October Fest

So the month of October was a busy one for us. The first week we returned back to Bangkok we attended a seminar at the church. It was on the Thai culture and the people. It was really good. Very insightful. It opened my eyes up to alot of different things. As we have been learning more about the Buddhist religion i have come to find out that yes there are obviously some major differences but we really arent that different in the way we think or in what we do. I was also amazed when thinking about how different cultures can be from each other. That might sound like a dud statement but i never really realized how different one place is form the next and why that is. From what we beleive to how we think to the expressions we make. My worldview has definitely been widened in more ways then one. I feel as if i am still trying to process everything. In a way things seem to be moving so fast its hard to straighten it all out in my head.

(side note) We had to use the squatty potties alot this week because of what floor we were on for the seminar...well we could have walked up a flight of stairs and used the western toilets but who wants to walk up all those stairs unless its absoulutely necessary right!...anyways i still havent mastered the squat potts. I still end up peeing on my feet. At first i was always really ashamed and nervous that i spelt like pee but now i dont even give it a second thought...i mean for cryin out loud im trying my best alright!

My parents came down for 11 days....it was a surpirse...i mean i knew they were coming but they planned to come not even two weeks before they actually arrived. It was so good to see them. I am so thankful they were able to make it down. I am happy that i was able to share a part of this adventure with them. They hung out in Bangkok the firt week as we were in the Seminar and then we spent the next 5 days in Hua Hin which is about 3 hours form Bangkok. It was alot of fun. The beds were one of my favorite parts. It was nice not sleeping on what feels like a board :) DOnt get me wrong, im glad i have a bed but it was nice to have a change for a couple days. We wnt to a place called Monkey Mountain while we were there and it was awesome but kind of surreal becayse these monleys just chill as if they are people......Jess was brave and decided she wanted to feed them so she bought some food and before she could "hand it out or throw it" this little creeper of a monkey jumped right on her head. I was very proud of her though. She was very calm....me on the other hand i was all the way over on the other side of the road. She was freaking out on the inside but i most definitely was freaking out on the outside.

When we returned home form Hua Hin it was time to say goodbye to my parents and head to Loas to renew our passpotrs.....we decided to lay low the last two months we are here and cooperate with the law and stay here legally! It was a good trip. It was very short but it was nice to see another part of Asia. The bus ride however was not so nice. There were cockroaches and it was raining outside so rain was leaking in directly on top of me......i didnt know if i should laugh or cry.

We were given an amazing oppurtunity we were able to go to Phuket for 10 days to help out with the Tsunami releif with a pastor named Wasan. It was really awesoem to be there. It was sad as well. We went down to one of the big memorials in Bang Nam khem and it really made what happen a reality. It really brought prespective for me . Because it happened so far away i guess it was just a passing thought , something that i was sad about but then i moved on and didnt really understand the implications of it all and how it effected the people and such. But it was also cool to hear how God worked in the lives of the people during this time, i was able to hear this man named An, his testimony and it was just awesome how God worked in his life.
We taught a bit of English and were also able to help start the building of the foundation for a preschool. That was alot of fun...i have been reminded just how weak i am hahaha. I am asking for weights for Christmas.........(haha thats funny)

We were also able to see soem of the Island, Phi Phi Island and we went and saw Maya Bay where the movie the Beath was filmed with Leonardo Dicaprio. It was beautiful and it was so sweet of God how it happened. Jess and i really wanted to go but we knew it wasnt going to happen and when Wasan picked us up from the airport he was telling us about how the week was going to look and how he had to go to Phi Phi island to officiate a wedding and jokinly we said we will come with you and he was like okay! He knew the owner of the resort and we were able to stay for free. It was a huge blessing. It was alot of fun...however my legs didnt have such a fun time. I woke up the next day looking like i had gotten the chicken pox but only on my legs hahah. Good times!

We are now in Roi-et once again for the last 6 weeks. It is hard to believe it is almost time to come home. It will be bittersweet for sure. I am happy that we have another 6 weeks here in Roi-et. I missed the kids for sure. It is still pretty warm here but i am going to try and take advantage of it while i can :)

I am going to try and be better with my posts.
thank you so much for reading and for your supporrt and prayers
Miss you all
Love
katey