You know when you're on a missions trip that God is going to stretch you and that sometimes you do things that you wouldn't normally do, nor want to do. On my trip home from Cambodia God decided to stretch me in a way I was really hoping he wouldn't!
The Saturday before my run for the border the whole team had gone out to celebrate a great CNY. While we sat around the table this picture began to circulate around the table. One of our LTV's had gone to Buddha mountain and there found that the only facilities were a squaty potty. As this was his first time out of the country, I'm sure this was his first encounter with this delightful instrument of comic relief. A picture of him standing on it shortly followed. We passed the picture around and all had a good laugh and shared stories of experiences with them.
I sat quietly laughing as I, too, had never used a squaty! And at that point never thought I would. God must have been sitting there laughing at me knowing that in just a few days I would encounter my first squaty.
On our way home from Cambodia we stopped at a gas station for snacks and bathroom break. I quickly walked to the bathroom and was stopped dead in my tracks. It was a squaty potty! Had I really just been laughing about not having to ever use one?!? It was tile all around, and me in my Old Navy flip flops that slide at the first touch of water. And yep there was water all right...with squaty pottys you don't use toilet paper and they don't have a nice little handle to flush...no there is a tub of water you use for all of the above!
Well, lucky for me I always carry an emergency stash of toilet paper and figured out a way to use it without falling and breaking my neck. I laughed and laughed. Upon returning home I shared my story with some of the other missionaries. They thought it was great, and I found out that outside of the city, or any tourist town that is all you will find in Thailand. In fact on our way to retreat I was told it would probably be my only choice til we got onto the Island! Way to stretch.
2 comments:
Haha! Almost made me laugh as much as the OTHER story. Haha!
But seriously, I've used one of these only it wasn't even up on a little step, just totally flush (no pun itended) with the ground. So gross! Thank God for western toilets!
I agree - thank God for sending us to Holland. Then again - at least you don't have to carry around 50 cents all the time in case you have to go - but well - I guess I still rather always have spare change!
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