A Year To Review

Where to begin... One year ago to date I was flying home. I landed in the USA before this day was over. Much has changed since then, but it feels like I was just there. Life has moved on in Thailand, South Carolina, and even Pennsylvania. Babies have been born....  

Rice has been planted and harvested once more...

And little boys have grown...

But, I realize that much has happened in my own life.

Our family shared Christmas together. A new family member was met...

Then back down to Columbia, South Carolina to finish the college education I had started 7 years ago.

The three years spent at Columbia International University were wondrous gifts from God. 

 I learned to live on my own- choosing to rent with some friends off-campus

The times I shared with them were precious! We learned from one another and encouraged each other!

A friend of mine was married in South Dakota. So I did a quick weekend out there...

What an godly example this couple was to me and I was blessed to have the opportunity to share it with them!

A package from Thailand, thrilled my heart- even though it went to Canada first!

My church did a missions conference and for the first time I was a missionary representing a country at a missions conference. 

Many happy adventures happened with my friend Sue...

...and I was so grateful for the chances we had to get away from the books and relax!

And my housemate was such an encouragement to me!

And then, it was nearing an end. My parents came down for graduation and was so glad they could meet my South Carolina "parents!"

Vince and Jan have been God's grace to me through my college years- providing not only a retreat for me, but spiritual mentorship and deep counselling. 

And goodbyes were said. To my church...

... my friends, my life. 

I had prayed to stay... and God told me to go. 

Go back to the mission field of Bedford County.

Go back to educate those I meet about missions.

Go back...

I stopped to visit a missionary on my way home and she encouraged me that this will be a good time.

A time to grow and develop spiritual habits before I start overseas. 

I praise the Lord for this woman who took time to counsel me, even when her mother had passed away the day before.

I returned home to summer weather and family and flowers. I went cherry picking for the first time with my sister-in-law.

I worked on two summer classes and finally received my diploma in August! What a relief! 

My mom went out to Iowa for a week and my dad and I did some sight-seeing around DC.

We had a beautiful autumn. The leaves were so bright with color.

We took a quick visit down south again to see friends...

       

... and my aunt recently visited for Thanksgiving weekend with my cousin and her friend.

My sister was baptized this past Sunday and many were touched by her bravery and testimony. But that is another story to tell and there are so many other "graces" that have happened in this past year. 

I guess I'm reflecting more on my birthday this year instead of New Years. 

Lately I've been discouraged and yesterday God brought a co-worker into my life to speak truth to me. 

Last night I read Psalm 27:13-14 in a new light: "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." 

I apologize that I have not been faithful with this blog. It is hard for me to remember that there are still things to share. I'm living at home and working. My life is not filled with elephants and open markets and motorcycle rides. But so many times I am reminded of that life. But I will approach that subject later!

This was a long post and it took me quite a while to write. It is now November 30th- no longer the 29th and around this time last year I was crawling into my bed after 3 months of being in a country I will never forget. 

End of a life stage...

Hey ya'all! So, I heard someone couldn't access my blog and so I figured I better post a short blip to let you know I'm alive! I'm looking forward to the relief that accompanies graduation 3 weeks from today. My parents will be coming down and, though I have a LOT of stuff to do before then, I'm excited to think about it! God has been so gracious this last semester in my college years! He's stretched me and molded me in more ways than I thought possible. When I first came to CIU, I prayed that God would help me to not be one of those seniors who leave full of pride- thinking they know all there is to know. And God sure answered that one!!! It's been a humble path and I'm seeing all the practical, spiritual, and emotional problems I have and need to continue to work on if I am going to be successful as a missionary in the near future. I've had so many opportunities to talk about Thailand- I never dreamed how God would use my experience to open up conversations about Christ and opportunities to educate Christians about the world outside the walls of the United States. Classes have been challenging, I've learned much. Pray that I will finish well. I'm tired and many times I'm tempted to give up, throw in the towel, quit. But I am so close... Thank you all for the prayers! I'm sorry I haven't posted as much as I should have. God's been working on my heart too deeply sometimes. Continue to hold those in Thailand up in your prayers. For the Dia Yuan people, for Pastor Tee and Matsee, for Greg and Corrine as they are expecting a little girl soon, for Kio and Aom (she's expecting also!) and my teacher Kio and her family. So many people... so many ministries... so many opportunities for your prayers to change the world! Pray for the Brittan family. I don't think I told you about them, but they own a goat farm that I stayed at for a few days. One of their barns fell down in a windstorm and they are trying to repair the damage- thankfully no one was hurt. It's hard to see someone go through so much when they've been so faithful to the Lord- but then, that is where God is at work the most! Thank you all!

Presentation

Dear Blogger Fans,
      Just wanted to let you know that I'll be presenting about my time in Thailand this Sunday evening at my church. It'll be at Pennwood Bible Church at 6:30. If you need more details please contact me. For those of you in far off places, I would appreciate your prayers that I would say the right things and not only educate people about another culture but give God room to speak to their hearts.
      On another note, I apologize for not posting after I got home. I didn't realize how crazy life could get! I will keep up the blog, but it will not be just about Thailand. God is continuing to prepare me for full-time ministry and I will soon be going back to school to finish up my Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies. We'll see what all God has prepared for this year! Thank you all for the prayers and emotional support that you gave me while in Thailand!

I will miss them...

     Today I said goodbye to some of the dearest people I've met here. I didn't cry and hopefully I can hold it together tomorrow when I leave. Packing is done and tomorrow I will go to Ajung Tee's church and then leave Chiang Rai around 2 in the afternoon.
     This last week I've spent most of my time with the people who have been vulnerable enough to befriend me. God's given me the wonderful gift of being able to see their homes and lives outside of their work. I have so much respect for each one of these women. They have sacrificed so much of their wants and needs for their family or for the ministry God has given them. I love them dearly. We have laughed together, been exhausted together, and had some great conversations. I don't want to leave them.
     But, at the same time, I know that my time here is complete and if I would stay I would need to settle into a full-time task. I have seen a broad range of ministries and have started to process through my personal values that will have an impact on my future ministry. Greg and Corinne have been great supervisors and I am so thankful for their guidance!

     Please pray for me as I travel, adjust to food, continue to process through what I have seen, and as I work. I thank the Lord that He has provided me a job during my month+ at home. He is such a gracious and generous God- giving exactly what we need when we need it. I will continue to post when I get home. I was really busy this past month and don't want to miss the opportunity to share with you all about specific ministries I visited! Thank you all for the prayers. That is the main thing any ministry or friend has asked for- a gift at no cost except a little bit of our time! Thank you for your generosity!

Thanksgiving

   Today I celebrated Thanksgiving with the Hortman's and their friends. What a way to start the week of my goodbye's and last times! This morning I returned to Ajung Siy Jy's church in Chang Sean. When I first came the field was filled with green rice shoots and today they were harvesting. 

     I have attended this church three times and every time they have treated me like family. In fact, today this church surrounded me in prayer for my trip, for my plans for the future, and for revival in America. What a wonderful gift from God not only to hear individuals praying in their heart language all at the same time, but to hear them pray for me! It still gives me shivers of happiness! 

(even the dog smiled!)

     Koi then took me to the Hortman's and I met new people and visited with those I've met briefly or for longer. It was such a good experience because, although the food was delicious, the fellowship was the main thing! 

     Sometimes I think holidays can become such a chore that we forget that each holiday gives us precious time with family. It clears our schedules to make time for fellowship and to encourage one another. I don't know about you, but I find myself every year at this time thinking too much about the gifts, food or scheduled events. 

Don't get me wrong though- I was definitely excited to taste real American food!

But to watch and talk with my new friends that I have made was so sweet! To receive an encouraging word from Ajung Chalau (I don't think that's spelled right) and her husband Neal was another gift.

To see the Pennington's was another gift: they were the first ones I met when I arrived and will be the last ones I see before I go. 

To see Lynn holding a red-haired baby, knowing that I will be able to hold another red-haired baby when I get home- a gift that has been prayed for!

     Mother's holding their children and the other one's playing together. All sounds of Thanksgiving that I never stepped back and took notice of before. And even though we didn't go around the table and say three things we were thankful for or ate some of the dishes that have been in the family for years, I think I am more thankful to the Lord this year than any other year. I am thankful for a family who has been praying for me and have sought the Lord's wisdom in their lives. I am thankful for the daily blessings of water, food, blankets, nature, and bug spray! I am thankful for new friends and the opportunities I have had to learn from individuals. But most of all, I am thankful because this year the Lord has taught me the value of daily thankfulness. That His love is behind each and every gift and that joy can be experienced when we recognize it and open our mouths to thank Him for it!

     Tonight I was watching a Dr. Quinn episode called Thanksgiving and Johnny Cash sang a really neat song. If you aren't a fan- that's fine- but the words are precious because it looks at the small blessings and important ones. Click this:  Johnny Cash- Thanksgiving Song  if you want to watch it.

     Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! 

Loy Krathong

Sorry for the lack of blog posts... Things have been really busy here at the CEF office! I just wanted to let you all know that I'm going to a girl's home this afternoon and will stay the weekend. Pray that I can be a positive influence on these girls and that the love of Christ will show! Also, that I will have listening ears as they explain their ministry to me. A festival called Loy Krathong is going on this week also. People make small floats from banana leaves and decorate them with flowers, incense, and candles. They then pray to the river goddess for forgiveness for polluting the water and for any evil they might have done. They then put the float in the river with a few coins for good luck. If the candles stay lit as it floats away, it is a sign of good luck also. There are a lot of paper lanterns that are set off too. It's supposed to be really pretty and I hope to be able to catch a glimpse of it tonight! But, the meaning behind all the pretty lights are the sad part. Please pray that as they float their loy krathongs and send up the paper lanterns that they will have unrest in their hearts and a longing for the Creator who forgives their sins completely and who is the Light of the World! Pray for Christian's to use this time to share about Jesus Christ! Thank you for your prayers! Many things to tell you in the future! God bless you all!

This weekend:

Just a quick note to say that I'm visiting a bamboo bike shop tomorrow that gives jobs to local pastors and then we do a Good News Club and then a fun evening at the Hortman's. Then on Saturday I head up to Mae Sae and cross the border to renew my vista. Then I'm going to be staying at a goat farm- helping them out some and learning how missionaries can use farming skills for ministry! Pray that I'll be a good listener, watcher, and worker and that I can bring encouragement to those I encounter! Thank you all so much!