Space for the Saxophone!

This was the first week that I was able to join the worship band for the church. It was a true joy! For those of you who do not know, I play the saxophone. To my surprise a month before I left for Thailand, I was talking with Tim (one of my teammates here in Bangkok)and he said to bring my sax to Thailand. He informed me that the King of Thailand plays the Saxophone and the people of Thailand love the Saxophone/Jazz. This was exactly what I found out today when I played for the first time in with the worship team. Many came up to me, letting me know how much they love the sound of the saxophone. I may now even have a saxophone student to start teaching weekly.

Earlier I stated that it was a true joy for me to play with the band. You see, our church service is obviously in Thai...I do not understand the exact words of the worship songs sung in Thai. However, yesterday, the team explained to me what each song was about. So, today, I was able to worship God through the song coming from my saxophone. Isn't that cool?!!

On a side note. I encourage all you musicians to come to Thailand. The people here ALL seem to be gifted in musical talent. The talent here within our church is amazing. One guy composes his own music often. Many others play the piano, bass, and or guitar, and they all have vibrant, give me goose bumps, type of voices. Today, I was blessed to join in with my saxophone. God was glorified today!

Thanks for hearing a highlight of my day!

Beauty in the Middle of Ramkhanhaeng 2

I thought today I would share with you the special time I get with the LORD each morning. Due to the fact that a lot of the building of relationships with others happens in the evenings, I have found that spending time in prayer, in God's Word, and in worship (as I go for a jogg), is best done in the mornings. This time is so meaningful to me as it has become my untouchable time with the LORD.

Like Joshua said to the Isrealites in Joshua 3:9, "Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God", I too desire to take time to listen to the words of God before I go about each day. When Joshua told the Isrealites this, it was just before they were crossing over into the promise land. Of Course the Isrealites wanted to cross over instantly...but Joshua made them stop and listen. I often tend to fill up my schedule and I am used to rushing...in order to just keep up. It is easy for me to get too busy for what God says is most important-Time with Him. Before each day, I desire to take time with God and ask for His help to lead me through the day, doing HIS WILL. This way I will hopefully avoid any foolish mistakes I would have made without God's direction...

Well, with this time, I get up, spend time in prayer, and in God's Word. Then I will leave the house and walk down our muddy/dusty/conjested street(In picture above) for about ten minutes...untill I reach the Mahatthai Park. This park, is the park I consider the beauty in the middle of my town. As I walk to the park, I am singing worship music to God (Not that I get enough looks as it is...I am a "falong" (foreigner) here..that already draws attention). When I arrive to the park, I soak in the beauty of the flowers, grass, and pond in the area (see pictures...isn't it beautiful). Mahatthai park is a refreshing place to think, process what I am learning from God's word, and soak in the beauty of God's creation. It is here where I go on my jogg in the mornings...sorting my thoughts and becoming energized by the Holy Spirit!

Please pray that I can continue to prioritize this time as well as continue waking up early enough to have this uninterrupted time. Also pray that I follow closely after the Lord's will and direction in my daily activities and relationships.

Together, let's follow Jesus' example in Mark 6:46. After feeding the 5,000+ people, He had His disciples go ahead of Him in a boat, dismissed the crowd, and "went up on a mountainside to pray". He too did not allow anything to get in the way of His time with His father. Now, I ask you, "Have you set aside daily time for you and God...to listen to Him as He speaks to you and directs your daily steps?" Don't let the busyness of life get in the way of your "God Time".

Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) in Bangkok

Praise the Lord! I found a BSF Class in Bangkok and yesterday was the first day that I was able to attend since being in Bangkok. It took about an hour and fifteen minutes to get to the church (by bus)that BSF is held in...but, I was able to find a couple friends, Kieow(on right) and Mary(on left), to come with me.

For those of you who are not familiar with BSF, let me share with you what the class contains. Free of charge, each week we get to take home a lesson to fill out as we spend time with God in His word each day. Then when we go to BSF each Tuesday evening, I will be in a group of 10-15 women who have also spent time that week reading the same passage. We each share the answers to our questions, some are fact questions, others are application questions, and others are questions pertaining to the lesson and the truths of the scripture read. During this discussion time, I learn so much from what other women in my group took out of their time with God. Then the entire BSF class comes together for a lecture. At this time, the Teaching Leader gives a more in depth description, with application illustrations, and questions for us to process in our heads. This study is a wonderful way to get to know other women who are also interested in studying God's Word and deepening their personal relationship with God.

Now, the most exciting part of this Bible Study is that it is in English. I teach some of the highest levels of English Classes through our ministry. Please pray for me and the softening of the hearts of my students, as each month I am going to invite the women in my classes to this Bible Study (so that they can practice their English while studying the Bible). Also pray for our men's class here in Bangkok as they will be opening a class in January. Then I will also be inviting the men in my classes to attend that BSF class. Please Note that most of my students are Agnostic or Buddhist...This will be another way to share Christ with them.

It is very crucial that I can build relationships with the students in my classes, as only then will they most likely be willing to come to a Bible Study with me...Thank you for your prayers and once again Praise the Lord for His Almighty Hand each day!

Napada Handicrafts

This is a business here in Bangkok that we have for women in extreme poverty. Their are two goals of this ministry: to physically help these women financially so that they may support their families and to spiritually feed them in actions, words, and through a weekly Bible Study; thus sharing who the ONE true God is. There are six women currently employed. Praise the Lord one of the women "Wii" has become a Christian. One is also inquiring more about God today...we are praying that she will accept Christ personally someday very soon.

However, we have ran into a problem...we need more avenues to sell these purses and other miscellaneous items that they are making. There is concern that we might not be able to keep all six of these women employed if we do not have places to ship the items to. Check and see if you would like one or give them as presents throughout the year. Also, maybe you know of a store, a church, a christian bookstore, etc. that may be interested in attaining a selection of these bags...Will you do these wonderful women a favor and pray about the LORD providing more avenues to sell these Thai items?

Please note that the purses have different handles, the choice of button/zipper closures, and open/zippered pockets on the insides! The pictures shown are the type of items that Napada Handicrafts sell. Please Note that these purses come in many different colors and designs.

Badminton

My first Campus Ministry Experience in Ram 2 was yesterday. In this ministry we build relationships with the other students on campus by playing games, practicing english/thai, and through our actions. As we become close, we then share the love of God through our words as well. So, I prayed that God would show me how, through my actions, I may be able to share His love and begin to build relationships with the others that were there.
We arrived on campus to play Badminton with the other students at 4:00pm. Within 40mins I had the "birdie" smacked right into my eye...it hurt soo bad! Well, through this I caught other people's attention. Now the next time I go...they may remember and regongnize me. God has a sense of humor. What a perfect way to build friendships! =)

Loy Krathong

Loy Krathong is celebrated on the full moon night of November. This year I attended the festivities (November 2, 2009). The nationals buy floats made of banana leaves and flowers that have a light coming out of the middle. Most pray to Mae Kongla (the goddess of water) to take their sins away as they place their incense lit floats in the river and watch it float away. They believe that this is the one time in the year where they get a new, clean, light inside of them because their sins are gone. It saddens me that most do not know the true light that we have as Christians. They do not know that the Holy Spirit is the light inside of us and only in our belief in Jesus as the One true God are they truly purified of their sins in the eyes of God. I pray that this year, through relationships, and more and more Thai nationals becoming Christians, they too may discover the true light. Please Pray! The festival as a whole was beautiful and the floats were amazingly creative. I was also able to watch some traditional Thai dancing. Hope you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed taking them!

Welcomed With Love

Yea! I arrived in Bangkok late on Friday evening! It is very hot here. Outside has odors that range from fruit to a zoo. Saturday morning I woke up and went to a devotional and worship time with the rest of the staff at New City Fellowship. Everyone that I have met so far have been so thankful that I am here and with smiles they help me learn the Thai culture and language. We worshipped the LORD together in song, then went to Him in prayer-praising, thanking, and asking His guidance and strength for the activities for the weekend. I love how the staff keeps Christ the center of everything...bringing every aspect of the ministry to Him together! This week I am told that I am going to see the many ministries that we do as I shadow the staff. On Saturday, I went to Mahatthai to go to our Joy Kids Ministry. Kieow, Sarah and I went around the neighborhood inviting all of the children. We had lunch provided. The children were very excited. Kieow shared the Bible Lesson about Baby Moses. Then we all colored baby Moses pictures. The children sang songs and prayed as well. I also was able to observe a couple ESL classes. Both evenings I have gone to a different staff person's home. They have welcomed me as I have been able to get to know people better one on one. I feel welcomed with love and excited to see how the LORD grows this ministry. I feel blessed to finally be apart of it!