Thank You

I apologize for the extended absence of posts. The last few weeks of my trip went great. I really miss everyone over there. They're all great people and I'm glad I was given the opportunity to work with them. This post is to let everyone know that the DVD I made for my trip is now ready to go. Once they are all packed together, they should be expected within the next week or two. Thank you all again for your sponsorship. I really appreciate all of the support and prayers as I traveled around Thailand. If you are interested in continuing your support for Destiny Rescue, there are still ways of giving through sponsorship or by one-time donating. Believe me, I know the money is going for a good cause.

As of now, I'm not sure wether I will be able to go back to Chiang Rai next year. Hopefully, I will be transferring to Main Campus Penn State next year to pursue my major. This involves moving upstate and looking into renting my own apartment. Cross your fingers! Thanks again!!

Cory

At last the curtain comes to a close..

So I now officially have 2 days of my trip left. It's both sad and exciting because of all the stories I now have to tell. Also because I can't wait to catch up with my loved ones. The past few days have been very laid-back. English lessons went on as normal but I am the only volunteer here at the moment so there isn't much for me to do (seeing as all of the work is first agenda for larger team members). I don't mind this at all.

I'm glad for the many opportunities that I've been able to experience. During this week I have also been able to hangout with the Kirwan family, which is always great! They've opened their arms and included me as part of the family (which gives the perfect opportunity to pick on my American accent). Don't worry it's all in good fun!! They're so much fun to be around. They are such a lively group of people and there are never any dull moments.


Today Jenni took me to see the White Temple in Chiang Rai. It is a beautiful structure. The building itself is made with what looks like white plaster. Inlaid are millions of tiny mirrors. Unfortunately it was raining today and it was overcast when we went. I can't imagine what it would look like when the sun is fully shining on it. Today was my last English lesson. Instead of having a normal class, the kids wanted to play with me. A lot of the students were missing anyway because many went home to their villages. They have a week off because the Swine Flu infected their school. The students, Jan and Inn (our translators) and myself played Simon Says, and the Thai version of Duck-Duck-Goose. The kids had fun and I got to take home a few class pictures. Life is good. I'm sad that I have to say goodbye to them tomorrow.



For dinner, the Kirwans, a few friends and myself went to an Italian restaurant then went to the Night Bazaar for fruit shakes. The girls decided it was the perfect time to play "Honey, if you love me won't you please smile?" For those unfamiliar with this game the object is to make someone else in the group smile so they become "it." In cases like this it's helpful to know any funny faces/voices to play the game. We were all enjoying it. Tonight was a lot of fun. My flight leaves at 10:20 am on August 1. I'll be home by noon on the 2nd. Please pray for the weather and whatever else comes to mind within the next few days. Thank you all for your support these past few weeks!!

God Bless,
Cory :)

Thailand Part 2

Sorry it took me so long to post the second video, but here it is. Enjoy!

Heres the link ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2vkh_eWIjY

Fish Ponds and Bamboo Huts

This has been a very busy week. Last Tuesday and Wednesday the DTS Team and the three of us girls, went to Huay Khom to work on fish ponds. I'll post pictures later of what real fish ponds look like. :) The past few days I have been home schooling the Kirwan girls while Tony and Jenni are in Bangkok. It's been a lot of fun. Yesterday Jessi and I made very, very blue pancakes. It turns out that when you use rice flour instead of the usual flour, the pancakes will indeed turn out thin. They will also vaguely taste like fortune cookies. Georgia came up with the brilliant name of "Paper Pancakes" for our concoction. They looked rather disgusting, but the girls had fun and so did I and that's all that matters!! My two Aussie friends Amelia and Hayley are leaving tomorrow (which is very sad because we've gotten very close). Thank goodness for the internet and for skype. This weekend I'm planning on going on another outreach to a different hilltribe. I'm so excited to meet new people and to see what God is doing in another region of Thailand. It's been great over here. I can't believe August is coming so quickly! Thanks for all of your prayers and support!!

Love,
Cory

Happy Indepence Day

Happy Holiday!!! As most of you read this it will probably already be the 5th, which is weird considering that I was just on the phone talking to people while it's still the 4th. Anyway, I hope you all had a lovely holiday. Right now I am reporting from Chiang Mai. Yes, Chiang Mai! I am finally here after 9 years. You can't see it right now but I'm jumping for joy. Yesterday Hayley, Amalia (the two Aussie girls) and I took a bus from Chiang Rai. It's only about a three hour ride. Our bus had leather seats, retractable leg rests and AIR CONDITIONING!! The third is the most important of all and it was even better because it actually worked. It's the little things in life that you take for granted that seem so much more valuable after you haven't had it for a while. Anyway, we are staying at the Galare Guest House which is conveniently just a block away from the night bazaar.

It was just as great as I remember it. The sights, the sounds.. everything. It's so good to be back here. I can't wait to see what's changed over the years and what hasn't changed at all. We walked through a flower market last night and it was just amazing to smell the scents of so many oriental flowers like lotuses and orcids. Thank you all for keeping me in your prayers! I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

Love,
Cory :)

Busy Little Bees

Sorry it took me so long to post. It has been very busy around the Kids Home. Hayley and I (she's one of the newest Australian volunteers) got to help paint the new building at the Home. Several nights ago we had dinner with a few of the other Australians living here. I'm happy to say that I got to have a pork steak for 39 baht. It was very yummy. Then from Wednesday to Friday about 10 members of the team went to build bamboo huts in the mountains. The view from there is gorgeous. There are rice patties everywhere. Around the grounds there is corn growing, which will be used to feed the pigs at the second Kids Home. This weekend my roomies and I as well as some of the other staff went to a La'Hu village for an outreach. We played games with the kids and even got some of the adults to participate. The kids had a blast hanging out with the Westerners. We spent the night in one of the church buildings, then got to help with the kids service on Sunday morning. Please keep the villagers in your prayers. God has only recently been spoken of there so please pray that their hearts will be opened and the Lords work will be done.

Love,
Cory

P.S. Here's a link to a video collage I created with pictures I've taken!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEIgs-2bCHI

Saturday

Yes today starts the first weekend of my stay in Chiang Rai. I am posting again from the orphanage. Last night there were a few problems concerning staying at the team house, but they all sorted out without any further issues. I ended up staying at the Kirwans last night. Tonight two more girls will be coming from Bangkok so I won't be there by myself. Last night I also got to go Youth Group with all of the children together. It was amazing see all of the kids and leaders praying together!! We sang songs that we normally sing at church like "Blessed Be Your Name" and were translated into Thai.

I also found out that I will be teaching English classes like the LCBC trip to the Czech Republic. Yeah!! Today was my first day with the kids. I arrived around 10:30. At first they were very shy. I was helping fold laundry and one of the smaller girls came right over and sat in my lap. After that several of the girls decided to braid my hair (I am quite beautiful if I do say so myself) and drew me pictures. It feels like they really just wanted to play with someone. One of the girls was fascinate by my skin. She would poke it and watch as a finger mark for linger for a few seconds. We had a lot of fun this afternoon. Tonight a few of us are going to night bazaar. I am very excited!!!

Talk to you soon,
Cory :)

Finally in Chiang Rai

Sawadee Kha everyone!
I am posting from the orphanage. It is currently 10:40 am here in Chiang Rai. Last night I stayed at one of the team houses right down the street from the Kirwans home. Tonight I am moving to another facility that houses more volunteers. This morning I got to help around doing laundry and cooking for lunch. The staff here are very friendly. As the children are in school, the staff does little things around the facility to help prepare for the children. I'm so excited to see palm trees and banana trees surrounding the property. Seeing the drivers on the opposite side of the road and the street side venders reminds me of all of the fun memories from when we lived here. Now that I'm getting all mushy. :)

There is a separate house for teenagers right down the street from the orphanage. I'm hoping that I get the chance to visit this location as well and hopefully be able to teach and learn from the girls who are jewelry making! The sun is nice and warm.. which I probably will not be saying in a few hours. Don't worry Mom I put on sunscreen! :)

Talk you you later!
Cory

Halfway through the Journey

Hello everyone!!

I am currently posting from the Singapore Airport, which is quite beautiful despite the fact it's an airport. Everything shows a chic style with gardens and a koi pond in the middle of my terminal. I'm definitely not "in Kansas anymore!" My first two flights went very well. Singapore Airways took a 2 hr. break in Frankfurt, Germany which gave all of us happy passangers the chance to stretch our weary legs. Total travel time is at 23 hrs. including layovers.Currently I am waiting for my flight to Bangkok and last but not least, finally reach Chiang Rai. My next flight leaves at 10:30, which gives me about 4 hrs. more of travel time until I reach my final destination. We hit a little turbulance on the way here but so far so good. Thank you all for your prayers and support!! I'll post again as soon as I can.

Cory
:)

The Final Countdown

Hiya everyone!!!

Happy June! With the start of this month begins the final processes of preparing for my adventure. 11 days and counting. As of now there isn't too much to update you on. My family is preparing for my sister's graduation on the 9th, so that is one of our main focuses. Congradulations Class of 2009!! I will post whenever I learn something new.

God Bless,
Cory :)

One month and counting!

Hello everyone!! I am less than one month away from my trip and I couldn't be more excited. Last week I started sending out the infamous sponsor letters. Hopefully more will be on the way. Spread the word! I am currently setting up an online donation option with PayPal for those who are interested in using a card rather than check or cash. I will post it on this site whenever it is finished. Please keep praying for DR and for the success of the missionaries overseas now. Thanks again for your help and support! Without you, none of this would be possible!! 

Cory 

:) 

Easter

Happy Easter everyone!! This is such a special day I thought I should make a special post to go with it. This is a great time to thank God for everything he has done- to give his son for us and to thank him for life's everyday gifts. 

The ticket has been purchased!!

Yes, today is the day that I bought my ticket!! So officially the dates of my trip are June 16th to August 1st. I'll be in Thailand for about a month. I'm super excited. Two months to go and counting!! I will be sending sponsor letters after April 15th so as to avoid tax season. Will keep you posted. 

Cory 

March Madness

Hello Everyone!!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. This is what happens when you're a good college kid like me.. You try with every fiber of your being to keep up with the increasing mounds of homework given before finals. :) I really can't complain.. Spring has finally begun!! I emphasis this with much enthusiasm because it means that summer is coming closer and closer. Yeah!

I will be sending out the infamous "Sponsor Letters" to as many of you as possible. It is likely that many of you have probably received them in the past from the Czech trip my sister and I went on the past three years. This year will be very similar except:

1. I'm traveling myself and not with my church

2. I'm also trying to raise donation money for Destiny Rescue as an alternate option to sponsoring my trip. 

***All proceeds given specifically for Destiny Rescue will go directly to them!!!*** I say with all sincerity that I will not rip anyone off if that is where you wish your donations to go to. So please do not worry that it will be used for a new handbag for myself or several new toys for my pets. If there is any case for concern please contact me at: 

celticredheadcopy@hotmail.com  <--- This is my personal email account. Please let me know of any questions, comments, concerns you may have about donations, sponsorships or what ever is on your mind. 

TRIP SUMMARY:

I have been contacting the president of D.R., Tony Kirwan, about my stay overseas. Here's all of the information I know as to what I am going to do and how I'm going to do it. Let's just call it the "nitty-gritty's." 

- I will be staying at a Destiny Rescue facility with other volunteers about 5 minutes from the DR site. I'm very excited meeting all of the people I will be working with over the summer. 

- A lot of the things I will be doing are in my first entry..

I will post later with more details as soon as I learn anything new. If you can, please pray for the teams overseas now. It takes a lot of hard work and stamina to run orphanages. Pray that the kids now that they are loved by someone and that everything will work out and please keep the Kirwan family in your thoughts, because without them, none of this would be possible!!! 

God Bless!! 

Cory :)

A Fabulous Introduction

March 4, 2009

The link to the Destiny Rescue site is here: 

http://www.destinyrescue.org/makeastand/abouttheprojects.php

For those who would like to learn a little more about who/what I'm working with. 

Welcome to my blog!!

If you're reading this, that means you have an interest in supporting my journey to Thailand this year or just in hearing my story. I really appreciate everyone's support the past three years. Without you all, my sister and I would not have been able to go to the Czech Republic. 

This year I am on my own, with my mission faced in a completely different part of the world. I am joining Destiny Rescue with their efforts in the city of Chaing Rai. 

My job while there is to work with kids at Destiny Rescue's orphanage. I will also have the ability to help organize a newer campus for Destiny Rescue's work. The link for Destiny Rescue is here:  www.destinyrescue.org/makeastand/index.php (for more info. on the organization). 

The entire purpose of this blog is so you, the sponsors, can keep watch before, during and after my trip. I'll try to keep it updated regularly on my progress. Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers. You're not only touching my life from your support, you're giving me the opportunity to help serve children as Christ would want me to serve. 

With fond wishes, 

Cory