Since the internet was not working my recap of the last days in Chiang Mai were erased.
Last Thursday we did some last minute shoping at the Night Bazzar and I took some traditional Thai pictures.
I love going to the night bazzar. Its like walking around at the base of the Tower of Babel. So many different languages being spoken is like music to my ears. I have observed that all the spanish speakers i have met here are from Spain. I have not met some one from any other spanish speak country, Thailand is full of Spaniards. One time I met a young woman whos name is also Rocio. every where I go now I keep an ear our for Spaniards.
Friday night we had a going away party for the american interns who were continuing on their travels and leaving Chiang Mai.
Jennifer was sat in the middle of a balloon filled floor are was encouraged by the church. Then
Jenica, Johanna, Tim and me were encouraged together. There were thai snacks and games.
Saturday all the interns from Payap and Ma Cha gathered for an american breakfast and a missionaries house. We then took grou pictures at a grafitti decorated wall.

I leave Chiang Mai today for Bangkok. Please pray for Jennifer, Jenica, Tim, Johanna, Dalheen, P'Gade and me as we travel overnight by train.
The internet has not been working with me lately I will have a long entry next time with many pictures.
Kap Kun Maak Ka!

Our day of Solitude was more than I expected. It was hard at first I slept most of the all morning. After lunch the weather was soo perfect, so beautiful I decided to spend time in prayer outside. I visted the 4 chapels and wrote in my journal. The entire day went with out speaking a word. That night ended at 7:30 so Jenica, a fellow intern, and I enjoyed a coffee and spent time reflecting on our day of solitude. The following morning we all met at Kingdom Books. A Christian oriented book store. We had a huge breakfast with 5 inch thick pancakes. We discussed our solitude day, the things we found hard or easy, things the supreised us and things of that sort. Friday morning we have "experimental equipping", this takes us out of our usualy bible study lessons. We have been to a lake and hospital and other places. This last friday morning didnt go as planned. We went to an orphage home, but were turned away. We then thought to go to a home for the Aged but that didnt work out either. While the drivers drove through town figuring out what to do i just looked out the window of the van admiring Thailand and its many colorful temples. Then I notice we pulled into "School for the Deaf" I let out a sound of glee that scared some people in the van. I was so excited to go inside. I was able to communicate some with the deaf students. I was told they could understand me. Everyone was given a sign name which was a lot of fun. We went to two different classrooms. The second classroom had students that were a little younger than the first. In this classroom. I was able to address the class directly. Our group sang songs while I signed them. I had an incredible time at the deaf school. Yesterday a couple of us went with some Thai friends to a waterfall. We climbed up and down part of the waterfall. At one point while trying to beat the camera timer I slipped on the waterfall but was caught by friends.
Today AFCB (Aggies for Christ in Bangkok) are in Chiang Mai. They will be only be here for a couple of days but have many activites planned. Im looking forward to the next couple of days with the Aggies. Its so great to see some of my AFCO friends again!
Pictures to come :)

น้ำค้าง

My name in Thai

Pronounced "NamKaang"

Hello friends
Yesterday I had church services at Payap. It was nice, there were about 20 us compared to 800 person church that I usually attend back home. I knew almost everyone so it was like having church with my friends. Tim, an ACU intern, gave the sermon. After we all ate lunch together, we then went to a blind school. It was a neat experience. They all sang for us, sort of like a talent show. We played a tradtional thai game. A ball is passed around while music is playing and when the music stops who ever is left holding the ball is made to put baby powder and over their face. Kind of like "Hot Potato"
On Friday, A group of us went to Myanmar, a.k.a Burma, for passport renewals. Its about 3 and half hours to the border. It was nice to spend time with the ACU interns and with Russ and Rebecca. Russ and Rebecca they are 2 year aprentices, who have been here a year and a half. We took pictures, got our passport stamped and bought low priced DVDs.
On Friday we went to a hospital as part of our equipping time. I really didnt mind, one would think after the experience I had a few weeks earlier, I would steer clear of hospitals, but i was ok. We were free to go anywhere we wanted to go. We were to make observations and take in whatever we could and to answer some questions about what we saw, felt, heard, smelt. When our time was up we gathered and made one more stop before we headed back. A friend of Eddie , a thai intern, is diagnosed with leukemia. So to lift her spirits we all went to chat with her. There are about 15 of us. When I first walked in the hall, I looked to my left and I saw a young girl laying on her side. Instantly I thought "That must suck, lying there like that." I later realized that had bothered me so much beacuse when I was in the heigh of my pain or when the pain would came back severly i would lay on my side. We then got to her room and all gathered around her. I sat and just looked at her. Smiled when she turned to me. She spoke mostly to Eddie. All of a sudden i found myself unable to continue to be in the same room. All the memories of being scared, alone and in severe pain came back to me. I had to leave the room before i broke into tears. I sat outside and pulled myself together. I had no idea of how my time in the hospital had traumatized me so much.
We go back and had an open forum for anyone who would like to share anything. After a few interns shared about how being at the hospital reminded them of the last time they were there for sugery and what not. I then shared how terrified i was, how alone i felt with the group gone, my closest friends nor family was there and what an INCREDIBLE amount of pain i was in. I then said that I praise God for that experience, how greatful and more faithful becuase of it. How i am able to rejoice in my suffering. If it had not been for that Kidney Stone I would not be here having the best time of my life in Chiang Mai. The Kidney stone made everything fall into place for me to be able to come back and be an intern here. This trip has been very difficult BUT very rewarding. I then shared my very favorite verse of the bible. Romas 5: 3-5

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

I wasnt able to finish that verse with out crying. I was so happy that God had given me the perfect opportunity to share what I hadnt yet but always wanted to.
That night we had an International Day Party. I,of course, represented Mexico. I made rice and because and I ran out of time I bought refried beans form a can. I made breakfast Tacos that everyone loved. It took me a while to find all the right incredients , we went to 2 different stores. I burned the first batch of rice. Which didnt help time wise. It was the first time I had made rice with out Moms help. :) It came out well. We played games then had a feast. There were many countries represented and everyone brought a little taste of their country. It was a very fun nonstop party. That day had been such a trying day. Nevertheless I really enjoyed it.
Today is our dat off but tonight we are going to have a day of solitude. From evening tonight to early evening tomorrow. I am looking forward to refocusing for my time left here.
Here are a couple of pictures.

Paeng and I. She represented India. Woot and I eating tasty fruit
Russ and Rebecca

Lets help Myanmar

Performance at the blind school

The past days have been great. Saturday we had sports day. We played ultimate frisbee and kickball. Kickball was a little difficult for the Thais to understand. I felt right at home though, i love baseball, kickball softbal ect.. Sunday I had my first church services at Cheung Doi. It was different but very enjoyable. That night we all gathered, Ma Cha and Payap and went to the walking street and played games at Starbucks. That night I spent a night at Payap to watch the World Cup Final with them. A couple of friends at Payap are soccer/football enthusiasts so i thought watching the game with them would be a little more exciting. The next day was the interns day off. Since the game was over at 4 am, I slept in till about 1 or so. The next evening we all went for dinner and a movie. I really enjoy fellowshiping and hanging out with the interns. There are 3 American and 4 Thais interns at Chueng Doi. Payap has 2 american and 4 thai inters. Today we had equiping lead by one of the interns. A couple of us then went to lunch, shopped for journals and visited a fellow intern as this painting studio. It was really nice. Later we are going to exercise at a gym. I am in charge of putting together the english class on thursday this week so i will be working on that.
Thanks for reading :)

Hello Friends
I am currently back in Chiang Mai. I started my intership yesterday. The last days of AFCO were just taking in as much of Thailand as much as one could. I felt a little under the weather at the time so i didnt join in with the shopping and movie watching. 2 days after AFCO ended i leaded back to Chiang Mai from Bangkok. The train ride back was very eventful. Something happened with the train so we were told to gather our things and get on a bus, we then rode to another train station and got on our cars and finished our way back. There were a lot more complications and confusion in that story but i am here. We have "equipping" every morning, which is bible studies at the start of everyday. Then we have different activites depending on the day.
Today was a little different we had a free time at our meeting time, then us girls at Cheung Doi, more commonly known as Ma Cha, cleaned the 4th floor and then we had girls night at a missionaries house. I moved into the room with Jennifer and Jenica, fellow interns, and so now im not all alone in a big room.
Tomorrow we have Sports Day, hopefully it will not rain like it has been the past 4 days. We have a couple of activites scheduled for the next 3 weeks. One of which is a trip to Burma, or Myanmar, to do visa renewals. Im looking forward to that. I will keep updates when those events come.
Kap Kun Ka

We are currently back in Bangkok. Sadly AFCO ended this morning when the group left back to the United States.
My prayers have been answered and will be able to stay in Chiang Mai for the remainer of my summer. Thank you to all of those who prayed for me. Thank you Jennifer.
My days in Chiang Mai while the rest of the group was in Chiang Rai was filled with Karaoke, movies, bible studies, devotionals, and coming down with cold like symptoms. Please pray that i feel better.
It was a lot more uneventful when the Aggies were gone. I was able to get to the know the Thais a little bet better.
I will be in Bangkok for another day or so then head back to Chiang Mai.
Please Pray for the Aggies safe travel back to the United States, my safe travel back to Chiang Mai and Garrett Bradfords safe travel to Guatemala this wednesday.
Kap Kun Ka

The past few days have been pretty laid back. Sunday we went to a church about 45 minuets from where we are staying. We had a sermon in thai and english, we performed and then had lunch. After lunch we headed back to our churches and had the rest of the afternoon free. Some people went bungee jumping. I stayed at the church building and learned some more thai, wrote im my journal and went to a coffee shop. We then had 3 hours to shop at the Walking Street. I didnt buy anything so i just walked around with my thai friends, that was a lot of fun.
The next day we went to the Umbrella Factory, where i got Manuels bible painted and my journal decorated.
The group traveled on to Chiang Rai yesterday I have decided to stay in Chiang Mai until they return, then head back to Bangkok. I have decided that staying near a hospital is a good idea. Chiang Rai is pretty primitive and most of the trip will be spenton a raft on a river.
Yesterday i spent the whole day at Payap Christian Zone. It was pretty quite and uneventful since it was the interns day off. Nonetheless it was great to just hang out Thais Thai interns ACU interns and Jeremy Hegi. He is leaving back to the states this friday. Please pray for him as he he prepares to return home and to have a safe flight.
There is a possibilty that i will get the privilege and opportunity to stay in Chiang Mai for the second part of the summer. I ask for your continual prayers that this all work out. The Lord has answered my prayers and that opportunity is becoming more and more of a reality.
Its amazing how the kidney stone lead into what has been and will be one of the best times in my life, learning thai, building relationships, learning so much about myself but most importantly builing and having a closer relationship with our Lord.
AFCO ends July 3rd. I have learned so much in these past few weeks and I have had so many incredible experiences that i would have not had if i had not come on this trip to Southeast Asia. I praise the Lord for that.
Thank you
Kap Kun Maak Ka Pra-ong!

PS
Please pray for the Thai that just had a motorcycle accident right outside the internet cafe.

We just finished a one day english camp at a school up in the mountains. It was such a beautiful sight. It was about 1 & 1/2 hours from Chiang Mai. It was an elementry type school. We played games, sang songs, ate some good cafeteria food. It was a fun day starting at 5 am and ending about midnight. The camp was from 9 am to 5 pm. It was great fellowshiping with the Thais at the church. Its a very small but growing church. My thai is getting better i can hold a conversation in thai. Its mainly introductory phrases and responces. I can say where Im from, what I study, how many brothers and sisters I have, where I study and a lot of things of that sort. I can also ask these questions.
The other day we went to the "Night Bazzar" a night street market. Its a big interesting cheap (at times) place to shop.
Its been great getting to know the thai young people and all the interns at Payap and Ma Cha Christian Zones. I am staying at Ma Cha. Its across from Chiang Mai university and right near the mountians.
Chan raak pra tet thai! I love Thailand!
Kap Kun Ka!

Brazil 4-1 Japan !!!!!!
The US is out of the running for the World Cup after their 2-1 loss against Ghana.

Sawatdee ka!

I realized that i used the word "weary" incorrectly so lets use "terrified"
Im having the best time in Chiang Mai. I am doing very well with speaking understanding remember and responding to Thai. It incredible! The people here are awesome and they are good teachers. We have done some performances at some universites and just been hanging out with the college students. We have been put into TAG teams which is 3 Aggies a Chrisitan Thai and a non christian Thai. They take us shopping and we get to know the thai people, its awesome. Not to much to report.
Chan raak pra tet thai!!!
Chan chop pood pasa thai!!
Kap Kun Ka!

I visited the doctor this morning and i have good news and bad news. The good news is its very very small. The bad news is its still there. The doctor said i could pass the stone without even noticing it OR i could have such severe pain that i would need to return to the hospital and only an injection of pain medication would relieve me of such anguish. So lets pray for the first option. I am fine now but am weary every time i used the bathroom.
Im currently in the airport on my way to Chiang Mai. Its great to be back with the group and am very excited to get to Chiang Mai. Ive heard so many good things about that place.
Kap Kun Ka!

Sawatdee Ka!
Nothing new to report. Today was nice, i got to sleep in til 10 am. Went to Central Festival, which is like a mall. Had lunch, bought stuff, went to the movies and wrote some notes at Starbucks. Taking it easy for the time being. Im ready to join the rest of the group tomorrow. We will fly out of Phuket to Chiang Mai at noon. I will see the doctor tomorrow morning to see how everything is. Please continue to pray for me concerning my current situation.
Kap Kun Ka!
Brasil 2-0 Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A friend of mine in Brasil told me about the celebrations that went on when they won, pretty crazy over there hehe
Thought i would post some pics or AFCO '06

Hello folks!
These past couple days have been rather....unplanned....i guess i could say. Friday morning I woke up as usual had breakfast and was ready to pay my bill for the time I spent at Ban Raya. I then realized i need to return to my room for more baht. On the way back to my room I felt a rather unusual and sharp pain radiate throughout the ride side of my stomach. A friend took me back to my room and called for help. Sara Davidson, which is the wife of Kelly Davidson, which is the leader of our trip, came to my aid. By this time the pain was hitting the right side of my body at full force. There was no way to console it, after vomiting some pain relievers. I asked for a doctor. I went to a clinic at a hotel on the otherside of the island. The nurse said I was showing signs of appendicitis. So we called the hospital to let them know I was coming. I then rode half an hour to land. The pain by then had decreased significantly. I got on an ambulance and arrived at the hopital. Soon after that i got into hopital clothes and got to my room. I had an ultrasound and X-ray to see what was going on. I was on an IV and pain medication. The pain was coming and going but less severely. Turns out my right kidney was swollen and I have a kidney stone. I spent the night in the hopital and was well taken care of. I have to return to the hospital for a check up early tuesday morning before my flight. I am at a hotel, currently the group is on a two day trip and I will join them when they get back to Phuket then were off to Chiang Mai. Right now I am doing very well. Please pray the pain will not return and the passing of the kidney stone wont be too unbearably painful.
Kap Kun Ka!

Hello folks!
These past couple days have been rather....unplanned....i guess i could say. Friday morning I woke up as usual had breakfast and was ready to pay my bill for the time I spent at Ban Raya. I then realized i need to return to my room for more baht. On the way back to my room I felt a rather unusual and sharp pain radiate throughout the ride side of my stomach. A friend took me back to my room and called for help. Sara Davidson, which is the wife of Kelly Davidson, which is the leader of our trip, came to my aid. By this time the pain was hitting the right side of my body at full force. There was no way to console it, after vomiting some pain relievers. I asked for a doctor. I went to a clinic at a hotel on the otherside of the island. The nurse said I was showing signs of appendicitis. So we called the hospital to let them know I was coming. I then rode half an hour to land. The pain by then had decreased significantly. I got on an ambulance and arrived at the hopital. Soon after that i got into hopital clothes and got to my room. I had an ultrasound and X-ray to see what was going on. I was on an IV and pain medication. The pain was coming and going but less severely. Turns out my right kidney was swollen and I have a kidney stone. I spent the night in the hopital and was well taken care of. I have to return to the hospital for a check up early tuesday morning before my flight. I am at a hotel, currently the group is on a two day trip and I will join them when they get back to Phuket then were off to Chiang Mai. Right now I am doing very well. Please pray the pain will not return and the passing of the kidney stone wont be too unbearably painful.
Kap Kun Ka!

PHUKET, THAILAND!!!
I am currently on an island callen Ban Raya. Im at a place called Paradise. ( suprisingly i have an internet connection) I went suba diving and snorkeling yesterday. Scuba was a little scary at first. My ears couldnt handle the water pressure. I would reach the bottom and a burst of pain would fill my left ear. I would shoot up. I tired 5 different times. On the last try it finally was gone. I have to equalize contantly. I spent all day in a bathing suit. White white sand with the clearest waters! My time in Kuala Lumpur was very very eventful and exhausting but a rememorable experience. We are vacationing here in Ban Raya. We get to have a nice little break to relax and rejuvinate for our weeks to come. Only a little under 3 weeks left. Today i went to 4 beaches and pretty much swam all day. The diving team on the island is from Findland. There are about 7 of them. Ben Yan Yona Alexsi Jesse Tommy and onther gentleman whose name i cant recall at the moment. There is also one Swede, Manganus. Yan speaks spanish, he spent 3 1/2 years in Spain. I only speak to him in spanish. I learned a couple a Finish phrases yesterday. They are all really nice and were pretty patient with me. Tomorrow we leave the island and head into Phuket. This is a much needed vacation for all of us. These pictures are pretty self-explanatory.
Kitos! (thank you in Finish)

FISH!

The United States lost against the Czech Republic.......

There are no words to describe the glorious time I had at Camp Shine. We played games, had tea time, lessons, group discussions, skits, learned new songs, made lots o' friends, worshiped, swam, played water polo, ran around, wrote notes and fill pockets of love, stayed up late (or early) and simply had so much fun with one another! I was blown away by what I learned during worship and what all i learned from the kids in my group. Blown-away. Here are some pictures.
We arrived to Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Today we went to TAR college and 4 of us went to to the cafeteria of the university. The four of us were told to seperate and "go fishing." It was very scary to completely go out into a place you've never been to,where most of them do not speak english and make contacts. After a while it wasnt bad at all. A very different experience. Tonight we had "American Night" the Aggies cooked pancakes with eggs and bacon and it was great! We had a good turn out a lot of the people we met, came. Tomorrow i will do about the same thing. Please pray for us. Mission work to the max!
Xie Xie
Mexico 3-1 Iran :)!
Portugal 1-0 Angola :)
Argentina 2-1 Côte d'Ivoire :)
Australia 3-1 Japan :(
La Copa Mundial!! I am currently keeping up to date with the US vs Czech game via internet, but currently the score is 3-0 Czech. COME ON AMERICA!
Brasil plays the 14th (thailand time) I hope there will be a TV around. I will go to lengths far and wide to find a TV I must watch their games. First game is against Croatia. Sorry Croatia and pretty much sorry for anyone who goes agains Brasil. BUT we will just have to wait and see:)
Here are some pictures from camp.

view from my hotel room Making the group posterBrendon is blindfolded!Group 1 girls!
Veronica, Abigail, Cassandra and Sydney
Elizabeth and IAaron, Mr. FunnyManAdrian, Kevin, Ryan and Reagan swim time!Brendon and meSunset

I am now in Kuala Lumpur.
Camp Shine was thee best time of my life. More details to come later.
I am tired.
Thank you

Yet more awesome times in Singapore. Sadly, our time is near its end here.
Yesterday we toured the city/country of Singpore. We visted a WWII museum. Learned about the lifes and times of the people of Singapore under the cruel ruling of Japan. I enjoy history so i really enjoyed that stop. Next we headed for lunch. We ate indian food consisting of many spicy things and fish head curry. Some of us also ate the eyeball of the fish head. Fish eye isn't all that bad. Its small so its pratically gone by the time your done chewing it. There is a hard part, which is the cornea, that one simply does not swallow. Ive eaten yet another delicacy. After lunch we went to Chinatown. Small shops up and down an alleyway sort of spot. I ran into ladies from Argentina and California. I heard them speaking spanish so I took the opportunity to chat for a moment. I bought a couple of things. My glasses are now my souvenirs. They are great! Its great to see again! Next, we took cable cars above the city to Sentosa Island. We didnt get off due to time restrictions but it was a nice view and nice photo ops. The cable cars did stop in the middle of the ride. Luckily i was at a stop so I was not dangling in the air. It was only a few minuets or so, nothing to worry about. That was our tour of the city/country as a group. Since we are abundantly blessed, soon after out release our host father took us to Sentosa Island. It was a short bridge ride over. We got up close to see the Merlion. Half fish hald Lion symbol of Singapore. The bottom half is the fish, which represents their status as a port city, and the Lions head is from a founder of Singapore. He states he saw a lion in the mists when he landed on this island. We then enjoyed the musical fountain light show. Too awesome! Had some dinner walked around and then headed home, too tired to even ride the elevator.
Today we spent the day painting Singapore Christain Home for the Aged. We painted a very large room. Not only walls but the ceiling as well. After our task was done we headed to Moulmein CoC to help with the big finalle of VBS. 7 of the Aggies helped the church with VBS these past 3 days. We performed and enjoyed ourselves helping head kids songs. Since it was a fiesta themed VBS we had mexican food after it all ended. Although the authenicity of the mexican food is questionable, i enjoyed fajitas and 7 layer dip. We then headed home and enjoyed some time with our host family.
Tomorrow morning we will head to camp in Port Dickson, Malaysia. Its a 4 day camp that will host about 100 people. This includes the 28 of us Aggies, then Singaporeans and Malaysians.
My time here in Singapore has been nothing less of amazingly incredible. I do wish things werent to westernized and expensive. Nevertheless I love Singapore! More specifically the youth that was to accepting of us and hung out and helped us around the city/country.
Didnt learn but 2 phrases of mandarin. Its not used much by the Singaporean youth.
On to malaysia to learn Melayu! (at least i hope) :)
Xie Xie!

Yesterdays combined worship was great! Kevin and Kennth lead singing. They are boys from the youth group. They sang with passion and made the rest of us do so. It may have been one of the best worship singing I've ever experienced. After service I got some new glasses since a leg on my other classes broke and were unfixable. Later that day we had, what I like to call, Aggie fun time from 2 to 4. It was basically fun with the Aggies from 2 to 4. (haha) We played several games, sang, learned new songs and had a devotional. We then had no obligations for the rest of the night. Church services here are usually held only Sunday mornings. We all then decided to hang out the the youth and went to the mall and caught a movie.
Today was our "free day" It was amazing! A very fun filled day with the youth. We met and went to the zoo. The zoo was very nice. There was a display of racoons. Which is different for us, but I dont think Singapore would have racoons running around. We watched a Polar Bear feeding and an elephant show. We spent about 5 hours at the zoo going from exibit to exibit. We then headed to dinner. After a while on the buses and MRT, public transportation in form of a train, we got to a "hawkerstahl". Its basically a big outdoor food court. We had dinner right near the beach. We had stingray, and let my just say I LOVE stingray. One wouldnt think it would be good but believe you me, its so good!Its very tender and doesnt have a real strong fishy taste. I recommend it! We then just walked along the beach and had a great time. I just want to thank Kevin, Brendon, Grace, Andris, Joel and Aaron for showing us an awesome time!
These past two days have been a little more layed back. But with that said, I am so tired when i reach my bed.
Tomorrow we will be officially toured around the country of Singapore. Looking forward to seing some of the major sights.
The World Cup starts soon! GO BRASIL!
Xie Xie for reading!

I am currently in my 7th visited country. Singapore translates to "Lion City". The past couple days have been wonderful. Im am very excited to be in Singapore. This country is very clean very regulated and, rightfully so, very safe. Learning Mandarin is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Its nice to be able to communicate better with the Singaporeans, since they all speak english. Its nice to be able to read all the signs. I have started signing the songs in our performances. Since i lost my song book, I need to do something with my hands. We have been paired up by 2's and placed with host families. Yesterday morning my roommate and I went for a swim in the nice big pool at the apartment complexes. Singaporeans build up not out. There is not much space on this island. There have been some loop holes for the "Thai Diet", if american food is offered you are allowed to eat it. Its impolite to refuse food. It was great to have tuna sandwiches and potato chips after our performance last night. Today was also very eventful. Our host family took us to see some sights around the city. Andris, 16, is a sweet beautiful girl, and her father took us. We are very lucky to stay with her and her family. One of our stops was at the Haw Par Villa, its like an outdoor museum of chinese mythology. We then headed to the church where there was a combined youth gathering. The youth of about 5 churches around Singapore. We played games, had devo, ate dinner and got to know a lot of the youth. A friend told me that pictures make the best souveniers. Singapore is not as expensive as the US but by no means as cheap as Thailand. Tomorrow is combined worship assembly. I am looking forward to another schedule filled day. From 2-4 we will(after church) be having more fun times getting to know the youth via games and fellowship. Im pretty much taking it day by day, but this Monday will be a "free day". We will be able to explore Singapore without a schedule. It seems, though, we are all going to the zoo. Singapore is said to have an exquisite display of animals. Singapore is also home to the worlds first Night Safari. I shoupld perhaps check that out, if there is time. Its great to go to sleep exhausted every night, it tends to make you feel like you got all that you possibly could from that day.
Dont be afraid to leave comments! :)
Xie Xie

SINGAPORE!!

"This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalms 118:24 This past couple of days have been so great. Tuesday was a very eventfull and rewarding day. We visited 2 schools. At the first school we were paired up and placed into classrooms. We were to be the teachers for however long they gave us. Our first class was very lively. Picture taking is always an attention grabber. We taught colors, numbers, animals, shapes and other things. I learned how to say that im 19 years old "Sip Caow Pbee" The kids got pretty crazy pretty much at anything we did. It was great! Our second class wasnt as lively. They were still great though. We then left because it was ours and theirs lunch time. The bus started driving away then I hear my name "NamKaang, a little girl told me to give this to you." It's a beautiful beautiful bracelet. Silver bangle with small orange beads. P'Rung gave it to me. She said they refered to me as P'NamKaang. Which is really neat. P' is showing respect for an older person. At the second school we sang and i signed two songs. We taught them several actions songs, then had some new and different fruit. When we cooked dinner for the natives, we cooked spagetti. Although not american, spagetti was something they have never had. They enjoyed it!
The next day we packed up, had breakfast, had a short gift giving ceremony sang, prayed then headed back to Bangkok.
We are now heading to Singapore. Im currently at the airport and will board in about 10 minuets. Singapore will be very very different from Thailand. Kelly said we might experience culture shock. I'm looking forward to visting another country, learning another language and eating some good food.
HORRAY for plane rides!!
Oh one thing I'd like to mention. Its so humid in Bangkok that my glasses fog up as soon as I step out of an air conditioned room.
Kap Kun Ka!

This past weekend was great. There werent as many campers as i thought there would be but that didnt matter. It was an english camp so we helped the Thai natives practice their english. We had games, worship, sharing time, skits and a talent show. We were right on the beach so some of us went for a swim. I learned some more thai. Eventhough it was english camp it was fun introducing myself by my thai name. Introducing myself as Rocio isnt english anyways. I dont go by the enlgish translation of my name. (its at the top of the screen) We were one with nature, not taking showers and or only taking dip baths. A dip baths is pouring water on you from a bucket filled with water. They can be very refreshing! One night we had tiny BBQs at each table. Actually it was a mat on the ground. We sat around it and cooked pork and squid on each grill. It was so delicious, i didnt know i liked squid, but its good.
On our way back we stopped at a market for lunch. It was quite a sight to see. Many stands with things one couldnt possilbly name. Here in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, all your sences are in used at all times to the max. The smells of random things one passes by, the sights of the palaces and things around in the city, listening to people talking in a lanugauage you cant understand, all the food is delicious half the time ones not sure what they are eating, and touching all the thai fabric so unique and beautiful. Its just wonderful.
Today we visited "Monkey Mountain." The mountain has an old small scale palace at the top. It wasnt very high. A short cable car ride was able to get us to where we needed to go. There were monkeys everywhere! We were instructed to let the monkey have whatever it got a grabed a hold of off you. At one of the towers we were able to over look the city of Petcha Buri. It was a beautiful sight. We then drove about 3 hours back to Bangkok. We had dinner and took much need showers and got some rest. We leave tomorrow morning to Petachboon at 10 am. Its about a 4 hour drive. We will be there for a few days. Horray for bus rides!
Please pray for our safe travel and our health.
Cweun Chu Arrai ka? Whats your name? (for girls)
Lesson in lanugae #1 : since i am a girl, i say "ka" at the end of everything i say.
For boys its "krap"

Kap Kun Ka!

These past few days have not been as hectic as our first week. We have done some work around the church building painting walls and things of that sort. We had dinner on the river the night beofre last. So beautiful. We have seen a lot of things around Bangkok. Yesterday we visited The Grand Palace. It was an incredible sight to see. Extreamly colorful. Some temples we visited didnt allow shoes nor cameras. We saw the Emerald Budda, we werent even allowed to talk while in that temple. I ran into some Spaniards, it was sooo nice to speak spanish again. We visted several exibits throughout the site and took lots o' photos. I havent figured out yet to post pictures but i will and they will be here. Last night we had a Prayer Walk, we prayed as we walked around the Kings palace. It was nice to just pray about everything and everyone. We then had a devotional. In Thai translated by an A&M student who is Thai but speaks english with no accent. We sang songs in Thai, it was nice. So far i have seen MI:3 and X-Men 3. There is about 30 minuets before the actually movie starts. In honor of his majesty the King right before every movie we stand and the Kings song is sung. Not by us but by the beautiful video montage. X-Men 3 was quite an experience. We had recliner seats that were nice and big, pillows and blankets, popcorn soda and mentos. The seats reclined pretty far back. It was so awesome. I almost fell asleep. This all was about 300 baht. &7.50. These next couple days we are going to Cha-Am, where an english camp will be held. There will be about 400-500 people. All Christians but different ethnicites and ages. Eathing off the street has been great. Good food at a very very low price. I have learned some more Thai.
Please pray for the camp this weekend.
Kap Kun Ka!
Pba Nai Ka? (where are u going) haha

Until next time

It was great theses past few days. At the schools we visited, we sang and did culture exchanges. This year is the 60th year the king has reigned here in Thailand. In honor of his majesty the king, we have learned the King's Song. Everybody seems to be impressed when we sing it. next month is whn all the celebrations will take place in honor of the King. I am really really looking forward to that. Thai dancing is just about one of thee coolest things I've ever seen. We learned the Hokey Pokey in Thai at one of the schools. Another awesome culture experience was watching a Tacraw game. Its volleyball but with your feet and a pinch of soccer thrown in there. Its amazing to watch! We have been treated like royalty here. Our group got the VIP section at the Tacraw game. We have been taken aroud town and given free meals by government officials.
We drove 10 hours from Loei to Bangkok last night.
I just got my hair done for 100 baht which equals $2.50. It feels so amazing. I feel so clean now. haha Today is a free day so im about to go explore what i can of Bangkok, Thailand. Later we are goin on a river boat ride.
Pictures will be posted soon!
Week 1 down of AFCO, it was amazing!

Take Care
Kap Kun Ka!

The last 3 days have been extreamly tiring. It is without a doubt theee most physically hardest thing i have ever done in my life. We climbed a moutain in Phuk Ka Daung national park. Climbing the mountain took about 5 hours. We took bike rides to our bungaloo sites. The day following we hiked through forests, visited waterfalls and cliffs. We hiked for 8 hours and about 15 miles. One thing necessary for hiking was leech protectors. They are stokings what went up to your knee. Unfortunetly i didnt have one climbing up the moutain. One got to me and enjoyed its last meal. Its life did end on a full stomach. The day after that we went back down the mountain. Everyone was hurting in some way when we got back to base. All of my toes are swollen not to mention everyonther part of my body being sore. I was exhausted every night. I was in bed by 8 o'clock. Although early, 8 pm seems like a good bed time after hiking 15 miles.
We are now in Loei. We arrived to a school where they received us as very honored guests. They held a assembly for us. The chairman of the school district was there along with their local news channel. We all got a nice dose of Thai culture. We played sports and after getting a full force volleyball to the chin i sat and enjoyed getting to know some of the studnets. I have really enjoyed learning thai. Maybe Thai will be my 5th language learned.
Some of us are on the Thai diet. Which is absolutely no american food until the trip is over. I dont find it to hard considering Thai food is incredible.
We are staying in hotels at the moment. We will be here for another night then drive through the night back to Bangkok.
Kap Kun Ka for reading! :)

Until next time

Sawasdee ka!!

I arrived to Bangkok May 16 at about 11 am. We all made it but our luggage didnt. An up side to that is we got to sleep in a hotel for our first night in Thailand. After settling in our rooms. We were split up and a Thai church member took us to eat. The food in Thailand is AMAZING! Dinner was about 50 baht. Which is about $1.25.
It is so great learning thai. Luckily my name is translatable. So I introduce myself as Namkaang. Its a lot easier than Rocio. Which is not an easy name anways.
Today we had about 5 hours of singing practice. (not consecutively) Oddly enough we spent more time learning new songs in english than we did in Thai.
Fruit here is very different and very good.
We did get out luggage about 3 today. One thing to remember is I am 12 hours ahead of Texas.
The next two days we will be climbing a mountain in northern Thailand and will have many concerts. Please continue to pray for us . Kap Kun Ka! (thank you (for women))

Hello everyone

After driving 3 hours to Katy, an hour to the airport, 3 hours flight to LA and 14 hours straight on a plane, I am here in Hong Kong. Not quiet yet to our final destination but oh soo close. There was a slight bump on the road here to Hong Kong. In Houston our flight was delayed twice. Total time about 45 minuets, so our arrival to LA was late SO we had to make a mad dash to the otherside of the airport to catch our international flight. I have probably never run so hard in my life but it was a memorable experience. Plus its not like i havnt experienced that before. I had only a few hours of monday. Not a bad thing, nobody likes mondays anyways. It is strange to think we left the United States on sunday and arrived to Southeast Asia on tuesday. Not too much to say just a lot of sitting really.
Xie Xie (thank you in chinese)
I hope all is well.

my name is Rocio
dew
Sizuku
EEsul
Orvalho
Lu-shwe
Talia
NamKaag
Nadá
Ruijada
Roseé
Tau
Rosa


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*pronunciation not availble
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