boasting in weakness and consciously embracing suffering

This week I didn't want to be thankful.  I struggled to get outside of myself and serve and love others like Jesus.  By Wednesday, however, I was determined, by God's grace and help from my husband, to get out of the house and be concerned about others.  So, I loaded up our children and I drove to our friends' house.  The friends who are all crammed into a 5 room apartment and their total number is equal to 28 living there.  Our friends are seeking asylum from persecution and have no rights whatsoever here and are in the worst kind of limbo.  Our friends whose needs are so many and overwhelming that at times we are at a loss as to how to help, other than to go and talk and play and pray and be present.  I have to admit that sometimes I don't want to go. Sometimes it's just all a little too uncomfortable...not having any answers and not having a magic wand to whisk them off to a better land where there is freedom and ability to work and make money, legally.  But, I know...I know in the deepest depths of my soul that we are connected because of the blood that dripped down from the body of Christ on the cross and we alike, confess our need for Him and our utter dependence on Him and the words, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers," (Gal. 6:10) bounce around in my head...and also Proverbs 3:27-28, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.  Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"- when you now have it with you."  I know these truths...and these are my brothers and sisters and we try to live in light of these verses.  We show up there and we are given hugs and smiles a mile wide because it's been a few weeks since we've been over to visit and we're seated and given tea and even given a meal from these precious ones, who themselves, do not withhold anything from us!  I asked how they were doing and asking if their needs are being met...they share that they were given a water purifying system...a huge blessing as even getting clean water here is not free...and when you have 28 people drinking water, that adds up....quickly.  We rejoice at God's provision.  I marvel at how they keep going...keep trusting, keep persevering...because of Jesus.  One sister comes to see me, she's in a lot of pain.  She needs medical care.  She's been to a clinic but they only gave her pain killers.  And, I'm wondering, "what is wrong with her?" and "is she going to be okay?"  And, kicking myself for the umpteenth time that I didn't go to nursing school!!!  We pray...we cry together and we call out to our Jesus...the One who saves, the One who is faithful, the One who can bring healing, the One who can give wisdom...and then we rest in Him.
We are moving in a little over a month.  We are moving 12 hours away (by car).  We worry about our friends.  Who will help them?  Our Thai church is doing what they can, but there is only so much...they are not even fully supporting themselves yet.  We would greatly appreciate your prayers for this family.  I have contacted an organization who work with those in this kind of situation but have yet to hear back from them.  Please pray that someone will be able to provide physical answers to their needs.  We are trusting our Lord to provide for them, He has kept them thus far and we know His love for them is far greater than our love for them but we do ask for you to pray.
So, we left there, feeling burdened but thankful that we went. We are family now...their needs are no longer out there on a computer screen or in a flyer somewhere, they're very near to our hearts.  Sometimes all is needed is someone to listen and hold your hand and say, "we're here."  Pray that we can be faithful friends in the face of uncertainty and hardship.  

Pray for Maisie

The lovely family you see is the Tanchanapongs. They are Thai and have recently added another member to their family...Meno. Natee is a huge encouragement and support to the church plant the MTW Thailand team has begun here in Ram 2 and it was actually thru his friendship with Natee at Covenant Seminary that our team leader, Dave, came to Thailand as a missionary. This past week Maisie (shown in picture at her first birthday last year, April 4) was diagnosed with a form of leukemia. Please keep this precious family in your prayers as they see their baby girl go thru chemo and as they trust in God to do His work in them and thru them. Meno, Maisie's baby brother is just six weeks old. Pray for us as a team to know how to encourage them during this time. We know we can trust God and we know He is good. May He prove Himself faithful, once again. Thank you for praying.

Swimming Season

I read online that there are snowfalls and -10 degree weather in parts of the east and northeast of America...but here, it's swimming season! =) That's right folks...no more cold weather for our bodies, it's HOT season...and I do believe it's fierce this year! We've enjoyed several trips to the swimming pool already and we even, for the first time ever, made it to Leo Land (a swim park on the top of a local mall. PJ and his friend, Ethan, had a GREAT time going down slides. Calvin enjoyed splashing about and so did Adele. It was great to go with friends...outings are always more fun with friends! (sorry I have no pics due to forgetting my camera each time!)
Tomorrow, we are going swimming again with the mom's group ladies and their children. Please pray for this time to be lots of fun and for God to use it to build those relationships even more.

And, since I am asking for prayer requests, I would ask for you to pray for my dear hubby as he heads up to northern Thailand to visit some Karen hilltribe churches. He will be sharing from God's Word on several occassions so please pray for strength for him. We are VERY excited about this opportunity he has to go and encourage the churches there (we wish we all could go but it's not meant to be...this time!). There is a lot to share in regards to this ministry but for now, I will just ask for prayer and maybe over the course of the next few weeks I can give you all more info regarding what God is doing among the Karen people. Paul leaves tomorrow (saturday) and returns wednesday.

There's been so much happening in this part of the world that it seems impossible to catch you all up...and I won't even try. Just know that God is at work...both in us and in our Thai friends. Pray for stamina and strength for our team as we undergo much transition in the next few weeks and months. We will be celebrating two years of Thai worship this Sunday!!! Can you believe it? Well, it's true. Please praise God with us for the ways He is growing His church here in Ram 2. You, who faithfully pray for us, play a major role in what we see God doing here...and we hope you all know how much we love you and appreciate every encouraging word and every prayer offered for us and the church here in Thailand.
Have a great weekend...you might hear from me again soon, but I can't promise you anything!!!

another update on Calvin's eye

Calvin had his second follow up appointment today regarding his eye. The tearing is getting less but it's still happening. The doc informed us today that it could take up to 3 months to completely stop! So, please keep praying for healing and for patience for us and for Calvin. He deals with the massaging of his eye pretty well, but I am sure it gets old! (We have to massage it 1-2 times every two hours.) Today the doc did a little test today to see if things are working normally. He put some orange dye in Calvin's eye and then the dye ran down into his mouth and nose. He then saw the ENT and the ENT saw the dye in his nose...so this is great news and encouraging, thank you to all of you who are praying for Calvin and his eye.

Update on Calvin

Dear Friends,
Yesterday went so well. Thank you for praying. It was quite evident that God was with us and listening to your prayers for our little guy. Calvin was quite fascinated with the whole experience much like Curious George when he goes to the hospital! The anesthesiologist was great (we take our kids to a children's hospital here so they are really kid friendly). The eye procedure took about 20 minutes but Calvin coming out of being anesthetized took about two hours! We give God praise for His protection over Calvin and a good report from the eye doctor. He is hopeful that Calvin's eye will drain naturally now though we do have to continue to massage it for a couple weeks. Please continue to pray that this procedure was a success and we won't have to do it again. Thanks to all of you who are praying. Please continue to do so. =)

On a side note, I would request one more item of prayer. Our friend Ying's mother was hit by a motorcylce yesterday morning around 5am. She had some bleeding in her head and so they were operating and then she will be placed in ICU. Please pray for this woman (I don't know her first name) and their family. They are all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray that they would trust our great God who is able to heal their wife and mother. Please pray that they would know His presence, comfort and peace during this time and pray for our team as we seek to encourage and minister to them during this time (though she is in a hospital about three hours away). Mostly, pray for God to be glorified in this situation and for His grace to shine forth. Thank you, once again, for your faithful prayers.

A Prayer Request

Hi all,
For those of you who may not be on our e-prayer letter mailing list, this is for you!

Please be in prayer for our son Calvin (2 1/2 years old) as he will be having a minor procedure done to his right tear duct Monday morning (BKK time; Sunday night USA time). The doctor will be flushing it out due to his tears not draining properly. He has had this problem for over a year now. In order to do the procedure they must put Calvin under general anesthesia. Please pray for the Lord to protect his body and prevent any complications. Pray for Paul and I to trust the Lord. Please also pray for this procedure to work! It has an 80 per cent success rate. If it doesn't work this time they will do it once again and then if the second time fails they will put a stint in. Thank you so much for praying for us.

Prayer

Please be in prayer for us Saturday morning (EST) as we will be hosting a BBQ for the university students Saturday evening (BKK time!). We are really excited to do this again. Please pray that our relationships will be deepened and that many of these guys Paul plays basketball with would want to know more about Christ. Pray also for the girlfriends that will be joining their boyfriends...and pray for me and two of our Thai Christian sisters as we converse with these girls.

Thanks, in advance, for praying!