Culture shock...

Tonight was one of our hardest and best debriefings we have had. We had the conversation about culture challenges and specifically cultural conflict. We wrestled through aspects of being in another culture and not realizing we were coming across as rude and pushy. We dealt with emotions of how the thai treated us and how our feelings were hurt because they were so blunt about the way we appear. We dealt with the frustration of wearing things or not wearing things (bracelets in our case that were significant to us with meaning attached), yet we didn't understand why it was such an offense to other thai Christians. I know that these conversations are what will change us in the long hull, but tonight we are tired. We ask for prayers for a few things:
- a few are starting to feel worn down with their health and bodies. Prayers for restoration.
- for our hearts as we all REALLY miss the Groots and our ALC friends in Bangkok. It was so so good to be with them and we loved our connections there!!
- for our new relationship with Youth For Christ who we are now with for the rest of the trip... That we would be able to grow in our friendship with them and that we would be able to encourage them here as well.
- for our time in OmKoi for the next 5 days. We leave tomorrow morning and go north to the Karen Hilltribes. We are nervous for getting malaria or some other disease. We are nervous about the living conditions. We are nervous that the only 7-11 in that area will run out of candy and soda for us. (they are special ordering more milk to 7-11 for our group so we can have cereal each morning. Funny but true.)
- for god to keep at work in our team and in us individually as we are on this trip. We have already noticed how we have grown together and we have pointed out individual growth in some members of the team that we see God working in.
- for the next 5 days as we won't be able to communicate too much with any of you. There really isn't any Internet connection in the town. You will have to wait to hear from us until we get back on Saturday.

In other news:
- we celebrated the 4th of July by going to 7-11 together tonight after dinner
- the pool here at the Eco lodge in Chaing Mai is so so fun. We have loved it today!
- we are getting air conditioning AGAIN tonight!!!!
- we are not taking the public bus tomorrow... We rented vans. With air conditioning.
- our average cost for dinner tonight was $3.15 For example, you can get about 6oz of grilled steak with a coleslaw and some fries, a 16oz glass of fresh squeezed juice, and two new water bottles all for $3.15
- we did laundry today... And we have both the guys and gals room strung with drying lines and clothes on them. It was funny to do debriefing with underwear just hanging around.
- they sell seaweed flavored lays here. The green bags here are nit the sour cream and onion like at home. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way.

Blessings on the week!!! Will write more on Saturday!!