Haley Gordon - The World Race 2007

Adventure of a Lifetime

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Seven months have gone by since I returned from my adventure of a lifetime. Flashes of faces and places from the year run through my mind everyday, as if no time has elapsed at all. I have wanted to write a blog since the day my feet touched American soil to sum up my year, to thank every person for their support and prayers that radically changed my life, yet I let the busyness of the States pull me away from filling my blog page with thanksgivings.

Yet with seven months of normalcy (if you count visiting 4 states in three months, planning a wedding, getting married, and moving...normal) under my belt, I have much more to share.

First things first! Thank you supporters for investing into my life.

The eleven month journey across the globe that your prayers and finances enabled me to embark on, was the most life-changing, God-encompassing, radically humbling experience! Everything I thought I knew about life and God, crumbled under the MAJESTY, POWER, and GLORY of who God truly is.

"O Jehovah, Yours is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty . For all in the heavens and in the earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and You lift up Yourself to all as Head. (1Ch 29:11 )".

Wow! I give all the praise to God the Father. I have fallen in love with the King who is Jesus! So I thank you supporters. I hope your experiences during those eleven months also drew you to the Father's feet. I know and am thankful that the Lord blesses those (all of you) who are obedient (1Ki 8:23).

Now for a little fun update!

During my eleven months overseas, God blessed me with a wonderful opportunity to get to know a Godly man named Kyle Crimi. Despite my constant anger and arguing with the Lord that it was not the time for me to meet the man of my dreams, God knew much better than me. God truly does answer our deepest cries because for many years, I had prayed that if the Lord were going to bless me with a husband, that He needed to "hit me on top of the head" and make it completely clear that that man was the man for me. Well no doubt God answered! Before I even left America on TheWorld Race last September 2007, before I had even had more than a five minute conversation with Kyle, God spoke to me in an almost audible voice

"You are going to marry that man someday!"

Sometimes I still wonder why God revealed that to me before a year of ministry, but I am thankful. God enabled us to get to know each other on a deep level, most of the time through reading each other's blogs or talking once a month about God's incredible work in our lives. I am in love with the most amazing man and God brought us together in a HOLY COVENANT of marriage on November 16, 2008.

So what am I doing with my life now? I am being a wife, which is an amazing blessing, and learning to live out my faith in all places. It is taking me a while to adjust back to the plenty of America, and I have struggled with it, but HE is leading Kyle and I and I have NO doubts that we will have a wild ride in this life!

Thank you to all and I pray blessings over you!

So Small

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Why do I feel so small? I thought I would go on this World Race and experience amazing things. I would see beautiful places, meet wonderful people who come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and be open and available for God to use me each and every day. Why then, do I feel so small at the end of this Race? How come I think back over the year and wonder if I made a real difference in anything. Did I bring people closer to the Lord in each country? Or even bigger, did I lead anyone on my squad, the people that see me everyday, closer to the Lord? It doesn't seem right that I even have to ask that question. Have I made a difference for the Lord by the way I live my life, the things I talk about, the way I reach out and serve people, the way I care about people, the way I show Jesus in my life? Do people look at me and see Jesus, or just another girl in the world?

Lord Jesus, I pray that people see you in me. I don't want to have gone a whole year with people, and leave with them seeing me and not you. What a waste that would be, Lord. Why do I desire you so much, but feel like I cannot show others how deeply you move me? You are my ALL. You are my PASSION. You are my soul-quenching DESIRE. You are what I want people to see. You are who I want people to know. When I feel for people and pray for people, it is because I want them to become Fully Alive in your majesty and your splendor.

What have I not laid down and given to you, Lord? Am I afraid of something or am I letting something hold me back from fully expressing All of you that's in me? Am I not "forgetting what is behind and pressing on towards the goal (Philippians 3:13)"? You are my prize God, so if I am leaving a year on the World Race not showing only you, how do I show only you? You know my heart Lord Jesus, you know the deep longing I have for others to see you fully. The only thing I ask Jesus, is that I leave you wherever I go. So if ever I do not leave you in the places I go or portray your unconditional love, show me and change my heart. I only want you! I only want you Lord! Help me to show only you God!

The Spotlight

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

My time is drawing slowly to a close. 11 months of spreading the gospel across the world, has almost come and gone. As the weeks turn into days, my mind begins to reflect over what this year has meant in my life, and what kind of a difference did it really make for others, for me for God.

I wish I could sum up the year in an eloquent statement which perfectly describes the tremendous impact the year has made on my life and delicately touches the hearts of my audience as they hear stories of lives changed, beautiful orphans smiling, or miraculous prayers answered. I cannot eloquently sum up my year though. I know I am different, I know I have seen other's lives changed, and I know my God has used this year to work in and through me, despite the times when I have avoided His acceptance or His conviction or His plan for this year. There is no amount of words to accurately describe the transformation God has worked through my life this year. I may not look much different on the outside when I return home (except for my worn out and stained clothes that I'll be wearing), but I am returning home a different person.

There has been a transformation in my life this year!

It started deep within my heart. I feel like a spotlight, a high-powered Maglight perhaps, has searched over every inch of my insides. God has shined His light over every area of my life, and He has done it every single day this year. When the light comes to an area which already shines for Christ's glory, it leaves a little extra light so that area of my life can shine extra bright. God has helped me shine brighter in areas like the gifts He has given me. He has shown me how He can and will work through them when I let His light shine. For instance, I love listening to people's hearts. I want to hear where they are, what's going on in their lives, what they are struggling with, how God has been working in their lives, etc.

I know God has given me this desire, and this year He has been revealing to me how to best use this gift to glorify Him. When I hear someone else's heart, their struggles or areas God is working, I feel a burden for them. I always have, but never quite knew what to do with it. God has taught me to intercede, to ask on behalf for someone through prayer, for each person I have a burden for. He has taught me through intercession to depend on Him to work in each person's life, which takes me totally out of the picture and allows God to get the full glory He deserves. Through interceding, God sometimes allows me to speak life over that person or share a word of encouragement to them. It has been an amazing thing to reflect back over this year, and see God polishing and shining up the gifts He has given me.

Sometimes though, as the spotlight scans me it comes across an area that doesn't already shine.

When the spotlight finds a dark place, which looks a lot like me instead of Christ, the light stops! It does not move from the "me" area. The light shines on "me" until that area of my life begins shining on its own. Then the spotlight can move on because that dark place in me now looks like Christ and not my own flesh. But this process is painful. It hurts. But it is God's DEEP love for me expressed through His refining fire. When I step foot in the refiner's fire, all my impurities and dark places are burned away piece by piece. The fire hurts because it shows us where we don't look like Christ, and allows us to lay down those dark places, which have been a part of us for so long, and place it at Jesus' feet.

He wants to mold me and shape me to look like Him. Every time he shines His light over a dark place of mine, it hurts, but I know His refining fire will show me more of Christ and lead me to reveal more of Him to others.

Let me go ahead and say now, I did not expect to have so many spotlights shining on me this year. But for some reason they never seemed to let up!

Even though I have realized I have way more dark places in my life than I thought (even the things that are just half way shining are in need of Him), I am absolutely thankful that God loves me enough to shine his spotlight and make me beautiful.

"Let your light shine before all men, that they may see your good deeds and praise our Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Puerto Cabezas Update

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hello from Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. My team and I are spending our last few weeks on the Race on the East coast of Nicaragua, working with Pastor Earl and his many ministries. You can read about our time here in Puerto Cabezas from Christie's blog, If We Didn't Have Worms Before...

and

you can check out this video from my teammate Brandon, to get a good visual of the SLUSH.

Even though we are approaching the end of the World Race, we need prayers more than ever. Now we are not only living out each day here, but we are also thinking and praying about what God wants for us when we get back home. So thank you for your many prayers, and I ask for more during these last few weeks. God is so faithful!

Spiritual Battles

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:10-11). Sounds like a pretty good message doesn't it? And for those of us who attended church at least somewhat regularly growing up, this passage on "the armor of God" was probably a sermon message or Sunday school topic heard many times.

Throughout my life I have heard messages on "putting on the full armor of God" and I have read this passage in the bible multiple times. I have probably even thought I knew everything there was to know about putting on the armor of God.

Before this year on the World Race, I seemed to think I knew pretty much EVERYTHING there was to know about a relationship with God. I thought I had this Christian thing down!

But oh have I been wrong!

God is more! God has more! God is "able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).

There is so much more to God than my short life or finite mind will ever figure out. I think I kind of like it that way though.

Lately, I am realizing how vital for followers of Christ, the Ephesians chapter on the armor of God truly is. For, our "struggle is not against flesh and blood" (Ephesians 6:12). So often I see life in an earthly, or fleshly view. If I am bothered by someone, it is because they are doing something I do not like; if I am tired and struggling to stay awake to read my bible, it is because I haven't gotten enough sleep and I need to rest; if I think, I should encourage this person on my mind' or tell this person about Christ's love', but suddenly get nervous and say "next time I'll do it", it is because it would be awkward to talk to that person out of the blue, and another time would be a better; and so on and so on.

But Ephesians says our struggles are "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

Wow! Rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world! These all seem much deeper and heavier than merely being sleepy or bothered. How often though, do we realize EVERY thought attitude action word we have, is either taking up our armor against these "forces of evil" or laying down our weapons and letting Satan trample all over us, every little lie and manipulation at a time?

The past few weeks I did not pick up all my armor, and Satan took advantage of my weak, unarmored, places. Yes, I said ALL my armor. The struggle we are fighting against is mostly unseen and almost always disguised, because Satan's power comes from deceit. Even though I was in constant prayer and reading the Word everyday, (using some of my armor) I did not stand firm with "the shield of faith". Satan was throwing "flaming arrows" (Ephesians 6:16), lies about myself, about my ability to serve Him and serve my team, and about how my team felt about me.

My shield of faith was down, and I allowed Satan to get a foothold. Just one or two lies from Satan and He ran with it. After I listened to those lies, anything that happened or was said in my team, Satan took and twisted it, leading me to believe

more and more and more of His lies.

So "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power" so "that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground" (Ephesians 6:10,13). I am learning to put on the FULL armor of God and fight with Christ's strength against Satan and his armies. Satan wants to defeat us, but "we are more than conquerors through Christ" (Romans 8:37).

For all of us, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

It's Been Over A Month!

Sun, 1 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I have been in the beautiful country of Panama for one week now. Our squad stayed in a hostel in Panama City the first half of the week, and the rest of the week my team has been at the beach in Santa Clara, Panama. We have already had a week of ministry in Panama, and I'm sorry to say that my last blog was about entering Costa Rica. That was over a month ago!

What have I been doing? I am sorry for slacking off on my already infrequent blogs. Really there is no excuse other than I didn't know what to write about. Pretty lame, huh?

Our month in Costa Rica looked quite different than any other ministry location we've had on the World Race. At the arrival of Central America we had three months of ministry left before heading home. Our squad wanted to give us the freedom to choose into ministries where we felt led, even if that meant splitting up from our teams and going in different directions. The idea was to prepare us for life back home, wherever home might be. When we get home, we will not have a close team of people going with us to visit our families or joining us at work. The ministry we choose to do will have to come solely from an overflow of our hearts. For the first time in almost a year, each of us will not have a team (a family as we like to call it) that has been through the same things, that approaches life and ministry in a different way than before the World Race, or who will join you in ministry each and every day. When I go home, I will have to choose for myself to live each day completely and wholly for Christ. Coming home will be quite a change, and the time we spent in Costa Rica aimed at preparing us for that change.

Except for one weekend spent at a beautiful beach on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, I spent the entire month in San Jose, the capital city. Although the scenery was a stark contrast to the tropical beach of Quepos, I felt led by the Lord to remain in the city. My days were mostly made up of praying, spending time with the handful of World Racers who also stayed in the city, getting to know the YWAM staff where we were staying, and occasionally going to Alajuelita, the poorest area of San Jose.

Costa Rica was one of the most difficult months I have had on the World Race. The odd thing is that while I learned so much from God, like what trust in Him looks like and how much I NEED HIM above all, I also felt very alone and distant from people and from God's voice. It was such a struggle to see how many amazing things God was doing, yet at the same time feel like God was silent in the time I needed Him to speak most.

At some point I may be able to look back at my month in Costa Rica and see the reasons or outcomes for what happened, but even if I never understand the "whys", I rest on God's word that says "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Psalm 34:18-19.

Central America at Last

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We safely made it to San Jose, Costa Rica! Thank you for your continued prayers for my team. The next few days in San Jose will be spent receiving some cultural training and in prayer for where the Lord wants each of our teams these next few weeks. We are going before our Father in full expectation that He will reveal His plans for our teams. It is amazing to know with full assurance that my God speaks and reveals his perfect plans. Please join me in prayer for my team and for my parents who will be joining team seven:eleven for a few days in May.

I have some links to amazing blogs and videos from my teammates. I hope you check them out; they are worth it. Brandon has posted several videos this past month about our time in Africa. All of them are incredible! His most recent video is our slide show from Africa.

Christie's blog, I want to know the Lord, from her time in Cape Town, South Africa is real and something most of us World Racers have thought about at some point these past 8 months.

The blog One by One by Colleen, will touch you because the Lord's love and power resonate in every word.

An amazing blog Faith, by Kyle challenges us to shatter the box we so often put God in. His blog reminds us that when we pray for faith, He will answer. He will say "remember me, trust me because this will be hard. Knowing me more, increasing your faith hurts, but remember that I am faithful. I will create in you a faith that can move mountains, so trust me through the trial. It will be good!"

There are so many more blogs with powerful messages, and I hope you get a chance to read them all. Praise the Lord for his hand at work in all of our lives!

Is He Enough?

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

If I no longer had friends to laugh and share my life with or a loving family to support and encourage me unconditionally, would I be ok with just me and God?

If I could no longer "serve" God, give back to God for His gift of salvation, or be a part of bringing souls from death to LIFE in Christ, would I be ok with just me and God?

If I had Christ alone, no titles of missionary, leader, example, mentor; take your pick for what title you see yourself as or desire to be seen as, would I be content knowing God loves me unconditionally? Would I understand in all its depth that no "good work" will earn God's favor, because the "love of God has [already] been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given [as a gift] to us" (Romans 5:5)? Do I really know that God's love has been poured into my heart, and I do not have to DO one more thing FOR God, nor have I ever had to DO anything FOR God to keep this outpouring of perfect love? I just have it!

As much as I say with my mouth that I understand, does my heart truly know and understand that God "did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over FOR us all" and that He will "freely give us all things" (Romans 8:32)? God freely gave up His son and freely gives us all things. Wow.
If I truly knew all of this; if I understood this love Christ has for me, I would be ok with just me and God.

But am I?

Can I accept just being with God, and not doing anything else that makes me feel good or feel like I somehow earned His love and favor?

I'm not sure I can truthfully answer yes to this question. I want to say yes, of course I would be satisfied just being with God', but the truth is I don't know.

These are the thoughts that have been spinning around in my head for the past 2 weeks in Cape Town, South Africa. I know my heart is to give my life completely to my daddy God. He knows that my heart says "yes" teach me Lord! So even though I do not really understand the depths of God's gift of love, His grace continues to pour over my life. That is the beauty of Christ; He shows me where I fall short and He confronts me of my sin and pride, and then invades my heart with His love, reminding me that, "He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). I do not have it all figured out. I realize almost everyday (by the grace of God) that God is immeasurably good and I Need Him. As I see my need for Him, Christ is magnified.

Slowly I am coming to realize that I do not really KNOW my Father, but it is ok. He knows me, and that makes all the difference. I pray for a "yes" in my heart towards whatever God has for me, and thank God that His grace covers ALL!

Lord, I want to be ok with just YOU and me.

Mutarara in Pictures

Tue, 8 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Some beautiful children in Mozambique. They are amazing.
The widows who take care of the orphans. It is incredible how much they can carry on their heads!The usual, all the kids practically on top of our tents. Privacy was not a word in Mutarara, but I miss the kids now, no privacy and all.Church in Africa. Young and old sing and dance and praise the Lord. What a beautiful thing!Our home in Mutarara. The huts where the widows and orphans lived and then our little tents right in the middle of their village. Typical dinner preparation. Peanut butter and bread. Mmmm Our team and the pastor and his family in Mutarara.

Mutarara was difficult but so amazing. God continues to teach me from our experiences there. I will always remember the beautiful people we met.

Cape Town Here We Come

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We are heading to Cape Town, South Africa tomorrow! We will be in Cape Town for about two weeks and then having our final Africa debrief April 16-20th. I am very excited for Cape Town and getting to know the missionary couple we will be staying with. We all feel that God is calling us to Cape Town, and are excited to see what God has for us there. Please be praying for these final weeks in Africa!

Pray for me to step out in obedience (even when I cannot see where I will land)

Pray for me to encourage, intercede for, and build up my team (as I feel this is part of the calling God has for my life)

Pray for team Seven: Eleven to hear the Lord's voice and follow him these final few weeks

God Made A Way In Mutarara

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mutarara and all its beautiful people are now seven hours behind us, but the memories and faces of our family we left behind will forever be etched in our minds. We set off for the small village of Mutarara, Mozambique one month ago, with the misssion of building an orphanage for 40 something orphans who lost their previous `shelter in the Zambezi River flood in early January. Our three weeks in Mutarara proved to be much more than just a construction project, and none of us will be the same because of it. To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagineEphesians 3:20.

THe construction of the orphanage building is underway, although it is definitely a slow project. Efficiency is not in the Mozambique vocabulary! God has gone before us in every part of the construction process though, from finding bricks to hiring labor, to developig a sufficient house plan in our price range. We hit several road blocks with the construction, but each time it brought us to the throne, crying out for the Lord to make a way where there did not seem to be one. Each time, God our Father was faithful. When the plans for the orphanage were drawn and the price was $3,000 more than we had raised, God made a way and brought the contractor to a place where he said, kay, I will make it work for the amount of money you raised. Praise God. Again, God was faithful when we did not have a way to get all of our raised money out of the bank and World Vision stepped in to help us transfer funds in the needed time. Praise God. With each road block that we could not pass, God made a way!

The foundation is now almost finished for the building, and the entire project is projected to be completed in 30-40 days. The rains and lack of modern construction equipment may cause some delays, but we pray the building will be finished soon and the children will have a safe place to live.

As for the moreGod had for us that I mentioned earlier, I will have to share in a later blog. I am still processing all that I learned, and will share it with you... once I have figured out how to put it in action.

Bound for Mozambique

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We are leaving for Mutarara, Mozambique in about 5 minutes. We are setting off at 5 a.m. and expect (WE HOPE) to arrive at our destination four days from now. The travel will be very long, over bumpy, dirt roads, and all six of us are travelling in a vehicle suited for five. It will be an interesting four days of travel, and in need of much prayer. We will stay in Mozambique for 3 to 4 weeks and minister wherever God leads. We plan to rebuild an orphanage that was washed away in the recent floods from the Zambezi River. Be praying for the orphanage, the people in the village we are staying in (it is heavily populated with Muslims), our physical and spiritual safety, and for us to follow God's voice. Thank you for all your prayers and support.

I am excited to hit the road and experience all God's plans for Mozambique!

God is so Good!

Prayers for Sarah

Fri, 8 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I know many of you already know that my dear

teammate, Sarah Lapp, had to go home to Kentucky

last week because her mother was diagnosed with

cancer. I wanted to ask you all to remember her in

your prayers. The following link is a blog Cameron

sent out about Sarah and her mom. We believe she

can be healed; pray with faith. Thank you for joining

me in carrying this burden with Sarah.

Africa Thus Far

Thu, 7 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Africa thus far

We have been in Africa for 1 weeks now and aside from Africa looking nothing like I expected, these weeks have already been incredible as expected. Last week our team spent the week in Manzini, Swaziland. We had some intense teaching times and different ministry opportunities like visiting the local hospital or The Hope House which is a home for AIDS victims. I entered the week of teaching with this prayer: "Lord break me of everything that is not of you, strip me Lord. Help me to say yes' to all that you ask this week. Would you show me your power, your love, and your grace in new ways. Lord begin to show me more of the gifts and the authority you want me to use for your glory. Thank you Father for always working."

Needless to say, God answered all of those prayers. It was intense. But I am so thankful for it.

Now my team is in Nelspruit, South Africa which is absolutely beautiful. We are staying in Bob and Sue's house (they are really fun missionaries from the UK). We are staying on top of a beautiful hill in a town-ship that stretches all the way to Mozambique. As far as I can see in all directions are huge, green rolling hills. Wow! So amazing.

We are ready for what God wants here in Nelspruit. We are still praying about how God wants us to serve here, but my team feels like God is calling us to step out in faith and take some risks this month. I think we will have to choose to trust God even when the outcome is unclear. I am excited.

A little bit about today

My high and low today were both at the children's ward of the local hospital. There were so many suffering children. Many are dying. Hopelessness covered the faces of children who should be running around playing soccer or climbing trees. Seeing the hopelessness in the children's beautiful eyes was rough to say the least. My high though, was being reminded that my God is HOPE. His hope can transform their hopelessness.

Thank you Father that you can overcome even the most hopeless situation. You are life and hope and healing. I pray that you will use me to be your hands and feet for these precious children at the hospital.

The Power of His Hand

Wed, 6 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Where can I start? Where do I begin? How can I get out all that is in my crammed head right now? My thoughts scatter in every direction when I try to put words to what my heart is saying. There is just too much. I feel like God needs to slow down and give me some room to breath; some room to digest ALL I am experiencing. It is crazy that God just will not let up.

His hand is on me right now.

The craziest part about all of this to me is that God's hand is not heavy, but it is wrapped in light and life and love. God will not let up, but the more I think I cannot handle more of God's challenges, and lessons, and joys, and intense awe, and blessings, the more I realize I can never live without them again.

Of course what I have been experiencing is too much for me to grasp. It is GOD I am getting a taste of! A God that is passionate for His people. A God who knows no bounds and cannot be bound. I am getting a taste of the power and authority of the Almighty. I am seeing perfect compassion, amazing grace, and God's deep intimacy. I have never experienced such perseverance, such dedication, such purpose in God's continuous pursuit of ME.

How can I go back to living my life of trying to make God easy and comfortable? How can I expect to experience the vastness of Abba Father when I believe in Him, but do not follow Him with my life? How did I start believing that following Jesus is about blessings in this life, having comfort, striving to be good for the Lord, living my own life but loving the Lord while doing it, etc? When the more I read scripture the more I see none of those portrayed. I see trials, suffering, promises of future blessings (not earthly), grace and intimacy (not right and wrong), community (believers working together to portray Christ), and a transformation of spirit, mind, body, and life (not "I live my own life with God on the side or sprinkled on top").

It is the most intense thing I have ever experienced! I have never struggled so much before. I never knew how hard and painful brokenness is, or that I had so much to be broken of It hurts! I am being stripped. Stripped of me. I am fading away, day by day.

Why then, do I want more? Sitting here even now, I struggle to come up with an answer that will explain exactly why I want more. But this is it. This is the only explanation I can put into words."Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord". All the struggles, trials, and humbling experiences which make it hard to breath right now, are absolutely worth it because I am seeing so much of God's perfect compassion, amazing grace, and deep intimacy. When I live, I get in the way. I want to die to me, and live in Christ.

Heading Out

Fri, 4 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Tomorrow morning my team and I will be leaving Hong Kong and heading for a country that is closed to the gospel of Christ. We will be in this country until January 20^th when we will return to Hong Kong and fly to the continent of Africa for our next leg of the World Race. In order to protect us and the ministry hosts we will work with for the next few weeks, our teams will not blog, email, or even get on the internet. So your prayers will be greatly appreciated for me and my team for the next few weeks. Pray for us to develop an attitude of constant prayer. Even though we cannot openly share or worship Christ, God will speak to us and show us His will when we seek it. Also pray for safety, health, and unity for team Seven:Eleven. I am excited to see God move in amazing ways and I believe we will "shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).

His People Are Shining

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Our time here in Dumaguete, Philippines is approaching the end. It feels like we just got settled in our host home that Lolo and Sherry graciously "gave" to us for the month, and now we are packing up to leave. I have many mixed emotions about leaving our ministry site tomorrow morning. Although much of the ministry I took part in this month was a challenge for me, it also seems too soon to leave some of the pastors and people I met at the orphanage.

My team worked alongside International Care Ministries the whole month, but I think there were only about two or three times the entire month that our whole team of ten was together at one ministry site. We were always at different places doing evangelism, or construction, or church celebrations, or orphanage visits. I felt like I was apart of twenty different short term mission trips all packed tightly into one month. It was exhausting!

This month was also scattered with many glimpses of God's provision and grace that showed me our work here, however exhausting it was, had an eternal impact on the Kingdom. One such glimpse happened just last Thursday with a pastor named Jun. He and his family have been ingrained on my heart forever. Their dedication and service to the Lord is truly remarkable, because pastor Jun and his family willingly follow Christ's call on their lives even when that means not having food enough for their own dinner every night. Check out Christie's blog about how God provided "gifts from above" for Pastor Jun.

Another moment which God used this month to change eternity and to impact each person on Team Beloved Eleven was Elmer. Just the name Elmer will forever remind me of the beautiful man in Bais, Philippines who now has a fire and life in the Lord. The verse "I once was dead, but now I am alive" has never reigned so true than for Sir Elmer. This man is dying of liver cancer, but he is more alive than ever before because now he lives in Christ Jesus. Praise the Lord that our bodies may crumble, but our Life Is In Christ! Read more about Elmer's life in Brandon's blog "the greatest among us".

It was moments like these that I see God's life and love and grace and forgiveness and blessings shining on his precious children.

Salamat Sa Guinoo! (Praise be to God)

Oh, and take a minute to view Mark's slideshow "montage" from Cambodia, it makes me want to cry everytime I watch it.

Thank You and Happy Birthday Mom

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I thought this would be a special way to say thank you for our wonderful trip to Apo Island. What better day to post the video than on your birthday! It was a collaborative effort by my team to think of fun ways to say thank you, but it was Cameron who worked so hard to put this video together. The most I could do with my limited technology skills was help her decide on a song and some of the pictures. We all thank you so much for the amazing Philippines experience at one of the best coral reefs in the world. I love you and Happy Birthday Mom!

Filipino Fun

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

It has been a busy couple of weeks since we arrived in the Philippines. The first 4 days were spent having debrief in Manila with all of the September team. It was a good time to fellowship with everyone and enjoy the generous hospitality and awesome ministry that Jeff Long and his family are a part of.

Since then, after a 30 hour ferry ride and 5 1/2 hour bus ride, we have been in Dumaguete, Philippines. For this month team Seven:Eleven will no longer be known as Seven:Eleven, but as Beloved:Eleven, because three members of Beloved have joined our ministry in Dumaguete. Yipee! I'm excited for the new members!

We will be in Dumaguete working with an organization called International Care Ministries (ICM) until December 19. I would go into detail about what our ministry looks like with ICM but since we are all doing different things and going in separate directions the whole month, I will save your precious time and just give you a simple answer. Throughout the month, we will assist different pastors with construction needs (we have our hard hats ready), we will do evangelism in different neighboring cities/villages (door to door or more likely bamboo opening to bamboo opening), orphanage visits (gotta love the children), medical and food outreaches (I helped weigh people today. For some reason they didn't think I was quite qualified to diagnose the villagers illnesses!), and I'm sure various other ministries will open up during the month. Beloved:Eleven is all over the place this month, and we are excited about the opportunities God is providing, but we could use your prayers: for times of rest, for wisdom in how to minister to each other amongst our busy and different schedules, and also for each of us to follow the Lord's leading in our lives as He teaches and challenges us. Thank You for all your prayers!

There have been some super exciting days for me recently as well. One of them being the amazing Birthday I had on Sunday. Check out Cameron's birthday video at the bottom to see some of the wonderful times we shared together! Lets just say I've never been serenaded at 12:05 am by 15 Filipinos with flowers and balloon in hand or gone to a beautiful sand bar in the middle of the ocean for my birthday! I had such a wonderful day because I not only had fun experiences like I just mentioned, but I was also able to watch a slide show from my parents and open several birthday cards from my family and friends back home. I felt so blessed to have my family and friends back home want to make my birthday special and also get to experience my family in the Philippines and my team want to make my birthday special. It was wonderful!

Oh, and I cannot forget the massive Thanksgiving dinner we had on Saturday the 24th, with around 50 missionaries. The food was so great... of course it was not as good as my Grandmother's Thanksgiving meal, but I don't think anyone will ever be able to top that!

Sorry for the delay in sharing what's been going on with me lately. I look forward to experiencing the rest of this month with you, through my blogs, emails, and all of your wonderful prayers!

Our Response to God's Beautiful Redemption

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I pray that the stories each of us share this year in our blogs, the stories about girls trapped in prostitution, or the men enslaved by their sexual sins, or stories about beautiful children and poor families, and missionaries needing people to come encourage and fellowship with them. I pray that these stories will impact your life. I do not ask that they merely bring tears down your cheeks or a prayer about how much money you could send to help; I do not see in scripture where those responses are sufficient on their own. I do see however, scripture that says "pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luke 10:2-3). God is calling you out to love Him and to love your neighbor.

Since making a year long commitment to serve the Lord on The World Race, I have now realized that when God asks us to "go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19)" he means it. He means go and make disciples everyday. I am learning to take every little opportunity each day to share Christ's love, instead of always trying to look ahead at "the big picture". As we step out in faith, we are all a part of the mission the Lord wants to accomplish. Some are called to other nations and some are called to reach their neighbors down the street or at the office, but no matter where it is, it comes down to listening to the heart of God. God did not just call a select few to be missionaries in far away places.

When we come to know Christ as our Savior, the only adequate response to his love should be our lives displaying that same love. Whether we travel to Bangkok, Thailand to serve as a follower of Christ or talk to someone in the supermarket checkout or begin loving a co-worker who does not know the Lord (which loving takes commitment and effort; it's not always easy). The love Christ pours into our lives should be evident in everything, everywhere, and in all moments.

Our response to the freedom and salvation Christ offers us, should be just that, a response. My selfishness and pride often shadow my response to God's love for me, but everyday I pray that I would fully come to know the hope of salvation that I have in Christ. The more Christ becomes real to me, the more my heart will overflow with response and gratitude that Christ chose me and gave me a life and a purpose. Would you make that a prayer for your life as well? I invite you to ask Christ to fill you with His life, and I believe when He does, you will want nothing more than to respond to the life He gives you.

I cannot wait to hear about the life He gives you!

God's Beautiful Redemption

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As I sat down at a food court table, with 40 Baht coffee in hand (which is only a little over a dollar, but rather pricey for my three dollar a day food budget), I felt a tinge of guilt that I was about to enjoy a cup of hot coffee before stepping foot into the largest sex trade district in the world. While I was enjoying the air conditioning and fresh coffee at 3:30 pm, there were 15,000 prostitutes just beginning their nightly jobs at the bars. Somehow it did not seem right that I could sit in comfort, complaining about the coffee being too pricey for my budget, while the bar women (and men) are trapped in the prostitution business because it is the only way to provide for their families' debts and still have money for food. Many of the bar girls are sent to the city, before even finishing high school by their families. They are sent to find work and expected to send money back to their poor families.

These women and men do not have the education for most other jobs, because even restaurant workers or store managers need to have finished high school and sometimes even college to be hired. Some of the girls are illegally trafficked and forced into the business as well. While I drank my coffee, which I could easily afford, precious women were selling their bodies, and giving in to Satan's lies that prostitution is the only way, just so they could have enough money for a meal the next day. I have nothing to complain about, especially not something as selfish as the price of coffee!

The two evenings I spent in the bar district were difficult at times, but after meeting even just a few of the girls, I felt the urgency to show them God's redeeming love. Me and several other girls on the September team joined some women who work at one of the three organizations in Bangkok, providing protection, shelter, and jobs such as hair and nail services or jewelry and bag making for girls wanting to escape the bar/prostitution life. We partnered up with either the missionaries working at the organization or some of the girls who had left the bars because of the organization. I was partnered up with a Thai girl who used to live a similar life to the girls we were ministering to, and now knows the incredible depths of Christ's love, and desires to lead other girls into that redemption.

Just to hear her testimony and the painful stories of her past, that God was now being able to use for His glory and His children's salvation, left me in awe of God's immense power. I was walking the bar districts to pray for the women's beautiful hearts and as a willing heart to show the girls that someone truly cares about them. But the most beautiful picture was to watch God use this Thai girl that had been freed from the bondage of prostitution, reach, love, empathize, and lead other women out of the same bondage she had once been in. Satan has no reign over her life anymore; she was "loosed from the bonds of wickedness" and every yoke that had kept her enslaved is now broken (Isaiah 58: 6). Visiting the bars for two nights only gave me a glimpse of the vast need for salvation and freedom for these girls, men, and bar owners. I see the work God is doing in the bar district by the missionaries and Thai women like I just mentioned. God is using the workers here, but as Luke 10:2 perfectly explains about the bars in Bangkok, the "harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few".

It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Best moments in Cambodia

1. Being able to love on children from morning till night.

2. Telling and showing the children about the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus

3. Having a million hugs and smiles from all the kids every single day. Just spend a few minutes with one of the kids at the orphanage when you are having a bad day, and they will cheer you up in no time.

4. Walking outside every morning to a view of the beautiful tree covered mountain.

5. Climbing and conquering the mountain (who needs a pathway down, right)? A few boulders and thick jungle terrain can't stop us!

6. Having Banana Pancakes and fresh, hot coffee every Saturday on our day off at the Sunrise Cafe in Battambang. Wow, after a week of rice morning, noon, and night, banana pancakes and hot coffee really just makes everything better.

7. Listening to some of the girls sing "Open the eyes of my heart Lord" in English. Actually just hearing some of the girls sing praise to Jesus was amazing in itself.

Worst moments in Cambodia

1. THE BUGS! I think I witness the 8th plague every night in our room. If you can sweep up about 2 cups of flying bugs every 30 minutes in one room, then you are about even with us.

2. Not being able to walk off a path without getting your feet covered in mud, probably cow poop and people pee mud at that.

3. Hearing crying children and no one comforting them.

4. Watching all the children pick on and torment whoever is younger than them, and never seeing an adult tell them it is not right or good.

5. The Bugs! Did I mention that already?

6. Having to pray against lice for our whole team because the children had it so bad.

7. Saying good-bye to the children for the last time.

Funniest moments in Cambodia

1. Our hour long conversation about food in America, culminating in Brandon's desperate shout for a cinnamon crunch bagel and free Wifi from Panera Bread. Who am I kidding? We talk about food about 80% of the day every day.

2. The last minute decision to stay in Battambang over night, even though we had on dirty clothes, no toiletries, and no clean clothes for the next day. But that hotel, even without a hot water shower and having to share a bed, was definitely worth it.

3. Taking a bike ride with Christie and Brandon for some good exercise, and ending up eating fried bananas at the market halfway through the ride. Somehow I think the bananas defeated the purpose of our exercise.

4. Riding an hour and a half into town in the back of the orphanage truck, with over 30 children smashed together, in the rain, and through the incredibly bouncy dirt road. You better hold on for dear life, or you might fly out!

I will truly miss this country. I left a piece of my heart with those children at the Four Square Orphanage. They are beautiful people, and beautiful lights for Christ.

Team Blog #2

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What has Team Seven:Eleven been up to this week? Have we been enjoying the beautiful Cambodia countryside? Yes. Are we loving on the beautiful children at the orphanage? Of course. And what about daydreaming about American food, and jointly cheering over cinnamon crunch bagels from Panera Bread and free Wifi internet? Without a doubt! So here is an update of Team Seven:Eleven.

Ministry for the Week

We started the week off with church Sunday morning at the orphanage. It was an exciting experience because families from a nearby village were picked up in the huge flat-bed truck that the orphanage owns and joined our worship service. Brandon volunteered and did an amazing job preaching the message at church, after only a 30 minute heads up from the pastor. This week we have been able to visit another cell group and encourage the four church members who attended. I enjoyed the cell group because we asked the members to pray for our team's weak state of health, which was greatly needed. Several days this week we visited our neighbors in the village and continued building relationships with them. We were able to pray for one of the ladies' sisters who is recovering from a moto accident that happened the day before. The guys were able to help dig up some huge, bright purple potatoes out of one of the ladies' gardens, and then we got to take them home with us to eat! Yummy. Two afternoons this week our team worked around the orphanage making new laundry lines and digging holes for the fence we will build around the trash pile. The fence will hopefully keep the chickens and cows from strewing all the trash everywhere. The rest of the week was typically filled by playing with the kids, participating in the nightly worship, holding English classes for the children, and meeting for devotional time or planning with the team.

Week at a Glance

This will be our final week at the orphanage, and we are praying God will lead our every step. Many of our daily activities will be the same as the past few weeks; we will spend time with the kids, visit people in the village, and work around the orphanage. I think many of us have felt an urgency to speak the truth of the gospel to these children at all times this week. Even though we are ministering at a Christian orphanage, we cannot assume that the truth of Christ is known or understood. This week we are holding a mini vacation bible school type of thing for the little kids Monday- Friday, we are having a party Sunday afternoon, and most of the nights we usually do English classes, we will now be having a bible study. With each of these activities, we hope to just share the gospel of Christ and the love He has for them. I am looking forward to this final week at the Four Square Orphanage and all that God is doing here.

Yearning for Cinnamon Crunch Bagels

Our team has finally reached the point where we miss aspects of home quite a bit. One night last week we ended up talking about American food for like an hour straight. We talked about each restaurant we wish we could eat at, and got excited when someone named the same food they would order at that restaurant that you would. It reached a climactic moment when Brandon exclaimed "I could really go for a cinnamon crunch bagel from Panera Bread right now. We all jointly cheered "Yes!" "With a hot cup of real coffee". Again, louder this time, "Yes!" "And free refills of coffee". The cheer now a low roar, "Yes!" "With free WiFi internet". A final "YES!" resounded through the room and carried all throughout the orphanage halls. We were practically drooling after the experience. It has sense become a daily event to talk about cinnamon crunch bagels and free WiFi. If anyone wants to send us some Panera bagels through the mail, feel free!

Prayer Needs for the Week

Health for our team. Many of us are struggling with our health in some way or another.
We will show and proclaim the gospel of Christ to these children every chance we get.
The people in the village we have been visiting will be encouraged and God will use the seeds we have planted.

Beautiful Brown Eyes

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I am in Cambodia. I still think it is crazy that I was in Thailand just 3 days ago, and now I am walking the busy, muddy streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Our September teams and the June teams are all staying at the YWAM base in Phnom Penh for a few days of Cambodia orientation. My team will be ministering for the month in a small, rural village an hour outside of Battambang, but even these few days in the capitol city have already been eye opening.

The biggest difference I have seen here in Cambodia so far is the massive amounts of begging going on all the time. Children that can't be older than four or five follow me around asking for money, men and women who are missing legs from land mine accidents are standing on every corner begging, and whole families sit and wait for money as I walk by. The people of Cambodia are still trying to recover from thirty years of bondage and war. I want to give the children more than just a little money. Money will not last. I want to show them "not to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy". But how do I truly show the light of Christ in a passing glance or a friendly smile and "hello" (which all the Cambodians love to say to us foreigners)? That doesn't seem like enough. How will they know it is Christ shining through me and not just a foreigner looking for a cute picture? I have a feeling this sense of 'what can I really do to make a difference' will be a constant battle I face throughout the entire year. I hate that I cannot run up to each child and look into their beautiful brown eyes and tell them "Jesus Loves You more than anything else in the world!" and know that they truly understand the depth of those words.

But I do know...

"this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

I John 5:14-15

Thank you Father that I put my faith in you who is faithful to hear my prayers. Not only can I have confidence that you hear my prayers, but that you also answer the prayers I lift up to you. So I pray right now for the souls of the precious children I have met these past few days. I pray for little Ling and Yu and the beautiful little girl that always runs down the alley way to greet me every time I leave the house. May my smiles and time with these children show them your deep love. Bring people into their lives that know you, and let them also come to know you as Father and Savior. Thank you for always hearing my prayers and knowing the depths of my heart. Amen.

This and That

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I want to link a few of my friend's blogs that I thought were really amazing or just stinkin funny to my page for your reading enjoyment!

This is our team blog so you can know and be praying for what we will be doing this month in Cambodia

Even though this blog was from about a month ago, I still crack up every time I watch the video. All of Brandon's videos are worth watching if you have a few minutes.

If anyone wants to see the delicacies we have eaten so far, take a look at this!

This blog is one of the most real and vulnerable testimonies I have read. This blog is for any man who is ready to be rocked and challenged. I thought it was worth sharing with any man reading this blog.

Pictures in Thailand

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This is our team minus Brandon; he always seems to be taking the pictures instead of being in them. We are in a boat in Bangkok, Thailand going to visit some of the famous Buddhist temples. The water was nasty!A HUGE Buddhist idol at the temple. The temples were so ornate, with idols of Buddha, past monks, and other statues that I'm not sure what they stood for.MONKEYS! And look they are twins. There were actually hundreds of monkeys here, and they were so greedy. We brought cucumbers and corn to feed the monkeys, but if you didn't hurry and throw the food for them they would literally start grabbing and scratching you to get the food out of your hand. They may be cute but the monkeys sure aren't made to be pets.There are fruit stands like this everywhere, with the best fruit I have ever tasted. I don't know how I will ever be able to eat a pineapple in the states again. I have also tried about 5 or 6 fruits that I had never heard or seen before. Yummy.Team Seven:Eleven on top of a famous temple in the province of Ratchaburi. The temple overlooked all of Ratchaburi, with mountains, rice fields, and the city all in its view. The temple is famous because it has Buddhist, Hindu, and Chinese religious symbols and idols mixed throughout it. We were able to pray over the city of Ratchaburi during our visit here. Our team with the University students (and a few stray dogs) after the amazing day at Saan's families' pineapple farm. Keep praying for these students

I hope you enjoy the pictures and that they give you a visual of who to be praying for.

Wrapping up in Ratchaburi

Mon, 1 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

We are approaching our last week in Ratchaburi, Thailand and I don't think any of us are ready to leave yet. It feels like we are just now getting comfortable with the friends we have made and the ministry we are doing here. Even though I want to be around to see one of the college or high school students finally meet the Lord and ask HIm into their hearts, it has been a beautiful thing to just be here for the amount of time God has planned for us.

In my mind, getting to be a part of the final "link" in the chain of one of the students coming to know the Lord, is the most exciting and rewarding part of the process. Actually though, God placed us here in Ratchaburi for just the amount of time He willed, and it does not matter if we became the first link in someone's process of coming to know the Lord, by maybe sharing the name 'Jesus' for the first time, or the final link leading someone to ask Jesus into their heart, or any link in between. Each time I pray, "God let me be your hands and feet today. Allow me to be a light in this dark world", I am allowing the Lord to use me in exactly the ways that glorify Him the most. I have to constantly remind myself that my purpose for being on The World Race and for all that I do, both here and at home, is to bring glory to Christ Jesus. "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" Ephesians 3:20-21. So I resolve to "know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" 1 Corinthians 2:2. As long as I am submitting each day to God and his plans for me, I know God will use me just how He wants.

Now that you have an idea of where my heart is in entering this final week in Ratchaburi, I will give you our schedule and some prayer requests for the week. So here it is:

Monday- (a.m.) worship and prayer/planning time for the next 3 evenings of ministry. (p.m.) English training/seminar with nurses at the hospital.

   -pray for direction with the training sessions

   - pray doors will open up for future ministry in the hospitals because this is the first ministry opportunity the Ratchaburi team has     had in the hospitals.

Tuesday- (a.m.) We are blessing a pastor and his family who just started a church, by cleaning and working in their home/church that is in need of repairments. (p.m.) Second evening at the hospital.
   -pray for the pastor and his church, that the gospel will be through his church.

Wednesday- (a.m.) Unknown. Maybe a day at the floating market! Whoo Who! The floating market is where all the food and shops are in little boats on a canal. To shop you rent a boat and go from "shop" to "shop". I went to a smaller floating market on Saturday, but the one we might go to this day is supposed to be amazing. And possibly an elephant ride. I cannot wait! (p.m.) Final evening at the hospital.
   -pray for relationships to form at the hospital.

Thursday- (a.m.) Ministry. (p.m.) Unknown.
   -pray for guidance in what ministry opportunities to pursue. Possibilities include: Going to a slum; talking and playing with the Burmese children in our neighborhood who's parents (yes parents, both    the mother and father) who work in construction from morning until dark; participating in a weekly small group with the Burmese Christians our team met last week; blessing our hosts, Noi and Bronwyn        somehow; etc.

Friday- (a.m.) Trip to Kanchanaburi to swim in the waterfalls near where the movie "Bridge over the River Kwa" was filmed. I think we will actually go to the bridge also. We are meeting Team Less there for a day o' fun! Team Less is working in Kanchanaburi and we are trying to work out a way to have a goat BBQ with them this evening, because they are staying on a goat farm. The BBQ might not work out if we have to return to Ratchaburi though.
   -pray for safe travel and FUN

Saturday- Unknown

Sunday- Return to Bangkok for debrief

Leave for Cambodia October 11th!

Great is the Love

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As I entered the last classroom of the morning I finally felt like my heart was in the right place. We were guests in the English classes that our hosts, Bronwyn and Noi teach at the Thai high school. There are about 50 girls in each classroom and around 3,000 students in the whole school, 1st-12th grade. The high school is an all girls Catholic school. The Catholic schools in Thailand are not what you might think though. Catholicism came to Thailand over 400 years ago and to help Thai Buddhists understand Catholicism, the missionaries taught Catholic principles by using Buddhist words and names. Today, Catholicism in Thailand is really a mixture between Buddhism and Catholicism; they worship idols like Buddhist's do, but instead of statues of Buddha, they are statues of Mary.

Knowing this about the Buddhists and Catholics in Thailand, it is very important to emphasize that Christianity is about a relationship with Jesus Christ. Saying Christianity is a religion and that I follow God means nothing here. If you talk about Christianity as a religion, Thai's will say, "your religion is good and so is mine, so I will keep my religion and you can keep yours". So today in the high school, my team and I wanted to use our time in the English classes to talk about our relationship with Jesus.

Although my team started the day with prayer and I had prayed before entering the first two classes, I did not really listen to what God wanted me to say when I spoke with the Thai students. I went from small group to small group and answered their questions like "Do you have a boyfriend" (very popular question here), "What are your hobbies", and "What kind of Thai food do you like". I asked some questions as well and really tried to show that I cared about each of the girls. I tried to share with each group that I was here in Thailand to tell and share about Jesus' love for them and for me. I said our group was here to serve Jesus. The students were all very nice, but talk about Jesus did not go past these two conversations.

God is faithful though. While walking into the third English class of the day, I asked God to guide my words and lead me in our small group conversations with the students. This time I really felt God working during my conversations. In one group of about 5 girls I told them my team and I were in Thailand to serve Jesus because I had asked Jesus into my heart and now had a relationship with Jesus. One of the girls started asking me lots of questions about Jesus. She asked "how do I have a relationship with Jesus if I cannot see him?" I was so excited that God provided an opportunity to share.

I told her and the group that I had asked Jesus into my heart when I was young. I said Jesus helps and guides me in my life. I told them that when I was 12 I moved away from my family and friends, and it was a very sad time in my life. But Jesus became my best friend and my only friend. He helped me when I was sad and he continues to help me and guide me everyday. The same girl then asked more about who Jesus is. I got to share a little bit about how Jesus lived a sinless life and died for everyone's sins. My time was short with this precious group, but God again proved that when we take a step of faith, He is always faithful.

Thailand Race Day

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

We survived our first Race Day in Thailand! For over 6 hours four members from each team raced ALL over Bangkok. Our racers were Mark, Sarah, Christie, and I. Although we did not win the first race, we were winners in our hearts!

The race consisted of a list of tasks to complete in no particular order, with pictures verifying each. The highlight of our race for team Seven:Eleven actually occurred within the first 10 minutes of the race. One of the tasks required that someone on our team bowl a strike at a bowling alley. Our team headed to the local bowling alley and made it there after two of the other teams were already in the process of bowling. Well our champion bowler of the team, Christie, throws on her bowling shoes, picks up the nearest bowling ball, and rolls a perfect strike her first time up! Oh, the joy that brought our team to be one of the last teams on the bowling alley and the first to run out the door and on to our next task!

The rest of the day went well also. We had about eleven tasks to complete which included trips to a local Hindu Temple, pictures beside the lovely Versace, Gucci, Burberry, and Maserati stores in the fanciest mall I've ever seen. We also had to buy mangosteen, rambutan, durian meat, and farang (types of fruit) at a local market. Other aspects of the race included locating the Nana district and finding one of the three Starbucks which had a June Racer waiting to receive her birthday gift, visiting the tallest building in all of Thailand known as the Bayoke Song (song means 2 in Thai), and finally ending at the Suan Lum Night Market which is totally cool and full of restaurants and shopping. By the time we reached the market though, all we could think about was getting some water and stopping sweating from the intense humidity and major running we had just done.

Overall, the race was a great experience, especially because my team worked so well together. Even with the urgency and competition, we never got too frustrated or impatient with each other. I'm so excited for our team and cannot wait to see how God brings us together over the next year.

Bangkok at Last!

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

We made it safe and sound in Bangkok, Thailand. After leaving our hotel in Atlanta, Georgia at 3:45 am Saturday morning, we touched down at the Bangkok airport about 30 hours later. Phew! The traveling was not as horrible as I thought it would be, but we were definitely looking like we had been up for two days straight. It downpoured last night as we were traveling to the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) base where we are staying at, so when a few of us went running this morning, our nice clean tennis shoes got soaking wet.

I am very excited about being in Thailand, and for all the ways God is going to stretch me. I hadn't even left the airport last night before I had my first encounter with a westerner coming here to participate in the illegal sex trade industry. Mark and I were taking the shuttle from the airplane to the terminal when a man from Chicago asked us what we were in Thailand for. After our breif explanation he proceeded to explain that he comes to Thailand at least three times a year for the girls. I was shocked at how blunt he was but tried to remain composed. The man went into detail to two complete strangers about how he doesn't smoke, drink, gamble, etc. but the girls in Thailand are better than any of the girls in America. The man kept explaining how he does what every man wishes they could do, and how it was so amazing. It was hard to hear. All I could do was pray for that man and pray that God would not let me build up anomosity toward him in my heart.

I know I will probably face many more situations like this during the next year. I will have to learn a new level of dependence and trust that God goes before me in all situations.

We will be in Bangkok until Thursday at the YWAM base and then my team leaves for Ratchaburi for the rest of our time in Thailand. I cannot wait to share more about what God is doing.