Ministry Glimpse: Timothy House

Welcome to Timothy House, a children's home in Thailand.  "Most of the children we have come from an abusive background.  Their stories are as varied as their personalities. We show them the love of Christ. They slowly heal and return to a child like nature. Only love can heal the broken heart."

Currently 17 kids between the age of 4 and 17 call Timothy House home.  Located on the edge of a national park, Timothy House has plenty of space for these kids to play and grow.

Rodney and Phimpha love the kids as their own.  Acting as dad and mom to 17 children is a big job though.  Volunteers, donations, love, and a lot of hard work keep Timothy House running. 

Playtime after school!

Catching dinner in the fish pond out front.

Making dinner in the kitchen.

The dish washing crew!

There's always work to be done, but doing it together makes it more fun!

Every night after dinner everyone comes together for worship (led by some of the kids) and a Bible study (led by Mom).  Every Sunday church is held at the home and members of the community join for worship. 

Praise God for the heart he has given this family, for the love that overflows to these children, and for the example they set for the community!

For more information or to make a donation, please visit:

www.lovecareproject.org/wp

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Kanchanaburi

Here's a photo trip of our visit to Nid's home province...

We left early in the morning to catch a train to her aunt's house. 

 

On the 4 hour train ride, we slept, enjoyed the views, and sang/learned fun songs.  The kids on the train had free entertainment on this ride.  :)

 

 

The sights were beautiful and riding the train was a perfect way to see them.  Nid would ride this train everyday to go to school through middle and high school. 

 

Us and the family we stayed in front of their house.  

Don't they have a great view?!

 

We set up tents inside to sleep.  I would have chosen outside under the bright stars, but we were the guests and they wanted us inside.  

Out of this simple kitchen came a lot of great food.

 

Two of the boys went snail collecting for dinner one night.  

  

Here's what we gathered from the fields, papaya, bananas, lotus flowers, green eatable leafs, and the boys' contribution...snails.  The snails were cooked up in rice porridge and didn't taste fishy at all.  :)

 

The family wanted to make sure we ate well, so the boys were in charge of catching, killing, and defeathering 3 chickens.   They tasted good. 

  

 

The family we visited is still Buddhist, but the kids joined us for worship and Bible reading under a tree in the front yard. 

 We spent one afternoon at a lake near the family's house. 

  

Another day we went to "climb up the mountain."  

But...

We only got about an hour into it before people were joking that we were about to cross the Myanmar border and needed to head back.  :)

 At least we found a rock to climb,

 

jungle vines to swing, 

 and lots of great views.

 

Another day brought us to a Thai-style water park.

(a.k.a. waterfall)

 Gorgeous and giant!

 People were floating, splashing, jumping and exploring over the whole side of the waterfall. 

 

Near Nid's house is a clearing with a lot of wild monkeys.  I don't know why they gather there, but it was fun to see.  

 

One of Nid's neighbors was making these very intricate, traditional Thai hats. 

I'm glad I don't have to dance with this on my head...the Thai women who do are very talented!

We enjoyed fresh coconuts that were cut down by the aunt from a tree near her house.  They were filled with refreshing coconut water and soft flesh that could be scooped out with a spoon. 

 Even our Thai friends said they had never seen a bug so colorful.

 The fruit on some of the fruit trees is kept covered to keep bugs and birds out.

 Kids and puppies brought smiles to our faces the whole trip! 

BJD Outreach

 

                                                                      Excitement flowed through the air as we loaded up the truck and gathered to pray for the students and staff before they left for outreach.  The 10 BJD (the dorm where I live) students and staff went to serve in Northern Thailand.  Some students have been on outreach before, others put their faith in Jesus in the past few months, so this is their first experience of living-out loving others outside of Bangkok (aka "mission trip").

They had a busy two weeks full of blessing some of the students' home communities.  In some hometowns they did kids' programs with skits, games, and stories about Jesus.  In some hometowns they spent long days helping harvest rice and other veggies alongside the locals and praying for those in need.  

It's not a simple task for students to return to their hometowns to speak of Christ.  For some, the evidence of Jesus changing their lives speaks for itself,  others face ridicule from family and neighbors for "being swept away with this Western religion." 

When everyone returned this past week, I asked one of the student leaders what his favorite part was.  He had a lot of good stories but the best part was "Seeing BJD students grow closer to God and grow in leadership."                                        Praise God for working in the lives of the students at BJD !

Clarkston Connection

A rumble of voices rise from the bottom floor of the leasing office.  Glancing over the banister, I see younger and older people sitting in crowded circles of chairs.  A variety of bright ethnic clothing gives a unique spark to each group.  Some wear head scarves, some tie their babies on their back, some are decorated with beads, some wear a more plain style.  Each circle is speaking a different language.  Every once in a while someone will look up from the conversation to the front of the room where a Bible passage is written on the white board. 

This gathering is an exciting precursor to what we look forward to in Heaven:
"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10)
 

I smile as I am called away from my gazing, back to helping the kids with their art projects.  I could sit for hours observing each circle of people discussing God's Word in their native tongue, but keeping the kids entertained so their parents can talk is an important job as well. 

Clarkston Connection is a monthly gathering of believers and nonbelievers who come together to investigate a passage from the Bible.  Primarily refugee families coming from many countries around the world, some have a background in the Bible, others are just looking for friends who speak their language. 

This past month I met Edlaya, an elderly woman from Myanmar.  When she came to the States five months ago, she left behind her six brothers and sisters.   Two of her children and their families were able to come to the Atlanta area with her while some were left in the refugee camp.  Using her broken English, hand motions, facial expressions, and sometimes silence, she told me part of her story of journeying here.  While she is grateful to be here and especially for the hopes of a better life for her children and grandchildren, she is mourning the loss of relationships, friends and family members left behind. 

Friends Beyond Borders

Friends Beyond Borders conversation group at Georgia Tech.

Every Wednesday at Georgia Tech Language Institute I meet new people at Friends Beyond Borders.  I get to know students from around the world as we talk about culture, food, hobbies, and much more.  The goal is to broaden our perspective of the world be getting to know people from other countries while the students practice speaking English with native English speakers.  These new friendships remind me of a video I'd like to share with you. 

The video shows what American Muslims would like to tell the rest of the world.  They would like to break stereotypes and correct misunderstandings.  I share this because Christ commands us to love God and love others.  I love others better when I understand a little better where they are coming from...this video helped me with that.  I hope it helps you too.

Click on the link to see the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbcmPe0z3Sc
or copy and paste it in a new window
(It's only 4 minutes long!)

Refrigerator Blessings

"Does anyone have a refrigerator?" 
As we looked around at each other, a hand went up in the front row. 
"OK, Awesome!"  Pastor Tim continued, "Does anyone have a truck to transport it?"
Another hand went up from the middle of the rows of pews.
"Great...the two of you can bring it here right after church."
Pastor Tim looked out at the 50 faces staring back at him, "Now, does anyone have some extra food in their refrigerator to fill up the empty one?" 
Many hands were raised from all over the room as people committed to filling the fridge before it was given to Pastor Sanchez.

Pastor Tim had just finished his sermon and was closing with a few announcements. One being, Pastor Sanchez (from the Latino Church that shares the building with us) had almost no food in his house for his family because his refrigerator broke over the weekend and all the food spoiled.  As the quick organizing effort came to a close, Pastor Sanchez was called into the sanctuary.  Pastor Tim and a dozen others gathered around Mr. Sanchez at the front of the church to pray for him and thank the Lord for his provision.  By the end of the prayer, both pastors were in tears at the beautiful real life picture of the Body of Christ coming together. 

This would have been a common practice for the early New Testament church (if they had refrigerators.)   
"And all who believed were together and had all things in common.  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." Acts 2:44-45 
What a refreshing sight to see lived out in our modern church as well!

Perspective

The cold night air swooshed into the apartment as Joey opened the door.  Three tall police officers wearing bulletproof vests over long sleeved shirts stood on the porch.  Each had a gun strapped to his right thigh over plain blue jeans.  Joey glanced back at Mom as one of the officers walked into the home.  More officers entered the living room, emerging from the surrounding trees.  Scared at first, Joey stayed close to Mom while the men with the big voices questioned his parents and relatives.  The clean-cut men were nice enough though, so Joey soon was walking around looking at the visitors more closely.  He ran to his room to get his own neon green and purple Nerf gun.  Joey hardly noticed the officers searching the apartment and demanding the adults sit against the living room wall.  He did notice when his older sister started crying.  Anna never cries. 

Mom handed Joey and Anna their backpacks.  But it’s night time; we can’t be going to school now, thought Joey.  Mom wrapped her arms around him, giving him the biggest squeeze he could remember.  Anna, Joey, and their three siblings walked out the door, following a relative who had come to pick them up.  As Joey turned the corner he noticed his uncle and a friend of the family standing with a police officer, hands restrained behind their backs...the stance all of the adults living in the apartment would take by the end of the night.

As neighbors, we only have part of the picture, but my heart breaks for Joey and his four siblings.  One confusing night will lead to weeks of uncertainty.  The kids will be dropped off at school tomorrow and will be expected to keep it all together, go on with life as usual.  But nothing will be usual anymore.  Yes, they may now be less exposed to drugs and gangs, but family as they knew it has dissolved. 

Pray for Joey, his siblings, and the other “Joeys” in my community and yours. 

The After School Tutoring Whirlwind

3:45-We arrive at Ruthie’s house to begin setting up for after school tutoring. Tables, chairs, and jars of pencils must be placed in the living room and extra bedroom.
3:50-Small hands bang on the front door of the apartment. “10 more minutes!” Ruthie yells.
4:00-The doors are opened and kids run inside, each getting a squirt of hand sanitizer before they get too far.
4:05-Kids from 3 to 12 years old work on homework. The little guys and anyone who finishes early draw on colored paper with crayons (at least that’s what they are supposed to do…however, it’s more common to see the kids running from room to room chasing each other, singing songs at the top of their lungs, or fighting over who gets to use the glitter glue.) Between 2 and 5 adults help with homework and try to keep the kids from destroying the house.
4:10-I begin dinner: 7 boxes of macaroni and cheese, 3 cans of roast beef, 3 cans of mixed veggies will be combined to make a hot meal for the kids.
4:20-Tino and Lizet help pass out fruit snacks and cups of juice.
4:45-We start encouraging kids to clean up and find a seat for dinner.
4:50-Dinner is served. The older kids help pass out bowls of food and refills of juice.
5:15-All the dirty bowls and forks are in the sink and the kids gather, sitting on the floor in the living room, to hear a Bible story.
5:30-Ms. Paula leads the children in some songs with hand motions about the love of God and how he knows each of us by name.
5:40-The kids work on an art project, today they are painting small piggy banks.
5:55-Everyone begins to clean up, gather homework, jackets, and art projects to take home.
6:00-"Goodbye!"  Some kids walk home, others get picked up by Mom.
6:05-Visit with Moms for a few minutes and help the stragglers get out the door.
6:10-We clean up the house.  Ian and Ruthie live here, so we put away the art supplies, vacuum, wipe off and put away the tables and chairs, load the dishwasher with all the dishes from dinner, and take out the trash.
6:30-The house looking respectable again, we head out the door, "See you tomorrow!"

Can we come to church with you?

"Can we come to church with you, Ruthie....pleeeaaassseee???"

Susan and Estray had been asking Ruthie the same question every day during after school tutoring for a couple of weeks.  Unfortunately, space in Ruthie's car had prohibited them from getting a ride.  With my vehicle now included in the carpool caravan, there would be enough space for the girls to come too.

After tutoring one day my roommates and I walked Susan and Estray home to meet their mother, Lila.  With Susan translating for us, we inquired if we could pick up the girls and take them to church on Sunday.  Smiles formed on the girls' faces as Lila responded affirmatively in Spanish.  Dark brown pigtails began flying in the air as the sisters clapped their hands and jumped up and down in excitement.

I am looking forward to getting to know Susan, Estray, and their parents better through this opportunity.  My prayer is that Jesus would become real in their hearts.  And that even at a young age (5th and 3rd grade), the girls would understand the truths of the gospel, and Christ would begin to transform their lives.

 

Susan, Estray, and me in front of Open Table Community Church

The Most Diverse Square Mile in America

Much of our ministry time is spent in Clarkston, a small community about 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta. The New York Times has called Clarkston "the most diverse square mile in America" because of the number of refugees that live there. Walking around apartment complexes in the area you can find people from Iran, Myanmar, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, and many other countries. I was told 74% of the high school students in Clarkston come from 50 different countries! Visiting the neighborhood is like stepping into another world. Women wearing colorful cloth wrapped around their heads and long robes covering their bodies hang laundry on the bushes and stair rails. Kids in mismatched clothes and flimsy sandals run from apartment to apartment and play on the swing set in the middle of the complex.

Over the past two weeks my roommates and I took a couple of afternoons to help World Relief* set up apartments for incoming refugees in Clarkston. We began by loading a van and truck full of beds, bedding and pillows, kitchen supplies, a table and chairs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, towels, a couch, and a few other necessities. Then we drove to an empty apartment and began setting everything up. During a small break in the moving commotion, all was quiet, and we stood in the dining area. We had the opportunity to pray over the home, praying that the Lord would put influential Christians in the life of the family moving in and unveil their eyes to the truth of our Savior.

Please continue praying for the refugee families moving to America. This past Tuesday nine more families came, and it is very likely they are all in need of a relationship with Christ.

*World Relief is an evangelical refugee resettlement agency. Every year, thousands of refugees, usually victims of war and persecution, are helped to replant their lives in the United States. World Relief staff and volunteers come alongside America's newcomers, helping them adjust to the culture, find employment, learn English, take steps towards citizenship, and build a future for themselves and their children.

Multicultural Living

As I sit here writing, an invisible cloud of smells swirl around me. It all started 20 minutes ago when John, one of our missionary friends who lives across the hall, knocked on our door. He walked in followed by two Latino ladies, a Latino man carrying a box about the size of a microwave, and two young girls. They gathered in the living room and began taking bottles and jars out of the white box. John waved as he left us to work out communicating with our new visitors, who only spoke Spanish. Enriqueta came up to me, tilted my chin up, and sprayed a few squirts of something on my neck. Soon the sent of Vick’s Vapor Rub reached my nose. She explained it is good for a cold, helping to clear the nose and throat. Flora picked up a taller pink bottle of cream and squirted some in my hand. The peppermint lotion is extra moisturizing for cracked feet. Still rubbing the lotion in, my arm was gently turned, wrist out to receive a spray of “Floral Fresh,” while the other wrist got misted with “Sweet Sugar.” Enriqueta mixed a few drops from a small container with a dab of menthol scented cream from a blue jar then demonstrated rubbing the balm on both temples and the back of the neck. My roommates and I followed suit as she explained the ointment is for soothing muscle pains. Jill picked one bottle to buy as I began to play with the little girls. We found out they will be meeting John and his wife every Thursday afternoon for English classes, and they invited us to come practice our Spanish. Before leaving Flora wrote down their phone numbers and apartment numbers so we can stop by if we run out of lotion. The transaction made, all the bottles and jars went back into the box, and we said “Adios.” When the door shut the only thing left was the mingling scents floating through the air.

This is a given part of living in another culture. Things don't happen "the way they would back home." In our suburban, middle class culture, if someone wanted to sell something in your living room, they would set up a "Tupperware party." In our multicultural apartment complex, it is completely normal to drop in, selling whatever, spraying this and dabbing that on your prospective customers.

Cookies and Neighbors

The comforting smell of fresh baked cookies fills the air and somehow gives us a little boost of encouragement for the task at hand.

Seven plates of cookies sit on the table.

We pick up the first one and head to our neighbors right next door. Knock, Knock, Knock. The door opens. A Latino man talking on his cell phone stands in the entrance. He raises an eyebrow and walks away, leaving us standing on the doormat. Another Latino man comes to the door, we introduce ourselves saying we live next door and wanted to give them some cookies. “No las comprendo.” (I don’t understand them.) He chuckles uncomfortably. Using my limited Spanish, I introduce myself again and hand him the cookies. A small smile breaks his confused expression, “Gracias, me llamo Raul.” His name is Raul, and the door closes.

Maybe this is going to be harder than we thought.

Plate number two, the neighbors across the hall. I toss up a little prayer as we walk between our door and theirs, Lord bless this meeting, help us communicate your love and grace. Knock, Knock, Knock. We hear some kids running and laughing though the house. This sounds better already; kids love cookies. A dad opens the door, two kids peeking around his legs. When the kids learn the cookies are for them, and that they are free, their eyes light up excitedly. Mr. Gregorio leaves us to meet Dennis and his little sister while he puts the cookies on his own dish and brings us back the empty green plastic plate. I guess we’ll be using that again.

Before we leave our living room we pray over the third plate of cookies. We walk down stairs to the apartment right beneath us. Excited and hopeful of another positive chance to meet more neighbors, we knock at the door, a bold sign hanging on it, “Take shoes off before entering.” Kids are talking and giggling inside, but at the knock everything goes silent. Out of the corner of my eye I see a face peek through the blinds by the front door. No one answers. We knock again, but the door stays shut. Maybe they were home alone and not supposed to answer the door, maybe they thought we were selling the cookies and were told not to open the door. Hopefully we will get to meet them another time soon, and maybe bring over some cookies.

Plate number three goes to apartment number four. The door is answered by “Shorty.” We soon learn we can call her that too. She lives with the Fernandez family. Shorty thanks us for the cookies after confirming they are free and invites us to stop by if we ever need anything, “And we all speak English,” she adds. I comment on the happy Christmas tree in the living room, the kids smile, and the door is shut.

The next plate of cookies is supposed to go to the door with a big pine branch wreath on it, but when no one answers, we take it to the next family. There we meet Martina and her two kids. The cookies are gratefully accepted and bring a smile to the kids’ faces. “Come back soon,” she calls out as we walk away.

The last plate of cookies is ready to be taken to the last family. Knock, Knock, Knock. The door opens wide and a welcoming smile invites us in. We sit on the floor and play with the kids while we make small talk with the parents. Laughter and “yumms” are exchanged as the cookies are enjoyed. As we wave goodbye, “See you soon!” follows us out the door. Jon and Jenna are on our missions team. But it’s always nice to visit with a friendly face.

Prayer Requests and Praises

Prayer Requests:

*Please pray for wisdom as we all decide what areas to focus our ministry time. Some options include working with refugees, international students, after school tutoring programs, English classes, internet cafe, and international families.
*Pray for unity of our group and that the Lord would keep our focus on him without any distractions.
*Ask the Lord to provide good relationships with our neighbors and other people we meet so that the gospel may be spread even in the short 5 months we are here.

*One special prayer request, on Sunday there was a fire in one of the apartment buildings in our complex. Eight families' homes were destroyed, and they lost everything. Pray for the families, that they would turn to Christ through these trials. We have gathered some donations and are looking for more ways to help.

Praises:

*The Lord protected all of us while traveling to Atlanta.
*Everyone is settling in quickly and a blanket of openness and honesty is already within our classroom.
*Christ arranged a positive chance to meet our neighbors by bringing them plates of cookies yesterday.

Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement this week!