Smile

Sawadee kaa friends!!

Yesterday we went to church, which was a really awesome experience. It is an Pentecostal called Abundant Grace that is in a nice hotel downtown. The preacher is indian and speaks in english and his wife translates in Thai. The music is sung in English and then Thai. Although we are not used to that type of service, we enjoyed it and loved discussing his thoughts with each other afterwards. We showed up without Laura this week because her kids were sick. We have been trying to remember all of the Thai social norms, and it is not an easy transition. The first problem was that we sat in the youth group section at church. OOPS! Two girls wanted to sit on our row and instead of getting up to let them through, we just moved our legs sideways. What american wouldn't do that? They stared at us for about 10 seconds and sprinted by our legs. Then when two seats in the row ahead of them opened up, they climbed over the chairs to get there so they wouldn't have to walk by us again. We laughed so hard about how I am the same height as all the Thai men as well. After church we had three hours until our favorite Sungtao driver was going to pick us up in front of the hotel. We walked around downtown and got coffee. As we went back to the hotel to sit down and wait for our driver, the hotel gaurds acted out, walking away, with their hands. This meant "You sweaty girls cannot sit here and make our hotel look ghetto." We laughed SO hard as we walked away. Then our sungtao driver came to our rescue honking his horn and laughing at how silly we looked.

We went to Agape today! YAY! Can i get a amen? We went to work around 3:30 and found a change in plans. 21 kids at the orphanage are in  confinement upstairs because of a fever. When the children get sick with fever or suspected TB, they are put in a separated area until it is gone. Right now a mild fever is going around, and they are not sure of the cause. Laura asked us if we would go and play with the children that are upstairs with fever from 8-5 starting tomorrow. They have been upstairs for days and are going a little crazy!! 10 children had finally gotten their fever down, so they got to go downstairs tonight. They are all wearing masks and we wore them as well. The orphanage has an a full time American nurse that keeps a good eye on everything (so please don't worry)! The children were very excited to have us come and play. Taylor attracted all the little boys and they taught her a board game. Kirstyn got to draw with some of the children and she was really impressed with their drawing skills as well! I tried to read some books to a few girls, but we ended up just looking at the pictures. There were only a few little ones who obviously did not feel good. One little girl was sitting next to me and coughing a lot. As soon as I started scratching her back, she closed her eyes. It was a really sweet moment. We will try to take some pictures tomorrow when we are working.

We are in full faith that the Lord is going to keep us healthy in order to bring some happiness to the children. This does not mean we are being foolish. Traci Wasmer taught is well before we left:) Thanks mama WAZ!

NAMES. We have been trying to learn to say their names, but it is so difficult! We have them repeat them to us about a bajillion times. They are just as embarrassed to try and say our names. It is like pulling teeth to get them to try to say Kirstyn. They end up saying curtain. haha! 

Their smiles were contagious all evening. We were unsure about them warming up to us on the first day, but it was like we have known them for a long time. Since less children are in confinement, this new schedule might only last a few days. We are excited to be flexible to the needs of the orphanage. 

We have been without a coffee pot since we got here. As you probably all know, that is like trying to get off of a drug for us. SO, i got a little desperate this morning and made a make shift coffee maker. Please understand that this was like finding GOLD!! We now love our new maker and will probably use it all summer. 

It is made out of a strainer, a paper towel, and disney mugs. We PROMISE we did not buy these. 

We have been sitting outside a lot which has given us time to play with all of our neighbors. We played with the children that are close and had fun talking and laughing with them! 

We are so excited to go to bed tonight because the air conditioner got fixed in our bedroom. No more sleeping with wet towels! Thank you for your continued prayer. Please pray for the kids at the orphanage who are sick right now. 

(Also, I know this blog is probably an English major's (and Kristen Wyatt's) nightmare to read. 1. I have never been the best at grammar. 2. I am usually writing this very fast. 3. It is getting the job done.)

Blessings to you!

Leah, Taylor, and Curtain

JUST FOR LAUGHS: As I was sitting here writing this blog, Taylor had her head resting against the screen on a window. A lizard ran up the screen and stopped on Taylor's head. SCREAMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!