Whirlwind Weekend

Thanks to all of you who commented on the blog about the last post. It has encouraged me to share with you the rest of my weekend. You know with a Friday night like the one I had it was only going to get better! Speaking of getting better, Paul is feeling back to normal and was by Saturday night, so thank YOU for praying for his quick recovery. He was able to help build and even managed to get whacked in the face with a bamboo pole! He returned late last night and we are all happy to have him back.

Well, as I mentioned in my “What a Night” post, Rhianna, Kim and I were heading out for an evening without the kids thanks to Tim (Rhianna’s husband). We got a late start because when I called the taxi the first time, they never came and so an hour later I show up at Kim’s house (where Tim was watching the kids). At any rate, we still went and had a great time. The time went by SO fast but we still made the most of it. We took the taxi to the skytrain and then we took the sky train to Siam Paragon. One thing you must know about downtown Bangkok is that there are some VERY glamorous parts/areas to the city. Siam Paragon is one of those places. It’s a huge mall (we only walked around on the first floor where all the food joints are!) and apparently very high end merchandise (and the real deal too, not knock-offs) is sold there (like Versache, Louis Vuitton, etc). I am not sure WHO shops there but there were a ton of people there, mostly eating and having fun. We ate at a quaint little place (I have forgotten the name) but it was good. We then headed home…yeah, it was a quick trip but we did wait about 30 minutes or so for a table to open up so we did look around some more at that point.
We hailed a taxi, got in and told him where to go and lo and behold he REMEMBERED taking each one of us at one time or another somewhere before! Talk about a good memory. The taxi driver even told Kim what her house number and soi number where! At this point, I was thinking, “this is strange, there are probably thousands of taxis in this city and millions of people who use them and this guy remembers us and exactly where we live.” So, we get to Kim’s house and I ask the taxi driver if he will take me to my house with my boys. He said he would. When we left the neighborhood he pulled off the side of the road (it’s like 10 PM at this point too) and says something to me but I didn’t quite catch it. So, I assume he’s either going to the bathroom (happens quite frequently) OR he’s getting a drink. Unfortunately for us, he was getting a drink, and not just water or a coke but straight up alcohol! So, I really started praying for God’s protection over us as we traveled home. We made it safely home but not without this guy trying to get past the security guard faster by lying. I was so thankful the security guys made this taxi driver give them his information. I really wasn’t trusting him at all by this point. So, that was Saturday.
Sunday we woke up and got ready to go to church with Paa At. I called a taxi to come and get us but just before we are about to go out the door, one of our neighbors comes by with breakfast! I was so blessed by this gift even though I couldn’t eat it right away. (I think I have some really, very nice neighbors.) So, the taxi comes a few minutes later. I was to meet Paa At in front of a huge mall (called “The Mall”). We get about five minutes up the road and I realize I forgot her number at the house so I ask the taxi driver to turn around. I get the number and we start off again. I called her but no one answered, I called and called a few more times and still no answer on either her home phone or her cell phone. So, I just figured well, we'll get to “The Mall” and I will see if I can find her and if not, then I will just get a taxi home. I was also praying for God to work our meeting out and HE did! As we pulled up to “The Mall”, Paa At jumped in the taxi and told the guy how to get to her church (and by the way, she forgot her phone!). Isn’t God gracious?
The church is comprised of about 60-70 Thai believers from all over Thailand (but who know live in Bangkok). It was quite different from our Lopburi church in that the children were expected to be quiet and respectful during worship and if not they had a room at the back of the sanctuary with glass and a speaker to hear the sermon that you could go into with your child. The people were super friendly and so welcoming of us. Of course just about everyone fell in love with the boys and so I pretty much had my hands free of Calvin the whole time because all the women wanted to hold him. PJ, all in all, was a pleasant little guy until right before we left and at that point he was just worn out and VERY tired. The building they meet in is beautiful. They built it themselves. I meant to take my camera but realized when I got there it was in my other bag…at home. Anyway, Paa At and her husband (who is the pastor of the church) live on above the sanctuary. The sanctuary is on the second floor and on the first floor is a big open room for eating meals together or other large group activities. I don’t know if I have ever mentioned this but in my experience so far in Thailand, after church most Thai churches eat a meal together. So, we stayed with them and ate as well. Then some church members who live near to where we live gave us a ride home. (Again, God is so good.)
Then Monday aside from going to Rhianna’s to study Thai, the boys and I wandered out to meet a new friend we met at the English retreat, Aree. She lives about 20 minutes away from us. We met her at a shopping center. I realized earlier in the day that I was about to run out of diapers and so when I found her I asked if I could run into the shopping center and buy some diapers. Well, as we’re walking around in the store I realized that I had committed a huge cultural error. I realized that she would try to pay for the pampers (and they are expensive) and I knew she would do everything in her power to buy them and that if she didn’t she would be very embarrassed and would have lost face. So, when we went to check out (by the way, she threw some fruit and doughnuts in the cart for her guests (us)), I told her I would get the pampers. She insisted on getting them, and I just kept on insisting myself, that they are expensive and really I wanted to buy them. She finally relented (to her relief!) and she said in Thai “ok, but let me buy the other food.” I said, “ok, deal.” So, she saved face and I felt a little better about the whole situation. I still cannot believe I did that, but I am sure there will be many more situations like that even though I hope not!
So, she ordered some KFC for us to eat and then we went to her home. I met her father-in-law who is visiting from the south of Thailand for a few weeks. He was so nice and loved the boys but especially Calvin. Calvin fell asleep on their couch and the father was reading the newspaper but he had one hand holding Calvin’s hand! It was SO sweet. I wanted to take a picture but I thought if I did he would change position. Anyway, we talked and they showed me pictures and we also went for a walk around their neighborhood. All the neighbors were out and all the neighbors wanted to talk to the boys (or see Calvin and hold him.) It is a hard thing sometimes to let him go and to let him be loved by people that I don’t know at all. But, I am thankful for the grace God gives during those times.
So, then we were going to go to the big park (you remember the one in honor of the King). On our way, the skies opened up and the rain came pouring down…so that idea was nixxed but they did take us on home. All in all, it was a wonderful night with this sweet, sweet family. The Thais are so hospitable and it is a wonderful part of their culture. They love to make you feel at home and welcomed and I have truly felt that this weekend. I am very tired but every minute was worth it.

There are some pictures below of our weekend. The last picture is my new Thai cookbook that I bought today. The title is Cooking Thai Food in American Kitchens. I guess this a new hobby of mine. I am enjoying it and looking forward to trying some curry dishes this week.

So, that was our whirlwind weekend. I thank God for Paul’s return and I thank Him for giving me the strength to get thru it all without any huge moments of feeling like I couldn’t do it. As you know, I am weak but this weekend God proved to me that He is strong in those weaknesses. Thank you for praying…and thank you for reading!