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The location may be immaterial, but……that is where it happened

I was in Big C Extra this afternoon, pushing my cart down the isle.  People were in the way so I said excuse me in Thai.  They moved. Now this may not have a bearing on my story because I did not really pay attention to faces.  But….

Walked down sto end and walked back on the next isle over.  A woman came up to me there and asked, “Do you speak Thai?”

I replied, “Yes” thinking ‘OK, she heard me on the next isle over.  But….why accost a stranger?

She asked, “Are you a missionary?

I replied, “No, I am not.”

She paused.... and then asked, “Are you a Christian?

I responded after the nano-second thought that this was a question no one has ever asked me before, “No, I am not.”

She paused again and I could see she was completely disconcerted, but made a fast recovery but still had to ask again, “You are not a Christian?”

I replied again, “No.”

She, “Why not?”

I responded, “Just not”, thinking ‘whoa, boy, I am in for it now, she must be a home grown missionary who wanted to covert me from one Christian sect to another.  Now she will think she really found someone who needs to be saved, I am doomed! ’’

OK, that did not happen, but a  little dialog later, she said she was 39 and had been a Christian for 11 some years but she he had trouble understanding it all.

I agreed, it was hard for a convert to understand all the intricacies of the different Christianity sects.

She then asked if I could help her.

I envisioned a long, complicated, and unproductive philosophical theological discussion  (that I gave up having some umpty ump years ago in college).  So I relied, “Probably not.”

She then said, “I am desperate.  Could you help me out with some money?”

I had not expected that but said her best bet would be to go to a Christian church.

She repeated her plea for help and money.

Being already primed to say no to whatever she asked I answered, “No, I can not help you.”

A couple of more sentences along the same lines, trying to elicit some Christian charity from the farang who is not a Christian, couldn’t I help, etc., and then, “Not even 500 baht?”

I, once again, replied, “No, I can not help you.”

She tried one more time, “If I just get one pair of pants and a blouse, would you buy them for me?”

And I tried one more time, “No, I will not.”  

This conversation ended in the juice aisle.  I continued shopping on thru the dairy, vegetables, meat, and then the bakery goods.  I kept seeing her walking around and noticed that she was keeping track of me keeping track of her.  OK,  she was looking for another, no, amend that, she was looking for A Christian but didn't want me to see her do so.

ASIDE:  I could have written a short, concise 3—5 sentence description of this encounter simply saying some one asked for money and maybe a real Christian should go see if she really needs help?  But that would not have conveyed the subtleness or the complexity of her approach.

One can draw conclusions, can’t one?  I concluded I would give her an “A” for originality and maybe a "C" for effort.

aliens and expats, same thing.

Reliable, hardworking, full-time, live-in (northern Mae Jo area) Mae Baan (single male or female) as head housekeeper (have other live-in staff) for cooking, cleaning, laundry, and marketing. Must speak English and be a licensed driver using one of our motorcycles or cars. Single retired man with university attending son and 3 larger Boxer dogs. Private entry to own room with heated bath. Above average salary and full benefits.

Classified are probably not going to be read by such a staff person, so posting here.  

Please send PM's

Pat Webb is in ICU and needs B-Neg blood immediately.  If anyone is willing to donate, please go to Chiangmai Ram and tell them the blood is for PAT WEBB.

I have a 7,000 liter plus tiled fish pond that badly needs regrouting;  leaks 15-25% of the water each week.  I need a knowledgeable pro with the right equipment to rent to me to help me remove some 20 koi and a whole pot load of other fish and give them a new home for probably 3 weeks. Then I can get a pool tile company to come and re-grout.  

I am assuming the temporary tank would be at my house and I would be responsible for taking care of them.  I just need the tank set up.  

Fish markets in Kum Tiang say they know of no one.  Does anyone have any suggestions that would be helpful?