Our April 2008 News

HOW TO FIND A HOUSE IN LAMPANG

We’d never met Ajarn Kai before, but Phii Yaa - who is an old friend - put us in touch with her. Ajarn Kai (see photo, with Nina) is a schoolteacher in Lampang. She’d heard that we have three children, so she arrived with gifts for them and a huge smile on her face. Then she introduced us to a family who had a house to rent in her neighbourhood. We’d seen plenty of houses at this stage and were prepared for yet another disappointment – the others were all too small, too expensive, too rundown, etc., but this time, prayers from across the world were answered, and we found the perfect home for our family.

There were a few tense hours when the owners had to decide whether they wanted to rent this perfect home to our imperfect family, but in the end they decided they’d take a risk and let us rent it. They did, however, ask for a three month deposit which we think is one month for each child!!!! Wise people.

Ajarn Kai - a total stranger to us - has helped us in an enormous way, and has become our first friend in Lampang. We have already told her that we'll be hosting a team from South Africa later this year and there will be an opportunity to do a special programme at her school.

“LOUD” in LAMPANG

A few days ago Nick went to try and sort out our telephone, taking Emily with him. Work at the telephone company office came to a complete standstill while everyone fawned over them. When we saw our landlady the next day, she said that she’d been at the telephone company earlier and they were still talking about Emily! The Thai expression she used to say that we are “well known” is literally translated as “loud”.
After three years in a fairly tourist-orientated Chiang Mai, with a high proportion of missionaries, then 7 months back in South Africa, we’d gotten used to being ordinary, “normal” people. Now we’re are having to get used to being stared at, having strangers offer our kids ice-creams, being pointed at, being discussed openly, and being treated as important guests of honour. Lampang folk are not used to foreigners – those who do visit here stick to the horse & carriage rides in the main street and spend their money at one of the many many ceramic factories. So yes, we – especially our three darlings - are loud in Lampang!