Mae Sot and Bangkok

We arrived in Mae Sot the day before our visas expired and crossed over into Burma to gain a 15 day visa. We would do this again to gain a second 15 day visa. We were all tired and hungry, and as it was hot out, extremely thirsty. We had seen some crazy car accidents on the way to Mae Sot and I was just ready to relax. I do not recall what we did that first day, but I do know that Mae Sot changed my life and the outreach.
We did open air every night. We had no idea what that meant when we were first told about it. Did that mean...? Well, honestly, there was not really any questions because we knew there would not be an answer- including the question of "What time?". We went to a factory that first night. Speakers started blaring and I am sure, we were as confused as the migrant workers were. We were not sure what to do, but we figured we would do what we had felt the Lord told us to. It went well, other than the fact that they ran away from us if we went up to them. From there, open air was mostly the same. We pray, show up, and watch God do what He wanted to. There was one very special open air though. I am almost positive that the whole team feels this way. We showed up at a street market, there was a factory down the street, but this location was better to be at simply because the factory was on a more narrow road.
When we had prayed that morning, we all felt the Lord was saying to make it about Him. We did not understand what that meant fully and even after throwing around ideas for ways to do that we did not know. Not until we were at open air. We simply wanted to give God all the glory. There was one man there the whole entire time we were there. It was awkward, but somewhere in the middle of the program, as I stood there kind of grumbling, I felt the Lord say, "Hey Maya, you may not see anything, but you are changing the atmosphere. Do you really need people to do that?" Later that night, Coach had us sit down. I think he felt bad for us because no one was there. He opened up the floor and I knew I had to share what the Lord had said to me. When I finished a couple of my teammates said they knew the Lord told them the same thing. Crazy how God does that. That night would have to be one of my favorites. Of just knowing that no matter what, no matter who, no matter anything, we can always just say "Jesus" and release something great into the atmosphere.
We went all over Mae Sot. And even outside of the city. Many times, we had no idea where we were going. We would show up at Morning Glory school and work there or at the Burmese medical clinic or any other number of places. Let me see if I can remember some of the places we went: migrant factories, garbage dump, orphanages, schools (including one for the monks), markets, clinic, and I am sure many other places.
One of my favorite places in Mae Sot though, was the Burmese school. Morning Glory is a school where the Burmese children can go to school and get a very good education. They study mathematics, sciences, English language, Thai language, Burmese history and the Burmese language. They also study music, art and sports. These kids get a well rounded education and I got to be part of it for two weeks. However, when we were there, we learned that the Thai government had come in and said that the school needs to be remodeled. We helped with some of it, but it was difficult to try to do something when we were not 100% positive what they were saying. We did lay a concrete floor and I am sure that the measurements will never leave my head. I often went to the Grade 4 classroom wether we worked on the floor that day or not. The best day in that classroom was actually the last day. We were just hanging out and messing around and one of the boys pulled out a book that we had been working in. I sat down with him and watched him read one of the stories we had worked on. I asked him if he could read it to me. He read me The Hare and the Tortoise and then he read the second story we had worked on, Maung Pau's Egg. I was so proud of him. He only messed up on one word and paused only once or twice. I was so proud I thought I would cry. We played a game or two and laughed a lot. It was Friday and that meant it was a half day, they were all packing up to go home when one of the boys said, "See you Monday, Sister." It broke my heart to tell them that I left the next day for Bangkok. That I was on my way back to America.
That is what this trip gave me: a broken heart. I say that with as much love as possible. I fell in love back in January. My world collided with so many people over in Thailand and my heart was stolen over and over again. From Mae Sai to Mae Sot and even Burma and Laos.
Oh, and I am pretty much convinced that I am going to adopted a Burmese child. So stinking adorable.
Bangkok...I only love you cause you are a part of Thailand, after that I could not wait to get away from you. Although, the hotel we stayed in was great. It even had a shower head. Not that I minded bucket showers.
I need to sign off now, but I will update more either tomorrow or in a couple of days.
Thank you all.

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