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.