Tics, Trades, Thai's.

Wow, only one week left to go! I am writing here as I look out the window onto palm trees, evening sun, and motorcyles whizzing by. There is a refreshing breeze through the windows. It is hot, but the breeze makes it the best kind of hot. I can't believe we are coming back to Canada in a week. In a way, it feels like we have been here for a ridiculously long time. Things that happened weeks ago seem like they were months ago. In another way, it feels like we have just arrived. I love trying to communicate with people. The language barrier is huge and very entertaining. The Thai people are very gracious and warm to us quickly as we stumble through our hello's, goodbye's, and how are you's.

I was given a Thai name early on in the trip - Blythe is VERY difficult in a language that doesn't put two consonants together, interchanges 'l' and 'r', and doesn't pronounce 'th'. Needless to say, Blythe is a bit much for them. All Thai's have a nickname so they get the fact that I have one too. My Thai name is Noina. It is a rare and delicious Thai fruit. Most Thai's laugh when I tell them my name, but I think they are laughing because it is endearing.

Yesterday we visited the SHE Program (Self Help and Empowerment: visit www.shethailand.com for more information about the organization). This organization was started a few years ago to offer women in the sex trade a stable home and training environment to learn a trade (jewelry making, serving in restaurants, child care) outside of the sex trade. It also includes some scripture study. At the end of the program, women are offered jobs directly in the hotel industry in Phuket.

We sat on the floor finding and killing tics as they crawled around in front of us, listening to stories of God breathing this organization into being through the Biddell family. Upstairs, there are a few Thai children in the child care centre screaming and laughing as they play together. On our floor, there are dogs from outside sneaking slowly into the room to be with Alaina (who has named every dog we have come across all month and let me be clear - we have met a LOT of dogs and every one of them now has an English name).

This visit was significant for me in three ways:

1. The SHE story is one of listening to and obeying God. Every piece of how this story has come together has been God's handiwork through different people. This organization does not exist because of a family's passion to serve those trapped in the sex trade. No, it exists out of a family's passion to listen to God, and obey His invitations as He gives them. This is a significant story for me. I love planning my life based on my strengths, weaknesses, experiences. Hearing the way SHE has been knit together through only God's movement reminds me that I need to engage God in listening and responding all the time.

2. It was a real eye opener to hear the stories of women who have come to SHE and learned of the teachings of Jesus. After hearing, some make significant decision towards pursuing Jesus' teachings in all areas of their lives, and some don't. This was an important 'bubble burster' for me, in a very healthy and important way. Coming to Thailand, I was expecting that all Thai people would turn to Jesus because of the life, healing and belonging He offers all people. The religious oppression runs deep here in Thailand and I expected that when the Thai people saw a different way of life, they would run for it. Some do. Absolutely. There are many encouraging stories of Thai people meeting Jesus and becoming committed followers of Him. But there are also many stories of Thai people who don't. This is percolating for me as we continue teaching English and tying up loose ends this week.

3. I met a Thai girl at SHE and the first and really only thing she did was hug me! If there is one thing I will miss coming back to Canada, it is hugging Thai children. Also, in Thailand it is totally acceptable to pinch children's cheeks and tell them they are so cute you want to eat them. Also totally acceptable to nick name them 'piggy'. Imagine that in a Canadian supermarket :)

Anyways, time to go. See you all very soon!

Love and peace,

Blythe