Day 12: Beautiful Rest (12 Days of Beauty)

The final day of beauty. Our last day of work before Christmas. We are looking forward to a few days of rest.

It has been a particular encouragement to me this Christmas to reflect on the wonder of the incarnation - God become flesh and dwelling among us. I think there is a temptation to fast-forward to Calvary, and for good reason. Calvary is central to our faith.

But there was a period of time between Christmas and Calvary where God himself lived among us. Emmanuel, God with us. May you all have a blessed Christmas, and may you find rest in the arms of our God who is ever-present and closer than our own breath.

Blessings,

Evan

Day 11: Christmas Wishes From Canada

You are beautiful. Our friends, family and ministry partners... you are the best! We've already received many lovely emails of Christmas wishes and today we got our first Christmas card from Canada!

We could not do what we are called to without your support. Even if it's just sending us a quick message to say you are thinking of us, it means so much to us out here. Thank you.

Day 10: Beautiful Diversity (12 Days of Beauty)

Today was the "office Christmas lunch". Most people work from home or from remote locations so we don't get a chance to meet up very often. In at least a couple of cases, this was the first time we'd met certain people at all!

We piled into a couple of cars and headed down some side streets until we came to a stop in front of a blink-and-you'll-miss-it (actually we did blink, missed it and had to backtrack) restaurant hidden on the side of the street. From the number of people there it was clear that enough customers are able to find the place to keep them in business!

As we sat around the table, Bonnie and I realized that we were the only westerners in our group. It was humbling and inspiring, because we far too often see our own culture as the "established" church and other cultures as "people we send missionaries to". Even when we know better, it's hard to train your mind to think differently.

The truth is that the Gospel does not belong to us; it belongs to all who hear it and choose to be part of the Kingdom of God. We represented a number of different nationalities at lunch today but only one Kingdom.

Evan

P.S. We sometimes feel we say too much about the food, so I tried not to make that the focus this time but yes, the food was incredible. :)

Day 9: Communion and Community (12 Days of Beauty)

As Evan mentioned yesterday, we have some friends visiting our country for Christmas from a nearby country. It being Sunday, they joined us for a service at the church we regularly attend. At the end we saw that another couple from our organization was in town and visited the same church! Small world.

We partake in communion (or the Eucharist) every Sunday morning. When you are in a new place it is so comforting to share this. To be reminded that no matter where we've come from or where we've gone to, we are one body. 

Being a part of an international organization we really get to feel this when we travel. Despite the different working conditions and challenges, when we meet with colleagues, even for purely professional reasons, we all know that we are working toward a common goal. It is so beautiful to be a part of a community like that.

Day 8: Beautiful Friends (12 Days of Beauty)

I'm writing this on a boat after a wonderful evening out with friends who are stationed elsewhere in Asia and were passing through.

It's amazing to know that we have friends and colleagues who are partners with us in the work we're doing all over the world. Sitting around a table and sharing our experiences is such an encouragement and inspiration.

We are thankful today for the beauty of these encounters.

Evan

Day 7: Art (12 Days of Beauty)

The Beauty of art. In this case, I don't just mean classic fine art. There is something about public art that is also important. As much as I adore meandering through art galleries to gaze at Van Goghs and Rembrandts, public art is so much more accessible and often meant to provoke thought or at least make you smile.

One of our favourite outdoor dinner spots is littered with art. (Don't worry, I won't write about food again.) It's big and weird and creative. I love it! There are so many pieces that I keep noticing ones I hadn't seen before. Here are some:

Episode 6: The Beauty Awakens (12 Days of Beauty)

One of the adjustments we needed to make when we left our "old life" behind was a drastic change in income. There have been a lot of times we have looked wistfully at things and thought "yeah, that was another life". Don't imagine this to be a complaint - our quality of life is the best it has ever been and we are incredibly happy with our decision, we don't lack for anything. I am only pointing out that it is different.

The difference is a little more pronounced living in a bigger city than it was in our previous assignment; there are a lot of luxuries available here if you have the money. That's why today was really quite special. Some family members gave us a gift to be used to take ourselves out, so out we went!

There is a movie theatre here that is more than just "going to a movie", but more of a complete experience. For about an hour before the movie you can sit in the lounge and enjoy complimentary gourmet snacks, juice and tea before going in and taking your place. Our "seat" in this case, was a large "day bed", where Bonnie and I could cuddle up under the blankets to watch the new Star Wars.

The movie was fantastic, the food was incredible and the theatre was luxurious; but the real beauty today was our family members back home who were thinking of us and decided we needed this.

Evan

Day 5: In Pursuit of the Perfect Puff (12 Days of Beauty)

Sometime in the last week, we wandered past a shop that had signs for delicious looking giant cream puffs. We were on our way somewhere and couldn't get them at the time but we knew we wanted to try them soon.

Yesterday we were back at the same mall that we had seen them. Or so we thought. We scoured the floor with all the little bake shops where we had been but to no avail. Store directories and Google couldn't help us. We had failed in our quest.

After more in-depth searching, we found reference to the shop online! It is a chain and has more than one shop in Bangkok. Tonight we found them.

It was was totally worth it! These aren't your normal little profiteroles. These are huge Japanese style flavoured cream or custard filled pastries. Absolutely beautiful. I chose the chocolate filled one this time and the first bite brought me memories of going to the malt shop in KP mall with my folks when I was a kid. By the end the light chocolate cream tasted more like a frothy mousse.

Evan went with the salted caramel. Meh. I'm looking forward to trying the matcha next. I think Evan might go with the macadamia one.

Hopefully I'll write about something other than food soon.

Day 4: A Night at the Embassy (12 Days of Beauty)

One of the things Bonnie and I are very thankful for is our small group from our church out here. We meet in the group leaders' home which happens to be on the grounds of the British Embassy, as they are stationed here with the embassy.

The evening usually involves a certain amount of snacking (tea and scones, anyone?) as well as a Bible study, fellowship and a chance to pray for each other. Tonight was no different and we had a great time studying some seasonally appropriate prophecies about the coming of the Messiah.

Regardless of the setting, we are still a pretty international group and it is beautiful to be able to sit down with people from all different backgrounds, cultures and walks of life and just enjoy being the Body. You can go in and out of any nation or embassy you'd like, but when you're meeting together like this you know you're in the Kingdom.

Evan

Day 3: Homemade Cheese (12 Days of Beauty)

It's Monday. It's been busy and stressful. Didn't really feel very beautiful...

But...

Evan made ricotta for dinner.

He's discovered how easy it is to make homemade ricotta so we have it every once in a while. Today it was featured with "nachos". I made beans (from dry pintos to spiced mash!), guacamole, fresh cilantro tomatoes and we found some lovely corn tortilla chips. I am sometimes impressed with what we can do with local ingredients and limited cooking options to come up with comfort food. 

So, at least our dinner was beautiful! And delicious.

Day 2: The Light Shines in the Darkness (12 Days of Beauty)

It was not difficult to find beauty today; the challenge was finding the time to step back and appreciate it. Our church out here held its annual carol service tonight and we really enjoyed it. Before the final song everyone's candle was lit and we filed out of the church to stand in the courtyard to sing "Silent Night".

One of the readings from the service was (naturally) 1 John, and I am always captivated by the imagery: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." (Sometimes that is rendered "understand", rather than "overcome", depending on your translation.) Standing out in the night, holding our candles, that verse seemed so very true. At Christmas we hold out our lights, lit from a flame that has been passed on from generation to generation since the events of John 1.

This light has never been extinguished, never been overcome. Sometimes it is a lone candle in a sea of darkness and sometimes there are countless little flames joined together to fill the sky. Tonight we were able to join with a couple hundred fellow believers from all over the world to hold our candles together in the night. It was humbling, moving and above all, beautiful.

Evan

Day 1: International Pie Day (12 Days of Beauty)

This morning, Evan and I helped to make approximately 500 mincemeat pies. I've never even eaten a mincemeat pie before. Which is not even meat, by the way, it's a mix of dried fruit and nuts. But my mom did teach us how to make pie. Thanks mom!

That's me in the blue apron.

That was one of the really cool things; you didn't have to be a British Pro Baker to be a part of today's pie extravaganza, as we were led by a wonderful lady whose ministry is teaching baking to former sex workers to give them a chance at a new life. She is really great at this kind of thing. Very patient, giving clear instructions and praising our efforts despite our imperfections.

There were well over a dozen folks working in that hot little church kitchen and I counted at least 8 different countries of origin. It was wonderful to meet and work (and sweat) with so many interesting people. It was beautiful. We were the UN of baking! (Actually, one of the ladies works with the World Food Federation that is a part of the United Nations. No joke.)

Almost done for the day!

Oh, perhaps you are wondering why we were making 500 mincemeat pies! They are a Christmas tradition in the UK and our church is having a Christmas Carol service tomorrow night that includes the pies as well as another long-standing British Christmas tradition, mulled wine. 

Tune in again tomorrow to read more about the carol service! Probably.

~ Bonnie