This trip was the first time I’d been back to the States in 2 years (though Cindy and Isaac went last year). More than that, it was the first time we’ve spoken in front of Coast since before we left 3.5 years ago.

In doing so, I was reminded why we need to talk to Coast every time we go back. A number of people were really excited about our pictures and presentation saying they had no idea what we’d been up to all this time. It surprised me. I mean, we have this website and the newsletter, we e-mail people and teams come out to see us, but there are lots of folks - friends, even - who only ever hear about us when we come back.

Unbeknownst to us, Jamie and Jess have been doing a lot of work at Coast to keep us in the minds and hearts of the congregation. I’d been taking that kind of thing for granted, but once again I’m incredibly grateful for the relationship we have with Coast Vineyard. I’m grateful that we’re like family instead of missionary-and-church. There are too many missionaries out here whose churches have forgotten or abandoned them. Some have been cut off, but even those who are still supported are only be a line item in the budget - occasionally mentioned on Missions Sundays or something. Known to the pastor and church accountants, but completely unknown to the congregation who has never met them. We are lucky to have what we have with Jess and Jamie and everyone else at Coast.

The last couple of visits we hadn’t spoken at Coast because I didn’t think we needed to. I was just thinking of money, and how we don’t want to be constantly asking for it. We trust God to support us, and when we ask, it’s to let people give if God leads them.* But I forgot that, while we don’t need to ask for money, we do need friends. And for that reason alone, I’ve determined we need to speak and bring pictures every time we go back - just to let folks know how we’re doing and what’s going on with us. Just to stay in touch.

That was the major thing I took away from this trip. There’s lots more, and I’m sure Cindy has her own thoughts. I’ll put more up as I think of them or as they are relevant.

* This is a different mindset from most missionaries who have to travel back to their home country every year to raise money. We figure this is God’s business - if he wants it done, he’ll fund it. So we try to avoid the standard “Please give us money” method of fundraising if we can help it.

Turns out after all the cold places we visited (you know, like LA, San Diego, and Mexico for example), I’ve de-acclimatized, which sucks. It’s totally hot here. I’ve got to get my internal regulators set back to Thailand right quick.

I’m also about to pass out, but I can’t. Two kids come home any time now, and we have to pick up a third in like an hour. And then we have to reassert our parenthood a little, which means staying conscious and being parents. We also need to eat, apparently (did you know this?). And though I think she’s delirious, Cindy keeps saying something about going out for my birthday. Right now, the only thing I want for my birthday is the sweet, black embrace of unconsciousness. That and a plasma screen.

I’ll be back later with more useful information and some debriefing thoughts. I have a lot of such thoughts. I have no idea which of them will end up here. Pictures too, maybe.

Cindy and I were talking about our trip the other night, and I realized something. The thing that I really want from this visit is something I can’t have. In seeing all the people I miss, what I really want is to share life with them again. I want to work with them, live with them, worship with them, but I can’t have that without changing our life again (and in some cases, changing the lives of some of my friends).

The best I can do is share about the parts of our lives that we’ve missed, a hope to see each other again, and maybe some small, fun experiences together (e.g. play games, see movies, etc.). It’s not enough, but it has to be for now.

We’ve been plagued by all kinds of random, tiny, annoying health problems. Our friend’s daughter, Ava, threw up on the way down here. Isaac got a fever the other day. Cindy’s wrist has been hurting again. I cut my thumb and finger and this swelling in my ear came back after I thought it’d gone. Oh yeah, and I got all stomach-sick on the day we drove down from Napa. So good times. We’re much better now overall, and we don’t have the presentation at Coast hanging over our heads, so we’re good.

And we’re hearing things from back home too. Most of our kids are doing well. Sean and his family took Pan and Lu to Prang’s village for the weekend. He’s got a post and a bunch of pictures. It’s good to see our kids enjoying themselves (and taken care of) while we’re gone. It also sounds like Chiang Mai has gotten tons of rain, which should be real good for our new lawn.

That’s all for now. We’re in San Diego for a few more days, then we drive up to Orange County to visit Cindy’s family, and in a week we fly down to Mexico to see my family and watch my sister get married. Should be awesome.

We’re still a bit jet-lagged, and tomorrow all of us (Heines and Wyatts) are driving down to San Diego. Otherwise, we’ve been playing new games, eating good food, and watching Isaac and the Wyatts’ girl, Ava, play together. I wish I had time to write more details, but writing is something I haven’t done much of out here. It’s not a writing month.

Who cares! I’m eating carne asada in a week. Woo-hoo!

We’ve seen him a couple of times since then. It’s been weird - kinda like breaking up with a girlfriend. Nobody’s really sure how to act. We met with his teachers, because they didn’t understand what was going on, and I think everyone (the adults at least) feels better after having talked with each other.

Otherwise, everything is more or less normal here. We miss him, and life goes on. We teach, we work, we play, we plant, and we teach.

At the same time it is my job to inform you of news about our work and our family. So I’m sad to report that Alaypa has gone back to his home village. This was not an easy decision for us, and actually it was mostly his decision. He was not happy here, and he would not accept us as anything, not even basic providers (though he accepted the provision readily enough).

This is easier for our family, but I don’t know if it’s better for him. I hope it is, but there will always be that nagging doubt that we could’ve done more. Though the more I think on it, the more I think there was no more to be done.

He may come back. We left that up to him as well. Regardless of whether he accepted us as parents, we have accepted him as our son, as much as we are humanly able. That doesn’t change.

Sandra is doing half-days with homeschool, and she’s been doing very well so far. Matt is enjoying the last vestiges of his summer before he returns to school next week. And Isaac’s adjusting to a pattern where Mom and Dad can’t always take him outside whenever he wants. He’s getting used to it.

Pan and Lutiya continue to do well. Pan, being a teenager, mostly keeps to herself but is always kind and respectful. Lutiya has her grumpy moments, but they pass quickly with her, and in a short while she’s kind and playful again.

You can be praying for Alaypa. Over the last few months, he has gradually become more resistant to our authority. He has a lot of pride and tends to see things how he wants to see them. This is fairly typical for a teenager, I guess, but his approach to our family is making life difficult for himself and everyone around him.

Isaac has been learning at an amazing rate. He understands a lot of what we say now (the words, if not always the context), and has a few words of his own to say. He’s always talked a lot, but now he’s starting to use some of the same words we do.

Sean is working outside a lot, planting trees and vegetables and doing other stuff around our houses and a landscaping business outside. He and Prang have been spending most of their time taking care of the four kids from our friends’ children’s home. Cindy has been teaching dance after school, and I’ve been writing and hearing from agents (though nothing good yet).

And I think that’s our lives in a nutshell.

STATUS
Recently Read: Civil War, Mark Millar and Steve McNiven
Currently Reading: Making Money, Terry Pratchett
Writing: Air Pirates, Chapter 11
Last Played: Ticket to Ride
Isaac’s Most Articulate Words: “Mommy”, “Daddy”, “Ball”, “น้ำ“, “Doggy”