I have not forgotten about you lovely people.
Sorry for the delay! Things have been cray cray! Stay tuned, I promise I'll write soon!
0 Comments
*Well I guess when you don't hear from me for a while it's a good sign that I am keeping busy or perhaps dead... but let's just go with the first one ;) I'm doing well btw for those of you that are now concerned. :) Well it looks like I have a lot to catch you up on... These last two months, I have had the opportunity to hear many of the women's stories who have found themselves in utter darkness, but are now experiencing the love and hope that God has to offer. We have had 3 girls in our home and 7 women in the community give their lives to the Lord. Seeing the girls come alive for God and even want to reach out to others has given me such immense hope for this Nation and even this world. This ministry is truly being blessed and multiplying in so many ways! We have had more short term and long term volunteers coming to help us in different ways, God has been providing us with more financial support and supplies, we are beginning to expand the vision of moving to a larger "facility" to be able to help more women and their babies (as well as the community), and some of the women have started different small businesses to support their children. One business in particular that has really taken off is a jewelry business called Poppy Designs. We have created a website for her and will be able to take orders soon! :) If you would like to check it out, you can click here: http://poppy-designs-jewels.myshopify.com/collections/all Talking about all this hope, I can't help but feel in somewhat of a paradox. With being in the midst of the Holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years) I find myself experiencing homesickness for the first time in my life. Not the homesickness in the sense of familiarity or even for the places themselves, but simply the people. Though technology has been a GREAT tool to stay connected and feel 'closer', it never satisfies the desire to be with someone or to just feel the comfort of ones embrace - Apple simply doesn't have an App for that... However, in this current rough season, I have realized how deeply homesick we all are for our True Home and that our hope does not rest in things of this world. One day, being in the arms of the Father with all our family, friends, and loved ones -- What a day it will be!! He is the One we wait for, the One we look towards, and the One we hope in. The songs "I Lift My Eyes Up" and "Better is One Day" by Kutless and Isaiah 40:31 comes to mind. "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." I started reading the book 30 Days of Praise Challenge. In this rough season I began to see the only thing that made sense is to go to God in praise. Though the storms may rage and the struggles ensue, His love is steadfast and His ways are sovereign. "As you praise me, My Spirit will pour strength into your soul and you will feel renewed energy rising." (Psalm 59:17) To be honest, I am not sure where I am going with all of these realizations, but mostly just being honest in that this journey is not always a glorious picture like many may think. However, what a journey it has been in that I am continually learning new things every day about God and even myself. And looking in a greater light, I'm thankful for the struggles... Let HOPE arise! Praise Reports: - Billy Graham came to Chiang Mai for the Abundant Life Concert and 1,000s of people gave their lives to the Lord. - God is providing for HOS & the woman in so many ways!! :) - Big things are happening within HOS and we can barely keep up! :D - I have an amazing Thai tutor that not only teaches me basic Thai, but also gives me different Thai perspectives to better understand them and the culture, teaches me Christian vocabulary and different Thai worship songs! Such a blessing and has already helped me in several conversations :) Prayer Requests: - Those that gave their lives to the Lord, pray that it will be a real transformation and not just a spontaneous or “feel good” decision they made. When it comes to Buddhism, it would be easy for these new Christians to just add God to their list of other gods they worship. - That I would look to Him alone for strength and peace amidst the “storm.” - HOS needs to buy a van (or a large vehicle) to be able to take the women and babies to the places they need to go (store, hospital, DRs, etc.). Pray God would provide the funding as well as a divine opportunity to do so. - Some pretty serious riots are taking place in Bangkok right now and several people have already lost their life. Pray for safety and peace and that this Nation would not only come together, but would experience God to the fullness as well! HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :D May 2014 be a blessed year filled with abundant love and joy! I always seem to struggle with what all to share with everyone. Whether it is subconsciously done by myself or by others, there always seems to be a set of expectations that need to be met for people serving overseas. However, I've gotten to the point where I've realized they're simply not realistic and I need to stop allowing them to influence me... So, I hope you will allow me to be raw n' real with you in my blogs as I share a little bit of what life here is truly like. Though the weeks may be planned and scheduled, the days are far from predictable. One day I might be asking God to speed the process up a bit, and then the next be begging for a moment to simply catch my breath. As someone who strongly dislikes routine and loves change, I never thought I would be desiring for more consistency in my life... Not only have I found that the days are never consistent, but that the people aren't either. I have been told that building community here (outside of your ministry) is one of the hardest things to do -- I've begun to notice. Though I have met a lot of amazing people and have been blessed with spending time with them, it's simply not like it was in the States. People here always leave... and because of it, it's easy to become closed off in forming deeper friendships, knowing there could be yet another goodbye. I had someone tell me the other day that even the kids are "used to" people walking in and out of their lives. If you ask me, I don't think it will ever be something I get used to... Something else I may never get used to, is this whole not "fitting in." I've never been one who wants to be like everyone else or do what everyone else is doing, but not being accepted has become a whole new reality for me. Seeing the US from the outside, you see more of a melting pot - diverse culture, religions, race, values, etc. Here though, besides a small handful of people from surrounding countries, you can expect everyone and everything to be Thai. So to say that I stick out like a sore thumb is perhaps an understatement. So, as much as I have settled into my life here and have made this my "home," I'm always going to be a foreigner that never fits in... Well, i guess I was born to stand out in more ways than one anyway. ;) With all that being said, you may ask me "Why are you even there if it's this difficult??" Here is where I get to introduce to you the joy of my struggles. :) The women at the HOS, although having every reason to be skeptical of me, have welcomed me into their lives and are trusting me to walk along side of them. Every day I spend with them, I get to see more of how God loves us regardless of the past we have and the struggles we're currently going through. Many of the women's stories and the various trials they are facing are enough to make you cry with them, yet their desperate longing to give their kids a better life full of love and hope is enough to make you fight for them. I kind of see it like this: As I take "Asian selfies" with one of the girls, put together a scrapbook with another, help one make jewelry to sell, teach some of them English, sit with a few on the floor to make food, encourage them in their walk with the Lord, teach one how to use the computer, dance and sing with another, pray with them in the hard times, and play with all the babies -- I can't help but think, Yup. This is my family. And I would do anything for them! Seeing them fighting to be the best moms they can be for their kids; encourage one another and love each other like sisters; grow closer to God as they seek Him every day; and seeing them and their kids experience hope for the first time in their lives... Yea, I think I can safely say my struggles here are well worth it! *Keeping you in the loop: I had a minimum goal of financial support that has been met (Praise God!!!), but I'm realizing the need is so much greater!... God is doing amazing things in and through HOS, but every month we have just been scraping by to make ends meet (diapers, clothing, childcare, food, etc). Any support (whether one-time or monthly) is more of a blessing than you know! Please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry that is making a huge impact in the lives of many women and their babies. Also, the need for a car is still around $8-9,000. Not only would it be safer for me, but also for the mothers and babies that need to be taken places (babies on motorbikes -- scary thought!). Well… they tell you it’s hard, it takes time, it’s a whole new learning curve, but they never tell you that it’s like starting from scratch… New place, new culture, new language, new approach, new start… So how exactly does one start over? I’ll let ya know when I’ve got it ‘figured out’…
I have seen that it’s easy for me to get caught up in doing things or feel like there are all of these expectations to be met, that I forget how important it is to be with Him. Through this time of ‘figuring it out,’ what I discovered is that I was asking the wrong questions – “God, what do you want me to do? When do you want me to do it?” Although these are somewhat useful questions, I’ve missed sight of the bigger picture: God show me your heart! I have begun to see in more ways than one that when I am chasing after His heart and looking through His lens, my feet do not have to ask where to go and my hands don’t have to ask what to do. When I am in His arms, I hear His heartbeat, and in turn, my actions follow. As I have been pressing into Him, He has done just that – move my feet. I have become more involved with the Home of the Swallow project that focuses on helping women and children involved in or at risk for drug/human trafficking. As I have gotten to know the staff, women, and kids, they have stolen my heart in such a unique way. I am so excited to journey along side of them and see how God works in and through them as well! A woman by the name of Katherine was the Director of Development for HOS, but God called her elsewhere and they needed someone to take her position. Only being here a month, speaking very little Thai, and having no training in organizational development, I can’t help but feel inadequate. However, God has relentlessly showed me that He does not call the equipped, but equips those He’s called. He has brought me right where I need to be at just the right time and I am going to continue trusting in Him wherever He may lead. So with that being said, I am stepping into that position… Fortunately, Katherine will be able to help get me started from abroad. I am not sure what to expect or even all of the ‘details’ involved at this point, but I am excited to see what happens and where it leads. On the completely opposite spectrum of doing things here in Thailand, my being with people has been the increasing joy in my heart. Though I cannot speak the language enough to fully communicate, it has been amazing to see how love has been breaking through the barriers. The moments when I get to sit on the floor with a lap full of kids and just giggle away, the moments when I get to worship and pray with two different tongues, the moments when I get to hold someone who is hurting, the moments when I get to serve those who deem themselves unworthy, the moment when I see His people through His eyes… It’s in these moments that I feel His heartbeat. . . . . . . Praise Reports: - I was able to purchase a motorbike - My parents were able to sell my truck in the States and now have more $ to put towards a car - My work permit is being processed and should be official in the next week - One of the girls sold to a gang by her grandfather a few days ago was returned safely to her mom - The women at (as well as connected with) the HOS are growing in their relationships with God and are dedicated to being loving mothers. Prayer Request: - Continue to trust that God will provide the rest of my support, as well as the $ to purchase a car - That I continue to press into God so that my feet move in step with His and that as I step into the position He has placed me in, I will look to Him for wisdom and strength - That I progress quickly in my Thai studies – a lot of things riding on this… - That the HOS will be abundantly blessed in so many ways (especially financially) as they continue to provide for all of the needs of these women and their children - That this nation would be one that turns to God and not to the lies they’ve been promised *Keeping you in the loop: God has provided $650 in monthly donors – but still need another $200 just to meet monthly ministry needs. Also, whenever in God’s timing, the need for a car is going to be about $8-9,000. Thank you to all of those who have supported me and continue to!! It has been remarkable to see how God is providing for the HOS in so many different ways and I look forward to showing you soon how your support is making an impact. :) To learn more about the HOS, you can browse the link :) http://www.thaiconnections.org/fcf/home-of-the-swallow *I will have more to share in regards to this project soon :) Well it has been three weeks since I have arrived here in Chiang Mai, and I can truly say that I love it here! Now while it may be easy to get swept away in the tropical beauty of Thailand, I have begun to see more of the harsh realities of living here. Though it may be hard to explain, allow me to outline a few of these “Thaid-ways”: -No matter how well I speak Thai, no matter how deep I assimilated into the culture, no matter how many deep relationships I form, I will always be a foreigner here in my home… A light skin, light hair, and light eyed girl to be exact, who has become accustomed to the stares. -Growing up in such a fast-paced/efficient culture, it has been hard to get used to everything taking twice as long. Systems lack any form of structure where the only reason you can think of why something is done the way it is, is to provide jobs. At least you know you can always find a job here! Well… if you’re Thai. -Not wanting to “lose face” is not a matter of trying to maintain honor or even uphold moral standards, but rather an all around avoidance strategy. You can find yourself playing games and jumping through hoops for months over such a small issue that could easily be fixed. -Cars and motorbikes BARELY lose value! So, if you buy a car for $15,000 and drive it for 10 years, feel free to sell it for $14,000. Yea, that sounds like a perfectly reasonable price! Just don’t expect the other car you’re about to buy for $14,000 to be in a working condition… Never fear though, those repair guys will give ya a swingin’ deal! -Roads have rules, but think of them more like suggestions. In fact, if you want to create your own rules, even better! People will kindly accommodate for you and may even join you in your crazy ways. -Oh you didn’t want a jink-joke (gecko) in your closet, have bugs crawl on you and bite you while you’re asleep (or every hour you’re awake), or have a little extra bug-protein added to your food?... Oh, mustuv’ missed the memo! -To top it all off, arduous heat and humidity is added to the packaged deal with no additional charge. Cold showers have become a daily (even twice daily) coveted occurrence. There are many things here that don’t really make much sense to me and may never, but I have picked up on an expression that has become an echoing witticism, “It’s Thailand!!!” – the only logical way we can explain a lot of things here... Don’t get me wrong though, there are so many things that I love about being here: Lush jungle-like city, where any back road can make you forget about civilization; delicious food that never lacks flavor and fruit sent from heaven; a sea of motorbikes everywhere you go; gracious and hospitable people even though you’ll always be a fa-rawng (foreigner); a captivating culture with a cry for help; and perhaps a mystery of God soon to be unveiled… Chiang Mai, Thailand – This is where I live. This is my home. Ways you can be praying: -Need to finish my work permit in order to start ministry work. -Continue to pick up the language quickly. -I will be honest, the driving over here is extremely dangerous and makes me a little nervous. It rains a lot here (and when I say rain, I mean POURS!) and flooding is always an issue. While having a motorbike is cheaper, easier to park places, convenient for quick access, and not to mention just the “Thai-way” of life; I am beginning to see that a car would be a lot safer and a more logical choice in the long run (not to mention that everyone keeps telling me that if I can get a car instead I should). With that being said, I will be purchasing a motorbike because I simply don’t have the money to purchase a car... If you could pray that there would be a hedge of protection over me as I drive around, and that if I am to get a car, that He would provide the money/opportunity for me to do so. Thank You!!! Keeping you in the loop: God has provided $650 in monthly donors – but still need another $200 just to meet monthly ministry needs. Also, whenever in God’s timing, the need for a car is going to be about $8-9,000. Thank you for all your continued prayers and support!!! God is doing some bigs things & I can't wait to share more with you soon! :) **For those of you who are already supporting me financially or want to, CORD Ministries International now has automatic payment plans set up. If you are like me and have good intentions but may forget to send your support every month (or even a one-time donation), no need to worry now! ;) To learn more about how this works and how to set it up, you can click on the PDF file on the right under SUPPORT. If you have any questions about the process, where the money goes, how I receive the support here in Thailand, or just about anything in general, please feel free to ask me! :) |
Archives
March 2014
Support:If you would like to financially support me or HOS, you can go online and give:
https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift/gift.php?giftid=535530DBD93C42E OR, you can send a check (with Shannon Halloran #1010 on the memo line) to: CORD Ministries International P.O. Box 102 Wheaton, IL 60187-0102 * All Tax deductible gift* Questions: Director of CORD Ministries Michael Ullrich (303)-994-4754 [email protected]
Links:Family Connection Foundation:
http://www.thaiconnections.org/ Home of the Swallow: http://www.thaiconnections.org/fcf/home-of-the-swallow Cord Ministries International: http://cordmin.com/wp/ |