Thanks

I’m back home! It was a great visit to the US and to also see so many family and friends.  Everybody was so encouraging! As my fist time back as a missionary I didn’t know what to expect. If I would go through what they call reverse culture shock like I’ve heard many do or if I would suffer from severe jet lag, but no, God’s grace was so abundant as always and I went straight to work helping with corn harvest and while working my Dad was so understanding and gave me plenty of time to go everywhere to make presentations. Everybody was so kind in helping me sell all of my belongings. Before I left Thailand I was concerned about having time to do everything that I needed to do in just 6 weeks so I was praying God would intervene and help me to get everything done and of course He made it happen.

I want to thank all of the churches and small groups who were so generous in letting me come share what God is doing in my life and through Empower International and all the support that they have blessed me with. I had very little idea about how to present and what to say but I feel like God got my passion across even if I was stumbling over my words. I cannot express enough how encouraging and generous everybody was! I am continually humbled by the generous hearts of the people God has put in my life. I am so amazed at how God has provided for me and continues to bless me so that I may be a blessing to others. I must thank my family again also for their prayers and support. I was also blessed abundantly when God opened the heart of my Grandparents to help me as I do the work that God has called me to.

Upon my return to Thailand my Mom and Stepdad joined me to visit all of the wonderful people and places they have heard about and seen in pictures. So for almost 2 weeks we toured the country doing everything from helping harvest rice, helping minister and distribute shoes to kids during a shoe outreach in the rural villages, to zipping through the jungle on a zip line and riding elephants. They certainly did not have a spare moment unless they wanted one! ;)

What’s happening?

Now we (Empower Thailand team) are blessed to be able to distribute shoes along with the gospel message to more than 1-thousand children in impoverished villages all over North and middle Thailand. Along with carrying out these exciting outreaches we are also preparing for Christmas outreaches as well as an upcoming People’s Church mission team trip.

What’s coming up?

We are excited about a team of 13 people coming from my home church, People’s Church in Dalhart on Dec 26! It is exciting for me as this has been my first team to prepare for and I am looking forward to their arrival more and more as the details get lined out. Please be in prayer for this team as they prepare and keep us in your prayers as they are here. We believe they will bring encouragement and God will use them as miracle delivery agents to change lives!

God bless you richly!

-John

P.S. I was also encouraged by how many people told me they keep up with me through this blog sent through email so I will definately try harder to post more regularly!

 

Thank you in advance for any donations sent in, I appreciate it so much!!

Donations can be sent to:

Empower International

PO Box 4868

Chicago, IL 60680

or submitted online at:

www.empowerleaders.org

Either way, please be sure to include my name!

John McAdams

Events 1

Dear friends and family,

It has been too long since my last update! So much is happening and I don’t know where to start so I keep delaying.  The last post was not about events happening but about the spiritual battlefield we are on, so on this one I’ll try to stick with the events going on here.

So, what have I been doing? 

Carson helping Ps. Tirason build
a door for the new well house.

First, our Myanmar coordinator and pastor, Carson, moved to Chiang Mai to study at the University in June. We are so thankful that he was shown favor and was granted a full scholarship to study Social Development and we are sure he will have a significant role in this very important transforming time of Myanmar. He is very positive and diligent in his studies. Please keep him in your prayers as his wife and daughter are in Myanmar to stand in his place while he is studying. So while he is missing family he also has to study and live in a foreign country where he does not speak the language! Talk about challenges! But he is doing excellent!  The study is very thorough and I am learning a lot just helping him the little bit that I can.

                Next, I have moved out of the Empower office and into housing that only God could have provided for me. It was very interesting how He connected me to the owner who is Christian. I won’t go into the whole story but the summary is a nice house in a safe, convenient location, for inexpensive rent! The only catch is… I have to buy the furnishings and no air-conditioning! :-o I thank God we are coming into the cool season so I will have some time to save up for air-conditioning units.

               Besides moving, helping with transportation and study needs of Carson, Thai language study, going to Faith Village, Bang MaPa, and MaeToh to see what the needs are there… nothing. Well, except making time for my own fellowship and study of God’s Word and developing relationships! The days go by very quickly and many times I feel like I am not accomplishing everything I want to but by the end of the month I can look back and see that God has been moving us forward and it is hard to see the starting line from where we are.

                                                                 The old house.

Projects?

We are buying a truck for Ps. Tirason and his children’s home in MaeToh so anyone who feels like they can help with this project will be such a blessing!  My parents have been very generous and together we have contributed $7000 of the total $25,100. All we lack is $18,100! I will clarify when I say “truck” I am talking about a vehicle just like a Toyota Tacoma as in the US. Here it is the perfect versatile vehicle when they have a carryboy on the back so they can haul rice and also  people in the back. We will purchase this truck this month as Ps. Tirason has requested but as of now we will have to finance the remaining $18,100. This truck will be such a blessing to Ps. Tirason and the 15 children under his care. For 10 years now he has served the Lord and taken care of many children. The last 4 years he has been praying for a truck so that he may take the children and villagers to the hospital, which is 2 hours away. As well as to take the rice to and from the field and the mill, and even more important than that... to GO into the surrounding area and reach the lost. They will use this truck for Church projects like the one in the pictures you see as well.

They are building a house for a poor family whose father is paralyzed.  Other projects include building bathrooms and showers in poor areas where there are no facilities.  Besides being a carpenter, Ps. Tirason is such an amazing evangelist and when we have the opportunity to help them GO, along with the children, speaking at events around the area they reach so many people! But if they had a truck of their own they can do so much more such as outreaches, bible camps, and taking the villagers to the hospital when they have no other means to go which saves lives. God is our provider and He will provide us with the tools to do what He has called us to do. If you would like to be used by God to provide the tools this pastor needs and be a part of what his church is doing I will be glad to tell you how to go about it. Just email me (jmcadams72@yahoo.com).

                This is just one project that we are in the midst of and there are many we are praying and believing God to make a way in His timing. If you would like to know about more projects you can help with please feel free to email me and ask.
               
               So, although I didn’t get to go into detail about many events happening this time, I think you can get a picture of what I am doing… especially if you keep up with me on Facebook. There have been so many fantastic events I want to go into detail about so I will write another blog soon and work hard at keeping you up to date better!

                The Future?

                 I have seen so much good fruit coming forth from Empower International and cannot think of anything better to do with my life than serving on this team. Therefore I have committed, at least, the next 3 years to working with Empower to help advance the Kingdom of God!

               As for this month I am making preparations to go back to America to help my dad with corn harvest, connect with friends and family, sell all of my belongings there, and make some presentations at a few churches.  I will be in the US October 9^th through November 19.

Thanks for your time and God bless you!

 

Servant, ambassador, and son of God,

-John


 

Missionary

Dear friends and family,

            I am so happy to give you this report!  Let me start with this familiar verse.         

2 Corinth 12:9  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

The boys and I planting rice

 The title of my last newsletter was Learning however it seems I have learned more since then than the whole time I have been here!

God has shown me how he has been covering me with His grace by revealing things He has kept me from seeing when I first arrived. He knows how much I can handle and He ever so gently is easing me into seeing the reality of the battlefield here. Lord knows if everything would have hit me when I arrived I would not want to be here, but He has shown me His love for the people here, how they are deceived, and the spiritual forces they are under the influence of.

Home in Myanmar

I am so thankful God has given me such wise counselors to make me aware of the spiritual atmosphere we are up against.  All of my life God has tought me through trials and through great teachers. I have been trained and I did not fully recognize what for.  I am beginning to understand why so many missionaries do not last on the front lines. Some things look beautiful in the physical such as all of the elaborate temples but behind is such deception. And then there are the things that look ugly on the outside but inside is pure kindness and love such as the home of a pastor. We must not be distracted by the physical even while we must live in it. While accomplishing the physical we cannot neglect nourishing our spirit because that is where the real battle and advancement is taking place! If the Holy Spirit is in us we are ambassadors of the one true God and we bring light with us everywhere we go and claim these places for God. This is why the devil does not want us here. We walk with the authority of God and all evil strongholds must flee! God will work through us and our physical work will be made easy as He goes ahead of us preparing the way. Several times now I have been awaken at night by demons trying to get at me in dreams but I sit up in confidence and speak the Word at them and they flee. I am not on the defensive by any means. If the devil attacks me I am going to take the battle to Him and make him think twice about trying it again. Remembering the battles and the victories brings a smile to my face because I know I am doing something that Satan doesn’t want me doing, advancing the Kingdom of God!

I have attended several encouraging meetings for missionaries where both Todd and Julie have poured encouragement and awareness into many missionaries and one thing that keeps coming to my mind is this: If you’re thinking you are giving up your life for God, if being a missionary is a sacrifice to you, you might as well leave now. The outlook you should have is one of joy being found trustworthy by God to use you on the front lines. In this I find encouragement because this is truly the most joyful and most fulfilling time of my life.

It makes no sense by worldly standards but being here and being put through the trials brings me this joy! If you think God owes you something for serving Him you will throw up your hands and quit when you don’t feel like you have been given what you deserve but if you are filled with joy just to be able to serve the Creator of the Universe… that’s what it’s about!

I started this blog to be an update about what has been happening here but I got sidetracked and went with it!  I wanted to explain about the spiritual battles here so you know how to better pray for me and the mission God has assigned me to. I leave you with this verse:

2 Corinth 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4) For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

God bless you!

Servant, Ambassador, and Son of the living God:

-John

 

Learning

Ok where do I start? It has been over two months since my last newsletter so it’s going to be hard to compress all of this into a short draft but I will try. Needless to say I have been traveling a lot.

I was in Burma/Myanmar early February for four days with Todd. (For those that don’t know Todd is the founder of Empower, the ministry that I am here under)  I got to spend time with the Father’s House kids who are so adorable! I was pushed outside my comfort zone when I was elected to give devotionals and teach English to the Bible school students there. Teaching and speaking are not my strengths as I have mentioned before but God got me through it and I felt like I had grown so much by the end of my time there. I could write many pages just about the things happening in Myanmar right now! What I enjoyed most was getting to know the Bible school students and listening to their testimonies. Talk about desire to serve the Lord! Wow! These young men and women are living under one of the most oppressive governments in the world where most of the population is extreme Buddhist which makes it almost impossible to get government jobs and their families reject them if they accept Christianity but yet they are so hungry for the Gospel they dedicate their lives to sharing the good news!  I assure you those that claim Christianity there are for real!  

The coordinator for Empower in Myanmar (Carson) and the best translator in Myanmar (Vante) came back to Thailand with us for a Burmese pastor’s conference in MaeSot.  It was so encouraging to hear from the pastors what is happening in their churches. The word that was given over the two days was encouragement of the promise of God’s abundant provision, the truth of God’s grace over law, and God’s expectations of pastors. God will provide for everything that He has called us to do. Amen!  Some pastors had traveled 5 days to come to this conference. At least one person from every province and people group of Myanmar was present.  They are so hungry for the word! These are going to be the people that take Myanmar for Christ and I got to sit down with them and get to know them.  I can only imagine when we get to heaven and these men and women are set as rulers and I will be able to say I know them!

In MaeSot we also connected with the team of Life Impact and got to see all the progress they have made on their new land and say hi to some of the kids. They always have such amazing stories to tell of child rescues and one that happened that very day. It is so encouraging to see the things that happen when God’s people do what He has called them to do and I know it makes Him smile when we work together to accomplish these things.

After these events there were a few weeks of not much as far as activities but more office work researching projects and such. This time was probably the hardest because I like to be busy doing.  During this time God reinforced how comforting it is just studying His word and being content.  I also used this time to set up a bank account and trade bikes when the one I had bought left me stranded. I didn’t even think about it at the time but God pointed it out to me just last week that these were steps that I had taken as a sign that I have committed to staying here even through the trials that the devil will no doubt throw my way.

            More recently I have returned from a 15 day stay in MaeToh but as it seems to always be we never just stay in MaeToh! I go everywhere with Ajan Tirason and thank the Lord I had a good motorbike to go the places we went! Have I mentioned that my whole life has been preparing me for this mission!? I never thought riding dirt bikes with our youth pastor (Jake) was part of my training for missions but guess what… God knows all things! The first day I was there we hauled rice and then went to a village via motorbike path through the jungle. When we got there at 7pm we ate and had an amazing service with about 300 people until 11pm! I could go on and on about the people I met and the things that are happening in the mountains of Thailand. We went to services I think 5 out of the first 7 days I was there and spent the night several times at various villages because it was too late to go home.  For Easter there was another service until 11pm and when I woke up at 7am everybody was already up and having morning worship and prayer!  Then after breakfast we broke up in groups and went to evangelize to the surrounding villages and had a baptism service for 3 new believers at the river! Everywhere I go with Ajan Tirason we are welcomed in and treated as family. It is so good to be treated as a fellow brother instead of a foreigner and it is so encouraging to see how dedicated they are to reaching out to others to tell them the good news! I heard a prophecy spoken over Thailand about the revival starting in the mountains and rural areas and coming into the cities. Amen!

            So that is as compressed as I could get it and I have pages and pages in my journal that I have not even covered. Things that I could go on and on about are answered prayers, continual strength and health, mosquitoes not bothering me, (lol) amazing progress in understanding the language, encouraging words at just the right times… All I can say is PRAISE GOD!!!

Phil 4:10-13 “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Thank you for your prayers and if you haven’t had the chance to be a part of what is happening and want to you can send a check with my name in the memo to

Empower International

PO Box 938

Anaheim, CA 92815

 

Or you can go online to www.empowerleaders.org and click Donate at the top right. Choose one time gift or monthly. Enter amount. Choose payment method and before you hit Pay Now there is a Note to Seller: Add option where you can enter my name. J

Thank you in advance for your support and God bless!

Here are links to many more pictures! Enjoy :) http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.533206548753.2013137.111200417&type=1&l=eddde3cf75
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.535188731443.2013269.111200417&type=1&l=b74b6edd86

God's Work

Dear family and friends,

        I ust returned from Faith Village today after spending ten days there. We overcame many mechanical challenges. I helped them work on their tractors and track-hoe. They have done so much with their land and are becoming self sufficient with their crops and resourcefulness. They have 70 people on the land including the children and the staff. They are all so diligent in their study of God’s Word and a shining beacon in their schools and to the surrounding area.

          Before going to Faith Village I was at MaeToh for ten days or so. We had many projects including building three bathrooms. These “bathrooms” are not like what you would see in the states of course. They are like outhouses. We did this to provide people with what they needed. The pastor, Ajan Tirason, who is also the children’s home father led these projects with some of the Love and Grace church members. The members are discovering the blessings of giving and the church is reaching out to those who have even less. Two bathrooms were for church members close to MaeToh and one was many miles away in a village that they had heard about. The village has no church and not one Christian resident. So we went there to develop relationships and to be an example of Christ’s love.

           Another project we are looking at is starting a sister church in a village 90 kilometers away. Ajan Tirason has a friend there that has retired from a position similar to our position as Mayor. He is a very influencial character who is full of life and the love of Jesus. He has land and wants to build a church and has a vision for a children's home as well. I’ve been in Thailand 11 weeks tomorrow. I’ve been on a super fast track of learning. I’ve learned so much but the best advice I can relay to anyone is to be prayed up at all times. Be listening to God’s instruction. He will bring you through everything and you will come out the other side shining like never before. The next best thing to remember is be adaptable. Every time I have the opportunity to share at a church I’m visiting God has revealed something to me to share. Thank goodness because I know as a missionary I’m expected to be able to preach so He is working on me a little at a time. I look forward to the day I translate or even preach in Thai! I know God uses our strengths but He also uses our weakness even more. I hope He will use my weakness in speaking to one day bring Him more glory than all of my strengths put together.
     
          I’ve been told that a person goes through stages of homesickness. After 3 months is suppose to be hard and then 18 months and then 3 years. I hate to jump the gun but I really cannot imagine missing home enough to abandon the work that God has for me to do. The question “How long are you staying in Thailand?” is asked weekly. Most missionaries last a year and others 3 years. Very few continue beyond that. So you can imagine the skepticism of many here that have seen so many come and go. It is a blessing and a curse for them to meet so many good people but then to have to say good bye often to never see them again. My response when I’m asked is I’ve committed to a year but I’ll be here as long as God wants me here. Even on the difficult or seemingly unproductive days I see God’s hand at work.

          The relationships I’ve built here seem to be many years old even though it has only been a matter of months. The things I’ve learned, the relationships I have, the things I’ve gotten to do and the closeness that I’ve experienced with “I AM” are the reasons that I love being here. The physical things I mentioned earlier that I’ve gotten to do along with distributing shoes and hauling rice are exactly that… physical things. Things you can see, touch, and say “Yeah, we did that.” But for the most important things I have done there is no measure. Not even just for the lives I’ve made an impact on here but for so many that I keep in contact with at home. It is amazing how this mission has opened up opportunities to share with people in the states what Jesus has done for them. It really is amazing how God seems to have been preparing me my whole life for this. Problem solving, growing up on a farm always working with my hands fixing and building things (plumbing, tractors, cars), understanding crops and animals. I could never imagine God could use me in the way He is and will never put limits on His direction for my life. It is His to do as He chooses. I am just thankful that He has chosen to use me. God bless the work of your hands!

-John