Rest & Stability

The main message at church today was to rest in God rather than just work for Him. It made me realise how much my perspective has changed. I'm over 'doing' church and into 'being' church. I'm actively avoiding religious duties and no longer believe in putting on a program just because we should be doing something. I'm into organic community and just being with people- flaws, absurdities and all. People over programs every time.
The other major mental gear shift God has changed was my idea of where my stability came from. Frankly, coming into the middle of this year I was getting tired. I have changed continents every 6 months for the last three years. I'm always leaving my friends or they're leaving me and who knows how many years will pass till our next meeting (heaven?). Then I start over afresh in every new place with new people and sometimes a new language (or accent). I just needed a home. So seeing as I know I will be here in Chiangmai for a while, I began to look for a more stable living situation. Hilariously, while I was thinking this, I have had at least 5 good friends and 3 flatmates leave and moved house twice already. One of my closest friends here is leaving on a jetplane in a couple of weeks, don't know when they'll be back again. Driving me, in desperation, to the realisation that my stability is in God and that must be enough.

Thai Plumbing

This week all our plumbing problems came to a head. Nearly a fountain head. The upstairs toilet had been leaking for a while all over the floor and the butt-sprayer would not turn off if we tried to flush but hey it was a slow flood so we told the landlord's representative, stopped using it and weren't too worried about it. Then in the space of 24 hours, the downstairs sink broke so all water went straight through to the floor, the upstairs shower knob was missing so my housemate cut herself on the rusty thread sticking out and the upstairs sink tap broke and would not stop shooting water full force. Part of my morning was spent alternating turns in holding down on the tap to stem the flow so that the other person could continue getting ready for work.
All fixed now, but what a morning! Is it possible there's some sort of synchronised built in break down date on thai plumbing?

Adaptation

Last night I could not sleep and decided to have a midnight milo. I went into the kitchen without turning the lights on and reached for the jar. As I opened it up and went to put my spoon in, I realised that my milo smelt a bit damp...and there seemed to be a streak of black in there. 'Probably water leaked in' I thought as I flipped on the light.
A dead gecko lay with it's head buried in the milo.
This was a real dilemma...milo is my treat, but that was the damp gecko blood I had smelt.
In the end I tipped half the milo powder, and the gecko, into the bin and then continued on making myself a hot milo out of the same jar. Ahh... how I've adapted to the life of a missionary.