And the Adventure Continues...

After only a week of getting settled in Oz, Danielle and I set out for Chiangmai, Thailand. We woke up at 3:30am to catch a taxi to the bus stating where we boarded our 2 hr bus ride to the airport. Sat for 2 hrs, caught an hour plan ride to Beijing, sat again for a few hours, caught a 5 hr flight to Bangkok, sprinted through the airport only to find out we need to sit around for a few more hours, boarded our un-airconditioned plane, unboarded the broken plane, sat for an hour, boarded our final plane for an hour flight to Chiangmai,  where we arrived at a vacant airport at 1:30 in the morning. No shuttle. No Thai currency. No internet. And no earthly idea as to the name of our hotel where our reservations were waiting to welcome us. After almost 24 hours of traveling, I was spent, Danielle was deliriously laughing, and another teammate that was with us was doing all the logical things, like trying to find a phone or someone to help. He's a smart one. 

We finally got the idea to find a McDonald's to get some internet and hope someone to be online to tell us our hotel name. (and to get one huge BigMac to satisfy out stomachs and calm my hunger-temper down). God supplied and we got internet, got the name of our hotel, got a "tuk-tuk" (similar to a "beng-beng") and arrived at our hotel at 3:30am. PTL! 

We showered, slept, and by 11 the next morning, we were on our way up a mountain with a tour guide and two Israeli girls, set out to do the "Jungle Flight" zip-line through the tree-tops of a mountain village. IT. WAS. AWESOME. Something I'd noticed by our first tuk-tuk ride to the hotel was that Thai people like to joke around… a lot. They're always saying things to make us believe they're going to do something ridiculous like oh I don't know, take us to the wrong hotel (at the time, it was so not funny), that we'll roll down the hill if we don't lean to one side of the vehicle on our way up the mountain, or push me off a 250ft tree house thinking I'm not hooked in, and then realizing half way down the zip that I was. And after each ridiculous joke, they laugh and laugh until we laugh with them. :) I like those Thai people. 

Other than zip-lining, we also went to a Night-Safari, the Night Bazaar (or Night Markets), got a couple hour long $5 Thai massages, dined at a couple new food places, and hung out with our old teammates we met our first week in Taipei. It was awesome to see everyone again. The one week apart from them felt like a month or 2 at least, so getting to see them and share stories and 1st time experiences with them again was great and much needed. During the day we watched M kids. I was assigned to 2 year olds, 8:30- 5:30. There were 6 of them. And they were 2 years old. And 3 other heroes and I watched them for 9 hours a day, 3 days in a row…

That's all I have to say about that. 

Our travels back to Oz was smoother sailing than on the way to Chiang Mai, but nonetheless, it was still like 22 hours of traveling and once we arrived at our apartment, we slept. For 15 hours. :) PTL, again. 

We've had a few days of down time which have been a huge blessing. Danielle and I have really turned this little apartment into our home away from home. We have groceries that include the closest things to American junk food you can get, warm beds, a shower curtain (which no ones has here), and a good friend Tracy down the hall who's traveled this road before us and helps us get by. During these days of downtime, however, all 3 of us have gotten a cold. Which just keeps us cooped up in our apartment even more. I think it's been good for us though, having time to relax and be still and read and talk to Him and deepen our relationship with Him and with each other. I'm very thankful for this time, and I'm sure I'll be even more thankful for it once the students get back in another couple weeks. I am anticipating a very busy schedule when school starts and I feel somewhat more prepared after this week of soaking in the Word. 

Did I mention Danielle loves to cook? And she's good at it. Two nights ago, Spaghetti. Last night, Stir Fry. Tonight, Chili! God must love me to send me with someone who can attend to my hunger needs with such diligence and skill. Otherwise, I'm sure I'd be eating  cereal by day and PB & J by night for 6 months. :) Not sure I'd necessarily hate that.. but I'm thankful I don't have to. 

Chili time! Hope all of you are well. 

Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your Truth; unite my heart to fear Your Name. I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your Name forever. For great is Your steadfast Love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths of the grave.  

Psalm 86:11-13