Greetings from Thailand!
We had an amazing summer with family and friends, and it was a welcome break from the normal flow of tasks and responsibilities. As we returned to our home, our initial joy was dealt a serious blow, by the realization that our electricity was not functioning correctly. Fans couldn't really turn, lights flickered, and the water pump would not turn on. It was also a Thai holiday and very hot and humid. Our exhausted bodies did not respond well. All we wanted was a hot shower, and some rest in a cool room but it was not to be yet.
So we did the best we could, and after an emergency pizza stop, we all felt a bit better and with the help of some kind friends, soon found a place we could spend the night and take showers.
The electricity was fixed the next day, and Audrey was off to her first day back to work at Grace International School. The kids came to work with me. It is always an adjustment settling back into life in Thailand. Physically, there is the relentless heat and humidity. The sweat begins the moment you start moving. The jet lag doesn't help.
Mentally, there is the mixed bag of emotions of all the goodbyes and good memories made with family and friends in the US, and the happiness of returning to our own home and routines. There is definitely both grief and joy, and many other varying feelings swimming around in our heads. But there is not a lot of time to sit around thinking about that. There are a mountain of things to do and catch up on. My visa (and the kids) expires on August 5, so that takes priority. There is lots to prepare for the new school year at Grace, lots to catch up on at Faithful Heart, and lots of gecko poop to clean up around the house.
The car is running, check (but we need gas).
The motorbikes are all running, check.
The bicycles need repaired, take them to the repair shop.
My watch needs repaired, check.
We need to get groceries, check.
The crock pot is broken and needs to be replaced, working on it.
I need to make an appointment with the dentist, procrastinating.
The kids need to meet their new teachers at school, long motorbike ride with 3 of us, check.
Ezra's birthday, make dirt pudding, buy a gift, write him a card, check.
I laugh as I write this, because everyone of us has our list like this.
It grows or shrinks, but never goes away.
Depending how I am feeling, this list can be pleasant or unpleasant.
I like getting things done and having things to do.
But when I are worn out, it feels relentless.
The pace of modern life, and the tools of technology mean we can do much more, more quickly, at all times, day and night, than we could do before (in some ways, we often do less at the same time, but that is another blog).
One concern I have noticed with myself, is that I spend less time thinking and reflecting, and more time doing.
This is not good.
Activity without thought is rarely beneficial.
Progress isn't just any movement, but movement in a good direction, toward a good goal.
It is possible to be busy with activity and moving backward.
As we get older, we often get slower.
We are forced to work smarter, not harder, because we simply can't work as hard as we used to.
Turning 40 last year brought this home for me.
In practice, this ought to mean we spend more time thinking before we act.
I am so thankful for our summer break.
It provides that valuable time to step back from our daily routines, the hamster wheel life often is, and with a calmer, less cluttered mind, do some serious thinking, reflecting, and praying.
There is something so helpful about breaking the normal cycle of life, for a brief time, to really think about what we are doing, why we are doing it, and where it is leading us.
We had a great summer, and I hope you did too.
Lots of quality time with family and friends, lots of time in nature, lots of laughs and adventures.
We spent time with Audrey's family in Colorado, then made our way up to Minnesota, and the boundary waters near Canada. It was beautiful, restful, and humbling to experience the hospitality of so many people. The pictures will do a better job expressing the experience than my words will do.
Summer is a bit of a high point for us every year.
We get to see all the family and many of the friends we miss dearly while living overseas.
We have more time to spend with our kids, just playing or adventuring.
The pace of life is slower, and the daily requirements fewer.
That is wonderful, and we are grateful for those times, but it can also make it hard coming back to normal life here. My friend Nate Ackerman expressed this same thing well when he talked about the griefs and the joys of the constant goodbyes and hellos of missionary life.
It has been just over a week since we returned to our home in Thailand. Jetlag is gone, school is started, and we have all jumped back into our various roles and responsibilities. Ezra and Sienna both seem to have wonderful teachers this year. I am excited for them both. Ezra is entering 4th grade and Sienna 2nd. We are all grateful for Grace International School, and the amazing village of people who help educate our kids. Audrey is one of those people, and she is starting her 4th year at the school.
Eventually, after all the initial adjustments, I always feel refreshed when we come back from the US, to jump back into life and ministry here. It was sweet to worship with our Thai friends last Sunday at Kingdom of God Church, and pleasantly surprising to realize I can worship fairly comfortably in another language. It was fun too, to see the solar system we donated, set up at the church.
It was good to catch up with my staff at Faithful Heart too. Though there were a few minor issues that need to be addressed, things were more quiet than usual. Our boys are almost all teenagers now, and several are taller than me (I know, that's not saying much). One of our boys, Chai, will graduate high school in March and start college in May 2027. One stateless woman we have been helping with dialysis, is nearing approval for health coverage. We gained a new generous donor this summer, which allows us to expand some of our programs. One of our college students returned from a study abroad term in China. Paula, who has been with us for many years graduated college this past term. One of the exciting projects I am working on this year is helping support local churches to run VBS during the summer break here, March and April, as an outreach to children in their community. We are trying to figure out how to do curriculum, training, and provide supplies for games, teaching, and snacks.
All that to say; it was good to go see everyone in America, and it is good to be back in Thailand.
We are incredibly grateful for the love and support and friendship of so many incredible people there and here.
As I pulled onto the highway this morning headed to work, I twisted my right wrist quickly, my motorcycle revved and shot forward, the exhaust wailed. It is a delightful feeling, that never fails to bring a smile to my face. My left hand clenched quickly, and my left foot snapped upward while my left fingers released. The wind rushed to my face, my shirt flapped in the wind. The sun was shinning, the sky a rich blue with puffy, scattered clouds. I flew up a large overpass and from that elevated vista, I could see green all around me, the evidence of monsoon season. It was beautiful. I took a deep breath and thanked the God who made such wonders and shared them so freely with us.
If there is a theme for this season of life for me, it is to seek God in everything, and let Him lead my moments and my days. To leave all to Him, to trust Him in all things, and for all things.
"For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever, Amen."
-Romans 11:36
