Life Changes in the Blink of an Eye...

As I sit and write this post, I am pondering many different aspects of life. However, the aspect that’s at the forefront of my mind is the power of a moment. What we do in our lives often can be defined or redefined simply by a moment. Life is short and but a vapor. We can be told this and even read about it in God’s word. James 4:14 states, "How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone." 

We know this simple truth in our heads, but in order for it to move from our heads to hearts takes something influential. During the past year, this is the lesson that I’ve been learning over and over again. I want to live in the moment, take advantage of every opportunity that is presented, and make the most of every moment. This however, may not play out the way I envisioned or even wish. We can make plans. I think there is a time and a place for plans, but being flexible is highly valuable. This is especially true when yielding to God’s will and not our own. Jeremiah 29:11 and Proverbs 3:5-6 are very fitting. 

Two months ago, I thought I would be blogging from good ol' Mae Sa Luang, however plans changed. I am currently residing with my parents in California and not in Thailand where I thought I would be. I came home for school at APU and planned to return to teach after my classes finished. Well, I had struggling with my health while I was in Thailand for several months. With the prodding of a dear friend and after multiple normal test results, I went to see a Holistic doctor who was able to give diagnosis. I am currently recovering and doing fairly well. I am missing Thailand very much and my students oh so much. Teaching at Legacy, Thailand and my students were my life for the past two years. While I had struggles from the typical cultural changes, being away from family and friends as well as breaking my leg and being in a hospital for the first time in my life, I had wonderful experiences. Thus, my life has been touched and will forever be changed. I learned much about culture, God, life, people, and myself. 

A couple of the things that I will never take for granted are the joys of having family and friends close, soft beds, people speaking English EVERYWHERE, not be able to barter, HOT showers and soft beds. I have left with a greater understanding of what it means to live a simple life, what it means to have a hard life, what it means to love, serve and care. There are many, many other amazing things I learned from my time spent living, learning to love and serving in Thailand I cannot seem to find the words to express. I will always cherish my memories and lessons learned. 

My daily prayer was that God would cause me to be stretched and grown. Be careful what you pray for! I was definitely stretched and grown in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I know I will forever be changed from my time spent at Legacy Institute. I’m thankful for the opportunity I had to serve and was blessed in many ways during my time there. I do hope to one day go back and visit, although I’m not sure when one day will be.

As of now, I don’t know what this life has in store or where I will be or end up. I’m waiting on God and praying for guidance and direction in my life.

So this is farewell for now!

Thank for you to my devoted readers (mainly family J) for reading. Thank you for all of your prayers and support throughout my time abroad. (If you think of me, send a prayer up on my behalf. :))     

Lots of Love and Hugs,

Lainy J.

AKA 

Aj. Elainea

Ramblings

Some days, I just stop and marvel at the fact that I live in Thailand. It can become as common as living in any little town in the world. It becomes normal. The times I realize it are typically when I’m sitting in the back of a sawng tao (truck with two benches AKA taxi) headed to Mae Rim or Chaing Mai. Many things I may have thought weird or abnormal are now what I have come to expect and no longer shocking in the slightest. People take pictures of you because you’re white, surprising? No, commonplace. There is an entire (head and all) slaughtered pig in the market, which is totally normal. Keeping in touch and talking to friends and family by talking to the computer is a necessity, at one time I thought the concept was strange. Amongst things becoming normal, there are still things that drive me nuts about the country and those that I will never understand no matter how long I live there. People still stare at me even though they have seen me a million times and there are only six white people in our village. (Yes, we all know each other.) The internet goes out when there is any type of weather including beautiful sunshine. The town crier thinks it’s his duty to bid you a good morning at 6:30 am on a Saturday, when you actually get to sleep in. :) These are small, materialistic things, but there are bigger issues, which I have grown accustomed and will miss when I leave Thailand for the last time. However, there are also those, which cause me to shake my head and just wonder why.

Mai Phen Rai and Jai Yen Yen are two phrases, which I have learned to embrace. I like them when applied appropriately of course. Mai Phen Rai means no problem, don’t worry about it, or never mind. It is used all the time. There are times when I think we need to hasten or be concerned about things. For the vast majority of things, westerners could take a lesson in this area of life and not worry so much. Jai Yen Yen means chill or at least that’s the way I’ve explained it to my students. It could also be translated as calm down. Again as it states in Ecclesiastes 3, there is a time and place for everything. So there is a time and place for the phrase as well, but I would love to see it practiced a little more. (Maybe on the freeways in LA.)

The way people are treated in Thailand can just make me sad. I see people that I could easily just give all of my money away to them knowing they could use it more than I. They would probably make better use of it as well. I am also amazed by the way some Thais treat their people. They show love and they care. They give to their people if they are able. They help and do it willingly.

The important things in life are something we define and say in cliché terms quite frequently. Those cliché terms are true. The important things in life are not the material possessions we own. The relationships we have are far greater than anything we could ever own.

I pray I am impacting the world around me in a positive way the way Thailand is impacting me. I hope I remember and will always be changed by my experiences in Thailand.

Love and Hugs,

Lainy J.

     

The Newbies!

Last, but not least, I would like to introduce you to our newbies-- the first year students. What a daunting life they lead! They voluntarily come to a school where the teachers are all foreigners (the love this, by the way) and all the classes are taught in English from day 1. A scary thought in my opinion. So here are these brave, new individuals we are growing to know and love.

Namu enjoys being with her family. 

Jatah who is our youngest student.

Atima is kind of quiet still. I'm sure this will change.

Saree likes to play soccer and attempts to stay awake during Bible class, which is in the heat of the day. 

Jaju is a quiet observer.

Ben has an amazing voice, sweet personality and attempts to use her English any chance she gets.

MaTee loves all sports and using his English. He's always happy. He does have a fault,. He was against the US in the World Cup. Boo!

Mhuay likes to play Phase 10 and keep the boys in line.

Soda says her English isn't good, but she is trying and it's fun to talk to her. She'll get it. 

Gila is one of the sweetest girls I have ever met. She loves to try to talk to all the teachers.

Spy is good friends with Soda. They love to sit, chit chat and listen to music. I like to hang out with them to try and improve my Thai. They are in the process of trying to convince me to stay at Legacy until they graduate. 

Boy seemed very scared when I first met him. He is improving greatly on a daily basis.

Pim is sweet. She knows more than she leads on to understand.

I have the privilege of teaching them Bible class. I get to put to use my elementary teacher training in that class, which I love. We play games, draw and many other things. I know it doesn't sound like a Bible class, but we are trying to get them to know/ memorize some of the basics they either do not know or just not in the English language. It's a foundation for all of the other Bible classes at Legacy. 

I'm excited to see how these students grow and prosper throughout the year. It's always fun to see their personalities once they begin to know more English. They will definitely get to that point, but it will take lots of determination, hard work, persistence and possibly even some sweat and tears. 

You have now met Legacy's class of 2013. 

-Aj. Elainea

Drum Roll Please...

Making it to your third year at Legacy takes a lot of hard work and determination. This year we have two wonderful, talented, bright, and interesting students. They have made it to year three and now just seven more months to the finish line.

You just get to see their serious picture since the other one had too many shadows.

Fon is the kitchen boss and an amazing cook! She loves singing, sports, doing anything musical and hanging out with her husband, Atiwat.

Uarorawet is a walking miracle. He's my student who was in a motorbike accident last year. He has the best outlook on life, loves playing the guitar and singing, loves his family dearly, and looks for the next mountain to climb in this life. Such an inspiration! 

My third year students, the ones who really tugged on my heart and made me want to come back for year three and see them graduate. Their first year at Legacy was my first year. I am very proud of them and push them in their classes everyday. Fon says, "My homework makes me crazy." I just respond like any teacher will, if I didn't think you could do it, I wouldn't assign it. :) I guess I'm becoming a "mean" teacher in my old age. 

-Aj. Elainea

Introducing My Second Year Students

I teach a bunch of characters in second year. There are nine of them. Five are Lahu Black, one is Lahu Yellow, two are Kachin, and one is Karen. They are really a goofy bunch in and out of the classroom. Most teachers have a difficult time getting their classes to quiet down, but not me. They are a quiet bunch in the classroom and sometimes it is like pulling teeth to get them to answer questions to which you know they know the answers. Even with the frustrating times that come, they are fun to teach! They have to be reminded every now and again of expectations, but other than that, they're a great group.

The goofy side of them

Atiwat is our farm/garden boss. He does a great job. He's always ready for the next challenge. He loves God, music and football.

Wahrut is a quiet, but smart and funny individual. He likes to laugh and hang out with his peeps at Legacy.

Surachai is our oldest student so he is more affectionately known as Ajan Surachai by the other students. He has to work hard, but really wants to learn. He loves to laugh, sing and have fun.

Aung is a first/ second year hybrid. This is his first year at Legacy, but his English was good enough to be moved up into the second year classes. 

He loves coffee, singing and talking on the phone.

SomPorn is always smiling (except in photos). He can brighten your day with his smile. He's very curious and wants to learn English very much. He's not afraid to ask you to explain something again.

Peto marches to his own drum in a good way. He doesn't crave to fit in. He's very trendy as you can tell by his hair. He's always ready to help and very appreciative after each class. He's not shy at all, well in class is a different story. You can hear Peto from anywhere on the school grounds belting out a song. It always makes me smile.

Samuey is the jokester! He loves to make people laugh. He's typically full of questions about everything including, "Do we have snacks?" "What happened Ajan?" and other questions about the Bible.

DaNi came my first at Legacy, but then had to leave. He then came back this past year. He likes to rival Samuey for being the class clown. He would rather find a good book to read or play on the computer rather than play soccer.

AhJar is our token girl for this class. She is very smart and like most girls at Legacy loves to talk on the phone, sing and go to jazzercise.

These are the gentlemen and lady that keep me on my toes in my Reading 2, Writing 2 and Discussion 2/3 classes. If they didn't keep me on my toes, I might get bored. Haha! 

-Ajan Elainea

Around the School

Hey, hey! 

Many of you have asked where I teach. So, I've decided to give you a tour of the Legacy School Compound in Mae Sa Luang, Thailand. 

This is the street outside the school. You may not believe it, but it is big enough for two cars side by side. Just barely, but they do with caution. 

This is the entrance to the compound and the King's flags flying.

The other end of the compound.

All the students' bikes and Erika's motorbike

The school

Photo Credit: Uaorawet

The main room Intro to Bible Class

Photo Credit: Brian Drawbaugh

The main room is also where we have services

Photo Credit: Brian Drawbaugh

Singing

The Computer Room

This is where I teach the majority of my classes, which means I get to teach barefoot. :-)

 A perk of teaching in Thailand in doors. 

My view when I'm teaching. 

There are normally 3 tables set up in here for students.

The library

Another view

The other wall.

This is Erika's baby as she LOVES books.

One of our keyboards, where you will typically find students

The stairs to the girls' rooms

The kitchen and crew getting ready for dinner

Dried fish... NOT my favorite, but the students love it! (thankfully!)

Some of our plants

Walking toward the teachers' house. 

The planter on the left is one of my favorite things when it's in bloom.

So pretty!

:)

The view of the school from the teachers' house

A "friend" I found... notice the quotations marks!

The boys' houses.

The teachers' house

The deck

Erika's little garden that's coming along

Side Note: A downfall of this garden is that it's in Thailand, which means it has snakes that I find! See that tire up against the tree? Well, one day when I was doing laundry. I saw something moving in it. What was it?!?! An ugly, green and orange snake. It tried to hop on the tree and failed. I laughed. Then it tried again and succeeded. At that point, I promptly shut the door as the thing slithered up the tree. GROSS!!! 

It even has a bamboo bench our students made

It's sooo COOL!

Let's take a trip inside the teachers' house

The living room

The other side

The "offices"

Those are Austin and Erika's desks

My desk

The dining room/ classroom when needed/ meeting room (our multipurpose room)

The bathroom

The kitchen

The sub kitchen that has the stove and where we do dishes

Storage room, which can be converted into a guest room. 

More affectionately known as the annex.

The bathroom and washing machine 

(Not quite like the USA's washing machines, but still great!)

My room

My best friend!

The other side of the room

My cupboard/ bookshelf

(The top shelf is Erika's school books.)

Closet/ storage room

Storage

My bathroom

Well, there ya have it... a tour of the Legacy Compound. This is where I spend most of my time while in Thailand. I'm still working on a tour of the farm.

-Lainy J.