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

A New Day: update on Sharon & Morris

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 Praise God that the hearts of Sharon and Morris are now filled with hope! The children are staying with the mother of one of our field staff, Bonny, and are joyful! After hearing of their situation, Bonny's mother offered to keep the children with her, even for an entire year, to prevent the children from returning to their grandmother. I am so thankful that God hears our cries...never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5b Wes and Jackson continue to work on gathering the necessary paperwork for the children's application to Otino-Waa orphanage. It appears that the next section of housing at the orphanage will be completed in a couple of months allowing space for more children. Sharon is currently on new medication for the tuberculosis and cannot be accepted into Otino-Waa until she is "in the clear" regarding the TB...we assume that would be in a couple of months. So, it looks like the timing is perfect, however there are many children being assessed for acceptance into the orphanage. We need to continue to pray for God's hand in the situation.Again, thank you for your prayers! Sharon and Morris are like two new children now...smiles never-ending. (The pictures were taken at their new home).
Love to you all, Keira

"A" Game

I wanted to bring a “lighter note” to the table in hopes of making people smile a little. On Sunday Jolene, Wes and I headed over to one of the schools here in town to play some basketball. We waited until 6:00pm in attempts to avoid the heat…yeah right…can you see our red, sweaty faces?! We ended up in a game of 4 on 4 with some Ugandan guys (one of them we adopted onto our team). Initially, these guys laughed when we challenged them to a game and no one wanted to be on our team: 3 munos (2 of them girls). But, about ¾ of the way through, the other team substituted out 3 of their guys due to fatigue! We three had our “A” game on for sure…passing, defending, making shots from outside and inside with guys up in our face! It was awesome. They gave me the nickname "killer." They underestimated our mad skills! At the end, we beat them 15 to 5. It felt SO incredibly good to be physically active again…and then we went and pigged out at Lillian’s :) The picture was taken after our game - you're scared, aren't you?

Just to give you a heads up – I tend to create random ways to self-entertain…therefore I had scheduled a “cow-riding” at Bonny’s this afternoon. Bonny works with GRI and lives in one of the villages. And the cows, they are everywhere here! Bonny kept laughing at the idea telling me that his cow would take off into the bush with me (his cow is named "notorious B1G"...you read it right...that's a one not an "i") Ha Ha! Well, I milked the cow this evening and then attempted to get on it. The problem - the cow was actually afraid of a white person!! The others could go near him but everytime he saw me he ran! I have not considered this task complete. Instead, I will continue my search for a cow that I can ride!

Greetings to you all! ~Keira :O)

Jesus Loves the Little Children

I wanted to get another post up so that people can begin praying. Yesterday, Wes and I brought back two small children from a village about an hour and a half away. Both parents died from TB and the children are living with their grandmother. The little boy is 4 (moses) and the girl is 8 (sharon). She is sick with TB and hasn't gotten better with taking medication...GRI helped her out last September. Her grandmother makes her do the cooking, fetching water from miles away, and she has to mother her little brother...despite being so sick. The grandmother usually drinks alot of brew during the day and doesn't do much "caring." Her neighbors told her that she was going to end up killing the girl with her response being "I don't care. We are all doing to die." It's a really sad situation. The kids are precious though!! The whole way home yesterday and then last night Sharon was very snuggly with me. You know it feels good to feel loved! They learned how to use a "real" toilet and just giggle now whenever it flushes! They have been a joy. Last night I felt like a mother...four different times in the night they came into my room and I had to walk them back to bed :) I wish we spoke the same language but we are getting good at acting out our communication. Jackson, one of our Ugandan staff members, took Sharon to the hospital today and it turns out that she has been receiving enough medication for an obese adult. She is a tiny African girl!! Please pray for her and her brother. Tomorrow morning Wes and I will be talking with some of our friends here in Lira who are missionaries who run an orphanage. We don't know if they have any openings or if Sharon and Moses meet all of the criteria. We know prayer is a powerful thing!!!!

I am going to go to bed now. I'm absolutely exhausted...long hours in the field, emotional days, and I'm not sleeping well at night with everything that is on the mind. Despite the fatigue, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. I cried yesterday at a medical distribution for people with HIV - not because I was sad but because I was so touched to see their smiling faces and felt incredibly blessed to be with them. My heart is full :) I am totally blessed to be here and it is because of our supporters back home that Wes, Jolene and I are here and that we have the capability to bring people like Sharon into the hospital and pay for it all. Praise God!!

Love you guys!