Scenes From The Week

These are just some pictures taken from this week. It just goes to show how diverse my days can be at times. This is the party that has been happening out on the roads all week.

went to a party of a cute 3 year old at McDonald's. Just minutes before, standing behind her was a crowd of people gawking at us. We all felt like we were on display but had a good time anyway.

I have some neighbors who live on the side of my road. We call them the "tree people" because the first time we met them, they were living underneath a tree. It never dawned on them for a minute that I didn't know Hindi. They were great language practice in the beginning. Well anyway, they called me over to their dwelling the other day. A baby buffalo had just been born and they were super proud. This little guy is only minutes old. I started congratulating them and taking pictures. They thought it was pretty funny.

For the past nine months, Angie, my house helper has been anxiously awaiting the delivery of her second child. As her stomach got bigger and bigger, I finally just gave her a leave of absence and told her to take the time off that she needed. I knew that her due date was coming up soon so when she called me on the phone a few days ago, I immediately answered. Baby ahya hai? (the baby has come?) I asked. A soft voice answered..no...baby mar guyaa hai. (baby has died) No, no...you mean ahya hai......right? I still have a hard time understanding Hindi words on the phone. I just KNEW that I had misunderstood. No no, she answered. Mar guyaa. A baby boy. I was devastated. I couldn't imagine how she was feeling.

I told her I was coming to her house and she said she would call when she was ready. I quickly asked around to my neighbors what the right thing to do was. What does one do with news that is so crushing? She called me to her house this morning so I quickly ran to the market to get fruit before going. I prayed the whole way. Lord, please offer comfort to her bleeding heart.

As I entered into the dark room, I could see her small frame laying on a cot. She rolled over and looked at me with sad, sleepy eyes. She started to explain...

The doctor wouldn't come. It was change of shift for the nurses so they wouldn't come either. Everything was normal until he came out. He couldn't breath on his own. They put a tube in his throat but he only lived 30 minutes. I never even got to see his face. The doctor finally came in afterwards and told me it was my fault he died. They tell me his nose was small and that he looked like his sister. A perfect boy.

My blood boiled. What?? I just wanted to scream! This could have been prevented. This didn't need to happen. I just couldn't image a doctor that would say such a thing. I wanted to file a complaint. I wanted to hit someone. I wanted to do...SOMETHING . Angie just quietly said "whats done is done, he is gone" She had already resigned herself to what fate had thrown her.

I sat with her in silence. She didn't seem to mind. They say that silence sometimes has the loudest voice.

I offered up a prayer. I usually never give money. But I broke my own rule. It seemed appropriate and the least I could do.

She was tired and was ready for me to go. I left with promises to see her soon.

Pray for my sweet Angie. Angie, the one who almost tore down my door that morning I was so sick that I didn't wake up. Angie, the one who patiently corrects my Hindi. Angie, the one who has swept my floors countless times. Angie, the one who doesn't know that He is healer of broken hearts.

They're Back

Its that time of year again. The orange people are back. I know I have blogged about it before. Basically, barefooted men dressed in orange carry holy water from the Ganges River and take it back to their home towns to give as an offering in the temple. For about a week, streets are clogged as these orange people make their journey. Please be in prayer as this is an heightened time of spir. warfare and general mischief.

I want to say that I didn't actually take this picture...its way to good for me to have taken it. But this is a little boy in my life. He is the youngest son of one of my friends here in South Asia. Most kids here are not very playful... at least in the sense that we are familiar with.... However, this little boy warmed up to me right away and we have become good buddies over the months. He is recovering from TB so he is just a sliver of a kid. He has big brown eyes and a playful grin. One day he crawled up into my lap and fell asleep and my heart just melted. Pray for this little guy, that he would grow up big and strong and learn how to love our Father.

My stomach felt dull as the plane began its final decent into the capital city. After four weeks of being in peaceful quiet Thailand, I was returning back to South Asia. Why did the idea of returning feel like a punch in the stomach? 'Ugh...its not suppose to be like this..' As I got off the plane, loud noises and smells assaulted my ears and nose. A business man, only concerned with his personal agenda, shoved me out of the way. I didn't have the energy to push back.

As I stood in the long customs line, a large family tried to cut in front of me. I stopped them. They got mad. I didn't care. My eyes stayed downcast as I made my way through the maze of the airport. When I reached the exit, my glasses fogged up from the severely humid air. I didn't bother to wipe them off. I just hailed a taxi and got in. I continued to stare at the ground, not having the motivation to do much else.


A few hot tears splashed onto my foggy glasses. I'm weary. And pessimistic. I thought about the national friendships I had made. I had expected to make friends in South Asia but I didn't expect to have to try to figure out if it was friendship they wanted in return or was it money...or a green card....I didn't think I would have to constantly question motives. I thought about the dust, the grime, the poverty, the violence. I thought about the fact that precious baby girls are outright killed, neglected or overlooked here. Life just seems to mean nothing. It's all so seemingly hopeless.

I reached my destination for the evening and was greeted by a kind friend with a warm smile and a cold glass of water. Maybe this won't be so bad after all... Over the weekend, I visited with some other American friends. And they offered a listening ear, grace, Dr Pepper, insight, and Velveeta cheese. Over the course of the weekend, the Lord spoke into my weariness. He spoke into my pessimism. He somehow made me see that no matter how hard things are and no matter how close to despair I might be, He is the only hope in the midst of it all. And that hope softens my heart.

4th of July

The American consulate in Chiang Mai hosted a 4th of July celebration at a local stadium today. Me and two other families that I know had the chance to partake of the festivities. The 4th is one of my favorite holidays and I haven't been able to really celebrate it the past two years so it was extra fun this year. I admit, I did tear up a little when I crossed my hand over my chest and sang our national anthem. God Bless the USA!

Nothing says home of the brave like creepy Asian action figures.

They served picnic food that included ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs and all sorts of other summer treats. The had games for all the kids to play (hence the floured face of my little friend there) while the adults sat around and listened to live music. Overall, it was a great day!