out of their comfort zone!

Yesterday I got to witness 6th graders serving. They were teaching, painting, cleaning and playing. I really was able to see their hearts yesterday as they stepped out of their comfort zones and went to a place where kids didn't know life the way they did. It was great to go to the Thai school and see first hand what these kids experienced on a daily basis. There are not air conditioners. There are hardly any books or any playground equipment. I think that I saw one or two computers while I was there. It is interesting to think about how many schools even in America have all the latest technology and here is a school where they are getting by with the basics. My kids did a great job teaching the KGers and 1st graders. They were troopers. When we found out that the second grade classes that we were supposed to teach had gone home, well they just went along with teaching the first graders again. I really feel blessed by these students. It also opened my eyes to how many people there still are that need to hear Jesus' name. We think that the job is almost done, yet there are so many kids that have yet to hear of the one that saves. They are still living in the darkness. How to make them see the light????

Love them and live for Him!

a very cultural experience

Today we took the 6th graders to the famous Crocodile Farm. It was very interesting and very cultural. I had a lot of fun and thank goodness my group stayed together today. They were really trying to let me know where they were going. I just have some girls who like to rebel against authority so you can imagine what that was like trying to get them to stay in a group. Anyways we went to eat lunch and that is where the cultural experience begins. So first of all there is just one lady trying to cook for all these people. Which I mean she gets it done but it takes forever. We were the second group to order our food and the last group to get it. You see it is not like you sit down and then order. Nope, you go up and order. So my Korean kids, who can speak Thai ordered food. Well then some Thai kids went up and ordered food. Who do you think got there food first???? The Thai kids ofcourse. We had two of OUR own groups get in front of us in ordering. This is not because they were trying to be rude. In fact. I think if they had realized it was happening then they probably would have let my kids get their food first. So crazy!!!!

It reminded me a lot of sacrifice. I was ready to just move on to another place. I was tired of waiting. But then I thought...so many times Jesus or His disciples had to put others first. There was this man sitting at the back of the restaurant, but I wouldn't really call it that. He waited patiently for our whole group to finish at least 35 kids and then he went and ordered. He had patience. He wasn't upset or mad. I sort of thought about my Grandpa and he was a great man, but hated waiting for anything. He would have never sat around that long just letting all these kids go before him. Interesting??? I was ready to just give up and if I had, then what? I might have left hungry, and I might have just had to go and wait someplace else.

I am waiting right now for the Lord's answer on something. It seems to me that I have been waiting for a few years now and every time I think that I am close to understanding, well the door gets closed yet again. But waiting, it is having patience and that is what our Lord is all about. So I will wait, even if it means letting every person in this country go in front of me to order food. I will wait because if I am not waiting on the Lord, then I am trying to do it on my own and that is just not okay!

If only he had known...

Yesterday a young man from my church passed away. His family is of a different religion and I am not really sure where his heart was. From his actions I do not think that he believed in Jesus. It makes my heart hurt to think just what that means. I know there are so many people out there who do not believe as I do and are okay with just living life and not believing in anything. I am not judging them at all, but I am urging everyone. You don't know what tomorrow might bring. Search today, seek until the truth is evident to you. I don't think that I would have imagined this young man not here today at church, with that blank stare on his face. But as my eyes scanned the room, I fell to the seat where he sat the week before. So much hurt and pain in that young man's eyes. Yet, so much hardness and stubborness there too. As I write this I am listening to a sermon about Holiness. To be Holy, it is to stay away from sin. To live a life that is completely out of sin. Now how is that possible? It is not possible on my own, but in Jesus I can. Yes everyday I make mistakes and even right now I am in a struggle that I can't seem to get out of, but it has to be in everything. Not just in front of others. Not just for a show, but in everything. If I am not willing to give it all up for him, to look "crazy" to the world for believing in Jesus, then I am not willing to sacrifice for Him. If I am not willing to sacrifice then I should not be able to be called a disciple of Jesus.

There are many people right now that I know who are claiming the Christian lifestyle but are not walking in the life that Jesus would be. They are dipping into the world, and because of this the whole body of Christ is suffering. If we are not living the life of Christ then we are not truly living, we are not being of one mind and one body. We are just giving in to sin, being of the world. Hardening our hearts and allowing the thoughts of our minds and hearts to be taken over by one that is not God.


So I guess I just want to up my standards. I must first make sure my life is Holy, right with the Lord that I am not sinning. Then I think that it is time for me to help others. The body of Christ. If I can't do that then what am I doing serving???? And for those that are not believing in him....I have to show them who He is. It is up to them after that....but I pray the truth is realized before it is too late. You never know what tomorrow might bring!

Long time...

It has been such a long time since I have written anything in my blog. Sometimes I can't find the time to write and to think. It makes me a little sad, but I know that is a part of life sometimes. February is a tough month for me. One year ago, my life was falling apart. I lost a friendship that I thought would never end. My Grandpa died and really I was just at a low point. But then I also got a job offer to move to Thailand. Now, here I am in Thailand. I am living a life that people only dream about but there is something missing from my life. I still long for that friendship that sticks closer than a brother. The one that never ends, never fails. Why is it that the harder I try to just be okay without the more I want it.

Next week we go on a field trip. I am excited for a chance to see some of the things in this city that I have heard so much about. The more I experience though the sadder I get. Why is it that the truth can't just be accepted? Why is it that the harder I try to explain what I believe the more I doubt of the impact that it is making.

Maybe I will stop writing because I just feel that this is going to be one depressing blog....man!