Day Camp for Children at Mahatthai 3

Praise the LORD! Today was perfect. No injuries...Safe Travels....excellent bonding moments....and smoothness...Thank you Jesus for being our protector and provider. I love you Lord.

Today we had our Saturday morning prayer time at 9:00am. By 10:00am we were at the field playing games with the children again (It was the same set up but with different games). They played some soccer and Frisbee. We had banana relays, a close pin tag game, water baloon shooting, Duck Duck Squirt (with water guns) and a stacking cups/plates game. My team had the most children (we were the awesome elephants with fun team spirit!)so we lost most of the relay games. However, when it came to the close pin tag game...we kicked some monkey, tiger, and fish booty! Our team had 73 close pins at the end and the others had 20-30 in the end. Can you tell?...I am so proud of my elephants. =)

We ate lunch at the field before heading over to the water park. The children had a blast. I ended up with four girls who insisted on swimming laps in the lazy river for two hours. One would say, "eek song rob" meaning two more laps. Then when we finished one lap she would up it to four! So, we just kept going till the last half hour. I could not believe swimming laps for three hours could be that exciting when there were slides and water play areas all around. But, it made these girls happy...so it was the perfect way to spend my three hours at this water park too. As I looked around I saw the children attach themselves to each of the students and staff that are here from Wisconsin. Watching them bond (even with the language barrier)was amazing. I keep watching and thanking the Lord for this team being here. I Thank Him for the new opportunities of ways to spend time with these children. There are a group of children/teens that we hardly ever see anymore that were there today. They are re-bonding with us through these fun activities and we can praise the Lord for the newly opened doors! (sorry I did not get any pictures at the water park because I was swimming those laps the entire time ;-) So just imagine this part of the day in your head!)

After the water park we came back to the office and fed the children dinner. Then we took the Wisconsin team around our neighborhood night market to buy souvenirs for their family members. It was a day in the sun and a day of smiling faces. A perfect day to remember.

Tomorrow we are going to have a normal day of Sunday Activities...until it is time to get ready for the Neighborhood block party. This party is to set up opportunities for us to get to know our neighbors and break down any walls or barriers that they may have up. So, first please pray that from the coffee house and such that others come to church tomorrow and worship with us. And then second pray for the block party. Pray for there to be a excellent turnout, all walls to come down, and relationships to blossom. God Bless you!

Games with Mahatthai Children and Coffee House!

Today I met the team from Wisconsin. We are so blessed to have them here. These next couple weeks are going to be full of activities and service in areas where we normally may not be able to get to on a weekly basis. Together we worked hard preparing and planning for the evening events. Then at 5:00pm I went with half the team to Mahatthai. We were able to rent out a covered game area for our kid games. Doris and Shantelle (see their pic above) from Wisconsin were the game planners and they had many games set up for the children. We had about 35 children at the game night. We split them into four teams (the monkeys, tigers, fish, and elephants). After an hour and a half of games, we fed the children dinner and took them back home by 8:00p.m. Then we joined the rest of the team at the coffee house (which was held at the church). The coffee house is for our campus ministry. When we arrived, we walked right into a large energetic party. There were snacks/coffee/tea, songs performed, games played, announcements of upcoming events with the club, and dances performed. The videos at the bottom share a Thai dance, a guitar song, and Julie and I's fun performance/get others involved dance. Today, seemed like it as a hit. People for each of the events seemed to feel at home with us and at the events. By the end of the night, we even had our own dancing after party. That is how energizing this day was. Now that I am home, posting this blog...my energy is wearing thin and I am ready for a good night's sleep. Please pray for our team from Wisconsin as they are feeling the sleep deprivation. Pray that we all will get a restful night's sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day. We have a team prayer meeting at 9:00am. Kid's camp again-starting at 10:00am on the same field we used today. Then we will feed the children and then take them to "Leo Land" (a water park) for the entire afternoon. This is something they never get to do. Pray for God's hands of protection over the children for the entire day. Pray there will be safe traveling, no injuries, and no child lost in the course of the day. Pray for our energy to be as it was today as well. Thank You so Much!!!

Praying Psalms 145

I have been wearing down...and today as I spent time with God, I read Psalms 145 and pulled out all of the Lord's attributes out of the Psalm. Then I prayed this Psalms as I wrote it in a letter form. IT was such a wonderful time with the Lord that I want to share it with you. This is what I told Him:

"Lord, (vs.1-2)You are my God My king for eternity. I desire to praise you on a daily basis. You are my number 1 priority; my everything. Help me never to put aside my time with you for anything. (vs.3) For you are great and most worthy of praise. So, great that er can't even fully grasp this greatness. I sit here in awe of You Father. (vs. 4-6) Each generation will tell others of your wonderful works, your might acts. Lord, people's testimonies are powerful. As I hear about how you have drawn people close to you in the most horrible circumstances. As I think about how you personally worked in my parents' lives-as they have grown in a relationship with you. And as I look back on my own life so far...I notice even now, you are amazing. You have done amazing works with a powerful hand in my life every step of the way. And Lord I will meditate on and then proclaim your great deeds to all around me. Help me to see evert opportunity. Let my words be yours. (vs.7) I want all to know you and celebrate you abundant goodness with me. I sing at the top of my lungs with Joy of your righteousness and I look forward to prayer time with my teammates when we will joyfully praise you in song together. You are praiseworthy. (vs. 8) I am so blessed to know you as you are- a gracious and compassionate God. You care when I am carrying burdens and my heart is heavy. You have compassion on the men, women and children we are serving. You care about their situations/circumstances. You cry with them in their spiritual, emotional, and physical burdens too. And God I praise you because you are so forever gracious as You give us the strength to endure each day in this painful world. You are so gracious as you show us beauty in the small moments; you shine your light in and through our lives. I love you! You are slow to anger and rich in love. Being and leading the perfect example for us to follow. I need your strength to be slow to anger. You and I know I have a temper and a sharp tongue that needs to be tamed (even if it is only in my thoughts or at times where it is just you and I...there is no excuse..because you know my heart and my attitude). I am foolish and I need to be more like you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I desire to love you as you love-even the hardest people for me to love--help me to do so. In your strength, I can do so. (vs.9) Because Father, you are good to all. You have compassion on all you have made. You are Creator of all things; all people. (vs.10) I praise you for loving us all so-I'm your branch. Use me to extend your everlasting compassion and love to all I cross each minute. (vs.11) Show me each opportunity to tell the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. So, all may glorify you. So that I may glorify you in my words, thoughts, and deeds. (vs. 12) I want all to know of your mighty acts. Let me be a walking powerful testimony with you as Lord of my entire life. (vs. 13) I pray others will come along beside me as they begin to see the glorious splendor of your kingdom. That they may know that your kingdom is eternal and you as King will endure forever. We are forever safely in your hands, under your authority. WE can rest in your reign. I watch you and see in awe how faithful you are in all your promises. Especially right now I hold on with Joy as you tell me " I will never leave you nor forsake you"...and I can boldly say "I will not be shaken because I am held by my Father's right hand". You not only do this for me, but as the creator of ALL you love each person with this same love. Your promises hold true to everyone else too. God, you are faithful, trustworthy and the perfecter of love. Thank you! (vs. 14) You uphold all those who fall (I hate watching people turn from you)-when we sin, you are quick to forgive and help us up again. You lift up all who are bowed down at your feet. Here I am Lord, at your feet. I worship you. I surrender my entire self to you. (vs. 15) My eyes are on you and I praise you for being the provider for myself as well as my brothers and sisters who look upon you with these same expectant eyes. I trust you to give us food at the proper time and to take perfect care of us. For you will not make us go through anything we cannot handle. You will give us the food of endurance (your living bread, the Holy Spirit) to endure all things. (vs. 16) For with your open hands I know you are the the only satisfier. I crawl into the palm of your hands. I know and trust you will satisfy all my desires. You are just that Great! (vs. 17) As our creator, you are loving to us all. You are the perfect example and definer of love. You are righteous in all you do. Help me to grow more and more like you. Help me to extend this true love you have to those around me too. (vs. 18) I call on you for your guidance and strength...your help. I know and trust and thank you Father for being near to me-in my presence always hearing me as I call your name. Thank you for never leaving me or forsaking me. Without you, I could not handle a moment of a day. (vs. 19) You fulfill my desires, you hear my cry and you save me-along with all other believers who have come to know you as Lord of their life. Thank you God! (vs. 20) Thank you for watching over us-you are our shepherd and caretaker. And we can praise you for being above all evil. For you will destroy all the wicked. I am protected and I am your sheep. (vs. 21) Today and forever more I will speak in praise of You. My prayer is that all will also praise your holy name forever and ever. For without you we are nothing but, with you we can withstand all that the sinful world brings and we can stand in full confidence. We can be joyfully satisfied because of our relationship with You--Our Holy Father, Creator, and Lord. I love you. Krystle"

I encourage you all to do the same...pick a Psalms or even this same one..and pray it to the Lord. Tell Him from the bottom of your heart what comes to you personally as you are praying. It is a good heart to heart conversation.

Now, we need your prayers these next couple weeks. I will try to put up a post daily for each days events. We have a team of 23 coming from Wisconsin. They are coming tonight and will be here until the 29Th. There are a lot of things going on. Will you pray for the Lord's guidance, for our physical health as we are running wild? Also will you pray that I can sleep. My mind is running wild at night and I have a hard time sleeping lately. And well...with that mixed with all the physical activity...we need God's endurance. So please keep our team in your prayers. God Bless!

Krystle

Team Work for Joy Kids

I have been thanking the Lord for what an amazing Team that I work with over here in Thailand. I have also been learning about how to let my perfectionism go...and let others help...rather than stressing myself out to do a project all alone. So, you are probably wondering what I am talking about and why I am bringing this up. Well, I am going to start with my friday. I had a packed day full of paperwork to-dos, brainstorming for upcoming events, recruiting on Campus, and individual relationship building with a couple of my students. In the evening, I planned to take it and put the craft together for Joy Kids. Joy Kids is one of our ministries at Mahatthai 3. It is similar to a VBS or sunday school. Joy Kids happens every Saturday from 10am-12pm. And these next couple months I am in charge of the crafts. This Saturday, the children were learning about how Jesus Calmed The Storm when the disciples were on the boat. So, for the craft they each have a black poster board, the size of notebook paper, were the words "When I am Scared...(and in Thai right below)I can tell Jesus because He can calm all storms." On this black poster board is also Three waves that flap open. Under each wave the children drew something that they are scared of. Then in the middle of the waves is a boat that they colored. The boat also flaps open. On the inside is the verse Jesus says, "Surely I am with you always"-Matthew 28:20. And on the inside of the boat each child drew a picture of themselves and Jesus. Friday, on campus around 3:00pm, this plan of having the evening to prepare the craft changed, because of unexpected events being put into place. So, at 4:30pm I went back to the office, made copies of waves, boats, and the sentences. P'Tang took me to a place in our market to get black posterboard. Then we went back to the office and 7 other teammates took out scissors and helped me cut out all of the waves (105), the boats (35), and Three Sentences/Phrases (35 each). So, when I came back to the house at 9:30pm, I thought ok 3 hours and I will be able to be in bed (I love to plan creative ideas...but I am horrible with the timing of things). So--3 hours and to bed was a BIG NO!! My roommate was so sweet as she sat up with me till 3:30am in the morning cutting out colored paper to go behind each cut item as I did the gluing. After she went to bed, I was determined to put the 35 crafts together...gluing all the cutouts in their positioned spots on the black poster board. Well, an hour later, I only had 7 done and I could not last any longer. So, when I (woke up 3 hours later), I went downstairs (in a panic) to where three of my roommates were and said, "I need help." And they were so sweet as they kindly put each individual craft together. That a half hour later, I came downstairs again and they said that they were finished. I was amazed! I looked at the crafts and some were not put together with perfection. The words were not centered or the waves were glued upside down...but, they were together...and ya know what?! The children did not care! It was so neat to watch them draw and color what they are scared of (or get an adult to help them draw things) and even more fun-was seeing how they drew Jesus. =) Lots of the children drew pics of ghosts, flooding, bombs, and some were scared of elephants, and robbers, and snakes. It was interesting to see what they drew. The Joy came in seeing that they understood that Jesus is right beside them, that He is personal, and that He cares! So above you see some pics of the morning. Many of the pics are the children working on their craft and then showing them off to me. Others are pics of the children pretending to be in the boat-scared to death because of the storm =) At Joy Kids we also do games and sing songs. So, see the video below of one them singing one of the songs. So, today I am thanking the Lord for the blessing of an amazing team who truly works in unity for our ministry. I am also thanking the Lord for continuing to teach me to let go of control and my perfectionism and let others help. The preparation of this craft was not about the perfect outcome of the presentatin but, about the children fully grasping Jesus in the midst of their fears. We can praise the LORD because,after seeing their pictures completed...they fully grasped this fact. Now we can pray they they remember and apply what they have learned. Here are a few verses that I have been going over in Thanksgiving as I think about the true frienships I have with my brothers and sisters in Christ: Psalm 133:1 "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in Unity!" Acts 2:46-47 "Every Day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Ecclesiates 4:10 "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one ot help him up!" Galatians 6:2 "Carry eachother's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." I am so incredibly blessed with these strong friendships revolving around a same servant attitude and Christ as our head.

Ramkumheang 2 Recruitment

Guess What?!! Our Summer Interns, the Thrive Team (7 people), arrived this week. We are so excited because this summer with their help, there is going to be a huge push in our Campus Ministry. On Monday,it was the first day of classes. We were set up on campus along with many other clubs, recruiting the freshmen to come and join our club. Our Club UCF (University Christian Fellowship) will have many Outreach activities and a couple service/missions trips along with our regular Bible Study and fellowship nights every other Friday Evening. So, in the pictures you will see us around the campus telling people about our club. You will see some signing up for the club. You will see pics of us playing instruments, singing, playing games, and having good conversation. Jane and I were...well I call us "cowgirls" but in Thailand we were representing the "gardener" look. She and I were partners in going around and recruiting freshmen to join our club. We tag teamed in telling all about what our club is about. Jane also thought it was fun for us to dance for people and show them that we are fun and easy going. It was fun. We will have our first coffee house this coming Monday (June 7Th). Please pray with us as we are praying for a good turn out. This will be the kickoff for the events of the club for the rest of the year.

The Exciting God Story of the Week!

After Bible Study Fellowship last Tuesday, One of the ladies in my group, P'Yai (see her picture above), wanted to walk with me to the Bus Stop. She is one of the ladies that is new with learning English, so we talk and both of us work on speaking in the other's natural language. Well as we were walking, I found out that she was very hungry. Knowing that she had no money and would most likely not eat that night, I said I was hungry too. So we went to a restaurant on the side of the street and ate some food. By the time that we were done eating it was about 10:30pm. We went to catch a bus...but no bus going the right route was coming by, so we kept waiting. And by 10:50pm I was getting nervous. Because we were right were all the prostitution happens and people are very high on drugs, and the men around us were uncomfortably starring. So, I felt I needed to get us out of here. On normal terms, I would have waited for the bus..because it is way cheaper than a Taxi. But,as we kept flagging down taxi's no one was willing to take us to her home and then mine. You see it would be a long drive and the government had us on curfew. So we had to be in our homes by 12:00am. So, finally I decided we were taking a motorcycle all the way down Sukumvit road and then taking a taxi to our homes. Because at the end of the street a taxi would be willing to take us. Now we were quite the sight on this taxi. Thank goodness I was in leggings and could sit normal on the motorcycle because P'Yai was in a dress so she had to sit sideways (like side saddle on a horse). If we both had to...there would have been no way we would have both fit...haha. So, Sukumvit is a main road downtown and it is very busy. There was lots of traffic. So, our driver weaved us in and around vehicles, buses, etc. At one point we were dodging people on the sidewalk. I could hear P'Yai in Thai saying, "Help us God". I was getting nervous because I could not hang on to our driver (you know like you do in America...here that is inappropriate), so I was hanging onto P'Yai and the side of the Motorcycle as we were weaving around. When we finally reached the end. P'Yai was putting me in a taxi. I said, "No you are coming with me. We can take you home first." Well, it ended up that we both went home to my house. And Thanked and Praised the Lord together. For He went before our evening together. He kept us safe, as we were standing waiting for the bus, as we were riding a motorcycle through traffic, and we made it home before curfew!