Coup d'Etat

I wanted to post an update first to thank you for your prayers. Things are quiet around here today and I'm so thankful. It's been quite an eventful day!!

Matthew and I were awake still last night when news of the coup began filtering through town. Matthew stumbled on it on the internet about 12:30am and we were just shocked. No more than an hour later, we were under martial law! So far, the coup has been entirely peaceful, praise the Lord.

As a veteran missionary has reminded us, a coup in Thailand is not an altogether bad thing. This government was very corrupt and in Thailand, apparently this is just the way they take care of things. It's the 18th coup since the Thai constitution was put in place after WWII. So, to the Thai around here it's old hat - they actually find us foreigners a little funny as we get so nervous and some people are acting more like it's a hurricane than a government thing (stockpiling groceries and whatnot).

Some kids from the US are calling it a "coup day" instead of a "snow day" as all schools are closed. Some international schools are closed until Monday.

I'm told life will return to normal pretty quick. But the coup could last for quite awhile. We'll see what happens. Those words "martial law" - wow, talk about sending chills down your spine. It's something as an American I was never prepared to hear or live through. I can't say I recommend the experience but it's oddly interesting to be living through this part of history.

All that said, it still makes me so nervous not having a real government in place. Please stay in prayer for a peaceful resolution (the last coup did have bloodshed) and for everything to go forward OK with our adoption.

They had threatened to cut off telecommunications this morning, but so far nothing. One of the freakiest things last night was Thai TV and all of the foreign news channels were cut off about 12:30am. Thai TV was running images of the King, which really isn't entirely unusual. Thai TV came back this morning with some news, and CNN, BBC, etc. came back about 3pm, thank goodness. It really restores some feeling of normalcy.

So, on we go with life - it's all we can do, really. Keep pressing forward with our daily routine and watch what happens!