"Sawa-dika"...
...means "hello" in Thai! It sounds a bit like "sweaty cup", but that is ok! I still love it, and I love the people that I have come across so far here in the fabulous city of Bangkok, Thailand. My team of 14 (including myself) has been here in Bangkok since Friday evening. Here our team will be teaching English to students who have enrolled in coarses already set up for us. We are staying at the Siam Bangkok Church right across the street from the university that facilitates approx. 700,000 students. This is a very strategic church, filled with vibrant young people who are on fire for seeing God's kingdom come to this generation. Because of the drive to pursue financial success and stability, the young people seem to have a hard time grasping their need for a God who, to them, seems to have no natural significance. So please pray that we are able to talk to people in a relevant manner, to present Jesus as a friend and relator more than simply presenting Him as another religion that they disagree with.Now, I know that this may not be spiritually relevant, but can I just say that the shopping here is the best I have ever seen! EVER! THE BEST! EVER! Yes... I needed to emphasize because I was taken back as we shopping at the "weekend" market yesterday. I can see why the economy is driven here by the retail market, because it's absolutely everywhere! Everything you will ever need is here and it is cheap. I could easily see myself getting distracted by these things because all of the young people here are just so DANG TRENDY AND CUTE! But of course, I know that shopping is not my main goal (although it is one of the sub-goals... haha).
I will try and put up pictures as soon as I can! Know that I am safe, I DO NOT have the bird flu, and I am absolutely loving the places where God has called me to be. I miss you all dearly, and I love you deeply! Feel free to write me here since I have email access quite easily. Thanks a million and ROCK ON!
