Let the Adventures Continue

Tis the season to be Jolly..fa la la la la
Although it is the month of December it sure doesn't feel like Christmas in Chiang Mai. (Maybe because its 85 degrees outside). You don't drive around and see an array of Christmas lights on houses or see Santa Clause in the yard of your next door neighbor. You don't hear sounds of Christmas music while shopping or carolers singing. The sights in Chiang Mai at Christmas time have been watching floods of people pile around a temple to pay respect to a well known monk that passed away 100 days ago. We sat and watched him be cremated inside of a large constructed dragon type thing (please see picture to the left to understand what I'm talking about. The picture to the right is a wax figure of the monk who passed away).

We have seen some of the emptiness across the faces of women who work at the bars here. They sell themselves in order to make enough money to feed their family and send money back home. We have been to the slums in the city to see how a people-group from the Hilltribes are looked down upon as outcasts and are ignored and treated as if they don't matter. We played with the little boy below who has HIV and doesn't go to school anymore because its too hard to keep up with the work. Our hearts have been greatly burdened this month yet also filled with joy for the hope that Jesus brings us and the Thai people.

This Christmas season has been difficult to be away from home. Away from familiarity, friends, and family. I have never missed Christmas with my family and it pains me to think of how I will miss this year. But God has reminded me that we can still experience his goodness in Thailand just as I can at home in Tennessee. I can celebrate the birth of Jesus here in Thailand and have the opportunity to tell others why we celebrate. The Thai Christians do not spend Christmas day with their family but they spend it telling others of the gift the Lord has given us. Jesus.
Dara and I baked some cookies and wrote the true meaning of Christmas and then delivered them to all of our Thai friends. It was so fun to see their faces light up when we gave them the gift. Pray with us that our friends will be affected by the message.
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1: 5-7

Please continue to pray for our time here and that we would bring the utmost glory to God. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Loy Kratang

When you live overseas you are bound to make a fool of yourself, you will say something really stupid or offensive when you think you are simply asking "Where is the bathroom?", you might develop a new fear: Dara for example is deathly afraid of ants which is very unfortunate because ants are everywhere here. You leave one crumb out and an army of ants swarm it within 15 minutes. I fear that some of these 'stray' diseased dogs are going to get up out of their 'comma' state and start chasing me or worse eat me. I daily have to remind myself to just laugh and embrace the JOY of the Lord.
Most days Dara and I get a small inclination of what it feels like to be a dragon. The food can be so spicy that I feel as though I could breathe fire out of my mouth and on some occasions even my nose. Yikes. Bikes! We bought a motorbike and went through the process to get our official Thai drivers license. Its mostly hilarious trying to drive around here. At a red light all motorbikes swerve around all the cars and make their way up to the front. Its like a little motorbike club at the red light. There is usually around 10-15 bikes lined up and ready to go. We are so close that I could reach out and give someone a hug. I haven’t tried it yet though. Dara did ask a Thai person if they wanted to race but I don’t think he spoke English. 
There was a recent festival here called Loy Kratang. It was a three day festival and we got to participate in some of the activities. We went to the Pee Ying festival where the local people throughout the region make merit and do other religious activities. The highlight of the event focuses on the launching of the Khom loy or floating lanterns into the night sky with the belief that misfortune will fly away with the lanterns. It is their belief,that the lanterns are made and offered to symbolize knowledge and the light it gives will guide them to the right path of their lives. My heart was broken while watching thousands of people (during the meditation part of the ceremony) sit in silence as they were instructed by the monks to empty themselves of all thoughts and to focus on a bright shining star within them. I began praying immediately that the Lord would be their light and they would know that there is fullness in Jesus. I pray that the image of Jesus on the cross would pop into their mind during meditation and during the repetitious bows to Buddha. Please continue to pray with me for the Thai people. "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:5-9
I thank the Lord everyday for all your prayers and support. Much Love...Sarah

Becoming Street Smart in Thailand

Ten things you should know in Thailand...

1. Don’t step on a coin or you will be thrown in jail. (the king’s face is on the coin)

2. You better know what you want as soon as you sit down at a café/restaurant because the waiter stands there until you decide.

3. Cars and motorbikes don’t stop for pedestrians. You will get hit.

4. Pointing at things only goes so far. It helps to know the language.

5. Just because a coffee shop says they are open at 8:00 AM it really means they open whenever they want or perhaps they wont be open at all.

6. Stray dogs roam the streets and in and out of café’s. (don’t feed or touch them)

7. Thai people are very kind/gracious and smile at everything…even if they are mad. :)

8. The family vehicle is a motorbike. It apparently fits up to four. (Who needs a minivan?)

9. You can eat food on the street carts for under $1.

10. In the Thai language you can make a complete sentence with one word. (since it’s a tonal language, one word can mean five different things..rough)

Dara and I are still getting acclimated to the climate, culture and language here in Chiang Mai. We have been meeting with other SIM workers and learning more about the essential do’s and don’t’s of Thai culture . The last couple of weeks have been an interesting transition. From busy, fast paced Boston to relaxing, slow paced Thailand. Over the next 4 weeks Dara and I will only be teaching two English classes per week and hanging out with the students. We will spend most of our time focusing on learning the language. It’s a doozie. I mostly have to laugh when our tutor tells us that one word has four different meanings which are all spoken with different tones. Yep. Good times. Although, as hard as it is going to be Im very excited to learn the language and be able to communicate more with people.

The Lord has really spoken to the both of us that He didn’t call us to a place but He called us to Himself. As hard as it is to slow down and not have a million things going on I really feel like the Lord wants this to be a season of waiting on Him and learning more about his character. The slow pace here is hard to get accustomed to because America’s mentality is that if we aren’t busy and not seeing success or fruit then we must not be doing enough. The Lord is not calling me to comfort or success but to obedience. Right now the Lord is telling me to come. We focus so much on go and make disciples that we forget to come to his feet. Please pray during the next four weeks we will go deeper into what the Lord has for Dara and I. We really want to use this time to pray for this nation and learn more about what they believe (95% Buddhists) along with focusing on learning the language and spending time with the Lord.

I know this will bless us in the long run it just seems hard to sit and be still; especially when it feels like we aren’t making a difference. I know the Lord has a plan. Thank you for your prayers.

Phil 1: 8-9

Hanging out with students at the Centre

We made it!

Three long flights, an overnight stay in Taiwan, and we finally made it to Chiang Mai. We have only been here two full days but it has felt like a week! Chiang Mai is different than I anticipated. It is very much a touristy city. There is a Starbucks here in case we have a hankering for something that reminds us of America. They also have a Mexican and Italian restaurant. The Thai food has been amazing and very affordable. (See us above eating at the market)Only 35 Baht ($1) for some yummy food. Maybe $2 if you add a coke and dessert. We cant wait to explore the city we live in and the culture that surrounds us.

Yesterday we walked three miles to get to the grocery store. There is plenty of transportation but we didnt think it was a far walk. We were wrong. Long walk + Really, really hot sun = really sweaty Dara and Sarah. The best news is that we have an A/C in our apartment (PTL aka Praise the Lord). Opal, our Thai friend, who works at the Centre took us around on Friday to tour apartments. We finally found the right one for us. It is a very nice and clean apartment complex. Our small room has a refrigerator, dresser, couch, and a bed. Thats right, you read correctly...one bed and two of us. I guess they dont believe in twin beds around here. Dara and I will be sharing a bed for the next nine months. :) Luckily, neither of us snore.

Last night we made our first friend. We were so excited that we had made our first Thai friend and then we found out she was Korean. haha We are still excited though. We started talking about our faith and she even came to church with us this morning. She thought church was interesting and she wants to start reading the bible so Amen!! Her name is Sejin so you can be praying for her. :) She lives in our apartment complex.
On Monday we start teaching English at the Centre so we will learn more about our schedule and what our day to day will look like. I cant wait to see how the Lord is going to use us both. Thank you for your prayers. It is such a blessing to have a wonderful covering over us.

Check it Out!

I have much joy as I write this update to you! It has been

a whirlwind these past 5 years in Boston from my work life

to our wonderful church community at Community of

Faith Christian Fellowship. God has taught me so many valuable lessons

while living in Boston and walking with people who share

the same passion and purpose.

What I will be doing in Thailand?

One of my roommates from Boston, Dara Davis, and I

will join the current efforts of Serving In Missions

(SIM) in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the next 9 months.

Dara and I are responding to needs in Thailand by

serving as English teachers to local University students.

There are around 35,000 students in the area where we

will be teaching. We will be working at “The Centre”

which is an Asian International Outreach ministry. Our goal

will not only be to teach English but to build relationships

with students and share the great news of Jesus! In

addition to opportunities with SIM, we also hope to get

involved in areas of social justice. In Thailand, there are

thousands of children orphaned or abandoned each year so we will also

be volunteering at a local orphanage that currently

takes care of children until adulthood.

I feel refreshed and envisioned to begin this new season

with great passion! I am very much looking forward to

working alongside the Thai people.

How You Can Help!

I covet your prayers and support. God has

really spoken to me about my journey to serve in

Thailand. When asking myself why on earth

would God want me to move thousands of miles

away to serve, He quickly answered, because “I’m

worth it”...and He is! God is worth it all. I want

to use my life for the Kingdom of God and

serving Him. Even if that means leaving my

friends, family, job and life here in Boston. He is

worthy! “Great is the Lord and most worthy of

praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm

145:3 He is calling me to a place where he

laborers are few. “The harvest is plentiful but the

workers are few.” Matthew 9:37. I want the Thai people

to experience the love and mercy that the Lord gives freely.

Pray with methat I will see the Kingdom of God come during

my time and through my service in Thailand.

For my 9 month term serving in Thailand with SIM, I will be volunteering my time so I need to raise $11,000 for

airfare and living expenses. My goal is to leave in September which means that I

need to raise my support soon! I need your help ASAP! Contributions will go directly

to our efforts in Thailand. Your gift is tax deductible. If you would like to support me

financially, you can make checks payable to:

SIM

PO Box 7900

Charlotte, NC 28241

www.simusa.org

OR give online

www.sim.org/giveusa

Click on the “GIVE NOW” link.

Once on the giving page, type in Sarah Ladd for

Missionary/Project Name and select “Support”

for Designation.

Thank you for your love, support, and investment in my life. I am SO blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. Im extremely thankful. I look forward to this journey ahead and your partnership with me!

Love, Sarah