Update and a prayer request

Hello everyone! Before I begin I just wanted to encourage some of you to read this sermon by John Piper entitled The Love of Human Praise as a Root of Unbelief. Here is the link http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2009/4223/ The sermon just so happens to connect with my previous blog.

Anyway, I just had a prayer requests for an upcoming event here in Sankampaeng.

This Sunday, children from the temple and from our house church will be going to the Night Safari (in the day). God has given us this opportunity to openly share about His love to the children from the temple. We will teach the story of Adam and Eve, and introduce them to the idea that a right choice can lead to life. We will also teach them the John 3:16 song, so please pray that the lyrics (when translated) will have a lasting impact on them. Pi Up, Pi Mem, Pi Aop, and I will be leading the program, so please pray for energy and direction. Also, please pray for the children's safety, and most importantly for their hearts to be open to the gospel. I know the children will have a great time, but more than enjoying the day please pray that God stirs within their hearts and raises them up to be great men and women for His kingdom.

Update:

God is so awesome. Let me explain. Recently He gave me the opportunity to talk about the gospel to my fellow teachers at Ban Noy. They invited me to a Buddhist religious festival next Saturday because the children would be performing. This spurred an opportunity to tell them about Jesus and what I believe as a Christian. In all honesty, I'm sure I didn't do a good job with my very limited Thai. However, I was able to tell them that God is our creator, and that He sent His only son to die for us. I explained that Jesus (being fully God) came on this earth to suffer in the place of us because He loved us. I told them that Christians don't believe in reincarnation, and that Christians do not do good to receive merit, but do good because Christ had changed us. I'll go to this festival, but I told them that in all respect, I could not bow to an idol because Christians only have one God. It does get quite complicated because when you give food to a monk, you receive blessing from them (merit). I explained that Christians can give food to monks because, well.. monks need to eat, but we don't give food to receive their blessings. Ok because of all this complication I think its best to just observe and not give food or anything to the Monks at all. Because I cannot possibly explain to every Buddhist that I am subjectively not participating in their ritual with the same motives they are.

I'm going off tangent from my original point. So, God has been giving me opportunities to share the love of Christ not only through the schools but through food. I realized that food is really a great way to create relationships. For example, two days ago I made some deng jang chee geh for college student's at Ban Joy church and they really enjoyed it. Also, Teachers at Ban Noy heard that I made korean food for Ahjan Yawalak, so they asked me to cook for them next week! Also, the older gentleman from America I mentioned before (and is no longer a believer) said he is happy to open his house and allow me to cook for him and his family. The only problem is that I'm out of dang jang, so I was wondering if someone would be able to send some over? umm.. I'm not so comfortable in asking, but if by chance some of you have some or can send some it would be really appreciated. And this may be pushing it, but I also want to learn how to make Kimchee from missionary Song (Pastor Daniel's wife) because many Thai people want to learn how, so can someone send some kochu kalu (Diced/dried peppers)? Lastly, red pepper paste.

Ok, three things in a nut shell 1)dang jang

2) kochu kalu (diced/dried peppers)

3) red hot pepper paste (kochu jang)

I don't need much just enough to cook with a few times. Thanks

Lastly, God is good and I love you guys and miss you guys and I want to see you guys on oovoo.

:) Love,

Grace

my date with God

Hello everyone! I just wanted to encourage you guys with something that God has taught me recently. My good friend told me once that she would sometimes have these dates with God, and so I decided to have one with my loving Lord.

(best date ever :) heheh )

1) I was challenged with a verse from John 12 (becky I'm still reading with you) v 43. "For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."

The verse is about the authorities that really did believe in Jesus but they didn't want to confess that he was the Christ because they were scared to be kicked out of the synagogues by the pharisees.

This verse challenged me to reevaluate my heart and to question if I value praise or glory from people rather than the glory that comes from God. Getting kicked out of the synagogue would be the equivalent of being kicked out of my church and losing most of my social life, so the question is do we choose the glory from God or from man.

Here in Thailand I can easily trick myself into believing that I have to "do" or work well in the eyes of the world to be validated or looked at as being hard working or successful. I am learning that the praise from man is worth nothing, however that does not mean I should not work and start slacking.

Here is the reason why God asks me to "do" anything: Jesus's Love

Ch 13 John

v 1"when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the father, Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."

- So, he then washed his disciples feet.

Even though I read this countless times, it really hit me again. Jesus loved, he served, he gave when he didn't have to. He really really really loved, enough to wash Judas's feet.

Jesus loved when he cried for Lazarus even before raising him up from the dead. I was always so puzzled about that, why would he cry when moments later he would raise him up? But Jesus cried because he loved Lazarus, Mary, everyone! (I looked up the reasons why he cried online and it gave me some other reasons but I would like to focus on this one)

Point being:

We serve as Christians because we are/were loved to the point of death.

Updates:

Dinner at Ahjan Yawalak's house was amazing. I ate dinner with her mother, brother, sister in law, and her aunt. Before I even ate, she asked me if I would like to pray, so I did out loud. They loved loved dang jang chee geh, it was a big hit! (I'm out of dang jang though).

Please continue to pray for her and her family, so that they may receive Christ.

Also, there will be a trip to the night safari on the 27th with the children from our house church and some other children from around the area. Please pray for safety, and for the planting of many seeds.

Ok I just want to tell everyone that I'm praying for you really really as best as I can (Crossway, the missions team, college group, women's group, family, friends, and those in the east coast). I want to encourage you guys to keep serving and living for God in the ways that he provides. You guys are all encouraging to me and a blessing in my life, although I'm not there with you physically. I love you guys!

Bye!

GRIFFITH CONGRATULATIONS!, and my update

First of all, GRIFFITH CONGRATULATIONS! PRAISE GOD!

- I know you will be the best secret service man EVER!

- Update:

Personal:

Things have been going so well these days. God has been challenging me with the idea that suffering is a part of being a Christian. I have been challenged immensely to consider my life as nothing and temporary, and to try and focus on the eternal.

Ministry:

This past week has been really great in all of the schools. I taught the children about the story of the Samaritan man, and I have been giving the children bible verses like "love your neighbor as yourself."

Today I will go to Ahjan Yawalak's house to cook korean food (dang gang chee geh) for her and her family.

Please pray for the conversion of Ahjan Yawalak, her mother, her brother, and her sister in-law.

Lastly, I met a man in his 60's who is from America. He lives with a Thai family, but has moved here permanently since 2008. He went to school for social work, and then studied theology and became a Catholic Pastor. Now he is here as a Buddhist. Please pray that God allows opportunities for him to know the Gospel in his heart.

Acts 11:14 "He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved."

- please pray that Ahjan Yawalak and her whole household would be saved

I love you guys,

Grace

One of those days

Today, I relearned why I should praise God.

It was one of those days where nothing seems to go right and small and insignificant things (like the weather, ants, or getting lost) gets to you. It was odd because I'm normally never really sad, and although nothing tragic happened, I somehow had a rough day.

Today, Game, for some reason or another, was extremely moody and didn't want to learn guitar at the end of the day. Plus, Ahjan Yawalak wasn't there so I had to explain the lesson by myself. I realized I must learn Thai.. Then, one of the 6th grade boys wanted to fight another boy, so by the end of the day I was tired. The day proceeded with eating lunch by myself, then encountering a bunch of ants in my purse, and getting lost on the road.

Later, I was talking to my brother and in my journal I wrote, " I miss my family so much it hurts, their warm embrace their encouraging words, and the smiles of familiar faces."

Ok so that's all the, "sorry for me," stuff. Now let me tell you how great God is.

As I was reading the bible God said, "Grace do you remember that I grant you and hold every heartbeat in my hands?"

So I started thinking, whats a few ants, hot days, and unruly children compared to His Glory being fulfilled!

Mission is full of smiles, but sometimes there's loneliness too. I was debating whether to blog about how I feel (normally I don't do that) but I realized that you (the people back at home) should be apart of my battle in Thailand.

God reminded me "But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me." Psalms Ch 49:15.

My problem is this: I focus only on the temporary. Physical conditions, missing friends family (which is not wrong), but I forget the infinite.

I then placed my sin in front of God, along with all my worries. Praise God, for he is sovereign.

In Psalms 50, God tells his people that their scarifies is not what he desires, for he made those things. Instead: v14 "offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and perform your vows to the most high." V15" and call upon me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

Why do I forget all the seconds God serves me? Every breath and heartbeat He graciously gives. If I (and I will) complain of my physical state again, I pray God will quickly remindes me who He is.

I will end in this verse. Psalms Ch 51:16

"for you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be please with a burnt offering..."

v: 17"The scarifies of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise."

Edit* to clarify:

My days in Thailand are not full of struggles. Believe me, I was sad for only like 2 hours. These small dips "spiritual attacks," only happen because Satan has a way using anything to bring the focus to yourself instead of the greatness of God. God granted me a clear and true perspective of the day. Now as my day is ending I realized that today was actually a great day. School wasn't bad at all and I ended the day with dinner with loving friends from Ban Joy. As I read my blog, though the feelings were real, I sort of chuckle because there was really nothing to be sad about. Thailand is amazing and the people are amazing! Every teacher I meet tells me to call them Mom or Dad, and goes out of their way to make me feel like apart of their family. So, what I'm trying to say it was just one of those days I learned how faithful and loving my God is :)

OK I have to sleep. I love you guys! Jing Jing (in Thai)

my address!

204/39 San kamphaeng Parkville Village, Moo. 9,
Tambon San Kamphaeng, Amphoe San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai, 50130
Thailand



204/39 หมู่บ้านสันกำแพงปาร์ควิลล์ เฟส 3 หมู่ 9 ต.สันกำแพง อ. สันกำแพง
จ. เชียงใหม่ 50130 Thailand

to the team

I read a book to the kids today called Little and Big. The book is about David and Goliath and when the kids saw David they yelled "kruu Angie," and then "Kruu G," when they saw a picture of Goliath. That made me laugh and miss you guys. I hope all of you are encouraged by the fact that the kids miss you and still remember your names :)

It's been a while

( I'm going to treat these like e-mails)
Hello everyone!!!! I just want to apologize for not blogging! I know I'm bad, so from now on I will really try to get on it. Oh, and if I don't you can start sending warning (not hate mail :) ) e-mails my way.

Today was my first day teaching alone at a school. To be honest I had many doubts about my ability to teach or let alone control the class. Donna and the Thailand team did such a great job that I figured coming alone to the schools would be a downgrade for the kids. But, God has been faithful thus far, so I just placed my worries at His feet. It's funny how the simple act of laying something down in front of Jesus or letting things go is really the answer to all life's "what ifs."
Anyway, today went really really great. I took a guitar today and played It's a great thing, words go like this : It's a great thing to praise the Lord (3x) walking in the light of the Lord. It's like a game/song and the kids loved it. However, there's a boy named Game (Donna the moody but smart one) that never wants to participate and he didn't sing let alone smile during the whole class. Game is extremely good at English, he's phenomenal for his age, but he has emotional issues. Ahjan Yawalak ( the English teacher at Kantanusoon) told me that he got into an accident in 2nd grade and completely changed for the worse. She also told me that his parents were divorced and that he lived with his alcoholic father. Oddly, I felt God telling me that Game would like to learn guitar. Ahjan Yawalak thought it was a great idea and sent him over. Game walked in with that gangster/frowning face of his and Ahjan Yawalak told him if he wanted to learn the guitar from me, and ( I wish you guys were there) his face just lit up. I taught him E, Em, and A2 for only 5-10 minutes and I really think he's a natural.

I don't know if the team remembers Big (Donna, he's the boy in 6th grade that is good at English too) but Ahjan Yawalak told me that he was a problem child, but she invested her time and love into him and now he is seriously like an angel. He has such a passion to learn and is truly like a gentleman. I pray that the same thing would happen to Game, that he would one day praise God and live with joy.

Lastly, I was encouraged by the 6th grade class because they stayed in for a good 20 minutes through their lunch time finishing up a worksheet and working on their phonics even when I told them to Bye kin cow (go eat lunch)!. Then, while I was teaching a student, the rest of the kids turn on our VBS songs and started to sing Nothing and Treasure quest! Crossway team, it looks like you guys made a lasting impression :) Seriously they did all the body worship by themselves as I sat and watched. I just thank God every day that He has led me to Thailand. It's a blessing to be able to sing praise songs with the kids and create relationships with the teachers.

Also, God has been allowing me to experience different ministries and age groups on this trip. Last week I was able to spend a lot of time with Ban Joy students and staff (The Grace Fellowship church near Chiang Mai University). Also, today I will go to YFC (Youth for Christ) and have fellowship with college aged brothers and sisters.

Oh and yesterday I went to CTS and learned about Romans, I love the book but Yak mak mak ka!

Ok I love you guys and miss you guys like crazy!!!!! you don't even know.


Prayer requests:
1) Ahjan Yawalak- I will be learning Thai from her, please pray she will accept the gospel
2) Game
3) James and Boy (monks at the temple)
4) for the ministries in Sankampaeng, Hang Dong, and Chiang Mai