I am sitting in coffee shop in Milwaukee and reflecting on the fun and gratitude I have had in seeing some of you this past month!  Although the time has been short, seeing your faces and hearing a bit of what has been going on in your life has been so good to me.  The past weeks here I have been reflecting on this…

Can circumstances steal my joy, peace, & all that Jesus is in my being?  No…this has been my realization in reality the last month to me.  At the end of February I was at a big outdoor market wanting to get Thai gifts to bring back to Wisconsin and I was crowded, bumped, and before I knew it someone had stolen my wallet.  Little frazzled I was.  Fast forward to a month later, I am flying into Milwaukee & my largest piece of luggage never comes and the airport worker told me that it was scanned in and someone mostly likely stole it off the baggage carousel. All the gifts I wanted to give and most my clothes were stolen.  In the midst of the frazzle and frustration I felt in my spirit that no one, no matter what happens, can ever steal the joy, the peace, the presence of Jesus that I felt in the midst of these circumstances.  No one can steal who I am in Christ and all the spiritual blessing that He bears in us.  The 2^nd thing I realized is that I was all caught up in wanting to bring back gifts for you.  Although it is nice gesture, I realized that what is the greatest gift in friendship is presence.  In the midst of life, of grief, suffering, or joy, there is no sweeter gift than being present in relationships.  How that parrells what Jesus did…with coming down and being full present in the flesh to show us the character of who our Heavenly Father is.  That in the midst of life Jesus is fully present to those desiring Him.

Praises

• Beautiful and glorious wedding of brother and new sister, Greg & Jewel. 
• Having a break from language learning & getting refreshment & renewing!
• Being able to see some of you!  And being able to share at Elmbrook & Lao Christian Church.
• Since being in Wisconsin, receiving another 13 month visa for Thailand.
• Last month went to south of Bangkok with Thai Church to do all night prayer & worship on mountaintop in March. Inspiring to see baby Christians learning the disciples of prayer & worship.
• Sharing a teaching to Thai students at YWAM campus house in March.  I was a bit nervous, but went well.

Prayer Requests

• Dad’s surgery on April 4: My dad was diagnosed w/ prostrate cancer the day b4 I came back. Praise God that it is contained in prostrate area.  I will be with my parents for the surgery & pray that it is successful removed, quick healing, and that the cancer is not in his lymph nodes.
• Flight back on April 10/11:  I fly back to Bangkok and pray safe travels & I get my luggage.  Also, pray for my transition back into daily life in Thailand.
• Patience:  That in the midst of building relationships, learning language, that I won’t be so hard on myself with wanting to be further than I am.  That will be patient, enjoy the process, & live in moment.
• Songkran (April 13-15):  The Thai New Year is called Songkran.  It is time to see family, visit wat, and time of cleanings & renewal.  They do this but throwing water on each other and I guess its like a 3 day huge water fight.  Pray that God will reveal to the Thais that the one true renewing & cleansing of sin is through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Pray for Christians to have boldness & trust/depth in r-ships with Thais to share truth and love. Check out  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_New_Year
• Kids Club in Slum:  Pray for unity on our new team, pray that kids come/have fun & see love of Jesus.
• Thai Christians:  Many of the young people have visions to start ministry in their villages.  Pray for boldness, guiding of the Spirit, wisdom, and provision of the Lord.  Especially for friends of mine, Radt, Daow that are going to start ministries in the South (Phang Na, and Krabi province)
• Thai Leaders:  Pray that the Lord raises up Christian leaders in all spheres of influence (media, arts, gov’t, technology, education, religion).  Pray that present leaders in these areas will get to know God & seek one TRUE living God for truth and wisdom, and not in gods of this world.
• 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.  And that Lord to show me which relationships to invest in regularly.

 He who unites himself with the LORD is ONE with HIM in spirit.  1 Corinthians 6:17