Team bonding!

Hey guys - i have been soooo busy lately, sorry it's taken me awhile to write. 2 weeks ago our office had a 'staff retreat' for the day! :) it was great - we went to the Botanical Gardens for quiet time/scripture reflection in the beautiful outdoors,

and had a picnic lunch of pork/chicken strips and sticky rice, served on a banana leaf! It was a nice day with the thai staff - getting to know them better and having fun together. Our topic for the year is 'loving one another'. Especially loving well because Christ loved us. An act of service goes a long way! It is really an important message to send one another. Things can get so busy or we can become so stressed in this kind of work, you need to remember humility and service and love. Especially in the workplace - even here in Thailand there is gossip, and hurt feelings, and passive aggressive conflicts...it has been interesting to watch the dynamics unfold between the social workers and the lawyers...common goal - very different perspectives. So as a group activity, we received a 'service project' - we each get a name of someone on staff, spend 100 Baht ($2.50 US) on them during the month, as service to them - all in secret! I love this stuff - so i'm excited! at the end of this month, supposedly the best gift giver gets a "great prize" - i'm so in!! :)

We then took off for an adventure in ATV trekking! Now before you get too excited - i did not partake of the '3 hour tour' because of my old woman back (Sally too)...but i did get to test drive one around the practice course a few times - sooooooo fun!!! :) i definately feel the need for speed when given the opportunity! i think i scared my coworker when i took her on my second ride!! It was hysterical watching the staff ride for the first time - there must have been at least 5 run-off-the-track mishaps! *check out some photos...i am only sorry i forgot to videotape some of the action!!




Our boss was so sweet, he was worried about Sally and I riding so instead, he paid for us to get a 2 hour massage and an ice cream snack, while they roughed it up in the hills! i was bummed to not hang out with the gang on this trip, but after 2 runs, my back was sore!? :( and i can never resist a massage!! :) it was a great day!

*I have TONS more to catch you up on...let's just say that i was blessed by a visitor from home - i made friends with an elephant - i traveled to a refugee camp to educate myself - and i have a new admirer...but it's midnight and i have to get up at 5:30am to go on a 5 day 'field trip' up North with my social work team! Please keep us in your prayers as we get to bond again, have safe travels, learn about the culture, and network with local orgs. I will write more when i get back - love and prayers to you all! :)