It's funny how jetlag changes as one gets older..actually not very funny, but I digress. Home is a nice place to be as we reflect on this year's Thailand trip.

 It was a packed and fruitful time where we accomplished much more than we had planned. Making living environments safe electrically and spending time with friends who have served the marginalised longterm in the region and more.  On the Thai-Myanmar border, Trade-Off Electrical Training including CPR & First Response proved to be yet again a reminder that a simple choice to “pay it forward” can change lives in ways one would not consider. Huge thanks to the many that assist us in this endeavour. It is worth it and we are grateful. As well as training 10 guys in handy lifeskills, we had an opportunity to mentor a group of young creative Burmese people in songwriting in Maesot. Songwriting workshops came up in conversations more than once this trip with requests and possible future opportunities for more of this over there.  

This year in Thailand also saw us playing at a festival that has run annually for years now in Pattaya, Pattaya Praise, it was the biggest yet with 20+ musical teams.  The red light district there is considered the busiest and biggest in Asia. Connections with old and new friends were great, and though challenging at times, it was a worthy way to close out a busy time of travel, service and loving on beloveds in all the ways we can.  

Our week of R&R in Hua Hin was way overdue and a blessing, then we walked 40km+ in Bangkok over 3 days as we checked out the concrete jungle for the first time in decades for us both. Foot massages were the imperative!

So, next up is a time of songwriting, recording and hospitality which will lead into the third Mercyland Songwriters Ireland week in April.  We love that we get to do this stuff. Here's to more.