Games online

Posted: August 31, 2010 by rayainthailand in Family
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I grew up in a community where we could climb trees, ride our bikes, go to a river nearby, where we could even go fishing.  I just love the countryside.  Nowadays, though, kids are more exposed to games online.  I cannot blame them.  Kids who live in the city do not have that space for them to run around or trees to climb on.

I am not so sure about my kids, but they seem to be not so interested in sports– they just enjoy watching cartoons on tv, or watch movies in youtube.

Look at my little boy… so serious, isn’t he? I don’t know if he would be interested to play those online games or would beg me to buy him a Playstation 3 when he grows older.

Well, for now, all I know is that Mickey Mouse is still his star.

English Camp

Posted: August 31, 2010 by rayainthailand in Thailand
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In the 11 months that I have been in Thailand, I am so grateful that I have been to many places– been to the south for a holiday with friends, to the north for ministry-related trainings and we have even been to the South-east where some of Thailand’s beautiful beaches are found.

One of the places that we have been to also is Nakhon Sawan, a small city in Central Thailand where we were requested to assist at an English camp. It was quite an adventure for hubby, me and the kids. The trip reminded us very much of our hometown where we saw mountains, trees, rice paddies and lots of winding roads.

It was more like a camp to us… we just slept on thin bed mattresses in a government office which was located up on a hill.

Hubby and the kids

60 kids attended the English camp

We really had a good time there… there were at least 60 kids who joined that camp and the kids made very good friends, too… despite the language barrier.

Filipinos and Missions

Posted: August 28, 2010 by rayainthailand in missions
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We were chatting with the language director here in the language school before we had lunch today. We casually mentioned about Filipino friends working here in Thailand as missionaries.

“To be honest, our organization is… struggling to have Filipinos work here in Thailand… because of the level of support that is coming in from the Philippines.” Ouch. That hurt.

Over the last few days I was on a journey with the Filipino people. Thanks to technology, I was able to connect with what is going on there. From the drama of hostage-taking, to the different opinions of our beauty queen’s answer on the question and answer portion. I have watched youtube posts about a Korean and his opinion on the Philippines, an English man’s view saying that the difference between Indonesia and the Philippines is that Indonesia has hope (and implying that the Philippines do not? Oh please!), a Filipino’s disgust on the situation, to some few hopefuls that our country can rise again. I am patriotic, but I don’t know what to think sometimes.

And now this statement– from someone who is possibly sympathetic about the Filipinos possibly wanting to be a part of their prestigious organization but just cannot because of financial constraints.

I feel pain. Are we that limited? I strongly believe that Filipinos could make the most excellent missionaries. We are one of those races that are so highly adaptable, we are a broken people. We can live under great risks, lack, hunger, separation, name it.

When I read, see and hear about other peoples’ opinions about the Philippines and when I listen to my heart and remember what God promised for the Philippines, I am strengthened. Filipinos cannot go to missions because of the level of support coming in? I beg to disagree. We can go because God wants us to go, He can move mountains and divide seas if He has to.

1 year and counting

Posted: August 28, 2010 by rayainthailand in missions
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I mentioned in my other post about us being a year here in Thailand in a few days. I just cannot help it… I am so grateful. I am so thankful at how the Lord has changed many things in my heart. Funny I had to come all the way here to completely trust Him.. in everything. My life in the Philippines was not easy. Hubby and I had a business that just went downhill, and we did not know how in the world would we ever be able to fulfill God’s calling in our lives with that unsettled area. But somehow God just worked in ways way beyond our imagination. Although we have made wrong decisions, He knew our hearts and just made us come to this land we have been praying for for many years now.

Everything just happened too fast. We landed on Thai soil September 12 last year. I was teary-eyed during the entire Manila- Bangkok trip. I knew I was going to be a missionary not long after I became a Christian. I was 17 then, and 17 years later, I was on that plane. It was a long time of waiting, preparation and lots of breaking. But even with that ample time, God was not done with me yet. When we got to Thailand we were broken.. all the more– in a very, very, very good way. There were times that we felt forgotten, there were times that we just broke down and cried in the middle of the night. The loneliness, the uncertainty in the future was overwhelming. The fact that we cannot communicate in English was hard enough.

There were days that we had to literally pray for our daily needs. There were days that I just did not know how to pray. But His being a Father has never been this real. One year and counting… there was not a day that we did not have food on our tables. There was not a day that we are not taken cared of. There was not a day that He was not real, that He was not near.

One year later, and we are not afraid to ride on buses, cross the streets, ask anyone around. We don’t find Thai conversations too foreign, either. Our comprehension in Thai is just getting better and better everyday. One year later, we can exchange jokes in Thai– tease friends and even share our testimony.

When God works like that, I cannot help but be greatly encouraged– that He who called us is faithful to complete what He has begun in our lives. One year and counting… we will be here as long as the Lord would want us to.

Why I am here

Posted: August 28, 2010 by rayainthailand in missions
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We will be one year in Thailand a few days from now– September 12 to be exact. So… one year is a long time. If you ask me if I have done “anything significant”– disciples, perhaps? planted a church? raised the dead? No. I haven’t done any of those yet. I don’t mean to be defensive, but I really believe that language is a great challenge to muster when you are in Thailand. I have managed to “survive” Thailand in the last couple of months and I feel good. But I am not here to survive. I am not just here to instruct a taxi driver which way we should go, or simply buy fruits and vegetables in the market… or make friends. I am here for a reason much more than that. Which is why I need language.
I found this in my co-learner’s study table during my first day at language school.

I will have my disciples here in Thailand. I know, because God would never have to send us here if He did not have this in mind. Discipleship requires pouring out of our lives, and I would need language to do that. I don’t find Thai easy to learn, and there are many times that I just have to close my eyes and mumble so many vocabularies until I fall asleep. It’s not easy. I am not here on a holiday. I am willing to pay the price, to do whatever it takes. Jesus spoke our language when He came here. He stepped down to our level to reach us. I should not be scared to do the same– for Thailand and its people.

Joey’s Module 1 check

Posted: August 27, 2010 by rayainthailand in Thailand
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Both Joey and I were nervous for his first module check in Thai class. I just think that Joey is not that confident, and I was like a super stage mommy trying to cheer him on.

Last night I asked him questions in Thai. He would hesitantly answer, and his lack of confidence really made me nervous all the more. I wrote questions for him,and he studied them until this morning.

When his check was done,I excitedly asked him how it went. He recorded the whole thing, and I was smiling the whole time I listened to it. He did well, actually. Very much better than I expected. So Joey is moving up to Module 2! Yay!

Snowing in my dreams

Posted: August 27, 2010 by rayainthailand in Travel
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About two nights ago I was browsing through some photos in facebook and I stumbled across photos of my friend back in the university. I loved the view, and the snow-covered alps in the background. I silently wished I could go to places like that. Snow fascinates me, but growing up in the Philippines and now in Bangkok, there is no way we could ever have a snow experience.

But then I was told that in one of the theme parks here in Bangkok, we could actually have a little experience of snow, but of course it would cost us a few hundred bahts.

I would love to go there with the kids one time. I cannot wait to wear thick clothing with one of those ugg boots to keep my feet warm.

Before I closed my eyes that night I told God about this desire– to go to a country where there would be snow… someday. I loved talking to God this way. In my dreams that night, it was snowing. I must have painted a smile on my face in my sleep.

The pride of Bangkok

Posted: August 27, 2010 by rayainthailand in Bangkok
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Believe it or not, but I have been here in Bangkok for almost a year now but I have never been to Siam Paragon. People who have been there could not help but be overwhelmed with the thousands of signature items there is– from perfumes to footwear, to apparel and even the most expensive cars in the world!

One friend of ours told us that when you step into this mall you would soon forget that you are in Bangkok. It is as if you have just walked into a flash mall in New York or in Paris. I don’t know if that was an exaggeration or not, but I sure did get the point. I am sure they would have some of those Prada shoes only the Hollywood stars wear.

Well, even if I am not really a shopaholic and I don’t have the budget right now, it would be fun to just step into Bangkok’s pride… and yes, take photos!

Step Up..

Posted: August 20, 2010 by rayainthailand in Thailand
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Yes, I just finished my Modules 1 and 2 check up test yesterday. I sat nervously in Khruu Tum’s room while waiting for our language advisor, Genevieve.

When she came, she was asked by Khruu Tum to lead us in prayer. It sure was good to start this nerve-wrecking experience with a word of prayer!

And so the talking began. Khruu Tum just asked me questions which I tried to answer with confidence. But everytime I see her hand move to jot down something and Genevieve doing the same, I could not help but be distracted. I just went on. Questions were asked about my country, how it is different from Thailand, to describe a few things, etc. I got to mention some months in Thai, too. They just responded with smiles. Ughh… whatever those smiles meant…

Sometimes I just hate myself for being too chatty. Many times they would ask me something and I would answer, then I would try to elaborate.. then I would end up groping for more vocabularies. Tsk… I need to remind myself that when it comes to speaking Thai, I don’t have to exhaust all my quota of words for the day. LOL.

When the test was finally over, Khruu Tum said, “dii maak!” (very good) and Genevieve nodded in agreement. I managed to say “Thank you” in Thai. Then she went on to correct me with some tones, some words that I did not say clearly while I scribbled fast enough to catch up. I have the tendency to shorten words, which have long vowels. Like “taam tamadaa” I would say “tam tamada”– long and short vowels can mean different things. I also had mistakes with “p” (which is pronounced as pb) and Ph (aspirated) and “K” (pronounced as g) and Kh (aspirated). There is no way I could ever memorize all tones now. Perhaps I never will in the next five or more years. I will continue to make those mistakes, I know… but it’s ok.

Genevieve asked me to see her in her office, and she did correct me with a few things too. She said it was very good… in fact, excellent. My heart just danced. Thank you, Lord!

Pizza Company

Posted: August 18, 2010 by rayainthailand in Thailand
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What a relief it is to know that there is a Pizza company branch here in Lopburi. Before moving here, we heard it is quite a small city, and to be honest, I was quite worried that I would not be able to eat Pizza in a very long time! Haha! Not that I do eat Pizza everyday, but it would be good to know that when we would be so overstressed with language and a lot of other things, there would be a good eating place to go to.

So I took this photo the next day we got here– this Pizza company is inside Big C (the only one in the city).Pizza Company really has good advertisement– they usually have promotions that are quite tempting, especially when you see those flyers left on your gate with those pictures. They must have availed online printing services for those.

Hmm… just at the thought of pizza makes me smile. On second thought, that can wait. I have to save up, save up!

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