Welcome back

It's good to be back in Thailand.

The first two weeks have flown by. The first week I was getting over Jet lag and moving back into my house. Then there was church camp. Then Suzy, my new roommate, moved in the community--another busy week of getting her connected with the community and moving in. But it's good to be back.

So far so good with Suzy--I've been impressed with her willingness to jump right into the community, and her helpfulness to scrub the house. Especially in a 109* house with 43% humidity. Why has it been so hot this past week?

But like I said it's good to be back. It's good to find 30 cent bags of freshly cut fruit everywhere, and cheap coffee on the street, it's good to eat spicy food and laugh with neighbors. It's encouraging to see how much the new believers have matured, and to be apart of God's Kingdom coming in the slums of Bangkok. It's good to see all the kids who still can't remember if my name is Sara or Christy and now with Suzy in the miss--their all confused. It's good to be back with the team, and it's good to be with the office staff.

It's good to come back and realize how much I love and hope for this place.

Greater things are yet to be done In Thailand

When I moved to Thailand there were no believers in the community I live. Now there is a house church with 7 new followers of Jesus. God is amazing and he has done wondrous things. I love telling the stories of God’s tangible transformation and His glory revealed, but the truth is, for every miraculous story there are 20 more that make me weep in the presence of God. God is good, mighty to save and sovereign, but God is not a genie who grants us every wish. That being said when I came home I was tired. People have commented on the fact that I haven’t blogged in a while and the truth is I was too tired and doubted my voice in the midst of the exhaustion. Although I’ve never experienced as much Joy as when I saw the those living in Thailand become followers of Jesus and although I wouldn’t trade that for anything-- the truth is when I first came home I was too tired to pray for much. I kept my prayers simple. It’s one reason I’m so grateful that God is gracious enough to not depend on my prayers alone—this is why we are called to pray as a community—to lift our voices when others are too tired to hope for more.

This past week I went to a worship night and we sang a Chris Tamlin song with these words

Verse 1.
You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are

You're the light in this darkness
You're the hope to the hopeless
You're the peace to the restless
You are

Bridge:
For there is no one like our God
There is no one like You God

Chorus 1:
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Hope arose anew in me. I cried out these words with utter excitement as I prepare to head back to Thailand. I dreamed of what it would look like to see Phothong gambling free where parents instruct their children with love and devotion, where addicts are set free from bondage and forgiveness is a normal part of relationships. Hope arose anew in me as I now have energy again to ask to for these miracles—to be apart of God’s Kingdom coming in full in Phothong as it is in Heaven. I will get tired again, but I pray that you too with continue praying with me. Greater things are yet to be done in Thailand and as a community I hope you will hope with me.

Thundering goodbye

Laying in bed, the thunder cracked, the lightening lit up the room. The rain still hadn't fallen. The house shook as the thunder and lightening chimed in together. Images running in my head of lightening striking my house, a fire starting in Phothong, trees splitting in half. No sleep tonight.

It was quite a night as I laid in bed. When the rain final came it fell with such force I was sure there was hail. (as impossible as that is in 82 degree weather) What a way to say goodbye to Sara. Her last night in Thailand.

Goodbye Sara, Thanks for everything. I hope to go out with a bang just as you did.

Thanks to God? What's That

Yut’s son Keem just turned 7 and he’s a great kid. This past week I had a bunch of leftovers, so I invited Yut and her two kids over for dinner. While waiting for Yut, two other neighborhood boys, (Keem’s friends) peeked in and preciously asked if they could come in also. Something in me just couldn’t say no. They keep trying to sneak bites of the food, and I kept gently reminding them they had to wait till Yut came. When Yut arrived we sat down around the food, and the boy immediately starting grabbing food. Keem responded quickly, “Guys, we have to say thank you to God first.” Staring blankly at Keem, they replied, “Thank you to God, What’s that?” Keem looked strangely and said, "We have to pray to God.” I jumped in and explained that we say grace before eating because God created everything and is over everything. He is big and powerful and so we thank God for the food he provided. To this the kids shout, “Thanks God your big.” We asked Keem if he wanted to pray and so he started, “Father God, Thank you for the food,….Wait wait wait, guys you have to close your eyes and fold your hands I’m not continuing until you do . (Not sure how he noticed his friends weren’t shutting their eyes if his eyes were shut, but to this they promptly obeyed) … Okay Thank you, God, for the food uhhh I can’t think anymore uhhh uhhh. …. To this his mom pipes in Amen, followed quickly by an Amen by PahJai (Yut’s 2 year old daughter) . We ate together it was really enjoyable, and I was so proud of Keem who’s just learned about God and how He so quickly wants to share it with his friends. It reminds me so much that children often lead others to the simple truth of God and how important for parents to impart God’ truth into their children’s lives while there are young. I hope and pray that more families will allow God to transform them.

Keem: after drawing a picture of himself, Sara, Christy, his mom Yut, and his little sister PohJai. Above is God showing us the way to cross the footbridge so we don't get hit by a car.

Answered Prayer

On October 18 2008 I wrote this prayer in my Journal---This month God has responded in a bigger way than I could have ever imagined. Both parents have become christians and this little girl will have a hopeful future as God is radically changing this family. ( This is Niew...)

I wrote, " Today I held a 2 month old in the community for a long time while I overheard her Mom talk about wanting to drink alchohol--Her mother is addicted to gambling and likes to drink--ALOT. I first met this baby when she was 3 days old, her mother had left her alone to go gambling. 3 days old. The baby is a sweet girl and as I held her I prayed for her--I prayed she would feel secure and that she would know God's love as she grows up--I prayed she would be the one to bring change to the family as she knew Jesus and shared it with them--I prayed she would break the cycle of addition and abuse in her family. I looked at this tiny precious child wanting to smile at her, hold her and let her know there is someone who can keep her secure. I looked at her and wanted to cry--she has so much to overcome to suceed in life, so much to overcome ans she's only 2 months old. So much.

Can Jesus change her family? Will Jesus care for this child? Is Jesus big enough to hold this wee little one born in to an addicted family with a mother who yells and hits and drinks and tosses dice? If not for Jesus what hope does this precious, beautiful, girl have. All I could do today was hold her, speak truth in her ear and pray that God can and will do more. All I can do is trust that God hears my prayers for this little girl who was made in the image of God and plopped in a broken and hurting world.

Please Jesus protect her, keep her secure, and let her know She is loved by you.

Use me though I am nothing

Hear me though I am small

Love me though I am imperfect. "

God answered 9 months later-------I am big enough. Bigger than Big enough and have the power to change the whole family in ways you can't even imagine.

Prayer really is powerful

God truely is amazing.

Just a little Girl

Bang--She's 11. Too old to be small and to small to be grown up. When I first met her, she was indeed a little girl, but over the past year I have seen her struggle with growing up. Her Cousin was born and she so often is seen parenting this little girl. She tries to play tough and even has taken a teaching role with the other kids. On any given day I see her waver from being "too cool" to hang out with me to begging to come in and play.

A couple of weeks ago I had the kids in watching Chronicles of Narnia. It started out with alot of kids coming in a watching--with, of course, Bang instructing them where to sit and when to be quite. As the movie went on--the younger kids lots interest. As the numbers dwidled. Bang came laying her head in my lap, At more intesnse parts she'd grab my hand and cover her eyes. She layed there for a good 30 minutes. I didn't say anything, didn't want to ruin the moment. I was reminded of just how young she is. It's a rariety she gets to be a kid, a ratiety she doensn't have to mother and train her 8 month old cousin, a rariety she can just be taken care of. Though my foot was falling asleep, I let her lay there--being a little girl.

It was a gentle and sweet reminder that I too need space to be a little girl. Too often I come to Jesus with big problems--seeking questions to huge answers. There's a time to be big and there's a time to just sit in the Lap of Jesus--being a little girl with her heavenly Father. Free to say I'm scared, free to say I need a lap of comfort, free to say "I don't have it all fiqured out--And that's okay"

Blogging thoughts

So I haven't blogged for a while. There's lots to say, and plenty to comment on . Things are going on, so why haven't I blogged in so long. I think there is an element of normalcy going on. At first I blogged a lot because everything was new, strange, funny and completely baffling. In actuality nothing has changed--I still have dead spiders on my pillow, centipedes in my bathroom, moments where I want to scream, and moments where all I can do is stand there baffled at the cultural differences. At the same time everything has changed. I've gotten used to all these once strange differences and they have become normal everyday life. I think, "why would everyone want to hear about normal everyday life"--that's when I realize that it's still not normal for everyone else. The things that break my heart and give me Joy are completely foreign to those I'm used to talking with. The things are foreign because they take place in Thailand, but they are also normal family woes. The things my neighbors deal with sometimes seem heightened, but they are similar to problems in American marriages. So what am I saying---I'm saying Thailand feels more normal and that I love that sense of home. Yet I'm also saying there are some things in this culture and American cultural that I hope I never get used to. I never want to stop crying out to God to fix the things that break His heart.
I'm also saying I'll try blogging some more, to fill you guys in.
Any preferences on what you want to hear about???? It's all normal to me.

Gebari

Blog post:
This week I heard one of my dear Pomona teenagers had been caught in the crossfire of a gang fight. With a shattered hip and a bullet lodged in his liver, he had to undergo surgery. Praise God that the doctor says after therapy he should recover fully. This kid Gebari is someone who has a very special place in my heart. While living near him in Pomona many people saw him as a trouble maker and up to no good, but we saw a genuinely thoughtful and kind teenager who wanted to do good, but sometimes got caught up in bad decisions. We saw a kid who was at a pivotal point in his life where he had to choose either to go with the “bad” crowd or stick it out with the “good” crowd. He was a teenage wrestling and excited about the good news of Jesus. Many times we didn’t have words to tell him --all we could do was love him, encourage the good we saw in him, let him cool down in our house when he was angry with those around him, pray for him and take him to church with us. After coming out of surgery one of his youth works (and my friend) went to visit him—this is what she reported….
“Gebari was eager to pray and hear the bible read. As he was falling asleep, I read him psalm 23. A few minutes after I was through, he said, with his eyes closed, "Can you read it to me again?" I gave him a crystal paper weight that says, "The Lord is my strength," he held it in his hand for a while, and then asked me to put it in a place where he could see it all the time. Gebari was wondering where everyone else was and asked me to bring some kids when I come back.:-) Brian and Megan went to visit him on Sunday evening. He also asked them to pray with him.”
Though I wish Gebari hadn’t been shot, I am so blessed by his willingness to let God be near him while he lies in an ICU hospital bed. I am so proud of this teenager. I am so proud of this teenager who is choosing good when his environment teaches him “Bad” is cool. I’m so encouraged that God can use us even when we don’t have words to say, even when we can’t see it till years later. I’m encouraged that God can use me as I hold on to hope for kids in Phothong --though their lives are so broken. I’m encouraged to see the kids here as precious children of God and not the burdens their parents treat them as. I’m so proud and blessed by Gebari. Please continue to pray for his complete healing and for God’s protection over his spiritual life. Please continue to pray for kids in Phothong to know that they are worthwhile. Pray for me to continue to have hope of God’s transformation of Phothong especially for what I cannot see yet.

Good bye Scott

This week American Idol said good bye to Scott MacIntrye. Though I can't actually watch that show here in Thailand I've been tracking his process. Particularly tracking His progess because we were childhood friends. I went to his Thomas the Tank Engine birthday party, recieved his first "Homemade" CD and listened to it all the time. He might even have been classified as my first school girl crush. It's good to see that he's still making music and trusting God. Best of luck to Scott has he pursues his music.

Marriage

Marriage, it's been on my mind recently.
Maybe because many of my friends in the states are getting married soon or got married within this last year and 1/2.
Maybe it's because I'm surrounded by marriages in Thailand--some falling apart, some speaking highly of encouragment and partnership.
Maybe it's because one of the most common greetings I hear in thailand is "Are you married already or not yet?"
Maybe it's because I'm scared of being lonely.
Maybe it's because the Bible often talks about our relationship with God using marriage terms.
Maybe it's because I'm 25
Regardless of why marriage has been on my mind, I'm learning it's dangerous telling your Thai teacher your thinking about marriage and kids. She just might actually set me up on a blind date with a Christian friend of hers. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

Lessons Learned

So I made the one year mark. It went fast, it went slow. Here's a list of some of lessons learned and a few other new insights. Enjoy.

Lessons Learned:
*Laughing at your mistakes is imperative to survival
*Never ever try to flush a baby rat down the drain---wet rat is worse than scooping it up.
*Never ever cut a large centipede in half in attempts of killing it--it becomes two squirming parts.
* Everything seems better when you eat well and sleep long enough.
* Smiles go along way
* Large spiders that get caught on fans and spin off in a dizzy frenzy are funny-- not scary
* Sometimes verbal sounds express more than words.
* God has made us extremely adaptable--we can handle a lot more than we expected we could.
* Those you're called to minister to sometimes are the most encouraging people in your life. (Sometimes they're the most frustrating also :) )
* Hope is a precious valuable gift. Cherish it when you have it.
* Questions can bring answers, but they also can bring more questions
* It is possible to have conflicting emotions at the same time: (joy-despair, fun-stress, love--frustration, and doing well--not doing well est.)
* It's easier to eat "new" things when you try them before you know what they are. (frog jerky any one? Fish bladder, fried bugs --delicious!)
*Anything can be made to look "cute". And I do mean ANYTHING.
* AND SOOO Much More!!!!!

New things I've discovered this year that I've enjoyed:
Music: ITunes!!!!! Sara Groves, Ginny Owens, Brooke Fraser, Jon foreman, Sara Bareillas, Sufjan Stevens, Marta Gomez , Future of Forestry ect
Food: I love Thai food!-- I love how spicy, sweet, sour, salty it is. I like seafood--who would of know? Shrimp, oysters, squid, octopus, fish-- yummy. Fresh Mint and Fresh Pumpkin--I could eat it every day (I love how fresh produce is here)
Activities: I love karaoke and dancing, reading (when it's not required) is so enjoyable, trying new things (like driving motorcycles, catching fish by hand ect), Hanging out with my Thai friends and neighbors.

Things I've missed this year:
Family and friends. I love you guys. (Praise God for Skype and email)
Berries (any kind, anyway), Peaches, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Cinnamon Gum, Cheap Pasta, Cheese, Non- sugary cereal variety--especially Quaker squares. Nuts--walnuts, almonds, Pecan, and Macadamia
California weather--not too hot, not too cold. :) (Though I have to say I've adapted a lot to Thai weather, and have a lower threshold for cold and a higher threshold for hot. )
American commercials and movies--Thai movies are so weird and their commercials are just strange.

It's been an interesting first year, here’s to next year!!!!

california grapefruit

Yesterday an old team mate showed up to visit and snuck in a California Navel Orange and Ruby Red grapefruit. I don't think I've ever been so excited to see fruit before. I did a dance of excitement and had a smile as long as the plane ride to Thailand. It really was the most beautiful and tasty thing I've had in a year. ( as my Thai friends would say, "Christy OVER"; translation--over the top) That's when I realize I've been here for almost a year and grapefruit can make me so immensly grateful.

English Sentances in Daily Life

So I bought this book entilted 999 English Sentances in Daily Life because it had both english and Thai tranlations. I thought it would help me practice and learn more Thai sentance structure. I do think it helped me some with Thai especially now that I can say things I've always wanted to say to my friends, neighbors, or the average joe on an average day:
Some of my favorites:
Remember me to Touch
What underwear color do you use?
It goes to the corn field
Who do you in love with?
Where did they Shout?
Where did you guard your dog?
Did we chop some meat?
We did not rub the knife
He did not hunt the wildlife
He did not cry with reasons
I went shopping at the Red Cross fair
I spoke Chinese poor
Where would you like to join boyscout camp?
I would not like to kiss it
Where can you cut some wood?
I can ride my buffalo
Will it have a tail?
Will it have a lung?
Am I a doctor?

Now I guess I'm ready for some woodchoping at a Red cross fair on something that may or may not have a lung, but at least I can ride my buffalo and know my friends underwear color.

All in the daily life of an english speaker learning Thai.

Smiling Moon

There is a lot of chaos in the world right now. Economic, Political, Social ect. Right now Thailand is politicaly unstable --though I still feel very safe in my area and those in the states need not worry about me.

In the midst of the stress The moon smiled down on us. Literally the moon and two planets formed a smily face. My good friends mother ran to my house and insisted I come out and see it, because in her 60 years of life she has never seen such a thing.
Sure enough . The moon was smiling. My Thai neighbors say its the
gods smiling down on us--offering blessing to the new upcoming year. My Christians friends say how kind of God to offer some joy and peace in times of turmoil.

I do have to say it was a pleasant surprise that the God of the universe orchastrated the skyes to smile down on Thailand.

Thanksgving

Yesterday I studied Thai for 4 hours and then ate alot of food at Our Team leader's Familie's house. It was fun eating Western food, playing games, and watching the Cosby show. It felt good.
We talked alot about Thanksgiving and food, Family and traditions.
Today I woke up--realized My family is still camping with colored leaves in California and I realized I miss them alot.
Tommorow I will take a government Thai test that I'm not ready for.

All that's to say I'm grateful this Thanksgiving season, but can't wait for it to be over.

Miss you Family.

Bed room pictures

So I finally finished my room and after the plees from many people about my color scheme I am posting pictures of my room.

Before:

After:

Poster board come in handy yet again. No more peep hole in my bathroom, Curtians were hand stiched by me and the flooring was a great bonding time with my neighbor.

I threw in Bathroom and bed for kicks so you quys can see a little more of my normal life.

Birthday reflections

Turning 25 was great. Thanks to all who sent birthday wishes, cards and or gifts. You helped to make it a special day.

I surprisingly felt very loved by my teammates and Thai friends as I celebrated with them. They all where so thoughtful and full of love

.

My desk was decorated with flowers, my friend made one of my favorite dishes from strach for lunch and we were invited by our team leaders house for home cooked lasagna and birthday cake. I felt loved. The gifts from the office staff and team where so thoughtful--a flower paint tray (Jin my Thai friend said "I noticed you like to paint and you've been using a cardboard box as your tray--Thats just sad. I feel sorry for you"--Great, Thoughtful and perfect gift. others made me jewerly by hand or put together a thing of my favorites. Pumpking Spice coffee ( I love anything pumpkin ) Chai Tea, Lavender to help me sleep, paintings in my favorite colors and so much more.

Then when I came home my good friend Gop, in the neighborhood, surprised me with a cake she bought herself and we had a mini celebration just the two of us.

I did have a party with the neighborhood-- kids and adults alike where excited about the cookies, brownies, Cake, and other snacks--oh and yes they enjoyed the karaoke.

It was a good celebration. And I'm so grateful that I was able to enjoy turning 25 with people I really enjoy hanging out with.

Ghettoness

In Pomona I thought I had reached a level of Ghettoness when my roomates and I put up cardboard boxes in our window to keep the house cooler. Don't knock it till you try it. It really helped us survive the extreme heat.

In Thailand I realize that I actually have become even more crafty. My sister in law has been adding accent walls to my nieces and nephews room. I, like my sister in law, have a value for nicely decorated walls and homey feeling rooms. That is why I added my own accent wall--with thin sheets of poster board and foam tape. A whole new level.

Before:
Posterboard accent wall
Diecut flowers boarder and a string with clips for the childrens art work.

Ahh to be resourceful.

Greatness

Recently my Grandma sent me a package for my birthday--it was filled with goodies and many fun things. One poster she made her self had the quote by Mother Theresa, " We can do no great things-- only small things with great love."
How true is this statement.
How deeply profound this statment is.
The more I live in Thailand the more I realize that I am not great or special. I don't have magic superpowers and I'm not beyond human. I get tired and thirsty and irritated. I have joy and hardship, but I'm often still a person who longs to be great. I want to do my best at what ever I do and when I fall short I'm often overly hard on my self. Yet as much as it is human nature to desire to be great ,I'm also overwhelmed with the desire to be normal. (I am coming to terms with the fact that this realty kind of went out the window when I decided to follow Jesus's call for me to live in a slum) I want to be remarkable and yet ordinary. This could be why one of the greatest books I've read is called "Irresitable Revolution" by Shane Claiborne.
What I love about Mother Theresa's quote is that it's true. I as imperfect, human, Christy can do nothing Great. Thankfully Jesus never called me to be Great he called Himself to be "I AM" He is Great. All he asks is that I would respond to His love and love those around me. Small things with Great Love.
If I live in this world longing to be great I will miss the chance to see Great things happens, but if I live in this world doing small things with Great Love I may actually see the Greatness of God--Which I believe to be much greater than the "Great" I could ever be.

OCD

Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with patterns. One of my chores as a child was to nightly set the table. Every night I picked out which colored cups I wanted and would arrange them in a "pattern"--sometimes a pattern only I could see--(this being made evident when someone else would want to change cups and I would strongly oppose or rearrange the cups to a different pattern so he could have the color he wanted. )
Recently my roomate has been noticing my "OCD" tendancies, --Silently rearranging the drying hangers to be color cordinated or eating pieces of candy in order of the pattern I've created. These are all things I don't have to do, but will admitt that there is a slight inner peace when they are done. When things around me are out of my control and or crazy (as ministry can be sometimes) there is a certain joy I get in my room being color ordered. Strange I know.
This weekend I officially moved into my own room (same house as Sara still-- long story, but my room is finally open) and it has been so exciting to start arranging my room based on the color themes I want. 3 colors= Royal darkish blue is the base. followed by light bright green and brown for accents. I'll post some after pictures soon, but for now it feels nice to have a some color order in my life. It feels nice to make my room feel like mine. I pray it will be a room of refreshment and deep intimacy with Jesus who is my real inner peace.