what $1.32 can buy...

[10th of February, 2012 - Bangkok Airport, Bangkok, Thailand]

As I looked into my wallet, I drew out only 110 Thai Baht ( ฿), the equivalent of only about three and a half dollars. Naturally, at airports, food tends to be a bit expensive. After looking at two or three menus, I knew I wasn't going to be eating much for lunch and went in search of more affordable food, far from the "Starbucks" and "Chinatown" restaurant. A little ways down at the food court I found a small place. Their chicken hot dog was only 80 ฿. I had found a winner! Truthfully, I had 119.75 ฿ (one fifty, three twenties, a five Baht coin, four one Baht coins and three 1/4 (.25) Baht coins). With a my fifty, one twenty, and ten more Baht, I could pay for my chicken hot dog and hold onto my extra two twenties in case of an emergency (50+20+10=80 ฿ , the exact cost of the chicken hot dog). However, I only had 9.75 ฿ of the 10 ฿ I needed! So, in the spirit of stepping out to conquer my fear of Talking to strangers...I got up the nerve to ask the foreigner next to me: "Would you happen to have an extra Baht coin?" (I figured she could probably spare the equivalent of a little more than three US pennies) She obliged and gave me one and I was able to keep my three 1/4 Baht coins (.75 ฿) and the two twenties for later. I paid the 80 ฿ as the lady brought me the chicken hot dog.

The "hole in the wall" I found. Chicken hot dog is 4th from the left :-)

Having had only a guava smoothie outside the hostel and a small bag of peanuts on the plane that day, I was extremely Grateful and made sure to express my Thanks to Father. Around this time, it was revealed to me that this was only a small taste of the hunger that some people feel on a daily basis. With only my leftover 40.75 ฿ (~$1.32), I was fairing much better than many surrounding me around Bangkok, not to mention the world.

What 40.75฿ looks like (my money after eating)

In China, consumerism has become a major factor in society (not unlike ours) and along with it has come materialism. Many of the students at our college have iPhone4's, MP3 players, nice clothes, and many other consumerist goods and most of them are sons & daughters of farmers or other laborers. They seem to strive to obtain more and more. In the school system, knowledge is power, power means money, and money means "stuff", and with "stuff" comes happiness and satisfaction, doesn't it? May this hunger create many opportunities to share about the Living Bread from above, free of charge; where we can keep our dollar and thirty-two cents for another occasion and obtain a treasure that does not perish or fade, reserved in the heavens for us.

"You who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let Your soul delight itself in abundance."