bullet points.

Behind on posts? No problem. Here are a few of the highlights to catch you up!

Timeline:

- I am in Fredericksburg, VA from May 10-June 24th
- I will return to Bangkok, Thailand, on June 24th with Stephanie Battleson for 6 more months of ministry.
- Claire will leave Bangkok to return to the US (with a one-week stop in Germany to visit her sister) on June 30th.
- While in Bangkok I will continue my work at the BSC and Rahab, and also join the LifePoint staff and begin serving with them in a more direct capacity.

Purpose while home:

- I want to be able to connect with people who have been praying for and/or sponsoring me during my last year! If you would like to get together and hear about what God has been doing through your obedience in sending me... please call or email me!
- Encourage, serve, and spend time with my church family (Spotswood).
- Spend some quality time with my genetic-family :)

Needs:

- I need to raise $1,900 for the round trip flight (IAD--> BKK and back), about $600 for health insurance while I am there, and $500 for my first month back in Thailand. Total financial needs: $3,000.
- If you would like to be a part of my 6 month extension in Thailand, please click the "Get Involved" tab at the top of my blog for details.
- The BSC where I have been volunteering the past year will be subsidizing my living expenses beginning at the end of July. This is a huge blessing as it has halved the amount of money in sponsorship I need to raise. I am very thankful for their investment in me!

mother's day.

I'm baaack (and will stay back until June 24th)!

Sorry for some of the confusion surrounding my return... As Mother's Day is past, I can now reveal the truth in full-disclosure! I surprised my mom (and dad and younger brother) on Mother's Day with a surprise return. They weren't expecting me until later in May and I needed to keep it a secret as long as possible :)

It was totally worth it!

Sunday was a beautiful and priceless moment. I loved being able to surprise them (their faces were ones of complete shock!) and it really appeased my ornery streak.

This first week back, ie: "family-week," has been a wonderful time to relax with the fam, grandma, (+ a little trip to visit folks at church and my FCS family!) and tomorrow I'll get to meet my niece for the first time!! This cushion week is also allowing me time to recover from jet-lag and re-adjust to America. So far, it's been a smooth transition... aside from my sleeping patterns being a hot mess, but that will work itself out in time, I'm sure.

I'm looking forward to getting to connect with many of you starting next week! My first week back at Spotswood will be this Sunday, May 19th. Hopefully I will be able to see and hug many of you there!! Shoot me an email or text (I have my old/same phone number) if you'd like to schedule a time to meet up/catch up/get coffee/etc.

See y'all soon!!

tweet that.

Louie Giglio recently tweeted, "It might be less about 'what' you're doing and more about the character you're letting God shape in you while you do it."

Thank you, Louie, for successfully articulating my last year of growth and lessons into 140 characters or less.

[drop the mic]

So often, so often, we get caught up in the "what" we are doing for God. Is it flashy enough? Spiritual enough? Relevant enough? We believe this lie that we have to get to a certain place or be doing a certain thing to have "meaningful ministry." Or perhaps we believe the lie that if it's hard, it's not where we're "supposed" to be. It's actually relatively easy to sabotage the work that our Father wants to do in us by missing the point: that the work He wants to do is in us.

Yes, God wants us to be obedient. But ultimately, we're going to be usable vessels when we are conformed in His likeness... Which will happen when we allow ourselves to be changed and sanctified and participate in that process.

As long as we're tied to these bones, we're going to struggle. But let's make it a struggle about the "how" and not the "what." Instead of getting our panties in a bunch about where we're serving or what we're doing, let's just do it! Wherever you are, be there. Be a missionary. Be obedient. Use your gifts. And see what God teaches you in the process. It's not about arriving at a perfect place and then being able to serve. It's about serving where God has, in His sovereignty, already placed you.

vlog: rahab

I really don't know where to start with how much I love all the ladies at Rahab. Needless to say, the decision to buy some gifts from them was easy. Not only are friends back home getting wonderful jewelry, but they are simultaneously supporting a ministry which provides a livelihood for women who want to get out of the bar-scene.

[I've blurred their faces for protection & privacy purposes]

Quite a few women from the States have had their wedding and bridesmaids' jewelry made through Rahab. What a fabulous idea! Pry, one of the girls, is a fantastic designer. She works with the bride to come up with the exact design/style and then the girls make it. So all you engaged people out there... keep Rahab in mind!

[Me sporting my new necklace... with it's creator!]

Today there was a missions team from Michigan (quite a large and international group!) who came to Rahab and provided us all with a tasty pizza lunch... They also coaxed the girls into teaching them the Thai-version of the "chicken dance." It's not an interview or anything spiritual, but it does give you a glimpse into how fun they are!!