14 DEC - 9:15AM - DEBRIEF

We took some time with John and Denise to review our experiences and reflect on some contrasts between Thai, Australian (and American) culture.

We talked through the following questions:
* How do Thai people dress?
* How doe Thais relate to each other?
* How to Thais relate to foreigners and foreigners to Thais?
* What do Thais show great respect for?
* What things show that Thais are made in God's image?
* In what ways do we see that there are people here without Christ?
* How does the transport/traffic work?
* What do I observe that is different to what I am used to?

We talked a lot about the similarity between the relaxedness of Australian and Thai culture, and the relative formality of the Americans.

We talked about the great respect for the king, and his relatively servant-hearted approach in contrast to the relative corruption of the past government.

We talked about the similarity between the lostness of the Thais and Australians and the differences in the way this is expressed. Both cultures run to escapism (perhaps all do.) We talked about the difference between lostness and what is just culture.

John and Denise said they really appreciated our work, our willingness to get outside our comfort zones & the positive contribution to relationships in the church, with buddies and the schools.

We took some time to give feedback on what was positive and what was not. Denise and John explained that they had deliberately crammed our schedule to give us the experience of mental exhaustion and cultural overload that is part of being a missionary.