connecting

One of the many wats (Buddhist temples) in Chiang Mai 

We have had some great days here connecting with contacts from Partners and Free Burma Rangers. There are so many incredible people who give of themselves daily to help our ethnic minority brothers and sisters survive. It has been encouraging and humbling to hear some of their stories, and see how they walk by faith each day. We were invited to the home of Sarah, a wonderful Nepalese woman who works with Partners, for dinner last night. She is the director for five of the children's homes in northern Thailand (including the one we visited a few days ago). She has 'adopted' six young women from various parts and tribes in Burma, and supports them all with only her small salary. Two of the sweet girls were at home last evening, and we were able to talk for several hours and hear a bit from their stories. Sarah's faith is evident in all she does and says. She inspires us to do more.

the ride home from Sarah's house

Josh and Sarah's neighbor--sweet rides!

We also were able to meet a young couple from Free Burma Rangers yesterday, and hear from the front lines what the situation is really like inside Burma. There are so many people groups literally fighting for their lives each day--the ethnic conflict in Burma is so much greater and so much more complex than we understood before. Both FBR and Partners are working on some incredible projects to help these displaced groups survive and hold on. The crises are overwhelming, yet there are some very real ways that we can be involved and support their work, even from the US. - More to come on this later!

One of the many tuk tuks we used to get around--it's like a moped and sidecar combined

early morning in Chiang Mai

Turns out, the insides of the tuk tuks have some sharp pieces lining the roof--good thing we're up to date on our Tetanus shots!

Thai massage in the night market--$2 USD gets you a 30 minute massage.  The place was always packed!

Night market stalls

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One of the most delicious foods on the planet--fresh roti. We could live on this stuff!

We had a few hours between meetings yesterday, and checked out the HUGE Chaing Mai zoo. It was pretty awesome--tons of animal exhibits and you could walk in among some of them. No, mom...not with the tigers. Josh checked. :)

Josh feeding the elephants. They wanted more than just bananas and sugar cane, and he must have looked tasty! 

These red trucks with the camper on the back are main sources of transportation in the city. You just tell the driver where you are heading, and if he is going that direction you pile in the back (with ten of your new friends) for a cheap ride. 

Some of them are pretty swanky inside!

This is our last morning in Chiang Mai--this afternoon we travel to Mae Sot (the town outside of Mae La refugee camp). We were hoping to be able to enter the camp this evening, but plans have changed a bit. Instead, we will be met in Mae Sot by someone from the camp Bible School, and taken further south to a youth convention with the leader of the school, Dr. Simon. We will spend the weekend there with them, and then all travel back to Mae La together on Monday. We are anxious to see our folks in Mae La camp, but know that there must be a reason for the itinerary change. We're packing up (and un-flooding the shower area--the bathrooms here are different for sure!), and then heading to the airport. Thanks for your prayers as we start this next leg of the adventure!