When I’m feeling all alone and so far to go
The signs are nowhere on this road guiding me home
When the night is closing in
It’s falling on my skin
Oh God will You come close

Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me
I, I, I can’t deny
Oh I can’t deny that You are right here with me
You’ve opened my eyes so I can see You all around me
Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me

When stars are hiding in the clouds
I don’t feel them shining
When I can’t see beyond my doubt
The silver lining
When I’ve almost reached the end
Like a flood You’re rushing in
Love is rushing in

Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me
I, I, I can’t deny
Oh I can’t deny that You are right here with me
You’ve opened my eyes so I can see You all around me
Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me



So I run straight to Your arms
You’re the bright and morning Sun
To show Your love, there’s nothing You won’t do

Light, light, light up the sky
You light up the sky to show me You are with me
I, I, I can’t deny
Oh I can’t deny that You are right here with me
You’ve opened my eyes so I can see You all around me
Light, light, light up the sky
Light up the sky to show me You are with me

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You are with me
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You are with me
Oh oh oh oh oh oh

You are an amazing God!!!

Walk down this street and join me in my life here in Thailand....

This is Thailand! :-) The land of beautiful, hot, muggy days with fairly frequent rain showers. I'm totally enjoying this weather! :-) {I think my body may even be adjusting to it....Saturday I was at an air conditioned coffee shop “doing homework”....*aka. Discussing homework & attempting to get something written down on paper*....drinking a delicious lime frappe, and shivering. ;-) Good times. :-)

*The Hide Away coffee shop

(the 1^st coffee shop I visited upon returning to Thailand. I still haven't got to all my favourite coffee shops yet.....but I still have a few weeks!)

Classes started this week. So my life now consists of: getting up early for class, chapel, homework, another class, another class, a delicious Thai lunch, homework, another class, then 2 hours of homework, another amazing Thai meal, then either a ministry night or recreation night, followed by more homework, and sleeping for a few hours. And of course, whenever there is a spare moment there is usually more homework or Bible memory to work on. :-) I love it!! So glad I am here! :-)

My classes this term are: The Church & Her Foes [it's a great class with some challenging homework assignments], The Gospel of John [an amazing Bible study!], a Missiology class [a class that is totally blowing my mind!! I think every Christian (or at least every Christian pastor!) should have to take this class. The things we discuss are some every key points in the Bible that I have never even heard be taught in church!! Our churches would be so different...], and a Language Accquistion class [it's re-enforcing to me just how important it is to study the Cambodian language!].

I think the thing that impacted me the most this week in classes was the whole thing of using Jesus' ministry as a model for our ministries today. When you really study Jesus' ministry strategies you will be amazed at all you learn! His mission was to reach the WHOLE world. But He did not focus on the multitudes, instead He focused on training the 12 disciples to take His place when He had to leave. That really challenged me! Even though I only have 3 months in Cambodia, I can still make an impact by teaching 1 or 2 people to love the kids like God enables me to love them. So, let me ask you....who are you training???

Saturday night I had the privilege of going to Walking Street. It's when the city closes down some streets and vendors set up their booths to sell their stuff. You can buy anything there. From food to t-shirts to traditional style of clothes to hats to purses to jewelry to EXTRA S.U.P.E.R. AMAZING coffee smoothies!!!

I rode home from Walking Street in a tuk tuk [a motorcyle with a little 'cart/carriage' attached to the back of it]. It was a great cultural experience. :-)

 

This is my desk. Where I will be sitting for numerous hours over the next 3 weeks to do homework.
Gotta run my internet is about to turn off! :(

I arrived! :)

This was my ride to Seoul.

It was a pretty comfy ride.

[The baby beside me did FAIRLY well.]

It was a long ride, but I survived.

None of our flights were delayed! :)

We went thru a beautiful lightning storm on our way to Chiang Mai! :)

[The turbulance was only mild.]

This was the sunset as I left Seoul for Chiang Mai.

[A confirmation from above?! :) Maybe.]

 

My first few days have been filled with jetlag [never knew it could this 'fun'. :-p  Bring on the sleeping pills!]; reconnecting with friends; going to familiar places such as: Big C [mostly just to hear the cool advertisement. ;) You only understand if you have been there!], Tesco, J-House, the pool, Thai massage; coffee dates [one at this adoreable new place---a new solitude place? I think yes!]; picking plumeria; and many more fun things!!!

It's good to be back! :)

 

 

 

 

The list has been made.

Then half the things crossed off.

And a new list was made.

*slowly my list of things to do is getting smaller & smaller :)

Where am I going?

I'm going to follow this path.....

Well, kinda.

Kinda in the fact that I am going to follow a path into the unknown.

But.....

I do know my destination.

I am going here! :-)

 Cambodia!!!

...after a short stay in 'The Land of Smiles'

aka. Thailand! :)

I am going back to IGo to do an internship.

What does this mean?

It mean that I will be going back to Thailand for 3 weeks of school,

then my friend & I will head to Cambodia for 3 months to work with a mission there.

What will I do there?

The focus of the mission we will be with is:

"To reach out to children at risk and their families in Cambodia by a holistic approach. We want to see the value of the poor and needy restored and their lives empowered through the hope that is in Jesus Christ."

What is MY focus?

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" ~Micah 6:8

The future looks: big. exciting! unknown. but yet peaceful. and maybe a little scary at times.

And the spiritual battle is going to be intense.

I would really appreciate your prayers as God continues to lead me down this path.

I will try to keep this blog updated while I am away

[but I make no promises as I don't know what type of internet access I will have]

but.....I will try. :-)

{Or you can email me and ask to be put on my list for email updates.}

Please pray that the kids [and the big people!] I come in contact with will know Jesus' love & care for them thru me.

Thank you!



Questions....

"Who are You God
For You are turning out to be
So much different than I imagined"

"And where are you God
Cuz I am finding life to be
So much harder than I had planned"

"Know that I am afraid
To ask these questions
But You know they are there

And if you know my heart
The way that I believe you do
You know that I believe in You
Still I have these questions

Like How could you God
How could You be so good and strong
And make a world that can be so painful

And where were you God
I know you had to be right there
I know you never turn your head"

"You know that I’m confused
By all this mystery
You know I get afraid
But if you know my heart
As completely as I trust you do
Oh you know that I trust in you

Is it true
that fore every tear I cry
You cry a thousand more
Cuz you weep for those that weep

And are you, just holding yourself back
From crushing all the pain and evil in this world
For reasons we just cant understand for now
But isn’t there a day of redemption coming
Ohhh
Redemption is coming
Ohhh

Quickly Lord, come quickly
Lord, come quickly
Ohhh
Ohhh

So who am I God
That you would raise me from the dust
To breathe your life and your love in me
You know that I believe"

This song by Steven Curtis Chapman is one that finds itself quite often in my stereo these days.....
For some reason it's comforting to know that when your world comes crashing down around you, that it's okay to be honest with God. To honestly tell God what you are feeling right then. To bluntly ask God the tough questions that are laying so heavily on your heart. To be real....When no one else completely understands....it's a comfort to know that God knows your heart!

Today I'm thankful for:

#11. For my nephew and each of my 4 nieces....for the love and hugs they wrap around my heart! {They give me a reason to face each new day.}

#12. For my family....with everything that is going on, my family is becoming more and more precious to me! *Love each of you guys!*

#13. For how God is taking care of me....I'm amazed at the timing of when the texts, phone calls, emails and the visits have come lately--it's been when I needed them the most!

#14. That I can rely on the faith of other's at the times where I can barely see a glimmer of faith in my own heart. {It's a rather odd feeling to be on this side.....}