Mae Sot – Thailand

Arriving at Mae Sot I was picked up by my host family and driven to a local Moo Barn or suburb where I was to stay. After meeting some of the family I was shown my room where I unpacked and rearranged my things. Taking out what I would be needing over the next 10 days and packing away my winter clothes. That evening all the family come around for dinner, which I ate a little of to be polite.  Everyone introduced themselves again before asking me to pray.  A little while later, around 8:30pm (11:30pm Syd time), I was exhausted so excused myself, showered and went to bed.

As an insomniac, it isn’t easy sleeping under the circumstances I found myself in. Firstly with the change in time zone and then with the Asian culture where children have an afternoon nap and are up till 10pm or later, I found it near impossible to sleep.  Then there were little black ants biting me.  I had been given a spray earlier so sprayed it all over the bed. It didn’t seem to work.  I eventually fell asleep quite easily and even slept off and on through all the noise. But then at 11pm I was wide awake again not being able to go back to sleep till nearly 1am. This time I wasn’t able to do much as I didn’t want to disturb the families in the adjoining rooms. The walls do not meet at the ceiling so sound and light travels to all rooms and what’s more I had forgotten Thailand has the tiny black ants that love to bite as they traverse the bed.  I had put the blanket (which I didn’t need) under the fitted sheet to add more padding between the springs and me which was much more comfortable and used the fitted sheet I was taking up to Gayle, as a top sheet. I actually turned off the fan as it was much cooler due to it started to rain (and didn’t stop all night). I eventually fell back into a restless sleep till 4:45am when I gave up and got up.

Everyone else was asleep so I snuck out to the toilet and got myself ready for the day. Then back in the room where I listened to my language studies with the aid of my headphones. Then listened to a Bible podcast before downloading my latest blog to post online.  As I was finishing, the family started getting up so I joined them, made my breakfast and a coffee from my machine, which they were all interested in seeing operate. I was now ready for the day.  After hearing about the ant problem, Dan also gave me some insect spray.  I wondered why I needed another one!  When I returned to my room a little later I realised the spray I’d used that night was actually air freshener!  I relayed this mistake to the family who laughed along with me.  I also realised the mints in my purse, which was beside my bed, were covered in little black ants!  Once eliminated I had no further ant problems.

I had forgotten it was Sunday but knew I was going to the Karen Church and staying on for lunch.  When it dawned on me, I laughed.  That’s why we were going to church, although Dan did say he was putting an itinerary together for this week. Ben came to pick us up with his family as Dan was staying to look after his mum.

When we arrived I asked if I could please stay at the back of the church, a structure with a roof and no walls.  The music was so loud it was hurting my ears and giving me a headache.  We remained at the back of the church for the whole service; me entertaining their son Sam as I didn’t have an interpreter and it wasn’t in English. At the end of each month after the service every family brings a dish to share. There was quite a spread of different dishes to be eaten with rice.  Most of the dishes were spicy hot but delicious. From here we went back to the house where I crashed for two hours!  My room is under the tin roof, as is the rest of the house and very hot so when I finally woke I needed a shower.  Later I joined a group of youngsters painting in the air-conditioned lounge room.

I was determined to stay up longer that night but by 7pm I was feeling sleepy again. I had decided I’d take a sleeping tablet to help me sleep through the noise and force me to sleep longer.

Monday I woke around 6am feeling refreshed, I had slept 10 hours and yet later that morning I went back to bed and slept another hour before Dan came to take me out.  We had a busy day ahead of us. First we stopped at the Karen agricultural college under the banner of The Rising Sun Foundation, which I’m told is supported by Australians; here I met Marcus one of the teachers.  Our topic of discussion started with aquaponics then turned to things of the Lord. It was so encouraging listening and learning how the migrants were working together to educate the young, equipping them for the future and how their faith in Christ was strengthening them through the horrific persecution they had received in their homeland of Myanmar.

From here we visited two of Dan’s family members, taking the opportunity to pray for them both before stopping for lunch at another brother’s home where I ate traditional Chan noodles. There are so many different tribal groups even among the Karen. Dan said noodles were only a snack to the Karen and he would need to have a proper meal of rice when he returned home.  We laughed. Rice is a staple Asian meal and in many countries I’ve been they have told the same story.

Back at the house I was drawn to the lounge where the air conditioning was on and where Sarah (who is over 80yrs and has Alzheimer’s) was sitting. I sat and listened to her gibberish while she massaged my legs.  Sarah had been a pastor in Myanmar with her husband who has since passed away.  Her English is usually perfect but not with this debilitating disease, it’s just jumbled words.

Eventually the rest of family arrived and the women sat down to do an online Thai class through Facebook which intrigued me so I sat with them.  The teacher was going through the alphabet, helping with correct pronunciation which was very difficult for Vicky. I showed them the online lessons I was doing which helped you learn commonly used phrases.  This was the way I had learnt 34 yrs ago.  I suggested they practice together, asking and replying to the questions asked.

Not long after this a group of girls arrived for their after-class lessons which turned into a question and answer session in English. We had such a laugh joking round and generally having a fun time.  When someone slipped into Karen or Burmese I’d thump the table and say “English please!” in a gruff voice causing everyone to roar with laugher again. One girl was Thai Burmese so I was able to translate some of the questions into Thai so she could join in.

It was early to bed again as I needed to get up before 6:30am when Dan wanted to take me to the Huai Mae Sot Water Dam so that I could go jogging.  I took another sleeping tablet and slept through to 5am.  Dan and family didn’t arrive till 7:30am.  I told him I’m used to Thai time, flexi time. Although it was muggy it wasn’t yet too hot and not too unpleasant jogging.  I was the only one who did the 3km as the others were not joggers. It was mostly flat ground across the dam but then I took a track which led uphill, at the top I turned around to come down. Unfortunately I had forgotten to take my glasses off before I started and then I forgot I had tucked them into my T shirt.  Coming back down the hill I bent over, not realising they had fallen on the ground, and I trod on them.  I was relieved I hadn’t broken the glass or the frame, although on one side the glass came out and the frame was now bent.  Praise God I had brought a spare pair!

Back at the house I took a shower, washed all my sweat soaked clothes before walking to a nearby café. It was only 6 mins walk away.  I hadn’t realised I had entered a private property thinking it was the café! The occupants kindly directed me through a side gate to the café.

When I asked about the coffee selection, the barista didn’t know English so, using my limited Thai I tried to ask how many shots, how much milk and how big the class was.  Unfortunately I hadn’t brought my keep-cup so I had to settle for plastic.  Their payment system didn’t accept bank card either, so cash only.  I ordered an iceed cappuccino but I forgot to say NO sugar!  Oh dear it was so sweet!  Unlike Australia where we ask if you want sugar and presume you don’t if you don’t say so, in Asia they presume you want sugar unless stated. Never mind I wasn’t going to complain or take it back as it was my mistake.  I wasn’t surprised that it didn’t come with chocolate sprinkled on the top either as I think that’s an Australian or European thing.  I stayed till nearly midday before walking back.

After that our landlady took me and Mary into the city so that I could register where I’m staying. This should be done whenever there is a change of accommodation.  It is so that the police know where people are, especially the tourists as many overstay their visas.  There are so many illegal tourists and people from neighbouring countries staying illegally.  The address I was to use was the landlord’s as my hosts rent from her and it was the easiest way to go so as not to draw attention to my host family. My passport was taken and a new form stapled in the back. The process took less than 15 mins and cost 100 Baht.  This was kindly paid for by the landlady who refused to accept my payment. From here she took us to an optometrist who fixed my glasses for free.  I had thought of getting new frames but was reminded the glass I had was cut a certain way and wouldn’t fit another frame.  Well yes, of course!  I had been wearing my spare pair and when I put the repaired pair back on the vision was a little different.  I think is because the frame is still a little misshapen. From then on I wore the other pair and kept the old pair as backup.

I have had an amazing first few days here in Mae Sot and it doesn’t look as though it will be different for the rest of my stay.

Photos:  1.  Arrowroot flower    2. Karen Church    3. A talk at The Rising Sun Foundation   4. Huai Mae Sot Water Dam    5. Geese

Prayer & Praise Points:

Praise the Lord for His continuing grace, provision, leading, guidance and protection during my stay in Mae Sot, Thailand.

Please pray for the Karen families here in Thailand who have been persecuted and driven out of their homeland.  Pray that those applying for visas to join family abroad will be granted favour. Pray also for their situation here which is very stressful due to the corruption, lack of working status and inability to provide for their families.

Please pray for my safety during my travel to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north of Thailand.  Pray that the Thai language at learnt in the past will come back as I practise with the Thai.

Please continue to pray that the Lord will use me to be a blessing to others while I’m here and that He will complete the work He has started in me.

Please continue to pray for my Indonesian visa which I will reapply for later this month.

Continue to pray for world peace and countries dealing with major disasters, wars and the unbelievable hardships they cause.  Pray for all those caught up in the suffering these events have caused.  Pray that God’s peace may be known by all people especially for those who live with despair, that they will find hope in Christ Jesus.

Please keep my sisters, Tricia, Jen and Kat, in your prayers.  Pray that they will come to know the love of Jesus.