Leeches

Our family had a great time at Nam Nao National Park, but not all our experiences were wonderful. On our first morning there, we got ready to go on a hike nearby our cabin. We had been looking forward to hiking around where we stayed, and not always having to get the in car to drive places. I had read about leeches on the trails, but we had been on so called "leech trails" before at Khao Yai National Park. On that occasion, Meriel and I had each one small leech on us, so I wasn't concerned.

The beginning of all four trails was at the bottom of a concrete staircase through an electric fence. At night, the park official put electric fencing across the staircase to keep elephants out. As soon as we stepped off the staircase, I noticed leeches - little black worms, moving like inchworms, standing on end and waving around for something to latch on. There were a LOT of them! The kids don't own shoes; everyone except Grandpa and Philip were wearing sandals. It wasn't long before I felt squishing under my feet in my sandals. I pulled a leech from between my big toe and second toe. Blood oozed out. The leech tried to reattach to my finger before I could flick it away.

Leeches were climbing on to the kids' feet and legs. Meriel began to squeal. I thought if we could keep moving, maybe we would get fewer on us and could get to a drier area without as many of those tiny pests. Every so often, I couldn't stand it any more and had to take my sandals off and pull out the leeches. Then I would get them off the kids. Simeon began to scream whenever he had one on him. I remembered the "ant hike" at Namtok Samlan National Park (read about that trip here); I did not want him re-traumatized by the outdoors.

Philip looked at me in frustration; I needed to make the decision - push ahead, get over the leeches or admit defeat and turn around. Of the four trails, we had chosen the third longest - 4.5 km. At a normal pace, depending on the difficulty, this would take our family about 4 hours. We had been on the trail for about 10 minutes, I had picked off more than 20 leeches from myself alone. I imagined the hundreds of leeches we would have on us by the end of the trail, the number of times we'd stop to pick them off, how quickly they'd make it past the short legs of the little ones. I didn't feel I could make the kids face something that made me feel squeamish. If it was a matter of survival, then yes, but for what was supposed to be an enjoyable hike, no.

We turned around. Philip carried Simeon. Eris, Hollis, and I dashed ahead. Meriel and Grandma thought that taking big steps and shaking their feet led to fewer leech attachments. We made it to the concrete steps. We all removed our shoes. My sandals were full of leeches but only 3 had managed to attach. They were even in Philip and Grandpa's shoes and had bitten through their socks. Back at the cabin, we found two in Simeon's shorts, so searched all the kids clothes. Fortunately, the kids calmed down quickly once were away from the leech area and had a fun time playing outside around our cabin.

Adventures ready to conquer the leeches!

Later, we were able to purchase some leech socks, long canvas stockings that they cannot bite through. They are also white, so it easy to see them and pick them off. We decided we would not make any of the children hike on a leech trail but would offer it. Eris and Hollis tried the shortest trail - 1 kilometer - with Grandpa and Philip. They successfully conquered their fears. Eris calmly picked of the leeches and threw them into the jungle. Hollis counted 118 on their walk. Not one got through or over their leech socks.

Philip and I, with Calla in the baby-carrier, completed a 3 km hike. The first half was very leechy, and I was a bit squeamish even with my leech socks. The second half dried out a bit and was quite pleasant. I would say I wouldn't chose a location or hike with leeches again, but now we know how to manage with those special socks.

Doll Doctor

I gave my Kirsten doll to Meriel for her birthday this year. When I was about her age, I saved my money to buy the American Girl doll. I sent the money and order in the mail, and she arrived with beautiful braided hair and soft brown shoes. She is now a well-loved, much-played-with doll. When I outgrew her, I lent her to my younger cousins who took her to Japan. Eris took her on some play-dates while we were in the United States this winter. Eris has another of my dolls, Kathy, so I wanted Meriel to have Kirsten.

After we arrived in Thailand, Meriel talked about how she wanted a Kirsten doll. She did not know that mine was hiding in a suitcase waiting for her birthday. We looked online and found that no new ones are being made now, so Kirsten dolls are quite expensive. Meriel especially noted how new Kirsten dolls had their hair braided, and she wanted her doll to have braided hair. I thought that I would just braid my dolls hair before wrapping it.

The afternoon before we were to celebrate Meriel's birthday, I helped the kids wrap her presents for her. Then I got out Kirsten to wrap. Her hair was a tangled mess! There was no way I could braid it. I spent hours gently teasing the knots and making the dreadlocks into kinky hair. Much of her hair was missing or short, but I finally managed two braids which looked much better than the mat she had before. I dressed her in her original outfit, including shoes and socks. Overall, I was pleased to be able to give her to my little girl.

When Meriel opened the bag, a look of delight lit up her face. "It's Kirsten!" I told her that she was my doll. Meriel said she didn't recognize her with her braided hair and different dress. She was so happy to have her. She loved her. We decided to leave her behind when we went on our trip to the jungle, so she would be kept clean and safe. As soon as we got home, Meriel ready to carry her around and care for Kirsten some more.

Yesterday, Meriel and Hollis had tussle over the outcome of a card game. Hollis pulled Kirsten's leg; Meriel held on to her body. I was in the kitchen fixing supper when I heard a wailing, "Hollis pulled Kirsten's leg off!" Meriel and Hollis were both sobbing. I was so upset, I just grabbed Hollis and marched her upstairs to Philip's study. I needed some time to calm down, to comfort Meriel, to mourn my doll. But it would do no one any good to burn the potato cubes or bell peppers. I gave Meriel a quick, tight hug; then finished supper. By the time supper was finished, I was ready to calmly talk to Hollis.

It's hard to tell, but Kirsten's right leg was completely detached.

Last night and this afternoon, I researched how to reattach an American Girl doll leg. Since I'm not a doll expert, I was a bit concerned. I wasn't sure I wanted to take off her head and unstuff Kirsten. But I figured if I was going to do it, I'd better to it right. If I can perform surgery on a human, I should be able to do it on a doll. So this evening, I decided to go for it. With a pair of pliers, a hair band, and some tenacity, I reattached Kirsten's leg. Meriel and I were both pleased with the results; Kirsten was even strong enough to stand!

So now I am a doll doctor, too. Doctor's instructions: Do not pull on Kirsten. But I was able to give Hollis a big hug and tell her that she is more important than a doll. And she better not pull off Calla's leg!

I am Sarah

I've read the whole Bible many times and certain stories and passages many more times. I've also studied much of the Bible on my own, in Sunday school, or Bible studies. I've even taught large portions of the Bible to others, including my own children. Sometimes, I a surprised to discover new meaning in a well-known story. It's often while I'm preparing to teach that I learn the most.

Before Calla was born, Philip and I co-taught the "Heroes of Faith" in Hebrews chapter eleven. Abraham and Sarah are both mentioned in that passage. Now, I know the story of Abraham and Sarah extremely well. I can quote Bible verse, explain details. I've taught the basic outline to children in Oregon, Indiana, and Thailand. I've studied it in depth with my own children. But this time around, God showed me something new, about Sarah and about myself.

I've always thought that Sarah acted foolishly and without faith, tempting Abraham to do the same. Why would she give her maid to Abraham to produce a child? Why not just wait for God? Abraham seemed content to wait, so why couldn't Sarah? Then I thought about myself. I am currently in a period of waiting. I am waiting for God and for my husband. The next step in our life journey depends on Philip finishing his PhD. and on God providing a job for Philip and a place for us to minister. And what is my role at this time? To wait on the Lord, pray for my husband, pray for God's will and our future.

I often find myself wanting to do something to help us along into the next stage of our ministry. I am ready to be in rural Thailand ministering through medicine. I am ready for Philip to have his dream job where he can work away from Bangkok, somehow as a tenure-track professor for a U.S. university. I want to jump in and help Philip with his dissertation - but I'm a natural scientist not a social scientist! I want to start look for the perfect job posting, but it's too early. I want to try to guess the place in Thailand to which God will move us. This must have been what Sarah felt. She knew God had a plan for her and Abraham, but it was just taking too long; her husband wasn't in a hurry. She thought that things might go better if she took them into her own hands.

In the end, Sarah's faith developed and grew such that she conceived and had a son. But she paid a price for her initial impatience. How has God's plan been hindered by my lack of patiently biding? My rushing may result in an upset of God's perfect purpose. In the meantime, I have plenty to do: mothering, teaching, ministering, learning; so that I will be ready when the time comes to move on.

Sister Sarah, I understand your drive to push things along; thank you for the clear lesson that I need to wait in faith and expectation. Lord, thank you for helping me to pursue patience, yet again.