Saturday, July 25, 2009

Kara to Asia Update 2-28-09

Trip to Pahk Isaan:
At the beginning of the month I had the privilege of visiting Northeast Thailand and attended my first Thailand Covenant Church Meeting. It was about a 13 hour drive through some mountains and dry plains until we reached the Isaan region. The Thai people in Isaan speak a different dialect of Thai, so only a few things could I understand. It’s also the land of sticky rice and peculiar instruments that have become popular throughout Thailand, but have their origins in this region.

In the picture to the right I’m standing in the middle of a rubber tree farm out that Ba’Anan (my host mother who is standing next to me) owns in partnership with her friend (behind her in the blue). I had never seen rubber trees, much less have the opportunity to see what a whole field of them look like, but it was quite fascinating. Rubber has been a long-standing commodity in Thailand, once dominated by Western investors, but now 1000’s of acres of rubber tree farms are in the hands of local Thai investors. Let’s hope they’ll turn a profit someday!

Thailand Covenant Church (TCC) Meeting: This large group photo below includes most of the TCC leaders and some of their family members. We spent about two days together in meetings, both logistical and worshipful. It was a special privilege to be part of this group and experience the church in action. I learned about both the joys and trials that are being experienced by these leaders in their respective ministries and felt their care and hospitality throughout the weekend.

Icey’s 3rd Birthday: I’m learning more and more what it’s like to feel like part of the family and when I’m the one who has the camera and video recorder, then it becomes my job to make sure these special events get recorded. Little Icey is Art and Ying’s oldest child and I have to say that we have a special relationship.

When I first came to Thailand, it seemed that Icey, in the midst of his terrible 2’s, was the most genuine person around. I imagine that children (across all cultures) are very similar and when they like something or don’t like something they know how to show it. Icey is no exception and when he liked having me around he showed it, and without needed explanation, there were times, when this foreign women (who couldn’t understand him or much of anything) was not on his top ten list of favorite people. However, after 4 intense months of language and cultural acclimation, Icey now understands that I’m his friend, and has given me a special name that fits his own language ability (P’La). Building trust with little Icey has been some of the most challenging and yet most beneficial of my experiences in Thailand up to this point.

Covenant Missionary’s Asian Retreat 2009:
This photo was taken at the 2nd Missionary Retreat among Covenant Missionaries to Asia. We spent almost a week at a remote resort at an Oceanside resort, where I was able to go snorkeling for the first time in my life.

It was a great time to have some close communion with God and experience His presents in my life in very profound ways. I was able to just be alone with God for hours at a time without the pressure of having to be present among my Thai family or even in Thailand itself. God made himself present in times of worship, the words of guest speakers, and conversations with other Covenant Missionaries. I was a real blessing to be afforded this time so early in my missionary experience and yet at a crucial juncture along my path of culture acclimation after overcoming the most difficult stage of the journey (the first 3 months). It was also at a time when the impact of being away from friends and family has been quite profound, so some intimate time with our Lord was just what I needed.

Making a Traditional Thai Snack:
The day following our Retreat in Asia I was thrown right back into the wonder of Thai culture. In the picture to the right I’m putting a shredded coconut mixture into sticky-rice flower and forming it into a little ball. This is then put into a very sweat coconut cream that is then wrapped in banana leaves. The cream, rice flower, and shredded coconut becomes like a gelatin within the banana leaves and turns out to be very delicious and extremely sweat.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Chiang Mai Winter Fest 2008

I had a fascinating experience at Chiang Mai WinterFest 2008 with my Thai friends. It was, in many ways, very similar to the kinds of county fairs we have in the States. The picture below is a good example of life in Thailand. From an early age children are having fun preparing for life on a motorcycle (one of our main means of transportation).


We also listened to some of my Thai friend’s favorite rock bands playing that night. I wish I could remember the names of the groups, but their songs were pretty catchy (at least the musical aspect that I could enjoy). I’m not at the point where I can sing along, but it was still fun to participate in this activity with my new friends. We had a good time and I was even surprised to hear one song in English that I actually new. For some reason, The Cranberries’ classic hit song, “Zombie,” was played and covered quite well I might add. I hadn’t heard this song for ages; it brought me back to those junior high years when rock music was a high priority in life.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Baby Uah's Dedication & String Tying Ceremony

On December 12th I witnessed the Dedication of two beautiful Thai babies right in the living room of my home. Baby Uah was then 2 months old when she and another Thai woman's baby boy participated in String Tying Ceremony. It was a joy to witness such an event and recognize the significance of both the Dedication trough the act of String Tying. Never before have I seen such a ceremony, but I felt God's presence and joy as these two women expressed their desire to raise their babies with the fear of God through a Redeemed Buddhist tradition. I wish this picture was clearer but if you look carefully you can see a flower arrangement from which we take the strings that are attached to Bamboo Stems (unseen in this picture). The two babies are in the center...soon to have strings tied on their little wrists, as well as on their mother's wrists.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Visit to the Royal Flora Gardens 12-10-08

On a particularly beautiful day I was taken to the Royal Flora Gardens with my Thai family. We all had the day off from school for a special government Holiday. I believe it was the day Parliment was established as a governing institution in Thailand. There was no admissions fee at the Gardens so we took advantage of the opportunity.

If I was to give a brief description of Thai art at this particular display I'd label it as a combination of modern and abstract. However, in some strange way it all seemed rather Thai, but remove it from Thailand and I'd say it'd all fit rather well in that park running North along McCormick Street to Evenston.

All of the colors and intensity of the artistry were overwhelming. Here are some of the pictures that I think you'll find interesting. Also imagine that this is supposed to be something like an amusement park for Thai people. At least this was my impression, but flowers and gardens are not on everyone's list of fun things to see and Thai people are no different on this matter.

I must mention however, that the colors and flowers in this part of the world I extrodinary and worth seeing. The varieties of orchids (that are so uncommon in the Midwest) are overwhelming. I botonist would have a blast studing the work being done at Maejo University, not far from my home. To the foreign eye, I believe that you really could think you're in a different world.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Thai Market (Da'Lot)

Trips to the Market happening regularly around my home and there are a variety of Markets to visit. Each one is Thai, but some are more familiar than others, and some have little, if any, familiarity. Along my daily commute I pass at least 3 markets of the unfamiliar variety. Even after a handful of visits to these particular markets, they are still quite overwhelming and full of food I never new existed. I thought some of the produce sections in Chicago were pretty amazing to the Rural American eye, but nothing tops Thai markets. The only comforting feature is that there are many stands with the same products to sell.
This particular market wasn't like the average. I took these shots at the Royal Flora Garden's Market. It was somthing of an upgraded version of what you'd find in your average community with many more snack options. What you see above is little quail eggs (I think). Little eggs are fried (sunny side up) in their own individual grittle and served about 5 at a time with soy sauce on the side. To the right are raw pork & chicken kabobs spread out on Banana leaves just waiting to be grilled.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

A Visit with Nitaya

This week I've had the previlage of visting with my friend Nitaya, who I came to know in January, on my first visit to Thailand. It was a blessing to see her again and share with her my heart for Thai people, culture and language. Nitaya is skilled at helping foreigners become aquainted with Thailand, but focusses on her call working with children in the slums of Bangkok.
She is a member of the Thai Covenant Church (TCC) and reveals her heart for contextualized ministry by chosing to live in the slums where she teaches about the love of God through English lessons and Thai Traditional Music. Most recently she's developed a way for the children to earn some spending money by making beautifully hand crafted cards.

Here are some examples of the cards that Nitaya has designed and made with the help of her students. She is hoping to get some feedback on her designs.

Friday, November 28, 2008

2nd Email Update:

I hope that you are all doing well! Please feel free to send me updates on what’s happening in your lives; I am always happy to know. It’s hard to believe that over a month has gone by since I arrived in Thailand on Oct. 10th. It’s now Nov. 20th, and I’ve been busy getting settled so that I would be able to have a routine of sorts and feel somewhat at home. Culture shock is still at hand, but I have many resources to help me cope with living in a new country and trust that the Lord’s hand over my new life. Psalm 91:1 is a comfort!

Praise Report:
  • God’s Faithful Provision (friends, family, money, education, etc.) The Help of my Thai family with the Following:
  • Daily Meals & Various Provisions.
  • Social & Emotional Support.
  • Music Lessons & Thai Lessons.
  • Accomplishing Basic Communication Needs.
  • God’s Protection Throughout Our Adventures.
  • No major mishaps on my Motorbike.
  • Acquired My Worker’s Permit with P’Som Nok’s help.
  • Passed a Surprise Police Inspection.
  • Completed 1 Month of Thai Studies.
  • Attended the Loy Krathong Ceremony.
  • Visited 1 Orphanage & 1 Hospital.
  • Have had no feelings of illnesses for the past 4 weeks.
  • Baby Au came into the world strong & healthy.
  • Have been having fun and productive English Lessons.

Thai Desert: The dark pink things had a bit of a crunch to them and the broth was coconut milk (I think). It seemed to me to taste a bit like bubble-gum. It was a great late-evening treat with Ying & Klairung (felt like girl-talk time).

Prayer Requests:

o God’s Faithful Provision.
o General Health & Safety for everyone at CEFE (our music ministry & fish farm).
o Ot & Ying (with a 2yr old & newborn!!).
o A heart ready for service.
o God’s Blessing on Everyone involved in my Thailand journey (known & unknown).
o Sensitivity to the needs of my Thai family and Thai-people in general.
o Thai & Music Lessons.
o Steady Growth in Communication & Relationship Development.

Left to Right: Ot, Eye, Baby Uah, & YingNew Addition to the Family: I’m so happy to tell you that Ot & Ying (the family I live with at Ba’Anan’s) just became the proud parents of their second child on Nov. 19th. I was able to spend some time with them at the hospital and look forward to Ying coming home with the baby tomorrow.

The Center for Church Enablement (CFCE), my home base, is often full of a variety of activities. Here are some of the faces I see almost every day. From left to right are pictured: Yui, Klairung, Paing, Boi, & Mai. We are often sitting around the big brown table working out the challenging dynamics of Thai/English. I’m grateful their help and patients. Something new and interesting happens almost every day around this table. It’s the general place to be on the compound.

On Sat. Nov. 15th we attended a Thai-Falang (White person) Wedding. It was quite beautiful and rather interesting. The bride and groom came down the river on a bamboo raft and walked through this beautiful archway up to the stage to exchange vows. The ceremony was translated from English to Thai and featured Thai traditional music and dancing.

The best part of this experience was the opportunity to fellowship with church members, one lady in particular: Ba’Orissa, a Karen woman. The Karen people a minority group in Thailand, generally located along the Thai/Burma border; and are often under persecution.

Ba’Orissa, who used to spend time teaching English, confessed the difficulties of understanding Northern Thai. I was grateful to meet another woman who I could communicate with in English. She grew up in a Christian home, as have many Karen; some are even involved in evangelism to Thai people. Both people groups need our prayers.


Thai Music at Thai Church: You’d think there’d always be Thai music at a Thai church, but unfortunately this isn’t the case. Most of the time Western Hymns are sung; they’ve been translated into Thai, and don’t get me wrong, I like hymns, but at Thai church I like Thai music better.

However, on Sunday, Nov. 16th, Ba’Anan (CFCE’s leader & my house mother) spoke at our Thai Church and our Thai students from CFCE led worship. I felt very blessed to be part of this ministry and I hope to become a more established musician who’d ready for service. So far I can read Thai Notation slowly and have memorized a few short songs. This will come in handy on Saturday, Nov.22nd where I have the opportunity to attend another Thai/Falang wedding. A group from our music ministry will be playing and I’ll be able to attend as part of the team, rather than a guest, should be exciting.

Be Blessed in all your adventures too!

With Love in Christ,

Kara Jo Maus

Kara.jo.maus@gmail.com
171 Mu 13, San Sai Kaew Rd,
T. Pa Fai A. San Sai, Chiang Mai 50210
THAILAND Home Phone/fax +66 53 353 197 Cell Phone +66 86 189 7776