Book Commercials & Misanthropic Observations

Stranded Traveler Survival kit

Hannah asked me the other day if I had blogged yet about the day we went to the Buddhist temple- she was there to process it out loud with me and knew I had a lot of thoughts about it. When I said that even though it seems like I have so much time here (being stranded and all) for such a thing it has yet to be QUIET enough in this city to feel like I can get any thoughts in an order understandable to my blogfriends. And she said “That’s exactly how I feel - i want to blog but there is such over stimulation here I can’t process yet.” So Now I have new understanding of why Hannah’s Thailand blog lays fallow…

But I do want to express my appreciation for all that God has taken care of during this strange time and so here is my list of things to pack when you are heading off for an adventure in an unstable country.

1. Family with a strong faith that God is in control - so you don’t have the added pressure of handling their freak out (at least not when you are on skype with them)
2. SKYPE!!!!
3. A hotel reservation in a place gracious enough not to kick you out when you have no place to go: Thank you, Father, that we have a place to stay and please keep all those who are sleeping on airport conveyor belts or under hastily slapped up tents safe, fed, and well.
4. A sister who speaks the language and doesn’t get mad when she must race down to the laundry to translate for you before she is dressed for the day.
5. A place to feel useful in the long days of unknown: Eli is helping in an English class and Brandy is found in the lobby helping students practice conversation and running spelling and vocab drills.
6. A sister who knows how to order strange food to the taste of “farangs” (white people who think they can handle spicy food but really can’t handle Thai people’s idea of “a little spicy”)
7. A video game controller to help Eli fill the time- this is big!
8. Bible
9. A mother who spends time on the phone extracting a guarantee the Northwest will not only replace the canceled flight from Bangkok to Tokyo but ALSO the missed flight from Tokyo to MSP - which isn’t technically covered by the state of emergency.
10. Access to funds from home- REALLY I mean this. There are a lot of desperate people who have run out of money because they only planned to stay a certain length of time and I am not taking this gift for granted.
11. Some one like Andrea Bordeau who is kind enough to run some book keeping tasks at FCC that cannot wait while you talk her through it on the phone.
12. An understanding employer- that’s another big fear I hear about here. Job loss for not returning.
13. A husband who: Answers no matter what time you call, listens when you need him to, laughs for same reason, and makes any phone call he can helping to get you home and extend the length of time your debit card will work in Asia. And holds the puppies up to the camera so you can see them.
14. Prayer
15. Prayer
16. prayer
17. Friends who leave encouragement of facebook and send emails.
18. Friends who feed my husband and check in with him

The list could go on and on- I am so grateful. Thank you, Father. Thank you, friends & family.