Anticipation

I am looking forward to this next week. On Monday, I don't have school (I know that it seems like I am always having a holiday) But not really. :) Our team is going to Auyutthaya, the former capitol of Thailand, to celebrate Dan (our leader's) birthday.

On Wednesday evening our team will also board an overnight train, and go to Chiang Mai for a retreat until Sunday night. I am greatly looking forward to a relaxing and refreshing time with our team. I am also thrilled that we are going to Chiang Mai, I hear that it is beautiful, and it will be wonderful to leave Bangkok for a while, and see another part of Thailand.

This last week has been a good week of connections with friends. I have been able to talk with the women at the bars several times, and I have been able to talk with Boy(I had not seen her for quite some time) but she has returned to working at the bar full time. I met a new friend Not, who is interested in learning English, as well as my friend Lukket.

It seems like an overwhelming amount of people have been asking me to teach them recently. I will be done with school in a few weeks, and I am looking forward to spending time in my neighborhood. It is exciting and kind of crazy to think of what will take place in the future. Pray for wisdom as I look into teaching English, and continue to build relationships.... Yes God is good.

Myanmar

Please pray for the people of Myanmar. A recent cyclone hit Yangon, Myanmar over the weekend. The death toll has risen to over 22,000, and over 41,000 people are still missing. To be honest, I really did not know the intensity of what happened until I read the news tonight, and was really shaken. Click on the link below if you want to read an article relating to this.

link to article

more pictures

One late morning last week, I walked to the daily market in Samrong, near my apartment. I tried to capture all the life, colors, sights, and sounds that I saw. If you are interested check out my flickr site,(the link is on the left of the page) I posted the pictures there! This country is crazy beautiful! I also posted some pictures of people in my neighborhood.

I am in the middle of a five day holiday from school. I will return on Tuesday, and will complete the 5th module on Friday. A few days ago my friend Som sent me a text message in Thai, and I was able to read it, understand it....and I replied back! It is the smallest thing, but I was so excited that I am able to use my Thai in different ways to communicate. I also find it fun to read the signs on the streets, and buses. In class we are reading paragraphs on Thai culture, and short stories, and even though I read slow, it makes sense...and I am starting to pick up speed!