Hill tribes, Tigers, Prostitutes, & World's biggest water fight

Today marked the 2nd day of SongKran- the Thai new year which is celebrated by "blessing" others with water on their heads. We put together candy packages with a card claiming God's love & plans for each of us and have been handing them out as we drench random people with water. I think it's maybe the best holiday ever created. We've been in Chiang Mai for a week now living at the guest house of "Lighthouse in Action" ministry (www.lighthethai.com). This ministry is devoted to reaching the rejected and outcast of Chiang Mai who work in the local bars as prostitutes. One bar we've been going to every night is a "ladyboy" bar filled with transvestites. Personally I've felt God pulling me toward the prostitute bar right next door and the gay bars down the street. I've formed friendships with some of the girls and guys, just trying to pour God's love into them as best I can. There have been several challenges for me the past week or so with the language barrier and just the relationship-building type of ministry this is. You don't get to see the fruits of God's work right away like our time spent in the hill tribes our first week. SongKran is a huge deal in Thailand so you can imagine the amounts of alcohol and parties happening all over the place. Today we camped out right across from this major bar next to the mote that surrounds the main part of the city. It just so happened that the ladyboys, prostitutes, and the like were all camped out next to us and across from us. I acquired a squirt gun some how and was happily shooting everyone in sight. Then I saw Gaw and Lek (2 girls from the bar I've been going to) who rushed over to me with big hugs and even a kiss. I was so happy to see them but they tried desperately to shove alcohol down my throat. It was tough for me to see the emptiness in their eyes and it was then that I got a glimpse of God's heart for them. I lovingly scurried my way out of their grip and dumped water on their heads. Other than that and the broken beer bottle I stepped on, the day was solid. Mallory has really gotten close with a ladyboy named Rose who is starting to trust her and Bryan has been building a friendship with a ladyboy named Marina who basically owns the whole bar scene in Chiang Mai. If God can soften her heart and bring her to know Him, this whole prostitue/ladyboy industry would take a dramatic, awesome turn. I genuinely love these girls and want them to know what true peace feels like.

Last week we were in a remote hill tribe Qurin village 6 hours up a windy, unpaved mountain. A man named Joe took us on this little adventure as our translator and project-planner. He is such a godly man!! I respect him so much for the humble work he's doing in those villages. Basically what we did all week was live with the pastor's family in their bamboo hut fully equipped with squatty potties, firewood, and running water. What a culture shock! I learned so much from these Burmese people. During the day we went down into the jungle one by one carrying back big, long pieces of wood for a few miles until we reached the platform where Joe & the pastor will build a hostel for the children to be educated, fed, sheltered, and taught about who Jesus is. We did this for 4 days and the weather was nice and toasty. At night we hung out with the village kids, sang songs, and played games. I loved Bet Na, the pastor's wife, because every time I tried to talk to her she would just die laughing. I love her laugh! I feel so stupid sometimes trying to speak their language, but I'll give them a laugh if they want it. The lifestyle in the hill tribes was so opposite to my own. Even though this remote, impoverished, native village is located in a Buddhist area where other religions are unwanted, God is at work there. I think that is rad! God has anointed people to be His working hands everywhere because He wants everyone to know him.

Yesterday was my big 23rd birthday!! My team spoiled me rotten with gifts and letters all day long. Mal and Josie bought me my favorite 2 dresses I saw in the markets, Tiff made me pancakes in the morning and then surprised me with a fish spa treatment to clean my dirty feet, the boys wrote me bday notes, and we all went out to a nice dinner. At the fish spa you stick your feet into a tank of water as baby fishies suckle all of the bacteria and dead skin off. It was pretty much a big team joke because I had the most embarrassing spill the other day into the sewage hole next to our house. My leg was pouring blood from scratching the side of the cement hole, but the most repulsive part that I was more concerned about was the fact that my foot was drenched in hunan feces. It's hard for me to even type this out because it brings back all of those disgusting feelings and shivers but I had to share that little golden nugget with everyone. So that is why Tiff and Bry bought me a fish foot spa treatment for my feet. My team absolutely loved that incident with all of their hearts.

I forgot to mention that on Sunday, which is our day off every week, we went to Tiger Kingdom! At tiger kingdom you can either play with the big tigers, the medium tigers, or the baby tigers. I chose the medium tigers because they were playful but not too ferocious for me. Tigers are my favorite animal so I was ecstatic all day! We took loads of pictures and I tried to get as close as I possibly could to their gorgeous faces but the workers kept batting me away. That was definitely a highlight for me.

On another note, I miss home and cant wait to see everyone!! My birthday was awesome, but I really truly missed being with my family and friends from home like all my other birthdays.

In His Grip,
Caitlyn