Living and Learning

Well, another week has flown by and once again God has been faithful to teach our team so much about the Truth of the Gospel.  This week we were learning about being Children of a big God!  It is so easy for me to forget that God has adopted us a sons and given us everything we need.  So often I struggle in my own strength and don't rest in the power of a Mighty God.  As we approach halfway this week, my prayer has been that we will not be filled with a ton of knowledge only to return without application.  

This week has been one of the harder weeks for me personally.  It has been SOO.. HOT and Avery has gotten a little restless in the room.  It has been really good though to be stretched and taken out of my comforts.  

Avery continues to be a lot of fun!  She learned how to spell her name this week which blew Mike and I away. One day I was just sitting here writing and she spelled her name out for me. She never ceases to amaze us.  She has also been really excited about makeup lately!  We were in a meeting last week and looked over to see her playing in Stacy's makeup.  We couldn't resist capturing the picture : )  Of course she thought it looked beautiful!

Mike and I had a chance to go out on a date this week. It was so much fun to get a little time away to talk and catch up with one another.  We went downtown and ate a restaurant called Kiwi Cafe.  It was really good and we got to eat French Fries.  They were such a treat!

One of the most emotionally difficult parts of the week was going to an orphanage here in town.  Mike and I went to the two year room and helped out there.  There were over 30 two year olds in a tiny room where conditions were not very good.  Most of the children latched on to the students and just wanted to be held.  This little boy didn't want anyone to get too close to him.  They were all so beautiful and it brought to mind a true picture of what it means to be chosen by God and adopted as Sons.  The only chance many of these children have is to know that they can be sons of the living God.

Avery had a great time playing with the Children.  This little girls name is Meko and she was so thrilled to have someone to play with and pay her some undivided attention.

All of the children that were really afraid were sent to a special room with a lady they call Mama.  Only four of us were allowed in the room and they continued to cry until Mike pulled out the guitar and started to sing.  All guards came down and they had a blast dancing and singing.

Please pray for these children that some how the will grow up with the knowledge of a God who loves them and holds them like a Father.

Campus has still been really good this week.  Students are still enjoying Futsal with the guys and the girls are doing a book study on the "Reasons for God" by Tim Keller.  It has been really exciting to build relationships with the Thai students.

The last thing we wanted to share is a video of Avery saying hello in Thai.  We couldn't edit the video so it is a little long but she actually says hello in Thai three times.  

Thanks for investing in our lives and taking the time to stay connected.  We are very thankful for you all!

Making the Most!

The weeks are passing so quickly and we are getting more settled into life in Thailand. We are truly having an awesome time.  This week we have spent lots of time on campus and have gotten to explore the city a little more as well.  We are all growing to love the food and Avery has gotten really good at saying hello in Thai.  You have to fold your hands in front and then bow your head and she does it all!  Futsal has continued to be a great way for the guys to meet people.  One guy in particular, Kaen, has being spending a lot of time with our team. He is asking a ton of questions and even asked for a Bible tonight. Tonight Kaen was at the point of tears wanting to understand "the truth" about life. Please pray for Kaen and for the many other students that we are interacting with.  The Lord is working in Thailand through your prayers!

Avery is still a highlight!  Events where we get together and eat and hang out are working well for meeting girls.

This is our lovely car for the summer.  It seats NINE people.  Avery thinks you don't have to ride in a carseat anymore because no one here does.

We also have this Song Touw for the summer.  The driver's name is Koon Loong (Uncle) and he doesn't speak a word of English. It is quite comical trying to tell him where we need to go.

This past weekend we went to a King Cobra snake farm in a little Thai village.  It was crazy to see men, and small children head butting and kissing King Cobra's.  Avery was actually brave enough to touch a Boa!

Boy's will do anything!

Avery is making some great friends in Thailand. One of the staff couples is very generous to allow us to go and play at their house weekly. It has been a lot of fun! 

These are just a few glimpses of what life has been like in Thailand so far. God is really starting to break our hearts as we see the barriers to believing in Christ among the Thai people.  Mike and I are seeing daily how blessed we are to live in a culture where Christianity is so accessible. We also are seeing daily how much we have been provided for!   We miss you all and look forward to sharing more soon.

Ministry Begins!

This week has been a lot of fun!  We are beginning to meet a lot of students and do activities to be around them.  We also made our first trip to the hospital.  Don't be alarmed everyone goes to the hospital around here for everything.  Avery and I both had Pink Eye and Mike has inflammation of the heel.  We are all on antibiotics but feeling much better.  Otherwise, our team is holding up pretty well and thankfully no one has gotten sick from the food.  

We are learning a lot about the Kingdom of God and how that should influence our time here in Thailand.  It has given us a daily perspective that the Gospel isn't just about us, but should really fuel us to share with others.  

Karaoke is very popular in Thailand.  We took a group of Thai students and had a blast.

Avery had a great time singing as well!

Everyone in Thailand has a motorbike.  As you can see Avery really loves them.

Futsal has been the number one ministry event for the guys.  They play every night and have 20 to 30 Thai guys join them.  It is allowing them to build great relationships.

This is a girl named Ying.  She and a group of other students invited us over to cook for us.

This was the feast that they cooked.  It was really good, but quite an experience because we went to the market with them and saw the chicken and the fish live.  At least we knew it was fresh!

Well that is just a quick update.  I don't have long this morning but did want to thank everyone for your comments and your prayers. It means a lot to know that so many people are praying for us.  We really appreciate you!

Just the Beginning!

It is hard to believe that we left for Thailand a week ago.  It has been a lot of fun to begin to learn about the culture and meet students.  I think we are finally getting adjusted to the food and beginning to figure out what to order at the cafeteria.  We spend most mornings at the church having training and then go to campus for lunch.  After lunch we usually return to our apartment until early afternoon when we leave for some type of event with students.  

Mike is doing great driving on the wrong side of the road on the wrong side of the car!  It has been really funny though because Avery sits in the back and says Careful Daddy.  She repeats it over and over again so she must know that it is very different.

Avery has been doing really well also.  One of our biggest prayers coming over here was that she would feel safe around the people and  be ok with them talking to her.  She has done great! She waves to everyone she sees and has made quite a few new friends.  Everyone is very taken by her because she has blonde hair and blue eyes.  She has been a great conversation starter!

Avery at the Airport after 23 very long hours : )

This is our apartment complex.

Our tiny kitchen.  There is one thing about it; I don't have to do much cooking!

A thai bath.  They don't have bath tubs here so we are making the most out of our rubbermaid!

There is more to come soon! This was just a little taste.  We haven't been doing great about taking pictures but I am on a mission now to begin to take some.  Once again thank you all for praying.  We are convinced of God's promise that "The Prayer of a Righteous man is powerful and effective."  James 5:16  We have truly experienced the power of your prayers this week!

WE ARE HERE!!!

Well we have finally arrived in Thailand and I wanted to give a quick update. I only have a few minutes so I am just going to write and not add any pictures.  When I first signed in everything was in Thai so it was a guessing game on how to login.   

The flight went really well and Mike and I are convinced it is because so many people were praying.  Avery cried for the first three minutes of take off and then didn't cry again the rest of the flight.  She slept a majority of our flight from Tokyo to Bangkok.  We see how in so many ways the Lord was looking out for us from leaving for the airport early in Atlanta to the seats that we were given on the plane.  The details couldn't have been orchestrated so well without the Lord.

We are living in a small apartment about 10 minutes from the church.  They are a great set up.  We don't have air conditioning in the sitting room so that is going to take some getting use to.  It is extremely hot here!!!!   Avery looks like she has just gotten out of the bath most of the time she is sweating so badly.  We are doing some orientation stuff for the next few days.  Trying to learn some of the language and going on a shopping trip this afternoon.

I can't wait to share more!  This is going to be quite an adventure!