"Bob Wins Reward"

is what the TV just said at 5:43 a.m. here in Thailand. I'm watching "Survivor: Gabon" and they're down to the final 7. Bob, the old guy physics teacher geeky dude, just won the reward, and it was cool 'cause he got to eat pizza and beer AND his wife showed up out of the bush to his shock and surprise.

Why am I up at this hour watching Survivor? Well, Kris and Jen just left to fly to Bangladesh and India for three weeks, and I'll leave in a few hours, so I got up to say goodbye to them. They are such generous people, and I've enjoyed this time most of all because they are so cool to be with. This I knew before I came and, in fact, looked forward to it more than seeing and experiencing Thailand. Last night when we spent some time praying for one another, I was reminded again of just how precious these two are to me.

I've just this second answered the phone and it was Jen informing me that their flight to Bangkok had been canceled, yet another dip in the roller coaster ride which has been our lives here in the past 10 days. On Wednesday, November 26th, anti-government protesters stormed the international airport in Bangkok and shut it down...no flights in or out for 7 days or so, then a trickle of flights allowed over the past few days. Yesterday the news said the airport was fully operational, so my friends decided they would proceed with their plans for their 7 a.m. flight, going through Bangkok. Now, they are on their way home, and I'm making the coffee.

My flight should be uninterrupted since I'll be avoiding Bangkok altogether. My original departure was set for November 28th and when it didn't fly, I rescheduled for December 2nd. By the 1st, when it looked like the airport would remain closed, I canceled that flight and booked the one that takes me through Taiwan enroute to San Francisco. Thank God for China Airlines (a statement I thought I would never make after an unimpressive maiden journey with them earlier this year), because they fly directly from Chiang Mai to Taipei. Never thought I would be thankful for a flight back to Taiwan, but this morning, I certainly am!

Corinne just got voted off of Survivor!!!!! I didn't like her, so I am not sad to see her go. She's played the game in a really catty way, so it will be nice to have her out of it. Are you a Survivor fan? In America, I never watch it. I've only watched snippets of the series since it began several years ago, so I barely know how it's played. But here, I've watched The Amazing Race, The Amazing Race Asia, and occasionally Survivor: Gabon, and it's been kind of fun to see what all the buzz is about. I want Bob to win...geeky old guy, physics teaching Bob! It would mix it up a bit to see this scrawny old smart guy pull it off...sort of like rooting for the underdog, which I kind of like to do from time to time (unless it's a football game involving OU!)

Speaking of underdogs, there are probably no truer underdogs in this world than the children who are casualties of poverty, abandonment, war, or disease. My time in Thailand has primarily been characterized by my relationships with the 8 Thai children at Blossom Home, and my brief visit to the Burmese children at the border refugee camp and safe house. Two nights ago, I dashed over to Blossom Home to say goodbye to those kids for the last time, and found them in their pj's putting the final touches on homemade cards for me. Their hugs and smiles were heartwarming enough, but when through initial fits of giggles they gathered round me to pray with passionate requests to the Father for my travel and future, I was humbled and moved beyond words. What a treasure we have in the children we know. Whether they be our own, or someone else's, children are a precious gift from God and I am so blessed by the love they add to my life. I know many of you reading this have children in your life who are adored by the multitudes who know them. Each of their faces should help to remind us all that there are many more who need love, too. Underloved, underdogs, but beautiful children who have the love of God and need to know it by the love we offer them. This Christmas I hope we'll all pause to remember and support some of those without relatives to care for them, especially the children, the "least" among us, and those who I often feel compelled to "cheer" for.

I will post pictures when I get back to the states and unpack my camera stuff. Thanks for stopping by. This is my last post from Asia, sad but true.

Until next time...wherever that may be.
LC from TH