I should have known...

I should have known when I changed planes from American to Japan Airlines and the seats got closer together. I should have known when I got off the plane and the jet way seemed a bit small on all sides. I should have known when I met Nueng that I had come to the land of very small people. You all know me and you know I am not a small person in any way. This is a prelude to the amazing and hilarious massage I received last night.
This past weekend the Chiang Mai team consisting of 2 long-term missionaries, 4 long term apprentices, and 9 short term interns all went through an orientation to help the newbies get settled in to the Thai culture. We prayed for the city from a mountain over looking the city.
We learned some new words and phrases like: “bye gin cow” (let’s go eat), “hawng nahm you-tee noi khrap?” (Where’s the bathroom?) and the best and probably most used “put pasa Thai die nit noi” (I speak Thai a little bit). We ate some amazing food. Also, we are getting to know some incredible people here. The people are willing to help you in any way they can and are very inviting to all of us new people.
Well on the schedule after all the orientation was over was to get a traditional Thai massage. Not everyone wanted to get one, but I thought it sounded cool so I signed up. We have reservations at “The Best Massage” down in the tourist part of the city. We walk in, take off our shoes and put on slippers. We go up stairs and go into this big room. There are mattresses on the floor and little outfits on top of them to put on. Well I saw a big mattress so I thought this would be for a big person and that the outfit on it would be big—o contraire! I slip the shirt over my head and it gets stuck. I can’t pull it down or off. Two of my friends, Adam and Kyle, had to pry the shirt off my body. I found a shirt that “fit” and put it on. The ladies came in to give the massage and they look and me and laugh. She tells me to lie down. My feet hung off the end and they started laughing again. The massage began and I was about to fall asleep when she tried to stretch my leg over the other one. My body didn’t want to go that way and sprung back in the opposite direction sending the little lady flying. Everyone started laughing. This happened a few other times when she was trying to do different exercises. It was a very funny experience.
Mondays, like today, are our Sabbath day. We have planned activities every day but Monday, so today we are just hanging out around the zone. Today school started at the Universities so a lot of the kids (who are actually 3 or 4 years older than me) go back to class today. One of our new friends Nueng is graduating today after she presents her dissertation over bone and joint stuff. She is sooooo excited to almost be over with school so she can have fun as an intern for a while. Please pray for all the students and the schoolwork that will soon be pouring in.

I hope all of you are doing well. Please comment on the posts and let me know how things are going for you. Please pray for the work that we will be doing this week. God bless each of you.The whole Chiang Mai group!