I'm Here in Chiang Mai!!

I arrived in Chiang Mai yesterday at 11:40am. It was a very long flight, but comfortable. I'm not going to lie, it was the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. Leaving my family at the LAX airport as I stood in the security line and looking back at them through tear-filled eyes was something I probably never will forget. It was not just sadness because of our parting, but also an encouraging send-off that was filled with pride. I entered the plane with an aching soul and a sense of loneliness. I prayed at take-off that the Lord would calm me and comfort me in this time of uncertainty and anxiousness. As always, He heard my prayer and I was able to sleep very well, which in fact I never do on planes! 

After 18 hours in a plane from LAX to Bangkok, just one my hour on another plane and I was in my new city, Chiang Mai. I was greeted very warmly by Lance Potter, the principal and the director, Supaporn Yanasarn. We had lunch and I ate my favorite dish, Cow Soi...not sure about the spelling, but I would always request this dish back home from Kin, one of the Karen refugees that attends my church. I was so excited!! Lance invited me over to house for dinner, which was very fun as I played with his four little girls ages 3-9. I felt very comfortable in their home and was glad that I had someone to talk to. 

* This morning I woke up early, had a wonderful night's sleep and was ready to be adventurous. I checked my email and facebook like regular and began talking with family back home using Skype! That was very exciting and I was able to give them a tour of the house that I am staying in. 

Well, at 3pm I had an appointment with a couple to see about renting their house. I was pretty sure that this was the house that I was supposed to rent and asked God to give me discernment as I made a decision. Supaporn was kind enough to take me to this house. It ended up being very far away from the school...awww...that was so discouraging! The couple were from Wycliff Bible Translators. They were so sweet, but I explained that it was too far for me to travel. Bummer, now I had to begin looking for something else. God always has a plan, why do I worry? I remembered that last night I saw a "For Rent" sign posted on a house two houses from Lance's home. I asked Supaporn if we could talk to the owners to see if they had rented it out yet. She called them and they said they had NOT found anyone yet and they would be happy to show it to me that night! I was so excited!!! It is exactly what I was looking for: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3 stories!!!! It is beautiful and it is two houses from the Potters and about 5-10 minutes from the school!!! God is so good and it is right within my budget! Supaporn and I began singing, "God is so Good" as we looked through the house because He knew my desire and worked it out perfectly!! I can move in on Saturday and Sunday and the owners are even going to come by and help me move my luggage over there! 

Not only do I have a home, but I also have a place for the Thai Team from SDCC to stay when they come to Thailand. May this house be a blessing to all and may it be used for His Glory!!!