Thai'm to HELP

This is going to be a really long post! So much has happened in the last few days! This weekend was quite the adventure to say the least! Saturdays and Sundays are our day off so we decided to go to Chiang Mai for the weekend. On Saturday a member of our church in Chiang Mai took all of us, plus a number of UVU students and their friends, on a wild ride ride through the jungle to find a waterfall. I am not sure if I was more terrified driving down a highway in the back of a pick-up with with 20 other people, or bushwhacking down a steep, slippery
slope to find the waterfall. Either way it was probably not safe, but definitely fun! The waterfall and surrounding area was beautiful and we even passed a few elephants on the way!

On Sunday we went to church and I was able to see so many of the wonderful members that I love! I'm so happy that I'll be able to see them for the next few weeks! I have missed Chiang Mai so much! It feels like home! Hopefully I'll get some pictures next week to post!

So, our projects have been so fun the last few days! We were able to continue painting the inside of the Lahu's cafeteria. We're painting it light blue and then Shivani will paint murals over it. Today I talked to the teacher and she asked us to paint a mural of Jesus with little children, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and Noah's Ark. Let's just say I'm glad I'm not in charge of the murals!!

In the Lahu village Natalie directs an aerobic class and it is so much fun! They have a loud speaker to play music on and the children, teenagers, and some adults from the village join in. On Monday night after teaching and painting we were all dancing together in the rain and it was heaven! I was so incredibly happy and in that moment I felt like life could not get better. It took me back to those times as a missionary when I felt nothing but complete joy! After dancing the village elder and his wife invited us to their home for an authentic Lahu dinner of vegetable soup and spicy paste. Delicious! We contributed some nummy grilled chicken and asparagus that Russell made. We even taught them how to Tim Tam Slam!! I think it was a hit! I just love the warmth and generosity of these tribal people. I already knew that the Thai people have these qualities, but I feel like they are magnified among the villagers! What a blessing to be spending every day with them.

Aerobics class

Dinner with the village elder and his wife

Tim Tam Slam!!

This week we are starting up a track and field program for the Akha village! We noticed that a lot of the little kids and girls don't participate in soccer with the boys because maybe they feel a little intimidated. We decided to start this program to get the girls and younger kids more involved in physical activities. We are going to make it into a competition where they achieve goals and we will track their progress. At the end of the five weeks they will receive awards for their progress. We introduced the program yesterday and I think it's going to be great! The kids were so enthusiastic about every skill/event that we taught them! Can't wait to get that up and running!

We also teach swimming to the Akha children twice a week at a pool in town. I help Dani teach mostly just because I can translate. It's a lot of fun and I could see progress in some of the kids in just one lesson.

I'm amazed at the amount of energy that these kids have and how excited they are about everything we do with them. It is really fulfilling and so rewarding every day! One of my favorite things happens when we go to the Lahu village. Upon our arrival, the village elder speaks through a loudspeaker to announce to the villagers that we are there. Within seconds the children come streaming down the hillside to our trucks wanting to play. It is seriously the sweetest thing! I just love these kids!

This evening Janna taught an awesome first aid class at the Lahu village and I translated. She taught basic first aid skills and the kids practiced applying a band-aid on me. Janna is a great teacher and the students were way engaged! She asked them what they want to learn next week and the girls asked for a class on acne control! haha So, I think we're going to do a skin care/ spa day next week! We're also going to start the dental hygiene classes. I'm super excited for that!

There's so many projects going on and I've only covered a few. I'll keep posting and updating!!

First aid class

Each week we have a team activity and this week's was AMAZING! We hopped in the truck and headed up the mountain to the Thai-Myanmar border. This was probably one of the most beautiful settings I have ever been in! The peaks of the mountains were poking through the mist and I could not believe how lush the forest was. It was even legitimately cold!!!! Pictures do not do it justice! I was so grateful our little truck made it up the steep, windy road. We made plenty of stops for pictures and on the way back we stopped at the National Thai Agricultural Center. This was probably my very favorite place I've been in Thailand! So, apparently years ago the King created this community in order to provide jobs for the hill tribe people, who often tend to participate in drug dealing since they live so close to the border. He hoped this would give them opportunities and steer their lives in a healthier direction. Anyway, this area is now the highest producing growing area in Thailand and it provides most of the produce for the country. The gardens and orchards were breathtaking! So many fruits and vegetables (notably persimmons!!). For lunch we went to a delicious restaurant that uses the fresh produce from the agricultural center. It was so tasty and fresh. Not to mention there was a beautiful view! We also got to look around a bonsai garden and hike up a huge rock garden! Today's adventure was amazing and I loved every minute of it! Here's just a few pictures!