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To: Don Woodard Sent: Thursday, 28 Sep 2006 Subject: News from the Ouellettes... (c/w photos) |
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Greetings from Thailand!!
It has been a month since we left Abbotsford now. Hopefully all of you received word that we arrived safely (and have heard in the news that the recent coup in Bangkok has been a peaceful one to this point). We are pleased to report that we have now (mostly) settled into our new home in Lopburi! We arrived here last week and jumped right into orientation at our language school.
TRAVELS:
Our initial 3 weeks of traveling went very well. We spent time in Bangkok, Phuket province, Phang Nga province, and Bang Saen (Chonburi province). Part of this time was orientation to Thailand and to our team. Our time down south was a scouting trip to begin to discern where we should settle in a year's time. We have not made any final decisions yet, but did feel that God confirmed to us that although the team was "birthed" out of a response to the tsunami and MBMSI's relief efforts on one particular island, we don't feel that we will pursue the little island of Kho Koh Kao as our place of residence. There are a number of good long-term works underway nearby already. That was a significant step for us. Now we will begin to pursue/ research some more populated areas in the region. We sure appreciate your continued prayers for us regarding this significant question.
Some highlights of the past month:
- Luke - turning 5 - the first Thailand birthday for our family. OK, and he was pretty excited to tell us that he ate a grasshopper for snack that day too!!
- Caleb - boogie boarding one afternoon on the Andaman Sea!
- Silas - enjoying attention from 2 very special friends on our team (Amber and Amanda) :)
- Emma - bonding with "Auntie" Judy Griffioen......at the market, in taxis, in the swimming pool - oh and no more life jacket required for our deep end girl!
- Becky - finally setting up house in Lopburi (such a mother hen) :)
- Greg - "soaking it all in" (My husband was born for adventure! He loves to explore and experience new tastes, smells, sights.)
SCHOOL:
The kids have all started "school" (a cross between a classroom and a home
school situation...) The kids are really enjoying the Klassen boys. They get
along well and have lots in common! Miss Karen is a great teacher and all is
going well so far!
Greg and I have officially started classes. We are going to be full- time students for the next 12 months!! Just started the phonetics and pronunciation module. We learned the 21 vowels and 21 consonant sounds (there are more consonants to learn yet!) of the Thai alphabet and have been introduced to the 5 tones. We will review these things over and over until it all "sticks" and then we will begin acquiring new vocabulary. So we are basically in preschool :) Baby steps at first, but soon we'll be on our way to understanding and speaking Thai! (I speak with great faith!). The language training will be a long haul... 100% of our time is focussed on that for the next 12 months. Then 50% for the next year and 25% after that... It is a very good language school (run by OMF) and we are encouraged by the progress of others who have gone before us!
SETTLING IN:
Lopburi is a great little city. We are learning to find our way around. Greg is enjoying playing Thai Pictionary games with the vendors in the market place to make himself understood. It seems to be working, as he is coming home with the right stuff, for the most part.....one little story......My dear husband came home from the market the other day with flowers for me. Yeah, he is pretty great! :) A neighbours lady smiled at him as he carried them home. Our Thai cultural studies the next day told us that the particular flowers Greg got for me are actually intended to be given as offerings to Buddha. So the thought in the mind of the market vendor as well as our neighbor was probably not 'What a nice guy... bringing flowers home for his wife' but rather 'Hey... I wonder if our new farang (foreigner) neighbours are buddhist?'. Oops.
We are grateful for all of the emails we have been receiving from many of you and are trying diligently to respond to each one. Thanks so much to those who are praying for us too. I have definitely been grieving the loss of being close to my dear family and friends, but can say with sincerity that we truly feel privileged to be here in Thailand. The challenges are real, and enormous, but we serve an awesome God who is bigger than anything we could face. Baby steps, one day at a time...thanks for being a part of this journey!
Becky and Greg
Caleb, Emma, Luke, and Silas
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Tsunami Memorial near Kho Koh Kao Island |
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A picture of our team in Lopburi |
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Ouellette family meal on the floor... |