Hey everyone! I know I haven't written in ages. Sorry... (I always start off that way don't I?? hmmmm....) Anyway, I just wanted to give you all an update on what's been going on here in Thailand.
Last month, my Uncle Bob flew out from Oregon to come visit me for a while. After a week or so of hanging around Chiang Mai, we headed south to Bangkok, and Khao Yai National Park for a much needed break (for me at least!) We spent a week camping in the park and enjoying seeing lots of animals in the wild. We saw lots of sambar deer, barking deer, and pig tailed maquacs (monkeys). Also saw wild elephants, civits, guar, porcipine, jackel, and other animals I'm sure I forgot to list.
The mequacs gave us a hard time in Khao Yai, so after day one, they ceased to be cute anymore... except the babies of corse! The first day they had a field day with our tent, and played all over it, bent the poles and pooped on it! So after that episode, we had to take the tent down every day.
Every morning we'd be up at 6 and drive the roads looking for elephant. It was freezing cold, so I'd sit bundled up in my sleeping bag shivering as we crused through the early morning fog. Then about 8:30 we'd stop for a breakfast of instant oatmeal and fruit. Usually the oatmeal would be hot... unless the stove decided to not work, then we'd eat cold oatmeal. After breakfast, we'd drive around a bit more, then head back to camp. By this time it'd be about 11:00. We'd take freezing showers, do laundry, eat lunch, and in general, just kick back. Then at about 4pm, when the animals were begining to become active again, we'd take to a trail or to the road and see what we could see until it got to dark. Some nights we'd go on spotlighting tours and see the nocturnal animals beside the roads. but usually it was a quick supper, and off to bed fairly early.
I had a blast at the park! it was just what I needed to recharge my batteries, and I came back in a lot better shape than when I left.
Uncle Bob stuck around for another week or so, and I put him to work fixing leaky drains and toilets, disfunctional lights, and building me a 3 foot square bird cage for Chica. The bird cage is awesome! And chica was lonely, so I went and got Breezie and Keio - two lovebirds to keep her company. they all get along fairly well now.
Uncle Bob and I also got to go to the zoo with Benya and Eliyah. Had a fun day watching all the animals. The habbitats were nice for a third world country. I really enjoyed the elephants. They came right up to the fence and I got to pet one of their trunks. But my favorite hands down, were the big cats. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the jaguars, leopards, and tigers (also my favorite animal) do their thing.
In more recent news, the AFM asia missionaries retreat is coming up in March, and I can't wait for that! I've been told it's lots of fun, and I'm really looking forward to meeting all the people that I've only read about up till now.
Other than that, there's not much else going on here. I'm on the downward slope with only 4 months left here in Thailand. I'm looking forward to heading back to the states, and picking up life back at Southern.
Please continue to pray for me! Thanks for your support and prayers. God Bless - Sha
