Thursday, October 24, 2013

hua hin.

When I was asked to help teach at an English camp for University students, I immediately agreed. What could be more fun than English on the beach?? Especially when the timing bumped up perfectly with the annual LifePoint staff retreat… at the same beach! God is so good like that :)

Our staff retreat was Monday through Wednesday, and was absolutely wonderful. It was a great balance of relaxing, team building and discussing and praying for the future, Thailand and each other. My favorite part was hearing everyone’s testimonies and seeing how—though we all came from different places—God brought us all here and made us family through the same process, salvation.




[Relishing in a fancy American meal, compliments of our church. Yes, there was bacon!]
Wednesday we transitioned hotels to where the English camp would be held. It is full of character (and I mean that in the most genuine way!). It used to be a music school/studio and has been turned into a creative music-themed hotel. Complete with instruments… everywhere! A drum for a table, a piano mounted on the wall and turned into a bookshelf, a guitar neck serving as a door handle… We’re staying in the “Jazz wing” where each room is a different musician/band complete with artwork and playable instruments!

[View from our balcony]

[Beach time with the VanDykes, Steph and Julia!]

 The students (44 students, plus their professors) arrived today, Thursday, and so far it’s been a total blast! The theme for the camp is “English for fun” and today definitely lived up to that. Even fining the students when they spoke Thai (20 Baht per offense) became a fun joke! We ended up collecting 300 Baht by the end of the day… haha. We also played Catch Phrase, Jeopardy, Telephone Charades, and other games. Really, this is my dream camp. English, games, and opportunities to build relationships.

[Telephone Charades]
[My team for the day... Orange Team]
[The most difficult game of Jeopardy... ever. I only knew two answers.]
Please pray that we would be able to build strong relationships with the students here, so that we can have entryways into sharing the Gospel. We’ve already been able to share little pieces with some of the students, but we would all love to share more. Pray that they would see something Someone different in our lives, and that we would be discerning enough to see those moments and brave enough to seize them!

I’m excited to share with you at the end of the week what God does through your prayers over the next two days!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

out-of-bangkok.

This past week Steph and I both wrapped up teaching all our Term 5 classes (our penultimate term at the BSC... and my last time teaching on Saturdays!). And tomorrow begins our Out-of-Bangkok experience. Over our break we'll be spending some time in Hua Hin, me for a LifePoint staff retreat and Steph as the childcare aficionado. Then we'll both be helping at an English Camp (also in Hua Hin). After that we'll be heading to Mae Sot to spend some time with the lovely Karen children I was able to meet this past summer. As this is our last break before returning to the States (can you believe it?), we're trying to fit in all that we can. As busy as it sounds, we'll have plenty of time to rest on our long bus rides ;)

Please be praying for us, both for our health and stamina, but also that we can continue to be a blessing and take the Gospel with us wherever we go, despite being "on break".

Please also pray for the LifePoint staff retreat:
- that we would get to develop and build deeper friendships with each other
- that God would use this time to bring increased unity and vision to our team
- that it would be a refreshing time for us as leaders
- that we could be encouraged as we hear more of the work God is doing through His people 

Monday, October 7, 2013

joyful.

A little over seven weeks ago, God planted in my heart a desire to start a small group... and now I can't imagine my time here without them. What started off as me, a friend and a student, has become six (& counting!).

[L-R: Joom, Aey, Thep and I]
I love our pocket of time together on Sunday nights. It feels like home. We eat; we laugh; we dig deep; we ask questions and we grow. Some of us growing in our relationship with the Lord, some growing in their knowledge of Him, but all of us moving forward together. It's a Thai/English conglomerate with languages bouncing back and forth-- sometimes being translated, other times, not. It's not smooth or slick or "sexy"-- but we all belong. Whoever comes, whatever friends are invited (which has been someone new almost every week!), they are welcome and they are wanted.

[Aom and JJ celebrating Fall with s'mores!]
Some days here are like some days in America. You wonder if you are making a difference or an impact. You wonder if what you are doing is worthy work in service of the One who called you. And for me, Sundays are an affirmation. Week after week God shows me His faithfulness. Whether it's in providing insight into a passage, direction in what to study next, or simply in the combination of people He brings. Leading this small group is different than any I helped lead in America-- in that, as a Christian, I'm usually the minority. And, sometimes it's non-Christians who are inviting and bringing their non-Christian friends! Seriously??! That's all God. He is so good. And He gets 100% of the credit.

For those of you praying and partnering with me, please keep our small group in your prayers. Pray that His Word would be clear, that His Spirit would teach our hearts and make connections like only He can, that community would continue to grow, that conviction of sin would occur and that a deeper knowledge and understanding of our Father's grace and love would prevail!!