Hey everyone,

Thank you all for your sms's and letters, you guys wouldnt know how encouraging it was for me to hear from you. Its been a really bleak 6 months here in bangkok and with the accident....sigh..... more is to come......But yes your letters have been very encouraging and every word was like a pat on my head telling me that i was going to be alright and a pat on my shoulder encouraging me to go on. Khop Khun Maa Krup, Xin Cam On, Terima Kasih, Naandiri, Gam Siah, Dor Zheah, Xie Xie, and thank you all so much... I miss you all greatly and i hope to meet up with all of you soon...

What did you say?
Its been a month since my accident and i thank you for your prayers. Everything is fine except that the inner ear on the left received a direct blow when i fell and the doctor said that it would take perhaps another 3 months before it is fully healed. My hearing is slightly muffled and pressure always builds up... my balance is good if i keep upright but if i were to tilt my head in any downward direction, i ll start to get dizzy but ive learnt to balance myself pretty well when this happens.

Life for now will be interesting... I was teaching part time at the school and was also writing for the magazine. I quit my job at the school a week ago as I couldnt handle the stress from dealing with the children, previously when i was healthy it wasnt a problem however after the accident I would get really bad headaches if im stressed and the headaches were constantly crippling me. I miss teaching the kids but I just wasnt in any state to carry on.

As for the magazine, it was enjoyable and i was getting along pretty well with my collegues and i liked the work. But on tuesday i was sent home because there was no work, the boss had also told me to no follow the set schedule and that he would call me if there was work. The magazine apparently is in a pretty bad shape as 3 staff have either left or quit and other staff are awaiting their pay check before they go...Everyone was disgruntled but it doesnt really affect me as im only the part timer.....but ive not been paid yet...so that does call for some concern.

Strangely Im not really concerned about the financial situation im in right now... Im not anxious neither am i afraid... its rather liberating actually...


The Investigator, the Insurance Agent and the Student
I do need prayer in a particular area though... on monday the 8th, at 3pm, i will be meeting the police investigator and insurance company which represents the bus company which was involved in my accident... I would like to ask for prayer that there be no corruption or under table money which will be exchanged as the bus company may pay the investigator to have the case put in their favor. its very difficult in a country like this when corruption of the law is a norm.


Do fishes drink?
My dad came to bangkok this week and spent 3 days indulging in life with his friends, I spent 2 evenings with them and it was nice to know that my father was worried when i had drinks through the dinner. He didnt know that i could hold my liquor well...extrememly well...not that i drink all the time though... but it was nice to be able to drink with him and his friends, and it was on the first evening that on our way home, i told him that i was sorry for leaving the restaurant and that it was a misunderstanding as i thought he had fired me... He didnt want to talk about it but i told him that if i didnt do so, who knows if i ll be able to tell him in the future in light of this accident. and so he listened

the following night....(drinks and all....they keep making me drink and it was good to not let my father lose face...hahahahaha....i was really sober dispite the amount i consumed) my dad made me send him back to the hotel and on the cab ride back he kept talking about gangs and stuff... but what really shocked me was that as he left the cab, he gave me a pat on my shoulder and said ' take care my son'......He's always introduced me as his son to his friends...but he has never acknowledged me as his son. This was the first time... I am crying thinking about this but i can only give the honour and glory of this to God... He has made the impossible possible. Amen.


Chainging the climate
Im going to Chaing Mai on the 19th till the 28th of this month... perhaps not the wisest move as i have little finances but guess what.... I bought a free ticket this afternoon...the ticket was free but the taxes and all cost 600bht about S$25.... I might have to buy a train ticket as well which would cost about the same price as the plane ticket... Im going up to minister to an old friend who's really down right now...and yes...God has provided me with the means to get there Amen! Woo Hoo!

Hello all,

Thank you for your prayers and sms's. I'm fine now and Im back at the university and class will start in 1/2 hour.

Being Bashed By Buses
I was on my way to uni as usual and i got onto a rickety green thai bus. The thing is, here in thailand...and in vietnam....the buses dont actually stop, they slow down and a swarm of people have to get off and on at the same time.

So I got on the bus....as i have been doing for the past 4 months and the thing was, my laptop bag was caught at the door (which didnt close for some strange reason) and as i took a step up onto the standing platform, I was yanked back by my laptop bag and was sent tumbling out of the bus... I blacked out....

KluayNamThai (banana water thai) Hospital
The name of the hospital isnt translated very well, but its the best i can do with my limited thai... I awoke with the nurses and doctors inserting a urine bag into my body... I was surprised as i had no idea how this procedure was conducted....it was better that I had not known....a tube was inserted into the erm... the erm...organic tube where urine's suppose to come out from....it was this pain which woke me up.....

I was then sent for a CAT scan and a couple of x-rays, then I was observed in the ICU for a day. I sustained a concusion to the back of my skull and i was bleeding from my left ear. The doctors suspected that i had fractured the base of my skull and would be the reason to the bleeding form the ear. But after all the tests, it was shown the the bleeding was caused by an injury sustained by my left jaw (which is now slightly misaligned, and i cant really close my mouth or chew very well). I have a really large bumb on the back of my head and my balance is really wonky, but things are getting better.

Miracles
During the 'black out', i was told by my boss that i continually called her telling her that i was bleeding from my ear and that i was really tired....

This was extremly surprising as my phone was smashed and half of the screen could not be read...I thank God for allowing me to contact someone during this dire situation dispite not having any recollection of this or the consiciousness to make these decisions.

The doctors and nurses were extremely surprised at the minor injuries i had sustained...i suppose they expected more serious injuries from situations as this.... God really protected me... as no other buses, car or motorbikes hit me after i fell...it was rush hour...

My laptop, phone and MP3 player is totally smushed....everything is gone, but i thank God for allowing me to save all my photos a week prior to the accident.

I was robbed while i was unconcious, i had 9000bhat in my bag and i pray that the person who took the money would use it as God had intended...

A police officer was there at the scene of the accident and the bus company was held responsible for the entire situation...my hospital bills were fully covered by them.

My father and brother came to visit me

well lecture is starting... i ll send photos soon

Agape
Toby

PS
I miss all of you