Friendships

 It's hard being plucked out of your culture, thrown into another one and not having a timeline. Most years I have the opportunity to go home once a year but not this year. Also people are always in transition here. I am thankful for what I do have and what the Father has continued to provide. I just wish that I had people I clicked with better who were like-minded. I click with a lot of non-like minded people that are single but not people my age. I find that I click easily with families just not always singles. I long for my own family but am thankful for what I have. I'm learning that sometimes we don't pick our friends they're picked for us. I am trying to learn to be more assertive but we'll see where this brings me.  All of life is a learning curve. 

What I know of That Luang

 Intentions sometimes run short on my blog. However, if you've clicked on this today I want to tell you what I know about That luang Festival that I can't seem to find on any websites. 

You see in Laos there is this giant sea monster called a Naga. It creates earthquakes, storms and runs through the Mekong river region. It is believed that That Luang is built on the head of this monster.

That Luang was originally a Hindu temple and then it was taken over by the Buddhist. Laos national religion is Buddhism but people here are often quite a mix of Animism, Buddhism and Hindu. The Hindu is often incorporated either into the Animism or all three are mixed. Traditionally Animistic tribes here do not mix their religion. There is a form Animism with some Hindu ties then there is Buddhism which mixes Animism, Buddhism and Hinduism. 

Recently I learned that a Buddhist can marry into an Animistic family if they chose to see Buddha as an angel instead of a relic but it does not work the other way around.

Anyways, That luang festival this year will be interesting. Traditionally people from all over Asia flock here. Due to Covid, this is not possible. They seek to appease the Naga. We have monks from Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Timor Leste and many other of the SE Asia nations. It spans over 2-3 weeks. However, this year I believe it will just be 3 days. It's days vary but you usually get at least one day off from work. To clarify the main festival is 3 days but the pre festival is usually 2-3 weeks. 

Last year I went to one of the pre-festivals. It was wonderful for me. The day was hot, but I actually remember writing a November letter about it. You see Camille and I had been talking about other religions and biblically what we could and couldn't do. This was something I could do. I didn't have to pray to their God or give sacrifices but I could watch, sit beside them and love them through spending time with them.

This year Camille will be visiting. I'm not sure if I'll even get to go. I know it's such a big deal to my Lao friends and not having a job I really need to stay away from all the cheap but delectable things they're selling. However,  I find it difficult to connect it with my own beliefs. I know it's honoring to them but it can be difficult too. 

The main difference I tell my friends between what they believe and what I believe is that they have to continue doing something in order to be forgiven by their god/s but I believe it was done once and for all all I have to do is accept that.

Even 12 years later I'm still growing in my knowledge of religion, faith and love. I continue to be refined asking the Father "how can I love and connect these people to his love in a real and tangible way?" One way is listening and letting them be heard another is bringing hope into their lives. He renews my strength and in Him alone I trust. 

Do we eat to live or live to eat?

 Lately, I've been learning a lot of idioms in Lao. Some are the same some are different. They literally say "in the right ear, out the left ear." They also say for beautiful that "the cow falls over and the buffalo dies" it's our version of "drop dead gorgeous." There are some that I don't fully understand though. 

If you ever want to go anywhere where the whole country talks about bowel movements like 13 year old boys. We've got it in Laos. It's taken me time to be okay with this but I'm slowly joining along. Anyways, the other day I was at a restaurant working on some stuff for orientation and ran into an old friend Jane. Jane was there with all her children while her husband attended a meeting. We began to talk and I said I'd be right back she literally said "save some pee for me." I was like what?  So I tried to get her to explain it and I understood the vocabulary. It's the same word used for a promotion or if you don't eat all your food and you want someone else to eat it for you. They use one word for the word for and to. She tried to explain that it's just a joke. It has no real meaning except to joke that they'll pee more or poop more because they are thinking of you. It's supposed to be kind of endearing and funny at the same time. If something tastes really good, was overwhelming in a good or bad way they will also add "explosive diarrhea all over the dirt to the end." An example of this is oh I 'm so full I could have explosive diarrhea all over the dirt. " or "I traveled so much it was like I had explosive diarrhea all over the dirt."

There is also vocabulary if your friend thinks someone is cute but you don't you'd say "yeah, their so cute I'd drag them in the dust" (meaning you think their ugly) or the opposite of that is "yeah, their beauty reaches to the sky."meaning they are so beautiful. 

The last one I'll tell you for now is "we eat to live not live to eat." They'll often say this too when they are full. I was asked if we had this saying but I said we have a lot of sayings I'm not sure. But I believe most Americans are different. I think we actually live to eat. We'll plan out workouts so we can eat. After long 5k's with a friend in high school first thing we'd do is go somewhere to eat. 

Knowing idioms also helps you to understand culture more too. Lao food is typically spicy, health problems are common so they talk about them. At first this bothered me but as time has gone on it's kind of nice. As a community we all watch out for each other. 

I'm unfortunately deathly allergic to chocolate. I sat at our first orientation, nervous to be speaking in front of people and became nauseous. I quickly realized I was smelling chocolate. I made it through my session but immediately after ran to the bathroom and began vomiting. Normally if the smell is a little I'm okay but it was a lot. We were supposed to be taking pictures but I was shaking from head to toe. I ran to the kitchen where they gave me some rice and soup and an egg. One of them even began rubbing my shoulders till I quit shaking. I informed the office and they put the table outside the room. I was proud of myself for standing up for my needs but also terrified because I was the one in charge. Had I not been so vulnerable and lived in a culture that takes care of their people I might not have been able to go on, but I was and I did all of it without anyone but the office staff, the assistant principal and the cooks knowing. 

I never know when they are going to keep my secret's and when they'll tell but I do know and believe that they have the best intentions at heart. They do their best to "treat others how they'd like to be treated." and I am striving to do the same. I think the golden rule applies world wide. 

Good Ole Laos

There are things I really miss about home and the past few days have not helped.

Yesterday I struggled to unplug my computer cord and as I went to pull harder it electrocuted me. No one seemed to care. I screamed bloody murder, then someone looked inside, saw I was okay and moved on. Someone else told me I could use their outlet the next day. They are so used to things like this it doesn't phase them.

Then today I went to the bus station to buy a night ticket for tomorrow night. They told me I couldn't buy it yet because they don't know the bus numbers yet. What? I have to go back tomorrow morning. I really hope I can get a ticket for this weekend but we'll see. 

After that, I went to school to meet with someone. However, as I arrived they sprayed our school. I wasn't dressed to clean and felt bad that I couldn't really help. A person tried to reschedule for tomorrow but I am extremely busy. They were kind enough to meet me at a cafe, which was actually kind of nice.

Lastly, I went to the other campus to print some stuff where I was bombarded with questions. I wasn't my best self because I was hungry. However, now I've had some food and feel better. These are just things I'm getting used to, but it's okay to miss home a little. 

There is no such thing as normal. I just really hope He gives me more friends at school and favor with the parents and staff. 

Learning my ABC's

I sat across from a friend at lunch today and we began discussing life. She talked about how both Paul and Jesus came to demonstrate love by example. We focus a lot on how Paul went after the lost but we forget how he sought to unite believers.

This reminded me of one of my first years of teaching. I had everything prepared, it was our first lesson and the letter was A. I wrote some words that started with A matching them with pictures, taught my students a quick song about apples, then finally put an apple on each of their 5 tables for them to draw.

Well, this is where it flopped. I looked around and only saw green and red scribbles. Then it dawned on me. They didn't know how to draw a circle. I had unintentionally set the bar to high.

I told my friend there will be times when I don't know what my co-workers know and maybe they're either too embarrassed to say they don't know how to do something or they think they are doing it correctly. I'm sure I'll need correction too, but as I step into this new role I'm reminded of the importance of asking questions.

My job is not to come in and say "Oh man, you didn't this correctly." It's walk alongside them and say "Hey, this is great, but let me show you what I'm looking for. " I must model how to do things so that they can then do them well. A person can only work to the best of their knowledge. If I haven't given them adequate resources I can't expect them to succeed.

My friend took it a step further. That is how God sees us. We start off as a scribble. The scribble is our sin but we don't know it. We're doing the best we can. He walks besides us and teaches us how to turn those scribbles into circles. It's a constant process of being perfected. Once we can draw those circles if we choose to go back to scribbles he holds us accountable because we know better. However, he only holds us accountable for what we know. 

A tale of two cities in the time of Covid

I have been thinking quite often of the classic I read in high school, A Tale of Two cities. Our world today often feels that way. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
People are lonely and forced wrestle with things they've pushed away

it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
some people are growing stronger in this pandemic, some people are going crazy. 

it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
more people are longing for the father and his glory but at the same time there's a level of caring for one another and a level of self righteousness.

 it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
He is light and is with us wherever we are,there is a real darkness trying to win over 

it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
while friendships and hearts are blooming, we're all being robbed of something.


we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,
people are beginning to realize that consumerism is readily before us, but how much of it do we really need. 

 we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way 
he came to bring a little bit of heaven to earth and into our hearts, yet it is our choice the devil still roams this earth till he returns again.

– in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

good and evil have become relative and while the virus cares little who it targets the fact that humans still do not have equal rights with one another and put themselves at war with one another.

There's nothing new under the sun. The Father knows this and he grieves with us and for us. But what if this is what it takes to see a world transformed. A virus that we couldn't stop, only He can. May his power be known and seen in this. May we realize that we are mere man and that there is a God who loves us much among our difficulties. 

Peace be with you my friends.

Beauty in the Rubble-life after lockdown

Sometimes I forget how beautiful the place I am it is. Maybe the most beautiful place on earth to me. Vientiane is where I live, it’s a city it lacks nature and a place filled with it. I only hope I’m lucky enough to live here my whole life. The people are so wonderful! It’s my favorite place on earth. Thankful today for the sites for the sites from a place that reminds me there’s still so much beauty in this world left untouched left unseen waiting to reach his full potential.


I looked back and realized I never posted the above. This has been a rough season full of growth. It's been awhile since I updated this. Change in job, lockdown and now it has been lifted. I've been thinking through the things I don't want to forget from this time. Perhaps the thing that trumphs that list is to be thankful.

I asked that my first hug would be from someone I knew. He provided that. Gentle time with this sweet friend as we lifted up the death of a friend, his funeral, ate mango, cooked and rested. I couldn't ask for a better reset day! He knows what we need and we must make a conscious effort to acknowledge, even in the rubble and brokenness of this world. He makes us whole! He gives us real peace that cannot be found in things of this world. John 16:33

 

Not finished Yet

 I sat struggling to sleep .Thoughts of the father over-whelmed me. This searing pain . It wouldn't seem to stop . Ever been shot with a bullet?Well , that 's kind of like what happened to me. I had a hole in me an inch 1/2 deep literally cutting to the bone. No fractures just tendons & veins ,which I of course think is worse . It HURT ! A motorbikes kick stand rammed into me going about somewhere between 30 & 50 miles per hour. The next few weeks have rocked my world but my first thought was wow if this is even glimpse of what our Father felt. I don't know how he did it. But the great news in that is that I don't have to. There's a beauty and awe in not understanding his power. It's been a difficult journey but he's not done with me yet.

Just like the building to the left. You see things in Laos are this way sometimes. 7 years ago they began building buildings taller than 3 stories. However, they'd never done it before and just like me they are not always the most logic people. They started from the top. The first 3 floors they never finished but it wasn't just this building it was the one behind too.

You see we, or at least I can be this way. When we try to do things on our own we don't see the bigger picture. Sometimes I look like this building but our Father says "It's okay Kathryn. I'll give you those 3 stories just be patient." Every time I pass these buildings it reminds me that he's not done with me here yet. He makes the useless things useful and redeem those who call on His name. I can't wait to see one day how he has connected those 3 stories or even torn down my building and started a new one someday. He truly is amazing

Weddings, Travels and Who knows whats

I was on my way home from Germany but I had left my house keys in my motorbike which a friend was borrowing while I was gone. I knew I'd probably get in late and stay the night at her house, but in the usual Lao fashion I got a little more than I bargained for. You see I love Sara, we're both INFJ's, we feel deeply, don't let too many people in etc.... the main difference is our religious beliefs and ages but she is still ever so dear to me.

Anyways, I messaged her asking her if she could pick me up. There was no answer. I wasn't sure how I was going to get home or even if she would be in town. No answer.. I had messaged her the day before. So when I arrived 14 hours later I called. She said "I'm drunk, there's plenty of food, come you can stay the night.                                                                                                  It turns out they were having a wedding party. This is only a glimpse of what was to come as I think about 20 people filled the room but I shared a bed with 2 of them in another room so I was lucky not to be so crammed. I remember this from Minnie's wedding. I wish I had a picture of that night. 

11 years ago we all crammed into Minnie's house there must have been 50 of us and I didn't know I was supposed to stay the next morning. This time I did.

After traveling 14 hours I ended up 2 hours later at Sara's house as I embarrassingly carried my luggage to her room about 10:30pm. We went to bed about midnight. I awoke the next day and put on my fancy dress for the Animist Baci ceremony.  Then I sleepily tried to greet my friends due to jet lag. At 3pm someone finally took me home, I loaded up my stuff in their truck and I drove home. 

30 minutes later I get a call from a friend who insist we go and see my Lao friend who had a baby earlier that week. Out of delirium I agree, I visit my friend but I don't even get to hold the baby because my other friend is very greedy and hogs him. But I still got to see her. We rode together so she keeps insisting we stay a little longer. I'm tired I didn't know I was going to a party I just thought it was a friendly visit. After picking up my old cat, which I am temporarily taking care of,dropping off my Lao friend I am finally home. Over 40 hours before I got to sleep in my own bed.

It was hard going from Germany where I had so much down time or at least plans to a place where I had no plans with no structure which meant I had to be flexible.

FLEXIBLE is a good word. I love it here but I continue to remind myself BOUNDARIES are good. Not everything is so black and white in life. I want to minister to these people but my days are so full. 

He answered it in a funny way. As I got in a motorbike accident on Wednesday, completely the other person's fault, my foot is swollen bruised and the open wound is slowly healing I'm forced to rest. I've had several visitors and wear out a little bit but I'm hoping for a smooth recovery and to be refreshed. Please join me in lifting this up. 

Butterflies

I had begun to lose sight ending the semester as I was overwhelmed with my many responsibilities when my Lao friend Camille reminded me. "Be positive!" I used to be a fairly positive person, but sometimes I get saddened by the world and it's hardships. She sent me a sermon which had nothing to do with what I was struggling with so I searched "what to do when you struggle?" It was like our father knew just what I needed and this popped up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUrNosSQZdc

Butterflies are what he has been using to speak to me or moths. It's like the difference between a flower and a weed. I know it's there I just can't always see it, for better or for worse.

You see beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Our struggles do shape us into something beautiful. Just like many butterflies we maybe black or brown  to the naked eye but when we open our wings he is creating something of beautiful color to be celebrated!