the journey begins.

Assorted ramblings and thoughts from our trek to Thailand...

The Beginning

Monday afternoon (D-Day!) started off with Claire and I in a bit of a panic.

When I tried to check my bags with Virgin Atlantic, they informed me that the weight specs that I had packed according to were incorrect. This resulted in my dad and I re-packing all my bags… twice. We went back in line, only to be told that we were only allowed one checked bag. I explained that because we were going to Thailand from America were each allowed an extra checked bag. They asked to see our passports and then informed us we didn’t have a ticket! 

That’s exactly what you don’t want to hear 3 hours before your flight!

However, God was good- as always- and we were able to sort things out with the airline (we did have a ticket—it was just being elusive). At this point, we were not seated together, but at least we had seats!

Dulles to Heathrow (Virgin Atlantic)

After grabbing a bite to eat on our way to the gate (thanks Doug & Rebecca!) we found our gate, and were issued new boarding passes in adjoining seats. We boarded the plane and saw (to our excitement and surprise) that our new seats were in the exit row!! To non-fliers, this means that we got an additional 6+ inches of free legroom. Normally you have to pay extra for those premium spots, but we got them free! Yay God! The first leg of the flight was awesome. I could completely stretch my legs out and prop them up against the wall in front of us—and we had the aisle/middle seat, so it was easy to get in/out.  What a huge blessing! Virgin Atlantic was really great on the flight as well. We were served hot chocolate and had a “as real as can be expected” breakfast. We both were even able to squeeze a nap in. And, we both scored free sleeping masks, a pair of socks and travel toothpaste/brush! Love free gifts. Thanks, Virginia Atlantic.

Heathrow

Claire is having a blast with all the English shops (shoppes?) and has been buying treats and postcards of the Queen. She perked up as soon as she saw the WHSmith, Pret a Mange and Boots. I don’t know what they are, but evidently they’re a big deal to the British. And Claire. I think she’s having flashbacks to when she studied abroad in Bath. But it is good because she’s wide awake right now… I’m counting on her to get us to the gate/plane. I think I might be in a walking coma by then...

Heathrow to Singapore (Singapore Air)

Warning. If flying on Singapore Air, you should know that the pump next to the restroom sink with colored liquid inside is not soap for handwashing. It’s mouthwash. My hands are so minty.Claire and I had an empty seat next to us on this leg. That is flying gold. Claire was able to stretch out in the aisle, and I was able to spread out in the empty seat. Both of us had successful napping endeavors—which was much needed.

Claire took good care of me on the plane ride. She woke me up for meal-time, which she renamed: “hamster feeding,” because it reminded her of when people open the cage for feeding time and dump food inside. Only we’re the rodents. But, it was surprisingly decent! I had “minced lamb shepherd’s pie” for lunch/dinner(?) and then an omelet for breakfast with “finger muffins”. Which, were muffins in the shape of… fingers. Yum. 

Singapore to Bangkok (Singapore Air)

Claire kept waking me up for more "hamster feedings". The flight was under 3 hours, so it went by quickly. We're both ready to get to our new homes and unpack and sleep (for real). 

Bangkok

We met up with John and Ruth Lapos at the airport (BKK), picked up our bags, got our money exchanged and then proceeded to drive back to the BSC. Claire and I dropped off our things, and John took our phones to the mall (MBK) to get new sim cards for them. Ruth took us grocery shopping. I picked up some Rambutan, water bottles, toilet paper and laundry soap. Ruth also showed us where the post office is and where the IMB office is where we will be going to pick up our mail. We stopped on the way out and got a meal-- 45 Baht ($1.50) for Basil Chicken & Rice. It was delicious. And I am exhausted. If I can stay awake until 7pm tonight I know that would help, but it's not looking too promising!

Thank you for all your prayers for our flight. It really was the best-possible scenario on every leg of the trip. We're both so happy to be here at last! Until later--


Liz

closure.

I love need closure. I know that life isn't always neat and tidy, and things don't get wrapped up with little bows... but for as much as they can be, I like them to be. There is something comforting in it. So, as things continue to wrap up for me state-side and I say my farewells (for now!), I wanted to post my last "until I'm out of the country" blog post and catch everyone up on where I am and what is coming in the next few days. 

On finances...

God has been so gracious to provide financially for Claire and I to be able to go to Thailand. He has used our places of work, our families, friends, and church to radically bless us and send us covered in prayer and financially. We estimated that we would need $500/mo to live on in Thailand-- and that goal has been met! Praise God!

The parents and staff at FCS surprised me on the last chapel by presenting me
with a check for Thailand and praying over me. I have absolutely loved getting
to spend the past two years serving alongside such an incredible staff,  and with
such awesome parents and children. 

On communication...

Some of the students in the K class at FCS made me laptops so that I could email them while I was in Thailand... (see the picture below) So adorable! However, to aid these paper laptops-- I was recently able to purchase a laptop for my journey.

Also, my co-workers at Catalyst all chipped in to buy me an iPhone to use internationally while I am overseas! Technology really makes 12 time zones seem a lot closer. 

On packing...
Anyone in a 10 foot radius of me this week has probably heard me talking about pitching and packing. Despite how the family-basement currently looks, this is progress:

I did not expect that sorting through every childhood treasure would take quite so long, but 24 years of stuff adds up. I'm paring it down to a spare closet in the basement and my bookshelves (which have been sorted!) I am going to miss all my books in Thailand...

But the good packing news is that Old Navy is currently selling appropriate "Thai teaching attire", and I was able to complete my wardrobe for my year there. I love one-stop shopping! I now have shoes (from a previous venture), clothes, and am ready to pack my bags. Once I uncover them from this mess I've made!

On leaving...
Claire and I will be departing Dulles at 6:40pm on Monday. June 11th. Tonight and tomorrow are "family days", Sunday is "church family day" and Monday is doubling as "AGHH. I Still Need ___ From Wal*Mart And Forgot To Get It Day" and "Departure-Day". We'll have a layover in Heathrow (London) and in Singapore. Depending on how internet works there, I will try to do a mini-post at the airport. Here is our route:

[click to enlarge]

I am so excited for the opportunity God has given me to take His Name to the nations. I am excited to see not just what He does in my life, but what He does in your life as a partner with me in this.

And as always, the comment box below is always open for your thoughts, <3, and requests!

I love my church.

Yesterday our church, Spotswood Baptist, prayed for and commissioned Claire and I for our year in Thailand. It was such a bittersweet service-- I've never been a part of a church that has had such a profound spiritual impact on my life like Spotswood. I have grown; I have failed, and I have been loved through both. Pastor Doug always talks about how church should be the launching pad to propel us into the world... and I feel very launched.

Claire and I had lunch after the commissioning with part of the short-term team who will be coming to Bankok, Thailand in August. There are 12 of them: Laura, Sam, Abby, Laura-Michal, Stephanie, Vern, Zac, Zach,  Ryan and Jake (plus Pastor Doug and Pastor Drew). The team coming in August is phenomenal. They have such a heart for God-- I am so excited to see what God does through them and in them during their time in Thailand.

Please be praying for them also:

- That God will prepare their hearts for the ministry and people they will meet in Thailand, as well as the hearts of the people they will meet  

-  That God would provide all the financial support that they need

- That God would be glorified in their obedience and that the church would be encouraged

Thank you for your prayers and support. I have been overwhelmed by it. God is so gracious, and you have been so faithful to pray and to give. Thank you.

2 weeks.

Today marks the 2 week point until our departure to Thailand for a year! June 11th has seemed so distant for so long, and now it is right around the corner... I need to pack and weigh my bags, move out of my apartment, sort through and consolidate the things that won't be going to Thailand, wrap things up at work... But everything that must be done has been completed! We have our visas, our tickets and paperwork completed (praise God!). So, rain or shine, June 11th we'll at IAD departing to BKK via Heathrow and Singapore. Thank you so much for your prayers and for partnering with me on this journey!

[Copied from John and Ruth Lapos' Newsletter Update]

e-day [part iv]

It's time for some good news!

This is my final installment of the "e-day" series because... we have our visas! After some consternation and much prayer, our visas arrived in the mail today.

Thank you for praying. I'm happy to say that in 21 days, we will be boarding the plane with all of our necessary paperwork. Praise God!

How many lives would your sin cost?

I am currently reading From Buddha to Jesus in preparation for Thailand. (Did you just click that link? Good. Now add it to your Amazon cart!) The author, Steve Cioccolanti, was born in Thailand, and born again in Thailand. He has a unique perspective on what it means to be a Thai Buddhist, and how believers can fruitfully engage discussions with Buddhists in Thailand.

The chapter I read earlier this week was on reincarnation, and how reincarnation is actually "one of the best teachings found outside the Bible." Isn't that a shocking assertion? Karma (synonymous with "sin" or "death") is so weighty that it cannot be paid in one life.  Cioccolanti states that the "fact that you are born, according to Buddha, is proof that you are a sinner" (135). The practical problems that Buddhists run into, though, is that "every time you are born, you sin some more, so you're adding sins to your account. You're in constant deficit... You can try to do good deeds and 'make merit' all your life just to service your karma, but you will never quite win this catch up game. You are trapped inside an endless cycle of sin and suffering" (136).

Cioccolanti then relates this idea of "one life" not being enough to pay for the price of one's karma with the parable that Jesus told in Matthew 18:23-35.

In reading this parable, most of us would surmise that we are the man who owed the 10,000 talents. Our application of the story might end with the lesson that we should forgive others of their debts. That, unfortunately, misses one of the greater lessons of this parable, which is, that we have a terrible debt.

Cioccolanti states that if we were to owe God 1 talent for a single sin, we would owe God 6,000 days (164+ years) of labor's wages (1 talent=60 minas, 1 minas=100 denarii, 1 denarii=day's wages for a day's labor). However, in the parable the man is not guilty of owing 1 talent... but rather 10,000 talents. That is 60 million denarii. That is equal to working a full day of labor 7 days a week, from the day you're born until 100 years old... for 1,644 lifetimes. (And in working 7 days a week, you would violate God's 4th Commandment, thus trying to "pay off" sin by sinning more, and incurring an ever-increasing debt. See how this cycle works?) This truly is a debt we cannot pay, not for ourselves, and certainly not for anyone else.

"What is Jesus saying to us? Exactly what Buddha was teaching. It is impossible for you to rid yourself of sin by your own good works. All you can do is fall at the Master's feet and say, 'Lord, have mercy on me, because I have not enough to pay and am going straight to Hell'" (144).

So where does Jesus come in? How did Jesus' death make "payment" for us? How could he ransom, not just me, but all of mankind from so great a debt?

This is where it gets exciting. Cioccolanti uses an example from business to flesh it out. He poses this question,

How come the CEO makes $200,000 a year while the salesman works just as hard and only makes $40,000 a year? Different positions. The CEO has a higher rank...Because of his position, his time is worth a lot more... And so God said, 'I am going to send the Lord of Heaven Himself.' Hebrews 7:26 says that Jesus is 'Higher than the heavens.' You understand, of course, that the Owner of Heaven is worth far more than Heaven itself. So Heaven and earth did not have enough to pay. But the Lord of Heaven and Earth came down to earth and said, 'With my time, with my life, I will pay for all your sins... In fact, I'll overpay' (147).

Wow.

Jesus could pay for all sin for all mankind at once, because of His great worth.

Pastor Doug has been talking recently about how at the crucifixion, God turned His back on Jesus- and because of that, we don't need to have any fear that He will turn away from us. We have been accepted and forgiven because of Christ's finished work on the Cross. That is cause for worship!

So, how many lives would my sin cost? More than I could ever hope to pay... No amount of "being good," even if that was possible, would make up for my grievous sins against God. So, praise God that He "did not treat me as my sins deserved" (Ps. 103:10) but instead made a way through Jesus Christ for me, an enemy of God (Col 1:21), to be brought near to God and be adopted in his family (Rom 8:14-16).

How NOT to Get a Visa*

1. Get into lively discussions on the way to DC. There's no recipe more proven than a discussion on relationships to assist you in missing all your turns (or at least the important ones).

2. Arrive after 10am (and forget your quarters!). After 10am, all the parking garages increase their prices exponentially... and there probably won't be any street meter-parking left.

3. If you happen to get there before 10, be sure to park front-end-first in the street parking slots. Even if you're only there for a couple minutes, you will receive a ticket. Street parking is back-in only.

4. Have a third-party do your background check. If it's not done by the State Police, the Embassy won't be interested in your app.

5. Leave your cash at home. They only take cash or money orders... so no cash, no visa.

6. Come during their lunch break-- anytime between 12:00-2:30 works.

7. If you aren't successful with #1-#6, and the Embassy does issue you a visa, you have one last hope! Don't look at your visa when you pick it up. Don't check for signatures, don't check to make sure all the fields were filled out correctly, if you're lucky, they may have left some things blank-- making your visa invalid.

But, if you decide that you DO want a visa... just follow the inverse of the above steps, and also take note of the following:

- DO bring your own prepaid flat-rate mailing envelope for the Embassy to mail you back your visa (otherwise, you get gouged by paying $20 for theirs)

- DO make sure you have all the correct information and paperwork, so you only have to make one trip! 

- DO have the contact # of someone in the country you are visiting in case you run into trouble and need advice 

- DO take a picture (or write down) where you parked if you choose to brave a parking garage

Anyone else have advice on the Do's and Don'ts of Visa acquisition? Leave them in the comment section below.


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* This information is tried and true and has been fully disclosed for the purpose of assisting any aspiring travelers, missionaries, or expatriates attempting to acquire their Thai work visas in DC.

Tie-land

I spoke with the K class in September about my short-term trip to Thailand when they were learning the letter "T", but on Wednesday I shared with both chapels about my upcoming long-term departure to Thailand. The K class decided to write me little notes, complete with pictures. It was so sweet... and I wanted to share a couple of their pictures for your enjoyment also!

The airplane to Thailand

I guess this is where they think I'll be living while I'm there? 

I am taking my class to visit the local gators...

...& I'm not sure about this one 

Maybe the most accurate of all the pictures!

"TIE"-land... (note the ties and the crosses at the top of the ties!)

Following my Father

My dear friend and co-worker, Tamra, asked me to guest post about Thailand on her blog. Click here to read my post.

Financial Update

I want to share with you how God has shown Himself (yet again!) to be Jehovah Jireh in my life-- He has already provided $3,500 for my year in Thailand... that is incredible! A year in Thailand is about $6,000 and airfare home is approx $1,000-1,500. So the total cost is: $7,000-7,500. That means that there is less than $4,000 left to raise!

Through monthly sponsorships, $1,080 has already been pledged... leaving only $240/month left to be raised in monthly sponsorships. (That's 8 people committing to sponsor me for $30/month, or 4 people giving $60/month, or a combination of monthly and one-time donations.)

And. Above and beyond that, $800 has also been given to help cover my pre-trip needs (visa, airfare, laptop, etc.).  Praise God!

To each of you who has given sacrificially to help be a part of sending me to Thailand, thank you so much. It is a blessing and a responsibility to have you supporting me. My prayer is that God uses me as a worthy investment of your resources, and that I am a useful and faithful vessel for Him. Thank you for supporting me, for praying, and for following along on this journey.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." -Eph 3:20-21

Strollers and Backpacks and Dishes, oh my!

For the past week my parents have been working tirelessly to aid Claire and I in collecting, sorting and pricing items for the Thailand Fundraising Yard Sale which culminated this morning on the Lisco's driveway. After having made multiple trips the day before, the next round of packing started promptly at 4:00 am this morning. (Shout-out to my mom and dad... who are awesome: The whole basement was covered in "to-sell" items that all found their way to the yard sale by 6:00 am. All those military moves paid off in yard sale set-up efficiency!)

Arriving at the sale-site at 6:00am, my mom, the Pezzutos, Mavrick, Krystle, Samantha and fellow Thailand sojourners, Zac and Abby proceeded to assist in sorting and staging load after load of "to sell" items. There were a ton of families and individuals who donated to the sale... and the final result was incredible!

The Lisco's driveway... transformed into a shopping alley!

Families, strollers, and yard sale sharks came ready to bargain, wheel and deal! It felt like Thailand all over again... "Five dollars?? How about I give you three." "Deal!" It was also great to have the opportunity to explain why we are going, and how their purchases were supporting us. "I can eat 6 more meals in Thailand because you bought those $7 speakers! Thank you!" A lot of people even made donations to support our team. It was such a great (albeit exhausting) morning. We left with our skin a little sun-burnt, our backs a little sore, but with $606 raised! Praise God! This money will go to support Claire and my trip to Thailand and also help support a couple members of the Short-Term August team from Spotswood!

A huge thank you to everyone who gave us their stuff to sell, their time to set-up/tear-down, their donations and their driveway! This yard sale was a bigger undertaking than I ever anticipated... and there is no way it could have been pulled off by my effort alone. Thank you for partnering with the Claire and I... and the Thailand Team.

Abby, my sister, and future sojourner to Thailand, manning the  front tables!

Favorite Quote of the Day:
There was a flock (yes, a flock) of kids who were browsing our wares for over 30 minutes. They found the "free stuff" box*, and also made a few purchases. As soon as they would discover or acquire another toy (or piece of a toy...) they would start shouting, "Just because it's broken, doesn't mean you can't use it!" Over and over and over again. They were cracking us up, especially when they came back to re-shop three more times! We gave them some "loyalty buyer" incentives for all their support :)

Favorite "oops!" of the Day:
...When my mom sold my sister's pair of sunglasses by mistake. Yard sales should come with a warning: Unattended belongings will be sold.

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* The "free stuff" box was perhaps the most entertaining box at the yard sale... a magnetic dartboard with no darts, half of a model of the USS Enterprise, some Highlights and American Girl magazines, a headband with unusual ribbons coming out of it, etc. The kids loved it. And couldn't get over that everything in the box was theirs for the taking... and take it they did! It was empty before the end of the day.

e-day [part iii]

Thank you so much for your prayers regarding our visas! This post is the third installment of the "e-day three-day adventure." Claire and I drove to the Thai Embassy yesterday (trip #2) to acquire our non-immigrant type B visas... with great success! As soon as we walked in the Embassy, we were warmly greeted (such a different tone than last time) and were immediately assisted. They even offered to expedite the process for us, as Claire needed her passport back by this Friday for her trip to Mexico.

It was so simple. We handed them our paperwork; they looked over it; we left. They told us we could come back in 24 hours to pick it up. So, Claire took an extended "lunch break" from work today and traveled (trip #3) to the Embassy to pick up our visas. There was a little mix-up, which, to steal Tamra's phrase, may result "blog fodder" for a future post tentatively titled: "How NOT to Get a Visa"...

But, despite some of the mishaps and mis-communication along the way, there have been so many moments of God's hand working. He is still in control. He is a good Father... who not only calls His children out of places to new places, but also is there with them throughout every step. At the end of this month, I will have a lot more to praise God for because I am more acutely aware of all the little things and big things He has worked out.

Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for Claire and me-- I am excited for the progress (little by little!) that we are making to wrap up things here in America, and prepare for Thailand. T-38 days until departure!

Matt 7:9-11

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Willingness v. Will

“That delight—in God—is the thing that brings desire in the heart to do good, and desire is beneath everything. If there is no desire to do God’s will, then the doing of God’s will is just outward conformity, and God doesn’t appreciate it at all.

Now desire is more than just willingness. I once worked for the Foreign Missions Fellowship, which is a group of collegiate kids who are considering going to the mission field. You know, every time I would talk to some Christians in college, their big cry about the mission field was, ‘Well you know, I’m willing to go. I’m quite willing to go to the mission field. Very willing to go. Willing. But I need a call from God (or some such thing) because I don’t feel as if I’m sent to the mission field.’ Well, I’m telling you that passive willingness is not desire. I was willing to go to the mission field a long time before I willed to go to the mission field. And it is the desire of the will that God wants.

Desire is the putting of my will into God’s concern. It’s not a passive, sitting back in your easy chair, folding your arms sort of thing, which says, ‘Well, I’m willing, if God would only give me a good swift kick and send me.’ That’s willingness all right. But God doesn’t want willingness, He wants will! He wants your will put behind those desires.”

-Jim Elliot: A Christian Martyr Speaks to You, pg. 25

I recently read this quote and it resonated strongly with my own life. Since I was in 3rd grade I have been saying I want to "do" missions. Or, at least, that I am willing to do them. Granted, missions may look different in 3rd grade than it does for me at 24, but I think that Jim Elliot nailed it. God doesn't want our willingness, He wants will.

For me, missions started small.  It started back at square one, with Pastor Doug asking me what it looked like to "love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind... and love my neighbor as myself." At 20, I wasn't satisfied with my canned answer to that question. At 24, I'm still working it out. I had to re-learn what the Gospel means* and its practical implications in my life. I went from there to loving my family, my classmates, trying to share the Truth of Jesus Christ in those relationships, and letting Him affect certain relationships in my life. After that, it was being a part of GotLife, doing local missions projects and slowly, slowly, being pushed outside of myself and further into the world.

Once I started to grasp what it meant practically to be saved, it started to change everything. Being saved wasn't just a future event (ie: I am saved from Hell) but also something that daily could (and did!) make a difference in my life. I have already been accepted. I have already been forgiven. I have already been adopted. I have already been made righteous. As Michael Kelley says, it's "already, but not yet." I already have these things... but they are not yet fully realized and manifested in my life. But they are there. And they should begin to impact my life and my attitude and behavior.

When we are delighting in God, and desiring what He desires, then that naturally will push us towards missional living. We aren't "going out" because of obligation, but because time with Him is aligning our will with His will. And His will, is for the nations to know Him and worship Him.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;

extol Him, all you peoples."

-Ps. 117:1

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* I highly recommend the book What is the Gospel? which tackles this in a very solid and succinct way. It's one of the books I have referenced most concerning the Gospel... aside from the Bible. :)

E-Day [part ii]

[From the Thai Ministry of Education]

Just a quick update on our "Embassy visit" situation (for those of you who have asked!). When Claire and I went to the Embassy last week they told us we needed two more items: a letter from the Thai Ministry of Education (which John Lapos promptly provided us with) and another background check. The Embassy said the background check could take 4-8 weeks, and the Virginia State Police said 2-4 weeks. We were hoping for two weeks... But great news!

Our background checks were both in our respective mailboxes yesterday afternoon. That's less than one week. Praise God! I know that many of you have been praying specifically about this, thank you. We are trying to schedule another trip to D.C. next week to take care of getting our visa. So, expect a [part iii] sometime next week!

Thailand Benefit Dinner

Wow. I don't know where to begin... Tonight was incredible. So many people poured so much time and energy into making this evening happen. It was beautiful, and I was completely humbled and blown away! Weeks ago, when Pastor Doug mentioned we were going to have an "Italian Benefit Dinner" my first thought was that it would be mass-produced boxed spaghetti and Ragu sauce. Maybe some re-heated meatballs if we were feeling crazy.

What I did not imagine was hand-made pasta, rolled and punched into over 1,200 raviolis, from-scratch sauce, hand-assembled salads and authentic dipping sauce (and dozens of different home-made cakes). Here is the man behind the event... meet Ralph Mattera. He and his wife, Gradye were my Sunday School teachers my senior year of high school. They have such a huge heart for the Lord... you only have to meet them once to know that. He and his team invested hours and hours... and hours and hours preparing and prepping for this evening. What a testimony to his love of the Lord and his love of missions.

Ralph Mattera adding some parmesan to the ravioli. 

My mom (& dessert)! She helped prepare and serve at the dinner.

There were about 360 people who walked through the Fellowship Hall of Spotswood this evening and enjoyed a truly authentic Italian meal, complete with scenery from Italy projected on the wall and an Italian soundtrack. Tonight alone, God raised over $2,200 for our trip to Thailand! That is two months of living in Thailand (each!) or our plane ticket home! So many people gave generously to help support us... I feel truly honored and humbled that God has allowed us to do this, and has placed us in a church with such a heart for missions.

A snapshot from the evening.

This evening could not have happened without the awesome volunteers who came to help-- our college group, friends, relatives and small group showed up in style to help bus tables, wash dishes, engage guests and serve joyfully. God has blessed Claire and I with some incredible friendships. Friends who love the Lord and desire to serve Him and His people. (They've been so faithful to help with so many of our fundraisers, and not just this one, but others such as the Natalie Grant concert this past March!) But here are a few of the folks who stepped up to help this evening:

Tonight was also a neat opportunity for Claire and I to connect with people and have the chance to talk with them about what God is doing in our lives through our church! I am so excited we had this time to show some of our "eternal family" the impact that our God and His church has had on us... and also hear the God-stories of our brothers and sisters.

And, last but not least! We had a special guest this evening... Supot! Supot is our Thai tutor. He came over from Thailand a month or so ago, and has been meeting with us weekly to help us practice our Thai before we leave. Claire blogged about our most recent "Thai tutoring" lesson on her blog (click here to read it!).

Supot and I... posing for a pre-dinner picture!

For everyone who came, supported us, and gave: Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I am excited for the day you are able to see the impact your life made in Thailand because of the investment you've made in our lives. You have truly loved us not just with "words or speech, but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18).
For everyone who served: From Jenn doing all the "paper"-preparation, Jared and publicity, Lauren coordinating volunteers, Candice taking all these awesome pictures, the Matteras overseeing and preparing the food, Bob coordinating the dinner, Doug picking up all the loose ends, planning, and making tonight seamless, to the servers, the hosts and hostesses, and the cheese-sprinklers... (the list goes on and on!) Thank you. 

Support Letters

I have a confession.

I hate writing support letters. There is something incredibly uncomfortable (and awkward) about asking people for money. Am I excited about people knowing what is going on in my life? Absolutely! Do I need people to support me financially and in prayer intentionally over the next year? Yes. So, why is it so hard?

If you've ever tried writing one, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It's this balancing act of giving enough information to relay vision, without being so verbose you lose your audience. It's being persuasive, but not pressuring. It's being excited, but remaining clear and focused. It's hard.

I want my friends and family to support me because they are excited about what God is doing in my life, and what He will do in Thailand over the next year through Claire and me. We are an extension of Spotswood (and the global Church) in Thailand. We don't just want to be "sent", we want to be partnered with. We don't just "want your money"-- We want you to be a part of this.

God has already been at work providing in unexpected ways. I have been so humbled by middle school students, friends, adults, co-workers and church-family who have approached me and generously given their money and time towards Thailand. God is a more-than-capable provider.

So, this is me, stepping out on a limb-- and doing something uncomfortable (one of many things, I am sure). I've written, stuffed and stamped my support letters, and the first batch is going out this week!

If you are reading this and would like to receive a support letter... please just comment in the box below (or email me) and I'll make sure you get one.

Thank you for your prayers and your support!

<3, Liz

E-day! [part i]

Today was the big day! E-day. Embassy-day. After days (well, hours at least) of careful preparation, Claire and I each had a neat folder of copious paperwork to present to the Thai Embassy. We had our passports, bonus passport pictures, visa application, letter of recommendation from the BSC, bonus letter from Thongchai about the BSC,  transcripts, a background check done through our church, teaching certification, teaching recommendation letter from our TESOL tutor, TESOL certification, resume, bank statement and cash payment.

After a smooth trip to D.C. (which, in itself is a miracle!) we eventually found ourselves at the Thai embassy. There may have been some detours along the way, but we hit the 9-1:00pm window. Happy as organized little clams, we waited our turn and presented the receptionist with our compilation of paperwork. She was not nearly as proud of it as we were. She hadn't heard of the BSC and wanted a copy of the BSC's registration from the Ministry of Education... And a different background check. After we got home I went on the website referenced to get more information on the Ministry of Education. This is the front page:

[click picture to enlarge]

Needless to say, my Thai tutoring is going no where near this well, so I just closed my browser and we passed the question onto John Lapos-- our awesome POC in Thailand. (But seriously... please look at this picture. What in the world. Graphic designer friends: please apply to work for Thailand)

While we were hoping to get our work visa today, there was so much good that came out of this trip. For starters, my long-lost wallet (a month and a half and counting...) was found! Claire's car had swallowed it in one of our previous adventures, and there it was waiting for me, wedged between the console and passenger's seat. Yay!

Also, the pile of things we had to compile has inspired me to make some kind of "Going to Thailand" spreadsheet for future sojourners. There is a lot to keep track of and multiple time-lines to be aware of. I think that having some kind of master-list would be helpful for people wanting to do this in the future. It's my new project!

 And lastly, it's my Spring Break this week-- and every break needs to be celebrated with some sort of trip. It was nice to not have to work, and to talk about Thailand with, perhaps, one of the only people who isn't bored by my verbose ramblings on the topic. :) 

For those of you who prayed for us, and for today, thank you! I know that God has a plan that is bigger than ours, and that He is always working out circumstances in our lives to maximize His glory. My prayer is that He would continue to give us patience and joy as we persevere in what He has called us to do.

As the Thai would say, "Mai pen rai" (no worries)-- God is still in control!

Stay tuned for the "E-day [part ii]" post in the next 2-4 weeks.

PS: Today marks our "2 mo." mark before D-Day: Departure Day.

TESOL: check!

Check it out. That's a lot of exclamation points! I'm just waiting for Tutor David to grade a couple more assignments and email me my certificate. Today is a happy day. So glad to have this box checked and behind me!

[x] TESOL certification

Elevate

The Middle School Ministry (MSM) at our church is having a D-Now weekend (Elevate) with 88 MS students-- and Pastor Kyle is highlighting Claire and my mission-"stay" in Thailand over the course of the weekend. We'll be sharing this afternoon with the MS parents a little bit about how God led us to Thailand and what we'll be doing while we are there. I am so excited to be able to share what God is doing in our lives, so that other people can join in and be a part of it!

Especially MS students. It's easy to believe the lies that culture spreads about them, that they are too young, too poor, too [fill-in-the-blank] to make a difference. But that isn't the case. Middle school is a time of training and preparation, but it is also a time of action. I'm excited to see how God uses this weekend in their lives to impact their hearts for the nations. So many of these students genuinely love the Lord and are seeking ways to follow Him in obedience-- and that is ripe ground for growth.

In addition to sharing today, we also set up a table with lots of pictures, some information about our trip, support magnets, and promo material for an upcoming fundraiser. On April 18th, the church will be having an Italian Dinner Night (that the college folks will be hosting) and all the profit from that night will go towards our year in Thailand.

[click picture to enlarge]

I am so humbled and blessed to be a part of my church. Raising support for an entire year seems daunting at times-- but His church has overwhelmed us with their love for us and for His mission. God is so faithful. Jehovah Jireh. The LORD will provide. I'm excited to what He does!

A penny for your bahts.

I recently received an email from one of the girls at my church who is in the process of praying through being a part of Spotswood's August Thailand Team. It was so encouraging to hear her heart, and to have the opportunity to share with her a little more about "what to expect" if she decides this is how God wants her to spend that part of her summer.

While my response to her was a massive wall of words, I wanted to share a couple parts of it here for the benefit of anyone else who may be considering this trip.

Here’s what our August trip to Thailand was not: It was not a rehearsed program where you prepare skits and "perform". Instead, it’s partnering with long-term missionaries who are already doing healthy ministries in Thailand. We look at ministries like "The Well" which is rehabilitating women brought out of prostitution, or the prison ministry (which is growing like crazy in Thailand) or Blaplaa. And because believers are doing these things before we get there-- and after we leave-- we just get to join in the process and the joy.

This accomplishes two things: first, it is less exhausting for us, because we’re not generating a bunch of programs, but secondly (and I think this is the best!) it gives you an accurate and honest look at what ministry looks like in Thailand. These are sustainable ministries- healthy, growing ministries that are seeing people coming to know God, being discipled, and growing in their fruitfulness.

As far as the culture, it is very relational. People spend a lot of time together: hanging out, talking, sightseeing, going to the markets, etc. Thais are also very sweet, generous, and hospitable. (And very very forgiving when you say the wrong thing or make cultural "mistakes"!)

In regards to where they are spiritually-- that is perhaps the saddest thing. Buddhism is so pervasive in their culture that it affects everything. But the good news is that they don’t need to understand everything to be interested. In American church—we say, "fit in/change/become like us and be accepted." There-- they are accepted in the community first. They go to church, they even invite their (also) lost friends to small group Bible studies, and then they begin to accept who Jesus is. How different that is than what we are used to! But how biblical! Jesus always offers the relationship first.

If any of you have specific questions about life/missions in Thailand, please feel free to ask them in the comment box below! (If I don't know, I'd be happy to ask some of the missionaries we met there who are still on the field)

June 11th

It's OFFICIAL!

Claire and I just bought our one-way tickets to Thailand! It's a little over 30 hours of travel time (including layovers in Heathrow, London and Changi, Singapore). We are leaving from Washington (IAD) at 6:40pm on Monday, June 11th-- and will be arriving at the BKK airport in Bangkok, Thailand at 11:05am on Wednesday, June 13th. What a flight!

We were only able to select seats for the last two legs of the trip, but here is my seat (1) for the London to Singapore leg (the longest of them all...) We're on the "top deck". Claire will be in 79D.

I am so excited (and nervous)! In less than 3 months, I will be sitting in that seat-- a third of the way on my way to Thailand... :)

Hab. 2:14

The Sunday our Thailand team visited New Vision Church last August the pastor spoke on Habakkuk 2:14. It was part of their prayer and vision for both Thailand and the world. While reading my Bible last night I noticed it, and wanted to share it with you all.

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." -Hab. 2:14

What a privilege to get to be a part of that.

Update

I know this blog has been a quiet lately, so here is an update to let you all know what is going on...

- I'm 60% done with TESOL! (Which may seem like an accomplishment, but I've been working on it since the end of January, and need to have it completed by the end of this month... so it needs a little more time and attention. Please pray for me.)

- Claire and I are looking at flights for the week of June 10th-- which means we're officially at the 3 month mark.

- $620 has already been given towards the "Support Liz in Thailand" fund. AND two people (of the 34 needed) have already committed to sponsor me monthly. Praise God!

- My BSC application is complete (yay!).

The Lapos Letter (3/2012)

Guinea Pig Interns

Claire and I were able to skype with John Lapos on Wednesday night after our small groups (click here for her post on it!). While we would love to have a definitive schedule of what our year in Thailand will look like, that’s not really practical. Instead of pre-planning every ministry and event that we will help with, John has asked us to be flexible. Which, if you know me, I tend to default to flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants, so this should be no problem! But I did want to share what we do know so far:


Teaching
Monday-Thursdays we will be teaching 8 English classes (this may be 8 different classes, or a couple classes, multiple times during the week—depending on the need) These classes will be from 5:00-6:30/7:00-8:30(9:00), with our prep time from 3:00-5:00 on those days. This will be the bulk and most consistent part of our ministry time in Thailand.

Interns
We will also be serving with John as his “interns” while we are in Thailand. The job description is: “yes”.Being willing to serve and help and go wherever the need is. John asked us this question when we spoke, “Would you be willing to say ‘yes’ to anything God asks from you this year?” That is exactly what I want! I know there will be things that are hard, uncomfortable or not my strongest gift-set, but I want to maximize my time and impact where I am for the Kingdom. And I’m not waiting until in June when I leave for Thailand to start saying “yes”—I’m saying it now.

Friday nights
Friday nights, the BSC hosts something called “Friday Night Life” which we would assist with in some capacity. We did not get to see this while we were in Thailand in August, so I’m excited to find out more about this ministry!

Sundays
Sundays we will have church (of course!) as well as possibly leading a Bible-English Class. There is also a possibility that we may help with a church plant while we are there—which would be such a neat opportunity! If this pans out, I am sure there will be many more posts in the future on this topic.

Other Ministries
During our “free time”, John will be taking some time to introduce us to different established and new missions opportunities. We will be the “guinea pigs” for future teams that come. For instance, before the Spotswood team comes, we will have the opportunity to experience some of the projects that they might work on and give feedback on them. This might include things like the prison ministry, or working with women who have been rescued from bars and helping provide them with sustainable occupational skills. We would also help set these projects up for the team for when they come. This way when our team, or other teams come, we can better connect them with suitable ministries.


Thank you for being excited with me, and for praying over me. Please feel free to comment on any of these posts if you have questions or comments. I love getting feedback (and will love it even more when I’m half-way around the world)!

24.

24. More than just an awesome TV series involving Jack Bauer.

Today was my 24th birthday. 24. My last year before being pigeon-holed into a new age bracket (25-44). It was a really wonderful day-- which started off with an anonymous breakfast, sweet cards from my co-workers and a singing hamburger card from my Tamra's son, Zack. Not even a video would do this card justice. I'll have it with me the next few days if you would like to see it, just ask!

For all of you who wished me a happy birthday today, bought my meals, or gave me thoughtful and sweet gifts, thank you! I had such a nice day, and it was because of your thoughtfulness. I am so blessed to have such incredible friends and such a strong network of people who care about me.

My mom texted me at work today and informed me that her and my dad had bought my luggage for Thailand (see below). I picked them up from her at church tonight, complete with the loud and conspicious balloons. The luggage seems huge right now, but I'm sure as soon as I try to negotiate a year's worth of clothes and supplies in them, they will start looking much much smaller.

Thailand is coming! It keeps getting closer and closer and becoming more and more real. Claire and I had the opportunity to talk with Rose last night and pick her brain about living in Thailand. We also will be skyping with John Lapos next week to touch base and make sure we are on track with our preparations.

Please keep praying that we will continue to push through and be diligent in completing our Thailand to-do items, while also not neglecting our responsibilities here-and-now.

Done

This morning I had the singular opportunity to share with my church family (in two minutes) about GotLife-- what it is to me and why I participate in it. It felt very surreal. The only thing that felt real was the flip flopping of my stomach and general sense of nausea before going up to the stage each service. But God is so faithful.

Last night I had everything typed out and timed for what I wanted to say... but I felt unsettled about it. So, I prayed, went back through it again, gutted all but a few sentences and started over. I love getting on my soapbox about different topics, but that was not the point of this morning. I wasn't asked to give a sermon or to take over for the Holy Spirit and convict people. I was just asked to tell my story and let God do what He does best. And that is what I tried to do.

It was a very weighty thing to be given the mic and asked to share about something that is so central to the heart of God... sharing His Good News. I feel very humbled that I was asked to share, and I hope that as broken a vessel as I am, that Christ shined through. But after mulling this over for weeks, I am so glad it is behind me.

I am looking forward to a restful sleep tonight! :)

Disqualified

Why is it that so many of us struggle to share our testimony/faith/the Gospel?

One thing I consistently hear people say is that they don't feel qualified to share the Gospel. And usually this is not meant in a "I'm not educated enough" sort of context. Rather, we allow previous sin or personal insecurities to "disqualify" us from being vocal about our faith. (I use " " marks, because I do not actually believe that the privilege to share the Gospel is earned and it, therefore, cannot be disqualified)

However, while reading through Exodus, I noticed two very interesting parallels between Moses' life and our own (ref: Exodus 4).

(1) After being told his upcoming mission, Moses tells God, "O LORD, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." To which God replies, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." This however, is not enough for Moses. He is so human here. So identifiable.  "But Moses said, 'O LORD, please send someone else to do it.'"

Maybe he had trouble articulating the things he wanted to say. Maybe when he was put on the spot he faltered. Stuttered. Sounded silly. Maybe he felt awkward, insecure and inadequate. We've all been there, right?

(2) Then there was this little blurb between the burning bush and Moses' trek to Egypt:

At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.) -Ex. 4:24-26

And then it picks up with Aaron meeting Moses like nothing happened the night before. Isn't that strange? It was an odd read at face value even without going into all the things the footnotes said... But here's what I gathered as being the bottom line:

Moses sinned.

Moses was supposed to circumcise his son (per Gen 17:9-14), and for whatever reason, he was disobedient and didn't.

And this is the man God used as His mouthpiece to Egypt-- the awkward, self-conscious, sinful Moses. Who, also, by the way, was a murderer. This man was sent back to the place (and people) of his greatest failure to announce the onset of their greatest deliverance. God did not disqualify him because of his sin and insecurities, He used him.

I don't think I'll ever fully understand why God loves using broken things so much. Why He delights in those that society overlooks. Why He not only uses the lowly things, and the weak things, and the things which are not... but also, years later, would choose to enter His creation as one of these things.

So, next time you feel insecure and weak and like a sinner... good. You are one. Salvation never depended on our effort or quality, neither does the process of our sanctification. Tullian states that:

"If God has saved you—if he’s given you the faith to believe, and you’re now a Christian; if you’ve transferred trust from your own accomplishments and abilities to Christ’s accomplishment on behalf of sinners—then here’s the good news. In the phraseology of Colossians 1, it’s simply this: You’ve already been qualified, you’ve already been delivered, you’ve already been transferred, you’ve already been redeemed, you’ve already been forgiven.

The everything we need and long for, Paul says, we already possess if we are in Christ. He has already sweepingly secured all that our hearts deeply crave."

Praise God that He uses broken people as His vessels to take the Good News to the world. Don't disqualify yourself from receiving the blessing of being a part of His plan.

1 Cor 1:26-31

"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'"

Amazing Love

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:3-6)

Evangelism

I love that God gives us experiences and "God moments"-- and then gives us opportunities to share them with others to edify and build up the Body. A few weeks ago one of the pastors at my church asked me if I would be willing to share my testimony about my experience with GotLife (an evangelism class) with the church (2/19). I said yes.

Since then, I've been thinking and praying about what I should share. I feel like it's easy to make "evangelism" into some great big nebulous oooaahh-thing. Really, it's not, or at least, it shouldn't be. Doug is always talking about how we should wake up in the mornings and remind ourselves of the Gospel-- of daily reorientating ourselves to the point of our justification.

We need to daily remind ourselves that God is perfect and flawless, and that He created everything. And that we, as people, are lawless. We have sinned against God, broken His commands and set our lives (from birth) opposed to Him as His enemies. But because of His love for us, He sent Christ-- God incarnate-- to live the life we couldn't live, and drink the wrath of God and punishment for our sin that we couldn't bear. If I choose to accept this, it accomplishes two things; first, it shows the great justice and love of God. God could not leave the guilty (me) unpunished; so Christ took the punishment I earned. Secondly, through accepting Christ's payment for my sin, I am given (freely!) not only forgiveness, but also the righteousness of Christ.

The more I tell this to myself (and have it told to me), the more it is on my mind and in my heart. The more it is in my mind and on my heart, the more likely I am to speak it. It should be an outgrowth of an internal realization. The more I focus on Jesus, the cross, and the salvation that has been freely given to me, the more joy I will have and the greater my desire to share it will be. Thus, evangelism becomes more than a two-month program or a "training class" or fill-in-the-blank. Instead, it truly does become a lifestyle. It is about looking for opportunities to speak the name of Jesus in every conversation. It is about looking for ways to invest in people who have no knowledge of God. It is about giving, and serving, and loving in the name of Christ those who could never repay you. It is about the Holy Spirit compelling you to do these things and about God getting the glory.

In small group, Laurie brought up a great point from one of the breakout speakers at 20/20-- that God's intention for man has always been to create more worshippers of Himself-- from Adam and Eve's "be fruitful and multiply" to the Great Commission's "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations..." That has always been God's "Plan A." God does all the work to bring hearts to Himself and to save the lost, but we are given the distinct privilege of being a part of God's plan to take His Name to the nations.

So, where does that leave GotLife? I still think it is awesome. No, it's not the end-all-be-all of evangelism. Of course not. But if God and the message of the Gospel is impressed daily on my heart, why wouldn't I want another opportunity to share with others about Him? Why wouldn't I want to invite people into a community of people (the church) to learn about God, worship Him, and serve side-by-side with others?

I love my church. It is not perfect, but we love God and we love each other. And while we don't always do that perfectly, there is grace where we fall short. I want for my life to be one that is characterized by being vocal about my Family and my Father.

Raising Support

I received my first "donation envelope" this week. Not from a close friend, or relative, or rich adult... but from a student I just met! I spoke a few weeks ago at the Awana missions night-- and one of the boys there decided he wanted to help send me to Thailand to be a missionary. So he did. He wrote me a note (see below) with his generous donation. I am blown away.

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."
-1 Timothy 4:12

Bangkok Travel Tips

A great video the LifePoint missionaries made about life/tourism in Bangkok. It is so good. And so true.

Bangkok Be Smart Guide from brett clark on Vimeo.