Life in ROI-ET

Howdy friends!

So it has been about two weeks since Jess and I have been living in Roi-et. We are living at the centre (a.k.a. The church plant that is connected with the church we were staying at while we were in Bangkok). We are in a village called Banon. It has been quite the change from living in Bangkok.

Our days consist of teaching and driving. From Wednesday to Saturday we teach about two classes a day, some days we teach two classes each. In between classes we are traveling to the next school in the next village. Let’s just say us and the truck have become one! Friday after we teach we come back to the house and the kids from the village are waiting for us. We usually read a story to them and act it out and then the kids have a reading competition and then there are two more English classes from about 4:30 to 6:00. Sunday we have a mini service or rather program for the kids. There are a bout 40 kids ranging from 3 years old to 17 years old. We start off with a song or a little exercise…usually both. Jess and taught them the song “Jesus you’re my Superhero”, they seem to really enjoy that little ditty. The first week we were hear we dressed up like superheroes…..well…….our version of a superhero so I don’t know if they really just enjoyed watching us make fools of ourselves but in either case they like the song….who cares why exactly…right! After a little exercise to wake them up we tell them a story and act it out and tie it in with a Bible story and then have a time of prayer where we can pray for the kids and this week i was given the opportunity to teach a dance class. It was a lot of fun. I don’t think I have gotten that much exercise ……well lets just say in a very long time……my heart was freaking out! Then we have lunch all together. It’s really cool to see different parents or grandparents bringing food or preparing the food for the Sunday lunch. After lunch we hang out with the kids all afternoon. We read to them, play with them, help them with homework, this week Jess has been helping one of the teens to learn to read music, we just spend time with them.

So that’s what a usual week looks like. It is quite busy from Wednesday to Sunday. It is pretty exhausting at the end of the day but in a good way. Teaching has been a lot of fun but quite challenging at the same time. It is a lot different teaching here then it was in Bangkok. Many times the kids are all on different levels in their knowledge of English. I am not sure if it is like this all over Thailand but here in Roi-et at many of the schools the students are not exactly taught in the sense that they interact with the teaching and learn but rather the teaching is up in the front writing things on the board and the kids just copying. So many times it is a struggle to get the kids to interact. It’s almost as if they aren’t sure that its okay. Sometimes you feel like you are talking to yourself. Also, Dr. Natachai, was telling us that usually in the Thai culture one wants an education not for the knowledge side of things but rather to get the diploma just to be able to say you have one or so that you can get a job to earn money. So they aren’t exactly excited about learning or have a concept of why it is important. So it has been challenging but interesting to be able to interact with the kids and think of new methods and new ways in which we can get them excited about learning. The other challenge is that they know how to read certain words or spell them but don’t always know what they are or their meanings. It has been a really awesome experience being in the classroom with the younger students. I have been having a lot of fun, however…I may come home with a little less hair :)

I love the lifestyle here. People live very simple. They don’t have a lot at all but they are content. It has also caused me to look at how I live and the mindset I have about different things regarding the way I live, its been challenging me and helping me to see how blessed I am and that many of the things I think I need, or rather just want most times, that they are just things, its all just stuff. It really isn’t important and is really just another distraction from what really matters. Many of the kids here have been left in their care of their Grandparents because their parents have left them to go to Bangkok. There was a young girl sharing with us last week that she is really sick but her parents don’t have a lot of money so they couldn’t give her a full check up at the hospital like they needed to. As this little girl was sharing this, she was talking about how her tummy hurts and how she has to take a lot of medicine but she is worried about if it turns out that she is really sick because her parents don’t have much money. So here is this young girl who is sick and in pain but yet her concern is that she hopes that it isn’t anything serious because she doesn’t want to cost her parents money because they don’t have a lot of it. How different our mindsets. Then I think of my own parents and think how they would feel if they were in that position, that must be so hard on them. ……….I don’t know……just the difference in the way we live in North America compared to the way they live here or other parts of the world. The different struggles and worries. Different values and opportunity or there lack of. It just makes me think and evaluate what really is important. What matters to me? And makes me wonder where my part is in all this, where do I fit, how can I help?

Sorry about the ramble….just processes I guess….

On another note…….i eat bugs now…..yep that’s right. Jess and I and the two other girls, P. Fon and P. Kem, we went to the market and ate a grasshopper, a cricket, an ant and some other kind of insect. ………don’t judge me………..but it was actually quite delicious if I do say so myself! If I close my eyes and didn’t know that I was actually eating insects I think I could eat a bag of em!

I think that I have fleas or bed bugs or something in my bed…….I continues to have new bits on me everyday. Jess doesn’t seem to be getting bit but for some reason they continue to have a feast with my body. I mean really when you think about it jokes on them……I mean….lets not forget folks……… I eat bugs now…HELLO!!!

I really feel like we are to be here for such a time as this. I have felt such a great peace since we have been here. A peace I haven’t had in a very long time. The fellowship that God has given us with P. Kem, P. Fon and Dr. Natachai has been awesome. I am really having a great time. It has been challenging and tiring by days but I can honestly say that at this time there is no place I would rather be. I look forward to being able to continue to build relationships with the kids and love on them and that God will use us the way He wants.

I miss you guys

I hope all is well

Thank you for your prayers, keep them coming :)

God Bless

Katey xo