Grapevine or bust!

We have made it to Manila and are doing well. The good-byes with our Thai friends today were really hard but we survived and we are excited to see friends and family. We have one more stop in LA and then off to DFW!

Sticky Waterfalls and Our Last Day in Thailand

What an incredible day! I had so much fun and it was a perfect way to end an amazing summer. Most everyone from Baan Kanoon took a trip to a waterfall about an hour outside of Chiang Mai. Coolest thing I've ever done. The rock beneath the water was sticky so we could climb up and down the waterfall like Spider-man. I had so much fun spending the last day with these people, they've truly been amazing friends and I am blessed to have them in my life. We spent an hour singing worship songs and listening to a devotion led by our supervisor, then spent a couple hours playing. I'm so sad that this waterfall is on the other side of the globe or I would take everyone to it all the time. But we took so many pictures!

After lunch we came back to BK to do anything we needed to do before heading out tomorrow morning. Alicia and I got an hour oil massage and Kati and Shauna got a pedicure. We packed and then met up with some friends to take our last trip to Walking Street Market. It was really hard to say goodbye to our friends we met in our classes. They gave us really sweet gifts and we took a lot of pictures. At our farewell party a friend left us with this advice, "The most, most important thing you can do on a mission trip is the most important thing you can do at home, and that's pray for the lost people you've become friends with." I am excited to see how God will move after we leave Chiang Mai. Thank you for your prayers and support while my team was in Chiang Mai this summer. I wouldn't have traded this summer for anything in the world. I'm so thankful that God sent me here and I can't wait to see how I can apply what I've learned at my campus in Wichita Falls.

Elephants

Another busy day for our team today! Pii Mint took us to an elephant camp for lunch and an elephant ride. It was so much fun - we actually rode them through a river and trees! I was really thankful that Mint took time out of her day to make sure we could experience that. It was a really fun way to spend one of the last days with the team I've worked with all summer. We've been so caught up in preparing ourselves for saying goodbye to Thailand we forgot to prepare ourselves to say goodbye to each other!

After elephants we got a chance to hang out with some of our Thai friends again and take a quick nap. Then the four of us decide we wanted to spend the evening on a river cruise in downtown Chiang Mai. It was a very "rotic" experience (romantic without a man.) But we had a lot of fun and asked each other questions about the summer so we will be prepared for any question we are asked back at our homes and churches.
Tomorrow is our last day! I'm not sure if I'm ready to say goodbye to everyone, but we will have a lot of fun with everything we have planned. Keep praying God will be moving in Chiang Mai - I know He will. Also pray that we will have a safe trip home.

Farewell Party

Today was a very long day. We started off at our supervisor's house for a wonderful breakfast and to pray over Chiang Mai. Then we had a "debriefing meeting" to go over everything we've learned this summer. It was really awesome to see how God has been working in all of our lives the past two months. After our meeting I had my last English class. When I told them it was our last class they all seemed really upset. I felt really bad and they all kept asking, "Who is teaching us now? Why are you going back so soon?" They've been great friends.

We finished off the day with our farewell party. I was surprised to see how many people came to tell us goodbye. We played some games and spent some time going around the room talking about our favorite memories. A few people told us really encouraging things about how much they appreciated us "giving up" our summer to come to Thailand. I assured them that I wouldn't want to be any other place. Our friends at Baan Kanoon ordered our "favorite food" in Thailand. Which ended up to be fried chicken. I thought that was so funny and very kind of them.

It still surprises me every day how quickly this summer went by. I am so blessed to have wonderful people in my life that helped me come to Thailand. I wish I could tell everyone how much they mean to me. I love Thailand so much and I hope that everyone can continue to pray for this lost nation long after my team is back home.

This is a special shout out to my dad who turned 49 years young today. I love you Dad! You've been an amazing role model to me. You are so selfless and I appreciate everything you do for me and my sisters. My mom also gets a shout out because she wants one. Hey mom! Can't wait to be home! Miss you too!

Last Night at Phan Ton

Tonight was our last night going to the villages. We brought snacks to have a little going away party. We also spent time making witness bracelets which went really well! The kids learned the colors and asked if they could make one more to give to their friends and family. After a few games and some sad goodbyes, we met up with the other team at their village. One of our friends from the Asian Disaster Relief helped us provide food and hygiene supplies for 30 families in their village. It was really rewarding to see how grateful these families were to receive such a special gift.

House of Blessing

Today was a lot of fun! Most of our day was spent with the people from Baan Kanoon. House of Blessing is a children's home where we played with kids of all ages who are unable to live with their parents. We also toured the new facilities they are building which was really really cool. The second I stepped out of the car, three girls grabbed my hands and stuck by my side the entire time we were there. This home was definitely a really special place and I am so thankful that we were given that opportunity. My favorite part was watching some of our new friends that we brought with us. We met Aung through our cooking and English classes, she is a student at Chiang Mai University. She has been joining us in a lot of fun things outside of our classes, including today. While making witness bracelets with a few of the girls at the home, I was able to watch Aung explain the colors of the bracelet. I know she is not a believer, but how amazing is it that she was walking out the Great Commission before she's even a part of our spiritual family!? I was very excited for her and I know God will continue to work in her heart even after we leave Thailand.

After the home we went back to the Burmese slums. Shauna, Pii Saa, and I worked with the adults teaching them how to write their name in English. It was the first time all summer that I worked with people that actually knew NO English! What made it even more challenging was that most of them didn't even know Thai. I had a lot of fun and many of the men seemed really interested in the Bible story we shared. I love watching people hear Bible stories for the first time, it is a really cool experience.

Mint's Village

Wednesday we spent the day working at an English camp for 5 and 6 year old kids. I fell in love with all of them and I wish the camp was longer than one day. We each worked at a station teaching consonants, vowels, songs, and games. I was amazed at how many of them already knew a lot of English words and letters. We had a lot of fun.

Yesterday after cooking class, I went with Mint to spend the night in her home town. It was about an hour drive outside of Chiang Mai. When we got there we ate dinner with her awesome parents. Her mom had so much food prepared! We began eating and halfway through the meal they asked what my favorite Thai dish was? When I answered, her mom stopped eating and went into the kitchen to make my favorite meal. That is a good way to describe how all of the Thai people are - especially Mint. Starting today, the Buddhists are celebrating one of their holidays. The holiday will last through Sunday and many of our friends have gone home to see their families. On the way back to Chiang Mai, Mint and I stopped at one of the famous temples in Northern Thailand. There were so many people there giving up offerings and praying. It was really sad, I have been praying for them all day.

We have a fun week planned out for our last week here - I still can't believe it's already almost over. Time has gone by way to fast! Please pray that we will use our time to glorify God in everything we do.