Thailand Travels: Ao Nang

There was a lot of friendly confusion about whether we were going to Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang, or Railay.  The answer is, 'Yeah, sure.'  I think it was similar to picking between Cannon Beach, Manzanita, or Lincoln City.  The verdict: Ao Nang!  Looking forward to beaches, mangoes and kayaks.  I can't wait!

*** I'm aware that I'm not REALLY Mrs. Anna, but I'm more than a little excited to be a teacher in Siam!

Thailand Travels: Chiang Mai

This is where we hope to see gardens and meet elephants!

Thailand Travels: Bangkok

It's currently 2:45am in Xinzheng.  In just four short hours, I'll be headed out with a group of amazing women to go to Thailand!  For the past week I've been sleeping curled up in the fetal position around my space heater.  But in Thailand - there is SUN.  And beaches! Elephants! Orchids! Mangoes! Pineapple! Rice!  Oh wait a minute...

The only bummer is that the amazing powerpoint I made about this trip refuses to be posted.  Bummer.  Instead, I have a really great MAP for you:

In case it isn't clear, I'll be traveling from XinZheng (Shin-jung) to Bangkok.  Soon.  Very soon.  I could sleep.  I will blog as much as I am able!

Following a Typhoon

The term is almost over, and I'm looking at a 6-7 week break - with tons to do!  Some friends and I decided to go to Thailand for a little over a week, join some friends doing mission work, and see the Indian Ocean and elephants!

Even MORE exciting is the decision to go to the Philippines.  On December 4, Typhoon Bopha swept through the south eastern Philippines, swallowing hundreds of people without leaving a trace and destroying the homes of over 400,000 people.  A small group of teachers and exchange students at our university are from the Philippines, including our building manager who grew up a few hours away from the worst of the destruction.  300 fishermen from her city sailed out the morning of the 4th, and no one has seen or heard anything of them since then.

You know, vacations are great, but I would much rather do something useful and impactful with my time and energy.  My parents taught and modeled that times of crisis are times of action.  Relief work has always been really important to me, but I haven't been able to respond much during college.  I'm currently unencumbered by school or work, and I can literally just pick myself up and go help!  A few of my friends and I are going to General Santos toward the end of January and stay in a "cottage" (it's on stilts!) and join a local church's feeding ministry.  We're going to do whatever needs doing - feeding, cooking, cleaning, building, clearing demolished buildings. (For my nurse-moms: yes, I'll track down a tetanus shot and mosquito nets!)  I can't even describe how excited I am to be able to go do this!!

Besides the relief work, there are many reasons I'm excited to go to the Philippines - the music, the sea shells (I've been a collector for years - it's a deal), the countryside, and the proximity to Papua New Guinea.  My great-grandparents met there while they were doing mission work, and I've always wanted to go.  I don't think that will happen this trip, but there's a good chance I'll be able to spend time with people who are currently involved in missions there.

I'm headed down with three awesome believers who are ready and willing for anything to happen.  Please pray that we can find cheap flights (my task in the next few days).  We anticipate that our needs will be small, but funds are limited, and we're headed into an area full of astronomical need.  Please pray that we can truly aid and encourage the victims of this awful storm, that we adjust our lives and plans to love them in the way they need us to, and that God's glory shines in spite of our limits!