The first week

Almost 10 days have past since I arrived in Pattaya. About last week.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday I helped out with English class in the afternoons. On Monday and Friday we also went to the bars afterwards to talk with the girls. Which I think will soon become the highlights of my weeks. Although it always breaks my hearts to meet the girls. Many of them are so sweethearted and all the want is to escape their lives and others that have been in this business for longer, they start to simply shut themselves off, by letting noone anywhere close to their hearts. They force themselves to only focus on the money.
Early Wednesday morning Melody, a 18-year old girl from Missouri that is doing here senior service here (for about two weeks) arrived. She is staying at my house which is really lovely, because I was becoming quite lonely all by myself.
Thursday we took turns in helping out at the nursery and on Friday we painted a house together which was also a lot of fun.
Saturday was our day off so we went to the beach and just chilled a bit. As a special treat we had Subway and Starbucks. The cool thing was that from the Starbucks terrace (which is on the first floor) where we were having our coffee we had a wonderful view of the beach but also of the Chinese New Year Parade that was taking place on that very same day while we were there.
Yesterday we went to church and had a great time afterwards hanging out in the city for awhile.

About myself - I have to admit that the first days were pretty tough on me. It was as if the fact that I am going to stay here for at least two years hit me full force. So I guess it just took my a couple of days to get adjusted and to let this fact sink in. Cos ever since Friday I'm great. I also think that it helped my a lot to do something practical... you know to actually get something done where you can also see the results right away.

This morning I had my first Thai class. It was good, exciting and challenging. I think I haven't used my brain to that extend in a very long time.... :o)

First day at the Tamar Center

Sawasdie kaa,
a short add about the service yesterday. It's just that it was so great feeling God's presence in the middle of all the strange and unknown. It is so comforting to know that HE IS the same no matter where we are, what color our skin has or what language we speak - He doesn't care (well, He does care, but you know what I mean)...

Today I had my first "real" day at Tamar Center.
So this morning I had a little introductive talk with Nella, Director of Tamar Center Pattaya.
For the first months my priority will be studying the thai language, since I am highly depending on it to be able to reach out to the girls.
Depending on how it will be staff-wise here at the center I will be either teaching English or even start a German class, cause there have been some requests for that.
So we will see...

Love to hear from you,...

Hanna

Arrival in Thailand

Hi there,
here comes my very first blog from Thailand! After 10,5 hours of a nice and smooth flight I arrived in Thailand at about 7:30 as scheduled yesterday morning. Then I had to wait for what seemed like forever at the immigration. Once I was through the immigration, baggage claim and customs were no problem and outside a taxi was already waiting to take me to Pattaya where I arrived around noon. I am sharing a small house with Kat, a girl from England and another girl from Thailand who will arrive in February. In this house I have my own little room, which is at the moment besides a "bed camp" and a closet-thingie still quite empty, but hopefully not for long. After my arrival yesterday we kinda just dumped my staff and went out for lunch (by that time I was starving for they had served us breakfast on the plane around 5 am.) The rest of the afternoon I took a nap and showered before going out for dinner again around 7 pm.
Last night I slept about 12 hours straight, so now I feel quite ok again. At one I attended a local church service which was really good. I also met a Canadian and a German team there. Now I am hanging out with the German team and of course we had to check for an Internet cafe (right now its about 6:30 local time).

talk to you later this week.
Love, Hanna

The BIG day is here!

my dear friends,
well, my departure day has finally come. In less than an hour I'm leaving to the airport, in 4, 5 hours I'll be sitting in an airplane waiting for it to hit the runway, waiting for it to gain speed, to become faster and faster every second until that one crucial moment where it takes off and we are airborne and flying!
Tomorrow at 7:30 am local time (ET + 12) I am due in Bangkok airport where I'll be taking a taxi to Pattaya, which is about 2 hours south of Bangkok!

So then all that is left for me to say is...
farewell and Gods richest blessings for every single one of you....

Love, Hanna

...packing down

time is definitely running short now with only 8 days to go before the "big" day.
Farewells and goodbyes everywhere.
A week before Christmas I was sent out from "my" base in Skien, Norway (that's where I signed my life away - :o))
Last Sunday I was sent out from my church, it was really encouraging and I think it's also good for my church that through me they become more involved with world mission again.
Tuesday I had a little farewell-party with the three young-adult-cell-groups from my church, which was very nice and very good, but it also makes everything so much more final.
Now I am trying to work my way through all my stuff, to see what I need to take with me, what stays behind and what will have to be dumped...
well, I will get back to you... asap
Love, Hanna

Happy New Year!

First of all a joyful and blessed new year everyone!
I was at the Jesus Revolution New Year's Festival in Bremen, Germany with about 500 christians from all over Europe! We had five days of learning lots of good stuff, meeting new friends and praising God together.
On New Year's Eve we first had the Youth of Europe Awards where youth groups from different nations showed their talents, then we saw Premiere to Jesus Revolution's new concert. The last 45 minutes of the old year we spend together in worship. After watching the fireworks outside, we had another hour with worship to start the new year right... :o)

Some news about Thailand. I booked my ticket last week, so it's all set and
I'm leaving January 20th
and I am being send out from my church at the Heilig-Geist-Zentrum in Mainz-Mombach on January 8th, at 4 pm! Hope to see you there!
God bless-
Hanna