08 Sep Enjoy the sites and keep on grinnin!
It is 7:30am on Thursday morning…I am sitting here in the hospital room…on the cot with sweet Raina on my chest sleeping…it is a sweet time that I will miss terribly….God’s timing is perfect…I won’t have to miss a newborn but for 5 and a half more months….I will be a grandma in February and can feel this same feeling again soon!
I look over at Beth as she is finally sleeping peacefully…and know that my sweet friend is in a solid state of obedience right now…..obedience is not always easy…sometimes it is extremely hard….but it is the narrow path that we want to take….I pray laughter, smiles and lots of joy in her next year. She is a fantastic mom and this is the chapter of her life she is in…being in missions is filled with joy when you see the fruits of your labor….or you get lots of hugs and kisses on the cheek from those you are serving….the Thai people, though very kind and nice….seem to be a culture of people who are guarded with their personal lives…. they do not embrace you with a big warm hug and a kiss on the cheek…so it is hard to feel love and acceptance when you are trying to pour out love on them….this is a tough place for missionaries…but a very important place to serve…I can’t help but think that Jesus must have felt this so much in His ministry….lonely and unloved by the people He was trying to reach….while the ones who loved Him back were miles away…..wow……..So….as I begin my last day here my emotions are all over the place…but I must tell you about yesterday…
I switched places with Brett on Tuesday afternoon and he came to the hospital to sleep and I went home to be with the other 3 kids…have dinner with them…put them to bed…and then get up at 5:30 for breakfast and off to school! It went great…we had delicious pizza…went to bed at 7:30….yes…I was exhausted after about 3 hrs sleep the night before….got up wide awake at 5:30 ready to take on Bangkok!
Beth and I had planned (pre-hospital stay) to go for a girls day with 2 of her missionary friends Tiffany and Gwen to get foot massages ($6 here) and just enjoy hanging out…..Brett and Beth called and said they wanted me to go anyway….I argued a little….. feeling guilty that Beth was not going to be with us… but I could hear in her voice that she would not be happy unless I got to experience this pleasure!!
So Gwen came to the house and off we went to meet Tiffany…They were so much fun and so interesting to talk to…we went to a 7 story mall with an indoor market..it was amazing! The only thing that would have made it complete….was Beth….but she was with sweet Raina just as she should be…the massage was fantastic complete with a pedicure and manicure….I would do this weekly if these prices were at home!
We then rode the public tram back…I was to get off just 4 blocks from the hospital and walk…no problem…I had done it twice before and knew exactly where I was going….BUT….it was pouring down rain…I had bags…my camera….and no umbrella…so the smart thing to do was to take a cab to the hospital so I wasn’t drenched…ok…put my hand up…hail a cab…step in deep water….get in and say Bumrungrad Hospital…he looked at me unsure…I said it again…then he turned and headed away from town on the interstate…I started yelling no..no…over there… and off we went…away from town…down the toll interstate that I had to give him 45 bat for….I called Beth and said maybe I pronounced it wrong.. she talked to him…got the nurse to talk to him….he knew exactly what he was doing…taking me the LONG way….like 12 miles in traffic…the meter was running….I was not happy with him…but what was I to do…just enjoy the sites and keep on grinning….When we finally arrived at the hospital 30 minutes later…I gave him half of what the meter said…he grinned and nodded… I knew I was had! But there was some gratification in me knowing I did not give him what was on the meter!
This is my last day…filled with emotions…I have loved doing life with the Clarks and am glad it wasn’t just a week of vacation…but a week of serving….laughing…crying….and loving….I will be back…I will miss them…but I hope to help make this an easier place to serve by supporting them and staying closely in touch so they know everyday how much I love them….Blessings to you all…
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