Elephants, Tigers and Bears OH MY!

Ok, well no bears but it didn't sound as cool without saying it. Today was amazing, we went to an elephant camp and tiger kingdom. We watched an elephant show where the played soccer, did tricks, and painted pictures! Then Anna and I went on an elephant ride, and our driver got off half way and was taking pictures of us. They came out awesome! They are on Anna's camera so I will post those once I get them from her. Then off we went to the Tiger Kingdom! Ryan and I played with the small tigers, they were two months old and just the cutest things in the world. I have a cat obsession, so this was like playing with oversized kittens! Anna sat with the biggest tiger, who was MASSIVE! Such beautiful animals though.

It has been amazing to be here and soak in the Thai culture. It is a very laid back, relaxed, and un hurried environment which is complete opposite of who I am at times. I am a planner freak, and keep everything in my little planner, and slightly get anxiety when things do not go as I planned them. When I first think of "missions trip" I think of building houses, going to all different kinds of places and telling people of God, going out and "doing". This trip has taught me very differently, that it is not about "doing" but instead it is about "just being".

I am a person who loves being entertained, very social, and loves conversation...as long as I am not too tired or have low blood sugar :) So with there being a language barrier, my conversation skills are very limited. Indeed, there are some Thai's who can speak enough english to maintain small convos with, but not as in depth or long as we have with people at home. What I have discovered with this barrier is that I hope nobody ever has the ability to EVER get inside my head because they would go CRAZY! Not being engaged in talk at all times, or evesdropping on other peoples conversations, gives me a lot of time to get inside my head, and at first this was not at all a good thing. I worry about things going on at home, what I am missing out on, how much I need to work for enough money when I get home, school starting three weeks after I get back, what friends I am going to see first when I get home, and the list goes on and on and on. Talk about anxiety attack at full force. I found myself getting major stress and having more distractions than I could handle which took away from me just enjoying being here. I realized that I was the one who needed a missionary! So lately when I find myself getting distracted and over thinking, which I tend to do way more than I would like to, I just try and quiet myself and hand it all over to God. Let Him deal with my crazy head! It has been a struggle because I like to do everything by myself, I hate...hate..asking for help, and trusting in people or God which is what I have been learning to do quite often here. It has not been easy and as a matter of fact I almost had my dad fly out here when I was in the hospital because I was about done, what a lil quitter! It has been a missions trip internally for me. So once I realized I needed to just relax, and enjoy it here, and hand my problems over to God.. I have LOVED it. I honestly would love to live here. I will definitely be coming back. Thai people are the most amazing, and happy people I have ever met. I now know why they call it the Land of the Smiles.

So just keep praying that I can stay out of my head and away from distractions and enjoy this amazing opportunity to its full potential!

Here are some pics of that last couple days :)

Nok Noi and I trying on hats in a shop :)

Ryan, I, Anna, and Ben at WonGen Cafe 

Sharing my story at Chiang Mai Baptist Church and Pi Ann translating

Anna and I in a sung tow on the way to the market

Ryan and Pi Sinn on the back of a sung tow (taxi)  singing "I believe I can flyyyy"

Sunday's Walking Street. I did some shopping damage here! Vendors are everywhere!

Where we ate at walking street

Nok Noi and I in a sung tow

Elephant camp!

This little girl was at the elephant camp, at the coffee shop, I about stole her. I sat with her for a hour before we had to part ways :/

There trunks are the weirdest things ever! They suction everything!

These paintings go for hundreds to thousands of dollars, crazy!

Anna and I going for an elephant ride, what an experience

This is the other kitty I would like to take home...

Ryan and I with the little cubs

Anna with the BIG boy! 

Magnificent creatures. Just gorgeous

Tomorrow I am off to a village about an hour and a half away from Chiang Mai so expect updates soon :)