Shh... A Secret

Can I tell you something? Several days ago I asked something of the Lord. I asked Him to open my eyes to see His love and to know His presence...and He answered.

I saw the Lord's unfailing love and redeeming power last week while visiting with sweet children who have suffered great injustice and have been rescued and who have fallen in love with their Savior, Jesus Christ.

I saw the Lord's generosity and sacrifice last week as a former student laid a gift hidden by crumpled notebook paper next to me before shyly running around a corner. As I unfolded the paper and beheld the treasure, a beautiful seashell, my heart broke. How could a child part with one of the very few things she could call her own and such a pretty thing at that? She could do so because of what she had been given. She knew that it doesn't matter what you have for yourself, it matters what you have to give.

I saw the Lord's hand last night while talking to a young woman at a church I've never been to before. A woman who has spent the last two years pouring her heart, soul and strength into people in a very rural area of Thailand. A woman who shared that she was so thankful for what we are doing because she has seen such a huge need for good education and knows how difficult it is to breach that gap.

I saw the Lord's love today as people from several cultures and languages gathered together once again to labor together in this vision of helping children break the cycle of poverty and oppression by sharing first and foremost the love and hope of Christ as well as good education and life skills.

I saw the Lord's heart and provision today when two of our former students, some of the reasons we do what we do, were riding a bike on our street as we were driving home. When we climbed out of the car after a long hot day, we were greeted by two smiling faces that I love but don't see every often. I was greatly encouraged after a conversion with them in Thai during which I both understood and was able to ask questions. It was a huge gift, as I often feel confined in my lack of ability in the Thai language.

I saw the Lord's power today when our landlady removed one of the idols on her property, where our school is located. Such an act requires faith that bad spirits will not be angered and therefore lash out. (Please pray for their protection against Satan and spiritual attacks as that is something we do face here. We desire that as the community sees her act they will come to question their idols and their "power". We also desire that this act lead to a profession of faith in Christ and a changed life.)

I'm overwhelmed by the Lord and His goodness. Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to see where you are...surrounding me.

Homecoming

Returning to Thailand I have felt as if I never left but it has also felt a bit strange. For instance, not all of our previous housemates are coming back so we know things will never be quite the same as they were. Also, our house smells different, weird I know, but one of those things I noticed. I am easing back into Thai culture remembering to take off my shoes, wai people in greeting, and speak Thai again. I am adjusting to the heat (over 100 every day), the extreme levels of pollution, and being the farang (foreigner). I am thoroughly enjoying the mangoes (right now we have 25 in our house, minus the four we've already eaten this week), the cashew nut chicken, of course Khruu Ooy and my other friends. I'm grateful for my housemates in this land where we have to remind each other "Quit making me laugh I'm starting to sweat" as we sit stationary at our table with three fans pointed at us.

One of the things that rudely welcomed me back "home" is ants. For the last several days I have been irritated by ants and have thought, "I hate ants" every time I've seen one. Yesterday, I decided to force myself into positive thinking by saying something I was thankful for every time I saw an ant. That went pretty well. This morning as I went down the stairs in a bit of a daze to get my cereal before heading back up to my room (the coolest place in the house because it still held some of the air conditioning from the night). I encountered a winding trail of ants, more sporadic than usual, which makes the source difficult to determine. Now for anyone who has seen double wide trails of ants that stretch out several feet long, you'll understand why this is so frustrating. While crawling across our kitchen and bathroom floors (yes, it stretched across two rooms) with ant spray and a paper towel I thought, "These are way too many things to be thankful for so early in the morning." Needless to say ant spray and paper towels topped the list of what I was thankful for.

So, as I readjust to life on this side of the world with its good and bad I thank you for your prayers and support. My new theme verse for this year in Thailand is Psalms 37:3.
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." This verse reminds me to trust the Lord even when things don't make sense, to do good whenever and wherever I can, dwell in this land so far from home, and to hunger for and be satisfied with the Lord's faithfulness to me every step of the way.

What is Best?

I am only now beginning to understand the deep meaning of the concept of “the joy of the Lord is my strength.” Sometimes being overseas and separated from people and life in the States is quite difficult. Sometimes I think, “Will this be my life? Should I be gaining good career experience in the States? Should I be trying to earn more money?” And then the answer comes, “This is my plan for you. It is the best.” My eyes are then opened to the fact that God’s plan is better for me than what I plan. I can rest in joy that I will not miss anything that is good for me. That joy then becomes my strength to persevere and to pour my heart into these children God has brought into my life. Why me? I do not know why God has allowed me, a broken weak child, to be a part of His plan. I am joyful and thankful that He has redeemed my lost heart and brought me to Him. I’m joyful that He invests in me and determines my steps. I’m joyful that I have my lifetime, however long that might be, to serve the Lord. Joyful to serve because He loves me and He is good, not just good, but better than what I leave behind.

Waters Gone By

The following song is one of my very favorites and will always remind me of my time in Thailand.

Waters Gone By

by Shawn Lewis

You will lift up your face without shame
You will firmly stand with no fear inside
You will surely forget your troubles and pain
Recalling them only as waters gone by

If you put away the sin in your hand
And allow no evil to dwell
If you devote your heart
And stretch out your hands to Him

You'll be secure for there is hope
And you will safely take your rest
You will lie down
With no one to make you afraid

But the eyes of the wicked will fail
Darkness gives way to morning's light
Life will be brighter than noon day
As the waters go by into the night

I will lift up my face without shame
I will firmly stand with no fear inside
I will surely forget my troubles and pain
Recalling them only as waters gone by

Are You a "Chris?"

As I have written before, after teaching classes at our government school Amy and I eat lunch with the teachers and principal. We usually spend at least an hour talking and eating. Which is a very important part of outreach in Thailand as Thais are very relational people who will not listen to those they do not know and trust. Well, this last week we had an answer to prayer. During one of our normal conversations with the principal and a visitor from the District Education Office, they asked if our organization (Hope International Schools) was a "chris." Well, we should have caught on but didn't until they said "Buddha" ... "Chris." It was at that point when we realized that they were asking if our organization was Christian. This question launched us into a conversation about whether we were Christians and the difference between Catholic and Protestant beliefs. When the principal held up his hands making a cross symbol and asking, "Array?" Amy and I were able to share with him about what the cross was and why Jesus died. I'm not sure how much he understood but I am so thankful we had the chance to open the topic. Both men had a lot of questions which is a pretty big answer to prayer. Please pray that we will be able to continue the relationship when we return to Thailand and that both men but especially the principal would recognize their need for Christ and truly seek for answers.

Love

In honor of Valentines' Day I decided to post something that I recently read on a YWAM website, I am not sure of the original author.

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak with the tongue of a national, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.

If I wear the national dress and understand the culture and all forms of etiquette, and if I copy all the mannerisms so that I could pass for a national, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor, and if I spend my energy without reserve, but have not love, I am nothing.

Love endures long hours of language study, and is kind to those who mock his accent, love does not envy those who stayed at home, love does not exalt his home culture, is not proud of national superiority.

Love does not boast about the way we do it back home, does not seek his own ways, is not easily provoked into telling about the beauty of his home country, does not think evil of this culture.

Love bears all criticism about his home culture, believes all good things about this new culture, confidently anticipates being at home in this place, endures all inconveniences.

Love never fails, but where there is cultural anthropology, it will fail, where there is linguistics, it will change.

For we know only part of the culture and we minister to only part of the culture.

But when Christ is reproduced in this culture, then our inadequacies will be insignificant.

When I was in America I spoke as an American I understood as an American I thought as an American, but when I left America, I put away American things.

Now we adapt to this culture awkwardly, but He will live in it intimately, now I speak with a strange accent, but He will speak to the heart.

And now these three remain; cultural adaptation, language study and love, but the greatest of these is love.

After I leave Thailand I certainly won't be remembered for my language ability or skill at blending in, I can only pray that I might be remembered for Christ's love expressed through me.

God of all "gods"

This week we have been working hard to finish all of the necessary projects before our final inspection early next week. Yesterday, we spent the whole day cleaning up the outside. All I can say is that I am thankful we are doing this in the "winter."

Okay two pieces of information. First, we were listening to and singing along with praise music while we worked. Second, we were sitting in front of a large Buddha statue, which will soon be moved to the community temple. At one point I found a bit of irony in the fact that we were sitting before a "god" while worshipping the God. We choose to worship the almighty God who hears, sees, and acts on behalf of His children. Buddha is a "god" I can see and touch but who has no life, no power, and no love. He made no sacrifice to bring me to himself, he did not create a way to bring me life, nor does He love me unconditionally in spite of my flaws: only Jesus Christ chose to do that.

"Give thanks to the God of gods, for His loving kindness is everlasting. To Him alone who does great wonders, for His loving kindness is everlasting." Psalms 136:3-4