Initial Thoughts & Adjusting to Life without Lists

#1 - First things first ~ goal accomplished: ride an elephant :). Yesterday I went with one of the teams that is here to an elephant park in Chiang Mai. It was half trail ride, half circus. hahaha. At one point when I was riding the elephant, we started going downhill and my bag slipped and fell down. Don't worry though, because she picked it up with her trunk and handed it back to me!!! ahhhh. soo cool :)

I am completely in love with the Remember Nhu girls already. Hearing some of their stories absolutely breaks my heart and only confirms how much more I am grateful to have this opportunity.
The weather and the property are picturesque. About 10-11 acres in one of the rural suburbs outside of the city. One of the teams that is here right now has been working on setting up a chicken coop and expanding the pig pen. Yes everyone - I am living on a farm. Aunt Judi would be so proud!!! To be honest though, that is so little of what goes on. It really is mostly to sell the pigs once they are grown and to eat the chickens and eggs. Seems to make sense to me!

There are two ponds on the property and on a walk this morning I think I found a new place to escape and get some time to myself. There is a little bench between the two ponds that looks back over the big pond and you can see the house in the background. I had some much needed quality time with the LORD there early this afternoon.

My room is basically a sorority style sleeping porch. Big room with enough bunk beds to fit about 40 girls. My personal space consists of a 4-high plastic drawer container near my bunk- rubbermaid style. Other than that, there is no such thing as privacy!

I am definitely adjusting to the differences in the way people do life here. As a company/church we are dealing with challenges in differences of culture, language, personality etc...  It is interesting seeing peoples expectations of what needs to get done, what people want to do, and what really happens. The difference in language makes it hard to communicate those things and culture makes it hard to carry them out. Two of my primary tasks while I am here are to help Carl with business related projects, and to work with Nhu on her English. I am trying to learn Thai language and culture, and teach English to Nhu - who is Cambodian and speaks Khmai (language in Cambodia) - it makes for an interesting dynamic :). Love having another girly girl around though! So excited to grow the relationship with my new sister.

Everything runs slower here in general, not to mention in addition to problems with miscommunication. As of now, I have yet to really "work". No complaints from me - it has been nice to get settled and spend time with the girls in the children's homes, but it will definitely take some time to get used to life without lists! So different from the way we do life in America!! I am used to having 800 things to do, and having to keep track of everything via lists. That is not at all necessary here. No list needed when nothing is on it! Hoping to start on some business projects next week so that may change, but who knows - I have been told life in Thailand is all about patience and flexibility.

I promise to post pictures soon - I haven't transferred everything from my camera to the computer yet and my camera is back home. Right now I am writing from the house of another family who works for Remember Nhu. They offered me WiFi and cereal - YES!!!

My Thai is getting better and everyone says I am picking up fast - thank you so much for all of you who are praying for me! Keep it up because apparently it is working :). Would also love prayers for my relationships with Nhu and the other staff at Remember Nhu. Want to establish them early and well. Because communication is an issue, this is especially important!!!

<3