The last couple(x3) days

The last couple days Joel and Sonja gave us independence so that we could do whatever we wanted in terms of ministry. For the most part we were up to our old tricks but it was a nice change to serve on you're own. To be able to plan out you're own day one felt real sense of ownership for the work they did, a feeling that is not as strong when you are following the mandate of a team. It was also a nice break for those of use who have been needing some independence and time away from the "others".

We aquired our second house, I have my own room and it has been great. The girls are in one house and the guys(with the addition of Angel) in the other. It has really opened things up and given everyone more room to breathe.

"Broadly speaking, two groups of varieties are available: early and late. The early varieties mature in about 50 days. They produce small heads which do not keep well and are intended for consumption while fresh. The late cabbage matures in about 80 days, and produces a larger head.

Cabbage can be started indoors or sowed directly. Like all brassicae, cabbage is a cool season crop, so early and late plantings do better than those maturing in the heat of the summer.
Control of insect pests is important, particularly in commercial production where appearance is important. The pesticides sevin and malathion are both listed for use on cabbage. The caterpillars of some butterflies in the family Pieridae (the "whites") feed on brassicas and can be serious pests.

Boiling tenderizes the leaves, converts some of their starch to sugars, and develops a characteristic "cabbage" aroma. Indeed, boiled cabbage seems to have fallen out of favor in North America, possibly due to the strong smell released during the cooking, to its image as a food of the poor, or to its reputation for promoting flatulence. Boiled cabbage as an accompaniment to meats and other dishes can be an opportune source of umami, sugars and dietary fiber. "

source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabbage

Koa Pha ngan

Koa Pha ngan is the title of this entry is also the title of the island we spent the last week or so on, and because of that, this entry is actually titled, unbelievable beauty.

In my last entry I mentioned that I missed grassy soil and undergrowth, in this entry I will declare undergrowth satisfation.

We started early saturday morning and travelled north to Bangkok, then the van proceeded west around the top of the gulf/bay of Thailand and began south. A couple hours driving in a southern direction I began to realize that Southern Thailand was much greener and much more beautiful than the other places we've been. There were trees, there was grass and there were green hills and cliffs jutting right out of the landscape to our right and left. It was incredible.

That night we stayed in a hotel which was freakin awsome. But due to monster lines and unneccary confusion the next morning we missed our ferry and had to wait five hours before departure. We passed the time with hot handed games of rook and hearts, a few of which I was able to claim victory over. At about four in the afternoon we set foot on Koa Pha ngan and met up with the pastor and the church we would be staying at. Now, I provide for you a collection of experiences from the week that came to pass :

-three full days in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life, white sandy beaches, private bungalows, hills and mountians covered with tropical vegetation and giant rocks as well as stunning white beaches with the ocean streaching out blue and mysterious before it gently washed up against shore

-climbing around on and swimming in a high, rocky, melow waterfall surronded by the most tropical vegitation one could expect

-scooter-dirtbike hybrid rentals for less than 10 dollars a day and adventures in awsome on various roads that wind through lush hills and tropical valleys. Included in this are roads with 20% road grades(super steep) and sharp turns. I lost my bike on a sloped 90 degree corner that I came into too fast. I didn't suffer any injury but did have to replace two turning lights.

-performing on the beach the night before the full moon party, not to many people watched as we performed early and most of the people we're in the streets eating and lounging in the bars. Still a good performace and we were able to meet a few people coming out of it. The girls we're also introduced to some new fire dancing moves by a local performer and a old drunk man wandered around but did nothing whatsoever of consequence that would even make mentioning him worthwhile.

- as a team we went to one of the largest beach parties in the world for about and hour or two. There we saw some amazing fire dancing and a ton straight up partying. It wasn't as debachourous as I imagined it would be, there were drugs and lots of boozing but nothing you couldn't find at a high school or big new years party. The amazing thing about it was the size, masses of young travellers from all over the world, filling an entire beach, dancing and boozin to rows of speakers with a bright full moon overhead lighting up the bay.

-travelling around the island with the pastor we got to hear many stories of people who had been touched by God. One man was almost blind in one eye due to catarats, He started going to church and the pastor, a man of amazing childlike faith, prayed over him for healing. When the guy went back to the doctor the doctor told him that he amazingly didn't need surgery any more as most of the cataract was gone. A little of it was still left in his eye when we came and we prayed for complete healing. It didn't clear up while we were there but the man expressed an intnese feeling of inward clarity after we prayed over him. We also got to meet many other people and hear different stories.

-we got to meet with the church for an evening group and do our performance for them, Dave also preached and the evening was declared good.

-snorkelling off the island

-visiting an amazing bay that pirates once frequented where now the ocean beats against cliffs and rides up onto a long white beach bordered by palm trees and private bungalo's. I decided that I would return someday with a month or two to spare.

-watching one of the most intense sunsets from high atop a rock overlooking the ocean where the oranges and reds danced played as they reflected off the water

The island was incredible, these are just some of the stories. We talked alot about how easy it would be to come back in the future. There were many young white people which was a nice change from Pattaya where most of the tourists are old and disgusting. I also realized what a hole Pattaya is, before I couldn't believe such a scuzzy place would be able to lie along such a beautiful beach. But after visiting the south I realize that Pattaya's beach isn't actually that great and really, the only thing that would draw travel concious people here as opposed to other Thai destinations is the prostitution.

Well, we get a second house today and I'm off to move my stuff to that place. There will be one for the boys and Angel and then one for the girls and Joel and Sonja. It's going to be so nice to have some more space. Don't get me wrong, the people on my team are all great, but when you've been travelling and living in a small house with the same ten people it can get a bit tough at times.

sawasdee cup,

daniel

Northeastern Activities

Here I am a week after my previous post writing from Bangkok, the home of 6 million people, smog, overpasses and insane congestion.

We started our journey at about 6:30 Saturday evening after loading the van with all our supplies for the week. After driving quite some time and passing through Bangkok we came to a road side gas station to stop for a bathroom break. Dave, feeling a bit of cabin fever from sitting for so long was talking and dropped a red bull he had just bought. He gave a 100 bot bill to Josh and send him in for more. Josh spend all the money and came out with about seven replacements. What followed was Dave releasing some of his pent up energy by slamming 6 of them. After the excitment died down we climbed in the van and continued on. No more than five minutes later Dave ripped open the window and hung his head out. We promptly pulled into the next gas station and then waited while Dave spent some time in the stall removing the energy drinks from his system. Upon inspection we noticed a the words, Max. 2 per day on the bottles.

We arrived in the small village of Baan Muangklang at about five in the morning after a short stop at the morning market of a neighboring town. We met Angels family, unpacked and then layed down to rest from our journey.

An hour or so later I awoke with a strange feeling in my stomache. For about 15 minutes I layed there, trying to convince my body not to puke until finally I gave in. After finishing up the first round and filling up the bag I had grabbed from near my bed I headed downstairs to finish it off in a more civil manner. While downstairs, Joel unknown to me at the time was also puking. He had been awake thinking the same thoughts as me when suddenly He heard me explode and then gave in as well shortly after. After a half-hour or so we were both empty stomached and ready to lay down once again. From that point forward the daylight hours went fairly well and both Joel and I were digesting again before bedtime commenced.

Later in the day many neighborhood children ventured in to see the strange white people who mysteriously arrived as they dreamed dreams safe in their beds. It wasn't long after they discovered us that there was a small crowd of kids congregated in the front enterence, playing games and having fun with those of us who would partake.

The next day we perfomed at the local High School. We started doing some games with the kids and setting up while that happened. Things were almost ready to go when with out so much of an ounce of warning the amplifier quit working. A mad dash followed as the teachers grabbed a portable system, portable mixer and then improvise a bit in order to plug in our dvd player. Everything came together and about the time the stage game became unbearably repetative we were ready to go. The girls performed and then Angel preached and one girl boldly came up asking for prayer and a bible afterwards. We then did a skateboard show, ate food with the principle and taught some english before heading out.

After the school we spent some time at a local swimming/fishing hole. Joel caught some dinner and I explored some of the cow trails that went off in the bush. One thing I noticed is that Thailand can be very green, but it is also very hot and dry. So while there are many trees and many different types of them there isn't always a whole lot of undergrowth, grass and such. That I miss a little, a lush grassy covering on the ground.

The next day we went to the Primary school to perform. We arrived to find a small stage constructed of old school desks tied together. Despite this the girls made some room in front of the stage and made due. The performce went off without a hitch and we followed up with a small skate demo under the hot hot heat of the sun. After lunch we said goodbye to all our new friends and headed just up the street to our home. The kids, most of them already knowing were we dwelt from hanging out with us the nights before came promtly after school for games of "stella stella ola" and to ride our boards around. Unfortunatly that night we couldn't show them the same hospitality as we were preparing for out big show.

The show that evening was at the elaboratey built, eccentric looking but slightly run down buddist temple across the street. We were to perform around 7:30 8:00 and the show would consist of dances and speaks, no media.

At about six o'clock we realized that the temple didn't have a sound system capable of playing music. There was some panic as we rushed back to the primary school to see if we could borrow anything. When we got there we realized the school was closed for the day and we might be out of luck. Fortunatly though someone came along who could help us and we managed to gather together a sketchy but funcional system. With that stress out of the way we headed back and started to prepare for the show.

The show started with some quick words at about eight o'clock and followed with a mix of fire dancing, normal dancing, speaking, and then some more fire dancing. To our relief the fire dancing went perfectly and Joel didn't have to use his emt training to deal with any degree of burning, scathing, or searing.

After the magnificent display of dancing with fire the girls took to sitting and Angel stepped up to the plate to deliver the message on her heart.

After preaching to her home town the gospel, and the life that She's found in it, She called to the crowd and invited anyone up who was interested in or needed healing. Bold words, inviting people up to get publicly and miraculously healed by God through Jesus name, in a buddist temple no less. Well, a few ladies came up, one of them being Angels own Aunt. She had a knee problem that had been limiting her for years and after explaining Angel and Sonja(one of our leaders, Joels wife) began to pray. The prayers ceased and Angel asked how her knee was, her Aunt excitedly began telling of how She could now move her knee fully and felt no pain. They handed the mike to her and asked if She would tell the people. She did and soon after we were rushed with all kinds of requests, for healing and prayer in general. This lasted about an hour or so, us moving through the crowd praying for people until slowely, as the crowd died down things started to get a little weird.

Drunks slowely started moving in and gently hasseling the girls and a the mood began to change. About this time we decided that our time was up and pulled out as quickly as we could.

We met up at the house and many stories were shared. One lady my teamates Sonja, Dave and I prayed for reported being healed after we finished. Since I moved on before Sonja was done I never learned of this until after and it was really encouraging since I never saw anything directly from my prayers. Later that night Angels mom was also relieved of cronic shoulder pains after Sonja and Angel layed hands on and prayed for her. It was a tough but amazing evening in the end. We retired, tired, and outside the dogs in the village which we had never heard or noticed before barked and fought through the night.

The very next day, we slept in and relaxed. In the later part of the afternoon we travelled out to Angels family land. There we had the chance to chill, eat sugar cane and experience the true Thai country side. It was so beautiful and peacefull.

Later in the evening we travelled home and a chicken was killed. We watched them drain the blood, pluck the feathers and then make soup what remained. We were offered a meal from it but didn't accept as the boiled cubes of chickens blood that we're added to the soup acted as a bit of a turn off.

Next day and our team headed to Bangkok were we stayed at a church for three days.There we shopped and then performed at a house warming for Angels family. (I'm now finishing this entry from back in Pattaya).

The ten of us and Dee-Dee, a temporary team addition from a neighboring towns bible college will head south in a few days to the full moon festival.

From what I know the full moon festival is a big open party with lots of drugs and free lovin. A little like a modern day woodstock from what I gather. Again if you're the type, continue to pray and God bless you all.