Thailand Mission: ธันวาคม 2013

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!