We’re here
We made it safe and sound into Bangkok at about 11:30pm last night. For those of you who are in the central time zone, Bangkok is exactly 12 hours ahead. The 26.5 hours it took us to get here were pretty uneventful, thankfully. All 400 lbs. of our luggage made it as well. The real excitement didn’t start until we actually got to Bangkok.
11 people showed up to greet us at the airport: P’Petch and his wife P’Hui and their 2 young children, Kim and Klui, an older gent named Lung Taweepohn, Dton, Bhee, Bhiti, Bohn, Jaruk, and Bao. This is now, mind you, at midnight. Everyone, except for Dton, who came on his motorcycle, piled into the church van to head back to the church building. Well, the van overheated and broke down on an overpass on the way. We sat there, traffic screaming by, pouring water into the engine, trying to cool it down for about 45 minutes. All the while, Dalissa is holding 11 month-old Klui, trying to keep him cool. Finally a taxi and a small bus pulled over to help us. P’Petch and his family along with Dalissa and myself piled into the taxi which took us to the church building. Some more water for the engine was given by the bus driver.
We got there and found our room on the 4th floor beautifully prepared for us, with all of our stuff we left waiting there. We also found a cooler up there waiting for us, filled with food from a year ago - thanks Julie. We laid down on our crisp, clean beds, and I waited for the van to show up with all of our luggage.
It took about 2 hours, but finally I heard the gate open, but I didn’t hear the van pull up. I found out that the 4 young guys, Bhee, Bhiti, Jaruk, and Bohn, had pushed the van from where we left it all the way to the church building; it only took them 1.5 hours to make the 5 km journey (they knew a “short-cut”). UNBELIEVABLE! So now at about 3:30am, they helped me carry our 400 lbs. of luggage up 4 flights of stairs after pushing a van and hour and a half. And that was our night.
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Comments
Thanks for sending a note so soon, Neale — and great photos! So glad you made it okay — what a story of help and determination right off the bat. Dalissa, you look so happy to finally be there. I know you’ve waited a long time. I don’t think it’s sunk in with me that it’ll be so long before we see you both again.
Neale — we bought a videocam in Lincoln! I’m just about to set it up. That’s what made me think to look on your website! It’s designed to work with Windows Instant Message. We’ll see how that works!
Happy settling in!
Love,
Mom
Hello!! Wow, it’s so exciting to hear from you and get your notes about your arrival, etc. Dalissa does look great (cute as ever, of course).
Your apartment also looks so neat and “uncluttered”! Oh to keep it that way, uh?
What are the foods you miss most when you get there? and what is your favorite food while you are there?
Also…….maybe our girls can “connect” once again with a couple penpals approximately the same age? They’ll be 15 & 17 within 2-3 months!
I look forward to reading and hearing more about your Thai Adventures!!
~pkb
Glad you all made it there safely! I know you are so excited to finally be back! Glad we can access your website now, the other one was blocked on my school computer. Well, have fun, eat lots of good Thai food!
love, Beth
Hope you’ve caught up on all that sleep you lost! Loved reading all your notes…especially about the long-kong fruit. If that’s all the dessert you get, you might get very skinny. Peace Park sounds nice and if you have time for jogging. Sounds like you will never wear coats except maybe RAIN coats in September? Now? You both look great and so joyful. Thankful for your grand reunion with the Thai Christians. You are a part of our prayers. Love, Aunt Helen and Uncle Don too.
Hey!
I am so glad to know that you all made it safely. We are thinking of you and praying for you. Keep in touch.