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
