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10月23日
I think last month I shared with you what a typical week looks like for me here….well typical weeks all can change in a flash when one gets bite by a mosquito that is carrying dengue fever! Dengue fever is common in the tropicals and only way to treat it…is to let it run its course taking anywhere from 2 – 6 weeks! After unknowingly getting bite by one of these lovely creatures, I was having a combination of hot flashes, severe body aches, low appetite, and chills for couple days. I went to clinic and was diagnosed with a ‘cold’ and after 3 days of not feeling better, went to hospital with these symptoms and having a morning of hemorrhaging. After they did blood work, I was diagnosed with dengue hemo fever that can be fatal if not treated within 7 days of having it! My WBC cells and platelets were really low and was hemorrhaging from my stomach lining a bit….typically your platelets should be between 300,000-400,000 and mine were only 50,000. Was humbling experience to be really weak and have someone bathe me and take care of all my needs. I was in the hospital for one week followed by another week of bed rest. I just went to the doctor on Friday for blood work and my blood counts are back to normal! Praise God!
Right before my dengue fever episode, I was having a ½ day retreat with God and now see God was preparing me for some extra rest. I was prompted over and over by the Holy Spirit that day to read Matthew 28:18-20 (when Jesus says “Come to you all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest…take my yoke upon you and learn from it. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’) Its familiar verse about resting in Jesus and giving Him burdens that can weigh us down. Sometimes I don’t even realize what burdens are weighing my heart down and when I need to just rest in Jesus and rest from my rhythm of life. His timing was perfect with bringing about rest in my life when I am too driven to give myself rest that my body needs. It was actually so good to have rest! Thank you all who were praying for me through this. I really felt the grace and peace of God and felt the love of my family of God here. I received many visitors in the hospitals, flowers, my Thai roommate who stayed with me every night, and even McDonalds when I was sick of hospital food J I feel so loved to feel your nearness in prayers even though miles away.
Praises
· Language Study: I had a pre-test evaluation for language and barely passed. Finally I see the light at end of tunnel of formal study. I am studying with group of 4 other missionaries preparing to take the Grade 6 Thai Government Language Test on December 1st. I have been busting my butt studying and still am the ‘turtle’ in the class…its humbling to be the turtle in learning…but thank God nonetheless for being able to study w/ this really good teacher.
- Recovery from Dengue Fever: I praise the Lord that I was prompted to go to hospital and receive medication and wisdom of doctors on how to treat me. I thank God for giving me rest and giving me recovery from dengue.
- YWAM Asia Pacific Conference: At beginning of month at YWAM conf. with 300 other missionaries that serve God in Asia. I feel privileged to see God doing miracles in Asia and hear stories of how He is bringing light in dark places.
8月26日 Hebrews 2:1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
This word was shared at our YWAM Thailand conference in August and really spoke to me about not drifting from the God’s promises in the Bible as well as the personal promises & prophecies. Being here and experiencing many different ministries (village outreaches, slum work, mercy, etc), my heart is attracted to many ministries. But this month I feel like the Lord is calling be back to not drift from specific things that has put in my heart for Thailand. As well as not drift from the teaching of the Lord and standing firm on the Word rather than drifting into emotion or circumstances that can leave me to wander.
What I am up to? My typical week:
Mon, Wed, Fri: a.m. help in YWAM Project LIFE mercy office & afternoon go to Thai tutor w/Becky
Tues & Thurs: do homework/study Thai 4-5 hours, go to YWAM staff meeting & Kids Club meeting on Thurs
Sat: have Kids Club at slum in mornings, afternoons study 4-5 hours
Sun: go to Thai or international church & hang out with friends
What I do in free time?
Go to Starbucks with friends, walk around market with Thai friends, go to park, watch movies, check out new things in Bangkok, play badminton, go running, check new food shops with friends (recently Lebanese & India)
Praises
· Language Study: In middle of August started back up studying with YWAM gal, Becky, with a new teacher that is top notch. I have new refreshment and loving it! Its lot more homework & she is tough, but learning a lot. For next 6 weeks, we have heavy focus on read/write & she will evaluate us at end of Sept to see if we are at level to take the Thai gov’t language test.
- YWAM Thai Conf.: Was great time of receiving Word of God, amazing worship, and connecting with others!
- Eve: My Thai roommate has been such a blessing to me and she is one of my closest Thai friends
- Focus: I feel like the Lord has narrowed down what I am to do after I am done with language in December & have peace & confidence in the season I am. I feel that I am either to staff the Discipleship Training School that my roommate is pioneering in Bangkok next year or to move to Pattaya & join the YWAM Slum Ministry project. Both of these options have positives & negatives, but I only look to hearing clearly from the Lord about what to do next. His plans & ways are higher than ours & He knows what is best for His children. So this I guess this is a prayer request, too J
Prayer Requests
· Pay: I mentioned this young woman that I was reaching out too and that she had read the bible. I have tried to phone her these past weeks and she hasn’t phone back. Pray that the Holy Spirit to minister to her.
· YWAM Asia Pacific Conference: August 30-Sept 3 is YWAM Regional Conference that is held in Thailand this year. Its all SE Asia, Australia, New Zealand coming to share on what God’s doing in our mission, share stories, seek God, and worship. Pray for safe travels, sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
- Sept 18: I was asked to share the message at the discipleship house on campus this night. Pray for me as I seek God on what to share & for the anointing of the God.
- God of Breakthroughs: That our God who is our deliverer will continue to bring breakthroughs in my life & in the Thai peoples life; experiencing truth, freedom, and love of Jesus.
- 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.
- Evangelism: Many opportunities happen each day to express Jesus love & goodness to others that have never heard of Him. Pray that my eyes and ears are open to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
- Buddhist Lent/Thai people: In Thailand it is the middle of 3 month Buddhist Lent season where all the monks stay in the temples for this time period to focus on chanting & calling up the spirits more than any other time of year. Pray that the Lord shows monks as well, as Thai people that bring offerings to make merit, the emptiness that only Jesus can fill.
7月29日
What a fun month I had with having a month break from language study. The 1st week of month I was wedding coordinator for Thai friend’s wedding. It turned out beautiful and God provided everything! The 2nd week I flew to the NE Thailand to visit my friend Kim and do a visa run to Laos with her. Was good to connect with her and we had bunch of fun together; planting rice, seeing her community, and sharing & praying together. The 3rd week I went with YWAM Thai team down to the South to do a Youth-English Camp. My friend Daow has a vision from God to start a ministry there in her hometown, where there are no churches or Christians. So, 8 Thais and I went to do youth camp at her childhood school for about 70 kids. It was a blast but draining too! A hightlight was eating fish/seafood every day and last day before we came back we went a boat tour & went swimming at a national park that had a big waterfall. This past week I have been reviewing language materials and helping out in our national office for our staff conference next week. All 200 YWAM Thailand staff will be gathering for our bi-annual conference August 1-4 to worship, praying and seek God about what He wants us to be doing in next years. Excited to be encouraged by guest speaker that is coming and to meet/learn from others that I haven’t met yet.
Praises
- Had safe travels, refreshment, and encouragement this month with the various places I went.
- That the Lord has kept me healthy, spiritual, emotional, and physically this past year of being here.
- Celebrating my 1 year anniversary being in ThailandJ
Prayer Requests
· YWAM National Conference: August 1-4th all of our staff will be meeting to seek God, worship Him, and pray. Pray for safe travels, sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and obedience to carry out what He lays on our hearts.
- Protection: Spiritual, emotional, and mental protection in the newness/vulnerability of this 1st season.
- 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.
- Focus: Sometimes I feel like I am all over the place…I don’t have clear focus about what area of ministry focus the Lord has for me and want to be obedient to focus time on relationships that Lord has for me.
- Evangelism: Many opportunities happen each day to express Jesus love & goodness to others that have never heard of Him. Pray that my eyes and ears are open to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
WAit on the Lord, Be of Good Courage,
And He shall strength my heart, Wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalms 27:14 6月2日 Happy Start of Summer!! I have been here almost a year with summer weather year round, so it weird to think of finally being summer for you! Last month's highlight for me was going with 10 Thais YWAMers to small village in the Central Region to encourage a small church. The pastor and his 5 church members had been praying for many years that the Lord would send them others to help them; we were the 1st answer to that prayer. The Lord was giving us scriptures, pictures, and encouragement for our brothers and sisters there, as well as I was asked to share a teaching. Getting outside of my Bangkok walls & getting taste of beautiful adventures of Thailand village life was life giving. From drawing fresh fish from the river, sleeping under a mosquito net, walking through corn fields, eating fresh duck & pig intestines, it all was a blast to build r-ships, praying/encouraging the church, and take in goodness of God. YWAM is planning to send teams to support them in future and I believe that a lot of was accomplished in the spiritual realm during our time there.
The week before I probably one of my hardest weeks. I was wiped out and so emotionally not myself. Frustrations with my hard drive crashing and taking so many hours to get it revived, frustrations in daily living, absorbed in negative thoughts, and I didn’t want to go to that small church. I see now more clearly the weak areas in my life that enemy likes to attack and that he often attacks before there is spiritual victory, such as all that God did on our visit to this church. That church had been praying for years…and I am sure the enemy didn’t want them to be encouraged and supported.
As I have been praying into the plans God has for me here after language study, I have been encouraged this month by the fact that God is entirely good & 100% fully committed to us. Sometimes I think that God may withhold His best, but such a lie. He has the best in mind for me right where I am, I am His daughter and He has sacred holy purposes for each of His children. He is 100% committed to those purposes & will clearly show it in the right timing. He provides for all of my needs and He continues to remind me to keep walking on water in faith with my eyes fixed on Him.
Praises
- My Thai roommate, Eve, arrived back after 5 months at a YWAM school in America. She had many miracles happen on her adventure, including someone giving her all the money needed so she could go on mission trip with the school to Albania & Mauritania. Excited for her future ministry & its nice to have a roommate again.
- Driving my motorscooter on opposite side of road and getting the hang of it has been good so far!
- Our Mercy Ministry Leaders Meetings went well and sweet presence of Jesus. I was the official note taker for the meetings and it was blessing to serve them.
- Had 2 language evaluations this month and they said I am doing good & improving. They gave me tip to help work on my tones, I should watching some more Thai TV & radio J
- Lord is filling my relationship bank…spend time with my friend Kim, as she was coming through Bangkok, as well the women’s bible study that I am in has been great to have friendship with some Americans. Also, there are couple Thai girls that I see consistently every week for a meal…Paeng, Nudee, Daow, and Pai. Pray for these relationships and that the Lord shows His love to them!
Prayer Requests
- Wedding Planner: One of my Thai YWAM friends, asked me to help them with their wedding next month. Some things never change, once a wedding planner, always a wedding planner!! I guess that they didn’t know that I have helped plan many weddings! I am excited to meet with them weekly this month to help & pray with them as they prepare. They are living by faith, as both are missionaries from Buddhist families & relying on God to provide finances for their simple wedding that will be at the YWAM base.
- Go to Kanchanaburi June 15-17: I am traveling with some coworkers to another outreach to Central Region. Pray that we are blessing, safe travels, and joy of Lord to be expressed.
- Language: I decided to switch teachers after prayer & counsel, as I was feeling stuck with my teacher. So, in June I am going back to 1 hour commute to/from school & doing special language module on Thai Culture. It will be intense, as I will be spending 7am-1:30 language, then couple hours at office & then on homework every day.
- YWAM National Conference: I was asked by leadership to spend next 2 months during my office hours to help coordinate the August 1-4 conference for our 200 staff. I will be in different office helping a team with this.
- Protection: Spiritual, emotional, and mental protection in the newness/vulnerability of this 1st season.
- 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.
- Motorscooter Driving: Pray for protection & grace when I drive my motorscooter on opposite side of road here and learning the ways of the traffic.
- Evangelism: Many opportunities happen each day to express Jesus love & goodness to others that have never heard of Him. Pray that my eyes and ears are open to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
- One thing God has spoken, two things I heard: that you, O God, are strong, that you, O Lord, are loving. Psalms 62:11-12
5月6日 I got back to Thailand the middle of last month with it being more quiet than normal because of the Thai New Year called Songkran. Many Thai leave the city to go back to their villages for the 3-4 day holiday. The Thai New Year starts in April and interestingly they use a different calendar than us, their calendar year started on year that Budda died (543 years BC). So, its actually 2550 in Thailand! It is quite a holiday indeed; a big water fight like I have never seen before! In past, Thais would go to the elders to ask a blessing/cleansing on each other. But now days people are on streets throwing water on any passing guest, dancing and drinking. I went one of these days with some coworkers to ‘play Songkran’. We rented a pickup truck, had huge buckets of water, and hit the streets spraying water on each other. Was fun time! Thou, the focus has changed from the roots it had. Reminded me of how our holidays have evolved, how focus of Christmas has turned into Santa Claus and Easter has turned its focus to bunnies.
I turned 30 last month & the Lord blessed me with sweet treasures throughout the day. I visited a Thai friend that had just moved, met a new friend, Pai, on the bus (see prayer below) & some friends came over with a DQ ice cream cake & made Mexican. I have been back in language study the past two weeks and plan to study through June and then take a month off before I start intensive study with new teacher for gov’t test.
Praises
- My dad is cancer FREE. We got the results from his prostrate cancer surgery back right before I came back to Thailand.
- My time in Wisconsin was such a sweet time and saw God’s hand over all the meetings and time I had with people! Now, its your turn to come visit me J
- Was asking the Lord about getting in women’s bible study & develop r-ships with some other American women and a women’s bible study just started up among some co-workers at our base. We are doing Beth Moore’s study on book of Daniel and meet on Wednesday nights. So far its awesome!!
- Got my Thai car & drivers license & purchased a motorscooter this week.
- The Lord is faithful and true and lavishes His grace on us when we are in need.
Prayer Requests
- Motorscooter Driving: Pray for protection & grace when I drive my motorscooter on opposite side of road here and learning the ways of the traffic.
- Pai: On my birthday I met a Thai gal on the bus and it seemed to be a God connection. I have had food with her couple times & took her to our bases worship night. She has sweet personality & she had tears during worship. Pray for our relationship and that the Lord will touch her heart with His love.
- Go to Nakonsorn May 18-20: I am traveling with some coworkers to encourage churches in Central Region of Thailand. Pray that we are blessing, safe travels, and joy of Lord to be expressed. I am to prepare activity, program for senior adults. Any ideas besides Bingo?!?
- YWAM Mercy Ministry Leaders Meet May 24-26: I will be helping plan & attend our mercy ministry leaders meeting. 11 leaders from different projects will be coming to Bangkok for encouragement, discussion, and counsel. Pray for our staff that the Lord accomplishes what He wants done.
- Kids Club in Slum: Pray that kids come/have fun & see love of Jesus and for the staff while serving, as its hot season (about 90-100 degrees). This week we took a field trip to a local waterpark.
- Language: I am studying with current teacher until July and then look to get a new teacher to prepare me for taking the Thai gov’t exam in December. Pray for endurance & grace & confidence in my trying.
- Relationships: Pray that I abide deeper in Jesus & the outpour of that will be loving relationships with the ones God puts across my path.
- Protection: Spiritual, emotional, and mental protection in the newness/vulnerability of this 1st season.
- 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.
And where is the place of My rest? But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of contrite spirit and who trembles at My word. Is 66:1-2 3月29日
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 2nd 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 1st 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 2月3日 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 5th 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 1st 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 12月31日
Praises
- My brother, Greg, proposed to Jewel & they will get married in couple months! I plan to come for the wedding (probably 3 weeks in March) & also renew my visa when I am back in WI.
- My friend, Kim, visited this month from NE Thailand. It was a treat to eat Mexican, see free concert of Handel’s Messiah, and share & pray together.
- A couple from church adopted a 4 year girl from Bangkok. I meet them, heard their story, & rejoiced with them! God has been stirring on my heart w/adoption, as He has put people across my path that are adopting & I tear up hearing their stories. Wonder what God is up to?
- Christmas was new & different in experience. This month the combination of hitting culture/language wall of being sick of everything and not being with family at Christmas was challenging. Good in that it made me reflect more on what it is I celebrate at Christmas…the traditions or the true, real miracle of Jesus coming to earth to live & be among us. I was not deprived of the Christmas spirit…sang Thai Christmas carols in neighborhood w/Thai staff, cookie decorating with friends, dressed up in costume for one of the parties, and went to a couple Christmas gatherings J
- I took the opportunity to go to beach for 4 days during the week off between Christmas & New Year’s. I really sensed in all of my being that I just needed to get a break and get away from the city & rest. So, it was refreshing and ready to go back to language & big city.
Prayer Requests
- Greg & Jewels Wedding: that all details come together for them in a special way, God’s blessing on their marriage, and that I get cheap flight back J
- My roommate, Eve: She got visa to come to YWAM training in Denver Jan 12-April 1. She is nervous with 1st time coming to Western country. Pray for God’s grace & intimacy to be upon her.
- Thai Christians: That they will be empowered by the Spirit to reach their neighbor with Good News. That they will rely on Jesus to guide them in all truth & all their needs.
- Loneliness: To be real with you...need prayer in this area. I haven’t felt loneliness like this before. Know & experience connected to God, yet feel loneliness of not feeling connected here. It takes time to build relationship in knowing language/culture. Pray that I embrace this season and what God wants to show me through this. That I rest not strive. Its weakness of mine to strive.
- Teaching English in Slum: Took month of December off because was involved in Christmas outreaches. But, Poi, Thai staff friend, and I feel God wanting us to start back up. Pray His guidance and we see His hand at work in lives of the Thai kids.
- Protection: Spiritual, emotional, and mental protection in the newness/vulnerability of this 1st season.
- Transportation: God’s hand protection on my travels each day. I take taxis, motorcycles, bus, etc, as well as pray for Witchit & his family’s salvation, my taxi driver & more God appointments!
- 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.
Reflection from a conversation I had with Thai kid: When at a YWAM Christmas program for sponsored kids, a 10 year old boy dressed in pink shorts and pink shoes, asked if I needed help. So as this 10 year old was helping me, we were talking and he told me that he hoped to get as his gift, a Barbie. Then, he added that he was a kathoey. The Thai Christians and his sister around me agreed saying that he was a boy but wanted to be a girl. At this young age he ‘believed’ that he is suppose to be a girl. I gently told him that he was created a boy and that it’s good. Kathoeies are considered the 3rd sex here; there are beauty pageants for them & many celebrities are. What God creates is good. He created male & female and said it was very good. Created in His image. This boy has been on my heart that He will be lead into truth & life that brings freedom; life apart from Him is not fulfilled. As for our Child Sponsorship program, we have over 700 Thai poor children that are sponsored much like Compassion’s sponsorship program. The kids were so excited to have a day where they felt valued, special, & got a present. Many of them come from rural villages or slums were they are not cared for & have time of celebration just for them was so special. What a joy it was for them to get one gift. If interested in sponsoring a child this new year, let me know & I will get you connected.
“But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say You are MY God, My times are in your hands.” Psalm 31:14 11月4日
Reflections: I have been thinking last couple weeks how I get satisfied with seeing God move a little. Being comfort with my daily life with Jesus when there is so much more of God at my fingertips, if only I will ask Him. I was struck by this when reading in Mt 4 about Jesus 1st preached…”the kingdom of God is at hand.” Its within reach and yet I get satisfied with a little. God’s wanting to redeem people, cities and nations. Why don’t I see it happening? Have I been comfort and satisfied with just a little when there’s so much available? Its bringing me to repentance and seeking the Lord that I would hunger after His presence more & press into asking more, expecting more. Because there’s so much of God wanting to do, if only I will seek Him first.
Praises
- God opened the door! Since being here I have been praying about how I can be a blessing in the community, particularly the neighborhood slums. Thanks for praying that God would open doors because He did! A Thai took me into a couple slums & there’s a small school in one of them. The principal happens to be the slum ‘village’ leader & she welcomingly is opening the school DOORS on Sunday afternoons for me to teach English to kids. A Thai missionary staff & I have been doing it for 2 weeks so far and it’s a blast! We plan to do it for 4 weeks and then evaluate it with her. We have had about 20 eager & energetic kids each weekJ My main purpose is to build relationships w/people!
- Friendships! I feel like some friendships are developing! Thank you for your prayers! Eve, my roommate, ‘ran’ into a friend from her village that moved into our complex. Yiam, and her husband, Joem, are very social and we have spent some time with them and their friends. They are all in their late 20s, in careers, and being together has brought much laughs as they want to learn English, as I want to learn Thai. Pray for God’s spirit to move among our time together.
- Blessed with rocking teaching! Was so sweet to listen to a week of teaching on Worldview by Darrow Mueller and then attend a conference last week on Transforming Cultures by George Otis Jr. I learned a ton and am so thankful to receive good teaching & be challenged in what I believe.
- Visit to Pattaya: I went for a weekend to visit bar girls project & slum kids project of YWAMs. I love hearing stories about how God works & calls His people to places. So, I was inspired with time in relationships with the missionaries there, as well excited in my spirit about how God is working and bearing fruit of redemption, hope, love, in a city that filled with vile evils. One boy in the slum particularly stood out to me that had this little joy amidst his environment. His mom, sister, and grandma are prostitutes. His dad sells drugs and one of his eyes is blinded from a time his dad threw glass bottle into his eye. The parents won’t let him go to school because they use him to beg on the streets. In this situation, the missionary is trying to work with parents to allow him to go to one of our homes, but the parents don’t want him to leave. Please pray for him that he is released into one of YWAM’s homes of love & joy for at-risk youth and into God’s love.
In Jesus life there was none of the pressure and rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today. A disciple of Jesus is to be like His Master. –Oswald Chambers
Lord, show me what I need to cut out of my life so that I am not rushed this holiday season. I want to feel your presence & hear your voice through the day. I want to take time to be a model of your love like you were when you were on this earth. This Christmas season I want to be drawn into the quiet place of worshipping and loving on you because you came to bring salvation to the nations & me! 10月6日 As you enjoy the crispy Fall weather, I have been getting my 1st experiences of flood waters (its last month of rainy season), coupe, and hot weather. Thailand made international news by a gov’t coupe that happened on Sept 19; thank God without any violence. The military overthrew the Prime Minister (PM) while he was in the States for a UN meeting. Within two weeks they have chosen an interim leader for the next year, while the ousted PM remains in London. The interim leader is well respected among both sides.
October is quite busy for me, along with remaining in language study !
- I am sitting under a week of teaching of Darrow Mueller (author of book Discipling Nations), 10/8-13
- Going to Pattaya to visit & minister YWAM’s projects to bar girls & slum kids, 10/20-22
- Attending with team a Transformations conference that is coming to Bangkok, 10/27-28 (maybe you have seen the Transformations video…about testimonies of God transforming nations w/ amazing miracles thru people’s prayer)
Good News!
- Been taking the bus from language school & practicing my broken Thai has brought about some God-appointments! Being the one white person among many students maybe helps? Last week I had one guy ask me ‘out of the blue’ if I was a Christian. Anyways, I answered yes and we went on to talking the entire way back. He ‘happened’ to know some co-workers who had been build relationship with him. As well, my ride to school, I have same taxi driver I see his heart softening.
- Nu-dee, a Thai co-worker, has been meeting with me weekly to help me learn language & I am developing friendship with her. She is Christian and a 24 yr college student.
- In my apt complex, 5-7 other missionary families live, so it’s a blessing to be around families from time to time. I watched 3 children a couple Saturdays ago, so the parents could have a date night!
- Progressing in Thai language; I’ve been learning loads of vocabulary, tones/phonetic system & basic grammar. I know many question words, so I can ask questions & answer a bit. This next month I start learning how to read & write the Thai script.
Remember Someone Telling Me This:
People remember you by how you made them feel when you were around them, not by what you said. Lord, may I be an instrument of love & grace that those you put around me may feel your love & light and respond to you! I want to those you put around me to feel loved & valued. 9月9日
This last month I started language study & finished the 1st module. I can speak basic greetings and communicate simply for transportation & at market. My weeks consists of 3 days of in classroom study and I am praying to get a couple Thais to practice with me when I am not in class. As well I spend about 12-15 hours in the mercy ministry office per week. One highlight from the month was that our larger YWAM team went up to the old capital, Ayutthaya, for intercession & worship one day after the Lord had impressed it on us at our regional conference. It was one of those aa-ha moments being atop an ancient Buddhist ruins with 60 others at sunset worshipping the one true God who will reign forever. We really sensed the Lord will redeem this city from the ruins & hopelessness that lingers over this city. While worshipping there was a gentle rain that I believe was God’s symbol of blessing & pleasure.
Taste of Life Here:
Yes I have been laughed at a bit at my mistakes in trying out Thai & pointed at many o’ times. But the other day really blessed my heart when I was able to bust out a laugh with someone other than me learning a new language. The Thai staff in the office is learning English and said to me, “Angela, I love it when you wear clothes” (like I never wear clothes?!?..she was trying to say I love your style in clothes). While I was giggling, she was trying to make up for it, so she then said, “Angela, I love your furniture (trying to say I love your jewelry!). Oh the little funnies in crossing language barriers.
Praises
- Found a church home close to where I live! Its not what I expected, but the Lord put it on my & my roommate’s heart while we attended there last week. Its small, about 30 people, mostly young people.
- I got to greet & host my friend, Kim Obrenbrunner, upon her arrival to Thailand for a couple days. She is serving long term in NE Thailand & have developed friendship with her this past year in Wisconsin!
- God has been stirring on my heart injustice to children more & more. Been praying on how to respond.
- Finished up 1st module out of 12 modules of Thai language school.
- My Thai roommate, Eve, has been generous & we are developing open, deep friendship.
- Feel connected in the mercy ministry team & YWAM team.
Prayer Requests
- Small Group: Lord to form a small group of 4-5 Thai/foreign Christian women for worship, bible study, and prayer weekly.
- Community Outreach: That the Lord will show me where He is working & how I can join him. There are 4 slums in my neighborhood (1 out 4 people in Bangkok live in slums) and my apt. complex is full of Thais. I want to be blessing even with the minimal Thai I know.
- Injustice of Children: Lord to show more specifics on my part of the large injustices here in SE Asia.
- Protection: Spiritual, emotional, and mental protection in the newness/vulnerability of this 1st season.
- Transportation: God’s hand protection on my travels each day. I take taxis, motorcycles, bus, etc.
- Friendships: I have met many YWAMers & Thais, but ask God to develop friendship in my life.
- Jesus first: My heart to be set on growing my love relationship with Him as my top priority.
- Language School: Ears to hear the tones & mouth to speak it. Pray for relationship with my teacher & that I stay eager & put myself out there with practicing. I get frustrated with not knowing words/tones.
Read& Pondered This:
I have FAITH in the faithfulness of my Lord & who I am in Christ Jesus.
Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8
Love you all and think you much!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8月14日 Praises
- God’s has given me ABUNDANT peace & grace each day; taking me deeper in adoration of Him
- My brother Greg visited me for a week on his way back from China. Helped me paint & buy furnishings for my apt! What a blessing to have some man-help!
- My apartment is a praise. Its my quiet sanctuary & feels like home among the foreign-ness of a new country. It’s in a quiet neighborhood & there’s a park with a running track about ½ mile from me.
- Problems with my bank & credit card are cleared up.
- My sinuses have cleared up.
- YWAM Thailand community are passionate worshippers & have been welcoming!
- Hearing from God, confirmation on being here, and seeing God answer prayers.
Prayer Requests
- Protection: Spiritual, emotional, and mental protection in the newness/vulnerability of this 1st season
- Transportation: God’s hand protection on my travels each day. I take taxis, motorcycles, bus, etc.
- Friendships: I have met many YWAMers & Thais, but ask God to develop friendship in my life.
- Church: Pray that in next month I find a church to call home. I have been visiting churches, but yet to find one that I feel is where God wants me.
- Jesus first: My heart to be set on growing my love relationship with Him as my top priority.
- Language School: Ears to hear the tones & mouth to speak it. Pray for relationship with my teacher & that I stay attentive & eager to learn. Frustrating to not be able to speak.
- My schedule: Pray that I find the right rhythm on when to be out there building relationships with Thais, when to rest/study, & when to be in the office.
- Office: Pray for my relationship with my director, Linda. That we will develop understanding of each other & develop friendship that will please the Lord.
August Update: Thank you for your prayer, encouraging emails, and the connectedness I feel to you! My 1st month flew by & am settling into living here. Listening, watching, and trying to understand new ways. Rather than trying to make things happen, I have been asking God to be a part of this all and have seen Him answer my prayers. Last week we had YWAM Regional conference with 100 Thai & foreign missionaries gather to worship, have fellowship, and seek God about future plans. It was encouraging for me to get big perspective of YWAM’s involvement in Thailand & to come together corporately to seek God. Worship was amazing & overall it fired us all up to go out and see God’s kingdom come in Thailand. This past weekend I went up country to my roommate’s family home. Their home was surrounded by rice fields, banana & coconut trees. We went outside every day and got tons of fresh fruit & veggies, took pailed showers & ate so many new food. It was special to be able to be in Thai home & look forward to more! Every morning I was there I woke up about 4am to the sounds of Buddhist monks chanting in the temple close to their home. Brings me to prayer & so much is right before your eyes that I can pray into & bring God’s blessing. In next month I will be getting into a schedule; consisting of going to language school, study, in the office, & building relationships with Thais.
Taste of Life Here:
- Market eating: Most city people pick up foods/fruits at market on way home instead of cook
- Traffic: It doesn’t have any rules, no stop signs & motorscooters tend to ‘own’ the road
- White is good! Asians desire to have white skin & white skinners like to have brown skin. Figure that one out?
- Watches: who needs them? There just seems to be a flow, no schedule; might take a bit to get flowing
Heard & Pondered This:
You’re fired. You no longer work for me. But you work with me. Step in tune with Me. –God
Life is like a ten speed bike- most of us have gears we never use. –Charles Schultz ‘Peanuts’ 7月6日
That's me. I am packed, ready, and just awaiting the 18 hour flight on Monday! I had a quite meaningful send off at my home church services, Elmbrook this past weekend. As well as this last month has been many goodbyes, send off at Elmbrook's 20-something ministry, and at BASICS of Milwaukee.
UPON ARRIVING?
I am expecting when I arrive to be picked up by Linda, a YWAM leader and stay at her home for 2 days and then move into my new apartment. I haven't talked to my new roommate, nor seen what my housing looks like or details on when I start orientation/language school. Much is unknown to me, but such peaceful excitment with trusting the Lord knows it all and has gone ahead of me! I do know the 1st weeks I will have orientation with YWAM and then be starting language school full time too.
MY DEVOTIONAL TIME
I have been desiring in prayer this past month to become humble. To be in the place where surrender my control/comforts, allowing the Lord to fill it with His Lordship & His desires. I read Andrew Murray book, Humilty and love how he describes it...."the sense of entire nothingness, which comes when we see how truly God is ALL & in which we make way for God to be all" (Jn 15:5, Jn 6:38, Jn 3:30) 6月3日
Hello Prayer Partners,
Thank you much for your continued partnership in prayer before our Father for me & for the people of SE Asia. I have seen this past month there has been many answered prayer as I get ready to go. It won't be possibly for me to go with out your support & encouragement. Thank you.
I will be having a final prayer meeting before I leave at the Lao Church on Saturday, June 10 at 10am. We will hear Pastor's BT life conversion from Buddhist to Christian, as well as spend time in prayer for myself and a friend of mine, Kim Obrenbrunner, who also is going to Thailand long term. (but with different agency & different area).
If you want to carpool together, please meet me at Elmbrook Church at 9:15am on Saturday, June 10. If not, here's the directions from Elmbrook Church. The address for the Lao Christian Church is 2316 W. National Ave, Milwaukee, 414-383-9166. Its about 5 minutes away from the domes. On National Ave, its on the north side of the street, gray stone building and has a small sign on the building to note it. You can park on National or closest side road. Plan on it taking 25 minutes from Elmbrook Church.
We will have a potluck after, so if you want to stay please bring a dish to pass.
| 1. |
Start at 777 S BARKER RD, BROOKFIELD - go < 0.1 mi |
| 2. |
Make a U-turn at POPLAR CREEK DR onto S BARKER RD - go 0.7 mi |
| 3. |
Turn  on SWENSON DR - go 0.1 mi |
| 4. |
Take ramp onto I-94 EAST toward MILWAUKEE - go 10.9 mi |
| 5. |
Take exit #309A/35TH STREET onto 35TH STREET SOUTH - go 0.9 mi |
| 6. |
Turn on W NATIONAL AVE[WI-59] - go 0.8 mi |
| 7. |
Arrive at 2316 W NATIONAL AVE, MILWAUKEE, on the | ============================================================
PTL:
Got my Thai visa letter & received the Type O visa that we've been praying for
Financial support has come in and am ready to go!
Had a great time at River of Life church sharing my testimony & missions calling
Have had meaning goodbyes with number of people
Prayer Requests:
Healthy goodbyes this last month
That I will see any details that I need to tie up
That I will be obedient to the voice of God
That I will draw deeper in confidence of His power & abilities in & thru me
God Bless! 5月10日 Hello Again,
I would love to see you at my next prayer meeting on Saturday, May 20, 10-11am at Waukesha Teen Center. Susan and I will be sharing a bit & then spending some time in prayer.
April flew by! I am finished up at the Teen Center at the end of April. It had been an honor to work there the past 2 years and was a little nuts trying to get all loose ends tied up. God was really gracious my last week there with bringing in past youth that I had not seen in awhile, being able to share my story & heart for Thailand, and having a going away party with tons of youth. There were some teens that took my prayer card & want to keep in touch with me. I am excited to see what God will do through these connections in the future! It was a blast. To top it off, at the end of the April we had our ministry fundraiser, my family attended, and they had a little send off for me. It was a beautiful ending, although through conversations with some hurting teens my last night, the Lord used that to remind me that I need to pray for those youth & ministry.
Now that I am finished, I can focus my time on spring-ing into Thailand soon. Maybe not springing but flying on a 15 hour flight to Bangkok on Monday, July 10th. Yes, I bought my one way ticket to fly out of Milwaukee. It was a bit crazy and all buying a one ticket. As I sit and think about the weirdness of not knowing exactly when I will come back to the States and counting down the weeks before I leave, it makes me cherish that I shall not worry about tomorrow, as today has enough worries of itself, to stay living in the moment, and above all to live out my desire to give glory the Lord's name each day. That's my prayer that the Lord be glorify in the life I live.
So, between now-July, I am getting logistically stuff done for Thailand, finishing up a Perspectives course, and most importantly have time for YOU! If you want to get together before I leave, I would love it! The earlier the better, as I know some of you will wait until the last week.
Support-wise, I am at 94% of my monthly support. I still have $135 monthly support to raise. Please consider partnering in God's work in Asia through my ministry with supporting me $10-$20 a month. Email or call me if interested.
PTL (PRAISE THE LORD):
Finished strong at Teen Center.
Finding good balance between work, play, and resting.
Received my letter for Thailand, so I can apply for my visa.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
For God's prompting on those to support monthly.
Sharing briefly about my work in Thailand at River Life Church on Sun, May 21, ask for favor & guidance.
Blessing & Lord's revealation on my time with friend Jewel to visit Kansas City's International House of Prayer, May 29-June 4.
To prepare my heart, mind, & soul for entering into Thailand & God preparing the community I will live in.
For healthy goodbyes.
Thanks so much and much love,
angela
4月13日
This week when I was driving into my apartment complex, I saw an older Asian man strolling back from what looked to be a leisurely spring walk. Dressed with a grandpa's hat on his head and cute grandpa outfit, he happened to be walking into my apartment at the same time as I. I decided to say hi and after he didn't say anything, I said hi a couple more times before he tried to mumble something out of his mouth and turned away. I felt a little sad that I may have embarrassed him and started to walk into my apartment with tears streaming down my eyes. Thoughts of "this is going to be me in a couple months" ,"no one is going to understand me" flooded over me. Walking into a new culture, new life, new ways of doing things, not being understood, not being able to communicate nor to have a simple conversation with some one like I encountered this week hit me. Its setting in that I am leaving in 3 months and will be facing what this man faces here in America.
So many different emotions in this transition stage. Excitement, nervousness, sadness, joy. All bundled into this walk of mine. It brings me joy to see God using me as I prepare in others lives. A teacher invited me to come & share to her high school class my story, mission calling, and how God turns beauty from challenging times in our lives if we let him a couple weeks ago. They want to interact with me while I am in Thailand. It has also been joy seeing my assistant at the Teen Center develop a heart for missions and is going to Thailand this summer on short term trip. And it has been a joy to start & give some of my possessions and furnishings to my younger sister who just moved out on her own. On the flip side, it saddens me to have just 4 more weeks at Teen Center and say good byes to them.
My fundraising is coming along. I have but $200 more monthly support to raise. I have also found out my living situation in Thailand!! I will have a 2 bedroom apartment with my andlord being my ministry leader! One of her ministry leaders is leaving in July, so she offered it to me. Normally they wait until you arrive and stay at a hotel a couple weeks to find what something. But, this apartment is close where I will be and it is a relieve to know that she will be on premise, some of the apartment furnishings are provided, and she will help me through living my first year. As well I found out my roommate is young lady my age named Eve. She is 28 years old and is Thai missionary that is an English translator for the mission that I am serving, YWAM. What a blessing I can see of God providing me an 'in' in the Thai culture and having a roommate that can be a language helper to me.
This past month I have been reading through 1-2 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians 7:2 has stuck out to me "Make room for us in your hearts." This has been key for me as I let go of my American identity and saying good bye to things here, that God is desiring to make room in my heart for new things and the Thai people. To trust Him in it. He is my never-changing constant that walks with me through all the transitions ahead.
Well I just wanted to keep you posted on me...shoot me an email back and let me know what is shaking in your life.
Love,
angela
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