Thursday, August 28, 2008

Time in prayer

Hello. I just thought that I would post that Trent and I are going to be spending some time in prayer and being still before the Lord. During this time I am going to take a break from blogging unless led otherwise.

Thanks for praying with us!

Love, Amy

Monday, August 25, 2008

Stranger things have happened....

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you will notice I have obviously had a release from the desperate prayer request! I am rejoicing in God's beautiful faithfulness! Trent gets home and I can not wait until we can pray together and see all that the Lord has put before us! He gets home - TODAY! WOO HOO!....

Anyway, just when you think things couldn't get any more strange...



know that there are far stranger things! I read this article from MSN about a rooster with it's head cut off & it lived! Of course the duration was not long....but it lived! How about that! Blog worthy.... I don't know? But, it sure spoke to me about living daily for the Lord & in His plans for your life!

Welcome to my brain!

Braden's Hair Do

 

I thought this was worthy of blogging..... to all my family and friends out there! I hope this was just as hilarious to you as it was to our family!!!

Both boys are growing out their soldier cuts, and we are in an "akward period". During this time we are trying to teach the boys to "style" their hair. Well, here is Braden's! The downside to this "do" was that he used a product that is like GLUE! It took 2 washings to get it out :D

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Saturday, August 23, 2008

Update...



Well, the kids are well! Trent and the guys are doing great too. They did pray through that area of Narathiwat and did not feel that is where the team was to go for ministry.

Our family is still seeking specific direction for 2009, so keep us in your prayers. Also, thank you for praying!!!! I love the body of Christ & the faithfulness of His praying children!!!!

Love, Amy

Friday, August 22, 2008

2 bombs went off in Narathiwat....Trent and the guys are ok...

Just a quick note incase some of you are following the area Trent is in Narathiwat. There were 2 bombs that went off, but the guys were not injured. They did not see it either. The first bomb was to draw attention and the the 2nd brought the destruction. Thank You Jesus for your Almighty Protection over our guys! However, I am sad to report that there was a loss of life today as the Muslim Insurgents made an attack. A local Thai reporter, Charlee Boonsawat died at the scene. There were 32others injured as well.

As far as the home front (which pales in comparison to that) we are on the road to recovery from all the sickness! Thanks for your prayers.

With love,
Amy

Thursday, August 21, 2008

2 days Trent is gone, 5 more days till he's home

I am about to pass out because I am so tired. Just wanted to do a quick update. Please keep those prayers coming. Today was Trent and the guys 2nd day gone & this was my 2nd day at the hospital with one of my children. The devil never plays fair. We have the victory in Christ & Jesus holds the keys!!! I am holding on to the promises of God!

Braden today went in with problems breathing. Trinity was treated for the same thing yesterday. We now have an at home nebulizer as the children are requiring breathing treatments about every 3 to 4 hours. Jackson's fever is gone, but still has a lingering stomache "bug". Mommy is tired!

Trent is doing good. He was surprised at the area of Narathiwat. He said it was beautiful & the people were really nice. More friendly than Chiang Mai! I thought that was interesting considering the thoughts on Southern Thailand. So he is doing good and will continue to pray throughout the area. They have some contacts there from other missionaries that used to serve that area and they hope to make a connection.

Thanks for your prayers!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Queen of Thailands Birthday & other home matters

2 weeks ago it was the Queens birthday here in Thailand. It is also considered Mothers Day, a day in where all Mother's are honored. It appears to be an almost sacred day in Thailand. Our teacher invited us to her church & we had a special time! Take a look:






Also, Trent should be arriving in Narathiwat in the morning. There was a bit of a delay, but the boys are on their way. Trent got the opportunity to teach at a Bible School & that was really exciting! On the home front, we have definately felt the "warfare". It all began with Jackson spiking a fever of 102.1 right after Trent left & continuing through today with stomach pain. Then Trinity began getting sick with fever, stomach pain & breathing problems. We prayed through breathing difficulties, but did end up going to the hospital for medical attention. Turns out she has a chest infection. Bless her heart! We are doing breathing treatments every 5 hours & praying through this terrible attack!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Desperate for your prayers




Being desperate is the best place to be before God! I trust God & I trust my husband as we put our prayer request before you. I know God will guide us & not mislead us. None the less, it is a serious need for prayers. We believe in the power of prayer!!!!

As you know we have been faithfully serving God here in Thailand for almost 2 years. During this time we have also been under a discipleship program as well. It has been a life changing 2 years! It has been refining & humbling, and amazing too!!! We are nearing the end of our 2nd year & desperately seeking God for His direction for our family.

The team we have committed to through the end of the year is moving South in January. Our discipleship period will most likely be completed, and so we are in a place of – Where God? This direction to Narathiwat has not been confirmed with our family. Trent and I love our team, but can not deny things that have been stirring within our hearts.

Please intercede for us. During the next week Trent will be going to Narathiwat, Thaialand with the men on the team, Todd (Trents older brother) & John Blake to pray and check out the area. The team either way is going South, but what does the Lord have for our family????

Personally, I have not felt the call to Narathiwat. I have had dreams & other confirmations on another area. However, this other location has not been spoken to Trent personally….. So, we are desperate to hear God. The best place we can be!
Please keep us in your prayers

Friday, August 15, 2008

America Needs Missionaries!

If this girl can do it, so can you! This is the first clip I came across when I referenced evangelism. I thought that the girl was awesome! She is young & taking it to the streets!!! I sat with Braden (my almost 8 year old son) & he grew bolder! IF you listen to the responses the rest of my blog is even more right on!



America needs missionaries!

Yesterday I was thinking about America. I was thinking how easy it was to share your faith with someone, and how much I missed that. There are so many hurdles in language and cultural barriers to sharing “vocally” your faith here. 2 years later and we have the opportunity to study the Thai language (real school) with an actual teacher. Sitting across her desk, I am having a real revelation that this is a very long process to actually speak Thai. 6 months after study I should be able to talk like a KINDERGARDENER. Wow, humbling….. However, you have to start somewhere.
Back to my original thoughts towards America. If you are a Christian & you are truly saved – take the Great Commission and take the Good News to America. You are called according to Matthew 28!!! I am jealous of your opportunity! I get emails of a lot of evangelism that goes on from our friends back home & it is so encouraging. It is so exciting to hear how God is moving! If it has been awhile since you shared about Jesus - do it today! Tomorrow has not been promised to us. Check out these statistics: (final calculations are mine) I hope you are encouraged to Preach the Gospel by these numbers!

301,139,947 people listed living in America (cia fact sheet)
51.3% Protestant
23.9% Catholic
1.6% Christian

76.8% profess in Jesus as their Savior. It is thought that only approximately 4% of the professing American church is truly born again, saved.

.03% of the American Population thought to be Biblically Saved!

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Today I witnessed a young boy dying





Today was a bit different from our normal day. Aside from Thai language school, we were all going into see a dentist. I don't know about you, but this is not one of my favorite things to do, especially living in Thailand! Also, Trent and I both have new language teachers. So, that is always an "adjustment". She is great & we know we are going to learn a lot, but it will also take time as we readjust to her expectations & learning style. So, today needless today was very ….. what's the word… mentally and emotionally challenging?.?. I guess that is how I would describe it.

The day is coming to a close & it is time to pick Trent up from language study. We are driving through Chiang Mai & it is full of traffic! Motorcycles everywhere! It is madness, but strangely I am used to it so it is really not a big deal to us.

(Here is a typical group of kids coming home from school on their motorcycles)




The kids and I are jamming out to Jesus Culture singing at the top of our lungs having a lot of fun. Then, suddenly we come to a sudden stop. There had been a motorcycle accident, a bad one. I am not sure what just happened, but we were one of the first to witness. We were on a busy highway & could not stop in our lane of traffic, but it is one of those moments in time that seems to last forever. This young man, a teenager, was near death. He was shaking and bleeding heavily. My mind took pictures of the scene. There was a girl standing helpless & in shock. There was a young man holding on to the boy crying. There were people stopped in traffic. There were tuk tuk driver's calling for help. Actually I think there probably 20 different people calling for help. Then, there were people like me that had to keep going or more accidents would happen on this Super Highway. Could you imagine seeing your friend in a state like this? They were on their way home from school in uniforms. This boy was probably having a normal day. Instinctively I began to pray & cry out for his soul! This seen took me to a state of brokenness that you can only know if you have been broken in prayer. Jackson, Braden, and Trinity and I reached out our hands and began praying & interceding for him. Unfortunately we did not get to witness a miracle, (although we do not know that it did not happen) but we do know that we were before the throne of Grace! We know as we cried out for this young man - God was hearing our prayers for him.





After I picked up Trent I began thinking, "What if I am the only one aside from Jesus that has ever interceded for this boy, personally?" I mean, we live in a country that is mainly Buddhist and Muslim too. Less than 1% of the population is Christian. In America, there is a church just about on every corner (and we need them!), but here the gospel is not known to the majority. We have had the privilege of sharing the gospel with people that have never even heard the name of Jesus. It is truly incredible to introduce the Savior by divine appointment. Tonight as I was thinking about this question I was reminded of why we are here! Everybody is going to die. Nobody knows when they are going to die & probably most will die on just a normal day. But as Christians we know we are living for Eternity. Living for Jesus. We have a job as a child of God & that is to share the gospel! Today, if you are a Christian – Go and Preach the Gospel!



Friday, August 01, 2008

Read - A - Thon Success!

Well, it was a lot of hard work, and the kids did AMAZING! What an exciting way to grow in reading and enjoy reading more.

Braden read 18 books, Trinity read 14 books and Jackson read 11!

Here are some pictures, enjoy!

Qoutes




Qoutes are fun to me. It amazes me how just a few words can make such lasting impressions. Here are a couple anonymous qoutes I read today....

"Whoever gossip to you, will gossip of you"

"If you don't want anyone to know, don't do it"

"A man should be like tea, his real strenth appearing when he gets in hot water"

C.S. Lewis, "To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."

Love righteousness. Hate sin.