I love "Sawadee" ... By Juli

Hi all!! Believe it or not our adventure in Thailand is nearing the end! In a lot of ways time has really flown by while every once in a while it feels like we are frozen in time. To be honest Kit and I have been kinda sick lately and it's really hard to pin point if it's the lack of fruits and veggies that's letting our immune system plummet or the over abundance of potential mysterious germs in food. I like to blame it on the former but often question the latter. At those times when you are stuck in a room for days the minutes seem to drag but when we are well and out in the ministry (five days a week) time zooms by like a motorbike on Sukhumvit (main freeway like road that can take you all the way to Bangkok...that we drive, um kinda fast) Currently we are plugging along in our quest to learn more Thai but let me tell you folks, it's not easy. For example the word maa could mean either dog, horse or come...you have to say it with either a rising falling or middle tone to determine the meaning. So if you say the dog and horse are coming it is "maa maa maa" for reals. It really does induce a lot of smiles and chuckles from the Thai people and sometimes that's worth it in itself. One word that I can say with the utmost of confidence is "Sawadee-Ka" ...please repeat... (Ladies) "Sawadee-Ka" (gentlemen) "Sawadee-Krap" Congratulations! You just learned to say "Hello" and "Goodbye" in Thai! What I love most about this is that it is usually paired with a wai. What's a wai?! Well it is a polite gesture to show respect. Please follow:

Place palms together

Lift up to face with thumbs near your nose

Bow ever so slightly

And say "Sawadee"

I think it is beautiful and so exotic from our usual "hey" with a touch of a ghetto head nod. Wai-ing makes me feel a little more Asian and Japanese-y (it's a word I'm sure) The best part is when little kids do it, absolutely adorable. Often the little kids blow you kisses too, love it! 

Also to show even more respect you really draw out the female/male endings (Ka/Krap) and do it in a slightly annoying complaining valley girl accent "Sawadee-Kaaaaaaaaa" There now ou have it! 

These are just a few things we have learned while hitting the streets of Pattaya. Here are some recent pictures of  what kind of mischief we have been up to:

This is Malcom, an English brother with his awesome Kawasaki...yes, this is his service vehicle! (Boys look at what you can take out I the ministry!! Sorry all you moms)

This is where we took break today, notice the shoes? At home it's usually "no shirt, no shoes, no service" but here "no shoes...come on in"

This is inside the little shop/break place. I had left the tract with the woman probably a half hour before and I was so happy to see it still there in the kitchen. Funny thing is when you go to a shop (mechanic/corner mart/restaurant/beauty shop) the people actually live where their shop is. If you peek around you can sometimes see a bed or their tv, a sleeping baby or all of the above. They literally live at work.

You can never be too surprised as to what will be hanging next to the laundry....

We witness to everyone we pass I. The territory. This is a local Thai brother witnessing to a motorbike taxi driver. 

Directly across the way this cute little lady was fully concentrated on reading he Truth Tract. A good percentage of the people we place tracts with will literally sit there and read the whole thing or even read it out loud to a friend.

Now that's a proper baby cradle :)

That's all folks! See you next time! (Side note...the brother on the far right...side side note he drives the coolest bike...is named Bond and his dad used to be a witch doctor before he came into the truth!)

Sawadee-ka!