Surprises and Songkran!

April has arrived!

Which basically means that hot season is in full effect = smoke and pollution killing your lungs while the heat sucks every ounce of fluid from your pores. The last several weeks have been spent with itchy eyes and several daily wardrobe changes, but finally have had some days of rain to clear the skies! 

Life here has gotten busier since the beginning of March with work at the orphanage ramping up in hours spent and projects to do since the girls are on their school break. Those over 16 have been going to a discipleship school at a church in Chiang Mai and seeing very good results midway though the 6 weeks! Many of them have become disillusioned with friends, boys, money, etc. and are now coming back from their days at the church visibly taking ownership of their faith. The ones under 16 are here daily with the staff and I where we've been putting together different classes and games and things for them to do. It's been a lot of fun being able to spend full days with them and teaching English, playing games, and being an "older brother" again with such ample time. Whereas before, during school, there was barely time enough to help 3 different girls with homework between the time they got home, showered, had dinner and the sky turned dark and I returned home.

Teaching and helping at Compassion has been going well! Its been exciting to be involved with such a large foundation and opening doors to further opportunities than the simple "help improve English grammar" that God got my attention with back in January.

Starting this week is the annual water fight that turns all of Chiang Mai into a splash zone for the all-out water warfare festival known as Songkran! Nothing says "Happy Traditional Thai New Year" like a bucket of cold putrid water thrown with force at you while driving down the highway. This time of year the board shorts and dry-bags come out in full force while packs of roaming children and adults alike seek and destroy anyone not already soaked...and even those who are for good measure.

Praises!

God blessed me with several over-the-top gifts earlier; first of which being the unforeseen visit of a friend from Colorado, Laken Chapman, who is living and working with YWAM in Norway. For the entire two days we were able to spend we couldn't shake the smiles and surreal feelings of how in the world God could have placed us here for this time. (Still smiling at the AWESOMENESS of God)

Second, although not as welcome as a surprise visit from a friend; a trip to the hospital on Saturday due to a shoulder injury playing ultimate frisbee proved no broken bones but severely strained muscles. I'm extremely grateful for the speedy aid of friends and the quick/cheap diagnosis of what we had feared to be a long drawn-out recovery and inability to drive. I'm still feeling the effects of it but have been massaging the muscles and taking relaxants and anti-inflammatories to allow for faster results and ability to get back to driving myself around.

Lastly - God has blessed me EVEN MORE with the surprise return of my girlfriend, Casey to Chiang Mai for 2 weeks, arriving the last week of April!! Since last saying goodbye in mid December we weren't sure of the next time we'd be together. But with jobs and timing and affordable plane tickets we'll get to spend the better part of her time here exploring more of Chiang Mai and Bangkok, allowing her to visit with old friends and more time with the girls at BHJ whom she's already acquainted with.

Prayer

Please pray for the following things:

• A quick recovery for my shoulder and continued health and safety (especially during the "Dangerous Driving days of Songkran" (April 9 - 16)
• Time spent with the girls at BHJ to be well-used and encouragement of their faith before going back into the routines of school.
• Continued intimacy with our Father and protection from the Enemy.
• A blessed time with Casey as neither of us know the exact time we'll get to see each other again after her departure early May.

Thank you all for the many many blessings and constant prayer that keeps me doing the things God has set before me!