today was hard work... but the joy of the Lord was our strength. We knocked down two walls, moved 30,000 Bibles, got attacked by all kinds of bugs and plants, moved 30ft metal poles, cleaned up debris from construction of an outdoor meeting hall, but it was all for the kingdom so it was great. Its hard to see times like today as ministry but it facilitates the spread of the gospel among the Issan people so praise the Lord that we were considered worthy of the task. after the hard work we got to go back to the Mekong and cliff jump and swim a bit more. by the night, rest was our goal and the bed never felt better.
- until He comes- Erin
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Saturday, June 10, 2006
June 8- Thursday
today the team spent into two groups. the guys started on the construction work... they began the hard work of cleaning out rooms and knocking down walls to renovate a new study area and library for the seminary. the girls continued english classes at Mercy Christian school and we helped organize the schools library. after lunch we got to pass out Bibles at the elementary school and at the preschool. it was amazing to see the children actually reading them... one of the teachers actually began a lesson from the little new testaments. the Word of God will not return void (isaih 55:10-11) and it is such a privilege to be a laborer for this harvest. For dinner we drove to Kemmerat and ate from street vendors and got ice cream from the 711! it was a nice treat!
-until He comes- Erin
-until He comes- Erin
Friday, June 09, 2006
June 7 - Wednesday
Today, we took part in the chapel service for the Mercy Christian school. All of the students filed into the church sanctuary with their special Wednesday uniforms on. They sat on the floor in perfect rows and sang Thai, Christian songs. David and some of the others from our team and the team from Iowa taught the students the song "Our God is So Big" in English. The students really enjoyed the song and put their hearts into the hand motions. After the songs, David had volunteers come up on stage and act out the story of Shadrack, Meshack, and Abed-Nego as he told it. This story really hits home here in Thailand where idol worship is a huge focus. Several of the volunteers were quite the actors. It was precious and a great message to share with these students. It was a great reminder that God is the only true GOD and that when we choose to follow HIM, we can overcome the most difficult of circumstances.
After chapel, we taught English classes at the school. The students are so respectful and excited to learn English. Many of them have been captivated by our "white" skin, which has been fun to watch. We also continued to practice Christian songs with them in English.
We all split into teams again and went out evangelizing in the villages. We went to rural areas today and presented Bibles to the people. The Gideon Bibles that we are using makes evangelizing without a translator possible, b/c they are half English and half Thai. I have been able to read and point out verses in English and then have them read the same verses in Thai. The locals seem to be more receptive to the Word when an American presents it to them. As Kelley has already posted, receiving Christ in Thailand is a very difficult decision, b/c it affects every aspect of your lifestyle. By God's grace, I was fortunate enough to witness an older Thai lady surrender her life to Jesus. Apparently, she had been seeking the Truth and had heard about Jesus on Christian t.v. She was so overwhelmed and gave her heart to Christ after asking questions and reading the Bible we presented to her. She finally found the only ONE who could fill the void in her life! PRAISE the LORD!!! It was amazing. Evangelizing here in Thailand has been a challenge to me. I realize how serious deciding to follow Christ is and should be. It is not just fire insurance or a free ride through life (as many in our culture treat it) and should not be a decision that is made in haste. We as AMerican Christians should allow Christ to affect every aspect of our lives as well, and we should stand out as "different" even in our own culture! Thanks for all the prayers! God is definitely at work here!
In HIS grip~ Audie=)
After chapel, we taught English classes at the school. The students are so respectful and excited to learn English. Many of them have been captivated by our "white" skin, which has been fun to watch. We also continued to practice Christian songs with them in English.
We all split into teams again and went out evangelizing in the villages. We went to rural areas today and presented Bibles to the people. The Gideon Bibles that we are using makes evangelizing without a translator possible, b/c they are half English and half Thai. I have been able to read and point out verses in English and then have them read the same verses in Thai. The locals seem to be more receptive to the Word when an American presents it to them. As Kelley has already posted, receiving Christ in Thailand is a very difficult decision, b/c it affects every aspect of your lifestyle. By God's grace, I was fortunate enough to witness an older Thai lady surrender her life to Jesus. Apparently, she had been seeking the Truth and had heard about Jesus on Christian t.v. She was so overwhelmed and gave her heart to Christ after asking questions and reading the Bible we presented to her. She finally found the only ONE who could fill the void in her life! PRAISE the LORD!!! It was amazing. Evangelizing here in Thailand has been a challenge to me. I realize how serious deciding to follow Christ is and should be. It is not just fire insurance or a free ride through life (as many in our culture treat it) and should not be a decision that is made in haste. We as AMerican Christians should allow Christ to affect every aspect of our lives as well, and we should stand out as "different" even in our own culture! Thanks for all the prayers! God is definitely at work here!
In HIS grip~ Audie=)
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
June 6- Tuesday
Today we began our first day of teaching in the Mercy Christian English School. Most of us were a little unsure of ourselves and what this task held for us. We were given a schedule of classes and upon entering the classroom a workbook out of which to teach. The children all stand and say, "Good morning teachu!" After the lesson, some of us taught the children to sing "Jesus Loves Me".
After lunch, we headed out into the village of Natang. This village was much more rural than the village from the day before. People in the more rural villages are even more ensnared in the rituals of temple life. As we passed out Bibles, it was exciting to drive up the street and see people reading their new Bibles. The were for the first time reading and learning the Truth that is God's word! One specific man we visited, called "Mr. P." whom Tom (a pastor of one of the village churches) met a couple months ago, had a form of leprosy in his left hand and in his left foot, was greatly deformed as a result of serious infection that it has almost completely eaten away at his foot (from a injury twenty yrs. ago). In his seventies, Mr. P. is living in his house like hermit because of his deformities. We were able to share with him about the love of Jesus and His power to heal. God has already brought some healing in his hand and has been softening his heart to Christ. Pray for Mr. P's salvation. He will be coming to church this Sunday.
After lunch, we headed out into the village of Natang. This village was much more rural than the village from the day before. People in the more rural villages are even more ensnared in the rituals of temple life. As we passed out Bibles, it was exciting to drive up the street and see people reading their new Bibles. The were for the first time reading and learning the Truth that is God's word! One specific man we visited, called "Mr. P." whom Tom (a pastor of one of the village churches) met a couple months ago, had a form of leprosy in his left hand and in his left foot, was greatly deformed as a result of serious infection that it has almost completely eaten away at his foot (from a injury twenty yrs. ago). In his seventies, Mr. P. is living in his house like hermit because of his deformities. We were able to share with him about the love of Jesus and His power to heal. God has already brought some healing in his hand and has been softening his heart to Christ. Pray for Mr. P's salvation. He will be coming to church this Sunday.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
June 5- Monday
A Little Background:
To reach people here in the Ubon province of Thailand is a complicated undertaking. The villages and communities are very resistant to Christ and Christianity. Village life surrounds the Buddhist temple of each village. If someone becomes a Christian they are cut of from the temple, community, and possible kicked out of the village. Mercy Foundation was created to establish a Christian Community infrastructure for believers and to help serve and love the community with Christ's love.
To accomplish this there is an orphanage for needy children. They have also built a radio station that broadcasts into the surrounding villages and even the neighboring country the message of Jesus. There is also Mercy School which provides a Christian education for children from about 3yrs to 5th grade.
Today:
We built up some muscles this morning as we moved the Mercy Orphanage to its new building. Its hot here...real hot... and living with bugs and geckos seems like home now. After lunch we went out to the village of Kammerat where one of the daughter churches is located. We helped the church family there distribute about 500 Bibles to the people living there. Most of these people have literally never heard the Gospel and have never touched a Christian. It doesn't get much better than standing outside the gates of a lavish buddist temple in a little wooden shack telling someone about a Savior who is alive and who has come to love them.
-until He Comes- Erin
To reach people here in the Ubon province of Thailand is a complicated undertaking. The villages and communities are very resistant to Christ and Christianity. Village life surrounds the Buddhist temple of each village. If someone becomes a Christian they are cut of from the temple, community, and possible kicked out of the village. Mercy Foundation was created to establish a Christian Community infrastructure for believers and to help serve and love the community with Christ's love.
To accomplish this there is an orphanage for needy children. They have also built a radio station that broadcasts into the surrounding villages and even the neighboring country the message of Jesus. There is also Mercy School which provides a Christian education for children from about 3yrs to 5th grade.
Today:
We built up some muscles this morning as we moved the Mercy Orphanage to its new building. Its hot here...real hot... and living with bugs and geckos seems like home now. After lunch we went out to the village of Kammerat where one of the daughter churches is located. We helped the church family there distribute about 500 Bibles to the people living there. Most of these people have literally never heard the Gospel and have never touched a Christian. It doesn't get much better than standing outside the gates of a lavish buddist temple in a little wooden shack telling someone about a Savior who is alive and who has come to love them.
-until He Comes- Erin
June 4 - Sunday
Rise and Shine... Its Sunday Morning already. This morning we had a combined church service at the Mercy Church Nonprassert. Many of the daughter churches (6) of Mekong Evangelical Church came here to worship with us. We helped out by teaching sunday schools and helping in worship. I got to teach the ladies class and it was awesome... althought speaking through a translator is a bit difficult. Dave preached and our little praise team sang "days of Elijah"... no one understood what we were singing but it reminded us of Longview. It was such an awesome experience to worship with the Thai people... they are amazing. When they make a decision to follow Christ its not like in America... They are persecuted in their communities, disowned from their families, they are pretty much seen as not even Thai anymore. To follow Christ is not just a decision and a prayer but a willingness to surrender to His Lordship. This may seem simple but its not. Jesus warned His followers to count the cost. Here that means helping them deal with potential ostracism and isolation and even physical persecution. What Paul wrote about persecution as a Christian definately applies here... the darkness has such a hold on this land and it is such a blessing to be able to help this little camp of Light spread throughout the people here.
Before our fellowship dinner that night we got to go on a boat ride down the Mekong river, which is about 500m from our dorms. and by boat i mean canoes and engines on the back. We also rock climbed on a island inbetween Thailand and Laos... i feel down about a millions times. The boys enjoyed cliff jumping into the river as you can see from the picture... it was lots of fun.
Chan's brother Jay recieved his Thai (dual US and Thai)citizenship which was a major praise as it shows people that you can be a Christian and a Thai citizen. To celebrate he slayed the fattened calf (we saw the nice cow before the boat ride) for our feast. We had a celebration with the leaders of the churches and their families and presented them with the gifts and supplies we brought (computers, teaching supplies, clothes, etc.).
- Until He comes- Erin
Before our fellowship dinner that night we got to go on a boat ride down the Mekong river, which is about 500m from our dorms. and by boat i mean canoes and engines on the back. We also rock climbed on a island inbetween Thailand and Laos... i feel down about a millions times. The boys enjoyed cliff jumping into the river as you can see from the picture... it was lots of fun.
Chan's brother Jay recieved his Thai (dual US and Thai)citizenship which was a major praise as it shows people that you can be a Christian and a Thai citizen. To celebrate he slayed the fattened calf (we saw the nice cow before the boat ride) for our feast. We had a celebration with the leaders of the churches and their families and presented them with the gifts and supplies we brought (computers, teaching supplies, clothes, etc.).
- Until He comes- Erin
June 3- Saturday
Hello to Longview!! thank you so much for praying for us! well, this was our first morning in Thailand. We stayed at a hotel in Ubon Ratchachanni and we had our first Thai breakfast. This is also when we encountered the language barrier for the first time... knowing what you are eating is a good thing. After breakfast we had orientation with some team members from Mercy Foundation and we were joined by four guys from Iowa (matt, adam, jordan, and glen). We also learned some helpful Thai phrases. Pra jow Rak kon (God loves you). The Thai language is very difficult. After lunch at a quick market we set out on the 2 & 1/2 hour drive to Nonprassert. Speed limits also seem not to be an issue here; you can drive as fast or slow as you want (which can cause some problems). Upon arrival we met at the Mercy Church for a wedding. It was very sweet! The couple have only been believers for a couple of years and have recieved great persecution from the families for following Christ. They were also persecuted for not having a traditional Buddhist wedding. Teir wedding was a huge testimony of Jesus to their attending Buddhist families. We got to practice our Thai a little and we sampled many Thai dishes including chicken foot and pretty much anything that was extremely hot. We had fun with the wedding party until late at night when we finally got some sleep.
-until He comes- Erin
-until He comes- Erin
May 31 - June 2- Travel
A couple days in the air or in airports was the summary of our travels. The flight from LA to Hong Kong was the longest at about 15 hours. We lost 12 hours, leaving just after midnight from LA and arriving early saturday morning, June 1 was lost. We are not sure where it went but we never saw it. We arrived safely in Bangkok got our luggage and navigated customs and a couple terminals to find are way to our domestic flight to Ubon Ratchachani. After arriving in Ubon we had diner with the team from Mekong Evangelical Church and Mercy Foundation and than actually got to sleep.......horizontally.
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