The distance factor...

I'm writing this morning feeling grateful for the visitors we have had lately. The hardest part of living here in Thailand is missing close friends and family.  I am so thankful for the friendships we have here with Libby, Luka and Ghan, Ae and Joe, Gi and Blah, and my Thai teacher Jan and her husband Barry. We really have so much to be thankful for. 

Recently we had two visitors Molly and Eric who were here for one week sharing their gift of photography with the foundation here and insight on working with non-profits. It was really refreshing to have them here, to learn more about them and their personal dreams for the future and we were sad to see them leave. Then last week we had Chad and Becky Dale (from Seattle) here for the week and had so much fun connecting with them. Two people who are incredibly gifted in the world or business and marketing who are also searching for a way to use their gifts in ways that feel more meaningful on a day to day basis. 

One thing that we have to get used to living here is connecting with people as they come through and then realizing that if those relationships are going to be maintained, they will need to be done so through long-distance communication. And something about that sucks. And something else about it helps me to realize that it was a gift to have them here at all-- to be able to meet and interact with people that inspire me and cause my perspective of the world shift. 

All this to say, I have much to be grateful for and many relationships that I still hold very dear--even from afar.

Kid's Day

Yesterday we celebrated "Wan Dek" otherwise known as "Kid's Day" here in Thailand. This involved us loading up all of the staff from the Akha Youth Development Center and about 95 kids into a bus and three trucks and driving into town. First we went to the Army base where we consumed lots of coconut ice cream and fried rice, and the kids were able to participate in games. After that we loaded up and went to the Chiang Rai International Airport where we stared at a plane for a while then continued eating more food. Following the airport we stopped by Big C (the Wal-Mart of Thailand) to seek out one more uncomfortably crowded place and then finally headed home. It was a fun day spending time with the kids and watching them have fun, but I was ready for a little space at the end of a crowded, slightly claustrophobic day, with 5 kids fighting to hold my hand and pull me in different directions! The other tricky part was keeping track of all the kids. One little guy in my group thought it was so much fun to run off and hide from me behind clothing racks! Days like this frighten me to ever enter into motherhood! The evening ended with me making popcorn in a giant pot for all the kids and us watching a movie together. Exhausting, but special day.

Hello out there?

Just wondering who is reading this blog out there? If you are could you please comment and let me know? Also, am I writing a bit too broad and general rather than stories of life here? Just wondering....

The Macarena

Last night we were up in Huisan Akha Village to celebrate Christmas with the church and watch performances from the kids at the center and villages...mostly singing, and some choreographed dances. Rusty had a sudden urge to teach the villagers how to do the Macarena so this was sporadically incorporated into the program. Rusty got really into the dancing and even added a few original moves of his own. All to say that the villagers were happily taking part and most everyone had the giggles.