The Blessings September 15, 2008

Wow…

  I can’t believe we’re back in Seattle after 3 weeks being out of the country. Thailand was amazing. The people there are so loving. From the first day we got there, Ps. Noom and the rest of his team from Rivers of Life have been nothing but a blessing to us. They treated us as if we were part of their family and not just visitors from their sister church. Everyone was so welcoming and really made time to get to know us. Each and everyone of them are such a blessing.

      Their youth team was amazing. They wanted to spend every moment with us and showing us around Thailand. It was such a blessing. God has blessed us so much with memories and lasting relationships with our brothers and sisters across the ocean.  We first thought that the playground we were building were just for the children at the children’s center but it’s more than that. This playground was for the whole community. It was a place for the parents to bring their children and not have to worry about their safety and them playing on the road. When we first started building the playground, there were only about 20 children but then as each day went by, there were more and more and then about a 100 children plus their parents. They really got see our hearts and through our hearts they saw God’s love.  This is not just a playground but a way for the community to come together and we can reach out to them to bring them closer to God.

   Then when we went to Sa Kaeo…it was amazing. These people are so simple and don’t need much to have faith. They don’t know much about the bible or really know who Jesus is. But what they really have is faith in what he can do for them.  This really encourages me to increase the level of my faith. When Ps. Lao was preaching to them…and he asked who wanted to give their lives to Christ…more than half of the people stood up with out any hesitations. They don’t need to ask why or really who he is but just have faith and really want to get to know him and how he can change their lives. None of them had been layed hands on before until that day but before Ps. Lao even started laying hands on them..they started to speak in tongues. These people are so hungry for God.

    Then for revival…there were about 1000 people at each service. These people are so hungry for God, it’s amazing. The first night, about half the room went up to accept Christ. These people are so hungry for God, its amazing. When Ps. Lao was laying hands, these people didn’t just go up once, but 3 or 4 times to get to get layed hands on. Then the second night, Ps. Lao and Ps. Joe didn’t even have to lay hands but just send out the fire from the stage and people were touched. It was literally like a Holy Spirit drunken party. It really makes us rethink again..what is the level of our faith and how hungry we really are for God.

    I can’t wait for the next mission trip. I definitely fell in love with Thailand and the people. My heart is there and can’t wait to go back. These people were telling us how much of a blessing we were to be there but actually they are a blessing to us. They have blessed us so much with their love and hospitality and the people there really opened up our eyes and encouraged us to really increase level of our faith.

  Thank you to everyone for all your support and prayers.

Love in Christ,

Tara

September 12, 2008

Father God, You created heavens and earth. By Your command, there is light and darkness. Water gathered in one place by Your command so that there is land and seas. Lord Almighty, may You command the tyhoons be blown out of the harm way of Taiwan. May You keep our students safe! Lord, may You still their hearts and let them know that YOU ARE GOD! Teach them to use this opportunity, the last lap of their mission trip to touch as many lives as possible, to spread the gospel and the love of Christ. Wherever they are Lord, may Your Holy Spirit dwell and spring forth Your presence and abundant love. Keep Your sheep protected and use them Lord, to transform lives of people in ChaiYi.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

To my team, love you all in Christ,

Joanne

A Maybe Not So Quick Stop in Taiwan…

It’s me, Rachel, again. I don’t know if anyone has been watching the news lately but apparently two very large and definately severe typhoons are heading towards Taiwan. As of today, the mission group is situated in Chiayi, the southwest portion of Taiwan and out of the current path of the brewing monsters. I would be excited for this unexpected adventure in a foreign country except for the fact that our flight could be delayed a few days for safety purposes. So, just to reassure you, we are all doing fine but we are still unsure where the storms are headed. Please also pray for protection over the country as eight people have already died from landsides in other parts and the storms haven’t even hit. The storms have affected the church too. Everything that was scheduled for tomorrow, er, today (it’s three in the morning) have been canceled due to the warnings. The Sunday service, so far, is still on. Ok, until next time parents, friends, relatives, I have to go because the freaky typhoon is blowing me out of the internet cafe (jk, jk. Eric really needs to stop!).

Rae

No Words

Two weeks without computer, cell phones, school, work…without America.  My time in Thailand has truly been one of those times that I hope i will never forget.  God touched my heart in such a special way while I was there and He did it through the people there.  I was, and still am, overwhelmed by the love, generosity, hospitality and joy of my brothers and sister at River of Life, Bangkok.  I really did feel like i was in the “Land of Smiles” as it is called.  I am so honored to have been a part of what God is doing in Thailand.  Even though our work may have seemed small, I know that God is using it in mighty ways to draw people unto Himself.  Pastor Noom admitted that the playground is more than just a playground.  It will draw many people, not only children, but also adults.  And they won’t be drawn solely to the playground, but also to Him.  The people in the slum community are amazed at the playground and ask if they have to pay to use it.  It is definately a testimony of God’s love in action.  Pastor Noom said that although we cannot speak the same verbal language, the language of love was definately communicated.  People will be more open to Jesus now.  The Revival Services were a blast, to say the least.  The flow of the spirit is so sweet and the hunger there is so precious.  Pastor Noom said that not many people really understand about the Fire of God at the meetings, but they are hungry for God and I do believe that they are learning and growing.  I could tell that the worship led by the Cruse Team was new to most of the Thai nationals, but during the last day it just felt like the Holy Spirit flooded the ballroom.   I know that God set me free from many things while there and spoke to me in such a special way, like a much needed reminder that He is, always has been, and always will be there.  Sometimes I think I just forget that God is….GOD.  Just thinking about who He is, not just what He has done, should be plenty to set us off worshipping and praising Him!  I definately miss Thailand and the  people God has used to touch my heart, especially Pastor Noom, Pastor Ann and P’ Bulan, Nui’s mom.  I hope to remember what I have learned and to hold on dearly to what God has shown me.  I hope to write again soon.  But if not, I will see you in Seattle.  I love you!

In Christ,

Ashley

September 11, 2008

Hey Ya’ll, this is some thoughts from the tiniest, non-asian in the group. I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to this mission trip because this is nothing like I have ever experienced before. Besides being challenged with having to meld and work cohesively with a group of eight other independent college students, we are further pushed to seek God for guidance and strength as we are seen as representives of not only another country but New Hope International Church, i.e. Pastor Lao. Ack… it’s frustrating when no one can agree on anything, yet sometimes that is the only way we can be refined to become more like Jesus. I have realized to a new degree that we are definately all human and that God’s grace is necessary for EVERYONE and no one is perfect. Whew, such a relief to know this!

From another perspective on the sights, flavors, and people of the foreign countries, I think we will all have a difficult time stepping onto the plane back to Seattle. In Thailand, our group fell in love with Thai youth from our sister church and quickly became attatched. There wasn’t a lack of tears in the airport today as we departed for Taiwan. We seriously contemplated “missing” our flight to our second adventure when we thought of leaving the warm, God-loving people of Thailand. Ugh! I think I have to go now because we are in a cafe in Taipei (it’s nearly 3 in the morning their time and we just inhaled the largest bubble teas we have ever seen in our lives. I have to pee!) Ok, guys, talk to you laterz! Love you all and please keep us in your prayers as we party ; ) it up for our last few days!

JUSTIN’S thoughts…

Thailandizzle has been funizzo. I dont think i have got a good nights sleep since i have got here, from long talks to people to enjoying Thailand, I’m enjoying every minute of it. This trip to Thailand has been a different experience from the last time i came to Thailand. We had to build a playground in the slum area. Ps. Noom was telling me when we were building the playground that some of kids do not go to school, even though its a public school, most kids do not have enough money for the text books and clothes. So some do not go to school and do not have any equipment to play but only whats in their neighborhood. So I felt really happy when i was building the playground. The outcome was amazing, so many children came to play with us. I know that we left i positive attitude and a good representation of God to the people in the area. I know God has used us to reach out to grown ups through the kids. After that we had the revival service at a hotel which was a great outcome with about 700 attendees. Many people got touched through Ps. Joe and Becky Cruise+crew, as well with Ps. Lao. I know that Thailand will burn with the Fire of God. Thats all I have to say…=)

HULLOH

That’s how the Thais sound when they answer their phones. “HULLOOH”

Anyway, I’ll try to get some more of the pictures up some how… AHH

I have the pictures from the Sakaeo revival trip, Rivers of Life revival weekend… wooh!

The presence of the Lord is great and in it I’ll stay… The services were just AMAZING, like God! AHH!

O-KAAAY! Not writing much because I will give the others a chance to use laptop… the ones you haven’t heard from yet

TAIWAN: Day 1

A big “NI HAO!” from all of us in the Ohana mission trip! We have arrived safely to Taipei, Taiwan-thank you so much for praying for us! We miss you all =)

Kyla:
hey! hey! hey! so today we left Thailand and arrived to Taiwan. SOOOOO sad leaving Thailand behind. WOW, that place is so full of love and generosity and kindness. The Thai people are so accepting of us, of God, and of new things. It was not like we were just leaving one counry to come to another, I truly left behind my family. I felt so much love there and so much fun memories were made. It really makes Taiwan bittersweet. But I believe God still has amazing things for us to do here in Taiwan. We get to reach out to some youth, and many more people here speak english so we can defintely be better witesses. well, just wanted to leave a quick msg. I love you all, and see you real soon!!!!!

In Christ with Love
Kyla

Nina:
I can’t believe how fast the days have gone back. I fell completely in love with the kids at the  children’s church. We did three skits that Saturday and Pastor Noom also asked us to do the Everything Skit for the Thai service and the kid-version Everything Skit as well for the children at the church. I had such a wonderful time with them talking in Thai (wow!) and translating the Thai into English and vice versa for everyone on the field. I must say my Thai has improved dramatically. The funny thing is how sometimes I don’t even know the words and would totally make it up as I go. Another technique I’ve learnt is that if I can’t remember the word and if they have no clue what I’m talking about, all I need to do is to say the english word with a Thai accent. It works like a charm! =D

Revival service…. wow, no words. It was so amazing. We helped out as ushers and singers, and it was such an experience for me. I followed after Pastor Lao and Pastor Cruse and helped cover the people after the laying of hands. People are so hungry for God. It was touching to see their faces as they were being prayed for, whether they were laughing in joy or crying, and just for their transparent hearts. It made me realize how BIG God is and just how much He loves each and every one of us. Looking over the sea of faces and seeing how God worked in so many,

Taiwan… hm, what’s to come? Right now We’re having these HUGE MUGS of bubbletea, which apparently are $3. It’s like triple the size of Joanne’s bubbletea…. they look like beer mugs for giants or something. The street markets were fun. Right now Ivan keeps cracking jokes about George Washington and “strawberry trees”…. We will be leaving for Chai Yi tomorrow! And the day after it’ll be Outreach night…. pray for us!!! LOVE YOU ALL and MISS YOU SOOOO MUCH!

ps: Apparently Taiwanese mosquitos don’t like me as much here. PRAISE GOD. =)

❤ Nina

CONT. of post below September 3, 2008

Hi everyone, this is Nina. Jenny is sitting behind me putting on mosquito bite medicine and Justin and Eric are talking about marriage.

Anyways…

The link to the pictures were from yesterday and today. We will try to put up the older pictures later since they are saved on Eric’s computer.

It’s been really amazing over here and the children are so cute! They sing songs of worship to God randomly too, it’s very cute.

Time flies so quickly, there’s only 3 minutes left.

Things to pray for:

• Thailand is in “state of emergency”
• half our team will be leaving tomorrow for Sakaeow where Pastor Lao will be preaching while the other half will stay with the Cruse team and Thai church in worship workshops.
• Revival Service!!!!

THANK YOU!!! MISS YOU ALL!

PICTURES

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2312715&l=e927c&id=10732714