Firsts

On Saturday, we experienced our first summer storm in Thailand. 

It's currently summer in Thailand, by the way. Thailand actually only has 3 seasons: hot season (March - June), rainy season (July - October), and cool season (November - February)... give or take a month here or there. Based on our experience so far, it's only cool for about a month, rainy for a few more, and the rest are just hot. Anyway, Thai schools are out during March and April, with the new school year starting again in May. So summer. 

It started really suddenly. And then there was so much wind. I walked outside to hold on to the bird cage, afraid it might blow over. Instead, I watched the tree blow over. 

On our car. 

Thankfully all it did was clip the corner of the roof. No broken windows, no interference with the sliding door. And insurance will take care of fixing it. Hooray!

As soon as the rain stopped, guys appeared with a chainsaw. 

Unfortunately, there was some pretty bad storm damage around the city and we were left without electricity or water for 12 hours. That was fine for the first few hours, we had a dinner event to go to anyway. But it was less fun when the kids were having trouble sleeping because it was so hot. 

And less fun when we were making making Easter potluck dinner in the dark. 

But I didn't mind listening to Nathan practice for worship the next morning. 

I was so grateful to be awakened at 4am by the beep of the air conditioner turning on! 

There was no more darkness on Easter morning. There was light and water and air conditioning! 

And Jesus! 

Nathan and I enjoyed leading worship together for the first time at church on Easter morning. I'm so grateful that we still get to lead worship together, continuing what started 20 years ago.

Twenty years ago, we were on a spring break missions trip to Malaysia during our junior year in high school. We hosted evangelistic rallies at churches and other venues in multiple cities across the country. It was an intense trip, but amazing. Along with several other classmates, Nathan and I served on the worship team, him leading with guitar, me on piano. It was good to worship and serve together then and it's good now. 

Twenty years ago was also when Nathan and Shannon became Nathan and Shannon.

But not on the mission trip, that would be too cliche.