The weather is warm, like a warm July day in Wisconsin, here in Bangkok.  Orchids and many other flowers are blooming which is nice contrast to wintery Wisconsin.  Although enjoying the beauty of the flowers, people, and culture, on a deeper level my heart grieves for the lies & destruction that idolatry brings in people life.  Last week I woke up to sounds of new neighbors who moved into new home & part of the tradition of that is having about 10 monks chanting lifelessly asking spirits to bless & protect from other spirits.  Comparing that to the fullness and fruit of worship Jesus…that is what makes my heart grieve.   I continue to ask the Lord to show me what He is doing here, what is my piece of His plan here, and to get His heart for the people.

At beginning of year was in prayer and felt that this year the theme that God wants to work deeper in me is to see Him as the God of Hope and the Hope of the Thai people.  That He wants to redeem places in my heart that I have held onto hopelessness and to be an instrument of Hope into this nation where hopeless in rampant.   Its been SWEET seeing in Scripture & in life today how He uses the destruction of evil & sin to display His glory & His hope to people.

Praises

• I am finishing up the 5^th module of 9 modules that I need to complete before taking the Thai gov’t lang. test.  I find myself having a little more foundation in reading & writing & can write sentences & sing Thai worship songs that are at slower pace at church.
• I am coming back to Wisconsin for Greg & Jewel’s wedding, March 15 – April 10.  The ticket is quite expensive, but praise God I got an unexpected money donation a couple weeks before and was asking God what He wanted me to do with the money.  Only He knew that I would need it to pay for the ticket.
• My language teacher is now coming to YWAM this month to teach Thai, as there are other missionaries that are starting language.  It will save me 10 hours in traffic every week in bus/taxis J
• The former missions pastor, Val Hayworth, from church was in Thailand for conference, so I was able to meet up with him for dinner & was encouraging to see a familiar face.
• The teaching English thing at the slum that I have been doing has turned into a Kids Club with other Thai YWAMers feeling led to do Kids Club.  So this weekend we started and are teaching English, games, bible story, etc!  I am stoked to so be a part of God’s plan for the Thais here. 

Prayer Requests

• 96 % Buddhist:  do I believe that God is enough to change nations?  Yea, I look at all that He is too me & what would my life be without Him?!?  Pray that the God that is big enough will touch the people hearts & spiritsas Christians here come in contact with the Thais in daily life. 
• Visit to Wisconsin:  that all details come together for in a special way for Greg & Jewel wedding, as well I will be applying for another 1 year visa, and for plans to develop in spend time with family/friends.
• Kids Club in Slum:  Pray for unity on our new team, pray that kids come/have fun & see love of Jesus.
• Protection: Spiritual, emotional, and mental protection in the newness/vulnerability of this 1^st season.
• Language School:  That I will have patience & take in God’s grace.  I find myself putting pressure & wanting to get it now.  Yet, that I will continue to put effort in practicing with Thais.
• Relationships:  Pray that I abide deeper in Jesus & the outpour of that will be loving relationships with the ones God puts across my path.  As well, as Lord to show me which relationships to invest in regularly.

 “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is no one upon earth that I desire besides You.” Psalm 73:25