The Challenge of Good News

Worship is a challenge and yet privilige for me here in Thailand. Today I was in charge of sharing the word of inspiriation for staff worship. For some reason this is one of the most challenging things for me - sharing Jesus' love with those that I work so intimitaely with. I was nervous, but I must remember that it is my obligation to share the good news I've been able to experience. What happens afterwards is between God and each of his children.

This morning I dressed up in different colors of cloth. I was drapped. I began by sharing how there was a community who lived a life of montony, who fostered sameness. In the morning they would gather together in front of the 'holy man' and bring him a peice of cloth that symbolized their sins that they felt convicted about. He would accept them but he wanted to move beyond that. What the community didn't realize was that he wanted all their sins, all their impurities and desired to dress them in his purity, in white robes of cleanliness and love. He didn't just want one sin but all sins that consumed them.

Then I transitioned from their and shared that we are like this community. We come before God with our prayers, our sins not realizing he wants our all not just one specific sin. If a man comes to his neighbor in the night and persistently bothers the neighbor till he recieves bread. How can we think that God, who wants to, would not provide for us also? Such greatness of God is incomprehendable... like the thought of heaven. Forgiveness is not something we can easily grasp and yet the tastes of it that we recieve are addictive but good.

It was a good morning and every time that I lead out I realize I cannot know the effects my words will or will not have on others. All I can do is walk out in faith that God has called me to share how he's changed my life, how he has loved me and place the end results in God's hands.

God what are you up to? How will you be glorified in the now and that which is to come? I don't get you and yet I am in awe of your mysterious ways. Thank you for choosing to use one full of sin and imperection.

Two Quarters

The second quarter will be coming to a close next week. The time has passed so quickly. My coworkers explain it is because of all the holidays, the many Mondays we had off, the overnight trips that I've been apart of, the Visa runs, ect. I wonder the truth of these statements. I have always heard (and often experienced) the pace of life quickening as I get older. It is ironic, funny and sometimes depressing.

This last weekend was another long weekend. I went to my home in Bongti Baan with my friend Holly. I'll write what I wrote in my journal - it's sort of dry but it works.
...

I want to write about my weekend befoe I forget about all the details. We (Holly, shelly and I) were going to leave on Friday but we were too late and missed the last bus out of MoCit. So instead we went out to eat at an Italian resturant Govindas. It was very expensive. Definetely not a good use of one's money but the food was delicious. Out of discouragement we returned to Ekamai and holly spent the night at my place. Poor her, she had some taxi problems in her attempt to make it to Ekamai and ended up at Phrom Phong BTS station. I feel bad because I don't hangout with her very often now. Yet even so I did have a good weekend with her and was happy she invited me to go to the Bamboo School with her.

So we successfully made it on a bus to Kanchanburi the next morning (only Holly and I). But we left Ekamai way too early (3am ish) in the morning. Then with my lack of bargaining skills we somehow got a songtaw to Bongti Baan. I mention my lack of bargaining skills because I was stupid and began bargaining at the price I wanted and didn't work up right. I should have started even lower. But alas! We made it. The two of us were somewhat concerned that we didn't recognize anything for sometime. But Holly, with her great sense of direction, realized that we were going parallel with the mountins in a zig-zag formation. We came to find out later that this was done by the drivers to bypass the police checkpoints.

I think we arrived at the school around 9ish, that was nice cause it meant that we could go and enjoy church. In arriving on the village songtaw I usually arrive around midafternoon. It was fun trekking up the hill cause we were trying to discreetly come up to the school. That didn't quite work, I think Toolay saw us and word go out. Nonetheless it was an adventure in itself.

We reached Momo's house were all the farang were having a Bible Study. They were all dressed beautifully in Karen garb and welcomed us with open arms and bear hugs. A good gift on the Sabbath! Then the Bible study continued.

Momo invited us to join her for what she called 'little people's church'. Kids church with some of the older kids tagging along too. Mowai lead out saying something in Karen and then we made birds. Momo left to take anew born baby to the hostpital (a girl that had jaundice).

Eww! I failed to mention with Heidi and Arthur going up to Mae Sot I got a gift - a Karen outfit. My shirt is golden and soft and I have a red sarong now. With every visit I am feeling more and more Karen. Or at least more familylike with these kids. Mom's called me one of her Karen daughters... I love it especially since I am not even Karen. But hey! What does that matter? This place is a home to me... one that I definitely need.

More of the story...
I can't quite recall what else happened on Sabbath but Sunday came in soon time. On Sunday it was work day the kids prepared Bamboo for weaving walls for a shower in the guesthouse, I sawed some wood for the whole setup. My favorite part of this day was bathing at the lake with the girls. I love that! Then hanging out with Lukai, Kum, Holly and Gina in the evening in front of the boy's dorm. Kum shared a Father's love song and ever since it goes through my head often.

"Whoa I love you more than I can tell! Whoa! I love you more than I can tell!"
He claims that he is not a 'naughty' boy but a 'innocent baby'. Hmm. I sense some mischeviousness behind those words (It doesn't when he has a big grin on his face)! We played with feet, smiles, lullabies... So fun. Lukai was a hoot in the photoshoots with Gina he couldn't seriously smile. He would always stick out his tongue or close his eyes. Hopeless? Not quite. Anyhow these two boys (and all the rest) have stolen my heart and make me desire to have boys of my own someday... of course not too soon!

We had a goodbye for Gina and the other New Zealanders that came to visit. Poor girl, eyes red and puffy. But there was some definite heart strings being pulled during her visit her. I liked her.