I’m terrible at taking photos, so I’m gonna steal my friends tags on facebook, though I did take some pretty cool photos with my iphone (if you don’t have the hipstamatik app, you should so seriously get it!).
From 6 – 11 August, I had the opportunity to visit the Faith Gardens hostel again in Chiangmai, Thailand. Oh man, It’s 16 August now in Singapore, and I still feel a little ‘home-sick’ for Thailand. Actually, not a little, a lot. I guess it’s the relationship you form with the people there that keeps you coming back. I’ve just grown so attached to the girls in the hostel, it makes it harder and harder to leave everytime I come. :(
In case you’re wondering what the heck Faith Gardens is, it’s a ministry that my friend Nigel Tan set up that supports a pastor and wife who runs a youth hostel for young Thai kids from different tribes. A lot of them can’t afford to travel and go to school, so a hostel was built by the pastor and his wife (for convenience sake, their names are Phi Cai and Phi Tumela) to house these kids so they have the opportunity to go to school.
The team from Singapore were able to join them for praise & worship songs every night, along with bible study. Oh my goodness, even talking about this makes me miss the kids so much more. We had the opportunity to teach them a few skills to:
1. David (our resident music teacher 
) taught guitar. And we bought a box drum (cajons) for the kids, so now they can use it for worship.
2. English/French – the kids are so keen to learn the language, I just felt bad that I didn’t know enough Thai to teach them proper!
3. Computer skills – we taught them to use powerpoint, great for school presentations!
Anyway, there’s just so much more that we could’ve taught them, but we only had 5 days. But to me, the most important thing really, is to form a RELATIONSHIP and friendship with them, to encourage them and pray for them. 
this girl right here is Chia, she’s got a special place in my heart. It’s funny because we communicate in french (I did french throughout high school, tho I kinda suck now, but enough to get by), with bits of english in between and my lousy Thai. I think I still only know like three words,
1. Swa de kha! (hello_)
2. Chaan chi Alarice (my name is)
3. Tom Yum Goong (hahaha)
so we went up to the mountains in Chiangmai where the other youth hostel was located. We got to stay in these bamboo houses, but it’s actually quite cosy when you put up the mozzie nets and pillows. And trust me, you definitely need the mozzie nets, there were DUNG beatles flying around. I’m pretty adventurous, but when it comes to bugs, yeh, that’s my weakness.
Our means of transport to and from the mountains. That’s Phi Cai the pastor fixing the bags at the top – most kindest, agile, servanthood pastor I’ve ever met. 
Had a day off to go to the waterfall and bamboo raft. (Not bamboo raft over the waterfall that would’ve been the death of me). I like this photo, dreamy
SIGH. Best 5 days of my life ever.
