you're good, is that better?

sure, you're OK

not too bad I guess

Hello Cheeseburger

August Newsletter

We have been rather busy, and don't have an always on internet connection so it can be hard to blog, so here is our last newsletter, and there should be a new one soon.

momentum
in the swing of things

Its been almost 2 months since our last update. The past 2 months have been jammed-packed full of good things. God keeps opening doors here, and we always seem to be doing something. We've been in Ratchaburi for 3 months now, and we love being a part of the ministry here. We're learning so much, and getting inspired to use English teaching as a way to impact the lives of young people in Tuu's hometown. When we go and teach English we're able to give so much more. They want to know why we're different. Praise God that in the places that we go regularly we have complete freedom to share a great deal about Him, and praise God in other places as others learn more about us doors keep opening. In just one month we will be heading back to Korat, and will be trusting God to show us exactly what he wants us to be doing there in the future.

fun
changing attitudes

Our leader, P'Noiy once "hated" English. He failed continuously and skipped class any chance he could. He was sure he would never be able to learn English, yet today he speaks English confidently and competently. What happened? God changed his thinking towards English. After spending some time with foreigners he realized that English can be fun. There are many kids in Thailand that feel the same way as P'Noiy. "It's too hard", "I can't speak it", and " I don't understand." It is those students that we have a heart to help the most, to help them to overcome the mindsets that are holding them back. A method we use to help the students to enjoy English is to run English camps. So far since being here, Tuu and I have been involved with 3 English camps which the kids just loved so much.

The first camp we ran we had almost 500 students, and there was only 5 of us to lead the whole day. Because of unseen circumstances we were forced to cram 500 kids into one hall, which meant when divided into "rotations" there was 4 of us rotation leaders all competing with our voices, not to mention the 500 noisy kids. It was tough, and it didn't help that Tom was dealing with a nasty bout of tonsillitis. Praise God though we got through the day with His strength, and it was a huge success, with the head of Education here in Ratchaburi giving us free reign to do camps whenever we want. Our next English camp will be very different as it in is for adults, in fact many of them will be around the age of 60 year olds!

slum
burmese community

We have also had the opportunity to go and share in a poor Burmese community that is located close to P'Noiy and Bronwyn's house. They had been previously with teams to play with the kids and outreach. Just a few weeks ago we decided to make an effort to go there on a regular basis. We sang songs, played games, shared about what Jesus has done for us. The adults were all hiding off to the side watching and listening to everything.

About a week ago we did an open air outreach in the middle of their community. We invited everyone to come along including the adults, many of them decided to come as they saw we had brought things to give to them.. We played, sang, and shared some more. We gave out daily essentials such as toiletries and cooking ingredients to help them. After P'Noiy shared his testimony, he asked if there was anyone that was serious about knowing God more, and wanted to follow Him.

There was a great response from the kids and amazingly almost all of the young men raised there hands too. Praise God that so many were prepared to to take that bold step, not worrying how "uncool" they might look. P'Noiy is now meeting the adults every Sunday afternoon to spend time with them, to disciple them, to listen to their questions, even to teach guitar so they can play worship songs. Tuu and myself are running Children's church for the kids for the next month. We have only met them a few times, yet we have been able to make a big impact on them. I heard today from there teacher that they're always talking about P'Tom and P'Tuu, and the things we've taught them. Please pray that God will send someone else here to continue the work with these special kids after we have gone

at hot pot

Befriended

lyrics by Matt Redman

 

Befriended, befriended by the King above all Kings
Surrendered, surrendered to a friend above all friends
Invited, invited deep into this mystery
Delighted, delighted by the wonders I have seen

This will be my story
This will be my song
You'll always be my Savior
Jesus You will always have my heart

Astounded, astounded that Your gospel beckoned me
Surrounded, surrounded but I've never been so free
Determined, determined now to live this life for You
You’re so worthy my greatest gift would be the least You’re due

This will be my story
This will be my song
You'll always be my Savior
Jesus You will always have my heart

heavens opening

The other day I snapped this shot. It looked even more amazing in person, the clouds were breaking apart, and the bottom of the cloud formed a rainbow. I was just waiting for the rider on the white horse to come through.

Salty

I love food ... especially food that is full of intense flavors, whether it be Somtam (Spicy Thai Papaya Salad), or Sushi with a load of punishing Wasabi. Something though that I miss from back home is a good dose of greasy salty chips (thick cut fries). Its REALLY dissapointing though when get some food and it doesn't come with the full flavour you were expecting... its just not what its supposed to be... its a letdown. Chips just don't taste any good without salt. One time I ordered chips and the cook must have had a real moment and had put sugar on instead of salt. It was disgusting... I mean it just wasn't salty. That batch of perfectly good chips had been spoiled forever.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm not salty, after all we were called to be the salt of the earth. We were supposed to give this earth the flavour that it needs. Are we being salty or are putting other flavours into the recipie. Sometimes we feel like adding something we add it, sometimes we feel like doing something we just to do it. but what this earth really needs is salt. Guess what we as believers are called to be that salt... but how... maybe by going and helping the poor , or standing up for what is morally right ... well maybe. But when I was reading Mark 9:50 I realised that we can't be salty "out there" until we're salty with each other.

Mark 9:50 Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.

We shouldn't go slagging off at our Pentecostal or Catholic brother one day and try to share the love of God to someone at work the next... it just doesn't work.

You know why I think we're supposed to be salty, because when you eat something that is salty it makes you thirsty!
We as salt should be making others thirsty for the living water, REALLY THIRSTY for Jesus Christ, not just leaving a bad taste in their mouth.

Eph 2:4-6

But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us
(even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved),
and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.

Upcoming Newsletter

We'll be sending out another email-newsletter soon, but there are many of you that might not get it as we don't have your email. Please let us know if you'd like to receive a newsletter with our updates. You can let me know at my hotmail address.   nearlyasian@....

Tom

Rejecting help

There has been a whole lot of outrage as of late with the Burmese government rejecting help from the outside world, the obstacle has been the military government's pride to accept help from the "outside world".  While they won't let us in, lets pray that the people will let God in. We might not be able to break through the walls of hard-hearted military regime, but God's love can, the Holy Spirit can, the Gospel can.

After all it wasn't long ago that we had set up barriers in our heart, we were too proud to let anyone help, but God's love broke through!

when not perfect is perfect

I will agree with anyone when they say we should give God our best. But sometimes we just get things around the wrong way, we're so wrapped up in making our praises perfect that by the time we give them to God there's nothing really of substance left... it might look good, sound good, but the heart is gone.

One of the key pioneers of the 24-7 prayer movement, went from getting her friends at school into drugs to getting them into Jesus. She started up a gathering at her school, and it was described like this.

The music was terrible, the teaching was worse, the meeting was way too long, and people just kept becoming Christians.

It doesn't really make sense ... but that's God!
Would we give up our professional music, articulate messages, and 1.5 hour services?

Tom's haircut

Tom's new haircut, Tuu's was cheap but not as cheap as Tom's seen as he did it himself. The heat called for drastic measures.

Tuu's haircut

Tuu's new haircut. It was mostly to get rid of split ends, but the treatment also brought back her lovely natural waves.