22.11.09
Thanks For Praying For Julie
Julie is doing great. Back teaching again (but gingerly). Please check out the photos of recent events by clicking on the play button on the next entry. After that, I have posted three new blog entries. Some thoughts on our "scare" with Julie ending up in hospital (one by me and one by Julie), and a blog about how educating students is sharing Christ. Please read at your leisure, and keep praying for Julie's complete health to return.
His Peace in the Hospital
Each year the school gets all the teachers away for an overnight to talk about who we are and where we are going. What a great time to build the most important resources of our school, our people. One of our families from the school runs a small "resort" in the mountains an hour from Chiang Rai, and these cabins are a great setting for retreat and retooling. The afternoon of the retreat brought with it free time and many of us, including Julie, joined in on a waterball game in the pool with splashing and friendly dunking. Following the game Julie noticed a little fatigue. Of course this seemed natural following all the sporting and rough play.
Later that evening as she slept she was awakened by pains in her belly. The pains intensified but seemed to be possible flu or stomach issues. My concern grew as she was hurting and unable to sleep or resolve the issue. The next day she skipped all the activities and remained in bed suffering from “the flu.” That next evening after returning home, she felt warm so we took her temperature, a rare event. I can’t recall that I have ever taken Julie’s temp. She asked me to look on the internet at stomach pains combined with fever. Playing internet doctor is never good, so a call to Julie’s brother, Jackson, a doctor in Waco, seemed the wise route. That phone call sent us packing and off to the local hospital for a check up.
The pain continued and worsened as the night came on. Here we sat in the emergency room with a doctor prodding and telling us it might be a good idea to check in. A few papers were filed and moments later we found ourselves overnighting at Overbrook Hospital. Previous to this experience, our general joking as we pass by this and other hospitals sounds something like, “Don’t wanna go there.” And yet present circumstances demanded that “there” we were.
The night became challenging rather quickly. After talking to the doctor and then processing the doctor’s evaluation through phone calls with my brother in law, it was becoming quite obvious something was really wrong. More pain for Julie. The blood work returned marking out most of the simple problems. Then, more pain, followed by more discussions with Jackson on my mobile.
Here is where it gets really complicated. Walking back and forth from the nurses station with requests for more visits from doctors and surgeons that were not available to me at 2 a.m., somewhere in that hallway I recognized that our American reality of having a CAT scan and a surgeon ready and available at any moment of the night was not a present reality for our situation. With her symptoms, the health care we were used to would have already had her under the knife pulling out her appendix. The health care we had was saying let’s put her on antibiotics and move on this in the morning. We were assured, “We’ll get a CAT scan as soon as possible,” in other words tomorrow morning.
More push from me, more “Let’s do it now.” More surprised looks saying, how are we gonna do this now when it is the middle of the night? Finally, God reminds me that it really is hard to kick against the goads. Jesus made it clear in that room at 2 a.m. that he meant what he said, “My peace I leave with you and I do not give as the world gives.” My response, “So Jesus, you are saying we are gonna have to sit here, this woman in pain from something that could at any point kill her, and we are to trust you?” Kinda a very unAmerican reality, not having any cards to play. A mandatory "Be still." While we don’t want to go back there, during those hours of resting in "Be still," Jesus was close.
My friend Timothy from Zimbabwe taught me a song many years ago called “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” It recalls that Jesus is the one who keeps us. I sang that song a lot that night. The next six hours would be greater pain and more concerns. His peace would keep us.
On Sunday Nov. 1 at one p.m. they surgically removed Julie’s highly infected appendix. She is alive and recovering and we, by grace, once again recognize that our fragile lives are in His hands.
Here is one more just for interest:
When Sunday morning rolled around, they took us by ambulance to another hospital in town to get the CAT scan because the doctors who could read the CAT scan at our hospital were in Bangkok or having surgery. Grrr. Cost for ambulance ride…$6. Hmm, that might be an interesting piece to add to U.S. healthcare cost discussions.
Later that evening as she slept she was awakened by pains in her belly. The pains intensified but seemed to be possible flu or stomach issues. My concern grew as she was hurting and unable to sleep or resolve the issue. The next day she skipped all the activities and remained in bed suffering from “the flu.” That next evening after returning home, she felt warm so we took her temperature, a rare event. I can’t recall that I have ever taken Julie’s temp. She asked me to look on the internet at stomach pains combined with fever. Playing internet doctor is never good, so a call to Julie’s brother, Jackson, a doctor in Waco, seemed the wise route. That phone call sent us packing and off to the local hospital for a check up.
The pain continued and worsened as the night came on. Here we sat in the emergency room with a doctor prodding and telling us it might be a good idea to check in. A few papers were filed and moments later we found ourselves overnighting at Overbrook Hospital. Previous to this experience, our general joking as we pass by this and other hospitals sounds something like, “Don’t wanna go there.” And yet present circumstances demanded that “there” we were.
The night became challenging rather quickly. After talking to the doctor and then processing the doctor’s evaluation through phone calls with my brother in law, it was becoming quite obvious something was really wrong. More pain for Julie. The blood work returned marking out most of the simple problems. Then, more pain, followed by more discussions with Jackson on my mobile.
Here is where it gets really complicated. Walking back and forth from the nurses station with requests for more visits from doctors and surgeons that were not available to me at 2 a.m., somewhere in that hallway I recognized that our American reality of having a CAT scan and a surgeon ready and available at any moment of the night was not a present reality for our situation. With her symptoms, the health care we were used to would have already had her under the knife pulling out her appendix. The health care we had was saying let’s put her on antibiotics and move on this in the morning. We were assured, “We’ll get a CAT scan as soon as possible,” in other words tomorrow morning.
More push from me, more “Let’s do it now.” More surprised looks saying, how are we gonna do this now when it is the middle of the night? Finally, God reminds me that it really is hard to kick against the goads. Jesus made it clear in that room at 2 a.m. that he meant what he said, “My peace I leave with you and I do not give as the world gives.” My response, “So Jesus, you are saying we are gonna have to sit here, this woman in pain from something that could at any point kill her, and we are to trust you?” Kinda a very unAmerican reality, not having any cards to play. A mandatory "Be still." While we don’t want to go back there, during those hours of resting in "Be still," Jesus was close.
My friend Timothy from Zimbabwe taught me a song many years ago called “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” It recalls that Jesus is the one who keeps us. I sang that song a lot that night. The next six hours would be greater pain and more concerns. His peace would keep us.
On Sunday Nov. 1 at one p.m. they surgically removed Julie’s highly infected appendix. She is alive and recovering and we, by grace, once again recognize that our fragile lives are in His hands.
Here is one more just for interest:
When Sunday morning rolled around, they took us by ambulance to another hospital in town to get the CAT scan because the doctors who could read the CAT scan at our hospital were in Bangkok or having surgery. Grrr. Cost for ambulance ride…$6. Hmm, that might be an interesting piece to add to U.S. healthcare cost discussions.
21.11.09
Julie's Thoughts
So October was the month I had set aside to pray for breakthrough in various areas, “stuck” places. I was feeling like there were many. God had sent a dear friend, Amy Cox, to visit for a week, and His love was evident in dear times spent with Amy. Still believing for more breakthrough before October's end, it’s interesting how the events of the next 5 nights and 4 days in the hospital unfolded. God truly brought the breakthrough. I entered the hospital on October 31st, Halloween, followed by three nights of a Buddhist celebration called Loi Kratong. Loi Kratong is a beautiful and fun holiday to watch, but spiritually disturbing with three days of ceremonial contrition where small lanterns are floated in the rivers to honor the river spirits and beg penitence for human sins against nature. The atmosphere was heavy to say the least. We were in a Christian hospital started by protestant missionaries long ago, yet many sobering talks of religion with the nurses revealed that the nurses and doctors of this Christian hospital were all Buddhist.
As we watched the celebratory fireworks from my hospital window each night, I was reminded of what I had been reading the last few weeks. In October I like to read biographies of men and women of faith in preparation for celebrating All Saints Day, so I was reading again a favorite book, Amma: The Life and Words of Amy Carmichael. Amy was a missionary in India for fifty years rescuing and then mothering children from temple prostitution. She writes, “ India (Thailand can easily be substituted here) has been drugged by the poison of subtle philosophies and by the deadly draughts of degrading superstitions, till she seems beyond the power of all our efforts to awaken and arouse. . . The giant is not awakened? What then is the remedy? . . .We have not given prayer its proper place in the plan of our campaign. . . .The energy of the flesh, of our intellect, of our position, of our very enthusiasm, this has been allowed to usurp, to a lamentable extent, the place of the one power which can rouse immortal souls from the slumber of eternal death—the might of the living God, the energy of the Holy Ghost. “ I truly am thankful for quiet times to pray while confined to the hospital bed.
God brought the breakthrough I had been asking for in “taking every thought captive.” In the many transitions of the last five months, I was feeling tired, spiritually vulnerable in many ways and hearing many lies. As I entered the hospital, I felt God’s urging to be single-minded. I think being in a small, foreign hospital had been one of the things I secretly feared most living here, and I was so comforted every minute by God’s nearness. The endless changing of IVs, the pain, the unknown, the not being able to keep food down or in, etc. Such sweet times recalling scriptures and meditating on Father God’s character brought such peace in the midst of chaos.
Once again, God met me in speaking and understanding Thai in challenging situations. Another breakthrough.
I had been asking God for breakthrough in relationships here as we adjust to new “team” life as our family working in the context of the international school. I feel swallowed up by the love of the community here with caring for our children, bringing meals to our home, prayers, and other random acts of kindness.
Let’s just say that loving “in sickness and in health” went to a much deeper level as it is expected in Thai hospitals that a family member will stay and care for the patient. As you pass some hospital rooms, many family members sleep on the floor as they stay with the patient. So Jak and Brent and I had some intense bonding. My dear husband cleaned me up again and again through all the nightmarish situations. I am humbled by his love. Interesting how God can use the wildest situations to go deeper still in our marriage relationship.
While I was in the hospital, my mom shared with us about my granddaddy. Having recently been moved to a nursing home, he told mom that morning that he had been reciting memorized scripture to himself trying to keep his mind sharp. He is 95. What a great testimony. The truth is, in the middle of the night laying in the hospital bed in deep pain waiting for the morning to come, the one thing that truly "saved" me was was recalling scripture and meditating on the character of God and Savior Jesus. Praying the psalms and the words of our Lord kept me going.
“O keep me, Lord, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed or disappointed, for my trust and my refuge are in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for and expect You.” Psalm 25:20-21
A final story of God’s kindness. Julie was taken to have her incision stitched on the third morning in the hospital. It happened that I was taking Jak to school when they took her. She was alone, still in great pain, and couldn’t eat. That morning was difficult. Yet throughout the procedure an older nurse held Julie’s hand, wiped her tears, and then said to her in Thai, “God bless you.” The first believer she met in this Christian hospital, and just when she needed encouragement the most. This nurse angel would not leave her side until the procedure was finished and the orderlies came to get Julie to take her to her room. She laid her hands on Julie and prayed for her. Her final exhortation to Julie in English, “Be strong!”
As we watched the celebratory fireworks from my hospital window each night, I was reminded of what I had been reading the last few weeks. In October I like to read biographies of men and women of faith in preparation for celebrating All Saints Day, so I was reading again a favorite book, Amma: The Life and Words of Amy Carmichael. Amy was a missionary in India for fifty years rescuing and then mothering children from temple prostitution. She writes, “ India (Thailand can easily be substituted here) has been drugged by the poison of subtle philosophies and by the deadly draughts of degrading superstitions, till she seems beyond the power of all our efforts to awaken and arouse. . . The giant is not awakened? What then is the remedy? . . .We have not given prayer its proper place in the plan of our campaign. . . .The energy of the flesh, of our intellect, of our position, of our very enthusiasm, this has been allowed to usurp, to a lamentable extent, the place of the one power which can rouse immortal souls from the slumber of eternal death—the might of the living God, the energy of the Holy Ghost. “ I truly am thankful for quiet times to pray while confined to the hospital bed.
God brought the breakthrough I had been asking for in “taking every thought captive.” In the many transitions of the last five months, I was feeling tired, spiritually vulnerable in many ways and hearing many lies. As I entered the hospital, I felt God’s urging to be single-minded. I think being in a small, foreign hospital had been one of the things I secretly feared most living here, and I was so comforted every minute by God’s nearness. The endless changing of IVs, the pain, the unknown, the not being able to keep food down or in, etc. Such sweet times recalling scriptures and meditating on Father God’s character brought such peace in the midst of chaos.
Once again, God met me in speaking and understanding Thai in challenging situations. Another breakthrough.
I had been asking God for breakthrough in relationships here as we adjust to new “team” life as our family working in the context of the international school. I feel swallowed up by the love of the community here with caring for our children, bringing meals to our home, prayers, and other random acts of kindness.
Let’s just say that loving “in sickness and in health” went to a much deeper level as it is expected in Thai hospitals that a family member will stay and care for the patient. As you pass some hospital rooms, many family members sleep on the floor as they stay with the patient. So Jak and Brent and I had some intense bonding. My dear husband cleaned me up again and again through all the nightmarish situations. I am humbled by his love. Interesting how God can use the wildest situations to go deeper still in our marriage relationship.
While I was in the hospital, my mom shared with us about my granddaddy. Having recently been moved to a nursing home, he told mom that morning that he had been reciting memorized scripture to himself trying to keep his mind sharp. He is 95. What a great testimony. The truth is, in the middle of the night laying in the hospital bed in deep pain waiting for the morning to come, the one thing that truly "saved" me was was recalling scripture and meditating on the character of God and Savior Jesus. Praying the psalms and the words of our Lord kept me going.
“O keep me, Lord, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed or disappointed, for my trust and my refuge are in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for and expect You.” Psalm 25:20-21
A final story of God’s kindness. Julie was taken to have her incision stitched on the third morning in the hospital. It happened that I was taking Jak to school when they took her. She was alone, still in great pain, and couldn’t eat. That morning was difficult. Yet throughout the procedure an older nurse held Julie’s hand, wiped her tears, and then said to her in Thai, “God bless you.” The first believer she met in this Christian hospital, and just when she needed encouragement the most. This nurse angel would not leave her side until the procedure was finished and the orderlies came to get Julie to take her to her room. She laid her hands on Julie and prayed for her. Her final exhortation to Julie in English, “Be strong!”
Education and Thailand
A little while back one of the church planters for Overseas Mission Fellowship visited me in my office. This is a guy who has been here for years and is responsible for many efforts of church planting in Northern Thailand, Laos, Burma, and even southern China. His daughters attend the school. As we discussed some efforts for the school, he encouraged me that what we were doing in our work at the school was planting churches. He explained that for a church planting movement to happen in any area, first you need the area saturated in prayer, and next you need an international school. Hmmm. . . Recently I read about how Korea went from hostile to Christianity to a Christian nation. Joseph Karl Kim, headmaster of Central Christian Academy, writes, “In an environment antagonistic to Christianity, it was the Christian schools that took the gospel to scores of young people and trained them with a biblical worldview. These schools provided the Korean church and the nation with well-trained Christian leaders. Within 25 years of their inception, the Christian schools became the engine of social change and transformation. It is interesting to note that the Christian schools in Korea were flourishing nearly 50 years before such a movement even began in the United States.”
We have had five years of having the great opportunity to educate young people in Thailand and share with them the truth of Christ. What a joy that God would use our skills and experience as educators to build His church in Thailand. As we share Christ with students, teachers, and parents, we are quite aware that education is a powerful tool for God’s kingdom coming to Thailand. May Christ use our education efforts to get His much deserved glory in this place.
Please pray for the Chiang Rai International Christian School to honor Jesus and bring students and families to Christ.
15.8.09
Lots To See Here
Hi all. Many pictures on the Smilebox card below. When you play the card, make sure you click on all the little pics to see them close up. Below the card, I have added a new blog entry: "The Shake Up." This will fill you in on all the new goings on...
Thanks for reading and praying.
Peace of Christ,
Brent, Julie, Ben, Kate and Jak
Thanks for reading and praying.
Peace of Christ,
Brent, Julie, Ben, Kate and Jak
13.8.09
The Shake Up
Okay it is time for a serious update on the Penningtons.
When I last blogged, our world was quite different. Between the first of June and the end of July, two quick months, our world kinda did that thing where you "shake up" and "turn over" the glass globe with the little white specks of "snow" swirling around a quaint Pennsylvania countryside village, friendly snowman smiling in the middle. (I know, I know...A snowman analogy in Thailand is pushing it; but, let me break this to you gently, those globes don't have real snow inside. I cracked one open just to see...) The glass knick knack stands on the shelf, snow flecks peacefully gathered in different edges and corners of the village. Then, give it a few shakes and replace it on the shelf, you can almost see friendly snowman's smile crack as he watches everything spin for a while awaiting the "new normal."
Our present "new normal" came after watching our teammates the Tubbs and their life in Thailand get packed into about 20 large bags and boxes for a final return trip to the states. The last week was hard and good. We had a final worship time together that brought tears and groans that seemed unbearable at the time. In it I believe all of us became more ready for them to move on to the exciting "what's next" of God.
The irony of life in Jesus never ceases to amaze. We drove the Tubbs to the airport and, quite literally, as we were saying goodbye, Brent and Ben had to run to the other end of the airport to pick up some new friends who were coming for a few days to consider this area and joining our work here. Many of you have heard that the Lynn family is considering joining us in Chiang Rai but know little of the details about this family. Actually, upon their arrival we knew little about the Lynns as well. It was an honor to receive them and welcome them in order to begin the process of getting to know each other. Right now they are training with a sister church in Waco, Texas called Antioch Community Church. This visit was the initial "Hi" getting to know you process. Over the next few months we will communicate more about the possibilities of this place and this team being a good fit for the Lynn family. We are thankful to Jesus for the possibility and looking forward to seeing what God wants to do in this relationship. You can pray for this process.
After the Lynns left, my brother and his daughter Brently came for a few days on a return trip to Thailand after being away for a year. They played at a few worship gigs and loved on a bunch of people that miss them (including us). Brently blessed us with some of her songs. She is getting quite talented with her guitar (might I brag a moment). Most of you know that Russ pulled a guy out of a flaming car wreck in the states a few weeks ago and burnt his fingers up pretty "hot dogs on a campfire" like. God's gracious healing is on him. He will resume teaching math at Caprock High School again next week and should be able to actually write on the white board. As for me (Brent), I am recovering too; most people are just now realizing how difficult it has been for me to live with a superhero as a brother. It can be stressful at times. All joking aside, the 2 a.m. overseas phone call that they are taking your brother to a burn unit is not really fun, and yet Jesus provided a deep peace at the time.
The week after Russ and Brently visited, we were informed by the interim director (superintendent) at our kids' school, Pete Quesenberry, that he had cancer, lymphoma to be specific. Because of the extremity of his case, he was advised to return to California in order to be close to his family and start the chemotherapy treatment. This was and is quite discouraging to us. The Quesenberry family has been in Thailand, Nepal, and Laos for over 30 years. They are huge supporters and workers for the benefit of the school. Pete has balanced his work as Director of Chiang Rai International Christian School (CRICS) with his work as a veterinarian in a mission that helps hill tribe people in this area. Right now, so many people here are praying for him. Please pray for his healing; he has had some positive signs from doctors in California lately. Doctors are doing more tests before they start any treatment.
Pete had been talking to us for months about Brent taking over his position as director for the school. Pete's qualifications did not meet the requirements for the job exactly, and our process for registration was eventually going to require a director with education qualifications, certification and experience. When he asked, we told him we would pray about this. As I prayed (Brent), I wrote in my journal that I did not have peace to work at the school without God revealing that He was prompting a change in our mission here (my job at the university and our team situation were the two specifics I wrote about at the time). While we knew that the Tubbs' five year commitment was almost completed, I was not aware that they were discerning that their time in Thailand was coming to a close. Neither did I anticipate that a political situation with some administrators at the university would change my job in extreme ways. I was left doing a lot of busy work creating tests and translating, and zero time with the students. Of course, the purpose of the job was to connect with students. Thus, the position was becoming of little value for developing relationships, and all my efforts to develop relationships with Thai and Chinese students were occurring outside of the position.
All of these circumstances converged and challenged Julie and me to pray again about the position as director of the school. In all of this, the Lord made it quite clear that I was to take this leadership role at the school. All of our efforts in church planting have been what we call ministry from within the community and now this continues with CRICS. We now are passionately called to lead this school along with our volunteer teaching of groups of students at the university. Thai and Chinese students have and will continue to come to the Lord in this education context He has called us to. My last official day at Rajabhat University was July 31. With this move, we are freed up to work at building this international school here for the benefit of the community, for the glory of God, and for the expanse of the Church and Christ's kingdom.
Before my final day at the university, we were blessed to have Julie's parents visit and bring a sidekick along. Jack and Ann really encouraged us. We had great fun, and Papa Jack and I even taught an economics class together at Mae Fah Luang University for an accounting teacher Thai friend of ours. He taught about the causes of the present economic crisis, and I helped as his amanuensis (uh...I wrote down the stuff he said and explained some things). Mama Ann loved on Julie and the kids and brought lots of surprises like salsa and cereal.
The sidekick that came along was Jackson, one of the 22 cousins. Each of Ben, Kate and Jak's cousins are a gift of God to us all, and, this time, Jackson was a great representative for them all. Having a cousin here allowed Mama Ann and Papa Jack to throw an official overseas "camp cousins," and give Brent and Julie a couple days without young'ns. On the first of August, we traveled down to Phuket in the south. Mama Ann and Papa Jack got to see more of Thailand, and we all got to enjoy Ben's baptism in the Andaman Sea. The waves were rocking and rolling that day, so Papa Jack tried to hold back the tides as we dunked Ben between swells. If you know Ben, you will recognize that this story is a beautiful metaphor of his nature. The peace of Christ is deep in his character even as the waves rage.
As I write this, I am overwhelmed at all that happened in the last two months. This year will be faith building. In fact, this will be a year of faith and a year of building. Chinese students are learning more of their new treasure in Christ and learning how to build with that treasure here and back home. Thai students are learning to think differently about religion and how to build disciples. The Chiang Rai International School (CRICS) will be built and developed into an excellent place for students to grow academically in a community that honors Jesus. For CRICS, the physical structure of a building will be developed this year as God provides for what we need to become legal. He has provided for the land, now we are praying for the classrooms.
Thank you for your prayers and partnership with our work here. We have felt your prayers and encouragement in countless ways over the past two months of transitions.
Please pray for these three things now:
1.) The providence for and development of our mission and specifically the Chiang Rai International Christian School.
2.) Healing for our friend Pete Quesenberry who has lymphoma
3.) Our transition in all of this to have peace and strength as a family. That we would honor Jesus with our lives.
When I last blogged, our world was quite different. Between the first of June and the end of July, two quick months, our world kinda did that thing where you "shake up" and "turn over" the glass globe with the little white specks of "snow" swirling around a quaint Pennsylvania countryside village, friendly snowman smiling in the middle. (I know, I know...A snowman analogy in Thailand is pushing it; but, let me break this to you gently, those globes don't have real snow inside. I cracked one open just to see...) The glass knick knack stands on the shelf, snow flecks peacefully gathered in different edges and corners of the village. Then, give it a few shakes and replace it on the shelf, you can almost see friendly snowman's smile crack as he watches everything spin for a while awaiting the "new normal."
Our present "new normal" came after watching our teammates the Tubbs and their life in Thailand get packed into about 20 large bags and boxes for a final return trip to the states. The last week was hard and good. We had a final worship time together that brought tears and groans that seemed unbearable at the time. In it I believe all of us became more ready for them to move on to the exciting "what's next" of God.
The irony of life in Jesus never ceases to amaze. We drove the Tubbs to the airport and, quite literally, as we were saying goodbye, Brent and Ben had to run to the other end of the airport to pick up some new friends who were coming for a few days to consider this area and joining our work here. Many of you have heard that the Lynn family is considering joining us in Chiang Rai but know little of the details about this family. Actually, upon their arrival we knew little about the Lynns as well. It was an honor to receive them and welcome them in order to begin the process of getting to know each other. Right now they are training with a sister church in Waco, Texas called Antioch Community Church. This visit was the initial "Hi" getting to know you process. Over the next few months we will communicate more about the possibilities of this place and this team being a good fit for the Lynn family. We are thankful to Jesus for the possibility and looking forward to seeing what God wants to do in this relationship. You can pray for this process.
After the Lynns left, my brother and his daughter Brently came for a few days on a return trip to Thailand after being away for a year. They played at a few worship gigs and loved on a bunch of people that miss them (including us). Brently blessed us with some of her songs. She is getting quite talented with her guitar (might I brag a moment). Most of you know that Russ pulled a guy out of a flaming car wreck in the states a few weeks ago and burnt his fingers up pretty "hot dogs on a campfire" like. God's gracious healing is on him. He will resume teaching math at Caprock High School again next week and should be able to actually write on the white board. As for me (Brent), I am recovering too; most people are just now realizing how difficult it has been for me to live with a superhero as a brother. It can be stressful at times. All joking aside, the 2 a.m. overseas phone call that they are taking your brother to a burn unit is not really fun, and yet Jesus provided a deep peace at the time.
The week after Russ and Brently visited, we were informed by the interim director (superintendent) at our kids' school, Pete Quesenberry, that he had cancer, lymphoma to be specific. Because of the extremity of his case, he was advised to return to California in order to be close to his family and start the chemotherapy treatment. This was and is quite discouraging to us. The Quesenberry family has been in Thailand, Nepal, and Laos for over 30 years. They are huge supporters and workers for the benefit of the school. Pete has balanced his work as Director of Chiang Rai International Christian School (CRICS) with his work as a veterinarian in a mission that helps hill tribe people in this area. Right now, so many people here are praying for him. Please pray for his healing; he has had some positive signs from doctors in California lately. Doctors are doing more tests before they start any treatment.
Pete had been talking to us for months about Brent taking over his position as director for the school. Pete's qualifications did not meet the requirements for the job exactly, and our process for registration was eventually going to require a director with education qualifications, certification and experience. When he asked, we told him we would pray about this. As I prayed (Brent), I wrote in my journal that I did not have peace to work at the school without God revealing that He was prompting a change in our mission here (my job at the university and our team situation were the two specifics I wrote about at the time). While we knew that the Tubbs' five year commitment was almost completed, I was not aware that they were discerning that their time in Thailand was coming to a close. Neither did I anticipate that a political situation with some administrators at the university would change my job in extreme ways. I was left doing a lot of busy work creating tests and translating, and zero time with the students. Of course, the purpose of the job was to connect with students. Thus, the position was becoming of little value for developing relationships, and all my efforts to develop relationships with Thai and Chinese students were occurring outside of the position.
All of these circumstances converged and challenged Julie and me to pray again about the position as director of the school. In all of this, the Lord made it quite clear that I was to take this leadership role at the school. All of our efforts in church planting have been what we call ministry from within the community and now this continues with CRICS. We now are passionately called to lead this school along with our volunteer teaching of groups of students at the university. Thai and Chinese students have and will continue to come to the Lord in this education context He has called us to. My last official day at Rajabhat University was July 31. With this move, we are freed up to work at building this international school here for the benefit of the community, for the glory of God, and for the expanse of the Church and Christ's kingdom.
Before my final day at the university, we were blessed to have Julie's parents visit and bring a sidekick along. Jack and Ann really encouraged us. We had great fun, and Papa Jack and I even taught an economics class together at Mae Fah Luang University for an accounting teacher Thai friend of ours. He taught about the causes of the present economic crisis, and I helped as his amanuensis (uh...I wrote down the stuff he said and explained some things). Mama Ann loved on Julie and the kids and brought lots of surprises like salsa and cereal.
The sidekick that came along was Jackson, one of the 22 cousins. Each of Ben, Kate and Jak's cousins are a gift of God to us all, and, this time, Jackson was a great representative for them all. Having a cousin here allowed Mama Ann and Papa Jack to throw an official overseas "camp cousins," and give Brent and Julie a couple days without young'ns. On the first of August, we traveled down to Phuket in the south. Mama Ann and Papa Jack got to see more of Thailand, and we all got to enjoy Ben's baptism in the Andaman Sea. The waves were rocking and rolling that day, so Papa Jack tried to hold back the tides as we dunked Ben between swells. If you know Ben, you will recognize that this story is a beautiful metaphor of his nature. The peace of Christ is deep in his character even as the waves rage.
As I write this, I am overwhelmed at all that happened in the last two months. This year will be faith building. In fact, this will be a year of faith and a year of building. Chinese students are learning more of their new treasure in Christ and learning how to build with that treasure here and back home. Thai students are learning to think differently about religion and how to build disciples. The Chiang Rai International School (CRICS) will be built and developed into an excellent place for students to grow academically in a community that honors Jesus. For CRICS, the physical structure of a building will be developed this year as God provides for what we need to become legal. He has provided for the land, now we are praying for the classrooms.
Thank you for your prayers and partnership with our work here. We have felt your prayers and encouragement in countless ways over the past two months of transitions.
Please pray for these three things now:
1.) The providence for and development of our mission and specifically the Chiang Rai International Christian School.
2.) Healing for our friend Pete Quesenberry who has lymphoma
3.) Our transition in all of this to have peace and strength as a family. That we would honor Jesus with our lives.
14.4.09
TWO NEW BLOG ENTRIES for 4/14/2009
Hey all. Two new posts below. Please read at your leisure. The first is kinda an update on us, the second some thoughts on Thailand right now. Enjoy...
Doing our Stretches
I kinda tweaked my back yesterday. When such tweaking happens, Julie makes fun of me that I look like an old man walking around. She is right, and it sends me to the floor for stretching. I am going for flexibility. The more I put my face on my knees caps the more mobility I have when I get off the floor. Most of these flexibility exercises take place in the mornings. As I crawl out of bed, the immobility of the night aids me in recognizing the critical nature of flexibility. Lord make me flexible.
Flexibility is written into our job description here. Last week I went to Burma again with my Thai friend Sukit from Vineyard New Life Church in Bangkok. He brings some of his kids he disciples from the slum area in Bangkok and we reach out to young people in Burma. I have never met someone so flexible. Plans change every day. The kid who got out of his hopeless family situation last week is pressured by that hopeless family this week to go serve a week as a monk in the temple. The drunk who has spent the past 5 years sobering up, walks in the door with eyes glazed. Flexibility is necessary. When we go to Burma, we never know what will happen. We walk the streets, we pray, we sit with people, we eat with them, we love on them, we share the story of Jesus, we worship Jesus, and we wait for God to show up. And he does every time. When people live in a place where army juntas flex their muscles and you hope that you will have electricity that evening (not that they don’t have tons of resources for electricity, the army just sells it all to China and Thailand), you tend to be open to a message of hope. So we walk and talk and pray. Eventually our flexibility and willingness to wait on Jesus puts us in a room where a 19 year old who just last week spent a week in the temple, finally gets it that we are really coming back with this message again and again. Why do these people come back to this place? What is this message of hope? Jesus. The persistent love of Christ breaks through again. Pi believes Jesus and he takes another step in understanding that this is not another religion. There is a loving God on the other end of this thing that has a plan for this hopeless mess of a life in Burma. I believe Pi will be a flexible messenger of hope for his people.
Flexibility. Some of you know already, some will be surprised to hear, our teammates, Dean and Lexi Tubbs, will be leaving Thailand in June. We are sad. We will miss their deep love for us. Yet we all recognize that the Lord has plans for Dean to return to the U.S. and finish his degree. This is God’s timing. It has been right for them to be here and it is right for them to return. We thank God for the many things God has done through them here. We thank God for their faithfulness to fulfill their commitment to 5 years in Thailand. We are thankful for how the Lord has made us better through them. We also thank God for the flexibility he is giving us as we partner with the people here to bring God’s kingdom. Presently our team looks a little different from before; a few Chinese students, a Thai pastor working at developing disciples in a college cell group, Thai friends from Bangkok that we join in walking through Burma, FLC students and teachers. It looks a little different, and it will develop along various lines. Sometimes I grow inflexible and frustrated at the limited resources. Then I think about Jesus and his group of 12, and I get on the floor and do my stretches again. Jesus make me flexible like you.
Flexibility is written into our job description here. Last week I went to Burma again with my Thai friend Sukit from Vineyard New Life Church in Bangkok. He brings some of his kids he disciples from the slum area in Bangkok and we reach out to young people in Burma. I have never met someone so flexible. Plans change every day. The kid who got out of his hopeless family situation last week is pressured by that hopeless family this week to go serve a week as a monk in the temple. The drunk who has spent the past 5 years sobering up, walks in the door with eyes glazed. Flexibility is necessary. When we go to Burma, we never know what will happen. We walk the streets, we pray, we sit with people, we eat with them, we love on them, we share the story of Jesus, we worship Jesus, and we wait for God to show up. And he does every time. When people live in a place where army juntas flex their muscles and you hope that you will have electricity that evening (not that they don’t have tons of resources for electricity, the army just sells it all to China and Thailand), you tend to be open to a message of hope. So we walk and talk and pray. Eventually our flexibility and willingness to wait on Jesus puts us in a room where a 19 year old who just last week spent a week in the temple, finally gets it that we are really coming back with this message again and again. Why do these people come back to this place? What is this message of hope? Jesus. The persistent love of Christ breaks through again. Pi believes Jesus and he takes another step in understanding that this is not another religion. There is a loving God on the other end of this thing that has a plan for this hopeless mess of a life in Burma. I believe Pi will be a flexible messenger of hope for his people.
Flexibility. Some of you know already, some will be surprised to hear, our teammates, Dean and Lexi Tubbs, will be leaving Thailand in June. We are sad. We will miss their deep love for us. Yet we all recognize that the Lord has plans for Dean to return to the U.S. and finish his degree. This is God’s timing. It has been right for them to be here and it is right for them to return. We thank God for the many things God has done through them here. We thank God for their faithfulness to fulfill their commitment to 5 years in Thailand. We are thankful for how the Lord has made us better through them. We also thank God for the flexibility he is giving us as we partner with the people here to bring God’s kingdom. Presently our team looks a little different from before; a few Chinese students, a Thai pastor working at developing disciples in a college cell group, Thai friends from Bangkok that we join in walking through Burma, FLC students and teachers. It looks a little different, and it will develop along various lines. Sometimes I grow inflexible and frustrated at the limited resources. Then I think about Jesus and his group of 12, and I get on the floor and do my stretches again. Jesus make me flexible like you.
Songkran or Songram?
The few of you who speak Thai are laughing at my title right now. For the others, here is a 10 second lesson. Songkran is the word for the Thai New Year holiday that is going on right now, basically a big, countrywide, fun water fight. Ironically, the word songkram means war and that is kinda what's taking place in the streets of Bangkok as I write.
I am writing this from a coffee shop in the city of Chiang Rai. The coffee shops have free internet and some even throw in the added comfort of AC, so this one is the ticket. I am happy to be dry and cool, for outside the window about 20 feet from my writing post, a massive water war claims the dry comfort of every uncovered passerby. It’s Songkran; Thailand’s New Year celebration occurring in the hottest part of the Thai year.
There are various Buddhist activities connected with the Songkran New Year celebrations. Saturday they cleaned our neighborhood. Cleaning and tidying up at home and in the neighborhood is the first stage of preparing your home and family for blessings of good luck. A small benefit for our home is cleaner streets and our neighbor usually cuts the weeds in front of our house so that our overgrowth won’t mess up his blessings (that is a partial joke, really I think he is just being nice and we are blessed by him).
This morning as Julie, Jak and I rode bikes, we watched all the Thai people visiting the temples in order to make merit (to do good deeds) by blessing the temples with money and decoration, the idols with bows and adulation, and the monks with food and other necessities. This is all to prime the blessings of good luck for their homes this year. As we pedal on our way, the smoke from incense sticks wafts from small altars dedicated to the spirits that inhabit the tiny spirit houses next to people’s home. These mini homes are provided for any spirits kicked out as the homeowners move on to the premises. Not really Bhuddism, but Buddha’s ideals sometimes get scrapped for the possibility of “good works” that bring good luck or happy spirits. This morning at O’s house (this is Kate’s best friend in the neighborhood), the altar in front of the small home for the spirits had a big basket of fruit, some snacks, incense burning, and an opened beer (from what I can tell this is the drink of choice for most of these spirits and I guess they don’t mind if it is warm…yuk).
Thais are known for their bathing. It is not uncommon for a Thai in hot season to take 3 showers a day. One of their greetings is “Have you bathed yet?” Thus this holiday that is so connected to water is also a time to bathe things. Idols are set up in front of stores for people to scoop cups of water and pour the water over the idols for blessing. On the news last night I watched as ministers in the government held their hands over ornate silver bowls filled with orchids and allowed people to pour water over their hands in an act of blessing.
But the biggest part of the celebration is the massive countrywide water war. In our area it started three days ago, and it will last for another 5 or 6. Right now I see all kinds of pickup trucks driving by with a troop of water soldiers in tow. Their large water barrel is spilling over so that the trucks leak water from their tailgates as they pass by. These trucks have declared war on all the individuals who have preferred establishing the frontlines at the side of the rode in front of their shop or home. And so the next five days will determine whether the pickups or the street corners were strategically more advantageous.
I have to admit, it is nice to see everyone smiling and having fun. It helps slightly to pacify some of the undercurrent of unrest in the country right now. You see, yesterday the Former Prime Minister, Mr. Taksin, who had to flee the country basically because he was stealing money, called, from abroad of course, for revolution. Due to his policies that provided some assistance to the farmers and the common people, Taksin has quite a following from those outside of Bangkok. He claimed, in a broadcast to the protesters, that he would return to lead a revolution; so his people are calling for the present, 4 month old government that “acquired their position unjustly,” to step down. This is not at all out of the range of possibilities, for you see Thailand has seen 18 coups since 1932 and another one is certainly a possibility if there is blood in the streets.
What do I think? There is definitely more to come. It will get worse. And God is bringing his kingdom to this place. You know how the Lord uses a crashing economy in America to wake some people up and force them to remember that everything they have and everything they are is a gift from God. Well a country that has had missionaries for 300 years and remains for all practical purposes untouched by the gospel will require some shaking. The peace loving part of me wants to say I hope it doesn’t cost too much. The selfish part of me, a big part indeed, wants to say I hope that it doesn’t cost me too much. Then I look at my 100% Thai 4 year old son and I think about that guy who found this treasure in a field. You know he buried that treasure immediately and went and gave up everything he owned to buy that field. I know the field is worth it. I look out this window and see the same wet brown skin that I bathe every night. This field, and God’s kingdom coming here, is worth whatever it may cost any of us.
P.S. While I am writing this, a parade went by headed for the high place in Chiang Rai. Yards from me, a woman is riding a golden adorned calf following a sitting Buddha. Other animals, adorned women, fan wavers, and paraders go by. Remind you of anything? When Israel made its golden idols and worshipped them, Moses pleaded with the Lord for His children. I beg of you to go before the father on behalf of the Thai people right now.
I am writing this from a coffee shop in the city of Chiang Rai. The coffee shops have free internet and some even throw in the added comfort of AC, so this one is the ticket. I am happy to be dry and cool, for outside the window about 20 feet from my writing post, a massive water war claims the dry comfort of every uncovered passerby. It’s Songkran; Thailand’s New Year celebration occurring in the hottest part of the Thai year.
There are various Buddhist activities connected with the Songkran New Year celebrations. Saturday they cleaned our neighborhood. Cleaning and tidying up at home and in the neighborhood is the first stage of preparing your home and family for blessings of good luck. A small benefit for our home is cleaner streets and our neighbor usually cuts the weeds in front of our house so that our overgrowth won’t mess up his blessings (that is a partial joke, really I think he is just being nice and we are blessed by him).
This morning as Julie, Jak and I rode bikes, we watched all the Thai people visiting the temples in order to make merit (to do good deeds) by blessing the temples with money and decoration, the idols with bows and adulation, and the monks with food and other necessities. This is all to prime the blessings of good luck for their homes this year. As we pedal on our way, the smoke from incense sticks wafts from small altars dedicated to the spirits that inhabit the tiny spirit houses next to people’s home. These mini homes are provided for any spirits kicked out as the homeowners move on to the premises. Not really Bhuddism, but Buddha’s ideals sometimes get scrapped for the possibility of “good works” that bring good luck or happy spirits. This morning at O’s house (this is Kate’s best friend in the neighborhood), the altar in front of the small home for the spirits had a big basket of fruit, some snacks, incense burning, and an opened beer (from what I can tell this is the drink of choice for most of these spirits and I guess they don’t mind if it is warm…yuk).
Thais are known for their bathing. It is not uncommon for a Thai in hot season to take 3 showers a day. One of their greetings is “Have you bathed yet?” Thus this holiday that is so connected to water is also a time to bathe things. Idols are set up in front of stores for people to scoop cups of water and pour the water over the idols for blessing. On the news last night I watched as ministers in the government held their hands over ornate silver bowls filled with orchids and allowed people to pour water over their hands in an act of blessing.
But the biggest part of the celebration is the massive countrywide water war. In our area it started three days ago, and it will last for another 5 or 6. Right now I see all kinds of pickup trucks driving by with a troop of water soldiers in tow. Their large water barrel is spilling over so that the trucks leak water from their tailgates as they pass by. These trucks have declared war on all the individuals who have preferred establishing the frontlines at the side of the rode in front of their shop or home. And so the next five days will determine whether the pickups or the street corners were strategically more advantageous.
I have to admit, it is nice to see everyone smiling and having fun. It helps slightly to pacify some of the undercurrent of unrest in the country right now. You see, yesterday the Former Prime Minister, Mr. Taksin, who had to flee the country basically because he was stealing money, called, from abroad of course, for revolution. Due to his policies that provided some assistance to the farmers and the common people, Taksin has quite a following from those outside of Bangkok. He claimed, in a broadcast to the protesters, that he would return to lead a revolution; so his people are calling for the present, 4 month old government that “acquired their position unjustly,” to step down. This is not at all out of the range of possibilities, for you see Thailand has seen 18 coups since 1932 and another one is certainly a possibility if there is blood in the streets.
What do I think? There is definitely more to come. It will get worse. And God is bringing his kingdom to this place. You know how the Lord uses a crashing economy in America to wake some people up and force them to remember that everything they have and everything they are is a gift from God. Well a country that has had missionaries for 300 years and remains for all practical purposes untouched by the gospel will require some shaking. The peace loving part of me wants to say I hope it doesn’t cost too much. The selfish part of me, a big part indeed, wants to say I hope that it doesn’t cost me too much. Then I look at my 100% Thai 4 year old son and I think about that guy who found this treasure in a field. You know he buried that treasure immediately and went and gave up everything he owned to buy that field. I know the field is worth it. I look out this window and see the same wet brown skin that I bathe every night. This field, and God’s kingdom coming here, is worth whatever it may cost any of us.
P.S. While I am writing this, a parade went by headed for the high place in Chiang Rai. Yards from me, a woman is riding a golden adorned calf following a sitting Buddha. Other animals, adorned women, fan wavers, and paraders go by. Remind you of anything? When Israel made its golden idols and worshipped them, Moses pleaded with the Lord for His children. I beg of you to go before the father on behalf of the Thai people right now.
5.2.09
Jesus Speaks Chinese
Hi all. We really miss you a lot. Thanks for visiting our blog, and we hope you enjoy reading! Don't miss the new pics below following the blog.
We've had some ups and downs lately.
Here is one of the ups.
Sunny has been coming to English class for about 6 months now. For months it has been quite obvious that Jesus is in passionate pursuit of this Chinese daughter. She listened with great attention as we discussed Romeo and Juliet. This turned to a conversation about the necessity of Christ’s death in order to deal with the hate and fighting (sin) in our human context.
I recall one significant day when we were talking about greed. The greed of the U.S. housing market crisis gave us great material for this discussion. We discussed how greed in the housing market helped bring down the world economy and caused loss for many people who had borrowed nothing. So as not to be overly negative about my “homies,” we also discussed the greed of Chinese businessmen who are willing to put unhealthy chemicals in the milk they sell in order to make it look fresher and boost their sales. They are all very aware that this was done with no consideration of the consequences for the health of the young people drinking the milk. As we traced greed back to its roots of emptiness, we contrasted greedy emptiness with fullness (Christ in us the Hope of Glory) that leads to giving, joy and life. During this discussion, Sunny sat with eyes begging to be in on what I was offering, but the time was not quite yet.
Last month Sunny returned to China to visit her family for her school break. I had the feeling that this was to be a significant time for her. On her way out she dropped by to say, “so long.” I gave her a Chinese New Testament and encouraged her to read the book of John to learn more about Jesus. She was happy to receive this, and I felt fairly certain she would read at least a little. A few weeks later she sent us a message from China. It read:
Dear Mr.Brent
How are you?and how's your famil your wife and children.
I arrived home have 1 month I'm fine in my home and so happy.i read the book and told my grandma, she was glad to heared the story about Jesus.I try my best to understand but you know some chinese people cannot .
I read another stroy It let me know the god is brave. He kind and love.Although i cannot read the book every day but when i have free time i will pray especially . when i happy and sad .Now i learned to talk to god with my mind I feel so happy ,sometimes god let's me rest and take me left evil.
Christmas is coming soon.take my best wish for you and your family. Thank you for you teach me every thing.
Good luck with you in the new year!
Merry Christmas !!!
sunny
What a great joy to read in her own words about Jesus’ pursuit of this daughter. He was even teaching her how to pray in the process. On Jan 14th she returned to Thailand for her studies. After talking about her break in China, I asked her about her Bible reading and her opportunity to read to her grandmother. A huge smile came on her face as she told me of the joy she had found in this story and in sharing it with her grandmother. She went on to share about the peace she finds in talking to God in her heart.
The obvious question was, “Are you ready to believe in Jesus now?” We had spoken so many times before about Jesus’ admonition that we receive His righteous life in exchange for our old life of sin through belief in Him and what He did. “Yes, I am ready,” was her joy filled response.
She asked Jesus to come and take away her “bad things” (sin) and give her Jesus’ “good life” in a glorious trade. She prayed for Jesus to come and be her King. She pleaded with Jesus to make her a follower. She prayed for a new life, a born again life.
When she finished praying I asked her how she was feeling. She said she was so happy and especially glad to hear “the beautiful music (quite literally her words).”
I asked, “Music? Really?
“Yes.” She said with a joyful smile.
I wasn’t hearing music, so I went on to ask, “Do you still hear it?”
No,” she said, “Only when I am praying.”
“Well, do you wanna pray again?” I replied.
“Yes!” adamantly spoken with a beautiful smile.
We prayed a bit more and I asked her if she was still hearing the “music.”
“Yes,” she answered, “And I think ‘The God” speaks Chinese as well as English.”
A little confused, I replied, “What do you mean?”
She said, “When you are talking to me in English, I understand most of it. But just now He is speaking in Chinese and I understand it all, every word is in Chinese. I understand it much better than I understand you”
“Of course,” I said, “He is quite good at Chinese, isn’t He?”
“Yes,” with the biggest smile yet and a laugh.
We went on to discuss John chapter 1 and how God makes children for himself not out of “natural descent, human decision, or a husband’s will.” But the Father God’s children are those who are born of Himself by His will and through “believing Him and receiving Him.”
She left after we discussed her role as a daughter of this extraordinary Father. She seemed quite happy to recognize her place as a daughter as well as my place as a son of the very same Father. For a new believer from China in a place that so opposes “the Light,” it was very comforting for her to hear me thank our Father for this new little sister. We truly are one family with one kind Father; she was, and I am once again, overwhelmed with the beauty of this truth.
Clearly she is at the very beginning of a long beautiful journey into “this reckless, raging fury that we call the love of God,” as Rich put it so well.
We've had some ups and downs lately.
Here is one of the ups.
Sunny has been coming to English class for about 6 months now. For months it has been quite obvious that Jesus is in passionate pursuit of this Chinese daughter. She listened with great attention as we discussed Romeo and Juliet. This turned to a conversation about the necessity of Christ’s death in order to deal with the hate and fighting (sin) in our human context.
I recall one significant day when we were talking about greed. The greed of the U.S. housing market crisis gave us great material for this discussion. We discussed how greed in the housing market helped bring down the world economy and caused loss for many people who had borrowed nothing. So as not to be overly negative about my “homies,” we also discussed the greed of Chinese businessmen who are willing to put unhealthy chemicals in the milk they sell in order to make it look fresher and boost their sales. They are all very aware that this was done with no consideration of the consequences for the health of the young people drinking the milk. As we traced greed back to its roots of emptiness, we contrasted greedy emptiness with fullness (Christ in us the Hope of Glory) that leads to giving, joy and life. During this discussion, Sunny sat with eyes begging to be in on what I was offering, but the time was not quite yet.
Last month Sunny returned to China to visit her family for her school break. I had the feeling that this was to be a significant time for her. On her way out she dropped by to say, “so long.” I gave her a Chinese New Testament and encouraged her to read the book of John to learn more about Jesus. She was happy to receive this, and I felt fairly certain she would read at least a little. A few weeks later she sent us a message from China. It read:
Dear Mr.Brent
How are you?and how's your famil your wife and children.
I arrived home have 1 month I'm fine in my home and so happy.i read the book and told my grandma, she was glad to heared the story about Jesus.I try my best to understand but you know some chinese people cannot .
I read another stroy It let me know the god is brave. He kind and love.Although i cannot read the book every day but when i have free time i will pray especially . when i happy and sad .Now i learned to talk to god with my mind I feel so happy ,sometimes god let's me rest and take me left evil.
Christmas is coming soon.take my best wish for you and your family. Thank you for you teach me every thing.
Good luck with you in the new year!
Merry Christmas !!!
sunny
What a great joy to read in her own words about Jesus’ pursuit of this daughter. He was even teaching her how to pray in the process. On Jan 14th she returned to Thailand for her studies. After talking about her break in China, I asked her about her Bible reading and her opportunity to read to her grandmother. A huge smile came on her face as she told me of the joy she had found in this story and in sharing it with her grandmother. She went on to share about the peace she finds in talking to God in her heart.
The obvious question was, “Are you ready to believe in Jesus now?” We had spoken so many times before about Jesus’ admonition that we receive His righteous life in exchange for our old life of sin through belief in Him and what He did. “Yes, I am ready,” was her joy filled response.
She asked Jesus to come and take away her “bad things” (sin) and give her Jesus’ “good life” in a glorious trade. She prayed for Jesus to come and be her King. She pleaded with Jesus to make her a follower. She prayed for a new life, a born again life.
When she finished praying I asked her how she was feeling. She said she was so happy and especially glad to hear “the beautiful music (quite literally her words).”
I asked, “Music? Really?
“Yes.” She said with a joyful smile.
I wasn’t hearing music, so I went on to ask, “Do you still hear it?”
No,” she said, “Only when I am praying.”
“Well, do you wanna pray again?” I replied.
“Yes!” adamantly spoken with a beautiful smile.
We prayed a bit more and I asked her if she was still hearing the “music.”
“Yes,” she answered, “And I think ‘The God” speaks Chinese as well as English.”
A little confused, I replied, “What do you mean?”
She said, “When you are talking to me in English, I understand most of it. But just now He is speaking in Chinese and I understand it all, every word is in Chinese. I understand it much better than I understand you”
“Of course,” I said, “He is quite good at Chinese, isn’t He?”
“Yes,” with the biggest smile yet and a laugh.
We went on to discuss John chapter 1 and how God makes children for himself not out of “natural descent, human decision, or a husband’s will.” But the Father God’s children are those who are born of Himself by His will and through “believing Him and receiving Him.”
She left after we discussed her role as a daughter of this extraordinary Father. She seemed quite happy to recognize her place as a daughter as well as my place as a son of the very same Father. For a new believer from China in a place that so opposes “the Light,” it was very comforting for her to hear me thank our Father for this new little sister. We truly are one family with one kind Father; she was, and I am once again, overwhelmed with the beauty of this truth.
Clearly she is at the very beginning of a long beautiful journey into “this reckless, raging fury that we call the love of God,” as Rich put it so well.
Coneheads
Jak and Jones on sports day at the school. Jones is the son of one of our churchplanter friends here. You would love 'em.
Thai Lanterns Floating Into the New Year.
We went with our friends from Bangkok Vineyard to share Christmas joy with the young people in Burma. Afterward, we had a big New Years Eve blowout at our house
Sukit and Amp
Sukit and Amp from Bangkok Vineyard have been dear friends and our greatest mentors in Thailand
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