Mission trip to Ban Orn was wonderful. There was work to be done, and I was pleasantly surprised at the free time we had to rest too. It wasn't like China, where the action is thick and fast, and teaching the Word in Chinese throughout was really exhausting. This trip I had the privilege to come in as a participant. Too often have I served as leader of camps or committees, and this is a welcome break. I was a doer, not a thinker. I prepared toilet rolls, carried heavy boxes, tied raffia strings, set up curtains and awaited instructions from the leaders. And I loved it. I enjoyed doing the Medical ministry, and felt it was a very good and tangible way to show the love of Christ. More things could be done for evangelism, but all in all it was good.
The villagers who came were smiling at my attempts to speak Thai. Kun chi ah rai? (What's your name?) Ayou tao rai? (How old are you?) Puat ti nai? (Where is your pain?) On occasions I had to do hand actions and point to different parts of my body. It was funny and they laughed. The smiles were priceless. They came, took the medicines and were prayed for. I think they had a very positive view of our work there. We laughed at the funny names that Chris wrote. "Shang Pain" was one of the names. In my mind I was thinking, "受伤 and in pain?!" I burst out laughing together with Sarah and the rest. Sometimes I served biscuits. I didn't know how to tell them to take more biscuits. So I went "Nerng? Soong? Saam? Sii? etc" until one of them took at least seven.
Then we met Thai people who could speak English! And they didn't struggle with English, they spoke PERFECT English. One of them was a Pastor who looked like any ordinary farmer, and said he learnt English from a customer in his cafe shop. I had a really good time chatting with him. But I can't remember his name though. Then there was Boon Mee, the dude who was cutting hair at the barber, and he too spoke great English. As we left the village, I waved him goodbye. To my surprise he remembered my name and shouted "Goodbye Derrick!" That too was priceless. I guess I may never meet these wonderful folks again. But my slight hope is that perhaps I can return, and perhaps, perhaps, they would still remember me despite the short time of interaction. At night back in the mission house I prayed for them. I don't know much about their lives. They had names, they had faces, and I just prayed that God would powerfully keep them in their faith. I hope to see them in heaven, if not in this life.
Sometimes we had free time to play volleyball and soccer at church. The church girls were really very good at volleyball. It was extremely fun and challenging that they can play as well as guys like me. Actually much better. I still remember some of their names: Cet, Mai, Ah Jit. The soccer kids too: Ah Kan, Ben, Gwee, Nat. They are really a carefree bunch. Village life is really simple. We wondered what they did at night, but probably they have nothing much other than their television, and they probably slept early too. I missed all the breath-taking views - the mountains, the mud, the padi fields, the river streams, the boars, the cows. There was so little cement around. On my spiritual retreat I took a good 20 minutes to tour a part of the village. It was beautiful and tranquil, like the Shire in Lord of the Rings. Sometimes the sun shone through the clouds to create beautiful orange shades on the massive mountains. It was breathtaking.
Then there were the faithful folks in the Singapore team. Always nice to hear Auntie Siew Moey sing Chinese songs. "除你以外，在天上我还能有谁？" Such faithfulness and joy in the Lord. Auntie Foong Fun won Caring Mother award for such care for her daughter. The unwavering service of Nantarat and Pracha are also very inspiring. Dr Eugene's hard work in ministering to patients with no complaints, full of joy is also something to learn. The team was also surprisingly easy to relate to - very very Singaporean speaking Singlish and all the common jokes, as though we already knew each other beforehand. Ah, not to forget the ridiculous Hangman on Gracie's phone that we played at the back of the truck. Htwooh. Zeroklas. Birdy. Even Somchai's name appeared.
Then it was time to wave goodbye to everyone. I still owe Nat his cap that I lost to the wind's brute strength while on the truck. I'll buy him one if I can go back. Back in Singapore, I missed the simple life and people over at Ban Orn. I couldn't stand it when I was in my room this morning, so I went out to cycle, all the way to East Coast Park, where I did my quiet time, by the beach, by the wind, all alone, and prayed. It was the closest thing to Ban Orn I could find here.
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