and the doors open, when all the sudden a BAT flew in our house! It was just circling around, over and over, flying in all directions. Amidst screams, giggles, and shouts to one another, we tried to fight it out of the house. Sister Rochana grabbed the broom, and swung at it relentlessly. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. I don't know what "bat" is in Thai, so I just said, "Wait a minute (in Thai), this isn't a bird, right?" "No, sister!" "It's....it's like....(searching for the word)...Batman???" "YES!!! Get it out!!" Hahahaahhahaha. Oh. It was so funny.
That can give you a glimpse into the ridiculousness of Saphaansung. And Dad, don't worry if you spell it "right" or "wrong", in English it's pretty much just spell it however you want and try to figure out how to say it. And Saphaansung is still in Bangkok, but it's more on the outskirts than Bangnaa (I think). It's at least more of a country feel than Bangnaa. Bangnaa is pretty big city/industrial. This has a lot of more neighborhoods/families.
There's a ping pong table at the church! It's a brand new church of about 7-8 months. It's beautiful. Anyway, the other day I beat this old man, jokester member in ping pong. That was fun. We love playing once in a while!
We're running into some issues with some of our investigators. I'm going to ask everyone to please please please pray for husbands to open their hearts to this message! We have at least 2 women that are basically members, but have been waiting for baptism because they're husbands won't allow it. It's strange, really. They can come to church, learn with the sisters, etc, but as far as actual baptism? Nope. We're working on it. The funny thing is, they have no idea what baptism is. They're just rejecting the changing religions. So, keep Nan and Tia in your prayers! We're working for Tia to be baptized THIS weekend. We're praying and fasting for a miracle.
Another family we're teaching, who I love, is Bey and her 2 kids, Bin and Boss. They're adorable. They have an official date the 18th of June! We go over in the evenings to teach them, and usually end up helping her work, too. Mary, I'm grateful for all the things I sewed wrong when I was little. I've been unpicking a lot of things the past week. They sew bags/aprons at their house for work, and we get to help a lot. They made us dinner the other night--fried eggs, with sticky rice and somtam. Somtam...so good!!!!! It is "papaya salad" in English, and it's amazing. I remember my first day in country I had it with Sister Young, with only one pepper. I cried and sweated for an hour. We ate it last week with Bey, and she put 10 plus peppers in the somtam. No problem! Yes, a runny nose and red face, but it's so delicious. I have acquired the spicy tastes of Thailand...MOM, thank you for your package! We're going to make pasta at her house tonight because they've never had it before. They're excited to eat spaghetti and four cheese pasta. :) THANK YOU! They also loved the cookies you sent! It was a brilliant package.
We're seeing miracles left and right. Most of all, I just have pure joy in this work. I know it's the work of the Lord! I love being a missionary! I'm just relaxed, but working. I can't adequately describe it. I feel I've found the balance in working for the Lord. Nothing has brought me more joy than this. I am learning how the Lord hears and answers my specific pleas and prayers, no matter how simple and insiginificant they seem. HE HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS!!! That is a miracle in and of itself! The God of Heaven and earth hears and answers your personal prayers to Him! You don't have to look for monstrous, major miracles. They are all around you. As I've challenged before, look for them. Look for things that may be insignificant for others, but you know their source. Thank Him for those experiences, and treasure them. I love the gospel. Take a minute to share your testimony with someone today. Make it a great week!
All My Love,
Sister Nay
P.S."It is easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows by like a song,
But the man worth while is one who will smile,
When everything goes dead wrong."
--Ella Wheeler Cox
"To be able to perceive by inspiration the common and ordinary things of life in their true meaning is a special gift. Many people fail to perceive inspiration because God's 'great power...looks small unto the understanding of men' or because they are 'less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven.'" --President James E. Faust
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