Sunday we had church; completely in Thai of course, but the pastor’s wife kindly sat at the back with us and translated. It was actually very similar to a NZ church service, but with one added extra: food and fellowship afterwards. Mostly everyone sticks around afterward for a feed, and it’s a great community builder. Maybe something we need to think about introducing in NZ…

One kind churchgoer offered us a lift home in his... not quite sure what one would call it... vehicle of some sort... Look at the picture because I can't even describe it in words. Apparently it's roadworthy transport?!

The afternoon was the student Christian fellowship meeting, led mostly by our team, with some translation from one of the missionaries. Johnny had chosen worship songs like “Over the Mountains and the Sea” which had lyrics in both Thai and English, and we split up to do bible study in our own languages.

Yesterday was spent in prep for the upcoming Christmas camp, practising the haka for a skit we’re doing, and preparing examples for the craft workshops we’ll be helping with. In the evening us girls went to the mall with some of the Thai girls we’ve become friends with. Shopping at Big C - pretty much like the Warehouse plus supermarket - and eating donuts in the mall made me feel like I’d stepped back into New Zealand, with all its Western culture. But as soon as we stepped out of the mall onto the street - busy with all its songtheows, motorbikes and various other vehicles - I knew I was in Thailand.

Today’s our day off, and it’s nice to finally get some time to sleep in, relax and recharge for the weekend camp, which we’ve been warned will be pretty full-on – lots of activities and possibly not a lot of sleep.