Friday, December 28, 2007

Change...

Change is just around the corner, and I very excited about it. Tomorrow I will be traveling up north to vist my roomate's family over the highly celebrated New Year's. I am looking forward to this opportunity to see another part of Thailand, to meet new people, and just to enjoy the New Year's celebration outside of Bangkok with friends.

I will also be moving into a new apartment on January 5th, just after I return from my trip!!! I am very excited about this, and I am looking forward to the change and opportunities that my new home will bring. Change is good, and I may be odd, but I LOVE change... I need it in my life. God continues to remind me of his faithfulness and his goodness in my life through everything that has taken place these past few weeks. He remains the same. He is constant. He never changes...He is an everlasting God.

To let you know, I stumbled upon a music studio, and was able to play the piano and sing in a private "practice" room yesturday. O my...it was glorious! I think this ends my talking about the piano. I will update sometime next week.

THE END.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

So this is Christmas...

A very Merry Christmas to you all!...I know this is short, but I want to let you know I am still alive and doing well, and I am enjoying Christmas here in Bangkok. I greatly miss you, my family and friends this Christmas, and I hope that you are enjoying this wonderful day wherever you are. I am so thankful and blessed to have you in my life.... know that you are greatly loved.

LOVE.

Monday, December 24, 2007

Saturday, December 22, 2007

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny From depths of Hell Thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times did'st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Friday, December 21, 2007

A Story That Must Be Told

It began this morning. I got ready for the day, and took my time walking the distance from my apartment to the bus stop to catch bus number 38, 46, 48...which ever one came first, it ended up being 38. My destination was Central Bang Na, I am having slight issues with my computer still, and I was going to see if things could get solved. I climb the steps into the bus, and walk towards the back and take a seat on the back bench. I pay the 8 baht for the ride, and quietly sit and observe those around me. I love riding the bus. I find it enjoyable and crazy at times... especially at the peak hours of the day when the buses are packed full with people.

There is an elderly lady sitting next to me, I smile and I greet her. She timidly smiles back begins to speak in Thai so so softly I could barely hear her. I continue to talk to her, and finally understood that she was asking for money. To the right of me is another lady who glances back smiling, I think amused at my attempt of speaking Thai, she begins to talk to the elderly lady, but also did not understand what she is asking for, or what she is saying. We make eye contact and begin to talk to one another. She gracefully gets up and moves to sit next to me, and continues to talk to me. Her name is Pim. She speaks English very well, and proceeded to tell me about her travels to America where she recently visited her sister who lives in Maryland. I ask her what kind of work she does here in Bangkok. She replys"I am a Music teacher."
"O, wow!" I reply with a big smile! "What kind of music do you teach?"
"I teach Piano." She replys. " I told I play the piano, and that it is something that I enjoy very much. She then invited me over to her home sometime to play the piano she owns, and also invited me teach her english! We begin laughing, at I don't know what, and exchanged phone numbers. By this time we had arrived at Central Bang Na. She stayed on the bus, and I got off the bus after saying goodbye.

I can honestly say that I am amazed at the goodness of God. He is so faithful even in the small small things. I had the biggest smile on my face! It is those random encounters where I know that he has orchestrated everything. Who knows if anything will happen, if anything it is an open door. Yes, he is beautiful. And to inform you all, my computer did get fixed for the time being.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

well not really!...but I am truely excited to be here in Thailand to celebrate Christmas this year. Christmas is less than one week away, and instead of cold cold weather with mounds of snow and ice, it is very breezy, pleasant, and warm. Everytime I hear a christmas song such as Joy to the World, or O Holy night playing in a department or grocery store, it brings a smile to my face, and sometimes tears! There is something about hearing the truth being declared in a country that has no understanding of the true meaning of Christmas that is beautiful...He will reveal himself, and bring glory to his name.

I have been enjoying a little slower pace of life these past few weeks now that school is on break until January. I have been able to meet new people in my neighborhood, and spend time with some friends from school. I am trying to practice my Thai as much as I can on the streets, and I am excited to return to school to continue learning.

Thank you all for your support and prayers...keep checking my flickr site as I am continuing to add more pictures.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Those Ivory Keys

This is a simple post...a tribute to the beauty and joy of the piano. It is something that I absolutley love, and something I am missing right now. I miss the feel of those ivory keys under my fingertips...all 88 of them.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Life in Bangkok

What a busy week, I can't believe that my last post was a week ago! The REACH team has arrived and are expiriencing all that Thailand offers! They are a true blessing, and I am excited to get to know each one. I know that they will bless many lives.

I am officially completed with the first module of language school. On Tuesday my school celebrated with a small christmas party with an enormous amount of food...it was delicious! Have I mentioned that I like my school?!:) Also on Tuesday my laptop crashed!!! Yes, I don't know how, but it completley died. No worries, within 12 hours it was reparied. I lugged it to school, and then afterwards, I found my way to Pandit Plaza, a large computer center, where I tried to explain in Thai what happened...and within 2 hours it was fixed costing me around $8.00.

Yesturday was the King's 80th Birthday...I grand holiday here. Everyone had holiday from work, and you could definitly feel the festivities in the air! Along with being the King's birthday, it was also Father's day, so families everywhere spent the day together. Tawan, Sharon, and I travelled north about 3 hours to a town called Saraburi. It was a lovely trip...it makes me want to see more places in Thailand. There are so many beautiful places I long to visit. Being in the country surrounded by sunflowers was glorious!

Today I cleaned like a mad women. Our apartment was getting a little filthy and it needed a deep cleaning! Now that school is done for this month, I am trying to find things to stay busy with, and continue to meet new people, and grow the friendships I have already established.
I believe that I am coming down with a cold, my throat has been sore today. I think I will go drink some green tea.... Yes that is what I will do.

much love.