It's Friday!

We do morning and evening devotions and worship each night in Thai and English together.  It has been really cool worshiping with the same songs... in both languages.  We are all taking turns sharing our stories with each other and it has been really encouraging to us to see how our stories are so different yet so similar.

This is our largest gathering space at ALC.  It is a 5 story building that is only this wide.  Our neighborhood is very busy with home markets everywhere selling sodas, candy, chips, and authentic thai street foods.  We have a 7-11 just 4 buildings down, so we have also become regulars there.  It's so awesome to get our 16oz slurpees for about 45 cents.

Goon, (shown here with Nathaniel and Jordan) is one of the main leaders at ALC.  There are 6 women who work full time for ALC with their purse making business.  Lauren and Lisa are staying in Goon's home.

For the past few years, the ALC women have been trying to figure out how to do a kids carnival for the neighborhood.  SO, now that we are here, we have the man power to help them out!  We are prepping all day today for the carnival.  Ring toss, cake walk, bean bag toss, face painting, crafts... prizes.  It will be a good time for all.  Each American is paired up with a Thai partner for the stations.



In other News:

Last night was a much better night of sleep for most of us... so much cooler with the temperature that we actually used our sheets to cover up.  We are thankful for Nyquil and fans.  It rained REALLY hard in the middle of the night with thunder and lightening.... woke most of us up.

This morning we had curry, stir fried veggies, basil chicken, and pork and tofu soup for breakfast.  For some reason, it has actually been fine to eat breakfast the thai way.  No one has complained once about the food.

We are hanging around our neighborhood today during the day.  We will go out and invite kids to come to the carnival when they get out of school.  We are also getting some quiet down time / nap time in after lunch.  Tonight, we are treating the women of ALC to go see Transfomers 3 in the movie theater.  Of the 6 of the women, one son who is 10 years old, and a niece who is 15, only two women have been to the movies before. We are going to see it in Thai with English subtitles... kids don't know that yet, so it will be funny once the movie starts and they realize that it is in Thai!  Oh, and there will be air conditioning, so all are excited.

More Pictures.

There might not have been seatbelts, but we sure had fun...

Chicken and Pork Fried Rice was breakfast today.
AND it was the best fried rice I've ever had.

Yep.  Open air sausage/ham chunk/bologna section of grocery store.

Doing Thai Dancing!

Ben was actually the best one at this...

A View of Our Life

 After our arrival to Bangkok, we stayed in a nice hotel with a great view of the city around us.  We enjoyed the pool, sleeping in, Indian food for breakfast, and air conditioning.

Karl and Karen's daughter Bethany is hanging out with us for the week along with her two cousins, Mari and Kirsten.  Bethany and Mari have both attended the International school here where Karl works.  We met with other MK's who are here in Thailand... played lots of sports, heard each others stories, laughed, ate lots of food, etc.

One of the main ministries of ALC (where we are staying with Karen Groot) is working with Thai women in making purses and bags.  We spend today at the market... designing and picking out fabrics.... yes, 6 hours of shopping.  The guys are about done with shopping.

 We have done ALL types of transportation... motorcycles, walking, taxi's, tut tut's, boats, airplanes, sky metro....

 We have decided to do our devotions together in both Thai and English... it has been awesome to hear stories from both cultures that still speak to each others' hearts.

 The Boat Taxi in downtown Bangkok is THE BEST way to see the city.  So fun.

 Can't figure out how to rotate... it's a typical shot of our time in the market today...

Photo update

So bad news is that we can't load pictures from the iPad. My iPhone doesn't have international service. You will have to get pictures from my Facebook. So sorry.
Lisa

Ali Tros comments so far

At the Japanese airport we all were open eyed and had dropped jaws. Some of us got sushi (no it did not wiggle) but it was soooooo cool! We met Lindsey there and our team was complete!
At the arrival to the airport in Bangkok, after we quickly went through customs, exchanging money, and getting all of our luggage, we were met by the missionaries Karen and Bethany Groot, and some of there friends. We all arrived safely to the hotel and went to our rooms. I slept very very well! And so did everyone else! Breakfast was great with some rice and some other mystery food that was great. It is hot and humid and beautiful here! We love you and miss you! Please keep us in your prayers.

Bangkok and sweaty!

We made it. It is like 10:30am your time.. And maybe 1:30am here. Here is a quick recap of our last 24 hours


Words of wisdom about relationships from Brian Peters

1.  Ok. Lisa.  Here is my challenge for myself. At the next airport, I will start a conversation with a random girl my age.. I mean if I can.

2.  Oh no, with the ladies, I don't play them, i charm them. 

3.  Lisa - Well, chances are pretty good that you will probably end up marrying a girl younger than you....
Brian - (interrupting) well, obviously. 

Needless to say, the trip went quickly.


Thoughts from Brandon...
I Want to see a change in the way I handle stressful situations. I want to be able to trust in God and not be so worked up in my own fears and ideas about how a situation should work out. I also want to show the women at ALC, the people in the leper colony, the orphans, and everyone we meet that they are loved by us and more importantly, by God.

Other entertainment:
 - oh my gosh.  I forgot that I used to wear a kimono as a kid. - Ryan Adams

Completed bucket list item:
Ate Sushi in Tokyo, Japan

We tried to upload pictures but cant figure it out. Sorry. We will work on it tomorrow. Off to sleep in our sweat, as it is so hot here.

Everyone is great. We feel loved. God is good!

- Lisa.

Life of the American Teenager...

This is a video that Aaron and Ben from our team put together.  We showed it in church this morning... yep, Black Eyed Peas and all.... They loved it.  This will be the video we show to kids and others in Thailand of what our life is like...

36 HOURS

Just 36 hours until we will be on our flight leaving for THAILAND!  These past 2 years of planning have FLOWN by!  God is so so good and I am trusting in His great guidance as he helps to lead our team.

We have some fun things that will be coming up on the blog in the next few days such as:

• team pictures of our departure
• a video of our "a day in the life of an American teenager"
• individual entries from team members
• Bible verses that are speaking to us and ones we would love to share with you
• Our best and worst reactions to new foods.... this should be nothing but 5 star quality entertainment for you....

Thank you again for praying us into this grand adventure!
In His Grip,
Lisa

TWO WEEKS TIL TAKEOFF!!!

Our Thailand Mission Trip begins in T - minus TWO WEEKS! We are getting really excited about it. Our agendas are filled with:

• last minute shots and meds
• craft and game planning
• meals while traveling planning
• conversations with missionaries we will work with
• Parent meetings
• talking with Travel agents
• making sure we are over Bronchitis
• gazing at our awesome t-shirts that were made
• making multiple "don 't forget" lists
• planning youth group for while we are gone
• getting ready for Jr. High camp the week before Thailand
• Enjoying the most of our fatty American Foods
• Praying.

You know, the usual list for prepping for a major Mission Trip. WE ARE STOKED! Thanks for praying for us as we head into this adventure. Once we are leaving Santa Barbara Soil, we promise to blog much more regularly.