Hometown Faithfulness

From left to right, a neighbor, Ellen, K, and Mom

Ever since she became a believer in college, K has been praying for her family.  Sharing the gospel with her parents and siblings has been difficult.  But over 10 years later, she is starting to see the fruit of her prayers and boldness. 

At the beginning of our trip to her hometown last week K shared her heart, "I want to ask my mom to pray to receive Christ.  I've been talking to God about it, and I think this time is right." 

From that moment on, I knew my job was to be interceding for that time.  In the past, this conversation has come up between K and her mom, but Mom just dismisses the idea saying "not right now," "maybe later" or "our family is Buddhist."

On our first night in her parents' home, K found mom sitting on the patio upstairs.  She asked me to join them and asked her mom if she was ready to pray.  This time, mom said yes! 

As K led her in prayer, I prayed that she would truly understand the words she was saying and Christ's sacrifice for her.

We were overjoyed.  As we sat chatting, Dad came upstairs.  K had mentioned before that Dad is more of the skeptic in the family. 

Mom and Dad holding a picture of great grandma

The following night, in our small talk on the porch before going to bed, K suggested that Dad ask God for help.  Dad had reoccurring nightmares that he was fighting in his sleep to the point that he  would sometimes fall out of bed.  

Dad prayed on his own, and we prayed for him too. 

In the morning, Dad said he had no nightmares!  He couldn't deny that God had something to do with that.

K and I continue to pray for her family, for Mom to grow as a new believer (in a town that has no other Christians) and for Dad's heart to be softened and seek Jesus.  Will you pray with us?

K and I in front of a rice field near her house.

Lunch!  Sticky rice, grilled pork, fish, and vegetables.

Cutting fresh bananas off the stem.

K resting in the great weather and quiet town atmosphere.

Hanging out with neighbors.

Meeting new friends.

Watching the rice being separated from the stalk. (Stalk goes flying, rice gets poured into the white bags to be sold.)

In Who's Hands?

Making carrot cake with small group friends, a great way to build community.

"I took a Muslim guy to Bible class."  B said nonchalantly as we all sat down for small group.

"That's awesome!  What did he think of it?"  I asked.

"He's open to learning new things." 
 ----

"A Cambodian man I had never met before sat next to me.  He struck up a conversation, and said he knew nothing about Christ then asked me to tell him about Jesus' life and what I believe."  Another group member shared. 
---

Snacks never hurt the small group atmosphere.

This is the type of thing we celebrate.  With new believers or not-yet believers making up over half, and sometimes three fourths of our small group, we are talking a lot about what living like Christ means. 

It means showing mercy, taking risks, trusting each other, being patient, showing love on the physical needs level, showing love on the spiritual needs level, stepping out of our comfort zones, serving, opening up, asking questions, and being ready when God gives the opportunity.  We are building our foundation in Christ and growing together.

Where do we even begin?

That question has daunted me on multiple occasions.  Becoming too overwhelmed by it could stop me from pushing onward at all.  I regularly have to hand back to God the concerns I have for each small group member, knowing they are out of place if they are in my hands. 

We take growing together a day at a time.  In seeking Christ everyday, we trust he will do what we can't, impact the lives of those we love or don't even know yet.  And ultimately we trust God with the miracle of the growth. 

Celebrating a birthday with cheesecake!

Wonderful Whirlwind ABCs (Part 2)

Here we are, continuing the whirlwind of memories from my time in the States.  Although I had a great time, I am glad to be back!

N - Not Forgetting Thai.  One of my strategies for not forgetting Thai was to review with my Thai kid's Bible story book.  It's great because the stories are familiar and the vocabulary is easy (but there are always new words to be found.)  Quiet coffee shops made for great places to do this.  On one occasion, a woman walking by noticed the letters in my book weren't the same as the letters in hers, and I got to share my story. 

O - Outdoors.  In my free time, I got in as many hikes, bike rides, and outdoor adventures as I could.  Lake Tahoe was beautiful on a sunny afternoon, and it started snowing at Frenchman's lake on my way home after a good hike.
                                              Picturesque!  (Oh wait, that would be letter P.)

Lake Tahoe, beautiful even in the winter.

P - Prayer with the ladies at Community Bible Church.  Each week I looked forward to joining the group that faithfully prays for me and many others.  It was a precious time for all of us.

Q - Quiet time.  Even in the busyness, I really enjoyed having my own room/home to sit in the quietness before the Father. Compared to the 14 sisters I lived with (and loved) in Bangkok, it was quite a change.

Zoro Snowman in China

R - Rock Climbing.  While climbing as much in as I could in Reno, I met some new and old friends.  So fun!

S - Snow.  What's that strange white stuff falling from the sky?  (Especially cold coming from 90 degree Thailand weather.)

T - Thai Students.  It was great to practice a bit of my Thai language while some new Thai friends and I made Thai food dinner for 50 people, quite a bonding experience.

Thai noodles, yumm!

U - Unexpected. While living and working overseas has been an idea in my head for many years, I never thought I would be able to say I've lived in Thailand for 2 1/2 years.  In taking some time to reflect on all God has done in and through my life and the life of my team in Thailand I am humbled and in awe of our amazing Father.

V - Vending.  Praise God that about $500 dollars was raised through the selling of the Thai goods that I brought back.  Thank you to everyone who bought items!  This money will be used to support native Thais in continuing to minister and spread God's Word to others in Thailand.

On a drive somewhere between CA and NV.

W - Worthwhile Wonderful Whirlwind - A super busy two months, made worth it by all the fun memories, great conversations, long drives through beautiful western America, and very special time with special people.

X - eXtraordinary.  While I was away, everything in Bangkok continued (of course.)  My amazing team put on an extraordinary Christmas program, sharing the real meaning of Christmas with 80+ people, many of whom had never heard the life-changing message. Also two weeks in December we had Thais preaching on Sunday!  That's definitely moving in the right direction.  Praise God!

LifePoint Bangkok Christmas Program

Y - You.  Yes, you.  Thank you to each person who made time for coffee, invited me over for dinner, or just said "Hi" at church. Thank you also to those I didn't get to visit in person, hopefully there will be another opportunity!

Z - Zipping on as God leads.  One of the questions I got the most was, "How much longer?"  My only answer is, "It's up to God."  I really enjoy the life he's given me in Thailand, and I currently don't have plans to leave.  However, there's nothing etched in stone that says I will be here for the rest of my life.  For now I'll be taking it a year at a time and continue seeking him for direction everyday.

Uarn's Journey Continued

 No-bake cooking night with friends from English class at UniteBKK.

Uarn's story started a few weeks ago.  Start here to read from the beginning. 

"I believe in God but my dad won't let me."  Uarn shared during conversation time after English class.  I put down our English worksheet.  No amount of English is more important than this. 

It just so happened (in a completely God way which means not as a coincidence), that the three people sitting closest to us were Thai Christians who had also com to English class.  Uarn knew this was a place she could find out more about this God who loves her.  She admitted, however, "It doesn't look like a church." 

As she shared her desire to "see" God, Mii opened up a Bible and pointed to a section for Uarn to read.   After reading the story to herself, she looked up in awe. 

"Have you ever read the story of Zacchaeus before?"  One of the others asked.

"No..." Uarn said contemplating what she had read with a smile on her face.  Then her smile faded.  "My dad won't let me read the Bible.  I want to be a Christian.  I believe in God, and I love God."  Passion streamed through Uarn's young voice.

"If you really believe in your heart, than you are a Christian already.  It doesn't matter what your ID card says.  God knows your heart." Mii encouraged Uarn.  She shared how Jesus sought out Zacchaeus and wanted to spend time with him even though he was a sinner, just like he wants to spend time with Uarn. 

We are praying that Uarn can keep coming to English classes and hopefully to church and small group Bible study.  How amazing it would be to see this high school student grow in her passion for God and begin planting seeds of the gospel throughout her circles of influence--with her family, friends, neighbors, schoolmates, and teachers. 

A Daughter's Faith

The prognosis was grim. The cancer was no longer shrinking, but instead, it had spread to the brain.  Many treatments had been tried, many doctors consulted.  The morphine dip was steady and consciousness was the opposite.

"Pray first and foremost for salvation," was the daughter's request, as she booked tickets to go to Northern Thailand the following day.  All the while, she kept hoping this wouldn't end up being the last visit.

The sun rose Easter morning, but it seemed clouded by a heavy reality.  The reality that the person who brought this brave daughter into this world, was struggling to stay here herself.   The morning was filled with making new visitors feel welcome, translating the Easter message, and fellowshipping over lunch.  A day of celebration, and yet of sorrow.  It was easier to just not think about it, but that wasn't really an option.

As the daughter and her husband prepared to leave, everyone in the small ground-floor shop space, aka church, gathered around them.  While visitors looked on, the Body of Christ stood together in faith, praying for the mother in the hospital, for healing, strength, understanding, openness, safety and most of all, salvation.  Tears were shed, hugs exchanged, words of encouragement spoken.  Then the couple headed out the door to the airport.

A lot of unknowns surfaced on the couple hour flight between Bangkok and the hospital in Northern Thailand.  Was her mother still conscious?  Would she be able to to hear and understand the message of Easter as it was shared once more?  Would sharing this time be any different?  What about relations with other family members?  What about the family business? Pulling up to the hospital, all those worries were momentarily set aside.  The most important part was to see Mom.

Being a surprise, their arrival brought tears of joy to Mom's eyes.  Daughter's eyes teared up just seeing her mother, though weak, alert and happy to see them.  There wasn't time for small talk.  Some important things needed to be shared.  But who was going to talk first? 

As beginning words bumped into each other, Mom finally shared how a Christian friend had come over earlier that day.  She shared the full story of Easter.  This time the message of the hope we have in Christ penetrated the depths of  Mom's heart.  It was no longer just words, it was a relationship she wanted too.  Easter morning, she decided to throw out her idols and become a Christ follower.  This was an answer to years and years of prayer.

The journey of praying for the earthly ones we love the most, to love the heavenly One we love the most is no easy task.  It gets discouraging; it gets frustrating; it can even seem useless.  But God is bigger than the biggest hurdles, stronger than the strongest chains, more persistent than the most stubborn hearts, and more loving than we can ever imagine.  


I share this daughter's story of faith in hopes that you will not loose faith in praying for your loved ones.  While Mom is still in the hospital, still has cancer, still struggling on this earth, she now has the most important thing.  She has hope and confidence that her eternal home is secure.  No one in the family could see this Easter's gift coming, and yet God had the timing planned out all along. 

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.   

24-Hour Prayer

"How was your time in the prayer room?"  I asked Pang as she shut the door behind her.
"So good.  I didn't want to come out, but it was the next person's turn." She responded.

As a community we have been learning a lot about prayer here at BJD.  Pang knows she can pray anywhere at any time, but there is something special about being part of 24 hour intercession.  Everyone who participated by taking an hour to pray in the prayer room on Saturday seemed to really enjoy it. 

Here's a few of our findings:
*We have been learning about listening to God.  If we are to "be still and know" that He is God, out lips can't be moving. 
*We have been finding rest and refreshment in him as we hear him whisper to us, "Come my child, sit on my lap and let me comfort you." 
*We have seen of the power and authority behind the name in which we pray, Jesus. 
*We have been reminded that our prayers are pleasing to him, as "golden bowls full of incense" before the Lamb. (Revelation 5:8)  They are pleasing because when we pray, we are declaring that God is the only one who can take care of the problem.  Then when the problem is resolved, we can give him the glory because we can't take any credit for fixing it.