Settling In

Wow! It is so much colder here in Hunchun than I had anticipated! People are still wearing long johns under their clothes to keep warm and the wind wips around! I however, did not pack such clothing! Last night I was in my apartment with my hoodie pulled over my head in attempts to stay warm. Hopefully this cold weather leaves soon! We're in a mountainous region (mountains like the East in the States) and I can see snow on some of the peaks. To add to it - the heat is shut off in China on April 15th and not turned on again until mid October. Yee-haw!!

To fill you in on the team here: I would say the majority are Chinese or Korean. In our meetings all 3 languages are communicated. Everyone is so nice and loving! There are several Westerners too: four of us who are single, a young married couple with a 13 month old son, and a family with 4 children ages 13 years to 12 months old. My roommate, Grace, is a 32 y.o Korean-American which comes in handy - she speaks Korean very well which is the 2nd language here under Chinese (this is due to our location...30 minutes from NK). We have two meetings a week which is often the only time everyone sees the rest of the team. People are very busy here.

I've gone to the Special Education School and will dive into the physical therapy aspect on Tuesday. Nate, a Westerner here, will be translating for me while he is here the next 2 months. His Chinese is amazing thus he will be a HUGE help! I won't start the hippotherapy program until late May due to the weather. I'm very anxious for that to start...I feel confident with my skills in that area plus I'm ready to be around the horses :o)

I'm still in the adjustment phase. You've all said that I am so brave but I'm not so sure. My mornings are often filled with emotion - it's tough to do these things "alone." I know that the people here will soon become like family - I'm ready for that feeling. I miss my family and my friends. I've really been emotional over missing my dad. Traveling overseas again has brought back memory of the last time I was overseas and getting that phone call from mom. Hopefully there is healing coming from my tears over him. I believe there is :)

China

Hey guys! At this point, I am lacking the brain function to fill you in on my time thus far. I am extremely exhausted and largely affected by the jet lag! Know that I am safe, moved into my apartment, have an awesome roommate, and am amazed at the work being completed here by the organization I am with. I promise I will write soon!

Back in the USA

I want to thank everyone for their concern and love during this difficult time. The death of my father in Colorado was compeltely unexpected and has left my head spinning. We don't always understand why certain things happen or the role they are meant to play in our lives. However, I do believe that God knew the timing of all of this and I believe that he will continue to direct my path. I have quite a bit of processing ahead of me and do not know at this time what my near future holds. For now, I will remain in Colorado for an undetermined length of time. Please pray that I will have clarity as to what direction I am to take. I am an analyzer and unfortunately that leads me to see this from many different points all presenting different pros and cons. I know that I need to take care of myself and my family at this time. Asia is a difficult mission field and the last thing I want to do is go over there broken. Yet, I am also one who believes in finishing what you started, working hard, perservering, etc. Where is the balance? To put it simply, above all else, I want to do what is right...not necessarily what will present the least resistance. I greatly appreciate and need your support and prayers in this.
All my love,
Keira

A Peek

"Then the time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was far more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

It's hard to paint a picture of my world this last week. I got to the point where I was doing a basic self-check: I knew that all 5 senses were still intact. I was breathing. I still had a heartbeat. However, I was numb...completely numb and yet completely tormented. Make any sense? Exactly. Some of you received those dark, tormented emails that provided a glimpse of what was taking place deep inside of me. Was it a reaction to my attempts of processing what I am about to take on? I don't know. But I fully believe that I would not have pulled through without your prayers and support. I can honestly say that in the last week I have experienced some of the most extreme, desperate and frightening emotions.

But alas, it has passed!! Now that I have reached the other side I can share some of my lighter experiences thus far in Thailand. I'm pretty sure I've perfected the squatie toilet and using a bucket of water to pour down the toilet to flush. I'm now used to a toilet "burping" at random moments thus requiring me to smell potent sulfur while lying in the other room or while showering practically on top of the toilet. I've gotten used to the idea of a mattress being so firm that when you are stepping onto it with your heavy backpack in tow, it doesn't move...at all. Forget the fancy memory foam! (You know the commercial where the woman jumps on the mattress and the glass of red wine doesn't spill?!) Just when I thought I couldn't improve, I've mastered the art of sweating like nobody's business. Delightful, eh?! (Beth and Maggie, I guarantee I will be using that trusty Neosporin at some point, ha!) My stomach became inspired by the olympics and has really taken to completing some sort of gymnastics throughout the day. Unfortunately, that has led to some peculiar sulfur taste in my mouth. Yummy! And don't be thinking there is any connection between my mouth and the burping toilet...gross! I have a feeling I'm really increasing my romantic potential with all of this talk :O)

On the relational side of things -- I've met some amazing people here! People from New Zealand, Australia, Holland - all so nice. Most are just traveling through but it's been great to have conversation and some laughs. And the locals are so, so friendly! The land of smiles and kindness! On the topic of nice people -- those from the organization we at GRI are teaming up with, Partners, are awesome! I just met them yesterday but already feel warmth from them. All but one girl are married with children (various stages of life) which is somehow very comforting to me right now. And they all have a common passion - a heart for the hurting and forgotten. I think I'll fit right in!

So, get ready for the adventure. There will be very high highs and low lows but because of you all I won't be alone! As I've said time and again - I want to live a life less ordinary. I guess I better cowboy up then! I love you all dearly and miss you! (Not to ruin the moment but there are little ants crawling on me in my bed right now!)
"Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." I John 3:18

Basics

Here is a brief overview my friends. Bethany and I have spent two days in Bangkok (can do without the massive city), five days in Chiang Mai (my soon to be home), and just arrived in Mae Sot (a small town on the border). I'm not sure how long we will be in Mae Sot...we are being extrememly flexible (like the green guy gumby, right Toby?). We are here to make some contacts and awaiting a possible assignment. Some things to know: my phone number is 011 66 848093965. You can get international calling cards for less than 10 cents/min which would rock my world; I have a skype account (keira.beck) so we can communicate live for free over the computer; I have to be "hush hush" and not so detail-oriented when I talk about some of my work here. I will say things like "that country to the west" when I refer to work outside of Thailand...make sense? We can't say certain things on email or during phone calls as to avoid red flags. Our emails and calls can be tracked and we don't want to put any nationals in more danger than they already are. Thank you for your help with this!
Okay, I had to put these pics in...good times! Rachel, that mullet picture is for you! And you bow so often like our friend Ronald here :O)

Bangkok

Hello to my people! It's time for blogging again, yippee! I arrived safely to Bangkok after a near 20 hours in an airplane. It was pretty crazy...I left the house in Colorado on Tuesday morning and was crawling into bed at 4am on Thursday morning. Weird. The other girl with GRI, Bethany, flew in shortly after I did. The good news - she had two of her friends she had met in Burma meet us there. These guys have lived in Burma/Thailand for about two years so have been most helpful. We went to lunch today and got some items at what looks like an Asian Walmart. My noodles were pretty good but had some very salty mini-shrimp looking things with the eyeballs and all. Yummy. I must admit that Bangkok is not my thing - not so much into the big city thing. We will take a night train on Friday to head up to Chiang Mai. I think it is a twelve hour ride. Then the meetings and all chaos start on Saturday. If Chiang Mai is anything like Bangkok regarding internet access - I'll be online multiple times a day. If you get frequent emails from me, just give me grace :O) I'm a bit lonely and missing everyone.

Much love! ~k

Ah, This is It!!

We are headed out of town this weekend to spend some time at Sipi Falls. It is a beautiful place about 4 hours from here with places to hike, little huts to sleep in, good food (or so I hear) and relaxation! With next week being the end of my time here, I am stepping away from the blogging. (I will be around a computer - just not as often - keirabb@yahoo). I will be soaking up every minute of my time with the people here. Our Ugandan office and field staff have already started joining me in praying that I will return soon :) The remainder of my time here will definitely be bittersweet.

The picture is my attempting to gracefuly carry water back to the hut from the watering hole. Notice how casually the other gal is holding her water compared to me (and her jug is twice the size of mine!) We stayed out in the village on Tuesday night and it was oh, so wonderful! I will provide pictures at a later time showing that experience!

Sorry this is short, but we are headed out to the field in a few minutes! For many of you, I will see you this month! Please keep me in your prayers...the journey is not over...nor will it be once I'm in the States.

Love you guys!

~k