Asia Pacific Conference

Blessed to make it to Chiang Mai in time to attend YWAM Asia Pacific conference. We got to meet with others who are serving in Asia, brainstorm, encourage each other with stories and hear about what's new. We also listened to YWAM founder Loren Cunningham talk about looking back at what God has done, and looking towards what to expect by 2020. Inspiring!

 One highlight was the table full of Mongolians that we worked with in Erdenet...we hope to see more next conference~ It was also bitter sweet as we transition into a new country but our heart remains connected to Mongolia. Both Manasa and I ran into Ywamers from our past, some in common and others new friends. We also met some staff that we will be working with this upcoming year and excited to start learning new names, faces, and hearing about their passions. Thanking God for this opportunity to connect with others!

Thai fruits

Whenever I travel to a warm climate country from a cold one, I love to soak up the fruits and fresh veggies. Particularly new ones like some of the ones in the picture.

Pineapple is fresh, papaya comes in different colors, and "raise the eyebrows" durians (smells terrible, but tastes great in shakes). A few others include guava, banana, lychee, mango and dragon fruit ~

Tuk Tuk

We've been attending a conference at another hotel conference center about 10 minutes from our hotel. We've tried a few different modes of transportation and twice our favorite was the tuktuk. This little open truck allows us to look out at Chiang Mai, despite some gasps as we move quickly in and out of traffic. A lot of people use a motorbike to get around, and I'm amazed to see women sitting sideways and still managing to hold on properly. I guess part of that has to do with trust in the driver! Here are a few pictures from our tuk tuk experience!

Flying into Thailand

Whenever I fly over a new land I'm always overwhelmed with how big this world is. To think that I am viewing a small portion of a country from the air, and that there are many countries connected to make continents....reminds me of how God is so outside my capacity to understand. To put stars in the sky, to make waves move across the ocean, to create a water system that keeps our earth healthy and living etc... amazing.






Thailand is beautiful not just for it's green grass, rice fields etc but also it's beautiful people!

Tastes

I admit it: i love talking about food. I'm not addicted to food but I like trying new things and savoring the favorites. Along the way I've discovered a few new items here in Asia. In our stopover to Singapore I decided to try their 'Thai citrus' flavored fries. It came as regular french fries with a packet of powder. After sprinkling some on my fries I was pleasantly surprised with the lime/orange flavor. I would definitely try that again.
Another item of interest was at the McDonalds in Bangkok - I purposely
was trying to find new items in a familiar place and noticed an option of rice with spicy chicken on the menu. Another fun item was 'bubble tea' drink on the McCafe list. I took a picture of part of the menu, complete with 'pie' options. We have the apple pie in America , but here you can also get the same pastry crust with tuna, corn or pineapple filling.  There are quite a few 'duck' options along with pork and chicken. Manasa likes the spicy items but I prefer to stay mild. We have quite a few food stands down the street from where we are staying, at half the price of the hotel menu (which is still reasonable and tasty). One item I tasted that I did not enjoy, was the Lays chips : Seaweed flavor. I don't dislike seaweed- I like sushi wraps and sometimes even seaweed soup...but this just didn't seem hmmm "right". So I'll pass on that one next time. Thankful that I enjoy eating rice as I see a lot of that in my future :)

Perspective

I always enjoy experiencing a new country for the first time. No matter how many stories you've heard from other people, everything is relative to your own perspective, interest and experience. I may be able to say that I've ridden the train in Bangkok and had a wonderful experience. Someone else may disagree based on their experience. As we ventured down to get our visas yesterday we were blessed to be able to listen and watch Thai people going to and from work or school, as well as peer out the window at the different city structures, construction, art etc. We had a few hours to wait for our visa so we hopped back on the train to go to the shopping district (Siam) just a few stops from us. It's full of name brand (and high end) options and while it was fun to window shop, it was more interesting to watch the tourists mix with the locals (some college students meeting for groups, workers taking lunch breaks etc).

Breakthrough!

We made it safely to Bangkok. God provided a great travel time, and our bags arrived safely with us (whew). We traveled by train into Bangkok downtown area yesterday to apply for our visa to Myanmar. We found out that Friday is a holiday so they will be closed, and fortunately we had enough money to get the one-day application visa. We will now be able to travel to Myanmar in 2 weeks for 70 days (and then have to re-apply). We are blessed!! More updates to come soon , sharing my experience in Thailand so far :)

Beauty

The other day when going to take my shower I noticed a cut on my shoulder. I took out the peroxide to pour over it and clean it. Since the shoulder is round, as you can imagine, it dripped all over. I wiped up the floor and as I turned I noticed streaks down my shoulder, that looked as though they had bleached a part of my arm. After my initial freakout I realized my skin would be back to 'normal' after I washed it. It reminded me of being in the Caribbean, and the stories from the young ladies, even as young as 10, talking about how they soak in bleach because they want their skin to be 'lighter'. And the irony of many American young ladies who tan regularly to look 'darker'. No matter how God has made us , our sinful nature wants to be restless and complain, comparing ourselves to someone else. Yet we are all made so beautiful. I can't imagine creating a painting, sculpture etc and feeling I finally made a masterpiece, only to have the painting try to destroy itself, or the sculpture try to mold itself into a bowl. Why? Because it was made lovingly by me and perfected in my eyes. And that's how God must view us: every part of us perfected lovingly by Him. That's not to say we shouldn't strive to be healthy etc but to accept how we are loved by God will change our perception of ourselves, and what our motivations are towards our bodies. Praying for the young ladies struggling to meet an unobtainable goal, that they would feel the unconditional love of God and find it to be freedom to live and laugh in the way, shape, color, and method they were intended to. ~

Success

The last few weeks have been full of fundraisers, fellowship and visiting family. With less than a week left in Iowa we feel fortunate for our time and are surprised at how many things we 'wanted' to do , we haven't been able to! Here's a few photos from the Mystery Supper which was a success, and so much fun! Manasa was able to show some people how to use chopsticks :)
We also held a garage sale, and even though we were SNOWED OUT on Friday (can you believe that? in may?) we were still able to have a successful Saturday! So thankful for all the volunteers who have supported us with not just finances but also through prayer, and with their time, donations etc....

Mystery Breakfast

Mystery Breakfast!

We are holding a Mystery Breakfast fundraiser tomorrow morning, from 8-10am at the EFree Church in Belmond. What is a "mystery" breakfast? It's fun! There are 'code names' on the menu (in our case-locations where we've lived or served). You number the order you wish the items to come to you (three courses of five items each). Each food, drink item and utensil has a corresponding code name (but only the servers know!). So in theory you may end up ordering a bowl of cereal, sausage, coffee, knife and napkin (so the dilema begins- how to eat cereal without a spoon?) The items are removed before the next round! As we raise funds, this method also gives us an opportunity to fellowship and have some laughs along the way. We will be presenting a bit more about our heart for Asia and the work we hope to do. Thankful for all the volunteers and food donations to make it a success!

Chicago trip success!

We had a great trip to Chicago and thank God for protection, and provisions. We were able to achieve Manasa's Thai visa so we have gone ahead and purchased our airplane tickets from LAX to Bangkok! Some other highlights of our Chicago visit:
~ Spending time with friends, and godsons
~ Visit to my former college, Trinity International University
~Riding the train to downtown (to get visa and do some sightseeing)
~Attending a Chicago Cubs game
~Visiting former churches Harvest Bible Chapel and Vineyard Evanston
~Visiting family in Wisconsin

We feel blessed to be able to see 'old stomping grounds' and are encouraged as God moves us closer to our goal of heading back to Asia full time! We did not get enough time to visit everyone we wanted so hope our next visit to the USA includes some further time in Illinois.
Getting a "preparation" list checked off as we only have a month left in the USA!

Chicago bound

Heading to chicago to apply for Manasa's visa to Thailand. Looking forward to all the plans falling into place . We've been so blessed this week with God's faithfulness and His provisions as we plan our next trip, with it in sight! thanks for the prayers

Easter --Christ is risen!

Romans 6:8-11
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

As we celebrated Good Friday service at a local combined service I was jumping out of my skin- why? To celebrate! Even though Good Friday is a time to reflect on the crucifixion of Christ, and his burial....to me I cannot separate those events from the meaning behind it. His death means His RESURRECTION! It means VICTORY! It means HOPE for a relationship with GOD! It is not the 'end' but rather a new beginning of our salvation , the answer to a plan of redemption started since the first day of creation~ I pray I continue to always have my heart leap when I think of His death and resurrection, that my hands clap with joy when someone is baptized, that my mouth echoes a 'hallelujah' when I hear the salvation plan of my mighty God. ~

 Psalm 97:11-12 - "Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name." (NIV)

Upcoming fundraiser in Belmond

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Join me on: Sunday April 7th

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Time: 4pm-6pm

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Recovery

As Manasa and I heal from our recent surgeries, I am reminded on how the body takes it's time to heal. Sometimes on open wound can be closed and healed in a matter of a few days, and other times it takes a long time to heal leaving a scar. Makes me think of how we sometimes like to 'rush' our journey of healing with God. Once we become saved we sometimes expect an overnight miracle. I've seen it happen- addicts who no longer have urges, a depressed woman who now has joy on her face- these 'overnight' healings DO happen! However, it doesn't guarantee that the journey they experienced with God is the same way everyone will experience His healing. There are circumstances in our lives: deaths, assaults, disappointments, wrongs, illnesses etc that take more time. While walking the slow steps of recovery into healing, we can rejoice in each new level , knowing that God's healing is cleansing us. This leaves us with hope and joy as He works His emotional, spiritual and physical healings in our bodies. Yes, there is a season for everything (Ecc 3), and healing is one of them ~