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.

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.

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.