Mindanao, Philippines

My first week has flown by in the Philippines. It all seems a blur as I think back to when I first arrived in Thailand till now. God has just opened my eyes to so much of what He intended for us. My life will never be the same and my view of God and what He says in His word will forever be changed. The Philippines has been surreal. Each day I wake up at 5am and get ready for my day. I have a breakfast of eggs and toast and a mango drink, and head out in a Jeepney with our Filipino Pastors. We go to at least 10 schools a day, some are in the mountains and remote places, and at each school we gather the children and teachers together and tell them about the good news of God's love, Jesus' death and resurrection and the free gift He offers us of eternal life with Him! It is amazing to see the responses of these children and they are wrapped in each word I say. At the end of my speech I give an invitation and tell the children that if they believe Jesus died for their sins and they want to invite Him into their hearts that they can do that today!! They stand up and pray a prayer of repentance and salvation and I get to see the children of God adopted into His family! It never ceases to amaze me as I sit there in awe of how God used my uncoordinated, simple, and human words to do a supernatural miracle in these kids lives. Each day I see 100's of kids come to know the Lord as their Savior. If I am really lucky these kids share their life with me and tell me their hopes and dreams and I can know them on a deeper level! God is so incredible! There was one school way up in the mountains where we were the first white people they had ever seen, how awesome is that!! This passion for missions is like a volcano that is erupting and has not stopped and I hope will never stop! I pray each night that God continues to use me for His glory to reach His people for His sake! I want to thank everyone who has been a support to me these past 6 months and have blessed me financially, spiritually and physically! Thank you for your commitment to seeing the works of God done in this world. I want to encourage everyone to be missionaries and spread the Word of God to all they meet, to live their life a living sacrifice for the Lord! Thank you Lord for your many blessings in my life, thank you for using me till I am dried up and filling me back up with your strength!

Last Week in Thailand

This is what my weekend in Pattaya consisted of, praise and worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!! This is my last week here in Thailand and I honestly don't know what to think. I am going to miss being here so much, God has grown a huge love for Thailand in my heart! I know God has great plans for me and my mantra for this trip has been Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you to give you a hope and a future."

This past weekend my friend Oh invited me and some friends to her house in Pattaya. When we arrived it was like a whole new world. The streets were lined with prostitutes and bright lights and bars. Men and women jaded by shiny objects that seem great from afar but empty and lackluster in the end. Inside Oh's tiny one-bedroom home we all sang and worshiped our magnificent God. Two different worlds one gives death the other gives life. I was asked to do Sunday morning Bible Study for us and as I prayed asking God what I should talk about He led me to Jeremiah 29:11. I thought this verse is used so many times how am I going to talk about this to a group of Thais, then He said read the whole chapter and I will show you what I mean. As I read the chapter I discovered a new meaning for this verse I thought I knew so much about, this verse that was my theme. Jeremiah was speaking to a group of exiled priests and prophets, he told them that God had a declaration for them. This was the declaration; to keep on living their lives, to plant gardens and marry their children and seek welfare in the city where they were sent. He told them not to listen to the false prophets and their dreams because He did not know them and after seventy years of this God said he would come back to the place where they were and bring them back home. And this is where the infamous verse comes into play, For He knows the plans he has for us!! Sometimes I wonder what's going to happen in my life, where is God taking me, what am I supposed to do with my life? I found my answer, LIVE! Live life glorifying God, prosper wherever He takes me and continue living my life because God has brought me here and He has a plan! If you continue reading God continues by saying that if we seek Him with all our heart we will find Him and He will restore our fortunes and bring us back from the places He has sent us. I get so caught up in the what, when, and where and always forget the WHO! We are to prosper wherever God takes us in life because He has a plan!

This is not an end but a continuation of a plan that God has already begun in my life and I am choosing to live it to the fullest, glorifying Him every step I take!! Next stop the Philippines!

Blessings and Miracles

I would like to share with you just a few of the many miracles that Jesus has done in my life since being in Thailand. When I first arrived in Thailand I had no idea what God had in store for me and He wasted no time in showing me what He is all about. He blesses those who love Him and I know that first hand. My first week of teaching there was a student named Pui who joined my class that has now become one of my really good friends. The story of how she came to join my class is the miracle. She was not enrolled in the beginning but had two open spots for classes. Her level of speaking was above the level that I taught but that never occurred to me until later. We began our friendship when she joined me on Wednesdays to go to the Immigration Detention Center. From there we began talking and over time our friendship developed. She started bringing me "strange" foods to try like heart, liver, blood and air sacs; needless to say they are not my favorite! We started hanging out outside of class and she would teach me about Thai culture and show me around Thailand. I have seen a side of her that not many people get to see and she is so caring and thoughtful, she has made me feel so special and at home. About two months ago she shared with me why she joined my class and I knew after hearing what she said that God placed her in my life for a reason. It is truly a blessing and a miracle to have her as a friend.

On April 26, 2010 I went to a U.S. Embassy meeting to discuss the political situation in Thailand regarding the red shirts. One of the last people to ask a question was this man who had an orange shirt on and a blue baseball cap. Monti and I decided to go to the Villa to buy some sweet chili sauce and saw one of our favorite places to eat, a Lebanese restaurant called Beirut. We sat down and started talking and in walks Greg Nicholson and a friend of his named Djuan. We talked for a bit and they left and then we noticed that to our right there was the guy from the meeting who had asked a question. I thought he had an AU hat on and so Monti got his attention and asked him but it was a Syracuse hat. We invited him to sit with us because he was alone. We began talking and turns out he has lived in Thailand for 10 years and he is working on his masters. Somehow we got on the subject of Christians and Jews and this “certain family” he couldn’t say the name of. He was saying how the world is being taken over by Jews and how everyone in high power is either Jewish or affiliated with Jews. The Bible is a war book that maps out how the Jews will take over the world. He is “dating” this chinese girl whose family is part of the Huns and so now he knows all this stuff about that group. It was so crazy he was so pessimistic and everyone one was out to get us! We spoke about the Bible and God and Jesus and he asked me questions that I could only have answered with God’s help. He doesn’t like “christianity” because of the fact that if you don’t believe in Jesus then you go to Hell. He believes in God but not Jesus as the Son of God. He is all about facts and conspiracies. I got his email address and emailed him a few days after our meeting and gave him some verses that spoke of how God says that all who call on His name will be saved, there is no prejudice. I told him that believing in one and not the other does no good because one is from the other. I said that Christ wants to be the way and so He told us that when we ask which way to go He tells us. He emailed me back and was appreciative of my email and writing style! He said that he would love to continue talking and that he had questions as well as things that he would like to talk about with me. We now have each others email addresses and phone numbers. Joe called me and wanted to get together and talk so I told him he could come to Friday Night Live at the BSC and he agreed. He was late and didn’t come until it was over. We invited him to come to dinner with us and we talked some more about business and the red shirts and conspiracies. I brought up the verses I had sent him and he brushed it off.  On our way to the dinner however I had prayed that God would use this opportunity to be able to share more about Him and that Joe would be open to God. After the dinner I had felt like my time with him was unsuccessful BUT as we were walking out he asked me if he could come to church with me!!!!! O my goodness I wanted to scream! I said of course and contained my excitement for later! How amazing is God?!?! I did nothing and yet God did it! Sunday we went to the 11:00 service and I worshiped God in full thankfulness and joy that He truly provides! Joe was asking questions about Revelations and then O man he was stuck in Colossians where is says “slaves submit to you masters” and he is convinced that the Bible is endorsing slavery! UGH! I told him that in those times there were slaves that was the culture and that God was telling slaves and masters how to treat each other in a Godly way. It was no use, he just wanted to argue for arguments sake. After church he was amazed about how church was led, like a classroom with teaching. He wanted to meet the pastor and so he did! Yahooo!! He got his number I think and he is going to call him and ask more questions which is amazing! God is sooo good! Then Joe is asking me if we have anything like church during the week, like a Bible study and I said YES! And he wanted to know if the church did anything and I said of course, ALPHA course!!! I met with him a week or so later and had dinner and we talked more about the Bible and sin. Monti and I gave him a Study Bible in King James Version. I am meeting with him again before I leave Thailand.

In the month of May my friend Sarah came here with her team from the World Race. We planned to spend the day together and she got in a taxi and headed to the city, there was only one problem she didn't have a cell phone. Two hours later she was nowhere to be found and I was getting worried because we had no way of getting in touch with each other, I prayed and asked God to bring her here and gave the situation to Him. I had a feeling that I should go walk down our soi and see if I could find her. I started walking and got about half way down and saw a taxi pull over on the side of the road, for some reason I thought "o maybe that's Sarah" but the taxi driver got out and started to walk across the street and so I lost hope, until out pops Sarah from the back seat! Praise God! The same thing happened the next day except this time she was with some of her teammates and they were lost on my soi walking around. She had an I touch and by the grace of God found wifi outside of a hotel building, she skyped me and I went to find her!

A few days ago my friend Pui(mentioned above) and I went to a museum. We walked around and got to a place where the guard had to check my ticket. I heard the guard saying "Hallelujah Hallelujah" and I said it back to him. He got excited and said "Amen!" he began quoting John 3:16 and I finished the verse and he looked at me with surprised eyes and said "are you a christian?!" I said "YES!!" he was elated! He began telling me his story and that it was his birthday and he had prayed earlier that day thanking God for giving him 57 years of life. We continued to talk and he began reciting more Bible verses. He went to Bible school in Chicago and was so happy and filled with God! I asked him if I could pray for him and he said yes, so I prayed thanking God for John and the encouragement he is to all who meet him. Turns out that he goes to Calvary Baptist Church on Soi 2 and my church ECB on Soi 10, God is amazing!

I know that God answers prayer, He also does things that remind us that He is still with us sharing in our day and blessing us. He has done so much more then what I have shared but these are just a glimpse into the blessings and miracles that He has shown me. I am so in love with Christ and wake up filled with the joy of the Lord! I read His words of blessings and am encouraged to bring others to Him so that they too can share in the blessings He has for them. To God be the glory forever and ever AMEN!

Helping Hands and Feet

On Friday I walked down to Central World at Chidlom. This is where the concentration of red shirts were protesting, it is also where they set fire to Bangkok's largest mall. As I walked down the streets I could smell the burnt residue of the burning tires and buildings. The ash was kicked up as I scanned the streets, creating a layer of black on my shoes and legs. There were points were I had to hold my breath because the smell was to much to take in. Everywhere there were peoples clothes, shoes, trash, and debris that was left behind. Guards and military wearily moved through the piles trying to find left over weapons. I began praying, interceding, pleading with God to heal this land! Bring this nation to His feet! Wrap them in His everlasting embrace! I arrived at the mall that was set on fire. Media was everywhere and the structure was still smoldering, firetrucks were spraying gallons of water to subdue the smoke. I looked around and was speechless, bullet holes in the windows, graffiti on the walls and memorial sites lined the perimeter. How did this happen? How did we get here? When will it be back to normal?

Sunday was a complete 180 from Friday, instead of sorrow and hopelessness lining the streets there were brooms and trash bags, held by people who want to see their country back to smiling. No longer was there a stench of rotting food and soiled clothing but of clean air and streets. I loved working alongside the people of Bangkok, helping to clean a place that I have called home for the past 5 months. Language was not a barrier when your common goal is to bring back to life a place that has been dead for too long.

I came to Thailand to minister to the Thais, to show them Christ, to be His hands and feet. I put those hands and feet to use the other day and showed Christ in the simplest form, helping.

If we love our King...

Where do I start? Thailand is called the land of smiles but these past few months have been nothing but smiles. People have turned against each other; Province against province, friend against friend, family against family. A group has risen to the front lines called the red shirts officially named UDD (United front for Democracy against Dictatorship), these are the main protesters in this battle of politics. These protests are nothing like what we experience in America, these people have taken over the streets of Bangkok shut down malls, transportation services and local businesses. They are camping out in the streets; living, bathing, eating, sleeping on the streets for over a month now. Tires and bamboo spears have been placed at each end of their protesting sites to deter people from entering, later razor wire was added. They are chanting and protesting all day everyday from 6am-3am making it impossible for residents of that area to receive any type of peace and quiet. They have stormed Parliament, thrown blood on the Prime Ministers house, stormed a hospital searching for military, demanded that Parliament dissolve so that they can chose who is in office, bombed a BTS station and more. They are led by several leaders who all get their orders from a chain of text messages sent by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatrawho was exiled form Thailand around 2008. There has been attempts made to reconcile but so far the attempts have been denied. 

A few weeks ago I was in a taxi and my driver spoke English! He wanted to practice so we spoke my whole trip. Something he said stuck with me and really made me think. We all know that the two main topics to avoid in general conversation are politics and religion, I broke those rules! We began talking about the political situation and how it is affecting everyone around it. He said that every person had one thing in common, they love their King. He continued on by saying that if all of these people claim to love their King then why are they giving him such a headache? It is causing him pain to watch this violence progress. If they truly love their King they wouldn't want to do things that hurt him. I smiled to myself and said to him, that's exactly how God feels about his people. We as Christians claim to love our God but yet we continue to lash out at each other and cause dissension among our fellows believers and non believers. Christ has called us to love our brothers and sisters as Christ has loved us, even to love our enemies. In 1 John 4:20 He says, "If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."
If we love our King, why are we giving Him a headache?

Whirlwind Love Affair

My time in Thailand has thrown me into a whirlwind love affair. I have never felt so in love with anyone before now. I can't stop smiling, laughing, praising, and talking about Him! He surprises me everyday with something new and wonderful. He's promised to love me and be with me even to the end of the age. He fills my heart with joy. He provides for my every need. He listens to me and hears me when I call. I can't stop thinking about Him, every second of the day. I want to tell everyone I know about Him and how much I love Him. He comforts me when I'm hurting and rejoices when I am happy. He teaches me how to love others even my enemies. He is my strength in my weakness. He saved my life even though I didn't deserve it. I am in LOVE <3
Who is he? He is Alpha, Omega, Savior, Redeemer, Provider, Lamb, Son, Protector, Lover, Immanuel, Creator, Author, Perfecter, Yahweh, Elohim, Yeshua, Messiah, Friend........GOD

GET TO KNOW HIM!

My Proclamation

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:17-23

This verse is a glimpse into the life that we are called to and the proclamation to which we should be clinging to. Christ spoke scripture out loud so that His words would not return to Him void. He proclaimed scripture because it is TRUTH. 2 Corinthians 4:13 "It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak." Speak the words of God in your life and situations. Confessing to faith leads to confession of faith. God's words is a two-edged sword, not against others but against the evils in this world, Hebrews 4:12. Out of our mouths comes a two edged sword, Revelation 1:16.
There are so many examples and commands that we speak Gods Word. Mark 11:23-24 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
When we speak our words will not return to us void, just as Christs words did not return void. Isaiah 55:11 "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
 Our words hold power because Christ is power and He lives within us. How much more powerful would our words be when we speak God's Word to any circumstance in our life; Proclaiming sickness, death, oppression, anxiety, fear, depression, anything that does not come from the Lord.

What are we waiting for.....SPEAK

This is my Prayer

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
 This is my prayer in the fire

In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame
 I will bring praise

I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
 All of my life

In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship 

 I will bring praise

I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here 

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow

I need to see the Holes

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

I am Thomas. I am a disciple of God who needs proof to believe He is still alive. I hear stories from others about the miracles God has worked in and among them and because I have not seen them myself, I doubt. I do not doubt the existence of God for I know that He has worked many times in my life, I do however plead to see His “holes”. I want so much for Christ to reveal Himself to me to prove He is with me. I yearn to see the greater things He has promised us in John 14:12. But here’s the thing, I do not lack faith, for I have faith. What I lack is the trust that God will make perfect my faith. I fear that I am never going to receive the gifts of the Spirit. But I hold strong to the Word of God which time and again defeats my anxiety and fear and covers it with hope and boldness.

We are heirs of God, sons of the living God! Because of this truth we do not have a spirit of fear because our spirit is of Christ. Our spirit testifies on our behalf. Because our spirit is also God’s spirit and knows better than our heart, it testifies to our Lord for us! This is speaking in tongues, when our words fail us, when our heart is troubled, our spirit cries out for us to our father, Screaming ABBAH! With this promise of heirship we inherit not only Christ’s forgiveness and eternal destiny but we also inherit His spirit and through His spirit we are conquers of this world. Through His spirit we receive the gifts He has given us. Our faith is not circumstantial nor is it’s growth based on believing. Our faith was given to us when we received Christ as Lord of our lives. In him our faith is made perfect and complete because He is the author and perfecter of our faith.

When we ask we must believe, not on the circumstances but in the power of God who has overcome the world. We must believe the promise Christ made that when we ask, we will receive. If we believe because of circumstances in our lives or others lives we WILL NOT RECEIVE, we are a double-minded man unstable in all we do. We can not say I believe it will happen because it happened for a friend, nor can we say I don’t believe I will receive because I never have. We simply need to build our faith by continually adding to it, not by testing God or His commands but by following His commands. We are to add to our faith goodness; to goodness, knowledge; to knowledge, self control; to self control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. All these things come from God and are made perfect by God. We need all of these to know God. But if we do not have these Christ says that we are nearsighted and blind, and have forgotten that we are cleansed from past sins.

I began writing this and had to stop after the first paragraph. It took  a week before I could continue writing. I had to search God’s word and pray so that I could know God. I had to seek what His will is for me so that I can pray His will. I think that there is a “doubting Thomas” in each of us because we are human. Christ knows this, that is why He shows His power through signs and wonders, “so that we might see and believe”. Thomas gets a bad rap but I think he was simply not basing His faith on circumstances. He asked God to show him so that he might believe and that is exactly what Jesus did. We are to believe that Christ wants us to believe. He wants to reveal himself to us. We just need to stop doubting and put our trust in the God who has overcome the world

26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

A kiss means more than love

Just a few feet from the railroad tracks is a place called Sa Kaew. In this community, known as the slums, live some of the most precious gifts of God. The children gather every Saturday morning on a basketball court to play, laugh and learn. Myself, along with some friends, sing songs, act crazy, teach English and share God’s love with them. They have captured my heart and bring me joy every time I see them. For a brief period they are kids, not poor, hungry, sad, lonely or needing, they’re just kids.

As I was leaving I bent down to give a little girl, whom I had been playing with, a kiss on the cheek. As soon as I kissed her she immediately grabbed my neck and pulled me down to her level and kissed my cheek. I apparently opened the flood gates because every little girl there came running and begging for a kiss and hug. They wanted to receive one and give one in return. My heart broke when not only the girls but the little boys came to wait for a hug and kiss on the cheek. It was so simple compared to all the other things we had done that day, but yet it was the thing that had the most impact. They followed me to the van and continued to hug and kiss me, asking if I would be back the next week. I didn’t want to leave them, they were so precious and innocent. All they wanted was affection.

When I think about that day and how that simple action brought so much joy to their faces, I think about how much people want to feel loved, worthy, fulfilled, accepted. I think about how often we fail to show others how much they mean to us and how much we love them. I think about how God never fails to show His love, even when we don’t feel like we deserve it. I think about how God made us in His image and when He lives in us we should act like it. I don’t know if those children have ever received a simple hug and kiss on the cheek, if they have ever felt loved, if they have ever had a chance to give love, but I will continue to love simply so that others can one day love and be loved greatly in hopes that they will one day experience the greatest love of all, Christ.

I am not here to serve YOU!

Who do we serve? Money, people, things, idols or God? Who do we put our trust in? Man, things, money, or God? God can not be divided and so therefore neither can we be divided in the things we love, serve and put our trust in. Who do we think we are? Who do we think God is? He is the one who was crucified for you. He is the one who was ridiculed for you. He is the one who created you. He is the one who forgives you. He is the one who heals you. Can your money die for you? Can your things forgive you? Can your friends create you? Can your idols heal you? No! Christ is the only one who loves us that much that He would endure the cross knowing that many would never acknowledge it. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13

Churches and people all over the world are trying to divide Christ. Taking parts they like and pushing to the side the parts they don’t feel comfortable with. Christ has not called His children to a life where we look to man for wisdom. He has not asked us to build as many buildings as we can with glitz and glamor so that only those who feel comfortable can enjoy. He did not call us sit in our homes and Sunday school rooms and church services to enjoy His words but never act on them. He called us to abandon ourselves and lay down our pride and serve Him by serving others. To build up His Kingdom, which is far better than any building we can build(Haggai 1:1-11). He asked us to seek His wisdom. He told us to GO and preach and make disciples. How foolish are we to think that we know better than the one who created us!? We are not perfect, we are sinful and wretched. We ask for miracles and then deny and rationalize them away when they happen. We cower when we hear a calling to go, after we’ve asked God to use us, to do His will with our lives. We doubt ourselves and believe that someone else, someone better will do God’s work. We judge others who are doing God's will, as we sit comfortably in our homes. He says in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.".”

So who do you serve? Before you can do anything, you must know the one you serve. Matthew 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all else will be added unto you." Proverbs 3:5 "lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.". We choose daily who we are going to serve. Who are you going to choose?

Catching Up

So I haven't written about what's going on in Bangkok in awhile, let me catch you up. Teaching English, while sometimes rewarding, is definitely not my calling. What is rewarding is the friendships I have made through teaching. I have met so many talented, friendly people and am so blessed to be apart of their lives. The students are not the only ones who have touched my life, the teachers at the BSC have also found a place in my heart. I have come to be great friends with people in such a short time and I am so excited to see what the next portion of my trip brings!

So much has happened in the past month. I had a chance to participate in Chinese New Year, and take in the customs and much to my dismay the food! I had the chance to eat a fish air sac that was fried and then added to a soup, needless to say it was not my favorite! I also celebrated Valentines day with a group of Christian Thais called 300 Group. It was filled with food and songs and fun! I am loving Bangkok and all it has to offer, even if it makes breathing a little bit harder(pollution) and me a little more sweaty! I have been able to travel to Hua Hin which is a province in Thailand on the beach. It was a nice trip and so wonderful to see a different side of Thailand, without the construction and pollution. The sky was a beautiful blue and the tide came all the way up the beach to the walls at night. It was very peaceful and gave me a chance to refocus and rejoice in my Lord!

April is fast approaching and that means more hot weather. April is the hottest month in Thailand and during the week of 12-15 they celebrate Song Kran. It is a festival where all businesses and schools are closed and people gather in the streets and play with water and powder, to cool themselves off. This is the time for Thais to pay homage to Buddha images, clean their houses, and sprinkle water on their elders in a show of respect. Anyone who ventures out on the streets is likely to get a thorough dousing of water, all in good fun, but also quite welcome at the peak of the hot season. I can't wait to take part in this celebration, I could use a good water fight!

Next term of teaching starts tomorrow and I will be teaching 2 classes on Wed and Thurs night and on the mornings of Tues, Wed, and Thurs I will be teaching cheerleading at the BSC's summer camp. Im not quite sure how this is going to workout, Im sure that none of them have ever done cheerleading before so Im a little nervous! It should be a very interesting term haha! Can't wait to fill you in on how that turns out, pray for me please hehehe!

God has been speaking directly to my heart and though some of it is still in code I am seeking to find the meanings. I have grown so close to Him and yet there are still new mysteries and questions and insights that form each day. I ask that you would pray for me and decisions I make and that I continue to do what God is calling me to do, and not what I think I should do. Pray that He speaks and I am the messenger. Pray for peace and understanding for me. Pray for the hearts of His people who still do not yet know the fulfillment of His love, that they may hear and know. Thank you for your support and prayers and know that you are in mine as well! Love you all

Because I said so

Hebrews 13:1-8
5- Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, BECAUSE GOD HAS SAID, Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.

That phrase was made famous by parents all over the world. When whiny children ask the question "why?" the answer is almost always "because I said so!".  What does that even mean? Of course you said so, but WHY? I've been thinking about this one for a while and this is what I have come up with.

At least once in our life we have asked the question "why" of God. We pray and ask Him to show us what He wants for our life, lead us in His will, what is my purpose?! When He finally tells us, we become the children that we are and ask "why?". Does God need a reason? Does He have to explain to us His plan after we've asked Him to show it to us? NO! We simply should listen and obey BECAUSE HE SAID!

His word is full of commands and promises and we read them and think "those are great words" and that's it! He is calling us to do His work and we're asking WHY!!! Since I've been in Thailand I have seen at least one person a day with a shirt on that says save the planet, clean our air, recycle reduce reuse; and I thought to myself, if we spent as much time and energy on saving souls as we do on "trying" to save our planet, how many will come to know Christ? God already promises us a NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH so why are we trying to save this one? He has called us to be fishers of men and harvesters of souls. In 1 Peter 1:13-25, Peter is telling us that we should prepare our minds for ACTION, be SELF-CONTROLLED, and set our hope FULLY on the grace that will be revealed. He says that as obedient CHILDREN we should not conform to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance, but just as He who called us to be holy, we should be Holy because He is Holy! It goes on to say that we should live as strangers in this world in reverent fear because it was not by perishable things such as silver or gold that we were redeemed from our empty way of life, but by the precious blood of CHRIST!

We have become so concerned with our life on this earth, the possessions we collect and the beauty that adorns us that we are no longer strangers of this world but instead self-proclaimed "locals". Jesus says in Haggai 1:4-11 4"Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses while this house remains a ruin? 5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: Give careful thought to your ways." We drink but dont get our fill, eat but never have enough, put on clothes but are never warm and earn wages only to put them in a pocket with holes. Here's the best part in verse 9 Jesus answers our why, "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house". God does not care how much money we have, how big our house is, how much food or drink or clothes we have, Why? Because none of that matters if we're neglecting HIS HOUSE! Instead of building another house let them stay with you. Instead of earning more money give more away. Instead of spending time building up our "house" build up God's Kingdom! Stop asking why, we already know the answer, BECAUSE HE SAID SO!

Abraham and Isaac

Genesis 22:1-2
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

Another week has passed and with each passing day I am becoming more and more defined in Christ. His voice is sweet and His presence so near. When I worship my Lord, my eyes are filled with tears of joy and desperation crying out to be His. I am at peace and to some extent it scares me. My peace truly passes all understanding. How can I be at peace in a foreign land, not knowing what will happen next? I feel at peace while I wait for my Lord and Savior to lead me where He chooses. I pray that I will be used to glorify His name. Let me tell you how He has already begun to work.

Last week started off normal with one exception, God challenged me. It was not a booming voice or a miraculous sign, it was a still small tug. I was praying and asking God to use me, "what is your will for me?" and before the words amen came out of my mouth my mind began to race and my heart and stomach became uneasy. He told me that He wanted me to buy three plane tickets to Sri Lanka for the family I visit at the IDC who has been there for three years. The phrase would not leave me alone. I got out of bed and searched online for airfare and dates. I kept this to myself and told no one. The entire next day it was all I could do to not think about it, so I spoke to my friend Dylan and told him what God told me and he said "whats stopping you?" I didnt know, maybe fear or doubt that this was really what God wanted me to do, or the thought of what others might think of me, did I really have the money to do this. I came home and after much torment I told Monti, this was my breaking point, she said "I have been thinking that the whole day" and I knew what I had to do. I gathered all the information and now all I needed was the family to say they wanted to go back home. When I arrived at the IDC on Wednesday morning we began our routine of filling out the paperwork to visit the families. I asked around to see who had Sopitha and Pathman and their daughter but the answer I got was "the guards said they already went home" WHAT!? they already went home, but I'm supposed to buy their plane tickets! I was so confused, had I misunderstood God? We went in and walked up to the gate and there he was, Pathman was standing there holding his daughter in his arms with a huge smile on his face, so happy to see me. I was even more confused, how is he still here and where is his wife, was it just her that went home? I asked him what was going on and he was just as confused as I was, he certainly was not going home and he said no one had signed Sopitha out for visitation. I told him they said you all were gone and that we couldnt visit you. Luckily one of my Thai students was with me and she walked straight up to the guards and asked what was going on, they had made a mistake and they agreed to let her out to visit and apologized. I thought ok heres my chance, I heard God correctly and now I will get them out of here. There was only one problem, they did not want to go home. UGH! After a rollercoaster of emotions I left the IDC feeling more confused as ever. Then it hit me, it wasnt that God wanted me to buy that family plane tickets home, He wanted to see if I would. If I would trust Him enough to provide for me. If I would trust Him with my money, heart, my life. Just like God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son and when He saw that he was willing, God provided another way. Because Abraham trusted God he was blessed beyond measure, there was a purpose behind the challenge. I dont know what God has in store for me but I know now that I am willing and ready to follow Him, no matter the cost.

So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

Breaking the Silence

Wow, I am on my 3rd week and I feel like everyday is an adventure! I have walked the streets of Bangkok and seen so much but yet there is so much more to see and experience. Friday the 22nd was a draining day. I went to the premiere showing of a documentary on Burma called Breaking the Silence. I was feature length and should have been longer! I was mortified by the way the Burmise people were being treated by their own military. They are being raped and forced to carry the babies, starved, put into prisons, for not just a few years but decades, made into slaves, beaten, and slaughtered. The testimonies of these people were horrifying and made me angry that such a thing could go on and I had no idea. The outer countries of China and Vietnam are protecting Burma so that they can reap the rich harvest it has to offer. In 1988, 3000 people were massacred on the streets in broad daylight, during peaceful demonstrations to protest the country's conditions of endemic poverty. These are the worlds problems, not what am I going to eat tonight but will I live tonight? I have no words to describe what I saw and I only watched, these people have experienced. Many of them have fled into the jungles and into bordering countries to seek refuge and hope. I was spent after those 2 hours. The only thing I could think to do was cry out to God and pray protection and strength on the people of Burma.

After the documentary I had to gather myself and head of to fellowship at the BSC. Quite a change of scenery. I met Kik a girl who loves to be Punk! We learned about control and how we don't have control over our lives and the events that happen. Funny how that came right after my eye-opening experience earlier that day. This world will not make sense to us but God has a plan. The next day I went to teach and I can already tell that Wednesdays and Saturdays are gonna be my long days! After teaching I spent time with my new friends, Ting, Fang, Dylan and Tommy! We went to Platinum which is an indoor market and shopped around (everything can be discounted hahaha!) Ting is quite the negotiater and we got some neat things! Afterwards we went to Tommy's little sisters birthday dinner at a restaurant that is different from anything I've been to! It is outdoors and a buffet of sorts. On the table there is a cooker of some sort with hot coals under to cook the meat and a lip on the edge to pour water into and cook your veggies. In the center there is food that is already cooked and there is raw meat that you cook at your table. I tried both! There was fruit and I had a yellow watermelon which was very good! They had some pretty interesting things to cook, some of which Ting and Tommy ate, like octopus with the skin and everything(it looked like a whales tale) and whole fish cooked and ready for people to dig in and share! It was great to spend time with friends and experience something new!

Sunday was another interesting day. Monti Bart and I went to the church at the BSC called New Vision, it is all in Thai. To hear the sermon you put on headphones and listen to the translation. It was neat to watch the Thai people listen intently to the gospel spoken in their language. I met up with Kik and she choffered me around and took to me 2 different Bible studies, both in Thai! I listened but still was lost! We ate some lunch and Kik and I shared about our past and the struggles we have faced and learned that we have dealt with basically the same issues, depression and lack of self worth. I told her about my tattoo and its meaning and she was happy to see that she was not the only one! She showed me her tattoos and told me she now wanted one to represent her life in Christ, like mine does. We formed a bond and became sisters in Christ! It was wonderful and later that day their youth group called 300 for Christ asked me to join them for dinner, I agreed and then the trip started! It was at least 30 min away and we drove outside of the city but we were still in Bangkok. We were piled in Deang's(the group leader) van! Cramped and happy we sang worship songs in English and Thai and I loved hearing them sing in Thai! We come to a fish restaurant on the river and it was family style, everyone shared. Again I had chicken and rice and left the whole fishes to the others! It was a great time and beautiful when the sun sank into the night and the lights lit up the trees over the water!

I am loving my time and fellowship here and everyday has something new to show me! God is amazing and he has complete control of this heart of mine.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swatdee Kaa

The first week of teaching is over, I have 8 classes! I teach 2 classes a night from 5-7:30. At first I was really nervous, I felt like I was rambling on about nothing. They listened to everything I said.  The first class the cd player wasnt working so I had them teach me some Thai. The second class went better and I got the hang of it through out the week!! There are roughly 20 students in each class, ages ranging from 16-40's. On Wednesday I visited an Immigration Detention Center. This is the place where people who have violated their visas are put. They have stayed longer then was alloted, but most of them are running from their country and have no where to go and so they get caught and thrown in here and cant get out bc there is a $2,000 fine and dont have family outside of there so they are stuck. The main purpose of visiting them is so they can see eachother they are seperated men and woman so the families cant see eachother unless there is someone who visits them and we bring them clothes and food and necessities or books, stuff they ask for, they are treated worse than people in prisons. It is so sad and if my visit can bring them joy for just a second then I want to bring as much joy as I can! In order to visit you need your passport and visa to prove you are supossed to be here. I was not told this and so I thought I was not going to be able to go in. As we were approaching the building I felt God say "look in your bag", I ignored it because I knew there was nothing in it i needed, but the voice said it again "look!" so I unzipped my bag and there was my passport with my visa in it!!! Praise God! He had a plan! The lady I visited has a daughter and someone else visited her husband so the family could be together. Her name is Sopitha, she is Sri Lankan. They have been in there for 3 years and had not seen eachother in over a month. It was her birthday, her husband asked us to get her a card and a gift. It was pure joy to see them together. The father held his daughter the entire time as I got to speak to Sopitha the best I could, over the noise and language barrier. When you enter the center you are patted down thoroughly and the items you bring in are checked. All the detainees are behind a chained gate and there is a walkway separating us, for a guard to pass through, and then another gate which we stand behind. We visit for a while and then let the families reunite as we take a step back and try and grasp how awful this is. When the bell rings we leave and the gates are opened for the people to get the things that have been brought for them. They are so thankful! Hopefully they will see God in our face.

My prayer is that whatever the path that God has set for me I am sensitive to His voice. I want to be less so that He is more. I want to build relationships with His children and lead them back to Him. Church was amazing on Sunday and I truly felt God's presence! It was much needed and tears of anxiety, joy, worthlessness, hope, and love came pouring out while I sang praises to my God! He is so good and I will always praise His name! I am ready to conquer this week in His name! Amen

Roosters and Brezels

I'm here! Thailand is amazing and has so many things to take in. I have heard that you can go eat somewhere different everyday and never have gone to all of them! That's a lot of places to eat! Let's start from the beginning. From the moment I left home God had already began working. During the trip from Atlanta to Los Angeles two things happened, first Monti's bag was not on our flight and second my suitcase broke open and the zipper was jammed. We had to walk to the oppositre end of the airport to go to the international side, we checked our bags in, minus Monti's missing one, and I stood in line to drop our bags off. The line was so long Monti had gotten her bag and come back before I was to the front! So here comes the miracle, She was suppossed to pay 100+ for her third bag but when she got to the check in the lady slapped on her flight sticker and sent her on her way, WITHOUT CHARGING HER!! Praise God! As she was doing that a Thai woman behind me pointed out that my bag was broken and that I should ask for something to close it. I asked the baggage man if he had tape and he gave me some, as soon as he placed it in my hands the entire family of the Thai woman took over and began tapping my bag shut till there was absolutely no way it would ever open! It was hilarious but a great highlight and blessing from God! We boarded the plane and began our 17 hour plane ride! We landed and the airport is so nice! It's only a couple years old so everything is new! On our way to Monti's I encounter huge billboards everywhere. You can't miss them! The other thing you can't miss is personal space, there is none!! If there is room, there wont be for long. Cars and motorbikes take every inch of the road possible without a second thought, it's rather nerve racking!!

I arrive at Monti's and get settled and washed up and I hear this crowing, it's a rooster. I figured it was just someone passing by or something but nope, this rooster lives down the road and crows every day all day and stops only to sleep! I have grown used to it by now and only hear it once in a while. Also down the street is a German bakery that serves amazing authentic German baked goods. The best are these Brezels which are German Pretzels, they are amazing!!!! There is so much to see and experience here and I can't wait to see what God has in store! Thanks for all your prayers and support!