Let the Coundown Begin

"Next Stop...CHINA"

I've officially begun my countdown to saying goodbye to Thailand (for a season, hopefully not forever.)  The specific calling of helping my team get established in Bangkok while raising up Thai disciples, leaders, and churches has been accomplished.  After almost a year of praying about my next steps, I can see God clearly leading me into a time of serving in China, learning a new culture, and equipping through counseling classes.

With my time in Thailand coming to an end, each moment with friends has become even more precious.  Last weekend I joined the BJD students on their outreach debrief/island trip. We spent time as a dorm family enjoying God's creation, exploring the beach, climbing over rocks, hiking trails, playing card games, and swimming in the clear salty water.

First day at Samed Island

 
After the sun went down we gathered on the beach for a time of worship and reflection about the outreach.  As each student shared, God's work in their heart throughout the outreach was evident.

"It gave me a greater appreciation for what I have.  Sometimes I think I don't have very much, but when I saw how people on the border were living with almost nothing and yet they were happy, I realized God has blessed me with so much."

"There were so many nationalities represented in Mae Sot, and many people without papers from Burma.  It opened up my understanding of the world and gave me a bigger perspective."

"I come from a hilltribe where not many people know God and there are a lot of needs.  I used to think that when I graduate I want to return to my hilltribe to serve, but now I see the need in other places is so much greater.  I want to go back to the border to serve among the Burmese people after I graduate."

After a yummy seafood dinner with BJD students.

It's hard to put into words how much I will miss these students and all the friends God has given me here in Thailand.  At the same time, I can see many ways that God has prepared both me and others for this transition.

He has filled hearts with the desire to serve and share the amazing message of Christ's sacrifice and salvation with this nation and beyond.  He has raised up leaders and disciples to continue His mission of Kingdom expansion.  I know my Thai friends and all the people who call Thailand home are in the good hands.  They not only have passionate Christ-followers living in their midst, but more importantly, they are in the hands of the Father.

Riding the speed boat to the island.

Thailand, I will miss you.  Thai friends, I will miss you even more.

I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Graduations, Babies, and Beyond

BJD students and two of the founding leaders on our weekend trip (River Kwai bridge in the background)

Graduations, engagements, interviews, new countries, marriages, "grown-up jobs", babies... A lot has happened in the lives of the girls who invited me into their home, the BJD dorm, almost four years ago.

Over the weekend, five girls from the original group I lived with and I went to visit some of our friends who have already moved on from BJD.  They are now living in a small farming community in western Thailand.  On the farm land is a building where they and others from the community meet for worship and Bible teaching every week.

Baby "Piggy Bank"

Our plan to visit A, "just happened" to line up perfectly.  Although we expected to spend the day with a pregnant mother, that morning we got news that A was heading to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital three hours after she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.  "This wasn't an accident.  It was God's intentional plan."  Pang reminded us as we smiled about the opportunity to meet this new member of the family.
 
Of the girls who I was traveling with, all have studied a five-month Discipleship Training School and two just graduated from university last month.  In a few weeks, one will begin school to be a nurse's assistant and another will begin her job as a full-time kindergarten teacher.  One will be staying with YWAM as full-time staff in Bangkok.  Others want to stay involved serving as volunteers and discipling the younger students.  Last year, a student headed to Europe to work as a nanny, and another is currently serving with a YWAM ministry on the Burmese border.  I am so grateful for this ever-expanding web of relationships! 

Congratulations to the university graduates!

The work God has done in these students' lives is so encouraging.  When I first met some of them, on my short-term summer trip almost six years ago, they were smiling freshmen, just recently moved to Bangkok from upcountry and unsure of what lies ahead.  Since then, God has grown them closer to himself, given them a heart to serve, lead, disciple, and be a witness wherever they go.  Praise God!  It has been such a blessing and privilege to be involved in these lives!

I am now looking ahead, expecting to start a new season after this summer.  No matter where God leads, I know he will continue the work HE began in these students.  Please pray with me for details to come into more clarity, and praise God with me for transforming so many lives over the past years!

Picking fresh cilantro on the family farm.

Blessings in the Spur of the Moment

The night before English Camp started the university students and I gathered together.  "The camp will be for about 180 students in ninth-grade who speak almost no English."  We were told by the leader who invited us.  "What will you do with them?"  

If it were up to me, that question would have sent my stress level over my head.   Instead, the university students jumped into brainstorming mode, turning the next two hours into a laughter-filled conversation that resulted in activities, games, songs, and lessons for camp.  

To teach the kids that they don't need to be afraid of making mistakes, I translated the camp rules into Thai.  They laughed at my mistakes, but we made a deal.  If I was going to try to speak Thai, they had to try to speak English.

Thai students are used to lining up and listening.  We tried not to keep them in this position for too long.

Some classrooms look very similar to a classroom in you would find in the States.

The school grounds look a little different though.

Practicing teamwork (using English!)

At one station, students learned about Thai herbs.

 

 

Vocabulary and art can go hand in hand.

Making people bookmarks helped us practice our colors and body parts.

See the picture of the king in on the right side of the whiteboard?  His picture is in every classroom. 

Camp wouldn't have been complete without some silly songs.  We also taught the students some worship songs. 

By the end of camp, students were asking for my Facebook name and taking tons of pictures.

Maybe the most encouraging part is that the school's English teacher is a Christian.  He will be at the school all year long and is connected with a Thai church in the area. 

May God work through these students and this community to make his name great in Chachoengsao!
 .

Chachoengsao...Where?

Tuk Tuk in the rain.  We are taking a pickup truck to Chachoengsao.  Hopefully the rain will hold off until we get there.

 
I've found my life's adventure with God is sometimes like my average trip in Thailand.  It usually begins with a side conversation ending with something along the lines of, "Will you join us?"

"Sure."  Then I hesitate.  What did I just agree to?   "Umm, I mean... Where?  When?  How much will it cost?  Who else is going?  When will we return?  How are we getting there?  What do I need to bring?"

 "Chachoengsao."

"Bless you!"

"I didn't sneeze."

"Come again?"

"Chachoengsao, a province about three hours east of Bangkok, for an English camp and to visit a children's home." My friend clarified.

"Okay.  Sounds good to me." I agreed.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

About five years ago, God asked a similar question of me, "Will you join My work in Thailand?"

My response was about the same,  "Sure."  Then hesitation as my mind began to process what I had just agreed.  I tried to stay afloat in the details of my drowning thoughts.   

Thailand?  When?  How much will it cost?  Who will I go with?  How long will I stay?  A ONE-WAY ticket!?  What do I need to prepare?

By His grace, I made it to Thailand.  I didn't know all the details, but as deciding points came and went, I always had the answers I needed or enough direction to make a choice in faith.

"Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, 

what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 

waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God..." 

2 Peter 3:11-12

 
Other than Chachoengsao (and I'm still trying to figure out where that is), I have no idea what God has planned for this week's adventures.  But I know we want to use our time well.  This may be the first time these kids have heard of Jesus.  The seeds we sow may be the seeds that God grows into a well-rooted ceder tree. 

As Gif and I discussed yesterday, we will be flexible and ready to say "yes" when God gives the opportunity. We know the outline, a children's home and English camp.  And God knows the rest. 
 

God Is...

As we rolled in a few more chairs for the meeting, the chatting quieted down.  All eyes turned towards "Ned."  I gave him a friendly smile, and he began.  

"I don't really know how to start. This is my first time.  Let's pray."  His quick sentences were undoubtedly nervous, and yet an underlining confidence that God would guide the time was evident.  

Ned was a third year university student when I arrived in Bangkok three years ago.  Since then, he graduated, studied a 5 month Discipleship Training School that included outreach to different provinces in Thailand, and began working as YWAM staff, a chef at the base.  What a privilege it is to see God grow and lead students through university and into "grown up" life.  

It's a shift for me as well.  A good shift, from often being the one teaching or leading to being one of the learners.  Sitting in the learner's chair, I can see Christ from new perspectives, from Thai perspectives. 

Ned led the group in studying some of the Hebrew names for God.  We then used these names to encourage each other.  He talked about using the names in prayer as well. 

I was inspired.  I was reminded why I love my Lord so deeply.  I was encouraged to see God growing us all in so many direcitons.   

I'll share the Hebrew names below, in hopes that they are encouraging for you too.  

 Elohim

God our Father, the All Sufficient, Nourisher and Life Giver.

Genesis 1:1

El Shaddai

God, the Almighty, True and Faithful God.

Genesis 17:1

Adonai

Lord, the Master.

Isaiah 6:1

El Olam

The Everlasting God.

Genesis 21:33

El Berith

The Lord of the Covenant.

Deuteronomy 8:18

Elohei Ma'uzzi

The God of my strength.

2 Samuel 22:33

Jehovah Jireh

The Lord will provide.

Genesis 22:14

Jehovah Shalom

The Lord my Peace and Fullness.

Judges 6:24, John 14:27

Jehovah Rapha

The Lord my Healer, Doctor.

Exodus 15:26

Jehovah Rohi

The Lord my Shepherd.

 Psalm 23

Jehovah Nissi

The Lord my Banner, Banner of Victory.

Exodus 17:15

Immanuel

God with us.

Matthew 1:23

"Everything that has passed, God has used to teach me."

J shared a bit of her testimony and what God has been teaching her recently when the dorm girls gathered for an evening together. 

I was encouraged by what she shared, and I hope you are too!

-----------------------

I am the oldest child in my family.  When I was born, my parents supposedly were Christians.  But ever since I can remember, my parents haven't followed any religion.  I was born in a very poor family, so as I grew up, not many people wanted to be my friend.  Even some of our family members didn't want relations with us.  I wanted to study but my dad discouraged me saying, "You can't even walk on your own, how will you go to school on your own?"  

I finally got the opportunity to go to school, and it was a Christian school!  But I wasn't very smart.  I was a couple years behind because I started late.   Even though I was born in Thailand, I couldn't really speak Thai.  At home we would only speak Chinese and Akah.  Even though I was still a child and my parents weren't Christians, God was still with me. I might not have know that God was with me, but as I grew up and began to know God more, I could see what God had given me and how he was always with me.

After I graduated from 6th grade, my parents said that was enough studying.  In my heart, I wanted to continue.  Finally God opened up the opportunity to go to study in a bigger city in my province and live at a Christian dorm. 

One thing that has always been on my heart, is that I want to be able to go out of the country to evangelize.  But I don't have citizenship, so I can't leave the country. (This is a common struggle for people from the hilltribes who aren't recognized as citizens.  J is working towards getting her citizenship now.) It's okay though because God has given me opportunities to meet many foreigners and evangelize in my own country. 

Everything that has passed, God has used to teach me.  From not being permitted to study, to having the opportunity, and going on to university.  No one in my family thought that I could study university.  No one else from my village has studied as far as me.  Many people from my community have the old thinking that, "She is a girl.  She will study through 6th grade and then have kids."  That's all.  They think like that. Sometimes that's still a struggle with my family.  

Satan knows what areas can make us fall.  I have stumbled many times. Sometimes we think, "Just wait God, I'll do it myself." We think we can do it on our own.  I have had this thought many times in my heart and mind.  This has caused me to fall to the point that I can not get up on my own. Whenever we think that we don't need to rely on God, we are going to fall. We are going to really fall. In the times that I would begin to think that I was able to do it on my own, God would send a close Christian friend to remind me.  Then we could check our hearts and throw away the ugly thoughts. 

Truly, we have nothing if God doesn't give it to us.  If we don't have God in our life, we can not walk forward in our life. Only by God's power do we have the power to stay or go.  We have to submit ourselves to God and let God be the leader.  When we know we've done wrong, we must quickly ask for forgiveness, come back to God, and let God take first place in our lives again.  It's not that we will never fall again, but when we do, we get back up and follow God's path.  No matter what we do, we want to focus on God.  He is with us, and he is our foundation.

I want to encourage you that everything, from the time you were born to now, has been prepared by God.  If God hadn't led, we wouldn't be in this place now.  We aren't the ones who chose God, but God chose us first, so now we can chose him. Many people like to say they got themselves here on their own, but actually it's God who guided us here.  

As we pray and draw closer to God, we will know that God has given us everything.  Whether it's a good thing or bad.  I used to complain to God saying, "Why do I have to have a family like this?  Or why do I have to have problems like that?" But really, everything if we really think about it, is given from God.  

Two verses that I like to keep in my mind are: 
 
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  (Philippines 3:12) 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippines 4:13) 

I don't want us to have the mentality that, "I know this much of God and that's enough."  But we want to continue to seek God more and more.

Promises and Homework

"When is God coming?" Asked my new friend as we waited for our weekly worship time to begin.


I gave her a puzzled look, wondering if I had heard her right.


"When is God coming?"  She repeated herself, looking around and seeming to expect someone with the name tag "God" to be showing up soon. 

She knew we were here to worship God, but she obviously wasn't sure what that would look like.  Most Buddhists worship things they can see or at least use shrines or statues as reminders.  There was a stark lack of golden images in the room. 

Simple worship at BJD

"He's already here." I responded.

Now it was her turn to give me the puzzled look.

"God is already with us.  He can hear our worship now."  I reiterated.  From there I was able to explain more.

This reminded me of my Thai homework.  In Thai class this week, I will have to share about God's promises. 

The one that comes to mind first is God's promise to be with us always, in Thailand,  America, the air between the two countries, or anywhere else. 

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Heb. 13:5) 
"I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Mat. 28:20)

In an effort to be a good student, learn some new words, and see where God would lead conversations, I decided to ask some of my Thai friends what promises come to mind first.  (Homework is as good as any reason to talk about God, right?) 

One friend said knowing he will go to heaven when he dies.  Without a moments thought, another guy said salvation.  One girl in my small group thought about God's promise through the beauty of a rainbow.  God's unconditional love also came to mind. 

As we reminded each other of these promises, a smile formed on each face.  What an amazing God we have!  The only God who can promise these things and carry them out faithfully, whether he's wearing a name tag or not. 

From Sister to Sister

BJD students enjoying dinner together.

7 Months Ago...

"A new girl is joining us at BJD."  One staff member told me.

"Have you met our new BJD sister?"  A student asked.

"She came last night."  Another student added.

"She's kinda quiet."  A third pitched in.

After two days of hearing about our new mystery student, I finally met P. 

As warned, I only got a few words out of her.  And I felt like I was pushing just to get that many.  I took the hint, tried to give her a warm welcome and then gave her some space.  Understandably, a dorm of 15 girls who know each other well and like to laugh loud, could be a bit overwhelming.

As time went on all the girls and I invited P to lunch, invited her to dinner, invited her to the market, invited her to watch TV, invited her to sit and chat, but P declined each invitation.  She preferred to spend time alone or sleeping.  "She's a tough one." An outside friend warned. 

We weren't daunted.

By month two, we knew the answer would be "no" before an invitation was extended, but we kept inviting.  I don't know if it was more of a cultural thing, or if it was our only way to try to make P feel included, but we did.  Maybe what gave us hope was that every once in a while, in a long long while, she would agree to join.  Probably because she had run out of food in her room, but the reason didn't matter to us. 

On arrival at BJD, P wore a Buddhist bracelet around her thin wrist.  The bracelets are  given for long life and good luck.  I'm not really sure when, but it eventually disappeared.

And she, like all students at the dorm, attended Bible class twice a week.  While she showed up grudgingly at first, God, like he so often does, was at work. 

This past week he did something really special.

"It's hard to explain, but there were many things.  The main thing is that I know is that God loves me a lot, more than anyone else in the world."  P shared.

P has gone from dorm sister to eternal sister.  We are all praising God and celebrating with her!

This morning while eating breakfast together, our younger sister joked along with all the other girls.  Smiles extended around the table.  Christ's freedom and joy was abounding. 

Girls

It is a blessing to live and serve with all these beautiful faces.

 Girls.

We are the same in every country I've been to.  We may speak different languages, or have different customs, but we all worry about our hair. We worry about our size.  We worry about our friends and our future.   We all want to be noticed.  We all want to be treasured.  We all want to be loved.

AND

Girls of every age

We were all created uniquely by God, perfectly in his image.  We are his daughters, and he loves us more than we can understand.

Wanting some of the girls to hold this truth closer to their hearts, we talked about it during Girls' Night.

"God's love makes us beautiful on the inside and on the outside." I shared.

"Really?!" Aom almost shouted like she embraced the idea for the very first time.  "Me too?"  She asked, pointing at herself.

"Yes you!"  I confirmed.

When we truly understand the depths of God's love for us, we don't have to be insecure about our hair.  It actually sounds silly to mention those two in the same sentence.  We don't have to worry about our future because we know Dad has it taken care of. 

My desire is to see the Thai and Chinese girls I am pouring into embrace these ideas.  The deeper our roots abide in the Father, the more naturally beautiful our lives become because they are being watered by the perfect, complete, quenching Living Water.

Kids' stories aren't just for kids!

The silly girls I live with...wouldn't trade them for anything.  :)

"Julia!  Can I come visit you?"  Wi asked, opening my door before sound could leave my mouth. 

"Ooh, your room is hot too."  Wi said, as she came in.  "What are you doing?"

"Translating a Bible story to teach the children at church on Sunday."

"Can I read too?"

"Sure."  I responded, handing her the teacher's book of stories. 

We sat on my bed, fans blowing the hot air around the room and flapping the pages of our books.  Wi read story after story out loud but to herself, insisting I get my work done and only occasionally stopping to ask how to pronounce a word or its meaning.  I occasionally did the same, asking the difference between two verbs that seemed interchangeable or the correct phrasing for a sentence.

After a while, Wi turned to another story.  "This one is from Genesis 26."  She stated.  "What's a 'well' and why were Isaac's ne-i-ber-s...a-r-gu-ing?" She asked, but quickly followed with, "I'll read and find out." 

Soft murmuring came from the other side of my bed.  Her petite finger ran across the lines of the story, brow intermittently wrinkling under her short, black bangs as she stopped to examine a word. 

"Hmmm."

I looked up, noticing Wi was finished with the story.  "So, why were Isaac's neighbors arguing?" I inquired.

"They wanted Isaac's well. But Isaac didn't want to ar-gue, so he built another one and then another one. He wanted to be their friend."

We sat quietly for a moment.

"I'm going to go now."  Wi stated, rather abruptly.  She paused, seeming to think about the stories she had been reading.  "God encouraged me to not argue with my friends."

"Good." I said, marveling at the way God just used a kid's bible story and my prep time to remind us of a lesson we often forget, even as adults. 

The door closed, and I was left alone to translate the rest of the story for Sunday school.

"Ar-gue?"  Wi called back, checking to make sure she was remembering her new word.

"Argue." I confirmed, smile widening across my face. 

Mango and Sticky Rice

Looking for a cool, summer dessert that uses delicious summer fruit?

Try Mango and Sticky Rice!

My Thai friends were the first to teach me how to make this easy and delicious sweet treat.  At the market we picked up (aka, your shopping list should include)...

 Ingredients:
-1 cup sticky rice (glutinous rice)
-1 cup coconut milk
-1/2 cup water
-pinch of salt
-1/4-1/2 cup sugar (more or less sweet according to your preference)
-1-2 mangoes (or other fresh fruit)

Directions:

Soak the sticky rice for 6-8 hours in a bowl with a lot water (the rice will expand, so make sure your bowl is big enough.)  After soaking, pour out the extra water and rinse off the rice.   While water is boiling in your steamer, place a cheese cloth or muslin cloth on the top part and pour the rice into the cloth.  Cook the rice for about 20 minutes, or until it is translucent and not crunchy.  (If you would rather microwave the rice, see the Microwave Method below.)

Next, heat the coconut milk and water in a sauce pan.  Stir constantly and add the salt and sugar when simmering.  Mix until sugar is dissolved. 

Pour about half the coconut milk mixture into a smaller bowl.  When the rice is cooked, mix the rice into the remaining, hot coconut milk. 

Lastly, peel the mango (or other fruit) and cut it in long, thin slices. 

To assemble, place a scoop of rice on the plate, top with a few slices of fruit and then spoon some of the remaining coconut milk sauce on the top. 







The Microwave Method: Soak the sticky rice for 10 minutes in warm water in a bowl. Soaking the rice is very important. I have tried this method without soaking the rice first and it was disastrous. The rice was undercooked and inedible. The water level should be just above the rice, which comes out to be 1 cup of rice and a little over 1 cup of water (about 10% more). I recommend using a non-plastic container because you may melt the plastic in the microwave. Cover the bowl with a dish and cook in microwave for at full power 3 minutes. Stir the rice around to move the rice from the top to the bottom. You will notice that some of the rice is translucent or cooked and some still has white center or the uncooked portion.

Heat it up again for another 3 minutes. Check and see if it is done. When cooked, all the rice should be translucent. If it needs more cooking, I recommend heating up and checking every 3 minutes or so. How long it takes to cook really depends on your microwave. (Microwave Method from www.thaitable.com)

Enjoy!  (We all sure did!)

A Lesson in Faith and Prayer

Lhing, a BJD student from Northern Thailand.

Julia, please pray for my neighbors in the village where I grew up.  They are like family to me.  Her 4 year old son died two weeks ago, and for 10 days they left the body in the house and prayed for a miracle.  The boy didn't smell, so they really believed God was going to heal him, but finally they had to bury him.  The mom is sad, but she knows his life was given by God and taken in God's timing.

Sometimes I get confused about who is supposed to be challenging who.  It's a good thing.   

BJD Family Outreach Kanchanaburi

Jerng came skipping out of the shoreline jungle using a vine as a jump rope.  A couple students disappeared into the same opening, looking for eatable plants to cook up for dinner.  Three frogs and two fish had already been caught for the same purpose.  Our time on the house raft was spent building unity between our family of students and staff at BJD.  It looked like this...

 

 Watching in amazement as that little boat pulled our two house rafts, holding 40 people, up the river to the place where they tied us off.

 In groups, we took turns cooking on board.  Then washing the dishes in the river.

 Eating, playing games, and everything else by lantern, candle, or flashlight after dark.

 Enjoying God's creation in the beautiful, cool mornings.  

Face washing, teeth brushing, and bathing, all happened in the water around us. 

 Small group quiet times. 

 

Floating down the river together.  Even those who couldn't swim well enjoyed this adventure as we floated with the current, got rained on by a waterfall, and dodged boats passing by.

 

 Water games!

 We had two rules on the boat:

1. Listen to staff

2. No showing off

(I'm not sure if this counts as showing off or not)

 

 Time to talk, relax, connect with the girls I live with.

 Time to build relationships and go deeper than the quick "How are you?"

Praying together and listening to our speaker remind us of the meaning behind the name of our house, House of One Heart = unity.  Unity is what people on the outside should see when they look at us and our relationships. 

 

Part 2 of our outreach was to a couple of the student's families and a ministry in Kanchanaburi...

At Nid's house we visited with her parents, at tiny sour oranges, and met some of her neighbors. 

 

 At Faa's house, we sang karaoke with her dad and younger sister, prayed with her family, visited a neighbor, and talked with Mom.  

 Tom climbed up a coconut tree to get us a snack, and a herd of goats wandered by the house in the midday sun.

 

This is the church at the Kanchanaburi ministry we visited.  It is surrounded by tapioca fields, mountains, and beautiful scenery.  The staff here, a Thai couple, have been ministering to the community since 2003.  His parents have become believers through seeing their son's faith, and soon they would like to begin working in her family's village by the Myanmar border. 

 

 We are all flexible when it comes to getting around here...this truck usually holds vegetables but also transports water jug, animal, and a bunch of us!  

 

With weather up to 101*F, the ice cream man did good business when he drove his motorcycle ice cream cart into the driveway. 

More Pictures!

 Worship time in the morning and evening, led by different students each time.  It's awesome to see students discovering and growing the gifts God has given them. 

 Two things about Thai culture that go really well together:

1. Bring snacks everywhere you go

2. Always share

 English games.

Team building games... Each team had 6 pieces of string and had to make something that could hold this soccer ball.  Then they had to use their contraption to carry the ball around the boat, over the railings, and back to the starting point. Great teamwork!

Throughout the day, long wooden boats like this would come up to our raft to sell fruit, noodle soup, bags of chips, and anything else they could fit in their boat.