Missions

 My first mission field is my husband, children, and home.  And, then, yes...we are serving the Lord in Thailand.  We have been here 4 years now.  We love it here and love being missionaries.  It is what we were created to do and there is more peace, love, joy, and happiness than one can imagine, when you are doing what you were created for.  Has it been easy?  Well, NO!  It has actually been very challenging at times, but just as Romans 5:3 says, ...we rejoice in our sufferings because it produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.  I can truly say that it has been a lot of persevering, my character is definitely better, and I am full of hope!  Not only for myself and family, but for the Thai people.  Life is so wonderful and had I not been through the difficult challenges that I have walked through, I wouldn't be where I am with the Lord.  He has truly become my All-In-All, my Sustainer, my Joy, my Happiness, my Closest Friend.  To have that is worth living here for the rest of my life, even if from here on out it stinks.  I have never felt this kind of intimate relationship before.  It is absolutely amazing!
 I know He loves me for me, He is proud of me know matter what, He IS always here, He waits for me if I don't make it on time, and then when I come is not upset with me.  He is so full of grace, He fills me with rest, contentment, and joy in who I am because of Him.  I don't have to measure up to you or anybody else.  I am me, you are you, and I have not a care in the world because God is controlling my life.  Would I be where I am now had we not come to the mission field?  I don't know, and I won't find out.  I just know that hearing the voice of the Lord, knowing you are doing the right thing because you heard from Him, and the peace that resonates day-to-day because of that, is worth everything.  I feel like the richest woman on earth... because of that!  HE IS MY TREASURE!  And, if it takes me being broken on the other side of the world to have this revelation, then break me and break me and break me again!  It is wonderful!

Oh...wow!  I went off on a tangent of excitement there.  We are listening and letting the Lord lead us here.  Our primary focus is relationships with the Thai people, which we believe will lead them, eventually to the One True God!  How can we think that we can waltz into their country, where Guatama started Buddhism in 460 B.C. and say...'Our God is real, believe in Him'.  Yes, that can happen miraculously of course, we are all for revival, and miraculous signs and wonders, and believe in that.  At the same time, we must pray for that while building relationships, walking in love, and being a light in the darkness around us. Our experience so far, is that the Thai people think we are trying to convert them to 'the white man's religion'.  It is going to take time, perseverance, love and NOT condemnation.  These people are steeped in Buddhism, it has been passed down, down, down, and down!  We must walk in love and as an example.  We must not be the 'arrogant white man with his religion'.  Anyway, from there we are working on church planting.  So far, preaching at one once a month, and planting another. We love house church, and hope to eventually have one in our home. Once they are saved we want to produce disciples.  When other ministry opportunities arise we take them.  My husband, John, is also teaching English at a local government school part-time.  This, in itself, has opened many doors for the gospel.  He has been able to teach them about God while at the same time developing that loving relationship that they need.

God is so good.  He is leading our lives.  So far, things are just wonderful! Praise HIS name!

MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL!