My Day with Loan

On Friday I got a facebook message from my friend, Loan., asking if I was free for coffee.  She and I met back in August through some friends in Hermosa Beach. The best part is she speaks good English.  She is a social worker here and I get to go with her off and on to make some visits to friends.  She took me to a cafe at a water park not far from our apt.  It had a nice cafe and a beautiful garden and best of all a menu in English.  Those are rare finds here outside of the tourist district.  This young gal is one of the busiest people I know.  She has several jobs besides being a social worker but from what she has told me the social worker job is the one that she loves the most and also causes her the most concern.  She mainly works with young children and young pregnant gals.  One of the stories she was telling me was about a gal that she met who was dying of Aids.  She was about Loan's age, 30 and was wanting to know why she got the disease and others like Loan did not.  It proved to be a great time of sharing about the choices we all face in life and how those choices effect us.  She died a month ago.  Loan knows she cannot save the world but that does not make her job any easier.  We talked about her job and the issues she encounters and where she needs to place all of those burdens.  She knows the one who carries her and that others are supporting her.  I am grateful to be able to come along side of her and help her in any way I can.  After our cafe break we headed to the food court in a nearby mall and had a great Thai meal, both of our favorites.  Then we headed to visit a gal that I had met back in Sept who now has a two month old baby.  She is one chunky healthy baby. I got my baby fix in for the month.  As I spend more time with Loan I am getting more of an insight into how things are handled here.  Mark will be sharing more stories in our newsletter. 

Grab and Run

Well on Wednesday afternoon Mark and I were walking to a new Big C market that opened near our home.  We were about two blocks from the market going down a small alley type street when two young guys on a motorbike pulled in front of me and grabbed my purse.  I had a small clutch type purse with a strap that went over my head.  It happened so fast, the guy of the back of the bike grabbed the strap and pulled as the bike was speeding away. I went flying forward but the purse strap would not come off of me.  When Mark realized what they were doing he ran from behind me and yelled at them and tried to grab the guy but the motor bike was taking off.  When they realized that Mark almost had them and that the strap was not going to break they let go and I went flying, it felt like I was in a sling shot.  I landed on the road on the left side of my body.  Mark wanted to go back home but I told him I was ok, so we keep on going.  I was leary of every guy we passed on a motor bike.  While in the market I grabbed a bag of frozen peas to put on my now swelling elbow.  We made it back home without incident and I finally surveyed my bruised up body.  Not a pretty site.  I have the largest deep purple bruise under my right arm where the silly purse strap would not come off and some neck pain and leg pain from the sudden pulling and release movement.  The arm is no longer swollen but still tender and of course bruised.  We had been warned by friends that these things happen but I thought I was being careful not carrying my larger purse but from now on I will carry my money in my pocket and a purse only if going by taxi.  It could have been worse so I thank God for His protection.  I have been praying that these guys get a good dose of remorse and that God sends someone to lead them to salvation before they end up killing someone. 

One day later our friend called to say the same thing happened to he and his girlfriend who is still recovering from her last run in with someone trying to take her bag.  His bag is always locked onto his motorbike and so they could not get it but the bike fell over and he hurt his arm in the same place I did.  We have matching bruises !!

Thanksgiving Potluck

Thanksgiving Celebration

Today we were invited by our friends to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with them.  Mark shared on always being thankful for everything even when we can't find anything good in a situation.  It encouraged many.  Then they brought in the tables and brought out all the many kinds of food people had brought.  We had a wonderful chicken and vegetable soup, our favorite spring rolls, some type of shrimp puff, a cold noodle dish and then for the finale they had a coconut rice dish and fruit.  Many of our English students were there. We always enjoy being invited to their home, they make us feel like family here in this country.

I went to the western market last week and saw that they had some turkeys in stock.  I did not even look at the prices but I am sure they are just as much as last year, besides my toaster oven would take quit a while to cook the thing, even if it did fit.

We will actually get to celebrate the actual Thanksgiving day in Singapore.  I have my MD appt and we are celebrating with our friends there.  Twice in one month.  I am so thankful for all the miracles God has been doing in our family the last few months.  His mercies are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me. 

Pictures from Cebu

Trip to the Philippines

Last Monday night we took a 1:30 AM flight to the Philippines.  We arrived in Manila and then had a three hour lay over for our flight to the island of Cebu.  While waiting for our flight to Cebu we began to see many friends that were also attending our conference.  There were over 60 of us on this flight and we had two larges buses meet us and take us on about a 45 minute ride to our hotel.  After eating a quick lunch we decided we needed some sleep since neither of us slept much on the planes.  These were the first flights we have taken since being over here that we got the first row and then the emergecy row both of which offer nore leg room.  Usually you have to pay extra for that but for some reason this airline did not charge for the leg room. I am not sure the leg room was worth it since the seats would not recline and they were most uncomfortable.  The conference was great and we got to see so many of our friends from different countries.  They have these conferences every two years so it was great to reconnect and share our stories.  It seems like is does not matter what country you are in we all were missing home and families.  A couple friends and I spent some time in one of the biggest malls I have ever been in.  Even the prices were pretty reasonable. 
The last night of our conference they held a cultural night.  We had over 60 countires represented at the conferece and around 15 of them did some type of performance.  Singing, dancing, and best of all the native dress for some of those countries.  I got to wear the Vietnamese outfit I had made for Chris' wedding.  One country even had a six year old boy sing.  He had a great voice.  Our trip back was longer than coming.  We had a five hour layover in Manila.  We were able to find a cafe that had free wifi so guess where Mark spent most of his time!!  I think that computer is becoming part of him.  I rarely see him without it.  Well actually his crashed again so while it is being repaired he is borrowing mine.  I sure hope I will get it back someday.

Family

I forget that some of you are not on face book.  These are some photos that Jen has posted.  Enjoy !!  The hardest part of being away is missing our family.  Love you all