Dead Hearts Come Alive

Time flys. We have already been here over 3 weeks. It's going by too fast! This was our first week teaching at Rajabhat University. It's quite a big school, and the student's English is much better than the students at the technical school we have been teaching at for the past 2 weeks. Just in two days we were already able to make connections with some of our students. Many of them are Thai dance majors, and they invited us to their class on Friday. It was beautiful! The dance is so precise and difficult. Every movement, even of the fingers is exact. I was blown away. One thing that really was bizarre was the prevalence of "lady boys." Homosexuality here is rampant. But for many homosexual men, it is common for them to cross-dress. Wearing makeup, having long hair, and dressing in girl's uniforms are all very common. Honestly, there were a couple that I thought were girls, until they told me they were "lady boys." This trend is heart breaking, but also eye opening. Jesus loves them just as much as a normal straight man. God's love isn't partial. (Duet 10:17)

I'm blown away by the testimony of one of my new friends here in Thailand. He is in high school, and for a long time he identified himself as a "lady boy" wearing makeup and girls clothes. He became friends with some youth that attend the church here, and began getting involved. He continued to cross dress and wear makeup- but the church, instead of pushing him out or condemning him, loved him. They just shared Christ with him. Gave him the truth of the gospel. Loved him, despite his sin. One day, several months ago- he felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He knew he needed Jesus. He changed instantly. He threw away all of his makeup. All of his girl clothing. He told the church he wanted to be a man. He wanted to be the man God was calling him to be. When he went back to school, his old friends persecuted him for changing, for accepting Christ and leaving his old identity. Despite persecution and various trials, he has remained faithful. Christ is growing in him. He is stepping up as a leader in the youth and is an encouragement to so many in the church. Including myself!

I'm convinced that if Christ was alive in person on earth today, He would do just the same with sinners as he did with the woman at the well. He offered her the living water (Jn 4:14) Grace. He knew her sin (4:18) yet, he did not condemn her. Grace. He revealed himself to her. "I who speak to you am He" (4:26) Grace.

What would the world look like if Christians preached this message? The message of grace and truth. Instead of what has been preached- that homosexuality is a greater sin than any other. That we people need to correct "bad behavior." Condemning those who don't know Christ, who are still in slavery to sin. How can we hold non-Christians to Godly standards? We, even in Christ, fail everyday. The only thing good in us IS Christ. So how can we look at those in bondage to sin and tell them to "straighten up." I believe that the example Christ laid for us is the only one we should follow. Correcting behavior isn't the answer. Jesus is the answer. None of us could change on our own. Our hearts were wicked. We were hopeless before Christ. He didn't just come to make us "better people." He came and gave us a new heart- His. A heart transplant is the only way a dead heart blinded by sin can come to life.

This is message that has been laid on my heart. To love. To display His love. Even when it's difficult. Even when its uncomfortable. Even when its dangerous. And when the language barrier makes it nearly impossible to share- I'll love. I'll pray. He is faithful. His grace is sufficient.

Prayer requests:
• For discipleship to begin at Sajatharm Baptist Church
• For the youth to remain steadfast under persecution for their faith in school
• For Rachel and I as we begin to build relationships with our students
• For opportunities to share Christ while we teach (and ideas on how to do so)
• For new friendships with girls our age, involved in Church functions but not yet believers




Our students practicing traditional Thai dance!


Rachel and I with our new friends!

The Burden

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.” Ps 96:1-4

Psalm 96 is my prayer. It was my prayer before I came this summer. And it remains as my prayer today.

God, you are great.
The works of your hands are majestic.
What man-made temple can compare to the heavens?
What idol factory can manufacture your splendor?
What golden idol can reach out his hand for healing?
For restoration? For reconciliation? For salvation?

The longer I am here the more thankful I am to be serving a living and resurrected God! But also, the longer I am here, the more my heart breaks for this people. So hungry for fulfillment. For love. For joy.

So many lies. Lies of the enemy. The lie that money, power, sex, alcohol, beauty, relationships, success, education all bring fulfillment and worth. That the more you have, the happier you will be. The same lie that tricked the first man and woman in the garden is devouring the world today. The lie that God's word cannot be trusted. That He alone is not enough. That we need more than communion with the God of the universe to be truly happy.

Today, my heart is burdened. Weighed down by so many thoughts. "Who will tell them?"
"How will they ever hear Jesus' name?"
"When will the church start 'go-ing' in obedience?"
"Why aren't we sending more missionaries?"
"Why aren't we all living like missionaries, right where we are?"
"Who will be faithful to abandon 'The American Dream' of having nice cars, a bigger home, and a successful career?"

These are all big questions that I might never get the answers to.
But, until Christ returns- I'll continue to praying. Praying for people to "go." For the gospel to be preached. For hearts to be opened. For salvation. For lives to be changed. For healing to take place. For restoration to happen. For disciples to be made. For God's kingdom to come.

Will you join me in prayer?

If you're looking for my heart, you can find it in a little villagecalled Chiang Phang

This past week has been incredible. Ive already seen so much. So much wealth. So much poverty. Its really difficult to put into words. What I can say though, is this: Christ is at work everywhere. He doesn't need us. But what a joy and a priviledge it is for Him to invite us to join on His glorious work. He is at work here in Thailand. The need for the gospel is so evident. So many unreached. So many blinded by Buddhism and spirit worship. Outside most homes and businesses there are small decorated and ornamented temples. Families and business owners feed the "spirits" and give them gifts so that they will protect them and bring blessing upon their business or home.

I'm thankful that we serve a God who doesn't require us to work to earn His favor, but instead, He did all the work. He paid it all. He has given us all we ever need and more. We could never work hard enough, do enough, or be enough to earn salvation. And that, the Most High God sacrificing His own son for me, is the most beautiful picture of grace.

I just want to share of this freedom with everyone I meet.

We are serving in the Northeast region of Thailand, also known as Isaan. Here, there is less than 1 Christian per 1,000 people, making this an unreached people group.

Though this lack of light is daunting, the light that is here is absolutely beautiful. Where we are serving, Sajatharm Church (which means the Truth) is the biggest church in the Isaan region. There are about 60-80 people that attend on Sundays. There are missionaries here from Singapore, Australia, the Netherlands, Papa New Guinea, China, Canada, and Georgia. Ive never worshipped or prayed with such a diverse group of believers. I see a small glimpse of heaven as we all sing together. All to the same God! And I am in awe.

This last week we have gone through a lot of cultural and language training, which has been really interesting! The culture here is so friendly. Its hard to not fall in love with the people. All if them greet us and try to start up conversation. Which proves to be quite humorous as we try to pronounce words in the correct tone (often failing miserably.) For example, I tried telling my new Thai friend that she was cute, so i leaned over to her and said "Naa-Rai." Well, it turns out that its pronounced "Naa-Raa" and instead i told her that she has acne... Thai is so difficult!

Today we went outside of the city into a small village called Chiang Phang to kick off the new semester of meeting with the kids every week to play games, have snacks, shower them with love and hugs, and share about Jesus. All of the children that came were so full of joy. We played many games and even though we just met- they hugged and smiled and grabbed my hand as if we were the best of friends. They would speak to me in Thai- and I would have no idea what they were saying, which was frustrating. But it was then that I was reminded of how smiles and laughter know no culture, no skin tone, no language. They are universal. What a gift.

I'm so thankful.

Next week we begin teaching English at a technical school, where the students know very little English. This might prove to be the most difficult task yet. Please pray for us, as we have never taught English before. Pray that we also are able to build relationships with our students in order for doors to be opened and Christ's name be made known. Pray for the church here- as there are many needs.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

Wonderful friends in Mahasarakham!

3 Days in Thailand

I'm absolutely in love with Thailand. The people are beautiful. They smile so much and everyone says "Sawasdee" or "hello" as they pass one another on the street. They are so loving. The culture is wonderful. The food is so good! One of my biggest worries, that they wouldn't have coffee (silly, I know) was for nothing. There are so many adorable coffee shops that blow Starbucks out of the water! I feel spoiled here.

I have been in Mahasarakham the past few days for training. Today, Rachel and I will move to Udon Thani, where we will be the rest of the summer teaching English and working with the church there. We are sad to leave the rest of our new friends and team from Georgia, but we are very excited to get settled in and meeting the people we will be serving.

Please pray for my team and I as we try to learn the language. Thai is a tonal language, which makes it very difficult! Pray for the missionaries we are here serving, Scott and Valerie. They are so faithful and there heart for these people is beautiful. Pray for opportunities for us to share Christ with people. Buddhism is everywhere here. Pray that hearts would be open to Christ and for my team to have boldness as we share and live life with people.