Bet You didn't Know-- some unknown facts about our trip

In Chiang Mai RAD and I shared a room and Jeana and Nathan shared another, with a bathroom in the middle which serves the two rooms. After a couple of days RAD and I got our ears trained to recognize the sounds of "lock" and "unlock" coming from the other side. We would just say out loud: "lock," "unlock." We managed to make full use of the bathroom and never surprised anyone. And this morning, before we left, I did a thorough cleaning of the bathroom (practicing for coming back home...).

During the time we were in Mike and Debbie's house in Chiang Mai they also had a husband and wife friends f theirs who were staying in the house. As a result, Mike and Debbie slept on a mattress downstairs in the living room for three nights. We were humbled.

RAD and I rode for about an hour on Monday morning up the mountains toward a place called Doi Suthep. We rode as far as the first scenic look out place and had to turn around and come back because of another appointment. We stood by the little outpost and took pictures. Down a little ways from us a couple was taking pictures and there was a beautiful waterfall. We loved the ride and the scenery. Too bad the time was too short...

On Sunday afternoon, while eating some seeds with the children at homes 3 and 4 I broke a tooth (an upper molar). I didn’t notice until later when I sat down to eat again. So on Monday afternoon Mike’s dentist graciously agreed to see me for an hour (he had to delay one of his regular patients in order to do that). I sat on the chair and interacted with this gentle doctor and his wife. He had studied in the U.S. many years ago and has been practicing since 1969. His tools were somewhat antiquated but his expertise was undeniable. After a detailed examination, including x-rays, he ran out of time and ended up doing some light work to smooth the edges and told me to go back to the dentist in the U.S, “He did a nice job with the filling on that tooth. You will be okay,” he said.

Jeana shopped in Asia like a pro. She did most of the shopping for a fundraising we are planning for G.R.O.W. later this year and was always looking for an opportunity to find another item for someone.

Nathan was willing to try all the foods during our travels at least once. He was a great trooper, even eating some of the bugs at the night market in Battambang. He also managed to do quite a bit of home work in all of our flights.

Faa’s sister, Ning, has to be one of the best cooks we came in contact with. She cooked us a meal on the evening that we stayed at the G.R.O.W. home which we all agreed had be one of the absolute best we ate during our stay in Asia.

The widows at Wiang Pa Pao must rank among the most generous people we met. They insisted that we each got a bag for free, a gift woven by their own hands, one made with much sacrifice, I must add. I takes several days to make a shirt or a purse. I also got a Karen shirt from Tutu and one from her mom, made especially for me, which I’ve been wearing since our flight from Chiang Mai.

While waiting at the airport in Los Angeles we ran into some people from our church, Dan and Mary Lou Cross, who were returning from Hawaii. It was so nice to see some familiar faces as we turned our heads toward home. They are in the same flight we are!

Obviously, we are in Los Angeles now, waiting for our connecting flight to Cleveland. I feel my eyes closing even as I am typing this. We’ve been on airplanes for too long now, we managed to lose a whole day in the process. Thanks for your prayers!

Pastor Ivanildo C. Trindade

itrindade@woostergrace.org