Finally Home

Hey everyone,

I am finally home from Thailand! it is very different here already but it is good to be home even though I miss people. When I got home this is the email I received from Valerie who leads the Bible studies on Wednesday nights:

"Hi y'all. I know you're still in flight as I write this, but I want you to have mail waiting when you get home! Just thought I'd fill you in on Bible study tonight. I was early so I expected to go up to the room and sit by myself for a while before anybody got there. But as soon as I walked in the building Tum came running up, and then Piak. They walked up the stairs with me, and when I got to the top there was Keow, Carol, and Jade waiting. (Carol was worried that we weren't going to have Bible study since nobody else was there and the door was locked, but it was still 10 minutes early!) Ajarn Pom came and unlocked the door but she couldn't stay because she was getting ready for a trip. Piak played the guitar, bless his heart. And we tried to sing, bless our hearts. My voice (which is never good) is terrible with my bad cold, and Tum is not exactly a song leader. So we made a "joyful noise" on "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" and "All in All", then decided that was enough. I taught about prayer. It was good, and we had some good discussion. Carol had a lot of questions about how we know when something is God's will. I hope we hurry and get a Chinese Bible for her so that girl can start finding her own answers. It's hard because her Thai is about as bad as her English so I never know which language to use with her. But I did my best and she acted like it was helpful. About halfway through Ek (A.K.) came, so that was good. (I asked him to play a song at the end but he said he needed to practice.) During the Bible study we talked about how God answers our prayers different ways. Sometimes he tells us no, if it's not in line with his will or he wants to teach us something. Sometimes he tells us to wait. And sometimes he gives us what we ask for. I told them that one request that God NEVER refuses, is when we ask him to come into our hearts and save us. Keep praying that they'll do that soon!!!"

This was so encouraging to receive because It is easy to feel like they will quit searching just because we have left. I am so blessed to be a part of these people's lives! God really used me this summer despite my weaknesses and I am so thankful. Thank you for all of your prayers this summer...God really was listening and he was and is really at work!

One quick story before I end this blog ;) About 2 weeks before we were to leave for the summer I walked past my friend Kung's (pronounced Goon) Internet Cafe near my apartment . I felt like I needed to go in and talk to him without using the Internet to show him that I really do consider him a friend and I don't just talk to him because we use the Internet - This was completely God's leading. When I went in, I took him a small present and talked with him only for a few minutes. As I was leaving he said "Kai mook, (my Thai name) Um you know Pakkad (Pakkad is his dog)?" and I said yes and he said "someone steal." Me and another one of my roommates, Erin, were shocked to find out that his dog had been stolen right outside his store. Kung began to cry and even had to leave the room before he could finish telling us that someone rode up on a motorcycle ,grabbed Pakkad and drove off. He saw the whole thing. I wanted to comfort him but I didn't really know how except to tell him that I would be praying for him. All summer I have prayed that I would have an opportunity to share with him and this was the first time I have really had an opening. While I was sad for him I was also praying that this would be God's way of opening the door to share. The next morning I went and bought some fruit and wrote Kung a card telling him how sorry I was and that I would continue to pray for him. He received it and was very thankful that I cared. On that Saturday he had planned to cook us dinner and I was confused about how many were invited because there are 6 of us girls that live in the apartment and that is alot to cook for. Because I was confused I asked Scott (the missionary we worked for) to go and talk to Kung in Thai and find out for us. Scott gladly went and also invited Kung to church on Sunday. The dinner went really well and Kung was beginning to be happier after losing Pakkad and that Sunday Kung and his wife came to church. On Monday, we went by the shop to see Kung and take a picture with him and out he came with a huge smile on his face and Pakkad in his arms!!! We all laughed and rejoiced with him as he told us how he saw a woman holding her and went up and said "that is my dog" and he took her back! We took several pictures with him and we were all smiles! That night we all discussed how when we saw him with Pakkad we thought of the story from the Bible about the Lost sheep. The next day Danette and I took him a Thai Bible and shared from Luke about the lost sheep and we gave him the Bible! What an awesome opportunity God provided for us! Please keep Kung in your prayers even though we are no longer in Thailand. God is most certainly at work in Kung's life and Kung would certainly be on fire for Jesus if he becomes a Christian!

Please also keep Keaw, Carol, and Pum in your prayers as they are continuing to seek God out. I know that they will find him and when they do I will joyfully share that with all of you. The last night that we were in Thailand we received a text message from Keaw that said "I will continue to seek God, and If I become a Christian I will let you know" he also sent me an email telling me he would pray for me because I was sick! God is at work! Thank you all for your prayers and support and encouraging comments throughout the summer! I am so thankful for all of you ;)

Love you,

Kai mook, Rachel

P.S. Nancy was Baptized on our last Sunday in Thailand! I have uploaded a video of that beautiful event...when she comes out of the water what Tum says in Thai is "You now rise and are alive in Christ"...notice her smile and joy!

Also, The pictures are on Kung (the 1st two), then of Keaw, Then Carol, and Danette and Pum ;)

Last week

So it is officially one week until I leave to go home. This past weekend has been very difficult for me spiritually. I haven't felt God's presence as strongly which is strange because amazing things have been happening and people have been seeking like crazy. I also have become a little sick. Yesterday I had a fever and body aches but I am feeling better today. hopefully it is over and I can enjoy my last week here with the students. Please pray for all of us to that end. That our last week would be special and glorifying to God. Also that we would all be well because several of us have been sick or hurt in different ways and I think that satan is trying to get us down.

I really want to continue doing what I have been doing here when I get home. Being open about God and about Jesus and not afraid to share him with others because he is life. There is no life outside of Christ. Please pray for all of us volunteers that we would transition well to life at home and that the people here that we have become close friends with would transition well also. I know that they are already very sad about us leaving. Keaw seems he is going to cry any time someone says that we are leaving. He has been very sad in the past and I think that God used us to bring some joy to his life but I hope that he will seek his joy from God and continue to seek even after we have left.

Thank you for praying for me this summer. I have appreciated it so much and all of your comments have been so encouraging and I have really received them. I am excited about what God is going to do in this last week and hopefully I will have something wonderful to share with you when I get home about what He did this week.

Lastly, Corinne is being baptized on Sunday...she is one of the volunteers and Nancy, the Thai girl who became a Christian at English camp may also be baptized. We have invited many of the students to come and watch so please pray that they would witness Corinne's step of faith and that they would want the light that we carry inside of us. People I know will be there are Keaw, Ak, Art, Carol, and Jade. Hopefully Piak will come also. Please pray that God would use this to bring these people to him.

Rachel

God is Awesome!

Wow....so I have alot to share from the last few days!

On Sunday night, Danette and I prayed for Keaw and for Poom, that God would reveal himself to them supernaturally. I have been praying for a dream for Keaw or just anything that would show him that what seems impossible is possible with God.

WELL!! then on Monday Danette and I went to the Library on Campus which was completely God because I really wanted to go home. We ran into Keaw and Carol. I began to speak with Keaw and Danette began to speak with Carol. Keaw told me this: "Last week my ear was hurting, I got water in it and I haven't been able to hear for a week. Then I read the Bible and prayed on Saturday night and then on Sunday morning when I woke up I could hear!" I got really excited and so did Keaw he said "it is a miracle there is no explanation! I couldn't hear for a week and now I can" There was so much joy in those few moments I shared with Keaw! (Danette and I prayed together on Sunday night but God had already answered it that morning! amazing!) He told me that he has been keeping his Bible next to his bed and that he reads it when he gets bored while studying to keep him awake and I told him to keep praying. He innocently said "can I?" and I said YES!! God wants to hear from you because he loves you so much. I said God loves everyone and he made us and he wants to hear us speak to him. I went on about how much God loves him for a few minutes which was not me speaking at all because I typically don't rant about God loving everyone...I felt like it was God doing it.

While I was talking with Keaw, Danette and Carol were speaking about how if you seek God you will find him. Carol actually said "I believe in God" which was incredible. Carol is Chinese and we do not have a Bible for her yet but we are trying to get one quickly. As Danette was speaking with Carol she said that she would tell Carol one spiritual truth and 3 more would come out of Carol. It was God opening her eyes! When all of us began to talk together...Keaw said "I think Carol wants to know Jesus" and I said do you? and he said "maybe"! it was so encouraging to hear him say those things. I was so blessed to be the one to experience that with him.

Please pray for Keaw and Carol...that God would protect them from spiritual attack because we have all felt a lot of attack in the last few days. Please pray that there would be no anxiety among us and that we would trust fully in the Lord! He is going to finish the good work that he has started...even if we are not here to see it. The Lord is doing all of these things and not us...people just pop up out of nowhere and ask about God.

At Bible study last night, students showed up that we have never even met before! We found out that our friend Tor has been to the morman church before so please pray that he would go to a Christian church...even our church and would be turned away from the Mormans.

Also! We found out that our friend Ploy is a Christian. Her story is so amazing and is further proof that God does not need us to help bring these people to him. He uses us as a blessing to us and to grow us in him. Here is Ploy's story: One of her favorite singers who is Thai is a Christian and he wrote a book. She called a number and was sent the book for free. After reading the book she decided that she wanted to find out more about Jesus. She decided to go to church. She went to a Morman church but no one was there and as she walked into the building she heard an AUDIBLE man's voice say "this place is not good, Leave!" She believes that this was the Voice of God! and So do I! She ended up then going to a Christian church and and she asked questions and she believed and became a Christian. This happened when she was 15. She has been a Christian for 3 years and we were so encouraged by her testimoney, which by the way Keaw also heard...and later Carol talked about Ploy being a Christian which means that Keaw had to have told Carol about Ploy! God is at work! Ploy also put her hand on the Bible and said "this is life, God is life" Erin and I both started crying because we were so overwhelmed by God's power and love. He pointed Ploy to himself without the help of anyone. He spoke directly to her to show her the way to him! Amazing!

God is at work, it is undeniable! Please continue to pray for these people and for their salvation! Please pray against spiritual attack which we have all witnessed in the last few days. Thank you so much for your prayers! God hears you! He wants you to speak to him because he loves you! If we ask for anything in his name it will be done! names to Pray for: Keaw, Carol, Poom, Art, Piak, AK, Tor, Jar, Idea...there are more than these that I do not even know about that are seeking. Please pray that they would find us before we leave so that we can connect them to Scott and Valerie who are the missionaries that stay here.

Rachel

English Camp

We just finished with English camp and with camp for the little kids in the village. Both went incredibly well!

First I will talk about English camp...It was two days of non-stop English and we planned many songs and games and stories to share. I played guitar and sang "My heart will go on" in front of 104 Thai students which is definitely a first for me but it went well and was really fun. The students love that song. I also shared a bit of my testimony with all of the students on the first night. I talked about a time I was heartbroken and how God really came close to me during that time and filled me up. I said that many people are empty inside and they try to fill that void with things like relationships or alcohol or friends or drugs or money but that only God can truly fill our hearts and make us joyful. I was really really nervous and felt very vulnerable because it is kind of embarrassing to talk about how I got my heart broken to anyone much less 104 students. I had Tum translate for me and even he was nervous ;). After I spoke I sang "love song" by Third day with Beth. I love this song and it really says what Jesus did for us and how much he loves us and how earthly love cannot compare. Afterwards we broke into groups to discuss what I had shared. Three of the seven groups ended with tears which was really awesome because the students really opened up. My group was very shy and timid about speaking but one girl named Carol asked me a lot of questions about how I knew God cared and if I could ever trust again. It was really a blessing to answer her questions. I found out later that one of the girls in another group had had her heartbroken the day before in a text message which is exactly what I had shared had happened to me. It was completely God working through me and not me speaking at all because I have been incredibly shy my whole life. I spoke in front of over 100 people! if that doesn't show God is real and working I don't know what does! ;).

One girl named Nancy became a Christian during camp! I didn't know her before hand but she has been seeking for a long time and decided that what she was missing in her life was Jesus! She really blessed us by accepting Christ and we were very excited to see her commit her life to Christ! she couldn't stop crying for being so happy and overwhelmed by the love of God. On Sunday at church she shared her testimony for everyone and again broke down in tears! we were all crying with her as she let her joy over being saved spill over! it was such a blessing to be a part of ;)

Also, Piak spoke with Scott and Valerie and has not yet become a Christian but he is seeking more than ever. Please keep praying that God would take fear out of his life. Here it is a huge sacrifice to follow Jesus because you go against everything you family wants. Tum, our Christian friend pays the price daily for his faith. His mother tries to get him to become a monk so that she can earn merit and he has to sneak out early in the morning to avoid her constant nagging. Witnessing Christians here is so encouraging! Please keep praying for Piak!

Please also be praying for Pum (poom), we have really been able to get more insight into her life and her story over the past weekend. Please pray that she will have relief with her family and also just health wise because she gets very stressed. Also, that she will just realize the truth of the gospel. She has a hard time believing in God because she cannot see him like she can see a statue of Buddha. My prayer is that God will reveal himself to her either in a dream or just through his love.

Keaw was not able to come to Church on Sunday because of his studies...all of the students are stressed right now because these next two weeks are midterms. He did surprise me though by telling me that he has still been reading the Bible and is in Mark. Please pray that it would make sense to him and that God will reveal himself to Keaw!

There is also one last person to keep in your prayers as of now...his name is Tongz, he came up to me after I spoke at camp and said that he was sorry I had been hurt and he asked me how I became a Christian. I was able to share with him and I found out that his mom used to be a Christian but now follows Buddhist practices. I asked him what he believes and he said he believes in goodness. He is seeking alot! I found out after camp that he not only asked me but he also asked Danette, Ruth, and Erin about their testimonies. God is definitely working in his heart!

At the little kids camp we played many games with them and really just got to show them love through our willingness to come and be there. I hope that they will remember us and know that we love them. I wish that we could communicate with them better but I know that they can see our actions.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support! These last two weeks will be very hard for us and I am so thankful for your prayers at home! It is encouraging to know we are not the only ones loving these people ;)

Rachel

p.s. Pic 1) Me and Beth singing "my heart will go on"
Pic 2) One of the games that I lead during English Camp
Pic 3) My group at Camp
Pic 4) The pastor from Oklahoma and Tum sharing the gospel with the little children.
Pic 5) Me and Keaw being silly in class

Hey there,

So wonderful news about Piak...He came to our house on Friday for our fun night and Corinne was able to share the entire gospel with him. He just started asking...in fact the whole night was Thai people asking about Jesus. I got to speak with Art and I looked around the room and Corinne was talking to Piak and Beth was playing Christian songs on the guitar...God was moving.

Corinne spoke with Piak and at the end he asked her to pray with him. This was a really great moment because It shows that he really does want Jesus but we didn't want him to rush into anything because he also has to realize that becoming a Christian means putting everything he has grown up with in Buddhism aside to follow Christ. Corinne gave him some verses from the Bible and told him to pray about them and really read them and then to come back on Sunday so he could talk to Scott...Scott speaks Thai so that makes it alot easier to explain. He did not show up on Sunday though...but he is coming to English camp on Thursday so hopefully more conversation will take place there. Please just keep praying for him because God is listening!

Also, Danette and I got a chance to speak with Art. He was asking us some questions about Chrisitianity and so I asked him what he thinks happens when he dies. He said he doesn't know. Danette then started to talk about what Heaven will be like...her eyes lit up and she was joyful and smiling and Art was watching so carefully. Then I asked him what he thinks about us when we talk about our beliefs. He said that he thinks it is interesting and that he is researching it and trying to find out more about it...then he said the amazing part...he said "I think one day....one day I will be a Christian" It was so encouraging to hear him say that. I hope that he truly will be!

This past weekend I was able to travel to Roi Et which is a province very close to Maha Sarakham. We went with 4 Thai girls named Kook (it was her hometown) Mintra, Rainbow, and Su. We had a blast...we got to see the tallest Buddha statue in Thailand and we were able to go to a temple and feed fish and even get in paddle boats on a lake. It was a really wonderful day. I was able to try crab curry and garlic fried fish and all kinds of foods this weekend...the 6th picture from the top is me about to eat the head of the fish...it wasn't the most delicious part but it was still tasty. I am trying many new things and it is exciting ;)

Please continue to pray for Poom. This Sunday she was translating for us and therefore sharing the gospel with Thai people without even realizing that she was being used by the Lord. It was an awesome sight to see. We nickname her Wildfire because all of us see in her great passion for God's word. When she becomes a Christian she truly will be a wildfire for Christ!

Also, I have no new update on Keaw except that he has still been coming to Church and to Bible study...I just keep praying that as he hears the word more and more he will begin to realize its truth...he is such a good friend here and I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be apart of his life.

Please Please pray for me this weekend...I know the prayer should be directed at these people but during English camp I am going to be playing guitar and singing as well as sharing a testimony...all of this in front of 100 Thai people. I need some prayer that I would calm down and relax in God's love for me. That is all I ask ;)

Thank you so so much for your prayers....I appreciate them more than I can express!

Also...the first picture is Danette, Keaw and Me at the night market, the 2nd picture is me and Poom at a small zoo, the 3rd picture is of me teaching to a class of over 50 students! crazy ;), the 4th picture is me riding on the back of a song tow, the 5th is me pretending to weave at a village craft store, the 6th is me about to eat the fish head, and the last picture is me and the girls in Roi Et on top of part of the temple. I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I enjoy showing them!!

Rachel

Awesomeness ;)

So this last week and a half has really been packed with awesomeness ;)

I don't even really know where to begin but I guess I will start with Keaw. Danette and I were able to speak with Keaw last wednesday about Jesus rising from the dead and ascending into Heaven after appearing to hundreds of people. We also were able to tell him about the disciples and how they all died because of their belief that Jesus was God and that he did rise from the dead. It got really deep ;) then Keaw was walking with me to find Erin and Erin had her Bible out. Keaw asked how much a Bible costs and we told him and he looked appalled. I told him that he could have one for free if he wanted and he said that he did so he now has a Bible - Praise the Lord ;)! Also, we started walking to dinner after that and Keaw was dancing along and singing and just waving his arms about so freely...we have never seen him act so joyful - it was if he had caught a little bit of the joy that comes from knowing Jesus. On Sunday I invited him to church again and he came and he had already read through chapter 5 of Matthew. I asked him if he would like to read through it with me and talk about it and he said yes so that is what we will do every Wednesday hopefully. This Wednesday I planned on speaking with him about the 1st 5 chapters (which by the way, are full!! of truth and I can't imagine understanding it if I had never heard it before). Anyway, when we started talking he asked me about a passage in chapter 27! I said "I thought you had only read through 5" and he said "yes, but I wanted to know what happened" LOL. So I guess he skipped to the end...which is pretty awesome. He asked me why the Romans mocked Jesus and put a crown on his head and he also asked me why Jesus had to die...needless to say the Lord really gave me an opportunity to lay out the whole gospel...starting with the Old Testament and how they sacrificed lambs and how Jesus was like a lamb...he was sacrificed for our sins. Anyway! I don't know if he understood but I do know that he knows we love Jesus and that we really believe what we tell him. I have never felt as used by God as I do here...it is amazing to get to tell someone the truth...the whole truth openly! God is so good and man, he wants to use us which is awesome because he doesn't need me at all. I read a passage in a book called "The Heavenly Man" where he said that if God never used us again we would have no room to complain. This statement hit me hard because I think about how much I want to be used by the Lord....I have often complained that he isn't using me but really he is and even if he weren't I could not complain. He loves us so much! Anyway - I am now ranting ;) Keaw seems interested which is good but he also thinks the things we have shared with him are impossible...Pray that God would show him that what seems impossible is POSSIBLE with God.

Moving on ;) Our friend Poom spent the night at our apartment the other night which was a really wonderful chance to build a deeper bond with her. The next day was Sunday and she stayed for Church. During Church we were talking about Abraham and she spoke up and said "I think the most important part of the story is his faith. I think what we have to have is faith." The Paynes have been teaching her and telling her about Jesus for the last 3 years and we all kind of feel like she may be ready to accept Jesus. Several of us have been able to picture her being on fire for the Lord and just being really hungry for the scriptures and I feel that her salvation is near. Please pray to that end ;)!

Also! Our friend Piak asked about Jesus out of nowhere during class. He came to Bible study tonight and he said that his favorite part of the story that Erin told was that Jesus died to save everyone. God is really moving in his heart...please pray for him. That he will believe and also that he will keep in contact with Christian men who can show him the way.

Lastly, Please keep English Camp in your prayers. It will be July 17-18. We get to have almost 2 full days with these students and countless opportunities to share with them. Please pray that we would plan well and come up with things that are fun as well as ways to share Jesus. We have almost 100 students signed up which is really incredible! Please just keep praying because God is listening ;) I am so grateful for your prayers and supportive comments and your love! Thank you!

Rachel

This week in Thailand has been very good for us. We have been able to build more relationships with students which is exciting. We got to hang out with Art and Nick some. Nick is in the top picture with me and we joined the English club which is really exciting ;) I get my own membership card and everything!

I also found out that Art has been going to a Morman church which is discouraging. Alot of people here will say that they are Christian but it really means Morman. Art did say that the Morman worship felt different from our Worship and Scott let him know that it is different and that the book they use is different from our Bible. I also found out that English club meetings are meeting during church which is why some of them haven't been coming. Please pray that they would change the meeting time.

We got to hang out with Art on Friday night and also with AK who has also been to a Morman church. It was really good to spend time with just two Thai students because we get to build deeper relationships with them. We had a lot of fun and played some games and even learned some games from them. This week has really just been good for building trust between us and the Thai students.

Please also pray for Keaw. He has been very homesick and so we made him a little care package with some food and a card. He said that he has never received anything like that before and that he was very "impressed" with us. This was very encouraging because we want to tell him about Jesus but we also want to show him the love that comes from knowing Jesus. I really hope he sees that in us. Please pray for his salvation. He calls us his sisters and we call him Bubba...I think he really does like us which is good :).

On Sunday we went to Thai church with a man named "Man" he is Valerie's hair dresser and he is a Christian. The 4th picture from the top is me in the back of Man's car with his son Mark. During Sunday school I began to pray that God would just open my ears and I would be able to understand Thai (I have been praying that since I got here - how cool would that be?) Anyway, as I was praying a man came and sat next to me and said "do you understand Thai?" and I said "no." And he said "well I will translate for you then." The Lord is so faithful! Also during church all of the songs were in Thai and I prayed that God would let them sing just one that I knew so I could sing along in English and the very next song was "How great is our God" by Chris Tomlin and we were all able to sing along. Thai church was really amazing. I had a translator so I was able to understand and the people are really excited about praising God. At home we all stand in our pews and sing...some people put their arms up but not many. At Thai church, I was the strange one because I was standing there with my arms by my side. There was a lot of freedom in that service that I hope we can have in the U.S. I am uploading a video of Thai Church right now...it is during worship - they have girls dance at the front during the songs...they love to sing and dance over here...especially the Christians because they can express their love for the Lord in that.

A few more things to pray for are:

Corinne - she is sick and has been in bed for several days. Scott and I went to the hospital with her and they said she has a bacterial infection in her small intestines. Please pray that she would get well very soon. They have given her some medicine so hopefully that will help. Pray that she would get healthy and that she would also be really aware of the Lord's hand in all of this.

Also, we are getting a new roommate tomorrow named Kristal. She will be the 7th in the apartment which is good. Please pray that she would adjust well and that we would all welcome her and make her feel at home.

Please also pray for the Thai christians...that they would be encouraged and be bold in their faith. We have met several and their stories are really amazing. They have to go against their families beliefs and expectations in order to live a life for Jesus. They are such an encouragement to all of us as we live out our faith.

Thank you for all of your prayers - I know this is a long list! I have loved your comments and emails they have really encouraged me and reminded me of the truth of God's love. Thank you!

Rachel

Praise Him!

Thank you so much for praying with me and the girls this week...God was so incredibly faithful! All of us have been encouraged in different ways this week. We started classes at old campus and I go there on Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Thursday we had our first real classes there and then we got to hang out with our Thai friend Nick. We went to the canteen and had iced coffee and we got to chat with him about family and friends for about an hour. It was so peaceful and just really lifted me up.

Then on Friday night we had Friday night fun night with the students at our apartment which was wonderful! I made them grilled jelly sandwiches which were a hit. We also played games and did Karoake...not to mention I found out that my nephew had been born...Praise Him! Friday was really awesome because we connected with some new students that we otherwise wouldn't have known. The 3rd and 4th picture are from friday...the 4th is all the Thai girls singing karoake.

Sunday was the most amazing day yet here in Maha Sarakham. I told you that last week we only had one thai student and I was really discouraged by that but this week....whoa...Praise Him ;) we had 12 Thai people, one Korean, one Malaysian, and 6 Americans. A mixed group for sure. Scott and Valerie were not here this week for Worship and so it was up to us to put church together. Ruth told the story of Abraham and how God told him to leave his country and his father's home and go to the land he would give to him (Canaan). God also told him that he would have a son at the age of 75. I told you about my friend Keaw and I asked you all to pray for him...he came to church along with 3 of his friends. His response to the story was...well that is an interesting story but it is impossible. We were then able to share about Jesus and salvation and how everything is possible with God...he can even raise people from the dead...including himself! One student there named Khowee...had a lot of questions and took a Thai Bible with him. Please pray for him that he would read it and understand the truth. I played guitar on Sunday which always makes me a little nervous but I played really well...it was as if the Lord was doing it instead of me and all of the girls on the team contributed in different ways to the discussion of the gospel...the Spirit was really at work. When we were finishing Beth played the last song which was Jesus lover of my soul...a really beautiful song:

Jesus lover of my soul
Jesus I will never let you go
You've taken me from the miry clay
You've set my feet upon the rock and now I know

I love you, I need you
though my world may fall i'll never let you go
my savior, my closest friend
I will worship you until the very end.

This song is incredible and we decided to sing it first in English then in Thai and then in both at the same time. During the beginning an Elephant suddenly came to our front door...he was shaking his head and stomping his feet as if he were dancing and praising God right along with us. Creation knows God even if people do not. I tried to video tape it but it didn't work because I also wanted to sing and so I messed up the video. That moment was so amazing and the whole room was just filled with the Lord's spirit. This is the first elephant we have seen in Thailand...Mahasarakham is not known for elephants and so we haven't seen any nor did we expect to see any in this town. The Lord is so faithful and he just romances us and shows us his love at every turn. I wish I had the video to share but I do have one picture...it is the first one...look closely to see the elephant and all of the people who attended church worhsipping the Lord.

I hope this encourages all of you like it does me. I asked you to pray for church attendance and also for these people and the Lord has answered with amazing love. Thank you so much!!! Please keep praying for these people...especially Keaw, Khowee, and Vaew and Beer (yes beer) who also came to church. There were also 5 children that came with Valerie's hair dresser who is a Christian, one of them is his son but the others were just friends....they sang their little hearts out to the Lord but I doubt they even knew it. One other name that comes to mind is our friend Goon (which means shrimp)...he owns the internet cafe that we often go to on the weekends and he shows us so much love. He has a really cute dog that he lets me play with since I don't have mine here with me...her name means "forgettable." Pray that we would find a way to share the gospel with him...he speaks English pretty well but it is hard to bring up the gospel with him randomly.

Thank you for your prayers...the Lord has really been answering ;)

Rachel

Please pray ;)

Hey again,

The last week here has been kind of difficult for me spiritually and I have decided to share it with you all because I could really use some prayer over these issues. I love being here and I love all the girls on my team but I have been discouraged about where I fit in and how God is going to use me here. When I came here I felt like I had certain gifts that God would be able to use and it seems that in almost every situation those gifts have been of no use to me so I am in very unfamiliar territory. Also, all of the girls that I live with are amazing girls and they are so talented and are really great at getting to know people and make friendships. I have been a little frustrated at times with God because I want him to use me here to my fullest potential and I feel that I have not been up to par.

This morning, though, I realized that I just need to quit complaining (I am a huge whiner and I know it) and I need to be willing to do the tasks that God has set before me whether I think I am good enough to complete them or not. It isn't me that is strong and able to do them anyway it is the Lord and if he wants to use me he will and all I have to do is try. He is definitely faithful to me. I guess I just need some prayer about confidence and about the gifts God has given me.

Also last night as we were praying as a team God reminded me of all the ways that he has been romancing me since I have been here and just trying to show me that he loves me...and I of course have just been complaining to him about using me here. I have said this before but the nick name given to me is Kai mook and God just reminded me again last night that that name was a precious gift from him directly to me. There is no way that my Thai friends could have known how special that name would be and there is no coincidence big enough to explain it away. That name really was a present to me from God to remind me that he loves me. I also began to think about the special people I have begun to make friendships with such as Mate who spent the summer in Wyoming and Keaw (his name means green which is my favorite color). Both of these people seem drawn to me and enjoy talking to me and it is completely the Lord's doing and not mine. The connections with them are also from the Lord - as silly as it sounds to say that the Lord would bring someone with the name green to me because it is my favorite color I believe that it is true. The Lord is faithful and he wants me to know that he loves me and he has plans for me. His romance is amazing. The Lord has really been opening my eyes since I have been here and actually been helping me understand him. Several times I have had small glimpses of a scene in my head as I have been praying and I have asked the Lord for discernment and received it. The Lord is working no matter how much I complain about how he is going to use me. If you could just pray with me that I would stop thinking about myself and start thinking about these people and serving them to the best of my ability however weak that may be I would appreciate it. Please keep Mate, Keaw, Ninja, Aoy, Art, Jan, Pat, Nong, Noof, AK, Nick, and countless others in your prayers that would be amazing. If you are all praying for them along with us I know the Lord will not deny us. Please pray that our ministry here would be enhanced and that we would be able to be more confident in making friendships and in inviting people to hang out with us.

One praise is that our Friday night fun night went really well. We had 13 students over to our apartment on Friday to practice English and mostly just to hang out. One student, AK (pronounced A. K.) came in and immediately sat down with me and asked me what Worship meant. I of course was overwhelmed but was able to tell him what it is and then Corinne sat down with us and she was able to share the gospel with him. I really think that he is searching and while he was unable to come to church on Sunday I am hoping he will come this Sunday. Please pray that he would. I also got to have some good relationship building conversation that night with a guy named BigM and a girl named Pat. BigM didn't tell me what he believes but I do know that Pat is of the Bahai faith. Please pray for our friendships with them.

On Sunday I lead the Bible story which was from Genesis 2 and 3 about the fall of man. I feel like the Lord really used it to build us up as a body but only one Thai person came to that and her name is Pum. She is not a Christian so I hope that even though I didn't see any change in her on Sunday we will be able to share with her throughout the summer. Sunday was discouraging for me but I am praying that more Thai people will come next week!! I really hope that they do. They need the word so badly.

We also went to teach the little kids yesterday which was really fun. We taught them about the parts of the body and were able to sing head shoulders knees and toes with them as well as Father Abraham and the Hokey pokey. It was good fun. They are really cute.

Thank you so much for your prayers and your willingness to pray for me. It is really amazing the amount of people who have said that they will pray. I just want to cry and praise the Lord for it. love you all ;)

Rachel

Quick update

So I just got to add pictures!! yay! the first one is of our classes...I just wanted to show you what we are doing all day. The next few are of the kids that we get to teach at the village school. We are going to go every Monday! The kids are so cute and there is one little girl who followed me around while I was there...In the picture with me and the kids she is the one closest to me. Also the last picture is of the Thai students at our apartment the night it rained so hard. They are our "core group" I guess you would say that we have been getting to hang out with. I love them already! that is all for now! ;)

Rachel

First week of class

Classes have finally started and are going well. It is very strange to be the teacher especially when the students can hardly understand me. Our first class had only two students but it was very good practice for them. Our second class had only one student and Beth and I taught her personally and I felt that she really learned alot (her name is Mai). Our third class which was on Tuesday had about 13 and that class went incredibly well and really got us excited about what we are doing here. Today however was a rollercoaster of classes. Our first class was a lot of freshman and they were very VERY shy. We try to have a lot of interactive activities that will get them to speak and be able to practice but they just didn't want to be involved. I was the one introducing the class and I led the first excercise and I was literally like please nod your head if you understand....no response....raise your hand if you understand...no response just blank stares...ridiculous. They finally did loosen up a little bit but the section I led was excruciating. Then our 2 other classes had 20 to 30 students and they were very active and willing to participate. I even met a girl named Mate that spent a summer in Wyoming which I of course love and we got a chance to talk and get to know each other because of that connection.

God has been really good about bringing about connections that you would never expect. Beth was buying bananas the other day from a street vendor and was having trouble communicating and then BAM the girl started speaking german (she learned German in school) and Beth is a german minor and it was just like the haze lifted and they could understand one another. Beth's dad's response was that only God can bring a girl who is a german minor to Thailand to witness to a Thai woman in German..only God would care that much. Which is so powerful and awesome.

Last Sunday I was in charge of worship which always makes me a little nervous because I am not all that great at playing guitar. On top of that though, I lost my voice recently due to sinus problems and so I couldn't sing and had to rely on Beth who sings beautifully to be my voice and carry the tune. It was really hard to play along without singing, especially when the group started singing in Thai and needless to say I messed up alot. It was ok though I really wasn't embarassed or anything I was more just frustrated that I couldn't play these easy songs that I play perfectly all the time in front of the group. But then, that night about 7 or 8 of our Thai friends came over to our apartment. They told us they would be at worship with us but they never showed up so what did God do...he made rain ;). It started raining really hard and they weren't able to leave for a couple of hours because all they have are motorscooters. During that time we were able to play Christian music with them and also sing in Thai (p.s. at that time I did play perfectly...even through the Thai songs...God is so faithful). We also got to play some games with them and just really bond and grow some closer relationships. We had worship even though they had decided to miss our worship service earlier that day.

Tonight we went with those same friends to a Thai beauty pageant where all the guys and girls that were in the program wore traditional Thai clothing and there were traditional dances. It was really really cool and we really enjoyed some more time to get closer to these students. My prayer is that they would really open up to us while we are here and expose the parts of themselves that are vulnerable and hurting and broken. While people seem ok, almost everyone is hurting in some way and I know that is true of these people who don't even know the one that created them. I hope that we will be able to encourage them in their brokenness and be able to point them to the Lord and show them how he can heal us all. I also want to ask you all to pray for me because on Sunday I am leading the English bible study. I am going to tell the story of the fall of Adam and Eve and lead some discussion and I just want to do a good job and have good questions that will really make people think. I also don't want to be nervous...which I will say, I am not yet. I hoped I would be able to share some more pictures but I can't yet...hopefully I will be able to in the next couple of days. Thank you all for your prayers and encouraging words. ;)

Rachel

Thailand...wow

Hey guys,

I have been here almost a week which seems strange...I feel like I have been here forever already. We have been getting to meet alot of Thai students which has been really great. I actually went and saw Prince Caspian (the 2nd Narnia movie) in Thai..no subtitles or anything with several of our friends. It was pretty great. I could understand a few lines but mostly I just remembered what they were saying because I had already seen it in English. It was still good though ;)

After the movie the thai students helped us get a tuk tuk which is a motor scooter type thing with a cart thing attached to the back that has seats (great description I know ;) and then they drove in front in their motorscooter to show the driver where we lived. They are the sweetest people I have ever met...they really want to take care of us and make sure we get what we need. It is definitely the Lord using them to make sure we don't end up in Cambodia or something.

We took our first song tow by ourselves the other day which is a truck that has seats in the bed but they are raised and it is more like a bus..it has railing and a roof and everything so it is safer than I make it sound (that is for my mom and dad ;). We got where we needed to go and back home which was amazing and really encouraing. It was pretty funny though because the driver stopped in front of our apartment without us even saying anything to him...I guess everyone on our street knows we are here and where we live...they call us farangs which means foriegners and they only use it for white people. The people are really kind and they just smile all the time. Thailand actually means "land of smiles" so i guess it makes sense.

Some of our best buds so far are Art, ninja, Aoy, nick, noop, pat, mimee, dream, and mint. They all help us get around and help us order food although we are getting better at that now that we have started knowing the names of our favorite dishes. They love practicing English and we have actually had some pretty good conversations with them already. Beth and I spoke to ninja over dinner one night and talked alot about what his beliefs are. It seems that even though these people claim to be buddhist they are actually animists. which means they believe in spirits and they like to give sacrifices to the spirits in these little spirit houses that are everywhere. Ninja actually prays to Buddha but if you learn about buddhism you learn that they don't really believe in a god and that Buddha never claimed to be a god. I think the Thais pretty much just believe whatever fits them best and they call themselves buddhists. It is interesting and hopefully we will get to have more conversations like that one we had with Ninja.

That is about it for now, Our classes start on monday which is a little scary because a lot of students have already signed up to come. I hope we can do a good job and make it fun. Sanook (fun) is very important to the thai people even in class. Please just pray that we would prepare good lessons that help us get to know the students and that we would be bold in making friendships and not shy away from talking to them just because we don't speak much thai. Also just that we would be spiritually rejuvenated because being in a place with no christians is definetely draining.

I really appreciate all of your prayers and I have loved reading your comments to me...they have been so special. Thank you so much. You are all amazing!

I will post again soon hopefully ;)

~Rachel aka Kai-mook

I AM HERE!!!

I am finally here in Maha Sarakham!

This is a crazy but beautiful place. On the plane ride here I had the sudden feeling of "what have I gotten myself into" but that quickly passed when stepping off of the plane. God has been so faithful to us already. Our apartment is huge and though it has no air conditioning, Scott and Valerie (our missionary suprevisors) really helped it feel like home. This is definitely the most primitive environment I have ever lived in but it is really wonderful at the same time.

We have been learning the language from some Thai students from the university and I have already been given my nickname which is Kai-mook. Kai-mook means Pearl which I think is really special ;). I can now say things like excuse me and I am sorry and thank you which I will need all the time and we are slowly learning to make conversation. We have eaten the food here for every meal so far and it has actually been wonderful which is really an answered prayer for me because I am such a picky eater as many of you know.

Some prayer requests that I have so far are:
~That our bodies would adjust to the heat here - it is amazing to see the thai people in this heat because they are almost unaffected. Their hair still looks pretty and they don't sweat and some even wear jackets. While we on the other hand have a nice sheen at all times and our hair is incredibly frizzy.

~That our hearts would really be increasingly burdened for these people and that we would be reminded that though we are weak the Lord is incredibly strong and that he has already prepared works for us to do in advance. Also that we would just take on our new roles with enthusiasm and joy and be willing to mess up at times in order to do things right.

~That we would easily adapt to this new culture and to a new sleeping routine. The customs are very different here and it is very easy to forget them when we are out in the town. Also that we would pick up this language quickly so that we will be able to communicate and make new friends. I hope that we will get to the point of even being able to share the gospel in Thai though that is a very far away goal. I hope that even if we are not able to share in Thai that we will be able to communicate through broken english and broken Thai. Please pray that the students would be willing to come and interact with us and to practice their english and that that would really give us an opportunity to live out the gospel before them through the way that we live.

~Please pray that I would be able to have time alone with the Lord and that my relationship would be nourished so that I can pour love into these people. It is so easy to get caught up in these surroundings and to see shrines and temples and only see there beauty and history. I need to be reminded that they are actually detestable to God. And to be able to pray for these people with that in mind.

~I have a lot more that needs to be prayed for but I can't think of everything right now so I will ask one last thing :)...I know that this is a lot and I am so thankful that you all are even willing to read this long message but this is a very important request. In the old testament, kings such as Asa and Josiah were faithful to the Lord in a time when their fathers had not been. They decided to cut down the asherah poles and the alters set up for other gods because they knew that it was evil and not of the Lord. The king of Thailand is highly respected in this country and I just ask that you would all pray that he would come into salvation. He has a lot of say and many people listen to him and when the kings in the Bible turned to the Lord all of the people followed. This seems impossible but for the Lord nothing is impossible so I pray whole-heartedly that the King would become a Christian and lead these people to the Lord...How amazing that would be.

I will post more later and will hopefully be able to upload some pictures but as of now I can not. I am so thankful for all of you and your willingness to pray for me. God Bless!

One week ;)

Hey guys, I am finally going into the last week of my time at home before I get on an airplane and fly, literally, half way across the world. These last few weeks have been incredibly hard for me because I have had nothing to do at all. My semester went well and I got good grades but I love having important things to do. I miss class and I miss going to the homeless shelter every week. I love working for the Lord and doing things in his name. These past weeks have been endless amounts of TV, cookies, TV, and cookies. It has been really hard to feel unused. I LOVE being used by the Lord and I can't wait to go to Thailand and have a purpose once again.

I have been telling people half-heartedly that I am excited about my summer which sounds strange. These last few weeks have created in me a laziness that has made me less excited about my trip and I hate that. Please pray with me that God will revive my passion for his people and really set my heart on fire for bringing Him glory. Love is a choice and I choose to love God and I choose to love his people. Please pray that I would remember that bringing glory to God is my purpose this summer. "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3: 17

Please pray in this last week that I will really be able to meet with my King and that I will really feel his presence and his peace as I leave this country of comfort. Please pray that the transition will go smoothly and that I will be able to stand the heat and the new culture and the business after this time of idleness. Please pray that I will understand the purpose of this time of waiting and that I will not get discouraged in this last week but that I will be encouraged and ready to serve the Lord with my whole heart and my whole life. I am so grateful to have people in my life that are willing and ready to pray for me. I cherish every prayer and I am so thankful that I will have that comfort of knowing I am prayed for this summer. In this last week I just ask that you all PLEASE PRAY!!! ;)

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"

So, I certainly don't want to bombard you all with posts before I even get to Thailand but I do want to make sure that you all are updated. As of now, the missionaries are looking for an apartment for us and it probably isn't going to have hot water and it might have air conditioning. All of you who know me well know that I am very hot natured so I think God is definitely going to be teaching and stretching me this summer ;). If you would all just pray with me that we would get an apartment in a good location and hopefully near the university so that we can be close to the students that would be great. Also, they are working with the university to set up a plan for us to work and interact with the students so if you would pray for that as well.

Also, this weekend I am headed to summer missions orientation and so I will be meeting my teammates for the first time which is really exciting! I have really been praying that we would all get along well and really be the body of Christ while we are in Thailand not only for our own support but also as an example of who the people of Christ are. If you would pray with me for this as well I would really appreciate it and love you!

On a more personal note, I have really been feeling unqualified lately when I think about this summer. God has really been humbling me and reminding me how small I really am which is a very powerful thing. I am so blessed to be given this opportunity and my prayer is that God will really use me despite my weaknesses. As I have been experiencing this, God has really been giving me encouragement through his word:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"
- 2 Corinthians 12:9

"This is what God the Lord says - he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.""
- Isaiah 42: 5-7

I hope this encourages you as well because the mission field is any and everywhere!

More Preparation

Hey again! I just wanted to send an update about the summer. The names of the girls going on this trip with me are: Danette Frazier, Corinne Bird, Erin Miller, Beth Hollaway, and Ruth Fung. I hope this will help those praying with me to pray more specifically for the team of girls.

Over the past couple of weeks God has really been testing me in different ways. Through this, I know that He is ultimately preparing me for His works which excites me and makes me grateful that I serve a God that hears our prayers. Without a little bit of struggle how do you truly grow and learn in the Lord? Thank you for your prayers thus far and for the support you have all given me.

When I signed up for Thailand as my first choice I was definitely unsure and scared, but I also knew that if God didn't want me to be there I would have been placed somewhere else. The first couple of days after learning about my placement were filled with fearfulness. My family was afraid for me and it is such an unknown for me that I really doubted me placement. But a verse from the book of Job continually surfaced in my thoughts. "Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him!" (Job 13:15-16). As I thought on those words for a while I felt an overwhelming peace about this summer. I have nothing to fear in Christ Jesus because my life is not my own anyway. I am trusting in Him and He will lead me completely. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). These few verses talk about death and while I doubt I will be facing anything as serious as that, they have given me strength in knowing that Christ is in control. I know that no matter what persecution or hardship surfaces I will be strong in Christ Jesus. I have nothing to fear because fear is not of the Lord. Thank you again for your prayers and support, they are appreciated more than I can express.

Preparation

I have created this blog as a way to share my struggles and joys with all interested about my summer in Thailand. Clearly I'm not on my way to the airport yet, but I am already getting excited about it. This summer I am being sent to Thailand to minister to and to teach English to Thai students in the city of Mahasarakham, Thailand. I will be one of six girls going to live among the Isaan people in the Northeastern region of Thailand. I will be leaving at the end of May and returning at the beginning of August and I am nervous and incredibly excited at the same time.

God has been doing a lot in my life over the past few years and He has been leading me on a path that is meant to completely glorify Him with my life and I can do nothing but submit to His will. I am preparing even now for my adventure this summer and a lot of that preparation involves prayer and diving into scripture. I ask anyone who is reading this to pray with me for my heart to be open and willing this summer and mainly for the people we are going to be reaching out to. My biggest prayer is that they would begin to open their hearts to the word even now. I hope that they will be receptive and eager to hear God's word and that we will be able to clearly and accurately share it with them as well as live it out before their eyes. I pray that we, as a team of girls, will be willing and ready to place the needs of the Thai people above our own and that our hearts will be overflowing with love for them and hope for their salvation.

The biggest way that you can support me is through prayer and the team and I will need a lot of it. I am so thankful for an opportunity as wonderful as this and for the support I am receiving in order to go completely for free. God has blessed me so incredibly much and I am desiring to carryout His will to the best of my ability. He has showered me with love and I pray that I can do the same to the people of Thailand. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support for this summer! ;) Here is a link to the website of the missionaries that are going to be our supervisors this summer, it gives a lot of information about the Isaan people and the ministry in Thailand.

www.prayforisaan.com