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