I am the first to tell my students that testimonies are powerful; by hearing about what God has done, we are encouraged our faith is built up. Yet for some reason, I struggle with whether the same can be said of my own testimony.
This is the semester in which the chaplaincy focuses on mission, and the theme is “ordinary people for God’s mission.” I was asked to preach last Sunday on Matthew 10:5-15, with the topic, “will you go?” Amos told me that I was to give my testimony of how I came to be a missionary, something I’ve done before.
For some reason, I really struggled with this sermon. Part of that is length; it’s hard for me to preach for more than 20 minutes, and to an African, that’s just getting warmed up. But I think another part is that although I knew my testimony was the meat of the sermon, I was concerned it wasn’t enough. Like I should have been teaching more, or have something else to say other than what God has done to get me to Uganda.
Much to my surprise, several people shared with me after the services that they were in a similar place of wrestling with God and what He’a calling them to, and that my testimony encouraged them.
The domestic water supply along the canal. Note individual hoses have been attached to holes drilled in the main pipe with water flowing through individual meters.
A typical outdoor restaurant with cook preparing lunch.
Here come the motorbikes!
Thai long-tailed boat. Note long propeller shaft trailing behind.
Several of these tiny stores were scattered through the neighborhood.
Not the bridge over the River Kwai, but it serves its purpose.
A sacred tree–a Banyan tree like the one under which Buddha achieved Enlightenment.
Fisherman lifting net hoping for a good catch. Unfortunately it was empty.
Fish drying outside a restaurant.
Store owner not looking happy at the state of business.
Boat House
Another store.
Perhaps the best house south of the freeway.
Grand patio
Local hotel–rates probably less than $10 per night
Bonnie and I wish we were able to post somewhat more frequently and comprehensively, but the frustrations of computer technology render our intentions null and void. I started to write this post (putting up with random shifts of the cursor with predictably chaotic results) when, 200-300 words into this, the whole thing simply disappeared. The wisdom of the Thais comes into play here: Mai Bpen Rai–it doesn’t matter. Be patient. Don’t worry. I, regretably am NOT a Thai, so I am writing this out longhand hoping Bonnie can better cope.
Mai Bpen Rai.
Bangkok is a huge and hugely diverse city. The population is estimated to be 15 million, but how anyone could count this collection of everything from dozens and dozens of high-rise apartments not very far from uncountable thousands of squatter’s shacks, lean-tos and bare shelters is a total mystery. Our neighborhood (LatKrabang in case you want to look on Google Earth) typifies the situation. We are about 15 miles east of downtown Bangkok as the crow flies. If the crow goes by train, cab, or car we’re talking an hour or two at about any time of the day or night. Traffic is horrendous.
Bonnie and I live in student housing. Privately-owned dorm rooms with bath is the best way to describe our digs. (Bonnie included photos in our second post.) Not luxurious, but familiar to any student in a state college or university. There are dozens of these residences with more being built. Although we live on a dead end street, about a mile from the nearest intersecting street (Chalong Krung Road–again for Google Earth fans) our street can look like the busiest street Orangeburg has ever seen on a Friday night. (I would give you the name of our street if it had one. We tell cab drivers to take the first street off Chalong Krung)
Amidst all this bustle and modernity one day I decided to head north on a footpath across the railroad tracks which parallel our nameless street. A different world instantly appeared.
Perhaps 20 yards after crossing the tracks a very basic collection of housing sprinkled with restaurants and stores appeared on my left. On my right was one of the many canals in Bangkok, this one perhaps 50 feet across and thickly overgrown with water plants in most places. The pictures say thousands of words so I’ll skip much description. The elevated foot and motor bike path extends perhaps for the better part of a mile with no other access. The path and everything else is elevated to avoid submerging in the rainy season.
After crossing under one of the major east-west freeways, land access begins to be possible, and cars make their first appearance. Commercial operations also appear. The houses, now higher and drier and accessible now become more permanently built and of obviously much higher value.
How far all this extends, I do not know. After walking another mile or so in the heat of the day, (always 95 plus or minus), time to get back and clean up to get ready for school and take Bonnie to lunch. (Food is a whole other topic.)
One must admire the many Thais whom I met along that walk who almost unfailingly greeted me with a smile and also carefully avoided pushing me off the walkway as they passed–very frequently–on their motorbikes– and happily posed for pictures.
Life isn’t always about comfort and ease.
Mai Bpen Rai.
Pictures will be posted separately due to the usual computer glitches.
We hope as Spring approaches that any lingering snow has become a memory, and that you are being blessed by God. We are thinking of our many wonderful friends today and are praying for your work, ministry, health, family and church congregation.
We have had good reports regarding Ron’s health. First it was evident from his improved energy level, and then confirmed by the bone scan in December that showed no evidence of infection and also an ultrasound of the soft tissue in January that was also clear. He remained on a once a day antibiotic until the first week in March, and thus far none of the previous symptoms have returned. We are so thankful and give the glory to God.
Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. we spend at the Cornerstone Student Center which is just across the street from our room. We have three classes each day at 3, 5, and 7. The students sign up based on the time they have available and we never know how many we are going to get for each class as sometimes they just walk in also. Most of the time, we team-teach because we don’t have more than 5 students at a time. If there were more, we’d use the additional classroom and split up or Serene, and sometimes Fr. Lee, might take one of the classes.
The students have been a joy to work with. They are polite and have a desire to learn. Most of the time they stay longer than the hour class talking or, in the evenings, playing board games which they enjoy very much. This is fun for Chuck as he likes board games too. Some do pretty well with English and others struggle a bit. I hope we are helping. We have different students each day and teach the same lesson each day all week. Sometimes they ask questions about the U.S. but not often. Some have mentioned they watch “How I Met Your Mother” which they think is very funny. We have never watched it. We ask them a lot of questions about their lives to get them to talk and practice English.
Here are some pictures from the Center:
Nino and Ploy –they are going to the US to work this summer.
Pon, Chuck, Nino and Ploy play Settlers of Catan–Nino always wins this one
Jade, Jay, Syne, Bonnie, Toon, Fon
Pearl and Run
Fr. Lee signs up some new students
Schop, Noy, Fon, and Drew lost this one to the Monopoly expert, Chuck
