PVT - Thailand, part 2

I read all the blogs of P squad...every one of them.  I comment on many of them. This group of people on 3rd generation P squad have encouraged me over the past 7 months. They are willing to ask the hard questions, go to the hard places, love the unlovable, walk into the unknown and embrace life with their whole being.  They hear scripture in a new way, they listen to God with new ears and they pray with a renewed fervor and spirit.  

I knew going to join Alyssa and her squad at PVT would be a blessing, but I had never been off the continent of North America.  I was not excited about the long travel days and hours in the air.  I didn't know what to expect because I had never been immersed in another culture.  

After a few days in Thailand, I found that being away from the normalcy of America to be so refreshing.  I think that is what the World Racers experience as they move to different countries and cultures.  In the spirit of one of my favorite P squad blogger, Melissa Bjorklund, here are some things that stand out from my time in Thailand.

So many

smells

markets - everyone is selling something

smiles

motorcycles, scooters, songtaews, tuk tuks

temples

spirit houses with food offerings

animals roaming the streets

people outside - sitting, hanging laundry, eating, talking, working, walking

coffee shops

The people in Chiang Mai never seem to be in a hurry

The children don't throw temper tantrums or seem cranky

I loved hearing the new language and trying to communicate with people and the racers do it so well and with such ease.  I learned a lot about relationships watching P squad during my week at PVT.  

I learned

share your story

hear their story

let go of your desires and serve others

accept those that are different 

World Racers spend 11 months in 11 countries serving and loving others.  They are learning about relationships and in turn they have taught me so much through their examples. 

Thank you P squad for living out Colossians 3:1-17

(my paraphrasing)

  

Racers set their mind on things above and put aside worldly things and desires. 

The racers have compassion, they are kind, they are humble, they are gentle, they are patient, they forgive and accept others. They truly have an attitude of gratitude and do all for His glory.

Fresh Vegetables at the market

Fresh meat at the market

booth at one of the many night markets

A few P squad racers reunited on streets of Chiang Mai

Lost - A Lesson

Last Wednesday Carrie, Kate and I were meeting Alyssa at Georgia Tech to switch cars. Alyssa is at Teach for America Institute this summer, and had just arrived the previous day to begin her 6 weeks of work.  Carrie was going to spend the week the with the Pascual family in Stone Mountain. (That is a post I'm sure Carrie will write in the future).  I had directions to meet Alyssa and make the switch.  I'm not very good with the maps on iPhone, even though Alyssa had sent  the address in a text message.  I looked up the address on google maps and wrote out directions.  Carrie was helping me navigate.  All was going well as we got off at the Howell Mill exit and began looking for the next turn.  I knew the mileage to find the street, but it didn't match up.  I couldn't find the street.  Carrie called Alyssa and thus began our adventure in being lost.  

I'm fairly familiar with Georgia Tech as Kate has been to the campus for swim meets.  The address I had didn't seem to be leading me toward what I knew to be the Tech campus, but it was the address Alyssa had sent me.  

Alyssa was asking questions about where we were, Carrie was responding. Alyssa told us to go to 10th Street and turn...but we didn't know which way.
We made the wrong choice. Did I mention we are directionally challenged?? Alyssa kept telling us to look for certain roads, make certain turns. The voices escalated as we continued to circle the same streets with the same results - lost!  Carrie went back to the address in the text and clicked on it - Alyssa's suggestion- it continued to take us to the wrong location.

This went on for about 15 minutes. Eventually we found her, standing on the corner of Hemphill and 10th Street - definitely in the midst of the Tech campus.  We exchanged vehicles and few items Alyssa had requested.  She was on a lunch break and short on time. Everyone was short on patience.

We made it to I-75 and to the Taproom without any issues.  The Taproom is the new coffee shop that Jonathan Pascual has recently opened on Hosea Williams Drive in the Kirkwood Community of Atlanta.  This is where we were meeting Sarah and the kids so that "Camp Carrie" could commence.  

I texted Alyssa that we made it without getting lost.  She asked how far it was from Tech, as she wanted to visit soon.  I went back to my maps to get the route from the address she had given me (yes, the one that got us lost). When I looked at the map, I realized the address she gave me was definitely NOT where we finally met her.  I sent her a text saying there was something wrong with the address I had for her.  A few minutes later she tells me that she had sent the WRONG address.  I had 855 and the correct one was 555. If you know anything about Atlanta, the streets do not always run in a straight line. 

What did I learn from this adventure?  To get where you are going you need the correct information. 

• God wants us to have the right information. When we try and follow what we think is right, even when someone we trust gave us the information, we can be wrong.  God's Word always has the right information, but we often interpret it incorrectly.

• He desires for us to ask Him. Often we need to call someone to get back on track.  I'm glad I can call on God and he always answers.  Sometimes we have to continue to call to get the right answer, it's not always immediate.

• Sometimes despite the right information, we make the wrong choice.  This happens daily in my walk with the Lord.  I'm am thankful for his grace and mercy when I make the wrong turn.

• Patience and love is key in any situation.  

Being unable to find Alyssa was frustrating, but with patience, love and a cell phone we finally connected!

Cat tails & God

This is Rowdy, he is almost a year old. He is a fun and crazy cat. Like most cats he comes and goes on his own terms. Sometimes he wants attention, other times just leave him alone. Occasionally he still likes to play with his tail. It just amazes me that he will suddenly start chasing his tail. He will spin round and round trying to "catch" his tail. Now, he must know that it is his tail - it follows him everywhere. Most of the time he doesn't pay attention to his tail, but on occasion he can't stop chasing it. Then just as suddenly he stops, and wanders off to eat....tail forgotten.

While watching Rowdy this morning, I begin to think that we are often like this with God. He is always there, but much of the time we ignore Him. We can go days or weeks without even noticing God, then all the sudden we have this crazy pursuit of God. Many times it's a struggle or trial that sends us pursuing God. Other times we may realize our need for Him, and there we are trying to catch Him. But, of course, He has been there all along....just waiting for us to run toward Him. Just like Rowdy and his tail.

"O God, Thou art my God, I shall seek Thee earnestly;
My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee,
In a dry and weary land where these is no water.
Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary,
To see Thy power and Thy glory.
Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life." Psalm 63:1