today is the day!

Hello friends!!

It's Monday here in Thailand, and I can't believe two days has passed. Our travels here to Thailand has been somewhat crazy and extremely tiring, but God is good! Upon arriving in Thailand, my health was not so hot, but by prayers and God's grace, I am feeling about 95%, and so much better than when I first felt when I came into Thailand.

These last few days have been full of fun and adventure. It's such a different lifestyle here, and it makes me more thankful for all that I have back at home. I find myself trying to contain my want to complain, but I know that this is also a test of patience and endurance that God is giving me because He has sent me to a place that is beyond my comfort zone. Regardless, I got to ride an elephant and try so many new and delicious foods...and it's so cheap too! And one of the best parts is, we had the opportunity to play and interact with kids from an orphanage! It was such a huge blessing and I am so excited to see them again next weekend!

Anyway, today is our first day of teaching! The school week has begun, and today is the first day we are teaching English. Right now, it is 1:45 PM, and Caleb, Doris, Jimmy, Jenn and I get to teach our first class at 6:45 tonight! It's been a long day of waiting to teach, but the time will come! I am most excited to meet our students and interact with them. I'm nervous, but I pray that we will be bold and reach out and build relationships with the students. After teaching, I shall update more!

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

--joyce


 

late night thinking, early morning revalation

" Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the worst." 1 Timothy 1:15

Self doubt. Inadequacies. Inability to be used. Sinful. 

It is currently 4 AM on Thursday and we are T-MINUS 6 hours to leaving for the airport and counting. (eeeek!) You are absolutely correct if your thoughts right now are "why is she still up?" "she must still be packing" "will she sleep at all?" etc. All of those things should be keeping me very busy right now, however as I was planning for a team exercise I began to feel doubtful of how I might be used by God and comparing my abilities to others.

Over the past few weeks the Lord has shown me the gifts and talents that each of the members, and it has been so encouraging. To see how those gifts are connections that can be made with the Thai students and so many other ways to bless others. But feelings that "they will be used and I will not" creep in and once again my thought is: God, why are you sending me when there are so many capable people on this team? Until I was reminded by this verse from Paul who, in full gospel-humility, reminds that we are all sinful--in the past and present.Even Paul, one of the greatest disciples, know full well that he is just as equally sinful and broken as the unbeliever. To be mindful of that is to remember to see everyone with Jesus' eyes, as God's children but broken and sinful in need of salvation. Admittedly, my pride is huge and Satan has used it against myself and other team members on multiple occasions to create feelings of jealousy.

Please pray that
1. we will all be filled with gospel-humility (humble by the saving grace of the gospel that is relavant to all)
2. our hearts will be guarded from feelings of doubt but instead will be emboldened by our confidence in God and the Holy Spirit
3. for the hands of Satan to be bound and away from the team as we travel later today

thank you all for your immense love and support! My laundry is finishing up any minute now...

Kara

as we prepare to leave...T-MINUS 3 DAYS!!

Sawadeeka, my friends! 

I cannot believe how fast time has passed in the last two months. We are preparing to leave for Thailand this Thursday! Just THREE days until we take off!

This week feels jam packed with last minute preparations and lots of packing to take care of, but we are excited to take off for Chiang Rai, and we could not be more excited that the time has come for us to go and share the Gospel to the Thai people.

In terms of prayer request, here are a few!

• Please pray for the health of our entire team! The weather in SoCal has been kinda weird these last couple days, so I know it's affecting each person differently, so pray that we will take care of our bodies and make sure we rest up prior to this trip. 
• Pray for our hearts--that we will be in the right place with God and that would prepare ourselves spiritually as we get ready to go out and serve His people.
• Pray for confidence! That in sharing the gospel, we will go in authority and confidence, knowing that God has equipped us and that the Holy Spirit will be there to intercede on our behalf. 

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 

On our tippy toes...T-minus 4 days!

It is such a relief seeing lesson plans and travel schedules coming together as we are so close to takeoff. We are having our last meeting tomorrow and our flight is leaving at 1 pm on Thursday! I am super excited and a little anxious...but I know God has big things in store for us (:

A few prayer requests before we leave:

1. Health - A few of our teammates have been feeling a bit under the weather with sudden fevers, headaches, and stomach discomfort. Everyone else is in much need of God's strength and energy. Please pray that we all will be strong, healthy, and ready for the trip.

2. Alertness! - 1 Peter 5:8: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour." Without a doubt, these next four days before we leave Satan will be creeping for opportunities to discourage us in many ways, if he has not began to do so already. Please pray that we will stay alert of that possibility and that we will continually seek God in prayer for protection over us.

3. Attitude Check - Ephesians 4:2-6: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Please pray Ephesians 4:2-6 and that each member will be reminded of the reason and purpose for going on this trip.

Sawadeekaa!

Our wolfpack!

Left to Right: Ian, Jimmy, Caleb, John, Cindy, Kevin, Esther, Jennifer, Joyce, Kara, Jacob, Doris, & Elliot.

(Missing Nor)