Muck and Blessings

The truth is we're wading through some pretty deep muck. It's muck that surfaced in Dallas but has roots deeper than a well in the desert. And it's muck that we'll be sloshing around in for a long time to come.  Please don't be dismayed; there is hope in our muck.  We have a lifeline, a light in the darkness, a hose for our muck-caked boots.  I have a feeling though, that even after all the scrubbing is done, I'll keep discovering it holed up in the crevices and cracks, stubbornly stuck down deep between my toes.

It's good to take stock in the midst of muck wading, lest some essential item be lost in the mire. It also reminds us to be grateful. Because while we're in it up to our waists, our arms and shoulders and faces are gloriously free.

Perhaps I've taken this metaphor too far.

Nine months in Thailand and it feels like home.  We are so grateful for our home here.  We are grateful to God for bringing us here and grateful for an abundance of other blessings graciously extended to us this year. Here is a sampling:

Care packages

My mom throws together a mean one.  Her amazing generosity and my Dad's post office prowess have kept us well supplied with fancy chocolate, healthy granola bars, and colorful slinkies.  Not to mention the excitement of one 3rd grade boy in particular who was finally motivated to improve his "ah-uh" ('ar') when he spotted the Lego Star Wars set she sent.

Amazing coworkers who have become dear friends
You know who you are, and you are lovely.

Preston Road; PRCC
Prayers and care packages and financial support and love.  Thank you to our dear Dallas family, especially the Mission Committee and the Elders.

Visits with family
Props to Lora (Justin's mom) for making the long trek all the way over here.  We loved sharing our Thai life with her.  And props to John (Justin's dad) for calling almost every single day of her 3-week trip to check up on her (and us). 


Free counseling
Need I say more?  There's a lot of muck wading.

Temporary roommates
Corey and Dan and Bethanna kept us on our toes, well, mostly Bethanna, and chipped in for rent and bills during their 6-week stay.  So glad to get to share in their Thailand experience.

Pizza 'n' Pasta
We love pizza.  Wouldn't you know, quality pizza is hard to come by in Asia.  Enter a big bald New Yorker with a knack for baking and a great sense of taste and you've got our New York style pizza salvation.


Cafe Compassion
What do you get when you mix sustainably-minded vegetarian food with a relaxing patio atmosphere and two great and welcoming owners/hosts?  A home away from home.

The Christian community in Chiang Mai
Have we mentioned the plethora of incredible people we've had the honor of intersecting with?  God is doing amazing things through willing hearts and open hands. 

Meaningful work
GIS and IJM, thank you for allowing us to be a part of the bigger picture of God's work.  It has been and continues to be an honor.

Spaghetti dinner at Rob & Esther's

Rob and Esther Collins of Payap University have an amazing spaghetti legacy among the long and short-term Chiang Mai missionary community.  We are grateful every Thursday for a warm and loving home opened freely, a warm and delicious plate of spaghetti given freely, and warm and encouraging conversation engaged in freely.  This small bit of continuing generosity has blessed us beyond measure.

California Wraps
Is it a coincidence that three of these blessings are Western food related?  Life just isn't worth living without a good Mexican torta.

Love from friends (and family) back home
Especially during this time of muck.  All the emails, prayers, facebook posts, and skype calls have filled us up like nothing else could.  To all who have participated we most gratefully thank you.

Laughter, tears, and modern-day cubism with Chantal and Carl