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.

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.

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.

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

The Loy Krathong Festival 11-12-08

Last week I had the pleasure of experiencing The Loy Krathong Festival, an annual favorite among Thai people by both Christians and Non-Christians alike. There are a variety views as to how or if Christians should participate in it and much prayer and discussion is held over the issue. As an outsider looking in, the ceremony was beautiful, exciting, and just plain fun.

My Thai family, however, (who are convicted Christians) did not attend the festival, but allowed me to experience it without much apprehension concerning my religious convictions.

They were more concerned about my safety in regards to all of the random fireworks which you can get a taste of in the video clip below. You'll also hear some great music by the live band that was playing in the background.

A few days before the actual Krathong Ceremony is The Sansai Festival which involves the simultaneous launch of 1,000-10,000 hot air balloons. These aren't the kind of hot air balloons we see in the states, but look like the picture to the picture above. Ot brought one home, as seen above, so that I could experience it up close and personal as I was not allowed to attend the simultaneous launch. In spite of the historical cultural bondage represented, I believe that those who've been raised in Christian homes perhaps associate themselves with these ceremonies in the same way as many Christians do in the states in regards to celebrating Halloween or decorating our churches with Christmas Trees.

The balloon launch is then followed by the Floating lantern ceremony, which takes place later in the week, and involves the reverent floating of thousands of beautifully hand-crafted lotus shaped vessel made of flowers and banana tree leaves (Krathong) into ponds, canals and rivers. Here's the lotus to the left that Ying made for me to send down the river. I do not believe, however, that she or any other members of my Thai family made their own for sending, but were happy to introduce me to the annual tradition because of my inexperience.

Bangkok Visitors 11-6-08

Throughout the first week of November we were treated to a visit by our friends from the Thai Faith and Music Foundation (TFMF) in Bangkok. It was fun to see some new faces and familiar faces. I spent a week visiting and learning from TFMF in January, 2008, during my Mission and Ministry in Asia course through North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS). Our friend, Ek, from TFMF, came to learn a new rhythm routine on the Big Gong and is pictured to the right. The routine, taught by Ot, looked rather complicated and took a couple of days for Ek to master. So far I've only seen men (Pooh Chai) play the Gong, but maybe I'll have a go at it and break this gender specific instrument. We'll see...I'll let you know if I make any progress toward accomplishing this task. The photo to the left is displaying an extremely delicious meal conducted by Ba'Ruth, in the blue, who is Ba'Anan's sister-in-law. She's also in a photo I posted earlier of a the pinning/welcome ceremony help back in January in Bangkok. It was quite a joy to see her again and contemplate the process of becoming a Short-Term Missionary was beginning to be cultivated among the group from TFMF almost one year ago. This picture also introduced me to a new method of grilling. If you look carefully you'll see that the fish are on top of a hollow clay pot that is fill with a burning substance, wood I believe.

Motorbike & Thai Language School 11-7-08

For the past 2.5 weeks I’ve been surviving the twists, turns, and various obstacles on my motorbike from Ampur Son Sai (my home district) to Payap University in Ampur Chiang Mai. These trips began with much trepidation, but I have grown to enjoy them immensely. Here’s a picture of me pretending to be riding my motorbike. It’s a Honda Click automatic and I’ve been told by my Thai brothers that this bike is Suay Mahk Mahk (very beautiful). It’s a popular bike to have and I will be happy to be donating it to the Thai Covenant Church upon my departure. For the time being I’m just grateful to have some “wheels” to get to Payap and the market. It takes about 25 minutes to get to school and I probably average about 35 kilos an hour and no more than 65 on the Super Highway, which is quite fast enough for me. Class is from 9am-12pm with a nice break in the middle and I am so thankful to be studying Thai right now. I’m slowly but surely increasing my vocabulary (remembering tones) and putting adjectives after their objects (like in Spanish). Much credit goes to my Thai family, who are very patient with me, learning and saying the words I understand, and repeating themselves often and more slowly! It’s challenging for all of us, no doubt, but it’s always exciting when our messages get through the void. Here’s an ok picture of the sign outside of Payap and the place (below) where I like to stop and buy roasted buns that come with an amazing honey-butter tasting spread. I'm not sure yet what they're called in Thai, but they're definately a tasty treat.

Kitchen Fellowship 11-2-08

Some of my most enjoyable experiences so far have been spending time with my Thai family in the Kitchen. Our kitchen is very different from any that I’ve been in America, but familial dynamics are very similar. The kitchen is the place to be when I just want to hang out with my friends and Thailand is no different. This isn’t to say that I’m really cooking any more that I did with friends at home. They could surely testify to this, but I’m always good at pitching in when directed and happy to do the dishes when I get there first. So far I’m been allowed to stir, role little pork balls for soup, and crush little chili peppers with what looks like an archaic stone bowl and hammer. I totally want one! In the picture my friend Klairung is washing dishes, Ying is chopping veggies, and Beam is displaying the pork soup that she and I made together. I hope to have many more great experiences in the kitchen and get more opportunities to help prepare our meals. Thai food is great, very healthy and always fresh. Trips to the market are made almost daily

Trip to the Mountains 10-12-08

On the Sunday after the welcome gathering at P’Anan’s (my home) I was taken on a trip the Mountains. There I saw many spectacular things and to help you get an idea about I will try to explain what’s happening on this journey through the flow of events via my pictures. Here I am to the left feeling pretty elated on account of some wonderful euphoric culture shock feelings with a Pepsi in hand.

Here’s what the view often looked like on the road ahead.
Stubborn obstacles sometimes blocked our path; the stare-down didn’t last too long, but definitely had to come to a complete stop. (Not much fear behind those eyes).
As we continued along the roads twisted and turned without too many hills or cliffs (to my relief). This one led us to a home owned by the Thai Covenant Church. It’ll be used for future outreaches to the people who live in the surrounding villages.

Here is a proud picture of the King of Thailand posted on a wall outside the house. In Thailand you can’t go far without running into a picture of the much revered King or one of his family members.

To the left are a couple shots from the front porch; it was absolutely breath-taking. Thailand has has a tropical climate with a high degree of humidity. Average temperature is 30'C., varying from 32.5'C to 23.7'C. There are three seasons : hot, rainy, and cool. The hot season, from March to May. From June to October the country is visited by the southwest monsoons bringing billowing clouds and cool showers. The cool season, from November to February, would be better named "warm" season. In Chiang Mai, which has a lower humidity and is usually, but not always, cooler, the temperature drops considerably after sunset.

To the right is a picture of my friend Klairung (Air). She’s taking it easy for a few moments before we head back down the road again to visit the home where she grew up in. Now she lives at CFCE and spends her time studying accounting and English at Payap College. I’ve been experiencing a great amount of help and encouragement from her as I adjust to life in Thailand.

Throughout the drive way we saw fields of corn; what we would think of as Indian corn. I couldn’t help but take note, what being a farmer’s daughter and all, but I saw no modern machinery. Here’s how it’s stored after harvest.

When we came to Klairung’s home, her sister was chopping up marigolds in great quantities. There were whole fields of Marigolds waiting to be harvested, cut, cut again, and then put into bags to be hauled into town.

An exciting seen below: The shaving of a pig, ready to be roasted (I’m assuming).

Here’s another product (a root of some kind) being prepared for market. My friend Eh (a student at Phayao Bible Seminary) is displaying. He was also our driver for the trip and we stopped here at Ohle’s mountain home for a quick drink of water.

Before we left the mountain road we passed by an Elephant home. Eh pulled in the drive so I could get a great picture, but it wasn’t a day to meet and greet them any more closely. I’m not sure that they would have been the family friendly kind, but a great end to an amazing trip.

Chicago Farewell Party 10-4-08

On October 4th, 2008 I said goodbye to many of my friends at Paul & Gretchen DeNeui’s house. Paul is standing in the picture to the right explaining the meaning of the string- tying ceremony; a tradition common in Northern Thailand performed at significant junctures in a person’s life. Two of my friends, Christy Sherman and Jenny Win, are listening intently as Paul explains how the Thai strings are used as a tool for blessing in the name Christ. They are not significant in themselves, but symbolize a blessing spoken, by an individual or family, over another’s life. My friends took turns saying a blessing or prayer for me as they tied one of these strings to my wrist. My Mom, who is sitting next to me in the picture below was also tied in this ceremony. It was a blessing to be blessed!! I have participated in three string tying ceremonies and they have all brought me to tears. I believe that God is able to work powerfully when we bless each other in the name of Jesus through the use of this redeemed Buddhist ceremony, commonly practiced in Northern Thailand. It was an overwhelming experience to be tied by new friends from Thailand, old friends from South Korea and Burma, and old & new friends from the United States. I will never forget the love and support I felt and do feel from all the people who have helped me immensely as I follow what God has for me in Thailand.

Prayer & Fundraising Update 10-7-08

Dear Friends & Family,

Greetings!

I hope that you are all doing well in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I pray that you would be blessed this day by His ever present grace and mercy. I’m excited to let you know where I am on my journey toward service in Thailand.

God has faithfully helped me reach 82% of my fundraising needs and I want to thank you for helping me to get to this point through your prayers and generous provision. More preparations are underway and I now have a departure date! I’ll be leaving for Thailand on Wednesday, Oct. 8th and will arrive in Chiang Mai on Thursday, Oct. 9th. Randy and Cheryl Bevis will be there to greet me and have offered to let me recover from jet-lag with their family before I reach my home with Anan Srisuwan and the Thai Covenant Church.

Praise Report:

• God’s faithful provision in all areas of my life (friends, family, money, education, etc.)
  The opportunity to leave for Thailand this fall.
  
• The fellowship I’ve experienced at The Thai Community Church of Chicago and the Thai friends that I’ve been able to make before I leave.


• Safe travel to Minnesota to say goodbye to family and friends along with a great time of fellowship with them.

Prayer Requests:

• That God will continue to provide all the funds I need to serve in Thailand (20% left).


• God’s blessing on everyone who is part of this process of helping me to learn, serve, and grow as I seek to do God's will. (Without the Lord’s leading and the church’s support, I would not be leaving for Thailand.)


• Help with networking and continued education about Thailand and Thai people so that my heart will become more and more prepared for service.
  With Love in Christ,

Fundraising Update: 9-8-08

Yeah for Fundraising! I am currently at 65% of my total fundraising needs. Thank you and praise God for all of you who have helped me get to this point! I am truly blessed and growing more and more excited that I will be in Thailand soon.

I still need 35% or $15,000, but I am hoping and praying that God would lay it on people's hearts to support me as I seek to follow God's leading to serve in Thailand. I hope to leave within the next 2 1/2 to 3 weeks if I reach 80% and will continue fundraising efforts while I begin a new season of life with the Thai Covenant Church.

• Please pray that God would give me energy, patience, and faith that everything will come together as soon as God would have me leave.
• Pray for the churches & individuals who I have asked for help, that God would give them generous hearts and that they would be blessed in return.
• Pray for the Thailand Covenant Church as they prepare to receive me and train me so that I will be able to serve them well.

Trip to the Indiana Dunes

On August 16th, I spent the day with Korean Ark Covenant Church Youth Group (KACC) at the Indiana Dunes. I had a great experience spending some quality time with the youth at my church. It takes about 2 hours to arrive at the Sand Mountains of Northern Indiana on the shores of Lake Michigan. During this time we listened to Korean Pop and Rap (in Korean) while eating Kimpop (Sushi or California Roles) for breakfast.

I brought along a book, "Making Room at the Table," a collection of articles by members of the faculty at Princeton Theological Seminary that explore the multicultural challenges facing the contemporary church. I spent some time reading aloud from an article about the Korean American Worship experience in hopes of dialoguing with my friend Limee (a University student who was sitting next to me).

Limee was willing to engage in conversation and helped me understand and confirmed that there are unique challenges faced by Korean Americans in the context of worship. These challenges stem from the complex dynamic of Korean Americans having to face their state of liminality, but that being in limbo culturally can be helpful in the act of worship itself. In other words, if Korean Americans face both of their Korean and American cultural identities and bring this state of acknowledged limbo to the act of worship, then they will be more able to fully engage in worship.

Being in a state of limbo constitutes my friends having to face the challenges of performing according to the expectations of both cultures (ideally). The challenge then, according to Lee, is that Contemporary Worship dynamics can then either reinforce these expectations or become an avenue for freedom in God's presence. I agree, in principle, with Lee's arguments, but would've liked to have some suggestions for application. Or is the issue mostly still working with bringing issues of liminalty to our (both Korean & American) awareness?

Fundraising Update

As of 8-22-08 I have raised 58.39% of my total fundraising needs. I will be able to leave for Thailand when I've hit 80% so that leaves 21.61%!! I am almost there! God is so faithful and if you'd like to make a pledge or send me a special gift to help me reach my goal of 80% you can send a check to:

The Evangelical Covenant Church
5101 N Francisco Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
*Please be sure to include my name: Kara Maus in the memo.

Missionary Commissioning Sunday in Minnesota

On Sunday, August 10th, 2008, The ECC of Alexandria held a commissioning service for those of us in the picture to the right.

It was an amazing experience to stand next to two old friends (Tia & Beth) who are passionate about doing God's work in Asia and to be supported by our home church. Tia Martin (to my right) will be in Central Asia for two years and Beth Burkholder will spend the next 8 months in Taiwan.

Home Stretch

Hello Everyone!

Thank you to everyone who attended my farwell/informational party in MN. I'm sorry to those of you who may not have known about it early enough to make it; it was very impromptu and my parents and I meant to know hard feelings toward anyone who did not know in time.

Here's a quick recap on the weekend:

I got home late Friday night accompanied by my brothers Jeffrey and Michael. It was wonderful to get to spend some quality time with them, to hear about their lives, stories, and a few secrets ;)

On Saturday we celebrated my Grandpa Maus's 85th Birthday at a park in Glenwood. I really enjoyed being able to spend time with my Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. We had a great reunion with lots of stories to share, good food to eat, and always time for a few card games (a favorite past-time during any gathering with Grandpa present).

Sunday brought with it a day full of blessings for me. My Covenant Church in Alexandria celebrated my call to mission in Thailand with commissioning service. I was blessed to be present there along with two of my friends who are also called to Asian Ministries. Tia Martin and Beth Burkholder. Tia will be serving in Central Asia and Beth with be a little closer to me in Taiwan. Then later in the evening my parents, uncle Tom, cousin Sarah, and my siblings worked hard to throw me a great party in the back yard. It was great experience to be loved and supported in this way and say some goodbyes to friends and family.

Kara's Farewell & Informational Gathering in Minnesota

Say Goodbye to Kara (in Minnesota) before she leaves for Thailand!!!

Event Info: A Farewell & Informational Gathering in Minnesota for Kara Jo Maus before she leaves for Thailand this Fall.

Host: Kara Jo Maus
Type: Goodbye Party
Date: Sunday, August 10, 2008
Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Kara's Parent's Home in Minnesota
Address: 26756 State Hwy 55
Lowry, MN 56349

Phone: 773-396-8958 (Kara's Cell) or 320-283-5324 (Parent's Home #)
Email: kara.jo.maus@gmail.com or jerjo5@runestone.net (Parent's email)

The Picture

The picture to the right is of Ruth Srisuwan and myself taken in Thailand (Jan. 2008). Ruth is pinning a flower on me as part of a traditional Thai Welcome Ceremony.

Fundraising Time!

Hello! Thanks for visiting my blog.

Lord willing I'll be in Thailand by September. I'll be doing my best to keep you all updated on where I'm at in this process. Please keep me in your prayers as I begin fundraising and let me know how I can be praying for you!