Life Lately

Have you ever had a season in your life when time seems to fly by but then when you look back on things the beginning seems so long ago? If you have, then you can understand, at least a little bit, of how I am feeling now. In some ways it seems as though my life has always been this way- lived in a different place, speaking a different language, and drifting between cultures. In other ways it feels as though everything has gone by so fast, as if I had just stepped off the plane. It is tough to believe I have just over a month left here and I know that if it’s anything like the last five- I’ll blink and it will be over.

The last few weeks have been so busy it seems as if there has hardly been anytime for sleeping or thinking. They have left us pretty tired and happy to be in our own beds. The first week our team along with a couple from America hosted a retreat for our national partners. The eight of us along with forty or so nationals headed to a nearby beach for some relaxation, rejuvenation, and vision casting. We got to spend a lot of time digging into The Word, especially the part of the Good Book where the Son commands all of us to go to the nations. Our group was challenged to think about what they are doing already to fulfill this command and what more than can do in the future. In addition to studying the Word, we had lot of time to fellowship and sing together. Team recreation and the beach offered a time for fun and friendly competition. All together the trip was a huge success. Our team left happy and excited to see what the Father will do through the people that were there.

The 2015 Serving the Servants Retreat Group

Our beautiful location for studying the Word.

 Just three days after we got back from the retreat we welcomed another team from the States. This time a group of ten Spanish speaking adults joined us for a week of Christmas programs throughout the city. We did seven programs in a five-day span. Let’s just say that no one ever complained about not having enough to do. Throughout their time here we traveled the length of the city doing programs in the far north, south, and everywhere in between. During the programs we would sing songs, share many stories from the Good Book, act out the Christmas story, and hand out gifts. It was a wonderful time to share the reason why we celebrate this important holiday. Over five hundred people heard the Truth for the first time! At our last outreach we got to take part in the dunking of three new bothers and sisters. This is an important and difficult step for many here. It was a privilege to get to witness such an event. Please give thanks to the Father for opening the doors for this team to come and for us to be able to share. 

A few of the many that attended the Christmas programs this past week.

Another location for one of our Christmas programs.

In the coming weeks we will do several more Christmas programs, continue teaching, reconnect with our neighbors and friends, and prepare for more traveling and then leaving. Amidst all of this we will be finishing papers and projects due for the semester and also be sorting things out for our return to school in January. Please lift up this busy time. Ask the Father to clearly show us how to finish well and to fill us with His strength to do so.

Cultural Corner: Today’s topic is our country’s written language. In contrast to most places the written language here is vastly different from the spoken. The written language is much more formal than the spoken and words can change entirely between the two. This makes learning to read much more difficult. It doesn’t help that there are 33 letters in the alphabet with 12 vowels. These vowel shapes are added to the letters to change their sounds, complicating things even more. Another rather confusing element is the spacing and punctuation. There are few spaces between the words and the punctuation is not written the way it is in English. We have specific marks that show the end of the sentence but in this language the punctuation is technically another word. The final kicker is that their alphabet to the foreign eye looks very curly and the letters very similar to each other. The curved letters are a result of the use of palm leaves as the main writing utensil during the creation of the written language. Thus the script takes on a rather squiggly curlicue look. It is beautiful, no doubt, but difficult to learn. All of that said- Leah and I have not been learning to read while we are here, instead we are focusing on speaking. However, upon returning to the States I hope to learn the written language.  

Special Requests:

Please continue to lift up Dee Dee, her husband and child. They recently had an ultrasound so we will figure out the current health of her child soon. We will be reconnecting with her these next couple weeks and continuing our conversations with her and her husband. These conversations are set around an area of belief and we have the opportunity, with Erin’s translation help, to learn what they believe and to share our own beliefs as well. The last one went extremely well. Please lift up the next two as we explore other topics. Ask that they will be filled with a curious spirit and be eager to hear the Truth we share.

Similar conversations will be happening with two other sets of friends in our neighborhood. The local women who have been selling us the traditional skirts we wear here and the family that owns the bike shop will both be a part of these conversations. Lift up the time we are spending with them.

Please also lift up our friend Fran. It has been a long time since I have talked about her because it has been over 3 ½ months since we have seen or talked to her. In early September, Fran left for distance learning in a town many hours from ours. We thought she would only be gone a month but after 3 ½ months and several messages to her, we still hadn’t gotten word that she was back in our city. I had given up hope that she would want to reconnect. Then this past week she messaged me- wanting to meet! Please ask that we will be provided many opportunities to see Fran and to share with her over the next month. Also ask that we would be able to connect her with some local friends that can continue sharing with her when we are gone. It was clear that the Father brought us together at the beginning of our time here and it seems He has not yet fulfilled His purpose for our relationship. Lift us up as we pursue His will.

Finally, I ask for diligent and purposeful petitions to the Father on behalf of the area in our city called Dala. In this place we have many dear dear friends. Our sister Pam lives and works here- persistently sharing the Truth. This past week we hosted a Christmas program there and many new people heard the Word. Ask that the fellowship there would grow. Lift up also our friend Aunt T as she continues to struggle to commit her whole life to the Father. She has heard the Truth many times, attends the fellowship consistently, but yet will not fully let go of her past. Lift her up- pray against the Evil one and his workers who bind her. Ask that she might finally join the Father’s Family. Mona, another dear friend, also lives in this area. She continues to study the Word and has believed but is still hesitant to be dunked. Please lift her and her family up- that they will all join her in her belief and be dunked together. Ask that the Father work through us powerfully in the small amount of time we have left with them.

This next month will be full. Full of conversations, travel, celebrations, joy, sadness, anticipation, and so much more. Coming off of such a busy time has left me tired but encouraged. I am well aware that time is slipping through my fingers and soon I will be aboard a plane home. As happy as I will be to see those I love at home, I will be sad to leave those that are now in my heart here. Though I am tired I am happy. Happy to be in a place where the Father can use me and content to be a bit worn and haggard if that's what it takes to be His servant. Please lift me up as He continues to teach me what it means to truly be His.

You are all in my heart this holiday season. I hope that you are enjoying the coming time with family and joyously celebrating the birth of the Son. Be reminded that He is the greatest gift the world has ever received. Lift up this place that that Truth might also be known here.

And the time keeps rolling by...

Whew! What a whirlwind! In the past month I have slept in my own bed only a handful of times. It has definitely been busy- filled with activity and travel. My time here is taking on yet another feel as we enter into the home stretch. While our work is in no way winding down, I do know that our time here is growing ever shorter. It is giving me urgency and appreciation for what we are doing but lots of mixed emotions as well. Here’s what I’ve been up to this last bit and a sneak peek of what’s to come.

The last week of October was spent on a visa run and vacation to Thailand. We came back into the country only to head up north for a women’s retreat for our company personnel. Around thirty women from many different parts of the country and surrounding ones met together for a time of retreat and rejuvenation. A team from the States was in to bless us in many ways. The retreat included a 6.5 mile hike, a mini-Christmas party, a fancy dinner, and much time spent fellowshipping and encouraging one another. It was great to get to know the many lovely women who live and work here. I was able to soak up the wisdom they have learned on the field and hear about how the Father brought them to this place. Shout out to all those here and in the States that made that time possible!

A beautiful view we witnessed during our 6 1/2 mile hike!

After the retreat everyone else headed home but I stayed put to do some work on the Lilypad farm. It was a busy week full of feeding rabbits and cutting their teeth (ask me about it sometime), making pig feed, fertilizer, and bricks, and harvesting fruits and vegetables. I also had the opportunity to learn their process for making a soap that treats lice and scabies and how they make their moringa capsules. It was hard work but more than worth it. Not only did I learn a lot but I also will be able to use that new knowledge to help with the website I am creating for them. The farm’s staff and my friend who runs it are incredible people chalk full of knowledge and love for the Father. They, as always, took me in and treated me as their own. This was most likely my last trip up to the farm so goodbyes were hard to say.

Some of the finished bricks Lilypad produces.

The manual machine used to make the bricks.

After 3 ½ weeks of time away it felt good to be back home and in the swing of life here. We are still teaching our classes and doing small group. As a part of our schoolwork we have now started doing some discussion group times with some of our neighborhood friends. These times have been a great avenue for learning more about their lives and sharing our knowledge of the Truth with them. Please lift up these discussion times as they take place over the next month. Ask that our friends will be curious and open to the things we share about the Father and that we will be attuned to His promptings in what we should share.

This past week, one of the schools we teach at held a Farewell Program for us. They knew that schedules were about to get busy and wanted to treat us while they could. It was an incredible outpouring of love that was overwhelmingly touching. The students did several traditional dances for us, sang songs, did impersonations (of us!), and even hosted a fashion show. I’m not sure that I have ever laughed as much in my life. In addition to all of this they also gave us both some of their traditional fabric so that we could have outfits made. The fabric is beautiful and my favorite color. My favorite gift by far however, was the beautiful individual notebooks they gave each of us. The students had taken the time to write many little notes of thanks and encouragement as a way for us to remember them when we return home. It was an evening I will never forget and is a perfect example of the love and hospitality that is so often found in this culture. 

Leah and I in our sets made from the beautiful fabric they gave us.

Us with just a few of the students that participated in the program.

Cultural Corner: This post I would love to share with you about how our people celebrate birthdays, since it’s pretty different. Here when it’s your birthday it is your turn to treat everyone else. This means that if you invite someone to your party you are expected to pay for their food or activity. It is a way to show others you are grateful for their friendship and also that you want them to enjoy themselves on your day too. Friends will still bring gifts but the birthday person is responsible for the cake and party. The cake is another thing they sometimes do differently. At some birthdays after the singing takes place, the birthday person takes a huge slice of cake and a spoon. They proceed to go around the room feeding everyone in attendance a bite. Perhaps they aren’t trying to get it on your face on purpose but if it happens, well…it’s good for a laugh right? Each birthday party I have been to has been a joyous and wonderful occasion to take part in. I am grateful to have had these cultural experiences. They may celebrate differently but the heart of the celebration is the same- love and joy for a special person on a special day.

Here are some special requests I have for the next few weeks:

Tomorrow morning we will leave our city with about 45 others and head to the beach. We will be spending four days hosting a retreat for our national partners here. As I have mentioned, we hope that it will be a time for the Father to speak to them about His work in our city and around the country. Please lift up this time- that logistics will work out, that fun will be had, rest received, and the Father heard.

Directly following that retreat we have a team coming in from the states. While they are here we will be busy showing them our city and more importantly putting on many Christmas programs. These will be times for us to invite whole neighborhoods to learn about the importance of Christmas and how it fits in to the Truth. Please be lifting up this team as they prepare and travel here. Ask that they will have smooth flights and lots of energy to hit the ground running. Please also lift up the Christmas programs we will do with them and the many others that we will be a part of as the holiday approaches. Ask that the Father will open the hearts and minds of those who will hear that they too might come into His family.

I have two final special requests. The first is for a family of fellow workers who live here in our city. They have three children and just a few weeks ago found out they would be welcoming a fourth into the family. This past Tuesday however, the mother lost the baby. The whole family has had to fly to Thailand so that a medical procedure can be done. With Thanksgiving and the dad’s birthday in these next few days, this already extremely difficult time will be even more trying. Please lift up this family- ask for peace, comfort, healing, and understanding for both the parents and the young children who are trying to grasp the situation.

My final request is for loved ones back home, especially family. My family has been beyond incredible when it comes to supporting this journey and me. I can’t express how grateful I am to them for that. But as Thanksgiving is here and Christmas approaches it can be tough to be apart. The holidays are a time for family and coming together to celebrate what the Father has done for us. Often times, workers abroad are lifted up and those left at home are forgotten, but they too are making sacrifices. So when you think about it, say a little something to the Father about my family and the other families of His workers all over the globe. Ask that we are all filled with His peace and comfort- knowing that the work being done in His name is worth many holidays apart.

Thank you for your love and support! I may sound like a broken record when I say that at the end of every post but I promise I’m not broken- just grateful. It is a joy to take this journey together. I hope that you are just as encouraged by reading what the Father is doing here, as I am knowing that so many are supporting me. Please continue to faithfully lift up this place and its people. Much love to you all!

Changing Seasons...

Time continues to fly by, leaving me flabbergasted that it has been 3 weeks since I last posted. You all may not feel as though you have entered a time warp but I certainly do. In the first weeks since my last blog it was busy life as usual. This past week has offered a time of rest and rejuvenation as we have been in Thailand for a visa run and vacation. It has been nice to combine a little bit of business with a whole lot of pleasure as we took in the sights and tastes of Thailand.

During our time here I have gotten to pet live tigers, visit a market with thousands of vendors, go to the beach, eat way too much western food, and spend good time with some of our friends and mentors. I will cherish all of these experiences and many of them were once in a lifetime chances that I am so grateful to have received. It was also nice to enjoy free fast wifi and time to catch back up with many friends and family members back in the states.

The Beach!

On the ferry on the way to a small island off Thailand's coast!

Me with my namesake white elephants- my local name flipped backwards!

 An update on my last posts’ special requests:

            We are continuing to pour into our relationship with DeeDee and her husband. Their baby is due in February and we may not get an update on the baby’s health before we leave. It is our hope that the Father shows this family His great healing power when it comes to their baby’s health. Please continue to lift this up. A week ago I got the opportunity to share my personal story about my relationship with the Father with her husband in the local language! This was the first time I shared it with someone who is not like-minded- it was exhilarating and powerful! The next time we visit DeeDee’s shop, I will also share with her. Will you talk to the Father about these times of sharing? Ask that my words will be His words, that they will come clearly and correctly in their language, and that part of my story will connect with her and her husband.

            Sadly, our trip to the southern part of the country with Mary Beth and her boyfriend was cancelled due to flooding. We are still trying to find a time to reschedule. Regardless of whether or not we get to take the trip, please still lift her up as we build on our relationship with her and share our stories and others.

            Our Serving the Servants conference is fast approaching and excitement for the trip is building. The retreat will offer a much-needed time of rest for our many partners but will also serve as a time of vision casting. Leah and I, along with our supervisors serve on a team specifically targeted to our city. The Father has given us the goal of helping plant a reproducing fellowship group in each township of the city- that’s 34 townships and fellowships to reach the 6 million that live in our city. This vision can only be carried out with the help of national partners similarly dedicated. Will you please pray specifically for the Father’s vision to be cast in the hearts of all the participants?

            Finally, both of our visas went through ok. What a praise! I ended up switching the business that my visa is through which will allow me to stay through the end of our time instead of coming back out for another visa run. This is a huge blessing as another visa run means more money and time out of country. Thank you for lifting up this request!

In the coming weeks we will add another class to our schedule bringing our weekly total up to four. This is in addition to a small group one night a week and a Saturday afternoon ministry in a nearby village. I feel incredibly grateful that the Father has provided so many avenues for us to build relationships and pour into the community around us. That said, it will still be a busy schedule when added to our language learning. As for an update on that- we both did well on our mid-terms reaching the level novice-high. We are both happy with this level and are pushing ourselves to reach the next level before we leave. Please lift up both our busy schedule and our language learning. Ask for guidance as we figure out what to learn next for language and the best way of going about it. 

Esther, Leah, and I with some other local friends at the park.

A few days after we get back in country, Leah and I, along with the rest of the women in our company that work with people from our country will travel to a northern part of the country for a retreat. This also is a time for vision casting as well as a time for us to help serve the women who have been serving the people we love for much longer. Please lift up this time and these women. Ask that the Father would rejuvenate their spirits and give them His sustaining strength.

A very important special request I have is for our friend Mona. She has heard the Truth and believed! Praise the Father for this! We now get to spend time each week sharing stories from the Good Book with her through our English lessons. In the coming weeks we will begin having some discipleship time with her as well. Please lift up this time together as we seek to pour into this new sister. Our most recent topic of discussion with her was about obedience to the Father’s call to be dunked after believing. Mona is one of eleven siblings in a family that devoutly follows the main belief system here. She has expressed fear of anger and rejection from her family if she makes the decision to be dunked. I beg you to ask the Father to fill her with a spirit of boldness and obedience. Ask that she be made confident in her place in the Father’s family. Also, join our team and Mona as we lift up her family. She desperately wants them to believe the Truth as well, that they may all be dunked together.

Mona is the young woman in yellow!

 One final request is that you keep our country in your hearts and minds in the next week, as a national election has just taken place. The outcome of this election has the potential to spark dissent among the people and to result in rules and regulations that make our work here more difficult. As the results come in and the country waits to see what the current government will do please ask for peace, understanding, and the Father’s will in all that happens.

Cultural Corner: This time I would love to share with you about our weather patterns here. Hot and humid is the name of the game where we live. The average temperature is between the upper seventies to mid-nineties and humidity seems to be at a constant 100%. I’m not sure if it is possible for a foreigner to be outside without sweating- though that may just be me! We are just coming off of rainy season so the frequent torrential downpours will soon be over. It rarely ever sprinkles here, instead the heavens open up and the rain comes in buckets. It can last anywhere from 5 minutes to a day or two. A mini-hot season that lasts 2-4 weeks will be our next round of weather before we officially enter “cool season.” Now don’t be fooled- cool season is not what we would typically consider cool but as it is cooler than the rest of the seasons the name sticks. Cool season should mean temps closer to seventies and eighties with perhaps some cooler nights with temps in the sixties. Freezing right?! As with most things in life, different weather is something you get used to. In fact, I am quite sure that when I get back to the states I will turn into an ice cube and long for the days of heat and humidity. Either way, the next time you find yourself cold, think of me toasty warm here in Southeast Asia and use it as a reminder to lift up the work being done here.

Your love and support is always felt and appreciated. Petitions to the Father must come before, during, and after our work for it to have any effectiveness at all. Thank you, thank you, thank you for offering these up on our behalf! Know that you are loved and missed!

Settled In

Hello from SEA! I hope this fall season is treating you well. I know that the beginning of October has brought a sense of settled-ness into my time here. Of course there are still new things everyday and a “regular” schedule doesn’t really exist but mentally a new mindset has arrived. The realization that I really am living here, not just visiting for a bit is setting in. It feels good to know that with all I have been investing in the past months, I still have three here to grow in relationship with those around me.

This past week Leah and I took our language mid-term. It consisted of a one-on-one interview with a local who tested our language abilities. I enjoyed finding out where my limits are and look forward to the feedback he will give me. This week is our last week of language school. This means that we will have to be diligent to continue language study on our own and push ourselves to consistently move forward. Please praise the Father for the progress He has already granted and lift us up as we continue on outside of the classroom.

The last few weeks have been busy as we continue to invest in the relationships we have established. Time is spent each week with the individual families and shop owners in our neighborhood. Three times a week we teach English in a formal classroom setting and are continually encouraged by our students. Two of our classes are taught at schools for the Good Book and one of them in a village outside of our city. Our small group continues to go well and we confident that the Father is working in the time as He chooses. The website I am creating for the water filtration business is coming along- despite my inexperience. I am confident that it will be completed by the time I head home.

Us and some of our small group friends

This past weekend Leah, Julie (one of our supervisors), Mia (her youngest daughter), and I took a mini weekend getaway to a popular tourist destination here. The weekend was filled with fun as we got to ride electric bikes, eat some great Italian food, and even swim in a saltwater pool! It was a blessing to continue growing our relationship with these two sweet women and get out of the hustle and bustle of the big city. The weekend, however, was also a reminder of why we are here, in this place and time, seeking to share the Truth with all we meet.

The area where we went is filled with over 3,000 pagodas and temples built across centuries. Some are crumbling and abandoned but many are still active sites of Buddhist worship and prayer. One evening we climbed to the top of one of the temples to watch the sunset. It was breathtaking and heartbreaking. As we looked out across the plains we could see thousands of physical reminders of the lostness that has pervaded this place for hundreds of years. I was reminded of the great need for Truth that can be found in so, so many of those I see each day. Thank the Father with me for the opportunity to take this trip and be refreshed and re-energized for the work that lies ahead. Ask Him also to continually cast His light into the darkest reaches of this place.

A common site throughout our country

A woman at a mountain top pagoda- deep in prayer and darkness.

A sunset view filled with hundreds of pagodas in the distance.

Cultural Corner: This time I would like to share about a very interesting element of the culture called beetle nut. This nut is found on a tree and has been chewed by the people here for hundreds of years. Beetle nut is harvested, chopped up and rolled into leaves pasted with lime powder paste. This is not lime as in the tiny sour green fruit but as in the white chemical powder. The whole little packet is then stuffed in ones mouth and chewed, much like tobacco. The lime acts like the fiberglass found in chewing tobacco and causes thousands of little abrasions on the inside of the mouth. These abrasions allow the taste and caffeine to be soaked up by the chewer. The amount of caffeine found in one packet of beetle is said to be the equivalent of 12 cups of coffee! Talk about a caffeine high! The beetle nut itself turns the chewer’s spit reddish brown causing quite a sight when they spit. When we first arrived I kept trying to figure out why there were splats of blood everywhere on the streets and sidewalks. I also couldn’t figure out why so many people had bloody mouths all the time. All this blood really turned out to be beetle spit. It sounds a little gross but you quickly get used to it. Culturally it is entirely appropriate to spit and especially to spit beetle so no one really minds. Both men and women chew it and the streets are lined with small stands selling packages of the little beetle packets. Don’t worry Mom- I haven’t and won’t try the stuff. I have heard it tastes nasty and is quite addictive so it will remain one of the parts of the culture I haven’t participated in. Still, it is an interesting and very cultural element I thought I would share!

The following are some special requests I have for you to be lifting up these next few weeks:

First is our friend Dee Dee*. She is the young woman who works in the salon near our house. She and her husband are both lost and have not yet joined the Father’s family. Over the last months we have been visiting her each week and have become friends with her and her husband. The last time we visited we asked about her latest ultrasound (her first child is due in February). Dee Dee shared with us that her baby has one leg that is far too small for its four months of development. The doctor is concerned that it will not fully develop as it should and leaving the baby with one disabled leg. He also instructed her to stop using chemicals as this may be contributing to the baby’s health issues. Sadly this is not possible for Dee Dee. As a beautician she daily works with chemicals to treat and color hair. She cannot stop working because her family needs the income. From now on she will use gloves and wear a face mask when she works with chemicals but this will do little to stop the fumes she breaths in regularly. Dee Dee knows that we are followers of the Son and we have told her that we will be lifting up her and the baby. On our next visit we will ask if it is ok if we talk to the Father with her right then. Please lift up this encounter- ask the Father to give her an open mindset as we ask, pray also that he will send His healing to her and the child as it grows. Ask that His power will be evident in the situation.

Next, I would like to ask you to lift up this coming Thursday (that’s Wednesday for you if your in the US!). This Thursday we will be taking a day trip to a famous Buddhist shrine here with our friend Mary Beth and Erin. Mary Beth and her boyfriend who will also be coming are not like-minded. We will spend the whole day with them- traveling, hiking, and viewing the sites. As we see several important Buddhist sites we will seek to ask questions about their beliefs and learn from them. We hope that these conversations will lead to opportunities for us to share the Truth with Mary Beth and her boyfriend. Please lift up this time and ask the Father to give Leah and I discerning hearts as we seek to naturally but boldly share.

An upcoming event you will hear me talk about a lot is a conference our team is hosting in November. This conference will be called Serving the Servants and is our opportunity to serve and connect our local partners. People from the many different groups and schools that we work with across the city will come together for a weekend of retreat, fellowship, and vision casting. Please begin lifting up this conference already as plans are being finalized. Ask that the Father will already begin working in the hearts of those that are coming.

Finally, I would ask that you lift up my visa situation. At the end of this month we will head out once again for a visa renewal. Thus far we have had no problems, which has been a huge blessing from the Father. At this point however, we are uncertain as to what my next visa will be. The problem is that the business license for the water filtration company I work for has expired. It is easily renewed but the process can take over a month- this would mean that it would not be valid again at the time I need to return on my next visa. I know that the Father has brought me here and will faithfully provide in this situation. But such problems can breed stress and concern. So, please lift up this situation. Ask that peace will be found and for discernment for our supervisor and myself as decisions about the next steps are made.

As always, thank you for the love and support! And for making it this far in my blog!  It is a joy to share about the work the Father is doing here and to know that so many at home are lifting up each day that I spend here. Please always feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Know that you are appreciated and loved!

September: At a Glance

It has been almost a month since I have blogged. So much has been happening here and I am excited to share it with you.

Soon after I posted my last blog I celebrated my 22^nd birthday. I had a wonderful day filled with fun and friends. I was reminded once again of how incredibly blessed my life is. Also on my birthday I received a wonderful gift from Erin- my very own local name. My new name is “Phyu Sin,” which means “purity.” This is not to be confused with the local name “Sin Phyu,” which means a much less flattering “white elephant.”

The next week I headed north in our country for a solo trip to visit the water filtration business I am doing web design for. I had a great trip working on language, working hard on the farm, and getting more information and pictures for the new site. While there I made some new friends, young and old. One of my friends, DJ, * was sharing with me about her life and how she came to be in The Family. Her story was amazing, filled with the faithfulness of the Father. Now, she lives and works on the business’ farm with her husband and little girl. They often spend time in the village sharing the Truth with their lost neighbors but so far none have found the Father. She explained that many of them work each day for just enough food to feed their families. Most of them are too caught up in earthly worries to care much about spiritual truths. Will you join me and DJ in talking to the Father about these lost villagers? Ask that they will be filled with a curious spirit that seeks to find the real Bread of Life and Living Water.

My friend DJ sharing at a local fellowship

Once back in the city it was back to the new normal routine of never actually having a normal routine. Each week we continue to teach classes and go to language school- this is the normal part. However, the rest of our days are filled with an ever-changing list of people to see and things to do. About once a week, our tourism English class students take us to a new part of the city as our impromptu tour guides. Time is spent each week with our supervisor and his wonderful family. The rest of our time is filled with meals and activities with our friends in the city, trips to the market, studying, and doing homework.

Some of our students on a recent trip to the park!

We have started several new ministry projects in several different parts of the city. The first is a small group that meets once a week on Monday nights. This past Monday was our first time together and we had about nine friends from around the city come. Each week we will do a short English lesson based on a story from the Good Book, share testimony, and spend time learning about each other. The group is very diverse with both like-minded and non-like-minded friends present. Our hope is that the group will provide encouragement to the believers to bring and share with their lost friends and will allow Leah and I a great place to share about the Truth. We have no idea what this small group will bring but are confident that the Father has led us to it. Please lift us, and our group, up as we seek to be obedient.

Some of our new friends that attend our Monday night group.

One very important friend we have made over the past few months is Mary Beth*. Mary Beth lives close to Erin and they have been friends for several years now. She runs a salon and is incredibly talented when it comes to nail art. Through her friendship with Erin she has heard the Good News but has still not believed. About once a week, Leah, Erin, and I go to Mary Beth’s shop to get our nails done, hang out, and talk. Mary Beth doesn’t speak English but Erin has been able to act as our translator for our times together. We have gotten to be good friends and have been able to share that we, along with Erin, are believers in the Good Book. Our friendship has grown and this past Monday she took part in our small group. She has now heard our personal stories and will be hearing a part of the Good Book each week. Please lift up our friendship with her- that it might continue to grow and give us a platform from which to speak Truth. Ask the Father that He might place within her an open heart and mind for the Good News.

Mary Beth, Leah, Me, and Nancy at Mary Beth's salon.

Another friend we have made also works in a salon close to our house. Her name is DeeDee* and she is married with her first child on the way. Both her and her husbands are followers of the main religion. She speaks very little English and has never heard of the Father or the Son. She, along with the family at the bike shop, the fruit stand, our longyi shop, and the restaurant we frequent are all locals with whom we are seeking opportunities to share with. Each of these groups of people is lost and has never heard the Truth. They also speak no English, so we are struggling to share with them beyond the simple phrase that we are Followers of the Son. Please continue to lift up our language learning as we work on translating and learning our personal stories of faith. We are eager to add this important piece of sharing into our language arsenal!

Our friends at the longyi shop with Leah and I in our first full Burmese outfits!

The second new ministry we have begun to take part in is a weekly English study time in a village on the outskirts of our city. For this ministry we are partnering with our friend Pam that I shared about last time. She gathers several university students each week and we teach English through stories found in the Good Book. One of the students in particular, Mona*, has expressed a lot of interest in joining the Family! She has not yet fully committed but continues to ask many good questions about the faith both during and after class. Mona comes from a Hindu family and has 12 bothers and sisters! Often times having a non-believing family can be a difficult barrier for seekers in our country to overcome. Please lift up this young woman as she seeks the Truth.

Our Students!

Mona is the young woman in the middle in the navy shirt.

In this same village is another family we will visit regularly. The father of the family, Uncle O*, has an amazing story. Less than a year ago he was a drunk with very poor health. He developed diabetes and had to go to the hospital. There the doctors told him that they would need to amputate his legs. That night the Father’s helper spoke to him and told Uncle O he needed to follow the true Way. Now, he is a part of The Family! He has stopped drinking and asks the Father everyday to help him lead his family according to the Good Book. His wife, however, Aunt T* has yet to believe. She has heard the Truth many times and even goes to fellowship with Uncle O, but she is resistant to fully believing. The same is true for their son, Thad. * Please join our whole team here and Uncle O in asking the Father to intercede in this situation. Ask for conviction and calling for Aunt T and Thad- that our Family might grow!  

Uncle O, Aunt T, and Cousin Thad with our supervisor's family.

Cultural Corner: Many people back home have expressed curiosity in the food here, so I thought I would share about it some in our cultural corner. The food here is very tasty 95% of the time! There is very little that I do not like or even love to eat. That said, it is also very different from our food in America. The staple food here is rice. For many, a meal is not complete without it and some even think that it is impossible to get full without eating rice or at least noodles. When they hear that in America we often go days without eating either they are amazed. The most common meats here are chicken, fish, and pork. Usually the meat is cooked in a curry or on a stick. It tastes very good but feelings about bones and fat are different here so one must be careful when biting into a large piece of meat.

Some of my favorite dishes here include: lephet-tho, Shan kaw sway, ohno kaw sway, and mohinga. Lephet-tho is a salad dish made from cabbage, fried bean snack, tomatoes, onion, oil, and pickled tea leaves. It is the perfect combination of spice and crunch! Shan kaw sway is a noodle dish that is also a little spicy and usually served with chicken. Ohno kaw saw is another noodle dish that is often eaten in the morning. It is made with coconut milk and is on the sweeter side. Mohinga is a very traditional dish and many local people will name it as their favorite. It is a breakfast soup of sorts made with noodles, eggs, cilantro, fish paste, and chili. It is delicious and thankfully not fishy tasting at all!

To drink we mostly have water but coffee mix, Coca Cola and orange soda are popular choices for the locals. My favorite local drinks are lime juice and laphet-yee. Here they make fresh lime juice mixed with a little sugar water as a tasty refreshing drink. Laphet-yee is regular hot black tea mixed with a large amount of sweetened condensed milk and sugar.

As I mentioned most of the food here is extremely tasty and usually very cheap. There are however, a few new dishes that made the list of most interesting foods I’ve ever eaten. These include chicken neck on a stick and chicken foot. They both tasted surprisingly ok but the texture took a little more getting used to. Luckily, these are more special foods and not ones we encounter on a regular basis.

Chicken Feet- Yum!

Regardless of where or what we eat it is always an adventure. I have very much enjoyed tasting so much of what this country has to offer. Now the next step is just learning how to cook it all!

Conclusion:  I hope you have enjoyed reading about what Leah and I are up to here in SEA. Sometimes it is difficult to cut down all of the new experiences and amazing things that happen into a reasonable blog post, so bear with me if you find mine a little long!

I also hope that through this blog it is clear that the Father is working in this place. His words are true that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Please continue to lift up Leah, myself, and our supervisors as we seek to wisely invest our time and effort in the people here. Speak to the Father on behalf of the people here and ask that His light will pervade the darkness that millions still live in. It is only through His power that the world will hear the Good News.

Life Lately

Thailand was a good time for rest, orientation, and talking with friends and family. Still, we missed our home here in country and were more than ready to get back. Leah and I both received our 70 day business visas with no problems which is a huge blessing.

We got back in country on Tuesday night and had a busy day of teaching the next day. We teach at a school for the Good Book called AMBC each Wednesday. Leah teaches the advanced English class and I teach the beginners. Afterwards our supervisor teaches a class about how to plant fellowship groups. AMBC is a wonderful place that I have come to love very much. This is the school that Eldon* started and runs. Our friend Erin,* Eldon’s sister, is a student in Leah’s advanced English class there as well. There are roughly 40 students ages 16-33, who are like-minded brothers and sisters. Some grew up in believing families and others just recently have joined the Father’s family- regardless of background they are eager to learn more about the Good Book and how to share the Good News with those who have not heard. AMBC is filled with joy and deep faith, its students are an incredible encouragement to us both. Please lift up this place and its students. Ask the Father to continue to provide for the school and that the students will continue to learn and grow while there.

The AMBC Students!

Erin and I

We continue to study language and are becoming better friends with our language teachers. On Tuesdays, our teacher is Sue.* Sue is a beautiful local and great teacher. She has a real heart to help people learn her language. Sue is a devout believer of the main religion here. She has heard but is resistant to the Good News. Recently, her mother passed away and both Sue and her father have been experiencing trouble sleeping. Would you talk to the Father about Sue and her family? Ask for comfort, peace, seeking minds, and open hearts. Also lift up the time that Leah and I have with her- that it would be fruitful with opportunities to continue sharing with her. On Thursdays, our teacher is Daisy.* She is a like-minded local. Daisy is very funny and has been a good cultural informant for us. We hope to be an encouragement to her and would ask that you also lift up our time with her.

This past Monday, we began teaching another English class. This one is for the business where Leah volunteers as an English consultant. The students are all interested in becoming workers in the tourist industry as receptionists, tour guides, waiters, and chefs. We have around ten students and all but one are part of the Family. They have already taken us out for a day of sightseeing around our city. I am excited for the friends we hope they will become. This leads me to an area of ministry that we are really seeking the Father’s guidance in at this time. Leah and I are being led to start a small group that will meet once a week here in our city. We are hoping that many of the young people we have already met will be interested in being a part of whatever we start. We only have the time to commit to one group and so want to be very intentional with where, when, who, and how. Will you ask the Father to guide us and give us His vision for this work?

Another friend we met this week is a young woman named Pam.* She is absolutely incredible and has a wonderful story. Pam is from the northern part of our country but felt the Father leading her to do ministry near our city where many have not heard the Truth yet. She moved by herself to a new area, built a house, and has been sharing with those she lives near. Now each week a group meets in her home to fellowship. She and the others who are like-minded have faced much persecution but they continue to be faithful. Throughout our time here we will travel to her area to share with the people there and put on some English camps where our lessons will be based on stories from the Good Book. Please lift her, her ministry, and fellowship group up.

One last friend I want to tell you about is another young woman named Fran.* I met her in the oddest way and it is clear to me that the Father placed her in my path for  a reason. A few weeks ago I ventured downtown alone to pick up Leah’s camera. It had been damaged and she had taken it to a shop to get repaired. We needed to pick it up that day but she was sick and could not go, so I went out for my first solo adventure. Downtown is quite far from our house and I was going to a place I had never been before. It was quite the adventure and I really enjoyed it but the whole trip ended up taking 6 hours, 5 buses and a taxi to complete. Needless to say I was pretty tuckered out by the time I was almost home. This is where Fran comes in. I was on the last bus I took and incredibly out of it when a young woman came and sat down next to me. I said hello and asked a question in Burmese, to my astonishment she responded in English! It was a glorious sound to me at that point. We began to talk and ended up exchanging phone numbers- something I had never done on a bus with a stranger before. Since then we have gotten together twice. The first time we spent a whole afternoon together. Our conversations are good for her to practice her English and for us to practice our Burmese. Fran is Chinese but her family has lived in our country for generations. She speaks 3 languages fluently and 2 fairly well! We have found out that she has heard parts of the Good News but not all of it. She remains lost. Our hope is that we can continue meeting with her and sharing the Truth. Please be lifting Fran and our time with her up.

Fran, Leah, and I

Cultural Corner: Another fun difference between our country and America lies in the world of fashion. Here women rarely wear short skirts or shorts. Instead, most women wear long skirts called longyis (pronounced lone-gee). Longyis come in a million different prints and colors. Each people group has their own traditional woven patterns that are often used for the longyi fabric. Often times they have matching three quarters length sleeve shirts on top or a simple T-shirt. The skirts can get hot but they are really beautiful and I quite enjoy wearing them.

The fun thing about longyis is that they aren’t just for girls. That’s right folks- the men wear them too. I’ll be honest that it took some getting used to to see over half of the men on the street in what look like skirts to us. The men’s longyis are not as bright and colorful. They are usually plaid and in more muted tones. Another difference is in the way they are tied. The girls wrap theirs and the men tie theirs in this weird folded knot thing. If they are playing sports or doing another activity where a longyi might get in the way the men simply fold them and tie them up into a sort of loin-cloth/shorts version of the longyi. This style is not acceptable for women, however. On the top a white tank-top, button up shirt, or t-shirt are all common pairings.

An example of the men in longyis

For everyone the shoe of choice is flip-flops. Umbrellas are a must have accessory year round- if not for the rain, then for protection from the hot sun. Bags are also acceptable for both men and women to carry. Though usually the men carry more masculine over the shoulder or messenger type bags. Thin gold bracelets, rings, or earrings are common and the girls often pull their hair up in pretty bun nets or twist it around large colored combs. Their style may be different from ours but it is often quite pretty. It has been a lot of fun learning new styles from the people here.

In Conclusion:

We have now been in country a month and a half. It is crazy to think about how much this place already feels comfortable and even normal. Things that I saw 4 weeks ago and ogled at don’t even phase me any more. It is a good feeling. The Father has been incredibly faithful through this time. Doors have been open, people clearly placed in our path, and His presence felt. Join me in giving thanks to Him for each of these blessings. Please continue to talk to the Father about us and the work we are doing here. You are each appreciated greatly!

Well that was quick... A synopsis of our first month

Whew! After the difficult first few weeks and subsequent spiritual victory the second half of the first month flew by! The semblance of a routine is beginning to be formed and we are settling into life here. I am happy to report that we can now get mostly anywhere in the city that we could ever want or need to go to by taxi and usually by bus or line car as well. Our conversations with people have grown from roughly 10 seconds (“Hi, how are you?”) to over ten minutes long, assuming they have lots of family to talk about. This is not to brag- we have so, so far to go- but I am learning to appreciate each victory, no matter how small. So please celebrate and thank the Father with me for these victories!

Culture Corner: I will share some cultural tidbits or funny anecdotes every so often that will give you an idea of living here in SEA. Let me take a moment to share about the transportation in the city as it is amusing and very different from even large cities in the USA. To start with there are seemingly few followed or enforced traffic laws, except perhaps that buses can do what they want and that a hand stuck out in a wave removes the rudeness from any following action.  Leah and I’s main modes of transportation are taxis, buses and line cars, trishaws, and of course walking. Taxis are not too expensive usually $4-8 and a great time for us to practice our language. Depending on the time of day they are also the fastest way for us to go longer distances.

Buses and line cars are my personal favorite and very cheap (10-20 cents!). The buses here are usually cast-offs from surrounding countries and whatever is necessary to keep them running is acceptable to all parties. They usually feature a large bouquet of green leaves strapped to the front on the outside and at least one picture of Buddha at the front on the inside- both practices are thought to bring good luck. There are no posted routes or pamphlets that tell you which bus to take where. Instead, a man called a spare leans out the side of the bus as it pulls to a stop and yells out in a long (and very confusing for foreigners) string of destinations. If you, by some miracle, happen to hear where you ware wanting to go you can hop aboard or if like us, you often can’t decipher a word they say, you can walk up to the spare and while shrugging your shoulders say in a questioning manner the name of the place you would like to go. The spare will then respond by nodding and pushing you onto the bus or will shake his head and perhaps helpfully spout out a number for the proper bus. The numbers on the buses are the one saving grace, as once you have figured out which numbers go where, you have at least a mental bus route map. Once on the proper bus, another man who is in charge of taking the money will track you down wherever you are sitting or standing to collect your fare. You then must pay a lot of attention to where you are so that you don’t miss the correct stop, which of course is never announced. Depending on the time of day buses will be practically empty or stuffed to the brim. If someone has room to breathe and exist then they will fit on the bus- this is the unspoken rule. It does not matter if you are leaning over 3 people and a baby to hold onto a hand ring or rail- you will fit. It also does not matter if you are immobile and touching six others of any age or gender- you will fit. Line cars are exactly the same, however, with just one worker. Also instead of the typical bus they are trucks with covered beds and benches lining the sides. These can hold over 35 people at one time (I know because I once counted) and the space rules apply in a similar fashion. Though line cars are usually preferable as they are usually cheaper and cooler given their more open-air nature. Depending on your feelings about personal space this mode of transportation may sound very fun or horrific. I fall into the very fun category and luckily so does Leah. It may sound crazy but we both really love the buses and line cars and are glad they are around.

The final fun mode of transportation is called a trishaw and they seem to be Leah’s favorite. A trishaw is a bicycle with a cart attached that can hold 1-5 people depending on size and your willingness to squeeze. They are powered by a man who peddles you to your destination, weaving in and out of traffic, often causing the rider, at least if its me, a minor heart attack. They are only used for shorter distances and are relatively cheap when you think about the work the poor fellow driving must do. Leah finds them very fun and I would too, I think, if I fit in them better. Unfortunately, I seem to have hips that are too wide to fit comfortably in the seats. This usually leaves me wedged in at a weird angle wincing in pain at every bump. There must be some trick as I have seen people larger than me ride them and have a seemingly grand old time. Perhaps by the time we leave I will have mastered riding a trishaw, until then they remain a fun but slightly painful way to get around.

Let’s get down to business: All funny transportation realities aside, I can assure you that it’s not all funny business here. We teach at a school for the Good Book each Wednesday, go to language class Tuesday and Thursday, and Erin* comes over once or twice a week to do extra language tutoring. We also visit our local markets frequently to buy food and build relationships with the shop owners. A few weeks ago we bought a bike and the family that sold it to us are becoming our friends. Anytime we go to the market we make sure to walk to their bike shop and say hello. One of the brothers speaks some English, which has allowed us to develop the relationship further than most. In addition to the bike store family we have a few friends at various eateries and our favorite fruit stand as well.  We are both looking forward to a time when our language is good enough to verbally share the Good News with them all.

This past weekend we had the opportunity, along with our supervisors, their girls, Eldon, Erin, and a new friend named Denise, to go in the northeastern part of the country. The area features beautiful mountains and a large lake. We were there visiting a fellow worker who manages a water filtration business there. The company has a farm and a factory in separate villages. The large farm acts as a model farm for locals who can come and see what all the workers have growing and get ideas for their own farms. Some other projects the company is involved in include raising, selling, and setting up sustainable rabbit breeding programs in surrounding villages. The rabbits provide a sustainable and reasonable sized amount of meet for a single family- helping add needed protein to the diet of those living in homes where no refrigeration is available. The company runs a similar program for stink-free pigs. I can attest to the fact that these pigs really don’t stink (it has to do with the way their pens are build and padded). Additionally they grow, dry, and encapsulate a leaf called moringa that contains loads of vitamins, minerals, protein, and calcium. This is given and sold to villagers who lack needed nutritional value in their diets. The company also makes a soap that treats lice and scabies. The crux of the business, however are the water filters that they produce and sell from their factory. The water filters are special made with sustainable elements and filter out everything from impurities to bacteria. Each filter costs about $12 and can last anywhere from 1-5 years depending on the quality of water it is filtering. I’m telling you folks the more I learned about the company the more I was amazed at everything they do. Please ask me about it sometime as I would love to share much more.

The trip allowed us the opportunity to tour the company, attend fellowship on the lake, and encourage a group of women from two of the smaller ethnic groups that live there. We did a craft, sang songs, ate together, and studied some women of the Good Book. It was an encouragement and joy to teach these women. I chose to talk about two women we all relate to in some way, our sisters Mary and Martha. Please lift up the women we met with and the fellowship on the lake as they continue to grow in their relationships to the Father.

It is with the above-mentioned company that I will get to work for the next five months doing some web design and other related projects. I will have the opportunity to travel back there a few more times and hope to have a site up and running by the time I head home in January. This will pair beautifully with my international business major and allow me to help a business that does much for the surrounding communities. Please talk to the Father about this company. Ask that He strengthens its workers and provides success for its programs. Please also lift up my involvement with them and that web design will go smoothly despite a lack of good internet here.

Right now, I am in Thailand on a visa run. This next one will last 70 days which gives us a lot more time to dig in and do work. Coupled with the visa run is an orientation/training for our program. It is a good time for us to rest up, use fast internet, and stock up on some amenities not available in our country. Please continue to lift up this entire journey- from our friends and family back home, to us here, our fellow workers, national friends, and those we are trying to share with. Ask for boldness, courage, and an abundance of opportunities for the Truth to be made known. 

Taking a boat to church!

The scenery at the lake was beautiful.

A typical home for the people on the water.