Saturday, October 21, 2006

Listening... (Journal Entry)

(I'm back in Thiland at this point, for trianing)

So…I tried to listen to you this morning, Lord. I tried to focus. And I think I did for a while, but it didn’t seem like there was any real “revelation” or anything…was there supposed to be? Or have I not been in tune with you recently, and thus can’t hear you now? Or, is there nothing you want to tell me at the moment, but you want me to just sit in stillness?

I was confused why it didn’t seem like I could hear you…there were some ideas, but nothing practical as to how to implement them. For example, I want to have your heart, I want to focus completely on you, I want to do what you want me to do, be who you want me to be, serve those you want me to serve- but who is that, and how, and when….

I think you also showed me a little bit about serving you RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. I have these plans and ideas for after this project, when I still have a year, and a ton of work left on this project…and, a partner too. I haven’t spoken to Robin in perhaps 30 hours- it’s REALLY STRANGE. I mean, we’ve seen each other, but haven’t spoken. Not because we didn’t want to- there was just no need and we've both been busy with other people.

Anyway, I wonder at times like this what it is He wants from us...is my life to focused on everything else that I can't hear him?


Friday, October 20, 2006

Climbing!







After another full day of training...we went climibing at the on the boldering wall

(I don't like using shoes!)

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Dirtbiking! (Email to Parents)


I’m alive! :) Okay, well, I'm more than alive. I'm great! All went well with dirtbiking today- only falling a few times, I have a new bruise on my leg, and actually a muscle or something coming out of my right arm, but not in too much pain….nothing’s broken! :) We had a lot more wet clay to deal with this time, which made for some additional adventures...but no hail or rushing rivers to climb up like last time!


I had a good time….strangely, I felt a lot more nervous this time around, and think I fell more. We had a great time, I felt bad for Jim since he had to pick up my bike for me when I fell! But I did pick it up myself at least 3 or 4 times after a fall…. :)


We got to stop at this little tiny hut on the side of one path and attempt to talk to a lady making something in a pot. I'm not sure if it was something to eat or not! It turns out she didn't speak Thai, but some minority language. That was probably the highlight!


Monday, October 9, 2006

Even more joy than before (Email to parents)

(a picture of the village I visited today - about an hour hike down from the road)

Back from the village- Monday, 4pm. All went well….well, pretty well. I have some scratches on my arms from cutting grass, some new mosquito bites, some new little red dots on my body, I think from fleas in the night. My back is a little more sore than before from sleeping on a wooden bed- with nothing but a thin sheet under me. My hair stuck together with little grass pieces, and thorn thistles from carrying a huge bundle of grass on my head. My feet black and brown from walking though dust, mud, sand up from the river back to the village. Imagine carrying a huge bundle of grass on your head, with a sharp knife tucked into your scarf that is tied aroudn your waist (worn only like that in the field when working). My finer is cut slightly from the knife (nothing major). My bladder a little more free to do what it wants- I did go in the field once, and twice in this really dark, damp bathroom they have. I think people there actually prefer the grass as opposed to there- I would too!


BUT, More than all that, I have more photos, more experience, more testing results, more friends, more desire to go back, and more joy to be here among these people here, than I did before.

When can you call? Today would be good...Love you, and miss you a lot.

~ Elizabeth

Saturday, October 7, 2006

The Mexicans are Here! (Email to Parents)

Wow- it’s so strange to be all of the sudden surrounded by Spanish! The Mexicans are here, and Vivian is enjoying speaking her native language. It's so funny because I’ve never heard that language spoken here (I mean, we hear Vivian speaking to her mom on the phone)- but between real live people…it’s strange!! Panna (the Kahani lady who makes our food every day) and I had a little debriefing session when she got here…
“Ahh, Panna, come in here, quick!”
“What? What?”
“They are speaking another language, I don’t’ understand!!”
“I know, I don’t understand either- ahh!!”

We laughed about it- she thought it was pretty neat that I was experiencing what she experiences every day. It’s not as if she would understand if they spoke English, because she doesn’t understand any English!! But, still- she joked about not being able to understand- and since I also can’t understand, it was like we connected even more…

HOWEVER, I told Vivian- I have to learn Spanish now…at least a few things, for this week- I can’t take not being able to understand!!!! I mean, it’s not a bad thing, but I want to be able to understand, and communicate!! They can understand and speak SOME English, but Spanish is preferred….Anyway, we’ll see how much Spanish I can learn in one week….

About two months ago, I did tell Vivian, I wanted to start learning Spanish from her….though we haven’t done anything with that yet- mainly because if I’m going to be studying another language, I should be studying Kahani!! If my supervisors ask how my language learning is coming along and I said, “O-la! Como estas” they may not be impressed. But, depending on my schedule when I return home, I’m wondering if that might be a fun thing to do- take some Spanish classes….and, Daddy- you can come with me! ;)

Who knows, a year from now (less than that now!) is still a really long time away to be thinking about what to do next!

Love ya!

~ Elizabeth

Friday, October 6, 2006

God knows! (Journal Entry)

So much to journal, so much to ponder. So many things to write about, and so little time.

Even more than thinking, ponder and write are the things which need praying for. And again, somehow so little time. Without prayer, how will anything ever be accomplished? How can I dare go out into those villages among those people without first praying for them and the work to be accomplished there? Have I not learned anything over this past year?

Lord, also, why am I still so concerned with how other people view me, and what they will think? Lord, sometimes I feel like crying- sometimes I feel like shouting. Sometimes, I can’t help but laugh. This life here is indeed overwhelming, and no one knows the things we experience on a daily basis. There are many people who know most of what our life is like, they know about, just from their prior experience. But somehow, our project, and our life here, and the make-up of our partnership- no one really knows all that happens and goes on...

Wait, there is someone who knows. Actually someone who knows all that has happened, and all that will happen…that’s YOU, Lord! How could I forget?

Thursday, October 5, 2006

NEWSLETTER (July to September 2006)

http://elizabethasia.googlepages.com/ElizabethNewsletterJuly-Sept2006forb.pdf

Here is my newsletter for July-September. If you don’t have a program to view it, you can download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat in order to view the file.
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Sunday, October 1, 2006

Bunjy Jumping!

Travis, Emily and I took the plunge and went bunjy jumping during one of our evenings at training. Here is me BEFORE THE JUMP. Yeah, I'm pretty scared! HERE'S ME JUMPING!
HERE'S ALL OF US, WITH THE THAI GUYS WHO INSPIRED US TO DO IT!



"Do less stories" -Does that mean we failed? (Email to parents)

Judy (our consultant) told us to reduce the number of stories we are doing. They want us to have enough time to do some stories well than a bunch of stories that aren't really that great. They also want us to spend more time seeing that the stories are being used in groups, training people to tell stories...which is all really good.

You know, I think it’s actually a “relief” to me- reducing the stories, and moving the deadline back. Somehow, normally, I would feel like a failure because we can’t get it all done, or can’t get it done on time. BUT, I actually really do feel relieved, AND- somehow, I feel motivated to stay here another year. Just yesterday I felt like, “I’d give anything to go home right now” – and yet today, I feel like this task might be possible, and even fun over the next year. It doesn't have to be completely storying now either, we can visit our neighbros for fun, not just to work on stories. And getting pictures from you and sending you pictures will be enough to carry me til I get home….

Anyway, just thought I’d share that with you. It does feel like a little bit of a let down to have your supervisors say, “you should do less” – but if that is really all that is needed for the Kahani people, then why should we do more? And isn’t it better that the stories are actually BEING USED when we leave, then just a cd with a bunch of stories sitting somewhere? Anyway, lots to pray for…and also to thank our Father for…

~ Elizabeth