“I sat and began meditating. I focused on emptying my mind and becoming one with the universe. I became one with the universe, and then I was sure, it would not rain before I got to work.” So went part of the conversation that I had with Don, a young man who has been coming […]
May 2011 Dear Mom, Today we arrived at our “new” home for the year while we are in language school. Our senior missionary was showing us around. When she flipped on the bathroom light, it revealed a good-sized roach crawling up the wall. With speed and purpose, she raised her arm and brought her hand […]
Sunday, December 27. We thought it would be just our family at church that day, as all the regular attenders had told us they would be going back to their homes in the Northern provinces over New Year. We left the house a little later than usual. On the way, Brian’s phone rang. “Oh, it’s […]
Sunday, for most people, is a day that is different to the rest of the busy, demanding week. Sunday generally has a slow start – there is no alarm clock, no rush to finish breakfast, drop the children at school and dash off to work. Sunday becomes a day of rest to spend with the […]
I love to bake. It helps me relieve stress and it gives me joy to inflict my food on others (as I’m not the best cook!). Since moving to Thailand we have baked many western creations for our neighbours as a way of showing friendship and appreciation of their kindness to us. A while ago […]
Mali is the Thai word for jasmine, a beautiful fragrant flower. Mali is also the name of a disabled woman who lives in Khok Sam Rong district, Central Thailand. Mrs Ong, Mali’s mother, has made life very hard for Mail and her health has deteriorated in recent years but even with all her problems, Mali […]
Looking at it realistically that little plant should not have survived more than 2 or 3 days. For the plant to push up through the crack in the scorching hot concrete is quite something. But then to actually keep growing is really amazing. Somehow it must have its roots deep down there, getting water from […]
In my local Thai restaurant, I ordered a non-spicy food dish. It was a shock to me as I ate, for it was as if a fire was burning inside my mouth. 3 glasses of cold water weren’t able to quench the spiciness. My language helper suggested that I let the waiter know directly not […]
Phil thanked God for ants tonight… I definitely didn’t see that one coming. I wasn’t feeling very thankful for them myself. They entered our house by the thousands when it rained the other day, and then decided to make themselves at home. Before I am able to shower each morning I have to wash hundreds […]
Street vendors abound in Thailand. Roasted corn, iced drinks, sticky rice, grilled pork, grilled chicken, fried chicken, fried hotdogs, hot dogs wrapped in waffles, ice cream, noodle soup, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with 2 snacks in between – if you really wanted to, you could survive without ever setting foot in a grocery store or […]
Mr. Joy did come to some church gatherings over the past three years. But he never seemed really interested in the Lord until last month. Suddenly, he was diagnosed with a tumor in his brain and needed a surgery. Last week, I saw him at a wedding. As he shared what he was going through, […]
