Thai Dorm: Tribal
Being submerged into a culture that is totally new (food, bathroom arrangements, different sounds, beliefs, and most definitely small insects) is very hard, but totally bearable with the help of the Lord.
Having been in Thailand for two full weeks now, we have become accustomed to many different things:
- those loud bangs in the middle of the night or when we are in the shower, those are mango's hitting the tin roof of the dorm
- if you ever think a bug is crawling on you, you better look because it most likely is
- Thai is not easy for us to learn... neither is English for them
- using only games to teach English is a new method that i have never used in my teaching classes in the States, but here its one of the best ways to help the students learn and remember
- hearing your accent come through when your students repeat exactly what you say can be really funny or embarrassing
We have began to build relationships with about 10 of the girls that live in the same dorm as us. We have started a schedule with them, around 7 every night, they know its game time with us. We play card games in either their room or ours. With these card games includes English phrases they have to say in order to play the games.
We are learning more and more what it means to rely on God.
Last week we had complained to each other and our families about how crazy the bugs were our first night at the dorm. The Lord heard our prayers and this week, we came home from school into our dorm where they had installed screen doors and screens on every single window. Although small insects, lizards and a few spiders still make their way into our room, it is a huge blessing to be able to leave the doors open for fresh air.
A few prayer requests:
- Pray that the dorm girls will continue to open up to us.
- Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel.
- Pray for good nights rest
- Pray for us this next week while we will not have a translator, that everything will continue to go smoothly, as we know it will.
-Haley