Goodbye Thailand?

Has the time really come to say goodbye to this country that I’ve grown so attached to? The culture, the people, the diversity, the beauty? Even though this was our official last week doing ministry we did technically have one more week in Thailand. But it was debrief so I didn’t really want to count it. I can for sure say that Thailand will always have a place in my heart and I’m soon not going to forget it. And even if there was hard times it was also filled with many good times, laughing with friends, exploring, making connections, and loving people.

Last week of ministry already? When did this happen? Our last week of ministry was spent with the babies! I was glad we were able to finish up ministry with them. Even though I loved the bigger kids so much the babies just seem to work their way into your heart. It was a pretty normal week apart from it being our last week. We also found out that one of the little girls was getting adopted and we were so happy because she was getting adopted on Christmas! But Monday and Tuesday when we got there at 230 and played until four. Then from four to 430 we got to teach them because Flora( the German exchange student ) wasn’t there. They are pretty good learners and listeners especially the second oldest girl she was always ready to learn and it was fun to see how much she had grown from that first week to this last week. Then at five we got to go out to the little play area and played with them. I also got one of the little girls to kick a soccer ball with me back and forth and I was really happy, it just brought me so much joy. Wednesday through Friday was pretty much the same just that we didn’t preform the lessons. Although, Wednesday night I did get to call one of my best friends. It was so healing and refreshing for me because I hadn’t talked to her in three months and it was good to hear her voice again. Then that fateful day came when we had to say goodbye to the kids we had built a connection with for the last month.  Since the babies didn’t really know what was going on we just played with them like normal and then at five it was time to go outside and say goodbye to the big kids as well. I kinda played with both the big kids and the babies when we were outside but when the time finally came to say goodbye the big kids were having a lot of fun with it. They were running away making me catch them and then everybody wanted to be caught. But finally I did catch all of them and the did say goodbye to me. I think the saddest part of leaving was that one of the kids kept dragging me back to play with him and saying I couldn’t leave and I think I almost cried at that. I did have to be a little creative to get away from him and I did feel a little sad but it was already twenty minuets past the time where we were supposed to get picked up and I felt bad making our driver wait any longer. So all four of us hopped into the car and waved bye to the children for the last time ever. The next day was our last adventure day in Thailand and we had something special planned. We were going to go see elephants! All of us were super excited. We woke up early the next morning to head to the mountains. We left around 730 as to get there bye 930-10ish because it was a two hour drive. I did get a little car sick driving up there because there was so many twists and turns but it was totally worth it. As soon as we got there we saw elephants galore and they were just wondering around, it was crazy! Once we all got there we did a little orientation. After that we all go assigned an elephant and got to feed them and the experience was just so exhilarating. After feeding them for about an hour we actually got to make them an elephant protein ball. And let me say that thing smelled really good and if I didn’t have more self control I would have stuck that thing in my mouth. Then we gave the protein ball to the elephants and by then it was already 12! So we went to have the amazing meal that they had prepared for us. It was one of the most gorgeous looking meal that I had ever seen. It was complete with different fruits like pineapple, dragonfruit, mango, and oranges. There was also different types of pastries and then there was fried rice wrapped in banana leaves. Let me tell you we downed that meal pretty quickly. Then after the meal was the most exciting part. It was finally time to ride the elephants! It was everything I was expecting for and hoped for and more. And although at first it was a little scary it was totally worth it. We took an hour walk/ride down to a little river where we then got to wash the elephants. After washing them we rode them back which didn’t take quite as long and then it was time to go home. It was a one of a kind experience and if I had the chance I would totally do it again. The rest of the day we just rested because we were all pretty tired. But that night we went over to a friend’s house for dinner and we played Murder in the Dark and I forgot how much I loved the game. We played for a couple hours but since it was starting to get late we headed back. But genuinely that was a much needed time of playing a familiar game with friends. Sunday was our last full day at our home. We went to a really big Sunday market and got to hang out with Lexi Ballard one of the friends we had made while staying at Bella Goose. I got a little crocheted elephant that I named Champoo after the elephant I rode. We were at the market until about noon and then we decided to head back. We really didn’t do anything that afternoon but we decided to go out for a fancy dinner. It was so much fun to just chill and talk. We saw a beautiful bridge and I got a piggy back ride from one of my friends and it was just an overall pretty chill night. The next morning was our last full day and we spent it packing up and cleaning up. Our last morning at Bella Goose a place that had actually felt like home. We did have the privilege of Emery and Ava making us French toast for breakfast. We just got to sit and talk while they made it. It was so good! We just chilled that day and visited our favorite places one last time. The next morning we finished packing and cleaning up and we left. Technically we did have one more week in Thailand but that was just debrief so I don’t think I’m counting it. The next day was Christmas and I did get to kinda spend it with my family and that was really nice. But January first we officially got on a bus and said goodbye to a place like home.

  Something that has stuck with me this week is a little journaling that I did on overthinking. Overthink is putting too much time into thinking or analyzing something in a way that is more harmful than helpful. Proverbs 12:25, “Worry brings you down; encouraging words will cheer you up.” -Anytime you worry or stress it will bring your energy and life down, but speak with positive words to bring you back up. Hebrews 13:6, “Have confidence in knowing that God is your helper.” -When you are overthinking, remember God is there to guide you. Psalms 94:19, “Let God’s comfort bring you joy during anxious times.” -Let your mind be at ease, because when you are anxious God will be there to comfort you. God already knows everything, but will still comfort and guide you. He will always love you.

Pretty bridge with lights! Got to try Tanghulu 😋 Elephants of course! Another sunset and a Christmas photo with my new family. 🩵 Our fancy dinner and French toast. Beautiful sunset 🤩One of my favorite babies 🥰