People often request prayer for new missionaries as they adjust to a new field of service. We have requested prayer for the same thing. There are many things to think about as you face life in a new place. We have really enjoyed living in Thailand but not all of it has been easy. We miss many of the things and people that are familiar to us. One of Matt's adjustments has been life without Mountain Dew. :) We have not found even one in Thailand. However, last week a group from Wisconsin was so gracious to help Matt with his "withdrawal." They brought him not one, not two but a whole pile of Mountain Dew. In most areas of Matt's life he is a very generous person. In this area, he is not. I think they are hidden somewhere in his closet. Getting a Target in Bangkok could be a little more work.
Other adjustments are not so simple. Recently, Matt was hit by a reckless driver while driving home from church. Thankfully, no one was hurt. It was quite a job getting in touch with our insurance company, especially since no one spoke English and Matt's phone died right in the middle of the whole situation. In Thailand when there is a wreck, you don't move the vehicles until the insurance adjustors arrive to determine who was at fault. Praise the Lord, the other driver, who's fault the accident was, volunteered to call Matt's insurance company for him and explain the situation. As you can see, we need and appreciate your prayers for our family as we adjust to our new culture.
5 comments:
No Target?!?! How are you surviving :) I'm glad Matt got his Mt. Dew...did he get it before or after the wreck? I'm sure a nice, cold Mt. Dew soothed away all frustrations. We will keep praying for you as you transition. It is hard to even imagine going without our little conveniences for an extended period of time. Love you guys!
Hi Matt and Courtney,
I happened upon your blog via a friend of a friend of a friend (thrice removed, yes!). It was a treat to read up and see how you all are doing. Please know that I am praying for your family as you adjust. Boy, do your stories bring back many memories of adjustments and changes on the mission field! We missed apples when we were on the mission field! Now I miss mangoes! :) Praying for you as you plow threw language school, the kids and the pregnancy!
Tammy Schindel
Trinity Baptist Church in Franklin, TN
Hi Matt and Courtney!
We came across your website by our missionary friends currently living in Phuket Thailand. We too are missionaries raising support to come to Thailand - our goal by January/February 2008. We are from North Carolina but are currently in Mexico serving with the Word of Life ministry here. We have been in Mexico for almost 7 months and will return to the States in August to finish raising support before going to Thailand. Jeff and a few other Word of Life leaders will be traveling to Bangkok in October to research apartments, language schools and churches.
If you have an email address, we would be very interested in staying in contact with you and asking you many questions about the initial move, what's necessary to pack, good apartment ideas and language school advice. Your website has been so interesting to read! God bless you, your family and ministry!
Jeff and Jessica Gordon
Word of Life Thailand
www.wol.org
http://wolthailand.multiply.com
Our email addresses are:
jeffgordon@wol.org
jessicagordon@wol.org
We would love to hear from you! And will certainly be praying for you as you are in language school.
Blessings!
I was so glad to find your blog through Danielle's. Our family prays for you guys and thinks of you often. I was just sharing with some missionary friends on deputation about you forgeting dress clothes and Matt having to wear that shirt that was way too small :)
Let us know if Matt needs another fix of Mountain Dew. We wouldn't want him to go through withdrawal.
Love you guys and hope all is well.
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