Thai Journal #5

Today was an exciting day for me at many levels. For one, one of my goals was achieved: There is excitement about our mission trip for next summer. I spoke with Dr. Pornpan, the head of the nursing school, and she is delighted and supportive of our plans for next year. Trudy and she will work out the details. But thus far the initial plan is for our nursing students to team up with the nursing students from Bangkok to do Community nursing in a village near Mission College. The nursing students here will be taking this Community Nursing class all summer, and it will include the theory, a few weeks here on campus and in the villages, and finally in the slums in Bangkok. We will join them for one week here on campus. The rest of our team who are not nurses will team up with others from Mission College to conduct “English Camps” in villages near MC. Two years ago the President of Mission College and I talked about teaming up with MC on one of these projects. It looks like it is coming to fruition. The tentative dates for this trip are July 16 -30, 2008.

Today I also got an office, and was able to talk with a number of students and faculty/staff. But there have been much interaction on the sidewalks and in the cafeteria. I’m having a blessed time.

But the day was topped off with having my first mango! I looked across the counter in the kitchen of the cafeteria and noticed some mango seeds (pits) slated for disposal. I came to the rescue! And towards the end of the day I was richly rewarded with a trip to “Tuesday Market,” a kind of “flea market.” I got more mangoes, sweetsop, and jack-fruit! The team next year will love the market. And I understand that there is another one on Wednesdays!