Friday, December 26, 2014

Hertzler Doings~Dec. 9-15, 2014-Thailand Highlights~

Mon.-(written 2 1/2 weeks later from scanty notes)-Busily getting ready to fly to Thailand. Packing, cleaning, cooking, saying good-bye to family and friends. Took a quick trip with Phil to look for a money belt. Found a suitcase to replace the one I had packed. Just discovered its wheel was broken. Phil found a ten dollar amp that works great, hidden on the bottom shelf. Freeman brought Nathan over one more time. I think N said 'I love you,' back when I squeezed him. Susan's back is a little better. She went out to Farmville and visited Dr. Travis and her team. She bought a back brace and it helps a little. Rosalee called in the evening to tell me that our Aunt Esther-the only remaining sibling on my dad's side-passed away last evening. I will miss her funeral but I know she understands. What a wonderful lady. She always made me feel like a million bucks.

Tues.-Picked up Janelle and Micah shortly after 5:30 this morning. Got to Richmond airport around 7:30. Change of plans. Flight overbooked. Phil had already asked for an upgrade for Susan because of her back so we were first when they asked if we wanted to change our plans. Upgraded us to Economy Business and instead of flying to Dulles and then to Tokyo, we flew to Chicago and then to Tokyo. Trip from Chicago to Tokyo lasted 11 hours and 35 min. Flew from Tokyo to Bangkok-6 hours endurance flight. I sat next to a young graphic designer and Susan sat next to a young backpacking geologist and Phil sat next to an educator who teaches the gifted.  She recommended that we check out 'Hoagie'-a website that gives ideas for working with gifted children. Took a taxi van to the Bangkok Christian guest house . So relieved to stretch out and lie down. Slept from 2 in the morning until nearly 11 the next morning. Note from Janelle under the door, "I'm awake if you want to knock." She had fallen back to sleep by the time I got to knocking. The lights, air conditioning, etc. all turn on when the key is put into the slot beside the door. We have three single hard beds. Linoleum floor is everywhere. I never saw carpet in Thailand. The room is plenty big. Had breakfast on the back street around 12:30. Rice with eggs, veggies and fried chicken. Took subway to buy train tickets for when we ride overnight to BKK.  Went shopping. Found Nathan's wooden frog and Freeman's elephant. T-shirts for Freeman and Philip. Carved soaps for gifts. Rested. Had supper somewhere. Went to night market. Bought scarves and other things. Susan found out that her basketball team won without her and she was so happy and enjoyed her guilt-free trip. Lady Lions are still unbeatable.

Okay-now my notes jump to Friday-Thailand time which would have been Thursday back here so my Tuesday is actually Tues/Wed./Thurs. somehow.

Friday-Breakfast of boiled egg, noodle dish, rice soup, toast, jam, yogurt, granola, coffee, and juice, all right at the BKK Christian Guest House. Bought gifts at the gift shop right there. The three of us ordered watermelon pineapple smoothies from a vendor on the street. We left the guest house around 11.
Our cab driver volunteered to take us the whole way to our next destination instead of just taking us to the bus station. It worked our really well. Janelle's Thai language skills are still sharp. It's 90 degrees and very humid. 3 1/2 hours of driving. We are staying at another Christian Retreat Center run by Gasper and Jill. He is the treasurer of Samaritan's Purse or he was the treasurer. I am not sure which. Lovely people. Had a supper of American mac and cheese, salad, banana bread pudding with whipped cream. Before supper we walked on the beach and collected shells. We have the corner room and the screens on the windows welcome in the breezes from one side to another. We can hear the crashing waves. Susan has a bed on the floor and Phil and I have a queen size bed. Swam in the beautiful pool after supper. Raced Micah twice from one end of the pool to the other and I beat him both times. Our laundry is done here for free. We bring it down between 8-9 in the morning and pick it up at 5.

Sat.-Awake throughout the night. Beds are hard. Good breakfast. (yogurt, cereal, toast, eggs, watermelon, pineapple, papaya, small bananas, and cantaloupe. Three kinds of jams. Some wonderful fruit is always in season in Thailand. Then walked on the beach, taking pictures, collecting shells. Beautiful sunrise of grays and blues with mountainous island reflecting on the sand. All 5 of us got Thai massages. 300 baht an hour. About ten bucks. The sweet ladies came to our room.
Had chicken cashew with rice for lunch. The folks next door run a taxi service, rent out vehicles, paint nails, arrange massages, etc. The lady first took us for a short ride where she met her husband and he took us the rest of the way to Hua Hin to the elephant rescue center. We all rode elephants. I rode one by myself and Janelle looked back and quipped, "You look like the queen of Sheba." I felt like the Queen of Sheba. After our ride, we watched a young elephant perform all kinds of trickes. He danced, played soccer and basketball, played a harmonica, gave us hugs, took hats on and off us, and collected money from us by passing a basket. I even gave him a coin and he gently took it with his snout and put it in the basket.
That night we went to an incredible Night Market where local artisans were selling their crafts. We got an H stamp with wax for Michael. The girl's boyfriend had made the stamp and she made the wax candles. We ate supper outside in the food court using coupons while the stands were being set up. Phil found two brass elephants for Philip from an antique dealer there. There were other stands. Pottery, leather working, glass blowing, beautiful clothing, scarves, jewelry, etc. I went out alone to the pool for 15 min. that night just to rest my legs in the water. Feeling the hard beds and rough rides in my neck and back.

Sun.-The taxi driver man took us to church in Hua Hin. The pastor's wife was Janelle's language teacher when she lived there. She was so happy and surprised to see Janelle. She had never received J's email. The last time they were at their church was the last time they ever saw Johnny. It was a wonderful church service. Janelle sat behind us and interpreted. We joined their Thai singing Christmas carols with our English. I recorded several songs on my camera. When they prayed, they all prayed outloud and it sounded like a storm of heaven. After church, we walked to a local eatery and had pork and rice and then walked back to church. The pastor's wife took us back to Mercy House Orphanage and said that someone would send the taxi driver over there to meet us. What a love filled Children's Home. They even have a face book page. Which reminds me to befriend them. We saw where they make and sell crafts. We saw the girl's room with quite a few bunk beds in one room and all of their shoes down at the bottom of the stairs. We never wore our shoes into the house in Thailand. When our taxi driver got there, the children all came out to say good bye to us. They waved and shouted. We had picked out a few things to buy in the gift shop but they refused payment and gave us the gifts. I had inquired about a beautiful drawing of Jesus and later met the boy who drew it. He is an amazing artist and he has no hands. He paints and draws using the strength of both wrists put together holding his instrument. He was so cheerful. I found out later that the cab driver was so moved by the children ( he has several of his own) that he decided to bring a meal to them on his birthday. Thai's do things for others on their birthdays.
We came back to the retreat center and while Susan and Phil read in the room, I went out into the ocean. It was warm and the waves weren't too rough. I was by myself until Micah and Janelle joined me about a half hour later. Later, I watched a little local Thai boy turning cartwheels in the surf. Then he'd stoop down and drink handful after handful of ocean water. Phil and Susan came out on the beach for a little while. Later I went back and got a shower and then went in to the pool. Then I took pictures of this beautiful property. I want to make sets of beautiful photo cards from Thailand. Other missionaries are here with their families to rest. One large family stayed here two nights I think. They are missionaries in Africa and were on their way home to New Zealand for Christmas and this was their halfway point. I met some sweet young mothers-Ava and Anna. They are serving in the mission field with their husbands and small children with no other family around them for support.
After we all got cleaned up, we walked down the street to a local restaurant. I ordered chicken cashew. Susan had sweet and sour prawns, shrimp, and squid. Phil had asparagus and shrimp over rice. Micah had 3 crabs with rice. Janelle had a similar dish to Susan's. Susan went back to rest her back and Phil and I had a dessert of banana fritter with vanilla ice cream while we waited for Micah to finish his crabs but eventually, we left them to go back home. They came back shortly afterwards.
Janelle downloaded some of the pictures from my camera on her computer for her book. For some reason, the pictures are flat, making us look fat and wide. (Found out it's the vertical pictures adjusting to the size of the computer screen.)
Crickets chirping.
Waves pounding.
Fan blowing.
Pages turning.

Guys back home are making breakfast and we're trying to stay awake to go to bed just a little later so we can sleep just a little better.

(Thailand trip to be continued into next weeks Hertzler Doings.)

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