From all of us

The past few days the internet has been out for us at Eden House as their wireless network was being fixed and we couldn't access this blog at the home. Today we wrote these thoughts so that I could upload them when we got back to the hotel.

Hey it’s Tylar. This trip has been so great. I challenged myself this trip to learn all the girls and staffs names. I have managed to successfully complete that challenge. The girls have grown so much and are learning more and more English. It’s amazing seeing the changes in them and in me. As they grow it seems like I also grow. They are Gods children just like us. I will miss them all so much when we go. They love us for who we are and don’t care about what we look like. That’s one thing I am very grateful for. Life can be hard and knowing that they will love you and hang out with you no matter what is awesome. God is amazing and I learn and experience this more every time I come to Thailand.

Hello from Dodge. Thailand has been fun for me so far. On April third, we went to the monkey caves. These monkeys were wild and were not very friendly. We saw one of the monkeys come up to a child and steal his Popsicle. I think that it is kind of weird that the place is called the monkey caves since there was only one cave (that I saw). I don’t really have much else to say. I’m usually not good at remembering things that just happened. I am sorry that I don’t have much to write about. Thank you for reading though.
Hey it’s Matt. This trip has been so amazing. I’ve had so much fun. April 1st we went to a waterfall. When we first got there it was raining really hard so we didn’t think we’d go. But It cleared up so we went. The walk to the waterfall was really long and tiring. When we got there it was all worth it though. On April 2nd Vern took Dodge, my dad, and me on a village/boat tour. It was really cool seeing Laos, Burma, and Thailand from the river. April 3rd was a different day. Some people stayed at Eden House but some went out and went to some shops. After lunch we went to Monkey Caves. That was so fun seeing all the monkeys just hanging around not in cages. The only thing I didn’t like bout the caves was the fact that we had to climb 304 stairs to get to the top. It was so tiring walking all the way up almost climbing a ladder at points. But it was fun and I got a lot of pictures. Well the trip is coming to an end and that really sucks but oh well. I like the fact that the girls aren’t judgmental about us and like us for who we are.

Hello Washingtonians…it’s Megan. I have been dreading writing this blog because it is just one more reminder that today is our last day in the happiest place on earth (and yes I am including Disneyland). This trip has been so much fun, and even though it’s my third time back I feel like I have truly learned something different every time. This year I learned probably 100 times the amount of Thai I have in the last two trips and I have been able to communicate more with the girls, which has been so nice. Each and every girl has learned even more English and so the amount of sharing between us has improved. It is such an amazing experience getting to know these girls and the personalities even more. It’s amazing to me how every single girl is so vastly different from the others. When God planned for Eden House he was probably just showing off to the rest of the world the amazing things he can do. It has been hotter today than it has been most of the trip. The girls have been running around playing games, the Bop It Extreme I brought here has been quite the hit. It has been fun interpreting the score for them. I am proud of myself I have learned to count up to 1000 in Thai. I have also learned my colors…so now I am about at the intelligence of a three-year-old Thai girl. Yay! I am starting to miss home a little bit, but not much. Today is going to be such a hard day. There have been so many wonderful memories this year. I had never been to the monkey caves before and I was able to visit a Galean, pronounced Karen (hill tribe) store to look at handicrafts, and visit a paper store, a market, and a pottery store. Everything this year has been so memorable. I am definitely going to miss Thailand, all of the girls, and Miss Audrey and Papa Vern. I am glad we are all safe; please pray for health and travel.
Hello Northlake, it is now Alan’s turn to write. This is a day that I really wasn’t looking forward to. I was told it would be sad I just didn’t know to what magnitude it would be. The girls are just so loving and non-judgmental. As Matt and Dodge have said we went on a boat ride for newbies, the views were spectacular but there was a definite dark aura over the Paradise Hotel in Burma. The Monkey Cave is actually called the Fish Cave, it has some of the largest Koi and Catfish in it I have ever seen. The monks climb all those steps (810 round trip with food twice a day to feed the monkeys. It is hard to say goodbye to these girls and staff but the experiences are priceless. I have much further to go than Megan, so I guess I am still in Kindergarten. There is only room to grow. Well I’ll see some of you in small group on Monday, take care.
Hey it’s Jordan. Today is going to be the worst day of the trip for all of us. I’m not looking forward to tonight and am dreading the tears. These girls are so amazing and I learn so much from them every day we spend together. I have gotten to know and come to love many of the beautiful young women in this house and come to realize how much alike we are. We share many of the same struggles and enjoy most of the same things. One of the younger girls, Somo, calls me mom. I don’t know whether it’s a complement but I think it is. It makes me feel old but I love to know that I mean so much to her. Before we leave every night I have hugged the girls and told each of them that I love them and that I’ll see them tomorrow. Tonight is going to be different. I won’t be able to tell them I’ll be back in the morning and I’ll have to say goodbye without knowing if I’ll see them again or not. Seeing how people live here has opened my eyes and made me hate the person I was before landing in amazing Chang Rai. They have so little but yet are so happy and love on you no matter if they know you or not. From the first step into this house I have been loved unconditionally and I know I will be able to feel that love long after we’re gone. This is an experience I have been lucky to have twice and I know I will never forget. Please pray for these girls and continue to pray for our team because our journey isn’t completely over yet. God bless.
P.S. I miss you and love you daddy. See you soon and I can’t wait to be home with you again.

Sawahdeekah from P’Patti, I want to start by saying “thank you to the people who donated money for me to be able to come on this trip!” Each day has been more wonderful then the day before. Yesterday I woke up not feeling so well and spent the entire day in the bed! I was so bummed about that. Today I feel much better. I have enjoyed getting to know the little girls on this trip. I already knew most of the older girls so to get to know the little girls has been amazing. When I wrote last I told you of a little girl named Nim. She has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. She grabs hold of my hand, calls me mom and leads me to where she wants to go. I have taught her how to wink and it makes me smile every time she does it. She does not speak any English but I feel I have been able to communicate with her anyways. I do not look forward to tonight at all! It is going to be very hard to say goodbye to these wonderful children. I wish I could pack them all in my suitcase. I’m reminded each day of this trip that I am very selfish and I wonder why I can’t be content and live simply. The people here have nothing and yet they are so happy. In America most of us have whatever we want and we are still not happy. Why is that, it is because we are all so selfish! My prayer for myself and my family is that we learn to live simply and be happy with what we have. Please pray for us as we say our goodbyes and pray for our trip home.
Darren, I love you and miss you more than you know! I can’t wait to be home with you! Kiss, Kiss!

Waterfall Trip

Today was one of our field trip days. We spent the first couple of hours at Eden House playing games while six of the girls were at school receiving their report cards. We left Eden House about 11:00 a.m. and drove about thirty minutes to Huay Mai Sai, up in the hills a bit southwest of Eden House. Some of the staff was away in the morning, so I was asked to drive one of the trucks. It was my first experience driving from the right side of the vehicle, and I was a bit nervous beforehand, but it went well. I turned on the wipers instead of the turn signal one time, but other than that mistake it was a smooth trip. Driving is quite a bit different here than at home - the roads are narrow and drivers need to pass the many motorbikes on all of the roads.

We arrived at Huay Mai Sai and set up for lunch. During lunch, we heard thunder and guessed a storm was heading our way. It rained hard for about 20 minutes, but after it stopped we hiked up to the waterfall and had fun swimming with the girls. Bob, one of the staff, joined some of us jumping off the rocks into the deep part (about 6 feet) of the pool. Some of the girls climbed up the rocks and slid down as well. It was a fun trip, and it was may favorite waterfall of those we've visited so far over the past three years.

On the way back from Huay Mai Sai, we stopped at the market for vegetables. I had a coconut and some sticky rice with black beans cooked in a bamboo shoot. The market was interesting, with lots of fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish and even insects.

We went to ice cream with Audrey, Nok, Bob and the girls from the third house before dinner, and I had fun talking with Nok, Momo and Pon. After ice cream, Audrey took the team to Rajhapat University, where Ratana will attend school. We toured a nice garden and took a group photo before returning to a dinner of rice, egg, and soup at Eden House.

We will start worship soon. It has been another good day. I've been able to talk to some of the girls today about school, and I am impressed by the grade point averages these girls achieve. They are a bright group, and Eden House is making a huge impact on the lives of the girls by providing an education that would be otherwise unattainable.

Time for worship now. Thanks again for your prayers - Mark.

From Alan

Good Evening Northlake,
We just got done with dinner and have some down time before evening worship and teaching. The time is going by so fast, the girls are so amazing. They just want to be with us all the time. We are playing games right now. The one we start with is not the same one that we end up with, the girls are so creative.
Darren Trimble eat your heart out, for the last 3 days I have been helping out in the kitchen. It is an honor to help out in the kitchen, yes they even let me use the very sharp knives and I haven't even cut myself yet. I will be coming home with several great recipes, just hope I can find the ingredients.
Today we went to some waterfalls with the girls and staff. while we were having lunch the heavens opened up and it was a downpour. we waited for about 20 minutes and the sun came back out and we headed to the falls and had a blast. Some of us were brave enough to slide off the rocks into the water about 20+ feet. Audrey got photos and hopefully we can get them transfered to the blog.

Must leave for now hello to the Hurley's small group,
Thank you for all your prayers Northlake,

Alan Yoder

From Connor

Well, this is my third time coming to Thailand and i love it just as much as i did the first time i came. And i'm not just talking about the food. There is never resting here at Eden House for all 33 girls are always wanting to play. Whether we are at the pool, playing cards, hand games, sports, or trying to understand why they are laughing at us, the team is always having fun. Even while i'm sitting here typing this, Nim (one of the younger girls) is wanting me to play a version of rock, paper, scissors that the girls made up. i can hardly resist the temptation to join the girls in playing Bop-it after Steve interrupted and told me to come blog.

There is nothing that i would rather do than be here where the house is so full of unconditional love and joy. From the moment when you walk in the door to the moment you leave, the girls are wanting you to play with them. i've never been to another place where the people love you just because you are there. The girls are a true example of God's everlasting love.

For me, this year has already been so different from my past 2 trips. i came here thinking that i knew what was going on and how things go. Unfortunately, i was dead wrong. The hotel's breakfast is served way differently, places that the team goes to relax is new and in a different location, i now am running the games for the whole trip, and which girls i hang out with are different.

When i've come before, i used to stay with the older girls at the first house and barely ever see the younger girls. This year is different. While i do still play with the older girls, the younger girls come to the first house and always want me to play. They have become addicted to calling me corn in Thai, which is the nickname given to me by the older girls on my first trip in 2007 and has for some reason stuck with me ever since. i'm constantly telling them that my name is Connor, not Cow-po. They are always trying to hang around me and gaze up at my head that is 6' 3'' above the hard tile. i get so sore sitting down but i have to deal with it for that is where the games are.

The older girls are constantly changing also. Wasana, who went from happy to scorn (in a good way), is now always happy. She is such a gangster (jk). Dao is now mocking everything i do but still likes for me to talk to her. I do also. Linda is still biting me and telling me about boys and tells me to get a girlfriend. I change the subject. Siwaii still does the Thriller dance that i showed her on my first trip and asks about my dad Darren who couldn't make it this year, but who came on the past two trips. Patchala is still the loudest and is always smiling, and Awroni is hurting me when i mess up in hand games. i would write about all the girls, but there is so much to say.

All the games that we are doing are put on by me, matt, and dodge. It took some planning, but most use little supplies. The one that used to most has also been my favorite so far. You but a banana in your mouth and panty hose over your head and try to squeeze out the banana into a cup. Although most the girls couldn't get the stockings over their heads, it was still funny when they starting to yack out the bananas. i may be mean, but 20 young girls yacking on a full banana in their mouths and spitting them out is funny to me.


TO BE CONTINUED....

From Dodge

Hello to all who are reading this. Sorry that it has taken so long for me to write on the blog. I have had a hard time finding it. Anyway, I have had a good time so far in Thailand. The people here are really fun.

The trip to Thailand was really long but worth the wait. There were three flights, the first one was 14 hours long from Seattle to Taipei. The second flight was 3.5 hours long from Taipei to Bangkok. The final flight was 1 hour from Bangkok to Chiangrai. The first two flights were with EVA AIR. The planes are nice and everyone gets their own in-flight interactive TV.

As I expected, it is very hot and very humid here. Thankfully, I haven't got any sunburns yet and I hope that I won't get any until the end of the trip.

The food here is great. I especially like the fruit. It is a lot sweeter than I'm used to. I am not as much as a fan of the spicy food but it still tastes good.

The wedding was interesting and was different than what I expected. I thought that the wedding would be a really big deal and the guests would be interested in what was going on, but I couldn't even hear what was going on because everyone around me was talking. I suppose that I should stop trying to guess facts about the culture. Now that IO write about it, that fact seems really obvious.

I've made friends with many of the girls at Eden House. They know a lot of games and are willing to share the games with me. I have a hard time playing as I just learned how to play a lot of them.

Every day we have worship, games, and someone teaches about being a missionary. Today, March 30, is my turn. That is later in the day though. I pray that I will be able to say the right things and that what I say is meaningful to the girls at Eden House.

From Carla

Hello on Monday from Thailand. The first few days we were here were cooler than usual, even some rain thrown in, but today we have hot weather. We are spending all of today at Eden House. We tried to make ice cream this morning, but half us ended up with chocolate milk instead, it still tasted good! This year we are playing lots of games, sequence, dominoes, etc... it has been a lot of fun. You sit down to play and within minutes you have a little partner that joins you :)
The trip really feels like we are here to visit family that live far away. The tween/young teen age girls have changed so much since last year. The oldest girls in the second house are now too old/too cool to color! It has been wonderful to meet the new 9 little girls from the 3rd house. The littlest ones have been falling asleep in someone's lap each night when we have speaking time. They are adorable. Each year I see a new facet of the girls' personalities, each year someone new decides you are not so scary anymore and comes up to give you a big hug out of the blue. It is really a blessing to be here again, and I am so grateful I got to come.
Tonight we will be playing capture the flag, we'll see how many farangs pass out :) We miss you all, thank you for your prayers.

from patti

It is so crazy to think that I am here in Thailand again after 3 and a half years. I look at these girls and I am so amazed at how much they have changed. And the new little girls, they are so beautiful! One little girl Nim has taken my heart already. What a blessing it is to be able to invest into these girls lives. When I sit and listen to the laughter that fills this house I am reminded at how much God loves us and protects us. I think I speak for us all when I say that we as a team feel very honored to have been apart of Nok and Bop's wedding today. Looking around you saw many, many people helping to make this a special day for them both. We had some rain first thing this morning and when it stopped it became very humid. The weather all in all has been GREAT! Not to hot! Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers.

PS - Darren, I miss you very much and wish you were here with me. The older girls all say to tell Mr. Bean sawatdeeka! Love you and can't wait to see you.

Patti