I really live here!

Wow, it has been over two weeks since I have moved to Chiang Mai. I feel as if the Lord has just picked me up in his hand, cradled me and kept me so safe and warm in his hands. Every time I turn around he has poured out a blessing in my lap. I am so amazed that I have only been here 16 days and already am blessed to have wonderful friends and teachers who have surrounded me. I have yet to eat any meal alone, other than breakfast yesterday. Even the other night I was going to go out and pick something up to eat on my own and then I get a call from the gym teacher, who had been invited by the art teacher to go over to a missionary’s house for a spaghetti dinner. They literally live across the street from my apartment and open up their home every Thursday night to anyone who wants to eat spaghetti. They were so sweet, and truly embodied to me what Christ means when he tells us to open up you home to strangers. I cant tell you how blessed I was to have home cooked spaghetti in a real home with people who loved the Lord.

School has been wonderful. All of the elementary teachers this year are Christians, and it is such a blessing to be able to share the common bond of Christ with all of them. Never once have they made me feel left out, or like the new kid on the block. I am the youngest person on staff at the school with no teaching experience! They have all been so encouraging coming into my classroom and complementing my room. They are also so eager to answer any questions and have just taken me under their wing. They make me feel as if I have been teaching at the school forever. I was walking up the steps to my room the other day and thought to myself, “I don’t know if I will be ready to leave this school in 2 years!” I know classes haven’t begun, but I have never been in such a great school environment. Even the parents of the kids in my class are already amazing. Two of my students have parents who are teachers at the school, and another kid in my class’ mom is the head of the PTG. She gave an announcement to all of the teachers about how they wanted to be involved and I am so blessed to have her in my classroom. I hear she does amazing things and even has classroom parties catered! God has been so good already.

I am just putting the final touches on my classroom and praying for the kids in my class. I have one Mormon girl who just moved here from Utah, Buddhist kids and Christian kids. I plan on praying with my kids every morning and letting them know how perfect they are in the Lord’s eyes. A favorite bible verse of mine is already on the board saying “You are God’s Masterpiece.” Eph. 2:10. I want each child to feel beautiful and capable just as they have been created. Please pray that Satan would have no part in my classroom and that every kid that walks in would feel washed in the Love of Christ.

I have made such wonderful friends so far. I finally have met Catherine, the girl from England who I was planning on living with. I might still move in with her eventually when I get used to the city. I have stayed over at her home twice, it is a beautiful little house with a very big bed in the extra room! Last night Melody (the new 1st grade teacher, she is 25) and I went to Catherine’s just for a night in to watch a movie and unwind from the week. When we went to the supermarket Catherine said in her british accent, “Oh there is a great little massage place right next to the super market for 130 baht an hour.” 130 baht is less than $5. The three of us got hour long massages by these wonderful Thai women. This is something that I plan on doing regularly… oh that is one thing I love about Thailand. Kate and Katie ended up coming over to Catherine’s later and it was such a relaxing evening with Thai food and a good movie.

Today I decided that I needed a break from my classroom and brought some lesson planning stuff to a near by coffee shop. Wawee coffee is the Thai version of Starbucks and I have been here for a good hour and half and don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. It’s so nice to sit here and listen to Jack Johnson playing on the speakers. It’s much cheaper than starbuck, so I am actually on my 2nd latte of the morning. I rode my bike here and it is just such a nice place to be.

Since I took the pictures the janitor on my floor made blue and yellow plaid curtains for the windows that make it look so homey. The first picture is of my Library, picture 2 is of the front of the classroom, and the last picture is one of my students Andrew standing in front of my door! The little girl from Utah wasn’t placed in a classroom yet, and a 6th grade teacher overheard her saying to her parents I want to be in the brown-haired teacher’s class because her classroom is so bright and colorful. It made me smile that my room’s colors were attractive to a 4th grader. You all would love Thailand, I cant wait for all of you to visit so I can show you around my new home!