VBS = Very Blessed Skype-session

When we were asked if we would like to participate, via Skype, with our hometown gathering group's VBS, we jumped at the chance. 
There are no words to express how much we miss the people from that place, and any opportunity to talk with them and see their faces makes us so happy. 

The whole week leading up to our Skype session, we were so excited and then two days before our scheduled meeting, our power went out. This was not just one of our usual, couple-hours-out power outages; it was out for 14 hours. It was the kind of power-outage that foretells larger power problems looming on the horizon. 
The next day we endured minor power outages, but then on Friday, the day we planned to meet with the VBS kids, our power was off and on continually throughout the day. It was nerve-wracking... would we have power? Would we not? Should we try to find some other place we could go to that has power and internet? That ultimately was not an option because in order for us to Skype in the morning time with the folks at home, it was late at night where we live and no other place (like a restaurant or coffee shop) was open at that time of night. 
All we could do was petition Father for His will to be done. 
Finally, with two minutes to spare, our power returned just in time for our scheduled appearance at VBS. PTL!
Still, our internet is not usually, and was not at this time either, great. We could not see faces clearly because the image was blurry, but we could hear their voices, and from time to time it would clear up enough for us to distinguish certain people. 
The first person I recognized was sweet friend, Tracey Pace. Tracey's voice is easily discernible to me because I sat next to Tracey countless times in the choir and I continually listen to the CD of the group she is a part of, Legacy. Just hearing her voice flooded my mind with precious memories of so many occasions from being at this Gathering Group, and of course, I began to cry. 
It was Miá who strengthened me by saying, "Mom! Pull it together. This is important for these kids!"
She was right. We've heard countless stories of people who have said they heard about (or talked with) people who do what we do at a VBS and through those experiences, many have felt the call to "GO" as well later in their lives. 
That's why we had prepared in advance several questions that we thought the kids might ask us. We wanted to be ready with our answers so we could make the most of every single minute with them. Ironically, most of those questions were never asked.
We visited with three separate age groups during our Skype time and the first question we received from each group was, "What sports do you have there?"
That question was usually followed up with, "Do you go hunting there?"
Oh, our precious Mississippi kids! 
They did ask about the food we eat and where Zoë and Miá go to school. 
When the older group of 5th and 6th graders had their turn, they asked us more difficult questions like, "How do you 'share'?" and "Are any of the people 'receiving' the message?"
And while the questions were great and a lot of fun, our favorite part was seeing some of the youth and other dear friends and catching up on their lives during the short time we had together. 
Seeing Bro. Tom and Mrs. Gloria reminded us of the heritage this Gathering Group has of supporting "sent-out" ones. We are continually strengthened by their enduring perseverance and faithfulness to serve wherever they are, and we were thankful for the few moments we had to share with these special mentors and friends. 
This Gathering Group is such a special place. There are some Sundays when we think how great it would be to sit and hear a "teaching" from Dr. Barnes or other local "shepherds" like Bro. Grenn, Dr. Jordan, Dr. Campbell, Bro. Robbins or FBCTellico shepherd Dr. Barnard. 
How I wish I could sit in the choir loft and sing my favorite hymns surrounded by such a dedicated group of singers using their talents for Him like I used to get to do every Sunday.  
The girls miss their "believing" friends, Sunday school and youth group.
The Summer Sunday Evenings, the Wednesday nights, the fellowships, the Good Book studies, even just the times sitting around the kitchen table in the office with a cup of coffee and laughing with co-workers, this Gathering Group is truly a special place. 

Maybe it's because this place is so special, that we want other people to have the opportunity to experience it as well. Listening to the Master Teacher, singing His praises, fellowshipping with other believers - isn't that what eternity is going to be like? I think so...

We look forward to the day when we can be with these friends at this Gathering Group in person, but for now, we'll settle with precious times like these - Skyping when we can, emailing, sending/receiving cards and letters. 
Thank you Jennifer Baker for enabling us to have this opportunity. Thanks Mom and Dad for suggesting the idea. Thanks FBC Columbia for all your love, encouragement and sustaining support. You are continually in our hearts. 

Mississippi meets Southeast Asia

It’s been over two weeks since we said goodbye to my parents after their visit to our beloved country, but I’m still trying to process our many adventures and encounters to share with friends.

I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to describe their trip, which could only be called a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Oh, I feel sure they’ll make another trip here sometime in the future, but it’s not likely we’ll have as many “that’s the first time I ever did that” moments like we did this go ‘round.

My mother and father rode in taxis, on elephants, in ox carts, in tri-shaws and rickshaws and clinging for dear-life on the back of Thai motorcycles. They tried foods they had never heard of or imagined. They saw pigs being slaughtered for dinner, women carrying huge packages on their heads, men riding on the tops and sides of overloaded buses and golden pagodas everywhere. They saw potatoes peeled with spoons, meals cooked over an open-fire and foods being eaten that were never intended for digestion. They toured places of great wealth and were saddened by areas of extreme poverty. They shopped; they toured; they played; and all of it done in the midst of some quality family time.

It was truly awesome.

The time we had together went by too fast, and as expected, the hardest part is always saying goodbye.

This lifestyle we lead – one in which we try to follow the Father’s leading – has been full of both blessings and challenges. And when I try to overcome the sadness that comes from being separated from our families for so long, I recall that life on this earth is so short. It’s like the dew that vanishes in the morning sun.

Eternity, however, is forever.

FOREVER AND FOREVER…

It’s so much more important to ensure that our “forever” is secured and that those who have never heard receive the message of saving grace freely given by the author and creator of our lives.

So as difficult as it is living on the other side of the world from the family and friends that we love so much, we know this is where we need to be.

So we press on…

For those who helped make my parents’ trip here possible, I don’t know what to say but, “Thank you!”

For those of you who sent us cards and handwritten letters and pictures, you made us feel loved like you wouldn’t believe.

For those of you who prayed and continue to pray for us and for our families, it is our hope that Father will bless you many times over.

Would you like some "whine" with that cheese?

I really try so hard not to ever complain, but can I just say - It is soooo hot!

I feel lately like those words are continually coming out of my mouth: "I'm hot!"

And everywhere I go, I leave a puddle of sweat behind me. 

It's gross!

These days are the hottest of the year, and I know that the rainy season is just around the corner. Not that the rains provide much relief from the heat. If anything the rain makes everything more humid, but at least during rainy season, our electricity gets better.

Part of the problem these days is that we are having continual power outages. 

Power outages mean no air con.
And just so you know I'm not a wimp, the "feels-like" temperature has been averaging around 120 degrees Fahrenheit these days.

I know. I sound like a whiner.

Yesterday, I was trying to get dressed to go to our Sunday gathering place. I had taken a shower and even used the hair dryer (on the cool setting) to try to do something with this mop that's on my head these days. (This weather is killing my hair too!) Just about the time I finished, the power went out. I was at least thankful to have my hair done. Of course, the style didn't last long because within minutes, I was sweating so much that my hair was wet underneath from perspiration. Then I tried putting on makeup, but my face was damp from the sweat rolling down my face. I decided to just go with a little mascara and lipstick. (If you know anything about me, you know how completely UNLIKE me that is.)

I couldn't even put on my earrings because the sweat kept making them fall off. 

"This is ridiculous," I thought to myself.

I was anxious to get in the car to go because at least in there we can have cool air. Actually, it's only cool air when the car is moving. If we're sitting still, the air blows hot. But I am very thankful to have a car when so many others do not, so I'm not complaining about that.

When we arrived at the gathering place, I found us a spot next to an air con unit where I could sit directly beneath the wonderfully cool air. The service could last all day for all I care because at least where I was, it was refreshingly pleasant. 

I have been reading the book "To The Golden Shore" again about the life and times of Adoniram Judson. It's a completely engrossing book that I can't put down until finished, so if you've never read it, I highly recommend it. Anyway, Judson lived in the exact place where we are now. The book recounts his agony of enduring the excruciating heat of this place as well, but in those days they had no electricity EVER. They had hand fans and that's about all. 

I can't fathom it. 

It's no wonder they were sick all the time.

See, now I feel bad for complaining about the heat. 

There's always someone who has worse problems than you, right?

So I won't complain anymore.

A week in the life...

In a recent newsletter, I offered to answer questions about living overseas that anyone would like to ask. The question most often received was, "What does a normal week look like?"
The answer to that question is, "There is no normal week."
Every week is astoundingly different. (Is that even a word?!?)
This city is a juxtaposition in itself with areas of both impoverishment and extreme wealth.
There are people who are highly educated and those who have never been to school because necessity led them to begin work very early in their life. There are people who were born and raised in this culture and then many who are transplants from other countries (especially other Asian countries.)
Different backgrounds, different ideologies, different problems, different demands - we face all these polarities in the people who live here, yet our job is to work with them all.
That's why each week (each day sometimes) we find ourselves in completely different situations.
There is, however, an overall pattern that has figured into our lives that I will attempt to share through pictures to show our friends at home what "normal" looks like in this amazing and beautiful city.


The one constant so far in our time here has been where we live.
We love our apartment and are very thankful that we are able to live here into our second year of being in this place. As this city has opened up to the outside world, prices have increased considerably. Most of the expats we know living here have to move every year, because rent prices are doubling and tripling in places. Our apartment building is one of the largest in the city and is situated above a small "mall" with shopping and restaurants and a department store. We have made many friends with the people who come to work here everyday, and they are often are best source of information and news.

The other constant in our lives has been language learning which is something we do absolutely every single day.
We happen to have the best teachers who are both challenging and compassionate. We enjoy class time with them even though it's so difficult.
Most of our language classes are held inside our apartment, but my favorite classes are the ones where we go to our teacher's house. I love being in her community and getting to know the people who live near her.

Every Sunday we go to a local "gathering place" and three weeks out of four, it's a local language service we attend.
We don't understand most of what's said throughout the meeting because the speakers use a very formal form of the language, but it is a great opportunity for us to connect with local brothers and sisters.
The local language meeting places do not have air con, but they have fans throughout the building.

About once a month, we visit the international meeting place where everything is spoken in English so that we can get refilled and refueled for Father's service. Our children also need the camaraderie with believers their age who are encouragers and accountability partners in the midst of their predominantly non-believing environment.



Each week, we have a group of people who meet at our house for English language learning and Good Book study. This group has become family to us and we look forward to being with these funny, energetic and devoted friends.

We usually spend a fair amount of time each week, out and exploring various parts of our city. We enjoy learning about the habits and culture of the people this way. There are areas of great beauty and serenity in the midst of this bustling city.

We also inevitably spend a lot of time sitting in our car in traffic.

Sometimes we get to do special programs involving teaching or sharing. We love making new friends!

We often visit local tea shops.

And we even enjoy eating the local food - especially when it's homemade.

Sometimes we get to meet other foreigners who come to talk about the best ways to reach our city and how to provide programs to benefit the people living here. Sometimes we get to meet those people in nice restaurants which is always a treat. But the best part is making connections with people we might not have otherwise met in the States.

Of course everyday we get to spend time in the Word which is the most important thing that we do.

But the most fun part of being here is the quality time we get to spend together as a family.

What more could we ask for?

Many years ago, Father put this city on our hearts. We didn't know of the blessings that awaited us here.
Each week is often full of ups and downs, but the love we feel for the people here and the desire to do His work is what drives us. Then it's the joy of family and friends and other followers in faith that amplifies our endearment, making this place feel more and more like home.

Don't you want to come visit?
Our door is always open. Come join us!