The list

I had the blessing of talking with a dear, dear Thai friend yesterday via Skype. It was wonderful to talk to her in person, even though she had to write what she wanted to say because I couldn't hear her at all. =) It was still such a blessing...and I thought of the missionaries who went to work overseas 30 years ago and didn't have the opportunity to stay as connected with those they ministed to...and here we are able to do just that. Anyway, after I got off the computer with her, I sat down and wrote a list of the things I miss about Thaialand. This is probably more for my own processing purposes than it is for you, but bear with me! I am sure for those of you who have lived in Thailand will relate to some of these...and they are in no special order, just as I thought of them! I am sure this will be akin to signing someone's yearbook...so here you have it!

-fruit vendors nearly on every corner

-fruit vendors pushing carts through the sois (fruit to go)

-the bathrooms (no separate shower and a drain in one corner...easy to clean!)

- the "fruit washer" (former teammate and friend, Jack C. affectionately coined this term, it is much like the fruit sprayer most Americans have next to the spicket on the kitchen sink...this one happens to be next to the toilet)...anyway, this clever device is especially helpful when cleaning up vomit off of bed sheets (was missing this particular item this weekend!)

- the kitchen attached to the house (a separate room complete with it's own door in most cases; heat and smells don't permeate entire house!)

-sweating more (I kept off weight more there)

-the stairs (ditto on the previous)

-line drying my clothes (NEVER thought I would say that!)

-the rainy season

-flooded streets

-Thursdays with Catherine and Clint

-pork satay, mangoes and sticky rice, naam tok

-Thai worship

-motorcycles

-the Pizza Company pizza

-Pocky snacks

-fresh herbs, all year

- pumpkin all year long!

-pineapple

-rose apples, mongkhut (mangosteen)

-speaking Thai

-cheap food

-encouraging Thai believers (in person!)

-Mom's Group

-teammates

-fellowship meals every Sunday

-prayer meetings

-baking with Thai women

-learning how to cook Thai food, especially with Fon

-walking through Ram 2

-riding the song theow

-riding the bus

-driving (so much more freedom there!)

-the King's Park, especially the pool

-our turtles (Christmas and Green)

- our fish tank

- spying monitor lizards

-treks to the jungle

-elephant sightings (both tame and wild)

-the beach

-the "wai" greeting- it doesn't spread germs and shows so much respect. *a "wai" is when you put both hands together in front of you like you're about to pray and bow your head*

-our neighbor "Grandpa" who always was a delight to speak to

-the love and attention each of my children received from their "phii"s (older Thai brothers and sisters)

-the parties at our house

-the parties at the office

-Thai sense of humor

-Thai playfulness

-Thais and their exercise regimes

-Maahaadthai Park at 6:30am

-the Vietnamese "restuarant" at the market

-Iced Mochas for less than a dollar!

-fried sweet potatoes

-7-11 stores on every corner

-shopping with Fon

-doctor visits (they seemed easier somehow, I feel like I am lost here)

- orchids splashed with color

-exotic flowers and plants and wildlife

-mango trees

-close community

-rot tii

-Bloom coffee shop and Wednesday morning Bible study

-growing up in Christ with others

-the come and go of others

-a home large enough to host a small army (!) and always eager to meet new friends and give a cooled room, a hot shower and pillow to rest their heads on.

-Thai recycling

-nothing wasted

-bottled water

-waterfalls to cool off in

-instead of the neighborhood ice cream truck, the ice cream motorcycle

-kai yang

-going downtown - the excitement and energy

-riding the Sky Train

-blue skies

-geckos

-tukhaes

-taxis

-dear friends in other mission organizations

-Paul playing basketball

-Thai cell phone "plans." You buy the minutes at 7-11 and you've got minutes until they run out AND you ONLY get charged for call YOU make and if you're out of minutes you still receive calls because you aren't being charged...it's a beautiful, efficient and CHEAP system!

AND

- mostly all the Thai friends we made and with whom we spent time.

I MISS YOU THAILAND!!!!