A new blog site

My husband decided to set me up a wordpress blog...so now you will find me over here.
Hope to see you there :)

The Harvest is Great

Last Sunday night, we went to sleep to the sound of booming music and screaming. A new house in our village was being dedicated to the spirits. Most people here, actually have animism (spirit worship) mixed in with their Buddhism. I was tired enough to drift off to sleep, but later woke up, hearing a drunk neighbor shouting "Hey!" He sounded mad, and I laid there awake for a long time, somewhat scared and praying. This isn't the first time we've heard loud music and drunk people around us, but somehow this night experience really has lingered in my mind. The lostness of these people is continuing to be impressed upon me.

Sometimes I forget, on quiet days when the only sounds I hear are "Grandma" hollering "Bye nye!" (where are you going?) to every person who drives past or Dteep saying "Hi!", calling her cows as she leads them out to pasture in the early morning light. When an old man rides by,  his perfect posture making him look like so respectable even on a bicycle, when children laugh and play in our yard, when neighbor women laugh and turkeys gobble and you can't tell if you heard the turkeys or the women...

Thailand has become synonymous in the tourist world with laughter, smiles, and fun. Yes, you will see many more smiling faces here than in America. But the smiles hide a thousand sorrows. The laughter and "sanook sanook" (fun fun) mentality have become an age old strategy of covering the inner pain.

Go ask the woman whose boyfriend cheated on her, whose father died of alcoholism, now she says to me, "If I searched all over this world, I wonder if I could find a good man."

Go ask the man, covered with tattoos, hooked on sniffing glue, his wife long fled from him, now wandering our streets in search of easy money to get his next high.

Go ask the girl in the bars of Chiang Mai, whose father sold her so he could get a refrigerator, and now her father's god of money has become her own.

Go ask about peace, and hope. Go ask and see the aching void within.

Look up to Jesus, His tears falling gentle upon them, watering the soil of the heart, waiting for someone to go and let His love flow.

"The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers for His fields."                        Matthew 9:37-38

These are a few of my favorite things...

Something I have always liked to do is read. I remember, as a child,  coming home from the library with a pile of books, and reading until my eyes were tired or my head ached! Now, I enjoy reading to our children. I would rather have less books, with story lines that spark imagination and pictures that capture attention, than scores of books with mediocre pictures and predictable stories.

Here is a few of our favorite children's books.

The American Girl series
Grandma's Attic series
Virginia Lee Burton treasury - The Little House, Mike Mulligan, Katy and the Big Snow, Maybelle the Cable Car
The World of Robert McCloskey - Lentil,  Make Way for the Ducklings, One Morning in Maine, Blueberries for Sal
Holling C. Holling - Paddle to the Sea
Max Lucado - Wemmicks books and All You Ever Need
Elizabeth George - God's Wisdom for Little Girls
Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams & Jean Stoick
James Herriot's Treasury (our boys really like this one!)
Are You There, Baby Bear? by Catherine Walters

I would love to hear your list too!

Where have I been?

Ok, I do not like reading blogs that are as sporadic as mine. My feeble excuse is that I've been very busy (just like all the rest of you!)
Here's one thing that's kept me hoppin'. Our neighbor children were on a school break in October, so we decided to teach the girls a baking class. They wanted to "learn how to make cake". We settled for cupcakes one night, then chocolate chip cookies, brownies, banana bread, and then pizza on the final night. They wanted shrimp on their pizza, so we obliged them on that one. We had a great pizza party, with them heaping their pizza with ketchup. Yes, I said ketchup. I forgot how much they like ketchup on pizza...
We did this on Tues. and Thurs. nights for about 3 weeks. It was very fun, but it was quite draining to me. The preparation and planning, and all the cleanup afterwards. However, I know its worth it to invest some time into these girls now while they're so young.
Last week was Andrew's birthday, so we invited some friends over for that. Each one of these things is a blessing, but it isn't always easy to reach across the cultural lines. People unknowingly say things that hurt me.  I don't sometime know what's proper, and probably offend them. Even here, I find myself looking for a comfort zone...a place to stay "safe".  I'm glad for Martin on that one...he's good at gently nudging me out, but also knows when I've had enough.

Homesick...

I have heard a voice...calling me to Himself through loneliness and homesickness. A place where feelings run deep and the heart seeks.
 A cool evening breeze, palm trees silhouetted against an azure blue sky on a tropical morning - these scenes of beauty thrust forth feelings from within me. A longing, a yearning for home. To belong.

Yet where is home? California, Washington, Ohio, Chiang Mai - all these hold a piece of my heart. However, none can fully satisfy my longing. I go to one place,and I miss another.

I know now why I'm called a pilgrim. I was created for eternity,
for the "land that stretches afar" as Joni E. Tada would say.

Made of dust, but made for more.

I'm learning more of leaning on Him. To be fully resting in my Jesus...that is Home. He is Home.

Its a quiet Sunday afternoon...ahh. Perfect time to re-enter the blogging world :)
Since our website can only be written on from Martin's laptop, I decided I would like to start my own blog, here.
I would like to share with you about our life in Thailand...from a wife/mother perspective. Things I see and think about, new recipes I am trying (that's one of my favorite things to do!), or a funny saying from our children, or the ups and downs of home school.

New Website

Just wanted to let you all know about our new website at www.utmostforchrist.com

We will posting blogs there.

You can save it in your bookmarks, or sign up for RSS feeds. We hope to keep it updated regularly. You will not be able leave comments on the new blog, but you can send them to our email.

thankyou. martin.

May God receive all the Glory and Honor for all that He is doing here in S.E.Asia.

...More on Joop Jang

Last evening as I approached the entrance to our home, I could see Joop Jang just outside our gate squatting down by our fence. I knew what she was doing but I kind of pretended not to see her. But as I pulled up to the gate, she stood up and pulled up her shorts and smiled at me. Later that evening she relieved herself again out by the road while playing hide and seek. That's twice in one night. Later, Dinah burst in the house saying that Jen was crying because of something Joop Jang had done to her. I tried to ignore it hoping that it was no big deal, but as we watched out the window, we could tell the situation was only getting worse. So, I went out there and with my arm on both of their shoulders I tried to find out what was going on. Finding out that there was indeed two sides to the story, I ask them to apologize to each other. I also explained the need for forgiveness and love. Thankfully, last Thursday, Ang had taught them the song, "...Love your neighbor as yourself, for God loves all..." So, the words to that song came in handy as I explained the need to love each other as we love our own self. The situation got better, and for the most part, they continued playing.

It is not easy. It is hard to know what to do in these situations. And yet we believe that if Jesus were here, He would be out there showing them the Father's love.

As you pray for us, please lift up these children also. I believe that someday they will be disciples of Jesus, if we apply ourselves to pray for them. Martin.

Jesus is Lord of all

This morning in church we sang this song, Jesus is Lord of all.

I sobbed as we sang, because the words reflect so well what has been on my heart lately.

All of my conflicts, all my thoughts-

Jesus is Lord of all.

I sure have had a lot of these this week, Lord! So many thoughts and conflicts in my heart.

His love wins the battles I could not have fought;

Jesus is Lord of all.

What words of hope are these! Your love and power wins these spiritual battles that I cannot fight. I often bear more resemblance to a limp dishrag than to Hudson Taylor.

All of my longings, all my dreams -

Jesus is Lord of all.

Longings for our children to have a "normal" childhood. Since I was young, I have dreamed of adopting children from another country. These things may never happen - but I know I can trust my Jesus through it all.

All of my failures, His power redeems;

Jesus is Lord of all.

All of my failures this week have been stamped REDEEMED. O thank You, Jesus, for giving me fresh starts and more opportunities.

All my possessions and all my life,

Jesus is Lord of all.

Suddenly I'm standing outside on a cold, windy day. Listening to the rise and fall of the auctioneer's voice, feeling a twisty something in my stomach and tears in my eyes. Looking at drills, desks, and dolls. Wedding gifts and wood working tools. Plates and pillows, beds, blankets and books all await their turn.

You just don't realize how much your stuff means to you, and even defines you, until its all going away. That day was so hard, Jesus. Its still hard to think about.

This week, I found myself again giving up. Yearning to see the twinkle in my dad's eye and feel his big hug. Longing for the laughter, the warmth of sharing with my sisters in Christ.

Is it worth it? I have pondered this question often lately.

I got my answer today. Jesus is worth it all! Rachel.

Fatherless

She’s only 6. I’m sure we’ve told you about her before. She has caused problems with the other children when they come to our house on Thursday nights, and often ends up crying or putting up a big fuss. She pouts if she doesn’t get her way. What is her deal? Well, she’s hurting. She’s fatherless. No, she’s not an orphan. She’s fatherless. She doesn’t have a Papa in her life, actively caring for her heart and her needs. She craves love and attention from her Papa, but ever since he left her home, and was replaced by another man, those needs aren’t getting met. Her name is Joop Jang.

God said in the Bible that He would be a Father to the Fatherless. That is a promise which He is purposing to fulfill, and we are delighted in hope that we might get to be a part of it.

The other day Thailand had an event called “Children’s Day”. Every year the whole country sets aside a day to bless their children. Near our village they brought in some big toys such a ferris wheel, carousel, train...etc. They let the children ride for free all day. We enjoyed being there, but what stood out to me the most, was how Joop Jang looked to me the same way the other children were looking to their parents. Her parents weren’t there. First, she brought me her water bottles to hold while she got on the carousel. At noon I asked her if she was hungry. She said, “yes”. So, I bought her a sausage. Then later in the day, she came up to me and said. “I’m thirsty”. So I bought her a drink. Then before each ride she would hand me her drink, and the rag that she was using to wipe the sweat from her face, so that I could hold them for her. As she was going around on the carousel, or the ferris wheel she would look at me and smile and wave real big. I smiled and waved back. At 2 PM, I decided it was time to take my daughter and head home. I asked Joop Jang if she had a ride home and she said yes. Then, when she realized that we were leaving she started to pout, and look all around. “Who am I going to be with in this crowd of people?” she thought. Remember, she’s only 6 years old. Then she saw another friend from our village and ran to be with her.

It didn’t sink in until later. I almost wept as I thought about what it was like when I was 5 years old and got lost at church. I was scared, and I was in the safest place possible. What must it be like for her? What must it be like to be 6 years old in a crowd of people without a Papa on “Children’s Day?” I don’t really know the answer to that question, but one thing I do know. I know what it’s like to be loved and cared for by my Heavenly Papa, and I hope by the Grace of God to show the same to her. Please pray for her and her family. Martin.

What do you do?

It was New Year's Eve. about 8:00pm. Showers were over, and we were sitting at the supper table in our p.j's finishing dessert. Someone began knocking on our back door. Our gate had been shut, the doors and windows to the house were shut...who could it be? It was a neighbor lady and two small children. She wanted to invite us to join them at their house to celebrate the new year. What do you do?

So, we got re-dressed and headed over there. We could here the loud music from our house, and we tried to warn our children as we were walking there, that it probably would be loud. As we walked into their compound, the first thing we noticed were four big stage speakers, a stereo mixing board, and an LCD monitor. The speakers were blasting forth a pulsating rhythm of dance music, and the LCD was displaying skimpily dressed music videos. What do you do?

They were arranging some benches for us to sit on, and getting ready to fix some food. They had a big barbeque going, a griddle with shrimp and pork, and a pot of soup. It was quite a feast. She told us that since new years only comes once per year, they would eat seafood. They had invited us to come and share with them, their best. What do you do?

They motioned for us to take a seat on the benches that they had moved over for us. So we did. No sooner had I sat down, another neighbor who had long drunk past his alcohol limit, began offering me some whiskey. I declined. A little while later he offered it to me again. I declined. So, he came around the makeshift table and very loudly and belligerently offered to pour me some red cream soda. Then he wanted to toast the new year. What do you do?

The Barbecued pork was some of the best we have ever had. The grilled pork fat, and a few other items weren't that great. Our children enjoyed the endless supply of Fanta pop. Once their glass was empty of red pop, somehow it was instantly refilled with the green pop. Noise, Lewd Videos, Drunkenness, Food, Sugar, Late at night...what do you do?

Well, we were overwhelmed with gratitude. We have lived in this village for 7 months and that is the first invitation that we have received to come and eat with them at their table. It felt good that they considered us a part of their village enough to invite us to their house. There was no way we could choose to be unsocial.

That is the reason we came here. We came to live among these people. To build relationships with these people. We didn't come to partake of their evil ways, but we did come to sit with them and lead them to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Pray for us as we daily encounter situations that stretch us way beyond our familiar box. We truly do want to give our Utmost For Christ. Martin