A week in Bamboo school
Things have been busy around here as always…Last week we took 11 kids and all teachers to Bangkok to do the annual visit the churches. Three years ago Cat decided that as a Thank You to those who donate to the school, they would head to Bangkok, have the kids sing and do a Worship with the some groups. We woke up bright and early Wed. morning and hit the road at 2 am since we needed to be in Bangkok for 7am ready to roll. We (mainly Arthur) had worked on a bunch of power point slide shows on various topics to show as the kids sang songs in the back ground. Throughout our 4 day stay in Bangkok we visited 7 different groups to do worship and tell some updated news of the Bamboo school. It is quite well known throughout the Adventist community and God is creating more and more financial supporters. He blessed the school greatly during our time in Bangkok much to Cat’s utter amazement. Many groups and churches gave so generously…we ended up coming home with over 45,000 baht cash for the school and God work. Cat was so awed by God’s goodness and never expected this at all since this is her fourth time going to Bangkok with the kids to do such…and has never hadsuch a large donations or offerings given in the past. “It is just a visit to let everyone know we are still alive, and to thank those who come to visit us out in BongTi,” she told me. Yahweh is giving generously and has something up His sleeve. Apparently the last time there was a large influx of money, 140 refugees came out of Burma and Cat helped feed and house them. Heehee…she is a little bit nervous as to what God wants her to do with the money, but is accountable to Him for the growth of His children and the purpose of His work…and so He is blessing the School greatly. It is amazing to see.
Unfortunately for me (Heidi), Bangkok was not too FUN…I have been migraining again over the past 2 weeks and the last 2 big ones were the night before Bangkok and the Thurdsay in Bangkok. I missed one worship and a good delicious hay stack (taco salad) meal put on my Markie and the gang in Bangkok. They were so nice to save me a plate…along with some oh so yummy Mangoes!! I was so tired of feeling unwell that I realized I had not done the one thing I should have asked for a long time ago with my chronic illness. I asked Cat to get Pastor Sam and some of the elders to lay hands on me and pray over me to anoint me with the Holy Sprit. That happened on Friday…and I do have to say even if the physical feeling of wellness doesn’t last…it was very mentally and spiritually healing. With a sounder mindset I headed back to BongTi and Bamboo school on Saturday with the Gang…in the heat and the disgusting exhaust of 10 million people in Bangkok, it was so wonderful to return to our fresh mountain air in the Jungles of Thailand. And we returned to a rather fresher surprise…right in the middle of the dry season it has started to RAIN!!! Everyone is so boggled by the crazy weather this year…and we are now wondering what the spring time will hold. It is not suppose to rain for another two months and it has rained for the last 2 days. It was so nice to sit in my hut and this morning at 5 am and listen to the rain pitter patter on my leaf roof. Yes, that is right, the roof of my bamboo hut is made out of leaves 1 ft in diameter, woven together with bamboo string, to form a virtually leak-proof roof. There are a couple of spots that I now know need to be fixed, but luckily non over the bed. The air is so so fresh and the smell of rain reminds me of home. A comforting feeling, like I just want to curl up in a blanket with a hot cup of tea and a great book…ummm….I think I have forgotten how to relax. Oh, well…one day soon. I don’t think I fully realized how busy I’d be out here. I had so much time in Lake Louise to relax…and here…there is no self time at all. It is still something I crave, but I think my brain has come to terms with the situation. I like how Arthur put it the other day when we were in Bangkok…To be a true missionary you have to be ready for a 24/7 job, none of this 9-5 stuff. God does not rest, He is always there for us when we need Him, whether it is to talk, to complain, to ask Him to do something…He is ALWAYS there. So, if we want to do His work…we also have to be as available to other people as He is for us. I’ll admit….it is hard sometimes. After a very busy week I just want to shut myself in my hut and seek some good regeneration….but there is usually not time for that. God knows we need it though and sometimes forces us to accept a bit of a break when He deems us worthy…
For example….a few weeks ago we made a late evening trip back to kanchanabury to drive a friend to the bus on last minute notice. Right before Cat and I jumped into the car she said “Heidi and I are running away….who is going to be in charge of the clinic keys?” Later we found out she should not joke about such matters because it really came true. The car started making these strange noises as we were leaving Kanchanaburi at 11:30 at night…and after checking where the noises were coming from we promply decided we were going no were that evening. Cat tried calling some people that were no where in the area…and with their Thai brains we hoped that they would be able to contact some friends…But to no avail. So….what to we do…stranded on the side of the road we attempt to behave as proper missionaries would and try to not spend money unnecessairily…we started the night off in the truck…thinking we could sleep there all night. And we almost would have if Cat’s bladder wouldn’t have exploded in the wait…and the mosquitoes wouldn’t have eaten all the flesh off our feet…but alas…both did. We marched across the street at 1am, laughing at our dirty tired state and booked into the hotel. We were worried for everyone back home because we had 15 visitors at this time and well….no food since the next day was market day. But after giving it to God and realizing we really weren’t going anywhere that night we were thankful for a break away from everyone the next morning as we waited for the car to be fixed. Amazing how God gives us a break when we don’t really think about taking one…but we must have needed it!!!
To top it all off, Cat cut the top of her thumb while building book shelves in her house... 6 stitches, including one through the nail bed, are keeping her resting a bit. She gave a quick lesson to Arthur on bleeding control, and dressings, while trying to self dress the wound. Practical lesson with live patient. Little Zac gave kissesas necessary and repeated everything Cat said (just in case the blood had damaged the hearing)..
Unfortunately for me (Heidi), Bangkok was not too FUN…I have been migraining again over the past 2 weeks and the last 2 big ones were the night before Bangkok and the Thurdsay in Bangkok. I missed one worship and a good delicious hay stack (taco salad) meal put on my Markie and the gang in Bangkok. They were so nice to save me a plate…along with some oh so yummy Mangoes!! I was so tired of feeling unwell that I realized I had not done the one thing I should have asked for a long time ago with my chronic illness. I asked Cat to get Pastor Sam and some of the elders to lay hands on me and pray over me to anoint me with the Holy Sprit. That happened on Friday…and I do have to say even if the physical feeling of wellness doesn’t last…it was very mentally and spiritually healing. With a sounder mindset I headed back to BongTi and Bamboo school on Saturday with the Gang…in the heat and the disgusting exhaust of 10 million people in Bangkok, it was so wonderful to return to our fresh mountain air in the Jungles of Thailand. And we returned to a rather fresher surprise…right in the middle of the dry season it has started to RAIN!!! Everyone is so boggled by the crazy weather this year…and we are now wondering what the spring time will hold. It is not suppose to rain for another two months and it has rained for the last 2 days. It was so nice to sit in my hut and this morning at 5 am and listen to the rain pitter patter on my leaf roof. Yes, that is right, the roof of my bamboo hut is made out of leaves 1 ft in diameter, woven together with bamboo string, to form a virtually leak-proof roof. There are a couple of spots that I now know need to be fixed, but luckily non over the bed. The air is so so fresh and the smell of rain reminds me of home. A comforting feeling, like I just want to curl up in a blanket with a hot cup of tea and a great book…ummm….I think I have forgotten how to relax. Oh, well…one day soon. I don’t think I fully realized how busy I’d be out here. I had so much time in Lake Louise to relax…and here…there is no self time at all. It is still something I crave, but I think my brain has come to terms with the situation. I like how Arthur put it the other day when we were in Bangkok…To be a true missionary you have to be ready for a 24/7 job, none of this 9-5 stuff. God does not rest, He is always there for us when we need Him, whether it is to talk, to complain, to ask Him to do something…He is ALWAYS there. So, if we want to do His work…we also have to be as available to other people as He is for us. I’ll admit….it is hard sometimes. After a very busy week I just want to shut myself in my hut and seek some good regeneration….but there is usually not time for that. God knows we need it though and sometimes forces us to accept a bit of a break when He deems us worthy…
For example….a few weeks ago we made a late evening trip back to kanchanabury to drive a friend to the bus on last minute notice. Right before Cat and I jumped into the car she said “Heidi and I are running away….who is going to be in charge of the clinic keys?” Later we found out she should not joke about such matters because it really came true. The car started making these strange noises as we were leaving Kanchanaburi at 11:30 at night…and after checking where the noises were coming from we promply decided we were going no were that evening. Cat tried calling some people that were no where in the area…and with their Thai brains we hoped that they would be able to contact some friends…But to no avail. So….what to we do…stranded on the side of the road we attempt to behave as proper missionaries would and try to not spend money unnecessairily…we started the night off in the truck…thinking we could sleep there all night. And we almost would have if Cat’s bladder wouldn’t have exploded in the wait…and the mosquitoes wouldn’t have eaten all the flesh off our feet…but alas…both did. We marched across the street at 1am, laughing at our dirty tired state and booked into the hotel. We were worried for everyone back home because we had 15 visitors at this time and well….no food since the next day was market day. But after giving it to God and realizing we really weren’t going anywhere that night we were thankful for a break away from everyone the next morning as we waited for the car to be fixed. Amazing how God gives us a break when we don’t really think about taking one…but we must have needed it!!!
To top it all off, Cat cut the top of her thumb while building book shelves in her house... 6 stitches, including one through the nail bed, are keeping her resting a bit. She gave a quick lesson to Arthur on bleeding control, and dressings, while trying to self dress the wound. Practical lesson with live patient. Little Zac gave kissesas necessary and repeated everything Cat said (just in case the blood had damaged the hearing)..
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