Week Two Report

Greetings in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! "Sawatdee Kaa" (Hello in Thai, for women speakers.)

Last week, our gracious God blessed me and opened the eyes of my heart more through different ministry opportunities.

"Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

I will praise and give thanks to the Lord

with my whole heart in the council of the upright and

in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great,

sought out by all those who have delight in them.

His work is honorable and glorious,

and His righteousness endures forever.

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;

the Lord is gracious, merciful, and full of loving compassion."

Psalm 111:1-4 Amp.

Family Learning Center (Home School Coop for @32 Missionary Kids)

Last Tuesday morning, I was invited to visit the Family Learning Center where majority of the missionary kids from the area attend school. I also learned that they also have other Thai kids from the local community - who even though their parents are not Christian, they still opted for their children to attend school at FLC to learn English.) I expected to help out in the school library and just in case I was asked to lead worship, I also brought some kids' praise and worship music (since this part was a 'maybe'). Praise God for the school principal did let me know when I got there that she did want me to lead worship during their morning service before their classes start. Even though it was a last minute arrangement, she and I had a chance to pray together and the Holy Spirit took over from there. I briefly shared about wwwministry and without further ado, we started praising and worshipping God with our voices...and with our hearts. There were about 36 of us together with the school staff. I was blessed to watch God touch precious hearts and one of the kids, Kottaro (autistic non-believer Thai teenager) even played his violin with the music during the praise and worship time. One of the staff told me afterwards that that was the first time he participated that way. I was encouraged by that because after the worship service, Kottaro told me that he will play his violin with praise and worship music again. Praise God!

After the service and the children have gone to their classes, I planned to spend time helping "Mama C" (Dorothy C.) in the Library. During my orientation, "Mama C" asked me if she and I can also spend time in prayer when I'm there on Tuesdays. Her request blessed my heart and we agreed to pray together during break time. I also had a chance to walk around the building and I met other school staff. (I met Sarah, who is here long term as head teacher for the Elementary grades. I learned that she's also from Seattle and Northlake Christian Church is her home church. She told me that she's getting ready to go back to Seattle in a couple of weeks. Her brother Daniel is also here, helping out at Eden House and at the school.) I'm grateful for the warm welcome and I'm looking forward to the following Tuesdays.

Eden House for Young Girls at Risk

Praise God for I was able to spend some time at Eden House last Tuesday afternoon, Thursday afternoon, and Friday morning.

The first time I visited on Tuesday afternoon, I slowly met the girls (15 of them) after they got home from school. I was careful to observe and to be sensitive as they also slowly opened up to get to know me. I also got to meet the other staff (Huey, Nate and his wife, Bethany) and the founders of this ministry, Vern and Audrey.

After dinner, one of the girls taught me a game they made up and I was able to play with her (similar to Jack Stone..instead of a bouncing ball and little stars, they used one of those 'stress' balls and foot-long sticks). I also had a chance to help Julie and David, Daniel, and Bethany as they taught English to the girls. As the evening progressed, I was blessed that the girls started to warm up to me…even letting me hug them. They also laughed at my awkward attempts of identify 'who's who' while I looked at their pictures.

On my second visit, I noticed the girls were more relaxed around me. One of the girls, Buuluu (14 years old) actually had an ear infection and was in pain. After she came home from school, I noticed she laid on one of the couches and my heart just went out to her…I went to sit with her and she started to sit up…I thought she might leave and go lay down in the bedroom. I signaled to her inviting her to lay her head down on my lap and she did. I was touched that she let me comfort her… then she started reading a little pamphlet in Thai and I figured it was a little devotional guide. At one point she stopped reading and looked up at me, she asked me if I have any babies. I told her "no" and she went back to her reading. We stayed this way…me holding her while she's reading..once in a while I pointed to a picture and I asked her to identify what the picture is in English for practice. Then it was time for her to take a shower to prepare for dinner. After dinner, I had a chance to help a couple more girls with their homework..one was in Thai and the little girl had me recite in Thai after her. It was funny because I had no idea what I was reading and she was content to teach me anyway.

On Friday morning, I went with Julie and David, and Ba-Ghan to the market to shop for food for Eden House. (We also took the opportunity to shop for Sunday dinner when I was supposed to cook Filipino food.) Going to the market was an interesting and fun experience..it also brought back memories growing up in the Philippines. Because I'm Asian, people automatically assumed I speak Thai (pronounced without the 'h'). So we constantly have to explain that I'm not Thai. Shopping for all the needed food was fine because we were able to use the truck from Eden House. However, coming home with all the bags riding motorbikes presented opportunities for creativity. Thank God for David and Julie are used to this mode of transportation and I just watched them fit most of the bags in the tiny baskets attached on the front of the motorbikes; two other bags hanged around the handle bars. (Fortunately, we were riding on two motorbikes, one of which was being lent to us by their neighbor, Chuck, another missionary.) I also praise God for His shield to protect us when we're riding to get around town. Since motorbikes are a common mode of transportation here, it is really not frightening once you get used to it. Also, God is faithful and as children of God, we rely on God's covering of protection by the blood of Jesus.

Last Wednesday afternoon, Toby (of the Father's House Ministries) was taking some visitors who arrived from LA and Chicago to Ban Khao Dee (another children's home in the area about 40 minutes away; I understand Khaodee means "House of Good News"), and he let me tag along. As Toby put it, because he suggested that there might be ministry opportunities for me at Ban Khao Dee, tagging along would allow me to "spy the land." It's run by Khao Dee Church and there are currently about 100 kids leaving there with ages ranging from 6 to 18. In addition, they also have widows that they are ministering to who are also living in the community.

Praise God for His love that breaks all language barriers. There were also a couple of translators available in addition to Toby so even though I was mostly on my own, I was still able to speak and to pray with some of the women during the visit. It was evident that God's heart that binds us as one manifests throughout the community, and God's grace and love put the right words in our lips and He ministered by His spirit to His pleasure.

We were invited to stay and to have dinner. After dinner, Goy, a sister in Christ and one of the workers in the children's home blessed me by spending the rest of the evening to speak with me. I learned so much from Goy and I was especially blessed by her loving heart and her passion to serve God. She shared with me some of the wonderful plans and some of their needs that they are praying for Ban Khao Dee.

I learned that they have two computers and one printer. She explained to me that half of the children require to use the computer and printer for school. (I offered to send them one of the used printers that was donated to wwwministry. But I realized after speaking with David about this that it may not work for them because their computers here may have different peripheral requirements. So I've asked David to help me figure out how much it would be to buy a printer here.) Godwilling, I will have enough funds and we can help and buy them a second printer to use. I'm also praying for another computer for them.. God's will be done.

Goy also introduced me to Kun Kiet, the Worship Pastor and he sat and joined with us. They told me about their plans to start a seminary school in Ban Khaodee to start inspiring the children to serve God in different ministries. One of the classes that they want to offer is on Worship. Then Goy and Kun Kiet blessed me when they invited me to come back and to stay for a month to teach on Worship. In addition, they have invited me to teach on Worship while I'm here. So we coordinated our schedules and we agreed for Toby to bring me back and to spend the next weekend with their worship team. (We were able to stay until their worship time for a few minutes and from what I've observed, I was blessed by their hearts for worship.) I'm humbled by their desire to learn more and I'm grateful for the privilege to share whatever else God would want to teach through me. Going forward, we are praying that I can come back either December 2003 or January 2004 to teach for a month. We'll see what God's will is...only God knows what His plans are and if He wants to bring me back, then His will be done.

Last Thursday night, I was invited to lead worship during an intercessory meeting. In addition to Julie and myself, we were joined by Audrey from Eden House, and we went to Jesse's and Ute's home (who I understand head the intercessory ministry for their missionary community here in Chiang Rai). I was blessed by everyone's openness and willingness to let me lead them in worship however the Spirit of God led me. Looking back…I remember feeling in awe of God for bringing me to join these precious workers in prayer and in worship. I am humbled for the privilege to come alongside them..to worship with them, to pray with them, to cry with them, to laugh with them, and to claim God's victory with them. God's love binded our hearts as one with His Spirit and with each other.

Last Saturday afternoon, I went to watch Julie and the others play a game of frisbee (like football). It was a wonderful time of getting acquainted with people I've already met at the Family Learning Center and at the International Fellowship Church. My favorite times were the times I spent talking with some of the girls from the school. I was more blessed when they opened their hearts and they let me in by sharing some of their thoughts and concerns. I praise God for each opportunity to speak with them and to pray with them. May God continue to bless each precious heart as they all cope as best as they can to give their support to their parents' decisions to come and minister here in Chiang Rai.

(Last Tuesday morning, I received an invitation from Penny Wilcox who is the founder of the Home of the Open Heart to spend time with her and the children on Sunday morning.) Home of the Open Heart provides home to babies who have been infected with Aids. There are currently three toddlers in their care: Hope (almost 3 years old); Garren (same age as Hope but he is so much smaller in his development than the other two); and Newy (almost 1 and half years old). They are expecting three or four more babies to arrive in the coming month.

Hope took about an hour to get used to me, then she decided she can let me care for her. I also had a chance to help prepare the kids for church...giving Hope and Newy baths and helping dress them; then I had a chance to hold and to care for Garren when he started crying. I was blessed to join them when they went to one of the local community Thai Christian church.

I was also blessed by the warm welcome at the Mung Thai Church. Even though I couldn't speak and understand their language, I have been learning certain words and phrases. I'm also starting to recognize when God is being talked about, and that is enough to bless my heart.

Dinner and fellowship last night went well and I praise God for everyone enjoyed the meals I prepared. In addition to David and Julie and myself, we were joined by their neighbor Chuck, Kate Birtles, and Leanne and her husband Jim. (Chuck is also from the States; Kate, Leanne, and Jim are from Australia.) They even let me say grace in Tagalog (this was the second time; the first time was last Saturday night). Praise God!

> (Continuing to prepare and) Teaching at Ban Khaodee on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

"Phra Jaow ui pan!" ("God bless you!" in Thai phonetics.) "San soen Phra Jaow!" ("Praise God!") "Phra Jaow ja tam hai sam re." ("God's will be done.")