Markets, Tummy Troubles, and Ants

Monday, Aug. 9, 2010

3:34 pm

             Yesterday, Pastor Doug and his family took me to the Chatuchak Weekend Market (the largest in BKK). I needed to get clothes, because I only packed about three days worth. Got to ride on the BTS for the first time. Saw a lot more of the city closer to ground level. We went by some malls and saw the one that was bombed during the riots. As soon as we got off, Hannah was determined to have me try a waffle. It was so good! It was about the size of a doughnut and tasted just as good (probably my favorite Thai treat so far). We walked on to the street and politely declined the free condoms being passed out by about ten people who had crowded the base of the stairs. We entered Chatuchak Park, which reminded me a little bit of Coolidge Park in Chattanooga. People were enjoying themselves on blankets they had laid out on the grass. We entered the market and Josh wanted me to try an orange juice (one treat I would soon come to regret in trying). It was sweeter than I was used to, but it wasn't bad (yet). We made our way through the maze of shops, which reminded me of the markets in Cancun and the Bahamas, except the end was nowhere in sight.

            Josh and Hannah helped get me good prices on the cheap clothes. About twenty to thirty minutes in, I realized that the orange juice was starting to have its way with my intestines. Once I had everything, I requested a sit and popped a couple charcoal tablets. I journeyed to the bathroom, paid my 20 baht, and entered the stall. What happened the next 3-4 minutes was an adventure in itself, one which would deserve it's own little section on my blog, but I will spare you all from the graphic details. I must inform you that there isn't really toilet paper in Thailand unless you are in a Westernized bathroom (which are extremely rare). Instead, there is a small hose attached to the toilet. I came out of the bathroom, feeling better and quite fresh!

            We rode the MRT (BKK subway) to an Arabic restaurant called Petra. The food was fantastic and I even got to use the bathroom again! We took a taxi back home and arrived around 6 or 7 pm. I was exhausted. Still I stayed up a couple more hours and talked to Pastor Doug about were things stand with evangelism in BKK. It was the first time I really got to think about what I was actually doing here and how much Christians are needed in Thailand.

            Around 9:00 pm I was nearly falling asleep standing up, so I tried to get to bed as quickly as I could. As I was changing into PJs, I looked at some of the food I had brought with me next to my suitcase. Something didn't look right, so I looked closer. I watched as a crowd of ants were busying through my trail mix. I took the bag to the sink and rinsed them off. I assessed the situation to see if there was any way I could contain and exterminate the ants without anyone knowing they had been. But after following the trail up Josh's bookcase, over the top, between the board games, across the wall, and up to the ceiling, I realized I was in over my head. I went and knocked on Pastor Doug's door. Luckily he hadn't yet gone to bed and knew just what to do. He showed me how to make a missionary ant trap (tub of water in the sink with a jar in the middle that reaches above the surface, supporting a plate with bait on it). We cleaned up the ants and threw my infested trail mix in the freezer. He said, "A first-time missionary would through out the food. A 4-5 year missionary will eat the food with the ants. A 30-40 year missionary will have a jar of ants that they sprinkle on all their food."

The Work Begins

            Today was my first office day. I sat through worship and tried to follow along a Thai translation of what I think was an Ellen White book. I met the team and Pastor Doug coached me for an hour on a helpful devotional strategy. I'm glad someone finally sat me down and held my hand through understanding and practicing effective devotions. I haven't done much today. I'm working on setting up and NAS for our editing computer. Went to lunch with Goi and met a couple more SMs that are here until the end of the summer. I learned how to say, "Would you like to go to lunch?" but I forgot it already.

            Everything is still going well and I'm glad to start working. All of the fun excursions were starting to distract me from what I'm here to do. And don't worry mom and dad, I'm not sick any more.