Khon Kaen, Thailand has been love at first sight.

I arrived here almost a week ago with another student missionary, Rachelle Nelson. Khon Kaen is a relatively large, modernized city. There is still a lot of lush greenery everywhere, though, and there is even a lake right by Peace Music Academy. Colorful outdoor markets and restaurants line the streets. The markets sell almost everything you would expect, from bananas and durian to grilled chicken feet to pre-cooked curry to scarves, brooms, and plastic bags. At the same time, there is a large mall and an equivalent of “Walmart” in the city. We are able to get pretty much any modern conveniences and foods we need.

I share a house with two other SM’s in a gated residential community located in the more middle- to upper-class area of town. The house has a small living room, an open-air kitchen, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms. We definitely have running water and electricity, and even fast Internet! The house is small but very comfortable. This area is also safe, and we can freely walk around by ourselves during the daytime. It takes about 8-10 minutes to walk from here to the music school.

The culture here is extremely polite and respectful. People are always smiling and very kind to me. Their smiles make me feel more comfortable practicing the language with them – which, when you hardly know the language, is a pretty scary pursuit. They are friendly and happy without being intimidatingly extroverted, and I really appreciate that about this culture. Children greet their elders and act respectfully to them. Strangers also are extremely polite to each other. I’m pretty positive the most common phrase I have heard and used since arriving here is “kawp koon kha” – Thai for Thank you!

So far… no regrets. Psalm 37:4 says to “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” I feel like God gave me desires of my heart that I didn’t even know existed. I know I’m here to tell people about Him, and that will be the greatest reward, but I’m receiving so many other cool benefits along with it that I didn’t expect and don’t deserve. God is very wise, very gracious, and very intriguing.

I’ve only been here for a few days, so I still have seen nothing yet! Thank you for your love and support as I adjust here. Looking forward to experiencing more of Thailand!

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