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