daughters and sons

To all that have joined this journey by prayer, financially, or reading these blogs thank you. I would like to introduce you to a few of the people that in 4 short weeks have impacted me for a life-time. 

the team -photo by abby cunningham

-So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Philippians 2:1-2
yes. the team. 18 people that i am amazed by every single day. i am in awe of how the Lord uses each of them to reflect Christ to me all in different ways. learning to live as the body of Christ with these people has been a privilege. through them Christ loves and encourages, not only me but everyone they are around. for whatever reason i keep thinking of us all as tiny babies and how the Lord knew that summer 2011 we would all be in Thailand. incredible. i love you guys. susu! (keep fighting in Thai) 

ministry partner: courtney

everyone meet courtney aka farsigh *her thai name*- she has a love for life that is contagious plus she is hilarious. o and she thinks she is part thai (it is hot here maybe the heat is getting to her) the past four weeks i have had a blast with courtney. i am so encouraged by her willingness to try anything and her heart to learn what it is God wants to teach her. even in struggles and frustrations she tells herself to get over it and trust the Lord. she got pretty sick during week two and had a little visit to the hospital...trooper this one. what a blessing that the Lord wrote our summer together. love you j-moon-sun...i mean buddy!

P'Fone

God is so good to me. oh my goodness. words can't even describe how thankful i am for this woman of God. P'Fone has been on staff with campus outreach for 10 years. courtney and i get to spend our days with her and LOVE IT. Her heart for the Lord is beautiful. Her life declares the truth of a life hidden in Christ. thank you Jesus for letting me know her and see her love for the Kingdom. we have talked a lot about rejection and how we are to live unashamed of the gospel. she loves Gods word and uses it in all of her encouragement.

* O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! Jeremiah 17:14 

* As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” Romans 10:11

two of the many verses she has shared with me. i love being around her and know the Lord will continue to use her in the lives of many. my sister P'Fone!

Ning and I on Sunday

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Ning! She is a fourth year at KKU and became a Christian at the Thai Summer Project in march (yes summer in march). she is so fun to be around and is such a dedicated student. i am so thankful that the Lord is letting me get to know her this summer. i have learned so much from her already. she came over early the other morning to make a wonderful video for courtney's birthday! hilarious. be praying that the Lord continues to root both of us deeper into Himself and that our faith in Him will encourage one another!    

science faculty: freshie badminton
(we play twice a week with the freshman)

me, mac (don't worry he is famous), beer

Beer is a freshie we have met during our time on campus. she came with us to the temple trip and to the mall for lunch one saturday. she always has such a big smile on her face and so friendly to us. i hope that we get more time around her this summer!

me, p'fone, dow, courtney, ning, jelly, p'terri
after church on Sunday. Ning was baptized! 

beautiful daughters of the almighty Father.

abby (her photo too)

not only do i get to walk around all day with mirrors of Christ i get to share a room with one of the brightest shimmering reflections. abby and i are roommates...room 301 commonly confused with 501. funny story really....a thai girl slept walked into our room and well then into my bed. yeaa. still laughing. o it happened 3 weeks ago. God is so sweet in His design of me and abby and the details! perfect that we are both slightly messy (you can be your own judge on how slightly)  -really i love this girl. apparently our grandmas were best friends...and our moms played together as children? had no clue until the day before we left but hey looks like the tradition continues. much love Jesus. abby is incredibly encouraging and shares what she is learning about our God with the best words. i am learning truck loads from her and even though our late nights might catch up with us soon i love hearing her heart and how God is pulling her into His arms and dancing with her from Heaven! -love you roooms!

roller-coster

courtney's birthday party

so that was my attempt to introduce you to people you may never meet this side of heaven- but because of you and your willingness to give and pray for this trip i have met. thank you. i have been learning so much here in thailand. God is teaching me more and more about his unfailing love and how in Him we have everything. God is who He says He is and the grace and mercy He gives me everyday is incredible. as it all sinks in a new weight presses on my heart for those that don't know Him. for those who have never even heard. my heart is breaking and God is pulling out things i never thought i would see. He is cutting from me what ties me to the earth and showing me where my true desire should be. He is the one who satisfies our longings. so as those of you in america celebrated fathers day i pray that God moves in your heart to a deeper understanding of Him as Father. the creator of heaven and earth knows me as His daughter and is so sweet in reminding me.   

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!...

1 John 3:1

transported

  Yesterday I realized I have fallen in love with Thailand. It hit me when we were coming back from campus. It was one of those breath stuck in your throat moments. Through everything hard and challenging I have seen in the first week God has placed a spirit of thankfulness in me. Thankful for so much -thankful for our team and the Thai Christians -thankful for the time in the word being taught from it -thankful for the conversations that have already taken place. In our perspective training time Gary talked about having the perspective of being called...called to be a child of God, called to be like Christ, and called to call others. He spent time discussing the first two and how they can radically change our thoughts. There is a freshness to living in the mindset of being a child of God. The truth of being called from darkness to light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transported us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, colossians 1:13 oh if only our thoughts were filled with appreciation. I am reading a historical fiction account of Rahab, the author has portrayed Rahab as having a longing to know the God of the Hebrews. {I would love Him! Her mouth trembled, and her eyes were hot, with tears. I would serve Him any way He asked. Given the chance, I would bow down before Him and rejoice to be counted among His people!} in reading I have come to question my own heart and see the ungratefulness that lives within. I am called daughter and known by the one true God! This calls for rejoicing and an attitude that lives in thanksgiving. The second thought he shared with us in training was that we are called to be like Christ. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 peter 2:21 what we do and how we live matters. Our time here was described as a spiritual gym, this summer you will feel weaker than ever before and there are two responses 1.Shut down 2. Cry out to God and depend on Him. -In my struggle God is with me, making me holy- So in the language barrier, in the insecurity of not knowing the culture, in being stuck inside myself God is here, teaching me, changing me. I really am in Thailand. This really is the life I have been given. All at once it has been overwhelming, hard, stretching and beautiful. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! Psalm 139:6

I pray that the awesomeness and truth of this brings me to my knees- for those who do not know the God of Heaven and earth  -for those who feel hopeless. Please pray for those who walk in despair. Pray for boldness in your own heart to share the love of Christ with those around you -Please pray for my family back home as death creeps in and grief cuts deep into the hearts of many. As my heart pounds 'why?' to the tragedy that grips my family I pray to rest in the shade of Gods control and for His peace which passes understanding.   

learning how to love you
kathryn

in a kingdom in southeast Asia...

Thailand::: 
Life in Thailand has been an incredible experience so far. The Lord is shaking the entire team to the core. Keep praying for the time we have left here in Thailand. Pray God would be glorified and made much of in every moment. Pray we would bow down before Him and rejoice to be counted among His people as we share about the everlasting Kingdom. 

one night after dinner at the night market

Courtney and me getting smoothies after a very active afternoon. I love spending my days with her!

day market

papaya salad: they love this stuff and want us to love it too. 

i love this woman! i am so blessed to have her as my ministry partner this summer.

dinner at t-bone. Jelly and P'Courtney

yes, this man is boxing a snake.

Taylor and little boy at the umm...zoo?

learning how to love you