Song Kran Holiday

Sawatdii pii mai! 

(Happy New Year!)

We returned to Chiang Mai for a couple weeks around the Thai New Year, Song Kran. For the first couple of days we had to go to Laos once again to get a new visa. We took an overnight bus ride to the border of Laos and Thailand. We then stayed overnight in Vientienne after turning in our papers to obtain a new visa. The next night we boarded an overnight bus once again back to Chiang Mai. We were very tired by the end due to lack of sleep, but remained healthy this time. We made sure to take a lot of vitamins and wore face masks while on the bus. We are happy that this was our last trip to Vientienne and we got a visa that will last until we will be returning to the USA in August.

We also helped teach another session of Java Talk at TLC. One night during class we had fun working on the importance of how to give clear directions by making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Many of our students had never eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich before so it was definitely a new experience. We had our friend, Doi, eat one. When we told him about what it was he asked, "You mean you mix the peanut butter with the jelly? Gross!!" Later he made Scott eat a fish eyeball and said, "I ate the peanut butter and jelly sandwich so you need to eat this." Some how to us, it didn't seem like a fair comparison.

We also did a lesson on muscles, body parts, and exercise. To conclude the lesson Julie lead a short 15 minute yoga session. Some other highlights were making a variety of salsas during a Friday night party, reading and writing poetry, role playing a jungle survivor interview, and discussing music. We had a total of  8 students this session, the majority all new students! Most of our students have returned home for the summer session or are working so it is definitely exciting to be able to continue to have classes, especially with the opportunities to build new relationships.

People around the moat in Chiang Mai celebrate Song Kran!  You definitely get wet!

Eating dinner along the beach of Chalong Bay in Phuket.

After helping teach Java Talk at TLC, we had a week break for the Song Kran holiday. Scott's mom, Janet, and aunt, Nancy, were able to come and experience the fun! The first few days were spent beside the beach in Phuket before returning to Chiang Mai to celebrate Song Kran. What has now turned into being a country-wide water fight originated from the Thai Buddhist tradition of sprinkling holy water on elders and Buddha statues to symbolize spiritual cleansing. Many Thais come to Chiang Mai to participate in the water fights here. The moat surrounding the city is filled with people in the backs of trucks and standing along the moat with buckets of water being poured on each passerby. This feels good during the hottest days we have experienced in Thailand so far. However, we didn't really appreciate the water that was cooled off by ice. Even when the temperature is 105 degrees, ice cold water being poured down your back is more uncomfortable than refreshing. To celebrate, we loaded our truck with bins of water and members of TLC church and headed to the moat. We had so much fun being out in the water fights and we think Janet and Nancy enjoyed the entertainment from the safety inside of the truck.

Scott and Pong refilling the buckets.

The elephants celebrate Song Kran too!

We also were able to show Janet and Nancy a nearby elephant camp called Mae Sa Elephant Camp. They enjoyed the interaction with the elephants, especially an adorable 2 month old elephant, and the show that displays the elephants playing soccer, painting pictures, and various other talents. We concluded the stay at the elephant camp by going for an elephant ride to a nearby hilltribe village. On the way back from the village, Janet and Nancy were able to experience Song Kran. In the remote mountainous area, Song Kran celebrators could be found splashing any open-aired taxi or motorbike with a bucket of water. Yes, we got a bucket of water splashed at us as we passed by in our open-aired taxi on the way back to the elephant camp from the village.

Scott's mom and Scott riding an elephant.  Nancy and Julie aren't far behind.

A two month old elephant.

An elephant artist.

A woman at the Karen Long Neck village makes a scarf.

A church in the village.

A man at the village next door, a Lishu village, plays a unique woodwind instrument.

Janet and Nancy left to go back to the USA last night and are in the air now on their way to Chicago. We really enjoyed their visit and were sad to see them go. We think they enjoyed their trip, despite the heat.

We had a Thai BBQ the night before they left.

This morning we had to clean and pack some belongings to get ready to go back to Thoeng, a small town about 4 hours northeast of Chiang Mai. We taught their for four weeks before our Song Kran Holiday break. We will be returning to teach for four more weeks. We are hoping to continue to help the newly planted church in the town grow by offering English classes as a community outreach. Please be praying that we can continue to work together with the church to help the members begin to develop relationships with more members of the community.

Thank you so much for your continued support. We are continuing to feel blessed here in Thailand. Each day we are working hard to make sure that we work for God by showing His love and blessing to others.

Prayer Requests:

• Scott's cousin, Catherine, was recently told by doctor's that she would have 2 to 4 weeks to live. Catherine has been battling cancer for the past 5 years when doctors originally gave here 1 year to live. It has been about 2 weeks since she received the news. Please pray for healing and strength for Catherine and Catherine's family and friends.
• We are seeking direction on what to do in the upcoming years, seeking careers and how to serve in the USA or continuing to serve in Thailand. Please pray that we will continue to lift our worries and anxieties to God as well as continue to have faith that by seeking God we will be given clarity.
• Please pray that our time in Thoeng will be fruitful and the English outreach will be successful.
• Please pray for the country of Thailand as they are experiencing political unrest.
• Please pray for our students at TLC who are home, working, or studying during the summer session. Please pray that they will remain safe and relationships can continue to be built with them when they return to school at the end of May.
• Please pray for our new students at TLC and for Lauren who is teaching the summer sessions at TLC.