BSF Testimonies

The year has come to an end for the study of John in Bible Study Fellowship. The women in my group (see picture above of some of my lovely women)are so dear. Many are new Christians and on fire as they are soaking in God! A couple have been Christians longer and they took on a big sister, leadership role within our group. And others are "checking God out" and eager to know more. My group started in the middle of the study and as we had our last fellowship together last Tuesday, I just praise God for how our group became so close. I praise God for each woman in my group and what a blessing they were to have. I facilitated this group of women, yet God has taught me so much through them and their testimonies. Some led from behind the scenes. Others were eager to share on the personal questions, allowing the group to get deep and real in their own personal answers. When we were struggling to get the right answer on a Biblical Truth, a couple women always piped in with their answer. A couple ladies were true prayer warriors and they would keep up with the others in the group...letting them know that they are praying and showing them true love from a sister in Christ. God opened my ears as well as the ears of the others in the group to understand the different accents of people's English. One gal consistently typed up the BSF lessons in Thai so that those in the group who could hardly speak English, let alone read and understand could still do the lessons each week. Another Thai national, would translate in Thai what was being discussed withing the group each week, so that they were not lost in the conversation. I watched as a couple gals, where the language barrier was huge, show true perseverance. I have been able to build close friendships with them in the process as we both fumble around with the other's language. On sharing night, I heard many other testimonies. Testimonies which made me cry and see God's hand in others' lives around me. Here a couple examples:
One gal in my group will not eat for a couple days at a time so that she will be able to pay for the transportation to and from BSF. She values spending time in God's Word with other believers that much. The sad thing is that it may only cost $1.50 for her to get to and from BSF on a given BSF night. But to see an eagerness like that is amazing. God is transforming her life. He is her daily bread and He quenches her thirst. "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."-Philippians 4:11-12

Another lady shared how, with the men's side opening up this January, they had the right age group open in the Children's program for her son to also be able to go. During the time of the bombings and other explosives going off, she got a phone call from the school that the school was in a danger zone. They were trying to get the children out. She was a wreck, knowing that it will be extremely dangerous just driving over to get to her son. When she called her son (7 years old), he responded with peace. In Thai he calmly told his mother that she need not to worry about him because God is in control and He has a perfect plan. God loves him and is taking care of him. He was okay if he went to heaven that day or if he got to leave the school in his mothers arms. He continued to remind his mom about what they are learning in BSF about God. What an incredible testimony this little man had on his mother, all of us hearing it from her, and all the people in the school who were terrified about being shot at or blown up at any given second. God is at work. "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."-Isaiah 26:3

I am in awe of the Lord and His work within the ministry. All we need is Jesus, no matter what happens in our life on earth...we can be satisfied and complete in Christ. These testimonies prove it. Because no matter the pain, the joy in Christ is greater. And as we rest in Jesus' palms we know that He will either take us out of the pain or He will give us grace and strength to endure it. I pray that people realize the comfort and completeness we have in Jesus. Life would be a nightmare if we did not walk it with God!

Bibles for Mahatthai English Class

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”-Romans 8:28

I go to Mahatthai 3 every Thursday and Saturday evening to teach English to the women and children. On Thursdays, I am teaching them the phonetic sounds of each of the letters in the English Alphabet. Today we will be learning Q, R, and S. By next month we will hopefully be through the letter sounds and ready to start reading. My mama is looking for Bibles that have pictures and are used for children in first grade who are learning to read. Will you pray for God’s guidance and direction to the perfect Bible’s for our class? Each Thursday, we will be learning to read and understand English through the use of these Bibles. Will you also pray for the shipping costs and for this ministry to always have enough funding in the years to come to continue to provide Bibles for each student to be able to keep? Thank you so much!!!

Natural English Trip To Hua Hin

My most advanced English Class is a real close group. Two are Christians and three are not. The English Class is just the opening door to relationships being built where I am able to share Christ with my students in this community. A couple weekends ago, my class went on a trip together to Hua Hin. We visited temples, danced, conversated over really good meals, and grew closer to one another. In my monthly letter, I was able to tell you about my jog with P'Nat (girl in the blue with the fun purse). A jog where we were able to talk about the Lord. The differences in our beliefs and she genuinely was interested in the assurance I had in Christ as my Lord and Savior...the Only God. She was interested in the fact that my faith is not based on merit or favor. You see the day before, we went to a temple, saw a reclining Buddha and then a line of Buddha idols that represented each day of the week. She shared with me that depending on what day you were born is the idol that you pay respects to. Well, I was born on Sunday (I know this because I was born on Mother's Day and Mother's day is always Sunday ;) ) and if one is born on Sunday, they are to have good vision. I laughed as I thought about the fact that I have been focused on having an eternal perspective-keeping my focus on Christ...with my complete dependence on Him...I have to have Good vision..right?! haha. I wanted to stand, but P'Nat insisted that I sit by the Sunday Idol and she take my picture. IT was awkward, because I had to make sure not to be looking like I was worshipping the idol and all of a sudden I had about five people waiting to "pay respects" to this very idol. (see my awkward pic to the right) haha. But, through this time, I was able to understand her beliefs when sharing about THE ONLY GOD the following day on the jog. She was able to be more real with me when genuinely wanting to know more. I saw a light in her...a desire to believe and understand for the first time. Will you pray with me that we will have more opportunities, with all walls down, to talk about God? For her heart to be open and come to know God as the ONE and ONLY GOD? P'Pac, is the only man in the group (see pics above). He is high up in the Navy. Recently he has been stressed and drained with the political situation,as this affects his passions and his heart for his country that he fights to protect. P'Pac is a caring, fun loving man, who knows a lot about Jesus and the Bible. Yet sadly, I have not seen in him a desire to believe in Jesus as the one true God. I watch P'Pac and I see a man who feels accomplished, as he is a very good man who puts others first and He does not see the need for a Savior. To him, he has gained a lot of merit. So, will you pray with me for a miracle? Will you pray with me, that even if it means the political unrest getting way worse, that God will allow something to bring P'Pac to his knees? That will be the day tears are flowing down my face with joy...when P'Pac realizes his need for a savior and I know that I will see Him in heaven. =) On a side note about P'Pac: I have to say that he is respectful of my faith. Before every meal, as the man/leader of our group, He would make sure Mary (their previous teacher) or I would pray before anyone touched the food. ;-) P'Hua (see lady in the pictures with a pink hat and white shirt), is a single mother, with a hard past and a woman who works hard to raise her daughters well. P'Hua, is reading the Bible now. She is inquisitive about different incidences in the Bible. She has been given the truth. She seems open to it. Will you pray with me that she is open to coming to more Bible Studies, our weekly outreach events,and to church? Will you pray that she makes that final step of giving her life to the Lord? She is the closest of these three to come to giving her entire life to Jesus. She is on the verge...and I feel it! P'Toi (lady above who has her picture taken at the beach), is a dear friend of mine. God has allowed me to play a close daughter role in her life since being in Thailand. P'Toi is a Christian. She is the only person in her family who believes in Jesus as God. P'Toi used to attend a legalistic church that told her some horrible things. She is now seeing that being a Christian is about her own relationship with God. These past few months I have been able to have her come with me to Bible Study Fellowship. She is always yearning to know more and soak in more of God's Word. Now, P'Toi is going to the University to study the Bible. She is eager and on fire. Anytime something involves a Bible Study or talking about the Lord, she will desire to be there. Something fun about P'Toi is that she will dance with me and laugh with me always. She is the life of a party. She is a people person and she is not afraid to share with anyone about her God. P'Pha (see pic above of gal singing) is a mature Christian. Her and her husband were one of the first to begin attending our church three years ago. P'Pha is involved in our ministries and she plays a leadership role in this class from a behind the scenes perspective...its like she leads without people realizing it. One thing about P'Pha is that she will always be a consistent Christian, a consistent testimony and witness for the Lord amongst this English Class...as I will be leaving and another teacher will be coming, etc. Its exciting to watch God use her! These people are so dear to me. I pray for continued opportunities outside of class to shine the light of Christ; to share Christ. Ultimately, I pray that they will all come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. I pray that they will earnestly seek Him and find their security and joy come from Him alone. These Verses (for my students) are on my heart: "If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea."-Isaiah 48:18 "Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God."-Isaiah 50:10 The Video Below shows you a live version of my classes' relationship. I hope you feel like you are walking up those steps with us, joining in the conversation, checking out the view and singing all the way up (in a "Sahbye Sahbye" (chill) way). Just ignore my commentary...it's kind of annoying. =)

News of Napada Handicrafts

First of All, we can praise the Lord for blessing Napada Handicrafts with the ability to grow. We are now an exporting company and we have been able to hire a few more ladies from Mahatthai 3(the poverty area we work in). Napada not only makes handbags, but men's shirts, other small items, and cards. We are praying how we can expand in the company. Praying God leads us in how to expand in the products we make as well as praying for opportunities of new locations where distribution can be provided.

As I have stated multiple times in previous blog posts and letters, with the political unrest, people are shaken. The women in Mahatthai are worried, as their husbands and/ sons have gotten involved in the political fighting. They have been in dangerous places. Certain days these women were unsure if their loved ones would come home alive or not come home ever again. I remind you of this so you can get a feel for what is bringing people to the Lord. This new lady, P'Lik, that we were able to hire part time(a mother of one of my students), says that she does not know Jesus. But whenever there is trouble (there is now!) or she is scared (she is now)about something, He is who she prays too. At Napada we have devotions every morning. P'Lik is now asking questions. We can praise the Lord, because she asked P'Kieow for a Bible. She is hungry to know more. To know God. To understand who our security is in. To know the same peace that we can have in the circumstances around us. Will you pray with me that this lady will not just stop at the questioning phase? Will you pray with me that as she reads the Bible, as she talks with our staff and the other Napada women, as she attends the devotions in the mornings, that she will be given insight and clear understanding? Will you pray with me for the result of P'Lik coming to know Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior? And will you Praise the Lord with me that through this ministry a few of the women are now coming to church and a couple have already accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior?!!! God Answers prayers and He is working in amazingly unexpected ways!!

Understanding God in the Midst of Suffering

As a Christian there is ONE question that I always get:
How can you believe in a God when there is so much suffering in the World?
This year God has been giving me enough of an understanding that I can answer this question and as a result it has grown my faith. I have a new excitement in regards to God in the midst of this suffering in the world and I am thrilled to share it with you!

As I have brought up before: Suffering results from a sinful world. Even the earth is affected by sin which explains why there are natural disasters. When we "sheep" stop following our Shepherd(Jesus), who is leading us from the front, we choose to fall off the right and pure path that leads us to freedom-out of the bondage of sin. It may be our own sin, it may be another's sin that is affecting us, or it may be the sin of the country, or of the world in general. But regardless..we live in a sinful world and as a result there will be suffering all around us.

The Good news is that God uses this suffering to help us in multiple ways:
1. To grow one's own faith (ex. the blind man Job came to believe in Christ as the One true God through His suffering)
2. To grow one's faith to a deeper level (Mary and Martha-with Lazarus' death/Resurrection)
3. Suffering will be used so a special work of God shall be revealed to the world through our suffering. (ex. Jesus' death on the cross-suffering the greatest depth of suffering any human has ever experienced)

When I heard in detail the description of Jesus' Crucifixion, the pain that was described sent chills through my entire body. Yet did you know that in the midst of the most excruciating physical and emotional and spiritual suffering one could ever go through, Jesus was alert and His focus was on others?! He was focused (as He still is today) on caring for others' needs and how to best help them. I fall to my knees in humility and awe, thanking Jesus for his example and deep love for me.

So Ladies and Gentlemen we can See God in Suffering! The cross is our answer to suffering because it was part of God's loving plan to deliver His people from their sins. So remember, even when He seems silent we can have faith that He is at work (ex. When Jesus was being crucified God was silent for 3 hours and a great work was being completed--the key to our salvation!). God is here with us through out our trials (like with the disciples on the boat in the storm). He cannot bear to leave us struggling alone and therefore, He is with us. Now we must realize that there is a caution for us. Sometimes God's presence is manifested in unexpected ways and we fail to recognize it. So friends, we have to listen and hear God! To do so we must spend time with Him making Him part of our entire day!
When we suffer for God-He will comfort us at our lowest point. As Christians we will suffer in the world because the Bible says that the world hated Him (Jesus) and therefore they will hate us. We will face persecution. But, we will not face it alone.
God Cares. He will comfort us and He will cause our suffering (physical, social, mental, and spiritual) to work for the highest good. He will take us in His hand either by healing us or by giving us grace to endure the suffering. God will use the very instrument that will reveal His love, power and glory. Praise the Lord!
My favorite illustrative picture is that of ME in Jesus' palm and Jesus in God's hand. Jesus is secured with grip and as believers we are secure forever in this double grip of God!

With this knowledge we must take action! We must trust and follow God, not nervously, but by laying down in the palm of His hand (Psalm 121:8-"The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more." In Him we have security--He is our Gate =) )

As a Result we can have a true and perfect Joy in God. The comfort we receive in Him is greater than the pain. We see God's glory surrounding us because God's glory is goodness and greatness of God so that we can see it! God uses Suffering to reveal His glory and it is a glory that brings Joy to our entire beings!!

So My prayer is that as believers we will:
1. Wait on God's perfect timing! Remember, Jesus waited two days after hearing Lazarus was sick before going to Mary and Martha. If he would not have, then Lazarus would not have died, there would not have been the many testimonies from others of Jesus raising him from the dead. So, God has us in the right place at the right time and we must trust Him!
2. We must have complete dependence on God-living for Him. We may not fully understand Him but we need to live by faith and not by sight. Because we know that we can trust God and faith waits on God's timing.
3. We must take God's peace. Not allowing circumstances around us to take our peace away but extending God's peace through the circumstances. For God's peace calms hearts and takes away fears. Jesus is our comforter and peace in the world. We can rest in the fact that even when it is painful, God's will is perfect.

I love this Quote: "Only one life, twill soon be past, Only what's Done for Christ will last". We are looking eternally as we complete God's work for us with Joy. Remember, Jesus is our example as He did this very thing on the cross and it resulted in the greatest joy any person has ever experienced!

Today we can be excited about our lives with Christ as our foundation! Praise God for being the Vine. As we are the branches (John 15- 'I am the vine, you are the branches...') our strength, joy and peace come from God alone (our vine).

I will remain intimately connected to Him. I will go about each of my days, even as I think of other things,keeping my heart remaining in Christ; remaining conscious of His presence and my being dependant on Him. For in Him alone and through any kind of suffering, I will be fruitful, faithful, and filled with complete peace and joy. Will you choose to do so too?

With this understanding and joy, Today I can stand up in the circumstances around Bangkok, be strong in the ministry I am a part of, and let go of my future. God has it all figured out and I am growing in my relationship with Him daily as He is my Best Friend. He is doing a great work and I am apart of it! Are you laying everything at His feet too? If not...what is stopping you or what are you waiting for?! =) Join me in Praising God today!!

Steadfast Faith In The Midst of Turmoil

As you know, Thailand has been going through a painful political strife. Above is a picture that the news took of one of the many incidents that happened today. I want to give you an idea-even though it is small-of what is going on. You see, People are angry. With the bombs and shootings, people are living in fear, and we do not know what will happen next. Tonight there is a curfew at 8:00pm until 6:00am. Over 150 people were killed today. As we were leaving the office, everyone was out trying to get food. We do not know if there will be food tomorrow. People may not open up their shops. Stores are closing for fear of getting their stores broken into and having everything stolen because people are desperate for food. Many banks are closed either because of bombs and being on fire or for future safety. People that I know are in these dangerous areas. One lady and her family were inside a bank that was on fire. I have not heard if they are okay or not yet.

Emotionally people are disheartened. Many are walking around in a gloom; a sadness is over the land of smiles. Others are so sad that they are reacting with anger and aggression (kind of like a "road rage" reaction with low tolerance for anything). And it feels completely dark here. It seems like a nightmare that we need to be awoken from. But, it is reality.

So, now that I have updated you on today's happenings (physically, emotionally, and spiritually)-the nightmare surrounding us, I want to share with you what God has revealed to me today as I spent time with Him in His Word.

He has shown me today a lot about faith. Faith should be based on "Who God is" and not "What he does". Thailand is in an awful situation. God seems so silent. God seems so distant. People question "Why are you not stopping this God?" These are tough questions in the reality around us--the pure darkness. People want the visible miracle now...
I have some encouraging insights. To often we base out faith on what He does…expecting Him to work in the ways that would be—“how we feel would be best”. But God is different. He is never changing-He is and always will be the same each and every moment. He never stops caring for us, loving us, and desiring the best for us. Everything about Him stays the same no matter the circumstance or situations around us. Today, I was reading (Acts 27-28:10) and I realized that sometimes God delivers us from the scary situation but sometimes God delivers us through it. Today He is with us…but we may have to go through the pain, the suffering, the torture, until we reach that destination of deliverance (tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, or when we meet Him face to face in heaven). We do not need to live in fear...

For I also was reminded of the invisible workings of God amidst a moment of fear. This was in 2 Kings 6:8-20 where Elisha’s servant was full of fear because a huge army of chariots and horses were surrounding them-he was fearful of the army of men. Elisha asked God to open his eyes, God did…and this servant was able to see an army of chariots and horses of fire—probably making up 10s of thousands of thousands of thousands (see Psalms 68:17)-all surrounding them—filling them with protection—God's unseen army. Sometimes we do not see what God is doing or how He is working. But, we can rest in the fact that He is working! This applies to Thailand now. I know now that our ministry here may be changing in the sense that we are coming up along side people who are now covered with sadness, anger, and worry (more so than before). We will need to be Christ’s hands and feet in a different way. Sometimes we do not see what God is doing or how He is working. But, we can rest in the fact that He is working! I pray that we show the people who cross our paths who Christ is by our steadfast faith in the fact that He is unchanging; with a faith in who He is and not just by the big miracles he performs (those miracles do come when you least expect it--and I am praying for one! ;)).

Today, I have been given a sense of peace, while taking precautions to be safe, I can rest in the fact that God can "calm the storms-with a single word" if He desires. He is above this turmoil. And if He doesn't--His eyes are better than mine--and I will faithfully look to Him each step of the way. For, I have faith in WHO MY GOD IS!

Thank you all for keeping Thailand and our ministry in your prayers. One person said that they were "specifically praying that we as a team are being a light in such a dark place." I love this specific prayer because that is where God is going to use us now. People are not being able to hold up their facade of a happy/smiley, easy go lucky look with all the tension and turmoil around us. It is forcing people to expressing their inside thoughts and it will help us get to the heart with those around us...WE all NEED God. The only person that can bring a full peace and joy to your heart amidst the darkness everywhere we step. So amongst the darkness, will you all pray with me that my teammates and I can be this light-Jesus’ light. Pray that others want this light too!
We can remain confident that God is watching over us...He is never changing. In this steadfast faith I stand. Reminding me of my life verse: "I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."-Psalm 16:8.

We can rest assured of Who God is as we sing:
"Though Troubles Assail Us"
"Through troubles assail us and dangers affright,
through friends should all fail us and foes all unite,
yet one thing secures us, what ever betide
the promise assures us, The Lord will provide

The birds without garner or storehouse, are fed;
from them let us learn to trust God for our bread,
His saints what is fitting shall ne'er be denied
so long as 'tis written, The Lord will provide

When Satan assails us to stop us our path
and courage all fails us, we triumph by faith.
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
this heart cheering promise, The Lord will provide

No strength of our own and no goodness we claim;
yet, since we have known of the Savior's great name,
in this our strong tower for safety we hide:
the Lord is our power, The Lord will provide."

Ram 1 University Recruitment! =)

Many of you have heard about our Campus Ministry. During the next couple weeks, it is crucial we are on Campus promoting our UCF club. It is at this time that the NEW University Students are registering for their classes. So some of the Thai staff went to a training to be able to help the students register. Yesterday, we went on Campus and were their promoting our club as well as helping them register.

I have that recruiter/sales person personality. I am not shy to talk to new people and if I believe in something, I will promote it. So, we are walking on campus and I start saying "Swadeekha" (hello) to the people passing by. Well, apparently that is not Thai. People look and smile at one another, but you do not say hello to each other. I choose not to care because Sarah and I were both there more as the bait. You see, everyone is obsessed with foreigners in Thailand. And so, we were to be the bait for them to want to come to the club (Whatever gets them to come and hear God's Word, right? ;-) ) I went up to people and shared with them about our club. In my broken Thai, I shared with them that we get together and play games, eat delicious food, study the Bible, play music (everyone has an ear for music so we have some awesome jam out sessions =) ), play sports, become really close friends, and go on some service projects throughout the year. Then One of my Thai friends would continue in Thai saying...well I do not know =).

I have to laugh now, because my open way of saying hello, walking up to people, and inviting other people promoting their clubs to our club (apparently you can only be apart of one club...I still do not understand this one)embarrassed my shy Thai teammates. But, it made all the other Thais smile and chuckle.

Yesterday was a hot and humid one. I believe that I had three orange juices and three water bottles in a matter of just three hours. And looking back I can praise the Lord for the energy He provided our team with as we were actively on our feet. Now, together we have to pray for people to walk into the doors of our club, learn who He truly is and accept Him as their own personal Lord and Savior.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."-Romans 8:28