Thailand Pictures with "God's Character; Our Identity"

You are God. We are women.




You are holy. We are redeemed.



You are faithful. We are returning.





You are glory. We are your image.


May we be your image bearers.


Credit to Mariana Long for all of the pictures, taken at the
Come before Winter: Renewal for Women in Ministry,
Chiang Rai, Thailand, June 2010.

Thailand and the Trickle Down Effect

One thing I love about the whole concept of Come before Winter is that it acknowledges, no, it relies on, the Trickle Down Effect. The leadership and the board of directors know that when women reconnect with God's call for their lives and are renewed in their passion to pursue it, there is an effect on those around them. When people who are disconnected from their value in ministry find their identity, their entire sphere of influence is altered.

So, before we left for Thailand, my prayer was that future generations of Christians in SE Asia and beyond would look back on their family tree (of faith) and there would be a direct link back to this renewal. People could ask their grandparents in 50 years, "How did you become a believer?" or "How did our family become believers?" and somewhere in their heritage of faith, there would be a person who attended this renewal. And if not for this renewal, their story would be different. That was my prayer.


Now, after spending the week with the team and 36 amazing women who serve in the Philippines, the United States, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, Cambodia, and China, my thoughts and prayers about the trickle down effect get a little more specific. The thoughts often drift back to "What if this person fully embraced the transformation they experienced at the renewal? Could God do this mighty work he's been saving for them?" Now, theologically, I know and believe that God can do a mighty work without this person's help (if he so desires), and yet I know they each have gifts that would make it a mighty work with a cherry on top. :)

So, I pray for the Trickle Down...

What if a harried school principal fully embraced God's provision for her and her academy? Could hundreds of school children know what security is through observing their headmaster?

What if a woman full of resentment towards her man came home as a woman full of grace? Could the children she's only yet prayed for be born into a heritage of compassion?

What if the women on a team of missionaries returned to their teammates united as one? Could an entire town bear witness to what reconciliation truly is?

What if a tired family that trains social workers bounced into their next workshop? Could the bondage of abuse that spans generations be broken through the fresh anointing these trainers receive?

What if the frustrated mom met her children at the airport with a new appreciation for her family? Could her tender strength sustain her sons and daughters through future struggles in their faith?

What if the isolated single working in a country where proselytizing is illegal found herself whole again through reunion with friends and sisters in Christ? Could just her smile at work spark a co-worker's search for meaning and lead to the revival of a nation?

Just one woman's transformation could alter the course of an entire people. A heritage of faith is my prayer.

But what if none of it trickles down? But what if it only sticks with one? Would Come before Winter be worth it if it only revived one? Would the hours of preparation and execution, the tens of thousands of dollars sacrificed, or the knees aching from being bent in prayer be worth it for just one spirit to be renewed?

Yes.


The joy in seeing a woman being able to reenter into the presence of God, freely and without condemnation, was my biggest takeaway from this time in Thailand. If even for one, it would be worth it.



















It was so worth it!

More Thailand Pictures within My Response to Psalm 103

Created and Creator, we are forever linked together. My name was on your lips long before I spoke my first word. It is a shame that it took me...no, that it takes me...so long to remember you.



You are the one who
forgives
heals
redeems
anoints
satisfies
renews
justifies
and reveals.

I bow to you,

as one
forgiven

healed

redeemed


anointed


satisfied

renewed


justified

and enlightened.



Oh, praise you Lord!


I will rise up to walk among my family and my neighbors


extending your forgiveness


offering your healing and redemption

sharing an anointing

encouraging satisfaction and renewal

perpetrating justice

and making known your ways.


Yet, I am a woman who forgets. Have compassion on me Lord when I forget our covenant and its benefits. Have mercy on me Lord when I forget our covenant and its cost. In my lack of remembrance, stir my heart to return to you. And then, with all that is within me, may I praise you Lord!


Thank you Mariana Long for the AMAZING photographs.

Land of Smiles

There have been many nights in the past few years where I have cried myself to sleep, but last night, a first...I laughed myself to sleep. Literally.

When I woke up, I just smiled thinking of it all over again. Thank you to all the participants and the team for a difficult week (processing, sharing, growing, etc.) that ended in a freedom that could only lead to joy!

What a way to end a wonderful Come before Winter trip in Thailand, the land of smiles.

Honey, I'm headin' home. Pics soon to come!!

Thailand!!!

I will tell you up front: no pictures yet. I have a quick log-in to share that our group arrived safely in Bangkok last night.

From Brazil, Abilene, Austin, and Dallas, the Come before Winter team is here safe and sound. Today, we travel to our renewal site in Chiang Rai (about 1.5 hours via plane). The participants will arrive Monday, so we have a day to finish preparations and meet up with one more team member (who is in Northern Thailand visiting her daughter for a few days before the trip).

I am already crying at how amazing the trip has been...and it's not from back pain induced by a total of 19 hours on a plane! I am savoring every bite of amazing food (Michael will vouch for my love for all Asian food), soaking up all the new cultural nuances, and enjoying the conversations with the team. These women are AWESOME servants in the kingdom with a wealth of experiences, both in international travel and in their respective ministries. The stories, the stories! I'll save some for later, but I'll tell you one that happened to my roomie this morning.

Cara and her husband Chris are former missionaries to Thailand (8 years ago). He is a Fuller grad (like Michael) ,and she is a therapist on a college campus (also like Michael). It's a generous gift that we are matched to room together this whole trip, for we have a lot in common.

Cara answers the phone this morning, thinking that it's one of our teammates. She quickly switches to Thai, and now I'm wondering, "Who is calling her that she is speaking Thai...and why is she so giddy?" She says that a former church member from Chiang Mai is downstairs in the lobby, and she wants to meet with Cara. "How'd she know we were here?" is my question.

This woman, in the 8 years since Cara moved back to the states, has married an American, who works for Coca-Cola in Papau New Guinea (a renewal site last year, btw). They were returning to PNG from Australia with an overnight in Bangkok. Guess which hotel they stayed in? Yep, ours.

So, while we were checking in late last night, this woman caught a glimpse of Cara in the lobby, and thought, "Could it be her?" She called a friend in Chiang Mai to double check Cara's last name, verified it with the hotel, and called us up this morning!

Cara was able to catch up with this woman, meet her son, and be immediately immersed back into a sweet, sweet time in her life. She said, "God knows me so well. He knows if I had time to plan a meeting like this, I would get so nervous and freeze. But instead, he surprises me, and to my amazement, my Thai came right back to me and we were able to share a special time together."

And this is day one people!

So, keep praying on us and loving us from afar. I am off to try NOT to take a nap (we are exactly 12 hours opposite the clocks at home), but after all the Pad Kraw I just ate, that might be a problem.

What a Difference a Year Makes

As we are ending the school year and celebrating June's 1st birthday, I'd be remiss not to reflect a little on the past year. And in doing so, I keep thinking, "Wow! What a difference a year makes!"

Last year, I was literally doing somersaults in the pool to try to turn a breech baby. This year, that baby is LOVING the pool herself.

PS: If you're local and want a pool break, call me. Watching 2 kids at a busy apartment pool is no joke, and I'd love the company during the long summer days!



Last year, June was 8 pounds & 7 ounces; today she's 23 pounds.

Last year, she was 21 inches; today she's 31 inches.


Last year, I took a 3 day old baby to Owen's day care for his end-of-year ceremonies.

This is him last year.

And this year, a took a squirmy 1 year old to watch him confidently finish a year of pre-K.
This is his "cool breeze" photo. The teacher told the 3 answers every kid replied to these questions:

1. What do you want to be when you grow up?
2. What was your favorite thing about pre-K?
3. What do you want to learn in kindergarten?

Owen said:

1. doctor
2. recess
3. to read

On the reading front, I marvel at the human mind! What a gift to watch him learning more and more of what is really such a complex process. If you can read this, take a moment to appreciate the value of your education. We are blessed to have access to such amazing educational opportunities here in the US, are we not?

One more pic of my handsome dude!

Last year, Michael wondered if he'd ever finish his degree and start a career.
This year, Dr. A received a successful mid-year review from his employer.

Wow, those 2 tiny sentences carry a lot of weight for me. Tears of joy!

Last year, I was a full-time teacher whose favorite student was born in Thailand.
This year, I'm a stay-at-home mom, work part-time in apartment ministry, and am traveling to Thailand in less than a week!

Please be praying for the whole Come before Winter team and the participants at the renewal in Chiang Rai.

It has been so odd to not be in the classroom this year; I often have dreams that I am teaching or managing a class. Very surreal in the morning when I can't figure out if I need to be getting dressed for work or a day with the kids. Being at home had a steep learning curve, and in fact, I feel like I have more off-days than successes.

I laugh when I recall the nights after a long day teaching, picking Owen up from daycare, making dinner, and doing the bedtime routine when I'd collapse on the couch and tell Michael how if I was home all day, maybe I'd have more energy or patience. Now, after a long day parenting and doing stuff at the apartment complex, making dinner, and doing the bedtime routine, I still collapse on the couch and tell Michael that if I was working, maybe I'd have more energy or patience. Ha ha! I just have to remember that we are parents of young ones, and sometimes the days are long. But the years go by quickly. So here's to another year. I cherished and loved it.


And these pics are just because I still can't believe she's this big...trying to figure out how to ride this toy her cousin Abby handed down to her.

And this is the "I see you trying to sneak up and steal this precious Dora card, and I will throw down, if necessary!"
On your mark, get set...


Lord, you are faithful in all things, and I praise you for your constant companionship through the ups and downs of this year. There were times I hesitated to go down the road you have called us to as a family, but you have been a light to my feet. That you may be known...