I just wanted to give a really quick update about what has been happening over the past few weeks. There has been a little outbreak of chickenpox at Agape and seven of the sixteen kids I work with have it and are currently in isolation to prevent spreading it to the rest of the kids! Please keep them in your prayers since they aren't able to go outside or do any of the fun things that the other kids get to do like participate in the Songkran festival (a 3-day water festival in Thailand marking their new year celebration). I've been working with them a lot since we have a volunteer who hasn't had the chickenpox yet and I don't mind working with the sickies.
I have also decided that I will be remaining at the volunteer house by myself until the next set of volunteers arrive in late May or early June since I'm just getting used to the area and have lots of friends here! I will also be starting my Thai lessons this week so keep them in your prayers as well. I've picked up a little bit but knowing more would be very helpful too.
I've been asked if there are things that I'd like for my birthday or if there are things that I miss in general, and right now it's mostly just my family but anything that reminds me of home would be appreciated! Things like softcover books or pictures of family and friends or handwritten letters would be wonderful and please let me know if there's anything that you'd like for me to send you as well! I love to write letters, and don't mind sending more personalized cards to people.
There have also been some concerns about how things are going in Thailand with the airports in Bangkok being shut down again and all of the protests escalating to more dramatic means. Don't worry! Things on the news at home tend to be more blown out of proportion than what they really are and everything here is ok for me. There are two political parties that are having some differences right now but there hasn't been any violence so far and there have just been some strikes happening around the city. We just have to be mindful of not being identified with either party in case things become a little more hazardous; this should be pretty easy since party members are identified as wearing either a red or yellow shirt and I don't own shirts of either color!
Apart from feeling a little homesick recently, I'm doing just fine and miss all of you very much! I have a video that I'm getting ready to send to the members at Southwinds Church of Christ and I'll have for you guys as soon as I can!
God Bless, and remember Matthew 28:19-20!
