heat wave

April has been busy with many visitors and of course Easter! Dylan was on vacation for two weeks (his first day back to Pre School was today ) and we closed the Day Care Center for a week as well. Easter is not celebrated here but each year our holiday coincides with the New Year here. To celebrate New Year there is a big parade during which the main Buddha is carried through town from his usual temple to the oldest temple where he remains for a while. There people can go and wash him with special water thus washing away their own sins.
Another main aspect of New Year is a huge waterfight with people standing along the side of the road splashing everyone who passes by or driving around on the bed of a truck doing the same to those standing at the side of the road. In the past, it wasn't so much a pouring of water as a light sprinkling which was meant both as a blessing but also as a washing away of sins. Now it's mainly just fun. The streets turn into a party zone, way too much alcohol is consumed and at the end they go back to the uncertainty of their future, not knowing if their sins really are gone now.

It is at this time of the year that I am starkly reminded just how hollow and futile their faith is. As we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus - the ultimate sacrifice - and celebrate that our sins really are completely forgiven and taken away through that sacrifice they do all they can to redeem themselves. They have to offer their own sacrifices every day because they do not know that Jesus has already paid the price, once and for all. It saddens me to see them strive for peace and joy and forgiveness, all out of their own strength and long to share the truth that will set them free to embrace life and to experience true joy and peace.

We have been invited to some of the New Year celebrations at neighbors' houses, a special occassion where cotton strings are tied to your wrist while a blessing is said. A great opportunity for us to bless them in Jesus' name and "tie" His Spirit to them and their household.

On a somewhat lighter note, this past week has been HOT! It's the kind of heat that makes you want to lie in an air conditioned room all day because all your energy has been drained from you. The kind of heat that makes you break out in a sweat just sitting in the shade. The kind of heat that leaves you thirsty no matter how much water you drink. The kind of heat that feels like you're walking through walls of hot air that is being blown at you from giant radiators. The kind of heat where not even riding a motorbike or evening brings relief because it's just everywhere and unrelentless.

I was riding through these walls of heat on our motorbike with Dylan a few days ago and was astounded by the amount of vehicles that are on the road now. It was 4 pm, rushhour, as schools and offices closed for the day and it's the time of day I least like to maneuver through traffic. Bikes and motorbikes packed with students, pick up trucks and other cars all driving somewhat erratically and not abiding to any traffic rules that I know. I remember how empty the streets were just 4 years ago when we first visited this town before moving here. It's all part of the affluence that has come through the promotion of tourism, part of the development that most people here long for. At the same time there are negative side effects of development aswell. We see more and more of the original culture disappearing and a generation growing up so differently from their parents which influences their attitudes and values.
Recently, a friend told us how before people would help each other but now all they think about is money. And how sad he is that this part of his society and culture has changed. And so I hope that with all that we do we will be able to pass on the values of the crucified Christ to this next generation so that with all the changes and development happening around them they will still be willing to help without thinking of what they can get out of it. And I hope that my attitude will be the same, will be that of Christ, who gave without asking for anything in return.

things that mystify

As mentioned before there is a lot that about this country that leaves my mystified. This includes crazy and partly erratic traffic behavior, drinking way too much beer at all hours of day due to peer pressure, and eating dogs as food.

Today we said goodbye to our dear friends from Korea who are presently transitioning on to Canada. We had offered to take them to the airport and so this morning we went to their house to pick them up. Their landlord came by to pick up the keys and collect money for last month's electricity bill. After we had all piled into our truck and Joy and Isaac had squeezed into the back seat (they had A LOT of luggage!!!) their landlord came and asked them about their dogs, if they were meant to stay at the house.

Now, Joy and Isaac have a bit of a history with dogs. In the course of two years of living here they have had 6 dogs and 7 puppies. 3 dogs were still alive this morning and 2 of the 7 puppies stayed alive and were passed on to other families. Another Korean family had taken their Golden Retriever and their landlord had offered to take the two other dogs of the local variety. They had given him dogs before which had ended up on his grill so this time, before agreeing to let him have their last 2 dogs, they asked him explicitly NOT to eat these dogs. Which he agreed to not do.

Alas, this morning, moments before driving away, he asked about the dogs and again Isaac implored him to please not eat the dogs. To which the landlord replied with the hugest smile, a handshake and "Thank you, thank you." So I guess that was the last we saw of those two furry friends.

Apart from the culinary and other challenges I have realized once again how much I love living here. The beauty of the river, jungle, mountains and rice fields, the beauty of the people. Behind the beauty there are a lot of fears and hurts and needs and emotions that cannot be voiced. And so I long to bring Christ's peace and beauty to this nation so that they might experience the freedom he gives and joy that knows no limit.