{"id":936,"date":"2012-04-29T01:17:02","date_gmt":"2012-04-29T01:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/?p=936"},"modified":"2012-04-29T01:17:02","modified_gmt":"2012-04-29T01:17:02","slug":"news-and-pictures-from-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/2012\/04\/29\/news-and-pictures-from-thailand\/","title":{"rendered":"News and Pictures from Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Reverse Culture Shock<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010579-400-x-300.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-960\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010579-400-x-300-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010579-400-x-300-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010579-400-x-300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Arriving in Thailand, I experienced culture shock like I have never experienced it before.\u00a0 I stood in a mall and was paralyzed as I look around at all the comforts surrounding me.\u00a0 I was thankful to have a friend next to be who was experiencing the same thing.\u00a0 We tried hard to stop saying &#8220;I haven&#8217;t seen _________ in almost a year&#8221;.\u00a0 There was so much variety and so many choices.\u00a0 It was difficult to choose what special treat to have or do.\u00a0 It was a good chance to experience some of the emotions that I am sure will accompany our first days back to the states.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_944\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-944\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010581.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-944\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010581-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010581-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010581.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-944\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Not even McDonalds has made it to Senegal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Special Treats <\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_958\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-958\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010620.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-958\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010620-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010620-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010620.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-958\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Most exciting was a friend to talk to (in English)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Beauty:<\/strong>Thailand is filled with so much beauty.\u00a0 Coming from the desert, it was amazing to look around at the green grass, rice fields, rivers and some much more beauty that surrounded us\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_946\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-946\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010585.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-946 \" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010585.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010585.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010585-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-946\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The beautiful campus where we stayed.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Comforts:<\/strong>\u00a0 Worship in English, hot showers, clean feet, air conditioning, cheap massages, comfortable clothing, prepared meals (that I didn&#8217;t prepare), laundry service, and grocery stores.\u00a0 I welcomed all of these with open arms<\/li>\n<li><strong>Familiar food:<\/strong> Although the food here is very different (and we have eaten mostly Thai food), we have had access to so many more familiar foods: Ice cream (even blizzards), Cheetos, cereal, sausage, pizza, veggies of all varieties, popcorn chicken, specialty beverages, berries and so much more!<\/li>\n<li><strong>The fun type of Adventures<\/strong>: On our breaks we took the time to explore the area around us including a floating market, touching an elephant, walking along the river, swimming in a pool, and of course exploring the local version of Walmart\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_952\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-952\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010610.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-952\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010610-e1335660672433-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010610-e1335660672433-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010610-e1335660672433.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-952\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">It was crazy to be so close to an elephant<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Training = Spiritual Retreat<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_949\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-949\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010595.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-949 \" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010595.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010595.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010595-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-949\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">We had people from 8 different countries, serving in over 18 different places. It was amazing to learn and worship together<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When I think about this training, one word comes to mind &#8220;Amazing&#8221;.\u00a0 The training is specifically geared toward what we are doing and it has been so good for me.\u00a0 The training has focused on making Jesus meetable through the language learning process. It has been good to reflect on the difficulties we have faced in language learning, but to also be reminded of how God uses this breaking process to display his truth.\u00a0 God has been teaching me so much during this time and I am so excited to return to my family and to pick up the ministry he has called us to.\u00a0 We might have limited language ability, but I am praying that God will be using this time of language learning to display who he is to the people around us through our lives.<\/p>\n<p><strong>News From Dakar<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_942\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-942\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010561.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-942\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010561-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Can't wait to be back with my family\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010561-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010561.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-942\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Can&#039;t wait to be home with my family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We have one more week apart and although the boys are doing well, we are all ready to be back together.\u00a0 Joel was able to find water tanks and a pump for our house, which is very exciting!\u00a0 He now is working on figuring out how he will set them up and trying to find all the plumbing pieces he needs (which is pretty much like a life size Where&#8217;s Waldo for each piece).<\/p>\n<p><strong>More Pictures<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_943\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-943\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010580.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-943\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010580.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010580.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010580-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-943\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">So fun to see such colorful taxis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_959\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-959\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010627.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-959\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010627.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010627.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010627-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-959\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">We splurged at a hotel for the weekend<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_951\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-951\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010602.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-951\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010602.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010602.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010602-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-951\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rode around the city in a tuk tuk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_954\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-954\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010613.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-954\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010613.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010613.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010613-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-954\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Visited a floating market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_955\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-955\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010617.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-955\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010617.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010617.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010617-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-955\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shopped<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_953\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-953\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010612.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-953\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010612.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010612.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010612-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-953\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">and just walked around<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_957\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-957\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010619.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-957\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010619.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010619.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010619-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-957\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One adventure I was not brave enough to try...yes those fish are nibbling\/cleaning his feet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_947\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-947\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010589.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-947\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010589.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010589.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010589-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-947\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The one down side was the hard beds, which were covered with bugs at night. Nothing sleeping with bugs crawling all over you<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_941\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-941\" style=\"width: 375px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010631.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-941\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010631-e1335661742303.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010631-e1335661742303.jpg 375w, https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/files\/2012\/04\/P1010631-e1335661742303-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-941\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yet also surrounded by the reminders of the need for God&#039;s truth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>The Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reverse Culture Shock Arriving in Thailand, I experienced culture shock like I have never experienced it before.\u00a0 I stood in a mall and was paralyzed as I look around at all the comforts surrounding me.\u00a0 I was thankful to have a friend next to be who was experiencing the same thing.\u00a0 We tried hard to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":830,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2545],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-936","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-updates-and-news","7":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/936","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/830"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=936"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/936\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-mcmartin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}