compelling

I just got off the phone with Paul. He sounds encouraged and excited by all he's seen in southern Thailand thus far. Prayers are greatly needed and appreciated for the remainder of his time there. Very soon he will be attending a prayer meeting at one of the churches in the city he is in. Our team leader and soon to be country director for Thailand, Dave, has been with Paul the past two days but flew back to Bangkok today. So, Paul is flying solo for the next several days. Paul asked specifically to pray for someone he can communicate well with who will be a good informant. Pray for insights and direction from our Lord. For though Paul is alone, he really is not!
He mentioned to me how vastly different the religious climate becomes just by driving a few kilometers south of where he is staying. He and Dave drove a bit into the deep south and met a couple of fishermen. Paul said more and more mosques were popping up, but on this particular road there was a mosque on one side and a "wat" (Buddhist temple) on the other. The fishermen told Paul and Dave that Christians are too scared to come and live in the south. I teared up hearing this. We, of all people, have nothing to fear for our Lord is a consuming fire, an ever present help in the time of trouble, a victorious warrior and is sovereign over His creation (and this is just a very brief list of Who our God is). Why do we fear? I know there are a myriad of answers to that question too, but really it comes down to really trusting and believing our Lord and walking obediently in faith...though not always easy and oft times a difficult road. So, I am left this morning praying for those of the south. The millions who have not heard the Good News that Jesus Christ came to save sinners! And, I am left praying for Paul while he is on this survey trip. And, I am left praying for our family and for those future team members we have been praying for, that we would be resolved in our obedience to Christ and simply trust and obey.
Last night I was reading in Matthew 5:43-48. This is in the context of the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus says to his disciples, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
I was reminded (and again today) that as Christians we need to show that radical love that loves those who HATE us, that loves those who want to destroy us, that loves those that are so very hard to love. Christ basically says if we love those who love us, big deal! Even those of this world do that...but we need to show the world a different way. I have just one recent example that I would like to share. We were at a park the other day and adjacent to this playground is a beautiful garden. If you've been following this blog for any length of time then you know PJ LOVES butterflies and bugs and so we had to check out this garden. While we were there he was climbing on top of this stone tunnel thing and I didn't see any signs saying not to...so I allowed him to do so. About 30 seconds later a woman from across the way (who apparently worked for the park) started yelling at PJ to get down off the tunnel and to stay on the pathway. Now, I know I am his mom and so that protective streak rose up in me but she was just down right rude. She never said "please" she never said "thank you" when he quickly obeyed and she had no gentleness in her voice. I was standing right there and responding to her in a gentle and loving way said, "Okay, we're sorry, we didn't know." And, she didn't even acknowledge I was talking to her. Was I offended? Oh yes, you bet I was. Did I want to rip into her? Oh yes, you bet I did. But, I am glad that I was able by the power of the Holy Spirit to respond in love. When PJ reached me I could tell he was feeling quite badly. He was holding those tears back. He didn't want to cry because he got in trouble...no, he later told me he had NEVER had anyone talk to him like that...that mean. But, my sweet little 7 year old also said to me, "but I showed her respect." And, I added that he also showed her God's love and used it as an opportunity to teach him that when we're Christians we are to show that kind of radical love. That lady deserved to be yelled back at...but what good would it have done and what kind of witness to the power of our Lord would that have provided? Then, I read Jesus's words last night...and thanked Him for the grace to respond in love.
All of this to say, I don't know what our future holds. I don't know the difficulties that lie ahead for our family. I don't know what God has for us, but I do know I want to obey Him, love Him, trust Him, and love like Him. None of that happens by my own power or strength, it is all a result of Christ's work and preserving power in my life.
Please pray for us. Pray for the work in Thailand that God would be pleased to build His church there.

Napada Hand Bag Sale

For those of you living in central Pennsylvania I want to let you know of an up coming Hand Bag Sale. On Friday, June 3, I will be selling Napada Hand Bags from 7-8:30pm at Bald Eagle CMA fellowship hall located on Route 350, Tyrone, PA. I will be sharing a bit about the ministry and how it relates to church planting. If you would like to see the styles that I will have on hand, please go to the Napada website at www.napadathailand.com. Come out and support this ministry and have a beautiful bag to tote around! Many women who have bags tell me of the opportunities they have had to share about the work in Thailand because of the hand bag! I hope to see you there!

pressing on

I have a few moments to jot down some thoughts. My children are outside in this beautiful Florida weather jumping through the sprinkler...and so, some peace and quiet! Paul is finishing up his semester this week and next and then he's off to the marriage of his nephew in Tucson and then onto to Krung Thep (or Bangkok as most of you know it!) and then down South. He will be on a survey trip for our return. I was originally supposed to join him on this endeavor...and part of me wishes I was still going...but my body is hard at work nourishing a baby that I can hardly wait to meet! I am nearing 29 weeks...and so Paul and I thought that I should sit this trip out since it is the hot/rainy season and his two week trip will entail a lot of travel and walking. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I haven't had thoughts of worry about his trip alone to the Land of Smiles...yet I know Whom I have believed and know that He is good...so why worry!?
Many have asked why he is going and what he will be doing while there. These are good questions. Basically, he's going to map out and scope out and survey the area where we have been praying about returning. It's further south than Bangkok, probably a good 10-12 hour car ride from the capital. The South has a higher number of Muslims but also many Buddhists live there too. What compels us to go there is that there are so few Christian churches/witness...and we feel drawn to start a new church planting work there among these people who desperately need the Good News...the Good News that is salvation through Christ alone. In fact, this is the only area of SE Asia where there is freedom to proclaim the Gospel among a fairly large Muslim population. So, your prayers are needed...as always! Sometimes when I look at what we are praying about and what God is calling us to do I get really overwhelmed wondering how it's all going to work out...but then I remember what another missionary once told me..."if it's big enough for me to do in my own strength, then it's not big enough!" So, Paul and I recognize our complete reliance on the Lord. We know from our time working with church plants in both the US and in Thailand that only God grows His church...it's only through the work of His Spirit. There are no fancy formulas or eloquence of speech that make people turn to Christ..it is His Spirit alone and on our Savior we are depending and resting. We are recruiting teammates, so if you or someone you know is interested, please contact us! It would be nice to have at least one couple/family/single to join us in this new work. Please pray to that end with us.
While Paul is off in Asia, the children and I will be visiting Pennsylvania. It's been nearly one year since I've been "home" and I am so thankful for this opportunity to see my family and friends before our baby comes in late July. Would you pray for our travels as well? I have a cousin that also lives here in Florida and his wife has graciously agreed to travel with us. Without her, I doubt I would be making this trip!!!
Well, the kids are back inside and in need of some attention. I best be going. Thank you to all who faithfully pray for us. We'll keep you posted on all our news!