Wednesday, July 25, 2012

OPEN HEARTS, FAITHFUL GOD


Beloved Supports and Partners,

Wednesday:
It’s still raining.  Not sure why we thought it wouldn’t be raining, but our guess is that the weather men out here have more credibility.  By the way, it is the monsoon season here in South East Asia.

Riley was up and around this morning.  Well, at least he was able to stand up and smile a little.  He remarked that it sure wasn’t fun being sick in Thailand.  Our response was that it’s no fun being sick anywhere.  We missed his engaging and jovial spirit.  But he’s back!!  Thank you, Lord, for your protective hand over our team.

We’re into our normal routine – 6:00 am and we’re eating again.  Our team devotions started at 7:00 and they were so good.  The songs that Kalei led reminded us of why we are here in Thailand and of the joy we have in serving our God of everlasting love.  Bryce shared a homily and challenged each of us to reflect on what God has called us to be, His hope for us, our personal vision statement of who we are.  The team committed to complete this challenge before we depart from Thailand as one way to encourage one another.  We need to strike while the iron is hot!  We ended our time with prayers given up in an edifying style that we learned from our ZOE family.  Prayers lifted in a clear and audible outcry to God.  We prayed for the outreach programs set for the day, and rested in His faithfulness to respond.  We are blessed.

We were off to a public middle school about 45 minutes away.  There were 140 students waiting for us.  This time, we did not have the talents of the Bible students who were in their classes at ZOE.  But we did have Alli, Brooke, Kalei, Isa, Kerry, JoAnn, Greg and some of the ZOE staff and everything in the 2 hour program was done without a hitch.  Beloved, you should be proud of your team and how each member performed so faithfully.  

The rain has stopped and the sun is trying to break through.  Maybe those weather men aren’t that good after all.

Later in the afternoon, we visited a children’s home which was home to 50 children.  This home is Christian run and there were several things that immediately caught our eye.  This home was poor.  The children did have bunk beds to sleep on, but outside of 2 aged buildings that housed the boys in one and the girls in the other, both in crowded quarters, there was very little else that we could see.  But the children had a depth of joy in their eyes that was very evident.  Their polite and courteous behavior did not reflect their poor living standards.  They were cheery and loving.  It was such a joy to be with them.  When we departed and said good bye to smiling eyes that were the windows to their precious hearts, we could only give thanks to God for ‘saving’ these children from a life that we cannot even comprehend.  Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice for these little ones.

OK, it’s raining again.  Oh, it’s really raining again. 

It warms our hearts to be together in ministry.  We have already shared much and there is great joy in serving together.  We’re having fun, too.  It is so evident to us that God put our team together.  He set a divine appointment for each of us to be here in Thailand right this minute.  So we give thanks to Him, and we give thanks to you, our partners in ministry.  We love you, and give thanks to God for you.  We pray that He will bless you richly in all that you do.

“The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make His face to shine on you, and be gracious unto you.  The Lord lift up His countenance to you, and give you peace this day, and forevermore.”  Amen.   Numbers 6:26

And we will praise Him,
Your Thailand Missions Team.       

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