Wednesday, October 31, 2007

On the road.......


Hello Friends and Family
Thursday morning (Nov. 2) we are off to Malaysia! Our 1 year visa expires this month & we will be applying for another one. 1 year visas are harder to come by outside of your home country for Thailand, but we are going to move forward. We know that God is in control! We will keep you updated on the outcome.

Today is a busy day (Wed.) as we are wrapping up our obligations for the upcoming week. Brad from our American team & Laid Laid our Burmese partner will be running the ministry in our absence. Pray for them too that they will walk in the Spirit and lead in His ways.
Please also pray as our church family is seeking the Holy Spirit this week! It is an amazing time! We pray that next week as we return for Intercession and prayer that these followers will indeed be filled!

In other news….. Jackson and Braden are turning 7 on November 18th! This is crazy to me! They sure are growing up. I love them so much & their personalities are amazing! We will be celebrating their birthdays in Malaysia to make it an extra special time. There is a REAL toy store in Malaysia!!!! Trinity is still in the process of losing her 1st tooth (age 5). She was horrified at this at first, but now excited – well as long as I will not touch it. Ha ha!

Just last night the kids thought we should call a meeting. They had it in their heart to to bring a “Word!” Is that not too cute! Yes, we had demonstrations with Trinity’s Barbie’s and the boys dinosaurs about forgiveness, kindness, love & hell. Wow! They sure know how to bring it!

Ok, it is time for me to get ready for Home visits J God bless you!
In His love,
Amy

Saturday, October 27, 2007

When life gives you lemons, let your kids make lemonade!!!


Well it is the 28th of the month, which regularly seems to be a time of great “stretching” financially. The Lord always provides our every needs & it is up to us to use what He gives us J So, Trent and I are putting together with what we have left for the month & making do. Then I start thinking about “beyond the necessities” and about my kids snack time. I figure I can make cookies to make yummy treats to keep things going.
So here I am, Betty Crocker I am NOT, and I am cooking away! I do not have the ingredients to make the normal favorites & decide to get creative……Hmmmm….. Not always a great idea, but I have to do with what we have. Ginger Treats it is! After all, I have had my sister in laws & they were very good.
As I am bringing the final ingredients into mixture I decide to give it a taste……..EW! Disgusting! I have come to learn that these were not the cookie recipe I thought that it was! So, I am thinking….what have I done!! I have used our resources & these are going to be horrible!! A flood of emotions run through my mind, but I resist all those & decide I can fix it!
Adding a bunch more sugar, brown sugar too, a little bit of this & a whole lot of that….and well, it is edible. I am disappointed, but going to keep experimenting, but before I do I will see if they taste better “baked”. I bake & pull out. I sample, and still not that good L Jackson (my pickiest eater) come running in from playing in the rain & asks, “did you make cookies!!!???!!” I respond hesitantly…..”yes…” He replies very excited with big eyes, “can I have one?” “Yes” I reply. He takes a bite, “mmm Mom these are so good. Very good!” He had no idea that I messed up the recipe, but He liked it!
My next test….Trinity. She takes a bite, “mm, can I have another?” Oh yes you may! I think to myself that I have increased the batch to feed our entire village by trying to “improve” it.
Finally, Braden…..Well, Braden always likes ANYTHING – so he did indeed like it! He even liked the burned ones!
In summary, I may never make these cookies again, but my kids were happy and blessed & have what they think are yummy treats – I am so thankful!
I have been blessed with AWESOME KIDS!!!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Here for Him!



One thing I have become completely certain of is that we are here for Him alone! I think when we left to come onto the mission field, we came as world changers. There is nothing wrong with wanting to serve the Lord, but we had ideas. We had plans. We were in the way!


Looking back over this year (which has been the hardest year of my life) I realize that it has to be ALL for HIM. People's lives go on back home. The people you are serving never say "thank you". You serve day in and day out & it is never enough. The food is just horrible. The smell of our village is repulsive. We are in a nice sweat all day. We are persecuted behind our backs. The people even just finished a festival in which the people paraded down our very street daily for 10 days boasting of their devils. We can pour out our hearts and love the people with brotherly/sisterly love, but only God can change a person! We have shared the Gospel so many times and as a whole the people's hearts are so hard. They want something. They want money. They want food. They want the shirt off your back if you will give it. Only a few have truly pressed into wanting Jesus.


But we have to stand in His love, so that we can share His love. The Lord is teaching us to love the unlovable. We were the unlovable when our lives were apart from Christ! We are tired, but He gives us rest. We do all of this for His Name to be known, Him to be praised & to be challenged into deeper communion with our Lord!


Pray for our renewed strength & for the people's hearts to want HIM!

Friday, October 19, 2007

Who are we & what are we doing?

Trent, Amy, Jackson, Braden & Trinity Pruett –
Serving the Lord in Thailand

The ministry here in Ban Nam Khem, Thailand is focused on prayer, discipleship training & church planting. The Lord has placed upon our hearts to reach the needs of the community to share the love of Christ as described in Matthew 22:35-40
“For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.”
We do our best to live up to this expectation of our service to the people - in the Name of all Names – Jesus Christ!

At this time we have 2 weekly church services with a children’s program, 2 school days & daily outreach, evangelism, and follow up in the community. There is also a night of Intercessory prayer as the Lord is hearing our prayers and teaching the people to Come to Him! He is the “I AM” of their every need!

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Prayer Request


I was just putting together some information about our family & I thought I would share our prayer request here too.


Anointing: Pray that we will experience a continued fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit's anointing upon our lives and ministries.


Encouragement:Discouragement can easily set in amid heavy workloads and adjustments to cultures. Pray God will strengthen us spiritually.


Evangelism:Reaching people for Christ is the heartbeat of missions. Pray that the Spirit of God will move mightily in crusades and open hearts in personal evangelism.


Family:Missionary life requires commitment and sacrifice from every member of a missionary's family, even those we have left behind in America. Pray that God will strengthen our family members and draw them closer to each other in the Lord.


Health:Many missionaries battle physical illness. Pray for continued health and sustained strength for the task.


Projects:Numerous projects are under way on the mission field - church planting, Bible schools, day cares, renovations, etc. Pray that materials, workers, and finances will be provided to complete these projects.


Protection:Spiritual warfare is real. We often come under Satan's attack. Pray that God will shield us from harm and give us victory in overcoming spiritual darkness.


Provision:Needs in some countries are especially great. Cost of food, utilities and other supplies can be staggering. Pray that God will provide for day-to-day needs.
LOVE, AMY!

Friday, October 05, 2007

Kids Say the cutest things!


October 05
Kids say the cutest things!
I see Jackson laying on my bed and he looks very sad. Curious I go and ask him what is going on....
"It's just....I don't want to say it...." Jackson says.
I think......Oh no! Then calmly tell him, "It's okay Jax, you can tell Mommy."
Jackson says, "It's just....(tears welling up in his eyes).....it's just that I....(now looking at me heartbroken and teary eyed)....I like Spiderman more than Batman now"
I am shocked, relieved & trying to stay just as serious as him, "Jax it is ok. Spiderman is a good guy & you can still play with Batman sometimes"
Jackson, "Ok, but you better call Mimi and let her know. (just as he wipes his eyes dry!)
As if you couldn't already tell....Jackson has had a very serious liking to Batman for over a year now & he is such a loyal little guy that this was serious business!
Mimi is my Mom and knows of his former love and devotion to Batman :)
***************************************************************************************************
Now for those of you who do not know, Braden has started talking about his wife since he was 4 years old. This is not prompted by me at all. He is truly very curious about this wife of his. This is a recent random conversation.
Braden (VERY SERIOUS), "So Mom, how's it gonna happen?"
Me, "How is what going to happen Braden?"
Braden, "You know, love. How am I going to start loving my wife?"
What do you say to that! Ah!!!
Me, "Well, Braden I am not exactly sure. But the Lord is preparing a beautiful little lady for you! It will probably go something similar to this. You will see a girl & your heart will skip a beat. She will be beautiful to you & the more you get to know her, the more you will like her & then you will love her."
Braden, "Really? Oh, ok. Jackson you wanna play?"
***************************************************************************************************
Trinity overhearing this conversation with Braden.
Trinity, "Mommy I don't have to get married to somebody because Daddy says I can marry Jesus! Really!"
I just smile and nod as I know her Daddy has been at work here over his precious little daughter!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Let the children come!!!


October 03
Tuesday Night Service
written by Amy

Tonight we have officially started the childrens program! I am so excited as this has been on my heart for quite some time :) There is more love & play that actual ministering as we do not have another translator for the youth.

I was so excited as 2 of the boys I used to work with out at the jungle site came. Same and A Thone. It was so great to see them!!! I have missed the children in Ba Ny Si greatly, but know the Lord has me where he has me. We also had 3 new children come.

In spite what happened (the attempt of a girl being taken) last week, I am UPSTAIRS safe and sound with the kids! So, all you children lovers rest assure the children are safely upstairs & they always have the Lord watching over them.

Keep us in your prayers. We are praying for another translator! Until we welcome all children to play and share in action the love of Jesus!

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Sunday Night Service

October 02
Sunday
2 weeks ago we took, on appearance, a huge loss to our church family. The 3 main people wanted to walk away. We pray that the Lord captures their hearts once again & brings them to repentance quickly! The first week we had a very humble congregation during our weekly services. Many people in the community were confused & then the 3 that left were telling them not to come. Well, Sunday we had a great showing, to the Lords delight. People are getting over the intimidation, and coming to church despite the resistance they are getting within the community.
Recently we are hearing from the believers that they are being threatened by beatings, even at knife for coming to church. Their friends are making them choose between them or the Lord. Most of the threats are by scared neighbors and family. They are being told that the spirits will come and kill them, bring them bad luck, and torment them if their is a Bible in their home or that these people worship Jesus. Fear had a short victory, but just this week the women started coming back!!! Praise the Lord!
Tonight the Lord had a full audience. Just as the word says, the devils came too. We had hecklers in the crowd, we were mocked, there were major distractions by a man totally out of control of his emotions(manifesting), and a man grabbed a child and ran out DURING CHURCH! The mother quickly was told by another woman & the child was recovered within seconds, praise God again! We pray that as the Word was spoken that it will shatter these hard hearts and set the captives free! Despite all these distractions there were hearts surrendered to the Lord! Take that devil!
We are so excited to report that we are finally getting a greater child showing at church. Next week will begin getting started with a fun atmosphere upstairs at the church for the children to be loved while the mothers get fed spiritually. We are praying for another translator so that their can be a ministry to the children. We are starting with showing love & leave the rest up to the Lord! I am personally very excited about this as I have had it in my heart for quite some time. Please join with us in prayer over this flock!
Also be in prayer for Mynamar!!! Our church here is to the Burmese/Mynamar people and their hearts are greatly being pulled over their loved ones back home.