This morning I went to Jai Samarn Full Gospel Church ( http://www.jaisamarn.org/1/jaisamarn/jaisamarn_history_en.asp) in Bangkok. It is the church where I have attended most often. I usually try to listen to the message without using the headphones for English translation, but today I gave myself a break and actually understood the message!
The pastor talked about the importance of being servants and not always wanting to be among the important people but to be sensitive to the needs of people who are less well off than we are. He used the example of Jesus healing the two blind men who were beggars and refused to quit asking for His help even though the disciples were trying to shut them up. Good message. How do you apply that to a city with many beggars, maimed, blind, etc.?? Food for thought.
On the sky train I witnessed an interesting incident. People are supposed to give up their seat for monks. Soo....a monk boarded the train and all seats were taken, so he stood. I noticed the two girls beside me looking to see if anyone would give up their seats, but no one did.... Until finally, a girl across the aisle got up, approached the monk, waied him, and motioned for him to take her seat.
There was one problem, however. He pointed to the girl who was sitting next to the vacated seat (a guy was sitting in the seat on the other side of that empty spot). That girl stood up and the monk took his rightful place in the empty seat next to the guy.
And suddenly I remembered that women are not to touch or talk directly to monks. So, he could not sit down until the second girl gave up her seat. As more women came on board, none of them sat in the empty seat; finally a guy came and sat down.
Interesting dilemma: my row was all girls. Suppose I had gotten up to give my seat to him. That would have meant the two girls on either side of me would have had to give up their seats as well....
I went on to meet my friend Kwan at Big C in Samrong. We each got a Thai massage. Talk about Sunday being a day of rest...getting a Thai massage is one sure way of making you feel like doing nothing else!
When I returned to my apartment I had about an hour to get ready for my guests for the evening: the Mast family and Anita (Candice's sister). Now my new chairs have been broken in.:0 Actually, we ended up sitting on the floor to play a card game called "Slap" (I think).
For those of you who like games, check the extended entry for directions as I recall them (which is really quite scary--my recall is not what it used to be!)
Directions for Slap:
Deal out all the cards evenly between all players. For large groups use more decks.
DO NOT LOOK AT YOUR CARDS; KEEP THEM IN A STACK FACE DOWN.
Take turns going around the circle taking the top card from your stack and placing it face up in the middle.
If it is an ACE clap your hands once.
If it is a KING do a salute.
If it is a QUEEN pretend to bow and say "Evening, Queen".
If it is a JACK, raise your hand in a greeting and say, "Hi, Jack!"
If it is a 10, immediately place your hand, palm down, over the card pile in the middle.
If it is anything else, do nothing.
The person who is last on each action gets to take the cards in the middle for their very own, adding them to the bottom of their stack.:)
The first person to get rid of all their cards wins?? (I guess.:)
Silly but fun!
PS I might have the actions for the Ace and the 10 reversed; I was having problems with them all evening! I'm sure the Mast's will be happy to correct me if I'm wrong. :)
