Being a Falang (foreigner)

You know those people you get so impatient with? The ones who have immigrated to America, and still don't speak English. Oh yes, the ones who get up to the check out and have to have the salesclerk count out their change. Well, guess what... I am now one of 'em!
I can't even do a simple thing like buy hamburger.
After a recent trip to the grocery, Martin and I were talking about this. In the past, its been so easy to look at these foreigners as "dumb". Now we find ourselves right where they are. Almost every single thing we go to do is different. Now I admire their courage. Its not easy to move to a new country. - Rachel

Pictures

I don't have much to write this week, so I will just share recent pictures!

Lang gwige

"by-yan-naoy", "by-yan-yai", The name of two very special characters that when written basically mean "...ETC." Anyway, as my teacher names them and I repeat them I am very aware of the fact that they are going in one ear and out the other. By the way, those two characters are special, meaning they are outside of the 44 consonants and 28 vowels that comprise the Thai language. Another interesting fact is that there are 2-3 obsolete consonants in the Thai language, but rather than simplify it by getting rid of them, they have chosen to leave them in there. Hey, foreigners need something to do when they move here right? How about memorizing some alphabet characters and pronouncing them correctly, while placing them in their correct class and tone rules...all the while knowing that you will never use them. "...ETC."
Anyway, I am in the thick of language learning.

From 2009-04-23 april

Tom Brewster says that language learning IS ministry. hmmmm. I wonder if he ever moved to Thailand. Actually, the other day I was riding my motorbike and praying inside my helmet, when it hit me...it was just a thought, no worries. The thought hit me that, we are living our calling. We don't have to wait for two more years to experience what God has called us to Thailand for. Even though we don't know right now who (specifically) we will be serving in two years, that doesn't change the fact that we are, right now, experiencing the calling of God in our lives. My prayer changed from, "God show us where you want us to serve..." To "Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Thank you for leading us to this place so that we can serve you in this way." So, I guess if I can keep that attitude, then I can agree with Tom, that language learning is ministry.
Another development is that I have been asked to teach English to a few people at a technology company which is owned by some friends of ours. So, Wed. was my first time of doing that. It will only be two 1hr. sessions per week. But, these students are not Christians yet so I am praying about how to share truth with them while teaching them computer phraseology and grammar. Martin.