Leaving Our 'Home'

As I ate one of my favorite meal's in Thailand (which also happens to be one of the cheapest at 35B or $1.15), Khao Moak Gai Toadt (Yellow Rice with Fried Chicken) I began to really miss Thailand... Knowing that in just over a month I will leave my home (yes, Thailand is my temporary home) and miss these special things makes me 'kittung maak bpratet Thai' (Miss Thailand a lot). As much as I am looking forward to visiting the US, Thailand is our home, and I remember how much I missed this place on the first day I left before.

The first day I left Thailand before I travelled to South Korea, which although in Asia is just like a bustling US city. After spending one day there I continued on to Seattle, where reverse culture shock really hit... It was literally in the top 10 hardest days of my life. I was so sorrowful that I was driven to write a psalm of lament so powerful that I almost remember it all 2.5 years later. I can't even imagine now after living and loving life here in South Thailand for over 2 years, what it will be like to leave this place, even for a short while after it has become so familiar...

Our family really is Thai.
Our children: play in the street, roam freely in restaurants (last night they were riding the bike of one of the employees' children that worked there, which is normal), eat rice daily, think playing at the beach is normal, are used to being around people of EXTREME faith (read: normal biblical faith) 30% of the time and people of no faith (in the great I AM) the other 70% of the time, think riding in a car is a special treat, are used to people speaking different languages than them, and most importantly...

Seeing our Great and Mighty God, Redeem, Restore, Heal and Save on a regular basis... and so are we...

For all these reasons I already am missing our home. I love Thailand. I love the people of Thailand, for all their frailties and failings. This is why I know God has us here. Its not right or wrong, it is merely what God has done so that we could have a greater heart for this people and a greater insight into his love for His people here.

God loves Thailand. We love Thailand. If you have a heart for other nations; if you have a heart for Thailand, come and serve. You will certainly not regret it...