Small Town, Big Service

Phon Phisai is not a big town, but we have an amazing office supply store. Aksawn Sueksa is not much to look at from the outside, but once you step inside the store you realize that the modest storefront is just the gateway to a shoppers paradise. Office supplies of all manner flow from overcrowded shelves and display cases. The aisles are a bit cramped from the sheer volume merchandise packed in such a small space. There are not just office supplies to be had, but also craft supplies, some gift items and a toy section. If you want to get some good quality wooden toys at a good price, this is the place.

Granted, Aksawn Sueksa can be a bit intimidating, which is why there are staff there to help. If perchance you can't find what you're looking for, just ask. The retail space is not the larger part of this store. Walk through a narrow passageway and you will enter their cavernous warehouse.

Aksawn Sueksa Stationery Store
Both the part behind the van and the tin-fronted
building to the left are part of the store.

Last spring, we visited Bethany Church in Fresno. After the service, Pastor Brian gave us a gift mug filled with goodies. The thing that Ingrid appreciated the most was the pen. She liked the rubber tip to use for scrolling her iPad. However, the writing quality was not awesome and after we got to Thailand, the pen would not write anymore, even though the ink tube appeared to be almost full. I told Ingrid, "I'll go to Aksawn Sueksa, if anyone has those pen refills, they will."

So one morning I took a walk downtown to visit Aksawn Sueksa. When I got there, I immediately went the service desk, which is conveniently located right at the entrance. I showed the ink tube to the woman at the desk. She said right away, "We don't have those." I was a bit taken aback by her response. But then she immediately added, "But we do have pens for 5 baht (about 15 cents) and you can use the ink tubes from those." Now I was really impressed. The 5-baht pens are disposable click pens. How would you even know what's inside? They're not something you take apart, you use them and throw them away. But she had an employee grab a pen off the shelf and press the clicker button down far enough so that you could pull the top off and remove the ink tube. Not only is the diversity of goods in this store almost beyond comprehension, the service really is hard to beat.

Pens and Refills

I purchased my disposable pen and left the store, but I was a bit sad as I walked away. We're planning on moving to another province soon, and I'm not sure I'll find another place like Aksawn Sueksa.

The town where we're planning to move to is about half the size of Phon Phisai. But it is not the main town of the district as Phon Phisai is, so it may not have as much variety in the way of shopping places. We've been spoiled by the convenience of where we live now: we're about 1/3 mile (1/2 km) from the biggest grocery store and no more than 1-1/2 miles (2 km) from any place in town. Sometimes we don't realize how good we have things until we lose them or they are taken away.

We're grateful for the opportunity we've had to live in Phon Phisai for the past few years. But we're also excited about what God might have in store for us where we're going. Ajan Nat has been talking with her relatives in the area and they are awaiting our arrival. Then there will be the new places to explore—already this morning, as I was bicycling in the countryside around Phon Phisai, I was wondering about what new places we will discover in Kalasin. Then there is the fact that the place we are moving to is half the distance to TWO provincial capitals as where we are now is to the city of Nong Khai.

And the good thing is that wherever we go, we won't be any further away from God.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
  Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
  If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
  and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
  and your right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV)