Wat Pho: Home of the Reclining Buddha


This past weekend we ventured out to see another sight that can’t be missed while in Bangkok and that is Wat Pho.  Wat Pho, home to the Reclining Buddha, is actually the oldest temple in all of Bangkok and was founded in the seventeenth century.  Since its inception, this temple has had a few name changes; first, when it was founded they called it Wat Photaram and then another name change in 1801 to Wat Phra Chetuphon.  In 1832, Rama III built the home for the Reclining Buddha and decided to turn the temple grounds into a public center of learning.  To teach everyone of their Thai history they covered the walls in murals.  This temple was known as Thailand’s first university and still a primary location for learning Thai massage.

Continue reading →

Mercy Center: There & Back Again

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Matthew 25:40-45

Today is the day, I am finally on my way to the Mercy Center, and to be honest I am very nervous.  As I sit here in the taxi that is taking me through the many back roads of Bangkok, through the slums that I really don’t think any American ghetto could even come close to an equivalent, I am amazed at what I am seeing to where I almost can’t process it.  The butterflies in my stomach are starting to make me a little nauseous and I know that it’s just the fear of the unknown.  We are making our way through the slums; I am worried that I am not going to be strong enough to do the job that is being set before me.  I am scared that what I will see here, the poverty, the loneliness, the huge chasm that is my reality from the reality of these homeless children I am about to meet is going to be too much mentally that I won’t be able to handle it.  While I consider what my next four years will be like volunteering the doubt is starting to creep into my mind.  There is a good chance that I won’t be able to handle this emotionally, mentally, and I’m sure sometimes spiritually but I do know one thing and that is that I am doing none of this alone.  This is part of the plan, the plan that God has so graciously included me in and I alone can’t do this but I can do all things though Christ.  Philippians 4:13

Continue reading →

How To Be A Lady (In Bangkok)

In case you were ever confused as to how a lady should use the bathroom properly.

20130221-213950.jpg

I found this in my Thai massage parlor by my home this evening and it is too funny not to share with everyone. The best/funniest but most disturbing part is the figure on the top right… Scary but true.

Answering The Call

“Uncertainty is everywhere. But I am living in the midst of the uncertainty and risk, amid things that can and do bring physical destruction, because I am running from things that can destroy my soul: complacency, comfort, and ignorance. I am much more terrified of living a comfortable life in a self-serving society and failing to follow Jesus than I am of any illness or tragedy. Jesus called His… followers to be a lot of things, but I have yet to find where He warned us to be safe. We are not called to be safe, we are simply promised that when we are in danger, God is right there with us. And there is no better place to be than in His hands.”

Excerpt From: Katie J. Davis & Beth Clark. “Kisses from Katie.” Howard Books. iBooks. This material may be protected by copyright.

This is an excerpt from the book “Kisses from Katie,” which I am currently reading thanks to a dear friend that heard “the call” to send it to me.  I am only in the first fifty pages but WOW is this young woman an inspiration to me.  She heard the call and answered without hesitation.  If only all Christians could respond in the way that she has done.  Katie is a young girl and at the age of 18 heard Gods call to help the orphans in Uganda.  She decided against her wonderful life back in the states, left her friends, and a college education to go care for the sick and needy.

Continue reading →

Buddha, Spirits, and Brahma! Oh My!

I find other religions fascinating, always have and always will. It amazes me what some people can believe and make their life’s work and how it can be so different from my own beliefs, not to say their dogma is wrong or that they are bad beliefs but just different. I came to Thailand with the understanding that it is a Buddhist country, around 94%. This pleased me to hear since Buddhists are a peaceful people who believe in karma, so I feel pretty safe. The second largest religious group in Thailand at around 5% are Muslims, most live down at the southern border of the country toward Malaysia. The remaining percent are other/Christians at around 0.7%.

Continue reading →

After all… What are sidewalks for?- By: Chris

20130210-214156.jpg

When you go somewhere, you have this idea that you will be open minded. Embrace the new things. Different strokes for different folks… Blah blah blah. And for the most part I would agree. In fact there’s a lot I will deal with, crowded trains where you are up on everyone, drivers who feel that it’s ok to drive down the middle of 2 lanes. But there’s 1 thing I refuse to adapt to.

Continue reading →

Chinese New Year & The Erawan Shrine


Friday was the start of Chinese New Year and little did I know that on New Years Eve whoever celebrates this holiday goes shopping to have their new purchase for New Years Day. I decided to go shopping for some of our new home essentials not realizing that everyone in Bangkok would be shopping… Needless to say it was a mad house at Big C (the Thailand Walmart) but because it is the New Year they had some great sales!

Continue reading →

Wat Arun: Temple of the Dawn


There are so many interesting things to see in Bangkok, one of which are the many different temples. Last weekend we decided we would go see Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn. It took us over an hour to get there by using the BTS and a river boat. The river boat was a little scary because they crammed so many people on, it almost reminded me of the ferries you hear about in other countries that force so many people on they end up capsizing… Anyway back to the history lesson!

Continue reading →