I entered the Okinawan Airport with 3 passports (1 expired with the needed current re-entry stamp), my marriage license, orders, and a doctors note. I used every one of them (sans the orders) to get on the plane to head for Thailand. Our late takeoff demanded a sprint in the Taipei airport to catch the train to the right terminal, to go through security once again , and then get on our plane to Thailand. Once that plane landed it was an hour to get through immigration and then deciphering cryptic Thai to get to a bus to take me to Pattaya with three minutes to spare! I fell back into the seat and sighed, “Im practically there and get to see Barrett tomorrow!” The man beside me continued to fall asleep that launched his hand onto mine every 5 minutes despite my best dodging efforts. Then I got off the bus too early with my suitcase and Annabelle to hear a motorcycle taxi offer me a ride. Um, no, I have my luggage and Im pregnant. He nodded his head. But after 10-15 minutes of waiting for a taxi with none in sight he came back over and offered one motorcycle taxi for me and the other for my luggage. Reluctantly I agreed. He took off with my luggage and the other guy took off with me grasping the sides and Annabelle cozying up to his back. He lost his buddy and turned and asked me if I knew where we were going. Eegads. No, that is why I hired you. =0) After a phone call we made it to my new home for five days complete with luggage and an empty stomach…thus began my return to Thailand.
My love for Thailand was renewed with every mishap, awkward Thai language exchanges and random event. The Lord was kind to give me favor in the eyes of the hotel staff which helped us out a ton. Barrett was delayed a day, so our time together was cut a day. But we had a blast in the whirlwind of events! Between flash floods, bus rides, visits with friends, and meeting his marines we kept busy. It was a sweet time catching up, eating the best food around, and napping. We are so thankful that the Lord delighted in giving us the opportunity to reunite…even with the tears and snot-rockets upon our goodbye.
The morning after he left my eyes teared up with every remark from the Hotel Thai staff about where he was. I got on a bus back to Bangkok with wet tissues and runny mascara. The next 5 days I thought would drag and be painfully long. Oh contraire!
I was able to reconnect with Oot (the fruit shake lady that taught me Thai) a few hours every day and even ran errands for her like old times. I learned to cook Thai at my favorite street place and saw all my friends who still worked there. I even got to go downtown for a birthday party and reconnect there. My students came and said hi and we all even went to get ice cream together the day before I left. I got caught up with many of my former students who are now in university too. What a sweet kindness. And praise the Lord, my dear Thai teacher friend (Kru Nong) that called me before I left Thaialnd to tell me she “was a Christian now” is now working in a new place telling about Christ. That sweet girl who almost died by bleeding out is now telling others about the blood of Christ and that it paid for our sins. May the Lord get all the glory!
I wish I could fill you in with all of the fun stories from the marines working at a blind school to my visiting buddy who runs an orphanage in Cambodia now, trips to the market stained with meat juice to eating magnificent fruit with friends, and all the shocked eyed neighborhood people who stopped by to chat when they saw me back at Oots, to seeing a movie with my dear friend Michelle. Im overwhelmed with the memories and so thankful that the Lord allowed me this opportunity to reignite my love for these people and country.
Right before I left one of my former students asked me how Barrett and I keep our relationship strong when we are split apart so much. I smiled and told her if it was not for the foundation of our faith in Christ we would not be able to do it. We trust each other because we trust Christ. She nodded her head and smiled.