My wonderful parents

My sister and I wearing funny hats :)

My sister and my nieces Lillie & Hughes

The newest addition to our family "Miles"

The family in Michigan (Aunt Jan, Me, Molly/Miles, Aunt Jeanne, Aunt Joyce

and Grandpa and Grandma Nagy

Trip to America :)

I wanted to write about my trip and post some pictures before I forget about all of the fun things that I did. I actually sent a list of things that I wanted to eat when I was there to my mom a few weeks before I went and she came through on all of them and even beyond :)
MONDAY-After flying for over 30 hours I arrived in Myrtle Beach Monday night. I didn't have any trouble sleeping that first night and adjusted to the time change quickly.
TUESDAY-The next day I went and got a hair cut and shopped a little with my mom. Lunch that day was a delicious shrimp salad that I had at a fabulous restaurant on the ocean.
WEDNESDAY- Day with my dad. I had lunch with my mom and dad at a little restaurant in Conway and then Dad and I were off for the day. We went to see a movie (both of us cried), shopped a little, and then had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants "PF Chang's". It was a fun day!
THURSDAY- Fly to Michigan. I had to wake up early and catch a flight to see my family in Michigan. I was greeted at the airport by my grandparents and 2 aunts. We then drove so I could meet my cousin's new baby boy (Miles). He is adorable.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY- Spent both days in Brown City just hanging out with family. Another Aunt came to town so I got to see all of my aunts:) I am thankful that I have such a wonderful family!! My grandma cooked some of my favorite foods (lasagna, pecan rolls, cheesy potatoes)
SUNDAY- On a plane again flying to Georgia! My sister and mom picked me up at the Atlanta airport. We went to a great Mexican restaurant for dinner and then finished the drive to my sister's house.
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY- Spent 3 days just hanging out with my sister, mom, and 2 nieces. I didn't get to see my oldest niece Hughes as much because she is in 6th grade and very busy. I really enjoyed spending time with all of them and one night we even had smores out by the campfire.
THURSDAY- Drive back to Myrtle Beach. Mom and I woke up early and headed back to MB. We stopped in Savannah for lunch and walked all around for several hours. It was a fun day although my mom had to do all of the driving because I can't drive (my driver's license expired).
FRIDAY-Day with my Dad again :) We tried getting me a new driver's license but I didn't have any proof of residency so that was out. Dad and I had lunch at a great restaurant in Conway, test drove a car just because we wanted to do it, went shopping at the outlets (my dad was such a trooper), and ate salmon on the grill for supper.
SATURDAY- Helped clean a little and went on a journey to help dad buy new glasses at the mall. The highlight of the day was eating filet mignon on the grill!!! I did drive that day because my dad's pupils were huge. I was glad I remembered what side of the road to drive on since it's opposite of Thailand.
SUNDAY-Church- I shared with my parents' Sunday school class about Thailand. My cousin Jill and her husband Nathan came for lunch. My best friend Dana arrived in the evening just in time for pizza!
MONDAY-Great lunch at Abuelo's with parents & Dana. Dana and I went to the outlets again for more shopping:) This time Dana did most of the shopping but I had fun watching. Dinner was at a great Italian restaurant.
TUESDAY- Dana leaves to go back to DC in the morning and just a few hours later my mom and I leave for the airport to send me back to Thailand.

The 2 weeks flew by but I enjoyed every second of it! It was hard for me to take it all in a lot of the time. I am so very thankful for the wonderful family that God has given me. I got to see so many of them because they were willing to drive extra miles just to see me. I am also thankful for a dear best friend (Dana) who drove so many extra hours just to come and spend a few days with me. I am very very blessed!

I came back with lots of new clothes and some great gifts for my Thai friends. Pictures will be in the next post.

Life of Flexibility

I work hard to be a flexible person. After going on so many misssions trips and living in several different countries I think I am pretty good at being flexible. I have REALLY learned how to be flexible living in Thailand. There is a saying here "Thai time" and it is what it means. People here are on Thai time not on the time of a regular clock. There are always a few exceptions (the wonderful people who make an appointment with you and come on time) but those are the minority. I am still almost always on time but have learned to always bring work with me so that I can accomplish something while I wait for the other person to arrive.

The other area of my life where I have to be flexible is my schedule. When you work with Univ. students the schedule is always changing! I had just gotten into an excellent routine with teaching some English classes at SPU, tutoring some students, discipling some new believers, and even weekly lunch dates with students. Last week that all ended because last week and this week are exam week and tomorrow will be the end of the term (semester). It all seemed to be going so perfect and then it ends.

The positive side is that I can look forward to a new term (semester) with a new schedule! I get to teach new classes which means new students. I get to tutor (hopefully the old students) and some new students. I am praying daily for God to make an even better schedule for me this next term so I can do even more with building relationships with previous students and to meet new students.

I like routine (I guess it is the teacher in me) but change can be good too. i will enjoy my 2 week vacation in America with family and friends and then will return to a whole new schedule. If I want to make the most of my time here in Thailand I have to live a life of flexibility!!

My Heart Language

My title today means so very much to me but some of you may think what does that mean??? Every day I leave my condo and journey out into a world that speaks a different language. I do understand the language somewhat but it takes work. I have to concentrate on what someone is saying and then translate in my mind into my own heart language and then by that time it is too late to reply and someone is talking about something else. Welcome to my life!!

I have heard so many times when you just understand Thai and don't translate the language to your own then you have success! I wonder if that day will ever come. I know that trying to translate Thai into English doesn't work well anyways, because the word order doesn't make sense and some words simply just don't translate! I know it but it doesn't stop me from trying. It makes us feel more comfortable when we can understand it 100% in our own heart language.

After saying all that it makes such a clear picture of how Thai's will understand the Gospel so much more if it is presented in their heart language! Students want to study English and I can offer that--I'm an expert in that (or at least they think I am). I use that benefit to often share the Gospel with students by having them read C2C (Creation to Christ) story in English or even studying the Bible in English with students. I also always give the students the story or study written in Thai so they can read it and understand it more, but I know they would get so much more out of it if it was taught in Thai!

At this time I just don't have the ability to teach the Bible in Thai. I wish I did with all my heart but it's just not possible. But everyone has to start somewhere so my starting point is that I am memorizing in Thai all of the Bible verses that go with the Evangecube. Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 4:25, Romans 10:9, and Ephesians 2:8-9. So far I can say Romans 3:23 in Thai and am learning Romans 5:8. It is not an easy task but I'm praying that God will give me the ability to do it and not give up!

I love to sing praise songs, read the Bible, share, and listen to messages in my heart language! I miss several of those things a lot of times. Then I remember why I am here in Thailand--to share the Good News of Jesus with the Thai people and how better to share then in their HEART LANGUAGE (THAI)! I have a long way to go to get there but there is a starting point for everything and I am on my way!