While working on a presentation and a 15 page research paper the night before it's due, I get super hungry. I think, man, I'm in the mood for a burger. Literally right after I think that, Christine walks in the room, says nothing, and hands me a cheeseburger. #yass #bestroomie #Godanswersprayers
Guess who is visiting the Philippines? If Johanna is my sister from another mister, this is that mister. #mysouthafricandad #greatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgrandboss #butwheresmom #basementgirls #jelly? #:)
Most of you already know this, but don’t know all the details.
Last time I wrote on this blog was to announce that I was leaving Thailand early and going to the Philippines to explore a new opportunity. That was so, so, so long ago. What a huge reminder how horrible I am at writing updates about myself.
Anyway, I was in Manila, The Philippines for one month. I didn’t know it, but it was a month long interview/internship in Graphic Design. I know nothing about graphic design. I have never had any higher education background in any art. I still created and helped a lot, but I was mostly like Goldeen the Pokemon--just floundering around being useless. And thank the Lord for Enoch, my patient, patient trainer.
When I wasn’t at World Mission Communication doing graphic design stuff, I was spending time with the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary students and faculty. I also co-taught some art classes to the neighboring kids. I counseled many young people. It was lots of fun. The Filipinos are such amazing people. Go find yourself one, and you’ll know what I mean.
Anyway, I came back to the States for R&R and wait to hear from the Church Heads what was going to be my fate.
Back in December, WMC said they wanted me back. I was shocked and scared. I had no idea why, and I still don’t know why. Even though I’m back in the States, I was given assignments for WMC.
Now, I am going through graphic design books, textbooks, exercises, YouTube videos, and anything else to prepare me for my upcoming assignment.
Also, the mission is allowing me to take some classes at the Seminary while I’m there--so that’s cool! Maybe I could get my Master’s someday!
Oh yeah, I leave on May 30th. Yikes! That’s about 70 days away! The good news is: I have a few hour layover in Tokyo. I always wanted to go to Japan--even if it’s for a bit and I can’t leave the airport. :P
So a few last words:
1. If you want to financially participate with me on my mission to The Philippines, please go here. I am still praying for my donors from Thailand, and I thank each and every one. May you all continue to be blessings to those around you.
If you want to participate with me in prayer, please pray for my mind to me at ease; I’m constantly beating myself up for not knowing graphic design. Pray for my transition into the country and the work. Pray that God prepares the way before me. Pray that my heart is prepared as well.
2. I should have wrote this a long time ago. Some people are good at cooking. Some people are good at sports. Some people are good at writing. I... am none of those people. I don’t have a skill or talent or any hope to be good at any of those things. So, please understand that I cannot update weekly or monthly like other missionaries. I have tried, and I... well, I’m not good at it!
But...
I do draw on a daily basis. I don’t journal, I draw. I draw funny moments that happen to me on the Field. For Lent, I am fasting one of my favorite things to do: reading comics. So I was encouraged by my sister to draw my own. These are all comics I drew while I was on the Field that I am putting on the computer and posting. Some stories are mine, some were told to me. Whenever I was frustrated or upset on the Field, I looked back at the comics and laughed. I hope it does the same for you. You can see the page here. I also won’t stop trying to write updates here, so check back!
I have been embarrassingly horrible at keeping people up-to-date with my life in Thailand.
Often times, I talk to other missionaries and they say things like,
“Oh, I’m 2 months late in my newsletter. I’m so terrible!”
And I’m over here like, “Oh yeah, that’s terrible… Ha… Ha…”
Believe me. I have written multiple drafts. But I would just write something like, “I’m still alive.”
I just feel like my life is so repetitive. Nothing changes. Still teaching English, learning Thai, making relationships, and all that jazz. Nothing is exciting. Nothing is new.
Except for now.
Be warned. What I’m about to say will bring some kind of expectation and assumptions to your mind, and I want you to stop yourself. Stop. Now. Don’t get too excited. Don’t get too angry. I’m saying all this because as my supporters, I feel you ought to know. Okay, here it is.
I’m leaving Thailand.
First of all, we all knew that my contract ends in September, so what’s the big deal? That’s, like 3-ish months from now.
Yeah… I’m leaving Thailand in *drum rolls* mid-July.
Yikes. That’s less than a month away! But I’m not going back to the States just yet. I will be arriving back in Florida in September as I previously said. So, I’m sure you’ve got many questions that need answering. Okay, I guess I will start a few months back.
Here we go.
It’s not a secret to anyone that I like to draw. Leave me alone with a pen and paper and you will find that the paper is either crumpled tightly in my hands or completely scribbled or erased in an attempt to hide my doodling.
At the beginning of the year, Kent (the missionary in charge of me) persuaded the Chiang Mai Nazarene church to memorize 1 verse a week. Together, we would memorize the weekly verse. Those who could remember it for the next Sunday got a prize. After a number of Sundays, and you still remembered them all, you got a bigger prize.
One Sunday, Kent gave out coloring pages with the Bible verse of the week on them. The kids could color them, keep them, hang them up… it was another enforcer to help memorize and connect with the Scripture. He showed me one he made, and asked me if I could draw one for next week. I did. And I drew the one for the next week. And the next week. And so on.
I admit, I was kind of discouraged drawing the coloring pages. It was stressful to come up with a picture that was simple to draw, complex to color, relatable to the kids, and relatable to the verse. Week after week, I would worry about the coloring page. Week after week, I never saw one page colored. And week after week, I felt like an idiot.
Then one Sunday, a kid had showed off he had memorized about 7 Bible verses! And he showed Pi Si one of his coloring pages. I only saw all this from afar, but my heart lifted. And I felt, even if he is the only one who colors, I will do my very best. And it turns out multiple kids were coloring! And just last week, 2 kids were rewarded with memorizing a large number of verses.
Well, in March my grand-boss and his wife came to Chiang Mai for a meeting and asked to have dinner with me while they were there. Somehow, my love for visual storytelling came up, and he asked to see some of my work. The only things I had on my computer were the coloring pages. I was SO embarrassed.
But for some reason, he seemed genuinely impressed. He asked me if I heard about a team in Manila, Philippines that was in charge of almost all things media based in the international Nazarene church. He talked about graphic design and stuff. I restrained myself from groaning.
Many people who know how to do any kind of art can relate to this. When you say, “I love crafts,” and someone assumes you can draw. Or “I love photography,” and someone assumes you can do abstract painting. Art is extremely broad that requires a vast amount of skill for just one medium alone.
Anyway, I decided to hear him out, because you should always keep your options open. However, I didn’t think much of it and I didn’t take what he said seriously.
Then in April(?), I got an email from my great-grandboss. He wanted to video chat with me about my conversation with my grandboss. I wanted to hide again. Oh no, he wants me to do graphic design… I mean—have you seen my wardrobe? My room? Design isn’t in my dictionary.
Well, I talked to him because I had nothing to lose. We chatted about my stay in Thailand, about my artistic skills, and what I wanted for the future. We didn’t even talk about the Philippines. I can hardly remember what I said. It must have sounded like I was extremely interested in pursing art, because in May, I got another email. This time from the head guy of World Mission Communications—the media team in Manila, Philippines.
He heard I was interested in what they do (which I wasn’t really). He wanted to video chat.
Yay.
In late May, we video chatted. He was a very nice guy and he told me what the WMC team did (and they do A LOT). They seem like a close-knit family. He somehow got those horrible coloring pages I drew. He told me they were looking for someone with my art style. I can’t say much about their future plans and why they wanted my art style, but let’s just say, I’m really interested now! Haha!
He told me he wanted me to see what their team was all about, what he wanted me to do, and all that. He requested that I stay in the Philippines for a month just to see if I feel like I could fit. About two weeks ago, I got the approval from my boss, grandboss, and great-grandboss, and my stay in Thailand was shortened. Now I just bought my plane tickets. I didn’t want to let anyone know before because it wasn’t official. Because everything was so fast, I seriously didn’t know if this was happening.
However, now it is officially official:
I will be leaving Thailand mid-July and arriving in the Philippines.
To say I’m freaked out is… a great understatement.
I thought I had a few more months left! Now I have less than a month to say my goodbyes, do tourist shopping for you awesome folk, packing, and I’m STILL teaching and learning Thai. Life is crazy right now.
I’m scared that I will hate it in the Philippines. Or even worse—that the team hates me. I’m scared of the horrific Manila traffic. I’m scared that I’ll love it and it doesn’t work out. But I guess I’m mostly scared that I will never come back to my lovely Thailand.
This is why I warned you guys to not get too disappointed that my stay in Thailand is shortened or too excited about the Philippines.
Everything is kind of like…. floating in air. I can’t really grasp it. I have no control. And that’s okay. I know Who is in control of all this.
Please keep me in your prayers. You guys are always in mine.
It was storming really bad last night. The whole sky went black, you can hear the wind pushing everything, glass shattering, lightning erupting the sky, and the lights were flickering. So I turned off all the lights in my room and watched the lightning outside. I watched as stores raced to close up early and motorcyclists were soaked trying to get home.
Then I remembered... my clothes were still outside drying on the line!! No!! So I ran to the other side of the house to rescue my clothes but was pretty sure that I was already too late. I opened the back door to see
a sunset.
The whole back of the house was completely dry! I even touched the floor. There was no wind. No rain. You can see the light of the lightning flashing from behind, but no sound of thunder. The sky was lavender, orange, and pink with soft clouds carrying the Sun down to sleep.
I went back to the front of the house where it was still storming and raining, but behind the house was dry and peaceful. How...?
What I think is more amazing is that God has been asking me to do something that I’m scared of doing. I’ve been asking for sign after sign and He hasn’t failed. Even after all the confirmations, I was still hesitant. Finally, I said, “God, I am just like Gideon. No matter how many signs you give me, it won’t be able to overcome my inability to accomplish what you want me to do. I’m the youngest in my family. I can’t do anything. What you’re asking for is impossible. Give me a sign like Gideon.”
As I stood in the back of the house basking in the warm glow of the sunset with my laundry folded in my hands and feeling the lightning flash behind. I remembered the words of my fellow missionary and friend, Lilo, who is in South America who said to me,
“I had to be taught that it's not about me ‘not being able to do it’ but it's about ‘God doing it’ and doing it because it's for His Kingdom and purposes.”
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