“There’s no way she is going to ride away like that!” I sat on the curb in front of a convenience store and watched a Thai woman climb onto her tiny Honda scooter holding a bag of groceries, a cell phone, an umbrella, her purse with a small dog peeking out of the top, and an infant child. Perched precariously on the old, cracked vinyl seat, the woman started the motorcycle, gingerly pulled out of the parking lot, and drove off down the highway.
“Did we really just see that?” I exclaimed, looking at my brother sitting next to me. His look of disbelief and amazement mirrored my own.
In America, you might see a woman driving an enormous SUV with her baby strapped safely into a child seat, bags of groceries neatly tucked into the rear cargo area, and her cell phone with Bluetooth connected to the stereo so she can keep both hands on the wheel. Though many people in Thailand can afford to own cars or trucks, most rely on motorcycles made for one or two riders to transport their entire family. It’s definitely not the safest way to get around, but people make do with what they have.
We will be returning to Thailand soon to begin the ministry to which God has called our family. With the recent birth of our baby boy, we will need something bigger and safer than a scooter for transportation. We invite you to consider making a donation to help us purchase a vehicle that will help us get around Thailand safely.
