The Shining Sword

Upon attending the INCH conference on Friday, I came home with a armful of new books. One I started reading last night out loud to the kids. It's title is "The Shining Sword" by Charles G. Coleman. I love going to these places and being exposed to the myriad of literature and written word, new and old, as far as the eye can see. It's truly my Turkish Delight (my negative consequence to my 'turkish delight, is the pocket book $$$$)

It is an allegory similar to that of Pilgrims Progress but using Ephesians 6. It takes the reader through the Armor of God through the life of a rather lazy man named Lanus who lives in the Broad Valley in the Land of Man. The narrator says this about Lanus:

"I am sorry to say, this young man has few of the admirable qualities we like to find in our
friends, but we must get acquainted with him, nevertheless, for interesting things are about
to happen to him"

Lanus meets with a friend, Robin, from his past, who comes to deliver him a message. He's come to give him an invitation from the King. Lanus reminds Robin, that Broad Valley does not have a King. To which Robin replies

"There is a King---a great and good and wise King who the people of Broad Valley have forgotten....."

Anyway, I really don't want to share much more, but Robin tells Lanus his own story. We are only on chapter 3 but the allegory is so wonderful as a read aloud, I have to force myself to stop...just have to get to the point of anticipation and leave them hanging for tomorrow.... I'm loving it.

I had never heard of this book before but so far love the storytelling, the language and the word pictures. I also appreciated how the author alluded to God drawing Robin to Himself and the "Kings" men use direct Scripture quotations as part of their speech.

A book you may want to check out.

Country Parody

He's Back.....

Well, the guys got back from T4G today. Blair had 5 books in his duffel bag and an ESV Personal Size Bible. The rest of the books he shipped home via Fed Ex b/c they flew stand-by down there and didn't have any extra room to carry books back today. So I am drooling over the ones he brought home and I feel it's like Christmas anticipating the Fed Ex man (or woman) coming (hopefully tomorrow) with a box full of books!

Blair said he enjoyed Piper, MacArthur and R.C. Sproul very much. We haven't more than a couple moments to spend talking since he got back, but....I'm anxious to hear all the details!

T4G

Well, today I am a little bit jealous. My husband and 45 other men from our church are headed to Louisville, Kentucky to the Together for the Gospel Conference. What an opportunity to hear from some of the greatest teachers of our day. Piper, Mahaney, MacArthur, Dever, Duncan, Mohler. I will benefit on his return trip from the bundle of books he will probably bring home.

This conference brings together I think like 8,000 men from all over to hear teaching on the one thing that unifies them. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray that God would change, mold and refine the hearts of men/leadership more to the Gospel for His Glory and the good of His people.

Time Out

I've had a little 'time out' from my blogging and actually the computer in general.

The week before Easter, my last post, I had just finished my Team of Rivals Book. That Saturday we adopted 3 of our friends' kids for a week while the two of them and newest baby addition, spent a week in sunny, warm Texas. We had a great week, but as you can imagine w/7 kids ( I added a 10, 8 and 6 year old boy) I didn't take time to blog. We had tons of fun that week. Each day had a special outing planned except for Thursday, we dyed Easter Eggs and did Resurrection Eggs together. Every other day we did something special.

The day the adopted kids left, we flew to Minnesota that same day to spend a week w/Blair, who had been there all month, and various family. We stayed w/my in-laws, but enjoyed times w/my mom, two of Blairs brothers and all their kiddos, and some precious friends from Minne-soda. We got home and it's been a race every since.

Blair started in on my 'to do list' that has been on the fridge for probably 7 or 8 months. He started taking the boys bunk beds apart and reformulating them into something that will make better use of their 10x10 room. Well, since he tore things apart, why not paint? So, soon I'll have the before pictures up w/some progress. Tonight we put up wall paper border. So it's coming to a close.

Anyway, we are alive here. God is working, changing me daily into more pliable clay to work with. But, it takes some severe pushing, prodding and softening of my heart to conform to Him. Uff Da.

Blessings everyone.

Best Book I've Ever Read

Well, I finally finished it. Last night. Team of Rivals. Now, I can officially recommend this book. I had un-officially recommended it a while ago before I'd finished reading it. (Although I was several hundred pages into it at that point) I feel like you can't officially advise someone to read something unless you've read the whole thing in it's entirety.

It is hands down the best book I've ever read. ( in a secular light)

The mere humanity of the man of Lincoln; the kindness, goodness, compassion, gentleness, humility, good judgment, meekness, knowing how to take fault and blame when it was due him, accept responsibility, to find the good in others and give w/o getting, to grieve and mourn and empathize, to love deeply and be a good judge of character, to put away the wrongs done against him, and to forgive, forgive great things done towards him, to forgive great things said about him, to persevere amidst great and many opposition, to believe so strongly and firmly in ideals and principles, yet not be so firm and rigid in those ideals as to ostracize himself from those who felt differently; to smile and laugh, to be honest with no other option as a choice but honesty. To make others feel welcome, to not cast blame, to be strong in Character and morality, to live life unafraid, to fear God and know His control, to care so deeply for mankind that he ultimately gave his life for the preservation of the Union and the slavery that had so entwined it since it's birth.

This was a scratching of the surface of Abraham Lincoln. I wept through out the last chapter. I wept at different sections of the book. I'd think one would have to believe God is sovereign when you read this book. Or maybe it is that God's sovereignty is just so obvious to me through the life of Lincoln. Only that man, that one man; the man God designed for such a time as this, could have possibly did what he did at that time in history. God had him here on this earth for just the purpose he served.

Never before have I studied a single person in history as I did with this Lincoln book.

I feel like I know how and why Seward, who once so despised Lincoln after he lost the Republican nomination, came to love him like no other man.

The 'all business tough-as-nails' war secretary, Stanton, who had never ever showed emotion, couldn't contain his tears for days after Lincoln was shot.

Bates, his attorney general, who often disagreed w/Lincoln especially on the slaves, thought no better man had ever or would ever live.

Welles, his Secretary of the Navy, who so staunchly supported Lincoln, clashed with most of the rest of the cabinet, however, again, Lincoln knew this man would create a Navy that would rival any in the world. That is exactly what Gideon Welles did.

For Chase, who desired the presidency for himself and did almost anything to get it--all the while Lincoln appointing him to his cabinet, because Chase could and did handle the financial affairs of the country so well, better than anyone else. Like so often, Lincoln did what was best for the country, not necessarily what would be the best and easiest for him. Chase made his presidency quite difficult at many, many different times.

For Hay and Nicolay his devoted right hand men, his aides, who came to be more like his children than his staff. They loved the president like a father and did anything they could to help him weather the storm of the Civil War, knowing better than anyone, how exhausting, depressing and sorrowful it was for him.

I feel like I could hear Mary's tantrums and rudeness and how Lincoln never made excuses for his wife, but he never complained or put her down--no matter her behavior.

I can imagine seeing the compassion and grief on Lincoln's face as he walked with Grant after battles. I can feel his devotion to the Country, to all mankind, to God, in the eradication of slavery; to the unity of the Country he so loved and felt bound to uphold.

Anyway, this isn't a typical book review, not that I know how to do one anyway. I just want to say...if you are still with me. Don't borrow this book from the library. Go to Amazon and purchase it. It make take you a couple months to get through, like it did me. You may sit down and read it over the course of a few weeks. But...if you are an avid reader, you especially enjoy history (although even if you don't like to study history, this character sketch will move you beyond words) you most certainly will want to underline and highlight, dog-ear, wipe tears off the pages, and read and re-read passages. Purchase this book for the generations to come.

I'll end with a quote from Leo Tolstoy, as he spoke about Lincoln in 1908.

"Now, why was Lincoln so great that he overshadows all other national heroes? He really was not a great general like Napoleon or Washington; He was not such a skillful statesman as Gladstone or Frederick the Great; but his supremacy expresses itself altogether in his peculiar moral power and in the greatness of his character"

I found this to be true to the core.

****This is not for the faint of heart reader--it's almost 800 pages long.

More Proof

Okay, here is proof I stamped and didn't just saturate myself with Thailand. This was creating samples in our hotel room after we had purchased supplies from their markets.

Proof

I know I've talked about the stuff for sale on the streets. It's everywhere. It's shocking. I thought these pictures would give you a small idea. One thing I've forgot to mention was the wild dogs EVERYWHERE. If you are an animal lover, please forgive me, but it was disgusting. There are dogs, skinny, starving, gross, mangy dogs everywhere you turn.

Before we left for the trip as I was doing some online reading about Malaria, wondering if I should get a shot or not (I ended up getting no shots to go) I read that there were better chances of getting bit by a stray dog than getting Malaria. To which I laughed, however, dogs were everywhere. They were so gross, that I chose not to take any pictures. They'd be asleep in the middle of the streets, under cars, on the steps into buildings, you name it.



I am a single mom this week and I've had to really crack down and get back into school, hence fewer posts. But as I will keep posting, after 3 weeks of no school, it was very important to jump in again w/both feet. So...there is the reason, posts have been quieter.

More coming soon.

Help Needed

This man cried for help as he sat on the street w/no legs. I wondered how he had got there, there was no wheel chair around nor anyone who looked like they were with him. He sat on this street corner where we were waiting to cross the street, hoping for passer-byers loose change would get him through another day.

I again thought that while evangelism may be done differently today at times, there are many, many people who could be evagelized the "old" way of walking down to street corners and preaching the Gospel. However, like in our trip to Thailand in general, helping to meet a physical and economic need, is being the hands and feet of Jesus and giving a context to prepare someone for the Gospel.

It reminds me of my life here. In being Christ w/skin on and giving someone the Gospel, my life needs to be lived 'in the light of eternity' daily. I am battling myself if I don't live as closely to Scripture as possible. Daily examining my life according to the Word and letting my life then show forth as living for the King. Then I have a wonderful segway, one that is easy, to give lip service about the great Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sin

"The Mind that is set on the flesh is Hostile to God; for it does not submit to God's law,
indeed it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
Romans 8: 7-8

This woman was a fortune teller/soothsayer. She laid asleep on the street waiting for someone to come. I was glad she was sleeping b/c I couldn't help but stare at her situation. I'd never seen anything like it. I think I'm pretty naive. I'm sure stuff like this goes on here, but it was just so open and out there. In another picture I took, there was a sign in front of her someone had put up, I assume while she was sleeping, calling her names, with swear words and vulgarity. This kind of stuff is common place on the streets of Bangkok.

If I had more courage, (and we weren't off in a hurried pace to get to our destination) I think I would've liked to wake her up and quote Romans 8. I'm sure she wouldn't have understood me, nor I her, If I questioned her about Jesus Christ.

How do you start your day?

This is how I start my day each day. I love coffee mugs that mean something. I try to purchase one on trips to special places, like I bought a Bangkok Starbucks Mug in Thailand. My dear Father-in-law bought me this one pictured last year at the beginning of the school year, which was fitting b/c I do LOVE history.

I start my morning (most mornings) with Tabletalk Devotional Magazine and my ESV Bible that a dear friend gave me a couple years ago; it's become my constant companion. I love the ESV. I HIGHLY recommend the pair to everyone looking for a time spent in the Word each day fruitfully. If you are frustrated by your method or means of a devotional, check Tabletalk out. I received it as a gift subscription this year from someone dear--it has tremendously added and impacted my devotional time. It's not random, but walks you through a book of the Bible each year--This Year it's Matthew. It's also filled with timley articles from respected andGodly Christian leaders like Piper, Dever, Duncan, Adams, Sproul and John MacArthur.

So, How do you start your day? I'm interested to know!

Winter Robin or Spring Robin?

Yesterday we had about 20 Robin's in our crab apple and apple tree along with many Goldfinches and Cardinals. I think the Robins are a little early. Poor Guys, it's been hovering at 34 degrees and lots of snow. They are eating off the remains of the apples on the tree. It's not a good picture, but yes, it's really a Robin. Does that mean Spring is around the corner?

Phone Not Working

Hey Everyone. Our Home Phone isn't working and hasn't been off and on for a couple weeks. So for the time being, please call our cells!

If you don't get a reply from us, the reason is we can't access the home phone so call the cell. Thank you!

Prayer for a Friend

Friends, Family and Fellow Blogger Readers,

I have a friend from church named Jackie that has been battling pneumonia while I was in Thailand, she was getting better and suppose to come home today, but just got a message that she is not doing good at all and they've discovered another infection and is having a CT scan at 2 o'clock. If you read this would you please lift up Jackie and Doug, right now as you read this. They have 2 small boys.

Thank you.
Karen

Me-Miaw and Chom-poo

This is a picture of Me-Miaw(I think the spelling is right) and her daughter Chom-poo. (like Shampoo with an short o sound)



I played with her too much (not really, she was adoreable) and after giving her some U.S. treats (I gave her Good and Plentys, goldfish crackers and Kelli's jolly ranchers, she ate them all at once) from my bag, she grabbed my hand and started leading me up stairs...I asked Judy (director of the Well) where she was taking me and if it was o.k. She wanted me to see her room. So upstairs I went with little Chom-poo and she took me to her living area. It's just a room. Above where the Well girls work on cards. Its a 1" thick mattress on the concrete floor. Thats it. Since they can't afford diapers, another little guy peed on their mattress while we were there. It just dries. Thats it. No air conditioning so, they sleep in this little room w/their mattress on the floor. Thankful to have it.



Me-Miaw was "married" before she was saved. A lot of marriages I guess are just stating you want to be together before family. I guess they've had lots of troubles and times of apart and together, But once she was saved, Jim and Judy (Well people) showed them about living apart before they are married and coming together again, once they were married. That is why she has been living at the Well w/Chom-poo. I believe they are getting married tomorrow, Saturday. Me-Miaw gave her testimony to us on Monday morning through a translator before we started showing them card stuff. These women are just precious. Like Janelle, Card Making brought me there, but I'd love to go again and just work. Work with Nightlight or the Well. The Well, is totally a J.Hudson Taylor kind of work. They just pray believing that God will supply as they need. American Money goes a long ways there and things are so dirt cheap you can't even believe it. (I mean for us it is) Our money goes a long ways.

Thailand

This is what all of Thailand looks like, except the Kings buildings. They are amazingly laden w/gold and mirrors and jewels. When I get pictures from some of my friends that went that had better cameras, I will be able to post those. We are all sharing our pictures. My camera didn't work in a lot of light settings. Not sure why.

You can see the mold and filth if you click on the picture and make it larger. This is how they live.
You have to click on the picture here to bring it up larger and see in more detail their living conditions. We can't fathom it.
At least I couldnt.

Life

This is the carts of handmade brooms that are pulled in the traffic-y streets with all the cars, motorcycles, scooters, walkers, taxis, tuk-tuk's and buses. I caught this guy in the car on our way to the weekend markets w/the Well girls.





This next picture was just common. Yes, it's skinned frogs on ice. (the ice part was rare) Next to it on ice are hunks of cut up fish and then bags of, I don't know, some kind of sea creatures.
For mere pennies you can get this food.
All of the octopus, squid, ishy fish of all kinds, shrimp ect....that we pay big bucks for in the States, is dirt cheap there.
This last picture is Becky giving our Driver, Pi-Lo a Bible in Thai with notes written in it from each one of us and Becky had someone translate them into Thai for him. We had him every day all day from when we arrived until Sunday. He was off on Monday, so we gave it to him after he drove us to church. He would wait wherever we were, in the van w/all our backpacks, money, stuff, product and guard it....sometimes for hours at a time. With no air conditioning in that 90 something heat. He was ALWAYS smiling and though he spoke no English, tried so hard to help us out. One time, we were wandering down very insanely busy streets and he spotted us and pulled up so we could get in.

Our prayer was all that he would read that Bible we gave him and that God would draw him to himself. Becky said she is going to request him as a driver every time she goes, in hopes that more and more contact will open doors.

A precious baby that we got to snuggle at Nightlight. They have rescued the mom and her baby. I was thankful for NOT seeing an oprhange at this trip (maybe next one) I don't know that I could've handled it emotionally.





This is my friend Kim and a sampling of the fruit from Thailand. David showed us how to peel it, kind of has a skin like an acorn. What is left is this fruit that looks like an eyeball. I did eat it, it's one of the bravest things I did. For those who don't know, I am NOT very adventerous in my food. I detest seafood of all or any kind (and rice) and that was a very large majority of their diet. This fruit was called Lychee.
Click Here for a picture I took a picture of the unwrapped eyeball fruit. My friend Janelle posted it on her blog first, so I don't want to double post.






This was on a very busy street. Someone had handwashed their clothes and laid it to dry on some shrubs, it'd kind of be like driving down Haggerty and 6 Mile Corrider and having ladies and men w/sewing machines sitting sewing, booths of people selling dollar store items and knock off purses and shirts, clothes set out to dry, men walking in the busy traffic, with a pull cart selling homemade brooms, families in the upwards of 5 and 6 people riding on ONE, (yes you read that right, one motorcycle,), women riding on the back of a motorcycle side saddle
going at terrific speeds, now add pedestrians into the traffic walking and busses and taxis and you name it. Now multiply that times 10 deep, side by side, by side by side, mile after mile after mile. = Bangkok

Ellie

This is a picture of David and Sonjia and their little rescued baby Ellie. Ellie was rescued at 2 weeks of age and purchased back from a Trafficker for the $200 she was sold for. Pray for this missionary family that God would allow the adoption of Ellie to finalize. David works with Nightlight in the business aspect of things as well as their mission work. They were missionaries in Kahzikastan or Uzbekistan ( can't remember which ?spelling?) and were just made to leave about 1 year ago after being there for 9 years. Now they are in Thailand serving the Lord. David is Becky's brother and he was with us for many of our days in Bangkok, basically he orgainzed everything for us while we were there. They speak a little bit of Thai, but speak fluent Russian which has given them a whole new outlet for trafficked Russian women b/c they can speak the language.

3:15 a.m.---Again and I can't Sleep.

These pictures are from our first full day in Thailand. We went to bed late Tuesday night and were up at 3 and couldn't sleep. We left at 5ish a.m. for Pattaya to visit a safe house there called Tamar House. Here we experienced a time of International Worship and Prayer. Christians from all over Pattaya meet together to pray, sing and share what God is doing. I can only imagine that with all the incredible poverty and sexual slavery, Buhddism and all, this is so helpful and encouraging to all working. It reminded me of the Singspiration nights I had as a kid or at camp, where we would sing, pray and share testimony of God's working. It was very encouraging.

Several of the groups represented were. Youth with a Mission, Campus Crusade, some ladies who heard of it through their Youth Pastor and Wife who had visited--they were from Australia. (These ladies were in their, I'm guessing late 40s early 50s. We saw lots of women whose kids were out of high school, that are doing short term trips now that the kids are gone. I thought that was such a great use of their time now! I was encouraged by how many women like that there were.) They showed such love for these poor girls. I was also encouraged by the attitude toward the men that use and abuse these girls. My first attitude is outright anger at their lust. However, Nancy (runs Tamar) was quick to point out that these men need Christ just as much as these women. They are just as lost. What a healthy view of sin she has (is that possible?) I was quick to repent of my un-righteous anger. I went from just being mad at them to yes, mad at what they do, but remembering they need Christ....they are vile sinners like I once was, they don't know to be any different w/o the hope of the Gospel to set them free. This second picture is a group of Thai and Chinese and some Americans that came in and sat on the floors. No pride or discontent b/c there was no room to sit. They happily sat on the floor in the back and joined in the time of worship and praise.



This is a picture taken at Tamar House. It was set up very well. They had a bakery (to teach the girls to cook and bake) They had a coffee shop that opened in the afternoon where the girls run and sell their baked goods. This picture to the right was where they learned to sew. They make duvet covers in silk, silk purses, pillow sham covers, bathrobes. Thailand is known for their silk. Then they had an area where they made cards and other handmade gifts like picture frames, journals ect..

While we were in the taxi van that we used most days, there were a bazillion pictures I could have taken to help you understand Thailand. Of course, driving and moving...wouln'dt allow that. It was very common to see someone with a VERY old sewing machine (you know the old Black ones contained in a little desk) sitting on the street w/all the food vendors and merchandise vendors, sewing jeans, or shirts or bags to sell. I wished I could've taken a pictures of that. You almost have to see to believe it. When things say 'Made in Thailand' they mean it. Most of the stuff is NOT imported.

Mission Accomplished?

I know I will be asked this question. So since waking up (or never really falling asleep) all night, I finally got up at 3:56 a.m. I'm showered and am going to work on cleaning my house, doing laundry, dusting ect..... first however, as these Thai people remain on my mind constantly, I'm going to tell you what this trip accomplished, briefly. I don't think it's possible to make anyone understand what a trip like this can do--totally. But I'll try to explain a little.


I know I will be asked this.

"So was the mission of your trip accomplished?"



Well, first that is a loaded question. My generic answer is this and it starts with a question. "Is God sovereign, is He in complete control? Does He ordain our footsteps? Are we held in the palm of His hand?" If you answered yes to any/all of those questions (I answer 'yes' to them all) then this trip accomplished exactly what God designed it to do. We may not (you or I) understand what was accomplished and if our "mission" was successful, but I firmly believe it did all God wanted it to do.

Here is a more individual sense, of what it was for me. What got me to go on this trip to begin with? Making Cards. Did I accomplish this on the trip? Personally, No. Before you jump to conclusions, let me explain. We went to show trafficked women how to make beautiful cards. I believe that was accomplished and I can explain that in more detail later, (they were um....giddy? seems to lame a word, over learning how to stamp and they just took over shortly after we began showing them stuff)

Why did God bring me to Thailand? I think it was to show me His power, His Hand, His working, His perfection, His greatness and majesty, His Glory, the unity of the Body of Christ, to gain a larger view of Sin--not just Thailand's, but my own.

You may ask,

"you traveled all the way to Thailand to see God's power?"

No, I know He is all powerful and have seen glimpses of His power manifested here....but no matter what you read in the papers, travel journals or mission stories, NOTHING can prepare you for seeing the body of Christ at large in the World, as experiencing it first hand. Nothing can prepare a person for seeing a 3rd World country, than walking it's streets, smelling it's smells, hugging it's people, eating it's food. Nothing can give you a passion to reach the lost and for missions in general, than going. Now, I'm not saying that you can't have that burden and God can't show you the reality never leaving the soil of ones country; I may just be a very ignorant person, but I had NO clue..None whatsoever, until I went to a 98% Buddhists country and walked there for 8 days. So while I am sure I am not conveying this to you as you read.....I believe the reason for going (making cards) and what was accomplished (brokenness for God's will and the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ) was totally different than what I expected. While I went because of the card ministry, I am so glad God showed more of himself to me than cards. I wonder if I'd have gone had it not been for the ministry of the cards? I don't know. But God in his perfection, saw fit for the card making to draw me there.

I feel like my creativity was hampered. I just couldn't hardly make a "design" to save my life on the days we created in the hotel room. (to ease your concerns, I eeked out a few) But...while I let that discourage me at first (sinner that I am) I see God's big picture. It's not about card making, it's about administering the love of the Spirit to women who have been wounded and attacked by Satan from their birth. Yes, we all are, as we are born sinners, but what I saw in this country (I compare that to the U.S.) gave me a view of God that I think is hidden in our easy, clean, "christian" United States. Hugging these women, laughing together even though the language barrier was so difficult, (at one time tons of tiny ants are crawling all over my legs...but still smiling and loving them) telling them you will pray for them and their faces lighting up, even the ones who didn't understand that, b/c they aren't regenerate yet. As Becky so aptly put it, it's "being Jesus with skin on"

I have many many highlights, today I will share these couple.
1. Listening to "Anitas" (changed her name) testimony in a quiet room, through her broken English, of her life after she was sold by her parents at age 6 for $500 to a Chinese Business Man Oh, my goodness. I can't explain the power of God I saw through her testimony. He is ALIVE!!!!!!!
2. Connecting with a woman from my church I barely knew. How precious of God to allow me to know someone from my own church, to give me a love for her, enjoy her and allow me to pray for her in a way that I wouldn't have been able to do--except for Thailand, (McDonald's and the Indra Hotel Lobby) I am so thankful for the opportunity to know a sister in Christ, that I never knew before. Thank you Jesus.
3. International Services/Prayer Meetings: This is something I couldn't imagine before attending one. You know, we all talk about going to Heaven and the joy that we can "imagine" of all nations and tongues and tribes, worshiping together. Well, I believe I had a glimpse of it. To sing songs, each in our own native tongue, but we all knew what each other was saying because we knew the tune of the song....that was an AWESOME experience for me. Chinese, Thai, Australian, English, American (both N and S) Phillipino, Vietnemese, Cambodian...you name it....we sang praises to Jesus, broke up into small groups to pray, shared victories God had given and shared about souls that are being reached every day w/the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We were privileged 4 different times to participate in these gatherings of the body of Christ. It once again showed me that we (U.S. Citizens) are not "it" and oh, how glad I am because how hopeless life would be if this is all we ever thought there was. American "christianity" seemed so vain and weak in comparison to the faiths of these people living in these conditions. PLEASE HEAR ME. My faith is NOT weak, (and those of so many I know) I serve the one True and Living God. My faith is strong. God is Strong. I just think our lives are so easy here, that a complacency hits here because of the ease of life. It may not when we have to rely on God in a way I never could have imagined before going to Thailand. We have poor "areas" of the U.S. where people struggle more than others and need help, but that whole country is poor in Thailand. I don't know I have to quit, b/c I am probably not explaining things how I want and I don't want to give the impression that Americans can not be Christians with strong faiths, please don't think that. Ministry is done there in a way that we may not be able to grasp. But trust me when I say, God is alive in Thailand, He is working, He is drawing sinners to Himself.

These were many things accomplished in my life, most had nothing to do with card making and everything to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So yes, the Mission was Accomplished.


**No spell check, punctuation check or writing check. Just plain un-edited me.

Bangkok

This was so common on the streets. In fact every few feet there is someone selling something to eat. This is one option. Whole chickens hanging for who knows how long. But it's better than being totally raw like so much of it. You would just see piles of meat sitting in the 90 degree hot sunshine waiting for someone to ask for some. The other option at this man's booth, was whole fish that looked like they were flour coated. They were stuffed w/something.

This next picture is of a shrine/worship place of some sort. This was right at the mall where we ate the first night. I think I referred to it in my first post. It was about 9:30 ish at night and people were out on the streets, buying from food vendors (remember no FDA regulations here) so use your imagination to imagine the food and the conditions. buying from clothing vendors, and worshipping here. Kneeling on the concrete as people walked by around them. Placing food, flowers, you name it on or around these temples built w/human hands. Oh, if I had such open worship of Jesus in the public streets of America.






This was the view from our hotel room. This view is what all of Bangkok looked like. Everything, the buildings, are covered w/this black moldy substance. They all look to be falling apart, and filthy.

Dying to Blog--But to Groggy.

Okay, I am in a total Grog. Somewhere between a fog and being groggy. After arriving home yesterday at about 3:30, I showered and took a nap until 7 p.m. (7 a.m. Bangkok time) and I had no problem getting up. We went and visited our friends who just had a baby. Home and in bed by 11:30---just woke up at 7:30 tonight. So I slept all night and all day. I can't believe it. I still feel a little dizzy, kind of light headed and very sore. Probably from the plane ride and then being in bed so long. I don't have my thoughts collected to Blog yet...but give me a day. Hopefully tomorrow. I'll post a couple pictures tonight though.

Thanks for your prayers, I know people were praying, b/c the whole trip went without a hitch. I mean everything went smoothly.

Love to all,
Karen

Dinner and Cruise

I could start every post with the word....DRAINING. Each day so far has been physically and emotionally draining. Just listening to Becky's stories is draining. We hooked up w/a ABWE friend of Becky and Phil's from their time in the Philippines. Her name is Alice. Listening to her stories of her life as a missionary....makes me all the more thankful for our missions conference. People of Berean.....saturate your families w/missionaries and let your kids see the world through the eyes of those who have been there.

Quick cool story ***Saturday night before I left for the trip...I get a phone call as I was talking to my mom....the caller I.D. showed "grand rapids", thinking it was Becky calling w/last minute details, I put my mom on hold. It was actually Wolfgang. Wolfgang was at our missions conference a few years back and he and his wife Kelly stayed w/our family that week. He heard I was going to Thailand through my Blog and called to talk about it, to tell me he and Kelly were praying. Wondered how the kids were and Blair. He called from the remote area of Mexico that he and Kelly are doing their mission work in. I just thought to myself.....how SMALL is the kingdom of God. It was so special and touching for them to reach out to me as I was leaving. Made me all the more aware of my lack of thinking of those who go. My faithlessness in prayer life--not a mention of their names, but earnest, on my knees prayer for these warriors of Jesus. Coming to Thailand has made me very cognacant of what missions is. Its hard work. Its labor that is done because Jesus Christ is worth it. His name is worthy of living "in the light of eternity" Friends...read biographies of past missionaries. No, they are not to be lifted high and put on a pedestal, but these stories are real. As I've read some recently about Hudson Taylor and have loved Christ more because of his faithfulness to the Chinese. Read. Learn. Love God more b/c of these great people and their service to the Father.

Okay, sorry about getting on a soapbox. Its so frustrating w/paid internet. I'm rushing to communicate my thoughts. I got off on a tangent.

Okay, we all have been broken and weeping these past couple days, but....we've had some riotous times as well. Laughing and laughing and laughing and laughing....you get the picture. If we could ONLY post pictures. Goodness sakes, you'd all be in stitches. I was almost eaten by a dragon and Kim had an eyeball change. The toilets over here come in every variety you can imagine. It's been hard for me (Blair don't freak out) but...you take your shoes off when you go inside a buildings. It's respect and polite. Well, wait til you see the bathrooms we've used. Yup, no shoes. I-sha. You just do it. Bathrooms cost one Baht. (this does include the toliet paper though, however you are asked not to flush the TP.) so as you can imagine that smell in 95 degree weather....this is part of the smells and things that make up Bangkok. But...God has given us grace to put aside our arrogant Western ways and live here these short days "in the light of eternity" The spirit has made it obvious to me my sinfulness in how I live. My thoughts for so long have been, "America is SO spoiled, so self righteous, so arrogant and haughty." I am those things not because I am an American, but because I am a sinner. But Glory to God I am a sinner saved by grace. Grace is something that is needed by these wounded women. It is essential.

Today we visited Nightlight in the morning. This is the "work" area that David (Becky's brother works through) I was awed and encouraged by what is accomplished there. Time doesn't allow me to share all, and pictures would aid me so much in my story, so much will have to wait until I get home, but there we heard the story of Sophia. She agreed to give her testimony to us. This woman, my age, has lived through Hell on Earth. But the great news is that.....the mighty God of the universe has redeemed her and she is an adopted daughter of the King. I wish I could buy her a plane ticket home and have her speak to our body, our women. We have NO idea what the world is about. Well, maybe you all do and I am ignorant, but I have a guess that most of you have no idea what the world is really about. What SIN has done in this one city of Bangkok. But there is Hope. Hearing 80 women sing worship this moring lifted my heart again to the Healer of the brokenhearted.

This afternoon's lunch was amazing. I will post later. It was the grandest thing I've ever done so far. IT would have cost upwards of at least $70 in the states. We had a meager price of $20. I've had food I've never even dreamed existed.

This afternoon we spent at the Well. I don't have time to elaborate now, but....we are spending tomorrow w/them in the weekend markets shopping for card supplies. We saw all they had already today and what they were currently making. Judy, the lady that runs the well (with her husband Jim) spoke to us. She told of these young girls that have been abused and used their entire lives, they learn how to make a card and it's beautiful...and they hold their head up and lavish in the fact that they made it and it's earned them money to live outside of sexual slavery. I NEVER in my wildest dreams anticipated making a card to lift someone out of the mire of someones circumstances. Once that is accomplished...they give them the life sustaining message of the Gospel. Uff Da. Knife in the heart these women and these stories. We are spending all day Monday at the Well teaching them as much as we can in 8 hours. The Well is located a block or so outside the Red Light District. More Later.

Love to all,
Karen

Nightlight

This morning we left the hotel to go to visit Nightlight where they make the jewelery and house and give work to about 80 women that are now off the streets. We started out sitting in their prayer meeting/worship/devotion time. It was all in Thai and we only recognized one song at the very end....As the Deer. It was precious...these ladies some saved, some not, sang with gusto. Their music was beatiful and as we came up the staircase (typically Baptist late) I heard their voices and it was strong and beautiful, Kim remarked it almost sounded like a choir. Finding out later that some are saved and some are not. The passage the pastor preached from was Jeremiah although we didn't know that until later. The precious girl next to me had a Thai Bible (they all did) but she sat most of the time in the index trying to find Jeremiah. I wished so bad that I knew where to point her. But at this service w/no interprter, it wasn't possible. (not that I could figure her Thai Bible out) It was an amazing God honoring and exhalting time even though we couldn't understand.

After that, we hugged ladies, 2 year olds and babies. I wish I could upload pictures but I'm at another hotel and have no idea how to do that. We sat and heard the rescued testimony of a darling Thai lady, my age, who has had an unspeakable life. But God has redeemed this beautiful lady. So...now it's lunch and I thought I had 1/2 hour to kill and they just said our table is ready....so..I'm holding everyone up. Sweet dreams over there.....

Love ,
Karen

Thursday

Well, it's 7:57 a.m. (7:57 p.m. Wednesday for most of you) and my time is running out to blog. I bought 15 minutes and I couldn't get blogger in English first, then I couldn't log in with the account I logged in with yesterday. Makes me a little suspect.

Briefly I will say, yesterday morning was something like I've never experienced. We drove the 3 hours to Pattaya. Driving here is something like Nascar w/10 Million people. Its insane. My car sickness syndrome, I have, and complaint of Blairs driving (or Dennis Brose) will NEVER be complained about again. Uff Da. However, the drivers never get mad at eachother, give each other the right away, or if they TAKE the right away, the next graciously give is. It's the most bizarre thing you've ever seen. Very NOT american. Our Thai driver is a happy-go-lucky young man who doesn't understand English. Pretty hard to get breakfast yesterday b/c we couldn't get across we wanted to eat. He shook his head when we left the hotel at 5 a.m. that he understood, (most of us had been up since 3 a.m.)...we didn't pull in to McDonalds until almost 9. So six hours after we got up, we got to eat. We were car sick and very hungry. The Golden Arches had never tasted so good.

The International service at Tamar House was quite an experience that I can't explain. I assume Jeff, Terry and Cliff and others have experienced this. We all stood around visiting, meeting people from all countries while we waited for the prayer service to start. (This was a prayer service for believers from Pattaya to come and pray and be encouraged.)

The young Thai (college age) started strumming Power of Your Love on the guitar and I was just moved beyond words, realizing that music is universal. We would all be able to worship to God, the God of the universe in our own language and know what our fellow brothers and sisters were saying in THEIR language b/c I knew the tune of that song. The experience of singing songs together w/Australians, Thais, Chinese, Americans, English, you name it....was moving beyond words. It was an UNHURRIED, 2 1/2 hour prayer meeting. No one was in a hurry to leave, mind you this was Wed. a.m. They shared how God was working and what HE was doing in their lives and how He was using them to reach the lost of the city. It was ultra emotional for me to see the church of God at large in the world....it's there. It's a reality. I can't begin to put into words the experience of it...and I feel like I'm butchering it b/c I'm racing against the clock to type this. I've journaled lots and have so much Scripture to pour out from my reading...but...it will have to wait for these words of practical experience that I've had. We were all tired to the point of sickness last night, at least Janelle, Kim and I. Nikki was doing o.k., but she seems to have the dizziness and exhaustion about 2 hours after the 3 of us. Keep Praying.

Nothing terrible. A purse thief snatched someones (not our group) purse last night on the street while we were walking and ran right through Janelle and Nikki. Scared us all a little to be extra careful w/passports and money.

Well, my 15 minutes is up and need to eat breakfast before leaving in 20 minutes. It's hard to Blog b/c we are literally busy for 15-16 hours straight. Hopefully I"ll be able to fill more in tonight.

Love to all.
Karen

Travel and Arrival

4:35 a.m. Wednesday, February 20th. (4:35 p.m. Tuesday February 19th for you all in Michigan)

First and foremost: Happy Anniversary Blair. You've been a wonderful husband to me and father to our kids for the past 14 years. I love you!

Finally am getting chance to post. We've been booked busy since we arrived at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning our time (that would bt 2:30 p.m. on Monday for all of you) The reason being....Becky said if we stopped moving....we cease to be awake. She didn't want us to sleep until it was "time" to sleep in Thailand again. Uff Da. My eyes burn as I type this, but I've been in bed lying there since 3 a.m., so I thought I'd come down to the business center and give their internet a try. I heard that the service was like dial up, but instead of looking at the ceiling for another hour (well, I imagined the ceiling, it was dark) I got up and came 11 floors down to the business center. Internet works about like Comcast.

Okay, trip details. The plane ride from DTW to Tokyo was a breeze. We all commented on how "easy" it was, laughing and making merry at the anxiety we had felt for the 13 or so hour leg. We were a little tired in Japa but giddy with anticpation, as we waited for the next flight, but all were pleased as a whole.

**Insert: Drum Roll and dramatic music now (like a Geico Commercial)"** Then we got on the MUCH smaller A330 airplane. After the 747 it felt like being in an elevator with 42 other people that had all been up for 24 hours straight. Air traffic control in Japan was having trouble and once packed in the plane, we had to sit for over an hour before take off. Then a slight amount of misery started. My body started to complain. I felt like I felt the fifth day of basketball practice after the season started. Sore, tired, groggy, impatient. Absolutely exhausted--but unable to get comfort in anyway. Long story short--we made the 8 hour flight to Bangkok w/off and on sleep & soreness, but we arrived safe. Thank you Lord!

Went through the diddy w/checking inw/passports and declaring why we were in THailand. No problems. Becky procurred us a taxi (the coolest Toyota vans that seat 12! Christy, you gotta check it out! They are very nice looking--) Got to the hotel around 2:40 a.m. Got to our rooms around 3:30 and finally were lights out around 4 a.m. We were up at 8:25. and down to breakfast at 9. Becky's goal today (yesterday) was just to keep us moving and awake.

Walking through the streets of Bangkok is like nothing I've ever seen. The city is LOADED w/people. Okay, some of you think Atlanta or New York is bad traffic. This is INSANE. People are too poor to have stoves and fridges and to purchase gas to cook. So almost the whole city eats out every meal on the streets. For .45 cents, they get a meal. The entire city is out at meal time to eat off the street vendors. No FDA regulations--anyone and everyone is selling fish w/the heads still on cooking right there as you walk by...that and every other sort of "thing" you an imagine cook on a little grill right before your nose--the smells just assailed me as we walked...stench, fish, waste, fruit, dirty river water...you name it...my nose smelled it. Kim and I had a really hard time last night.

I have to go shower and get ready to leave here for a 2.5 hour taxi ride to Pattaya to a safe house in a not good area. So have to go. The saddest thing I've seen so far, other than the throngs of people living off the street, was on the way home from dinner last night, the shrines and statues of elephants, statues of figures (not sure who) both Hindus and Buddhists kneeling on the street corners where these "shrines" are set up, tons of fresh fruit and vegetables laid in front of the images, floral wreaths draped over the elephants tusks or heads, boquets of roses left, and 100's of sticks of burning incense (adding to the smells of the already stinky city) being added to left and right. Young girls w/not much on, teenagers, grown men, moms w/babies, kneeling and offering themselves to hopeless idols made of stone.

Made me thankful in a whole new way for the Hope that lies within me. Christ the Redeemer, the once for all atonement for my Sin.

Now that this is so easy to post on their computers, I'll be more faithful. We literally have been running since getting here. Not sure if I can post pictures yet. Janelle has a flash drive, I'll see if I can figure that out...otherwise, I"ll just post through writing.

Today, again, on to Pataya, in 1/2 hour...so I gotta go. Please keep praying. The safe house we are going to, Becky has never even been to yet and she doesn't know what to expect either, other than that Pattaya has a really bad reputation as Sin City. Praying for safety and the possiblity to love these girls/women and show the Gospel through our lives. We did meet another missionary in the Tokyo airport that saw Janelle's computer screen w/our prayer card. He and 3 others were going to Thailand on the plane w/us...but they couldn't disclose to us what and where they were going, only said they'd pray for us.

Love to all. (I won't spell check or anything..as I"m paying by the minute. please forgive grammar and writing)
Karen