a random happening

Oh, the joys of living in Thailand. Everyone wants to be your friend because you are a "farang" (foreigner) and you can obviously speak the lingua franca of the world...English. So, that makes us in high demand and Thais are not shy at all about being your friend just so they can improve their English. I don't really mind this kind of "use me" thinking because at least it gives me a chance to share Christ and the freedom from sin He offers us. Thais are curious and they like to hang out with and get to know foreigners...there is some sort of appeal to the way we do things and they are curious to hear and learn all about us. (just as we are them!) I think it's fascinating though because I don't think we treat "foreigners" in America with the same respect and eagerness to learn from them. And, I know, there are a lot of reasons for that and I am not going to go into a whole political debate on it, but I do think we are missing out when we (as Christians, anyway) don't take time to learn from those who are not like us and to share the Gospel. What better way to share God's love than in this way?

Ok, I have sufficiently digressed in this post. I wanted to talk about a random act that happened last week and how it is affecting my life. Last Tuesday we went to the local mall. Tuesdays are our days off and we often will spend a couple hours at the mall just walking about and getting things that we might need (rather want?). Last week our wants led us to the Annie Anne's pretzel store. You might be surprised to hear that we have Annie Anne's here in Thailand, but it's true, we have it and we even have the yummy homemade lemonade and it tastes just like it does in America (although I have was challenged recently in thinking that my tastes have probably changed and what I think is good American food might not really be so but it just seems so because all other food is Thai so anything that comes close is GOOD!). SO, we were enjoying a little snack at Annie Anne's last week when one of the girls that works there (and mind you we have only gone to this Annie Anne's on one or two other occassions since being in BKK) who we don't know at all and have never met before walks up to us while we're enjoying our lemonade and pretzels and asks me if she can call me sometime to practice her English. It turns out she is studying to be an English teacher and needs some practicing...which is where I obviously come in! So, for the past week she has called me almost daily to talk and chat in English. The conversations are usually not very long...when she's riding on a bus going to or from someplace but they are mostly in English. When I ask a question or answer and she doesn't understand I say it in Thai. Today when she called, it really encouraged me that God can and I believe will use me in this to proclaim the Gospel and to help her improve her English. I want to really get to know her and encourage her and be a good friend to her. These "chance" meetings are rarely that, for God directs our paths and I believe this is one path He clearly laid out for me. She told me her name the first time she called but I didn't write it down. However, would you pray for me and for her? I will try to post a name soon, but for now you can pray that God would use me and pray for opportunity for us to meet face to face and talk and not just over the phone.
I was telling Rachel about this last week and she told me that they have often have people just stop in at their apartment who want to practice their English with her and Melanie! It blew my mind! We do live in a university setting but it just seems like word travels fast about where the foreigners live...and they definitely know where the girls live! And so many of the students are really bold to get a better handle on their English.