September Flying By

A Boat Cruise Birthday Party!
Fr. Daniel is a Nigerian Redemptorist priest here in Bangkok. We know him from Holy Redeember, the one English language parish in Bangkok. He takes it upon himself to make sure that we get a chance to see a little more of Thailand than the slum. He returned at the end of August from his annual trip home and he said, let’s go do something! Being Nigerian, he was able to come up with several reasons to celebrate--my birthday was in July, his was in August, Marie’s was in September... So he invited us on the Chao Praya River Boat Cruise! We always ask some others to join us on these trips and he graciously says, “Of course! Invite whomever you choose!” I thought of my friends R and S and called to see if they could come on a Friday night and meet us at the church. When we all met, there was also the Pakistani family, William and Maryam, and their three lovely boys. Fr. Daniel saw them and on fly asked if they were free and wanted to join us! I love my Pakistani friends so much, I couldn’t have been happier. 


To top off the whole night, we were sitting on the boat, eating delicious Thai food, I was getting ready for a toast with the champagne, and I asked S, "When is your birthday?" He answered: “Today." I freaked! What?! He thought maybe I knew and that’s why I asked he and R to join us (I’m sure they had told me a couple months ago, but I forgot). It was totally the Holy Spirit’s inspiration to invite them. R explained me that S has never had a birthday party like this, and the night prior, she had told him she wished she could throw a party or do something special. We made sure to celebrate with a delicious cake, dancing, pictures--with mango and sticky rice to top it all off! 

September 17: Spiritual Pilgrimage

September 15 is the feast of Our Lady of Compassion, perhaps better known as Our Lady of Sorrows. She is a model of compassion as the Mother of God, standing at the foot of the cross, and therefore a fitting model as the patroness of Heart’s Home and our charism of compassion. To celebrate, we hosted a day retreat on September 17 for our friends in Bangkok, joining for Mass at Assumption Cathedral, with 20 friends representing seven countries! The most beautiful part for me was the number of young people. about 13 of the 20 people who came are in their 20s.  Marion, a volunteer from France with FIDESCO, shared at the end of the day how timely this day was for her, only one week into her one year mission. She had been having a lot of doubts about what she was doing here! As we shared a text for School of Community written by Adrienne von Speyr, from “Handmaid of the Lord”, we reflected upon the ‘yes’ of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Marion shared how that struck her and affirmed her in this beginning of her mission--she re-discovered why she said ‘yes’ to this mission.  

September 23: Taize Prayer

The following week, we hosted a Taize prayer meeting at our home. Taize is a place in Southern France, and the Taize community is an ecumenical community of Catholic and Protestant brothers from over thirty nations, living as a sign of unity among Christians. (www.taize.fr/en) September 23, we gathered in our small house, representing the global church! It was amazing: Lutheran pastors from Finland, Franciscan brothers, Christian Japanese pastors, Thai, French, Indonesian, Americans, Vietnamese... married, single, divorced, lay consecrated, priest--young adults, children, middle aged, over-middle-aged... It was a beautiful time of prayer and friendship, of unity as Christians. It was powerful to praise God together in song and a gift to have Thai Christians and farang who speak Thai, as a witness to the children to came!

End of September: Time Passing

September came to an end with a big good-bye to Katie, who ended her 16 month mission and headed home to the States. We took turns going with her on apostolate as she made her goodbyes to our friends. It was a blessing to go with her in the neighborhood, as it really made me reflect on my own mission and the time I have here. It has already been seven months! I will be ending my mission in June, three months earlier than planned, as I need to come home to find a job before beginning to repay my student loans. So I have 8 months more--and it will go sooo fast! It’s not so much time!

At the Spanish mass the first weekend of October, they sang the song “Alma Misionera”. It has long been one of my favorite songs. The words, loosely translated into English are: “Take me where the men need your words, need desire to live. Where there is no hope, no joy, simply for not knowing you...Lord, I have a missionary soul. Drive me to the land that is thirsty for God.” As they community sang this at Communion, I was overwhelmed with joy to the point of tears, not being able to sing. It was a gift of God, to have the grace to be so full of joy to be here, in Thailand, with Heart’s Home, in 70 Rai--living the mission of dreams!

Flooded Out

I suppose it's on the news at home, that this City of Smiles being evacuated as water pushes its way through from the Chao Praya River to the Gulf. But I think many people at home don't keep up on the news, especially worldwide (ahem, Joy!)--I know I didn't realize how ignorant I've been until I moved here. I love living in a city that is a Mecca for many cultures and the paper prints headlines from around the world. Somehow living here makes the entire world seem more accessible than it is in the Midwest.

(I must say the reporting on US news is a major FAIL here: On CNN, you have economic crisis in Greece, the devasting earthquake in Turkey, and then the case of Michael Jackson's doctor in the US. In the newspaper, you have a little more on the US--how about a Florida yoga instructor introducing "dog yoga" or the nude activists in San Francisco. I'm sure readers appreciate diversity in topics, but where's the news that matters from the US? Interesting what our country emulates for the rest of the world and what the world picks up on...)

Northern Thailand has been flooded for over 2 months now, from heavy rainfall for three months, and the water had been kept back for reasons of the different agricultural seasons--then the unexpected amounts of rain came. Over 20 of the 77 provinces in Thailand are flooded, under 1-2 meters of water. The Chao Praya River runs from the North of the country all the way down to the Gulf, coming right through Bangkok. Obviously, the water needs to run down the river to reach the sea. At this point, it's coming down at the same time of high tide on the sea--hence the high risk to Bangkok. Being the economic center of Thailand, and the business headquarters for most companies located in Asia, any water is a threat to the economy of Thailand and of Asia, and is also taking lives and livilihoods throughout the country.

The Prime Minister, YinLuck and the Governor, with all their advisors are trying to devise plans to funnel the water through the city with the least harm to the city center, which has been blocked off by walls. They are calculating when to open the dams and whether to dredge up the roads to get the water through more quickly.

Map of the Bangkok Metro Area. Shows flooding as of October 23. Blue is flooded--actually the pink is where we were on Wednesday with 2 meters of water. The light yellow and gold along the Chao Praya is where we are. Current estimates are 20 cm in parts of the city center, 50 cm where close to the river.

What are the people saying? The water will come--just let it out and get it done with. We expected it over 2 weeks ago, and the shelves at 7/11, Big C, Tesco/Lotus... have been EMPTY of food and water for that long. Now people are trying to buy more food and water with little success--besides the 1 million who have evacuated the city already, many of whom just up and left the country for a while.





The Thai people have this phrase, "Mai pen rai"--meaning, "no big deal", "no worries", "no problem"... It is imbedded in their culture and defines how anyone reacts to this disaster in particular. Being farang, Wednesday night we had contact with our house in New York, trying to take a decision of what our plan was for this predicted 50cm to 2 meters of water inevitably coming our way. The water is full of disease, sewage, crocodiles, eels, snakes... What were we to do? We have a 2nd floor, but we would also be 5 women in a small space. The decision was made to leave our house, leave our neighborhood and find a place to stay with our ex-pat friends. Heart's Home has a responsibility to our families for our well-being, despite our desire to stay with our friends and be with them in this disaster.

Wednesday night we went to the airport to pick up Natalie, our new sister of community from the US, beginning her mission here with us for 18 months. We all went, came home, got to sleep by 3am, woke up for prayer at 730--Nathalie was incredible, after traveling for 30 hours half way around the world, she made it through on 4 hours of sleep and helped move everything, spending her first day in Thailand leaving her house of mission. We spent the whole morning and early afternoon moving everything in the house to the 2nd floor--refrigerator, gas stove, dishes, food, toys: EVERYTHING. We had just spent 2 weeks doing work on our house, fixing rotten and termite eaten wood upstairs, fixing windows, and Wednesday was the last day of electrical work and painting. We have been moving all of our furniture multiple times--to put it mildly, we were all exhausted before Thursday began.

In disaster mode, personalities really come out. Eva had prepared 2 weeks ago, having brought a suitcase to a friend's house ahead of time, telling us the flood was coming. Thuy and I said, "mai pen rai! The flood won't come here!" Marie and Eva went a week ago to buy food and clean water for us if it came, as Thuy and I rolled our eyes at them for panicking--we'll be fine. No problem. If the water comes it comes. We can pee in a bucket and toss it out the window, we can eat rice for a few weeks, and play games by candlelight upstairs--it's an adventure. Why freak out?

To be honest, when I heard the Prime Minister declare on Tuesday night that the City of Bangkok WILL flood, it became a bit more real. Sister Regine started saying it's better if we leave our house. Then on Wednesday, we went about 45 minutes north of our house, still in the city of Bangkok, and saw the flood. Seeing the water, the people walking in the filthy, smelly water, and meeting our neighbor's sister and her family whose house is under 2 meters of water... That made it a bit more real as we returned home understanding better what was coming our way.



A crew going to help.





Marie and Paa Ot loading the truck with rice, milk,

water, and crackers for the families.



On Thursday, as we started packing up, I was in a bit of a panic mode (speaking of personalities coming out... my reaction took a 180). I called one friend who had already said I could call if we needed help, but she didn't answer. So I called another friend, who said, sorry, no, you can't come here, we're leaving the country. Then I called a 3rd friend who said yes. Then the 2nd friend called back and said yes. So I called the 3rd one and said no, and said yes to the 2nd friend. Then the 1st friend called back and said, Sorry, I was at church--of course you can stay! I'm expecting you! So I managed it all horribly, probably offended someone, tripped over my words and didn't know how to decide where to go...

I called my parents, leaving a message with Mom. Dad picked up and as I spoke, he said, "So, in all of this, you sound really cool about it. How do you really feel?" I was taken aback--I didn't know he could see through me so well! He helped me see how I really felt--exhausted. Drained. A bit scared.



I demanded from the girls--"We NEED a plan!" The city will shut down for 5 days, and we all go to different homes, but what if there is water next week and it stays for a month? Do we burden our friends for so long, as they have to feed us AND their own families when there's a shortage? What is the PLAN? We are supposed to be together, but if this water is on the street, it's not safe to walk in, how do we communicate? If there's no internet, no cell phone service, and no electricity? We need a PLAN!

They said, "Erika. There is no way to know. We can't have a plan."

I was sorely frustrated and adamant that it's a cultural difference--in the US, we would have a plan.



HA. (In reality it's much more a personality difference, I think--or a level of faith...)



Exhausted after eating a quick lunch of fried rice for the upteenth time this week, I called Ryan. I don't know how important others think it is to call ones boyfriend in time of emergency, but I felt a need to tell him. And God knows I am SO glad I did. He sent me positive vibes over the phone that helped me shake it all off and get through the rest of the day. He said, Hey, no worries, You'll be fine. Think about Lucille Ball and Ricky Ricardo--think of  the funny things Lucy would do in this situation. I laughed. Wow, my spirit is lightening and you're right, I"ll be fine. Thank God for that 15 minutes of joy and positive vibes coming through from this amazing man in my life. 


 



Marie in our room, looking at what to pack.



Finally, I fled from my house, taking with me what was only necessary--clothes for a couple days (not knowing if I need to leave home for a few days, weeks, or a month), my passport and papers, my camera and harddrive, my voice recorder with Ryan reading me "The Hobbit", my journal, a book, my Magnificat, and toiletries, and my pillow. As I looked around my room, I was almost searching for more--thinking I needed more. But that was all necessary.



Yesterday I was sitting at mass at Holy Redeemer with my sisters of community, and my Pakistani friends were sitting behind us. I was moved to tears after receiving Jesus, being so grateful for the gift of Fr. Daniel's "yes" to the priesthood, here as our spiritual guide and leader, gleaning strength from the graces of God... I began thinking of all my friends sitting behind me. What they have experienced in their flight from Pakistan, being persecuted by the Taliban, and how open and loving they are--they are the best friends I've ever had--open hearts, joyful, and always, always full of the peace of Christ. I thought of my friends at home in 70 Rai, staying, waiting, living life as if nothing is going to happen... I thought of Yaai Marie, one of the grandmothers we would visit who was handicapped and laid on the floor of her house. We found out she died on Tuesday. My first thought when I heard she died was, "Praise Jesus." She is in Heaven safe and sound. With the flood coming, she would have suffered and died in the water for sure. Jesus took her home in her sleep a few days before, allowing time for her family to give her a proper burial at the temple even before the flood.



Cars parked on the expressway to avoid the water.

I thought of my feelings and emotions and exhaustion from the past 2 weeks and from Thursday. I thought of this little, tiny glimpse I have now of what it is to flee for safety, having to be truly poor and leaving my friends and home. I have been praying for the gift of tears to soften my heart--it's been so long! And finally, they came last night at Mass--with a strange peace and joy that allowed me to feel the Love of Christ: for me. He cares for EVERY need! He thinks of it ALL, and His timing is impeccable.  In this time of waiting for the waters to hit, God is softening my heart, reminding me of His love as he romances me with His strength and providence...

 







Member of Paa Ot's family--staying in a warehouse with
1,800 people living in tents.
Their homes are under about 1.5 meters of water,
which is rising.
This location is now said to flood as well.