Sawa-dee-ka!

For those of you who don't speak Thai, that means, "Hello, how are you?" One of the few phrases I've mastered thus far on my week living in Mae Sot. For those who like to hear a little more details on what my team is up to in Thailand -

We're starting to get into a groove with ministry, waking up around 6:30am for a little breakfast and Jesus time, then headed out at 8:00 or 8:30am to our various work locations. The team is on rotation so everyone will get to serve at each spot: New Day Elementary school, construction and watching little ones at the SafeHouse (a home for children funded and run by Compasio).

A group of us went in for construction Tuesday morning with the intention of learning how to work with bamboo to build a classroom. Instead we found ourselves brainstorming, sketching and constructing a playground for kids made from only used tires. It is definitely a creative and exhausting project, but at the end of the day watching the little kids jump and laugh and climb all over it makes the labor completely worth it. 

  A couple days this week I've been at the SafeHouse watching the two most adorable kids Ali and Jamela. They're both around two years old (no parents, no birthday) and have been living with Compasio about a month. In that time I'm told how much they've been growing and changing to now happy, healthy kids spoiled with love and attention. I love that their are no language barriers with 2-year olds, and a laugh - or a scream - is universal in any country. Being at the house also really frees up the long-term missionaries to build up relationships and service in the area.

  

Next week I'll be teaching and helping out at the school, as well as trying to get out in the city more to practice my Thai and make friends around the downtown shops. This past week in Thailand has felt like a month! I'm really happy to be serving here as my brain is challenged and stretched with new information from this side of the globe. This is the 2nd year I've celebrated the 4th of July outside of the U.S., and I must admit that I miss the fireworks, although we were spoiled with our first taste of (almost) American food. Rest day has been switched from Monday to Saturday, so I'm excited for an afternoon of swimming, playing cribbage, and maybe even grabbing a soft-serve ice cream cone at the end of the day for 10baht (about 20 cents). 

Sawa-dee-ka! (it means hello & goodbye)