Pictures from Teacher Retreat - Pataya

Some More Interesting Things

Here is a list some some interesting things here in Thailand, and some updates on my life:

1. Family Motorcycle - where a family of four or even five can ride together on a moto, and not only on the road like you would expect, but on the sidewalk!  Mom and Dad, baby and older sister, like a family circus!  Wish I had a camera to show you what I mean, it was great.
2. Peeing Next to a Woman! - May sound crazy but yeah it's true.  If you get stage fright you may never want to pee in a public restroom, you never know who will walk in.  I walked into the Resort bathroom and there was two cleaning ladies, I being the dumb American expected them to leave once they saw me, but that never happened.   So I went to the urinal and started my business.  One lady left, but the other ladystayed and started cleaning the urinals next to me... there was about five in a row, she was at the other end, but still, talk about awkwardness!  :)
3. Motor cycles=parasites and never open the door on the right side of a car - Ok, so we all know that there are dotted lines on the road right!  Well, here those lines mean; motorcycle lanes!  You never want to open the door on the right side of the vehicle because you may knock a person off their bike, as they travel through these lanes, and you would be blamed!  Funny yes but true.  Ok and the bikes here are like little parasites; have you ever seen those little fish that follow around the sharks or bigger fish for safety?  Well, that is a good picture of the moto/car relationship here.  They swarm around the other vehicles like that.
4. Wai we Respect you - No matter what happens, if you Wai someone its ok.  I was throwing the football around with the pastor this weekend, and the ball got away from me and hit (well actually rolled up her body and off her head) a lady sun bathing on the beach.  She was a white woman, probably western European or something.  She wasn't to happy but for some reason, and it shows how things have become part of my life, I Waied this lady.  I was like [wai] sorry (just like my students when they do something stupid or bad--haha), and grabbed the ball and ran off... like I am some Thai-Asian man... it was cool though, it made me feel a part of Thailand instead of some tourist... I have a better understanding of Asian culture and who they are, and it's part of me now.
5. Traffic lights and Traffic - It took us 45 minutes to get somewhere the other day, and then coming back 5 minutes, same distance.  It's crazy!  Traffic lights are rare and when they are used it takes 12 minutes to have them change.  Plus, I do think it would be hard to get 1 million people through one intersection in 2 minutes.  :)
6. Work Permit - So I have been working here for two months and now I am finally legal.  I got my work permit today.  Amazing... I will open an account and get a debit card!
7. Old Friend Moves to Bangkok - So I have a friend move to Bangkok today, she is like family since she was on the Gym-Masters with me.  It was like fresh air to see someone I knew from home... Her name:  Kelly McClurg.  She is helping at the Mission Office and will be working with the church plant in the Old City.
8. Pataya! - Teacher Retreat!  Great times.  A city with a bad name.  It's like the Sin City of Thailand, but that's where we decided to take our Spiritual Retreat, haha.  Nice little beach area, and a great time to meet some of my fellow teachers... there was atleast 200 plus teachers, staff and family members on the retreat, four busses and a number of personal vehicles.  I have pictures coming, my camera broke and I am collecting pictures from other people.

God bless, and comment, comment, comment!

Ryan

My Name in Thai!

ไรอัน

I-R-A-N

I know it seems weird that the "I" comes before the "R", but... like may other languages East of the Atlantic and West of the Pacific, they put their vowels all around the consonants and try to confuse us Westerners who have no concept of this way of writing.

It is really cool though, and today I was talking with two of my friends, Howard and Nipa.  Howard is the chaplain here and is also a farang (word used for white people).  He has been here 5 years now, and has recently married a wonderful Thai-girl.  He speaks fluent Thai and can read and write Thai as well.

He and Nipa, she is one of the Office Workers, was helping me with spelling my name in Thai during one of my free periods.  And I found out there is 8 or more different ways depending on how you would like it to sound.  The beautiful thing about the Thai language, is that it is tonal, which means that you have to be specific in how you say words.  They have added the tones into writing the language, with accent marks, vowels, and tonal marks all over the place.  This kind of stuff confuses most English speaking people because for us we can say a word like five ways, whether our voice is rising or falling or mono-toned.  Just had a thought, I don't think there can be a monotone Thai...  ;)  But this language is totally foreign to me and many other farangs.

You have to say words exact here or it is very hard for people to understand what you are saying.  And that complicates things because there are usually 5 or more words spelled the same way, but with a different tone or inflection on the word.  I will try and find a way of explaining that some other time.  Maybe with some video... I will test out my Thai and let you hear the difference.  Or if you can hear the difference, I have a hard time...

Well, I am going to bed, just thought I would share a little bit with everyone.  Please note that I miss my family and friends!  And know that each one of you comes across my mind at some point during the day or week!  Love ya!

Worship Thought

On Friday, the 19th of September, I did the teachers morning worship. Here is the transcript or note from that talk. I pray that it will bless you:

How many of you have cell phones? Well, before we pray I would like to give you something to think about. When you use your cell phone, and you call a friend, do you expect them to answer or do you call just to find out? I venture to guess that you call expecting them to pick up and be there next to the phone. So it is when we pray. We are calling God on His cell phone, he will pick up. Are you calling expecting Him to answer or are you calling wondering if it's really His number?

Prayer

Matt. 25:14-19; Jesus tells this parable after the disciples ask questions about when these last time things will happen. This is near the end of Jesus' long talk. He explains how a Master goes on a journey and leaves His servants with different numbers of talents. One has 5 talents, one has 2 talents and the last has 1 talent.

The servants are all comended for what they did with their talents besides the last one who hid his talent and did not do anything with it.

What do these talents represent? Faith, People, Skills, etc?? I think they could represent any one of these things, but I would like to suggest people. Even Jesus suggests that He is talking about people.

Matt 25:45-46; ...Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me...

So, my question is how many talents (people) has God intrusted you with?

I suggest that we have been intrusted with 1200 talents (students) here at Ekamai, and maybe you don't get to reach each one of these students but He has given them to use as a whole.

I would like to say there is huge correlation between what we believe and what we teach. If you do not believe what you are teaching, or what you believe in general then you will not be as effective.

Example: Let's say you are riding on the bus or walking the street one day and someone mentions your favorite tv show or sports team. Once that happens, you get really excited and are instently connected and it's almost like you and this complete stranger are instant long time friends.

Why? Why? Because you both believe, love, deeply resinate with each other, you are emotionally involved with this thing (show or team). So it should be with our time and energy with God, (what do you find worth in)?

I worked at a Summer camp each summer for the past 11 years, because I have decided to move here I quit this job. I will not be able to work there because of the distance, etc. So, the workers made me this video, and they used this song by Ray Boltz, "Thank you for Giving to the Lord." It touches my heart, because I have seen kids grow up and become healthy and contributing members of our community. But please listen and put yourself in this story:

Lyrics from, christianlyricsonline.com;

I dreamed I went to heaven

And you were there with me;

We walked upon the streets of gold

Beside the crystal sea.

We heard the angels singing

Then someone called your name.

We turned and saw a young man running

And he was smiling as he came.

And he said, "Friend you may not know me now."
And then he said, "But wait,
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you
And said, "Remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money,
But you gave it anyway.
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I'm here today."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see.
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.
Little things that you had done,
Sacrifices made,
They were unnoticed on the earth
In heaven, now proclaimed.

And I know up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes.
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord.
He said, "My child, look around you.
Great is your reward."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave. -- Ray Boltz

When Jesus comes to you, what is going to be your balance? Is your account going to have an increase or will you HIDE your talents in the ground?

Something Interesting

Ok, so I went to this place called Tops Market, on Sunday around 1 p.m.. I had one of the most interesting things happen while visiting this establishment, and since being here in Thailand. So I walked into Tops Market not really thinking to much about anything and I go through straight to one of the aisles where the deodorant is and as I am get to start of the aisle, I realize I am singing the song that's on the radio. The song was Sophie B. Hawkins, "As I lay Me Down."

Check out this video: As I Lay Me Down - Sophie B. Hawkins

An old song from High School, one that I really enjoyed. Then I started walking down the aisle and there was an American couple talking and shopping for things. There was no one else around, and I had this euphoric moment where I thought I was back home, shopping in some shopping center. Funny and interesting, I think. But then I looked down and saw the size of the deodorant sticks (which probably explains the BO problem we have with our students--they are one third or half the size of ones I get in the states--in Thai I would say the motto it totally opposite that of Texas, "everything is bigger in Texas") and then I looked back at the cash registers and all I saw the wonderful Thai ladies taking money and wai'ing each customer as they leave. The moment was quickly gone, yet subtle, and good.

Miss you all. God bless!