The Whirlwind Week

The Aggies are in town...and brought with them a jam-packed, exciting, busy, amazing week! We skipped our day off this week, so I know I am little behind on blogging. I'm going to try to catch up quickly with some highlights, but there are so many stories and memories that I'll just have to fill in later. This week was filled with some big events and definitely a whole lot of excitement.

I went bungee jumping! I had heard weeks ago that we were going with the Aggie group to do this, and I made up my mind to do it; I knew I'd be scared and would want to chicken out, but I decided that no matter what I would do it because I knew I'd be glad I did. And I was! It was AMAZING, and it can't really be described in words! Here's a link to my facebook album with all the pictures from that: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2058547&l=b846f&id=54600445. One of my friends also got a VIDEO of it, so I am trying very hard to get that uploaded to the internet so you can watch it and hear me scream!

We have visited several incredible places this week, including a leprosy rehab colony, a combined Sunday morning worship service of all the churches in Chiang Mai, a beautiful waterfall that we climbed on, the biggest Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai (one we climbed 306 steps to get to), favorite restaurants of former Thai missionaries, Night Bazaar and Walking Street (vendors set up along the streets), and an umbrella factory. So much fun - and so much reflection that has barely had time to happen!

Today we went on campus of Payap University for the first time. Since tonight was cell group, we wanted to invite people to come tonight and also get the word out about the free English classes that we interns will be teaching. We went around lunch time and simply walked up to students and started talking to them. Before we left the Zone, Robert prayed that God would bring 10 new people to cell group that night. Honestly, I was skeptical. Would 10 new people, meeting us for the first time today, actually come?

I had several fun conversations with Thai students while on campus. It struck me how nice and open they were to me...and how differently from that someone would probably treat us if we were in the States. It also struck me how nervous and uncomfortable I was, especially at first! I have been reflecting this afternoon how we must often get out of our comfort zone to truly follow the way of Jesus. Many of the That students were interested in the English classes, so we gave them the flyers with all of the information. I tested out the little Thai I've learned (they laughed at me) and we invited them to cell group.

Isn't it cool when God answers in an overwhelming, awesome way? The Zone was packed tonight for cell group. We eat dinner together before our devotional time, at which we definitely had well over 10 new faces (I'll have to ask for the exact count, but I'd guess it was close to 15). A few left after dinner, but many stayed and worshipped, talked, and laughed with us. God is really doing some cool things in Thailand, and I am experiencing this humbling and exciting feeling when I realize that I get to be a part of it. I am absolutely loving it here and can't wait to see how God will continue to move this summer!

Last night we had a talent show. Aggies and Thais performed songs, skits, and magic tricks, and we ACU interns decided that this group needed a taste of the talent that ACU is famous for...Sing Song! The five of us wrote and choreographed a Sing Song act (in a span of 24 hours, thank you!) about our time in Thailand. And with a group of about 20 Aggies, we couldn't resist poking fun at them a little bit (any of you who know Aggies know all of their little quirks!). We changed the lyrics to their Aggie War Hymn and received a lot of cheers and laughs! We finished up with our own version of the end of our own alma mater, "O Dear Christian College." Thankfully, this fantastic two minutes is also on VIDEO! It is on my computer and I am trying very hard to upload it to the internet. As soon as I get both of these videos online, I will post a link!

Here are some pictures from this whirlwind week...

This is how you greet someone in Thailand - even Ronald McDonald!

Leah and I with a few of the Thai girlsMy "certificate of courage," right after bungee jumping -

I was still shaking when this picture was taken! Friends at the Buddhist temple. This was an incredible experience,

one that I don't think I've processed yet at all. Maybe more on that later.And in the midst of all this busyness, the Lord is still quietly and gently transforming my heart. To God be all the glory.