Alrighty! I can finally say where I will be spending the next 6-7 weeks! For outreach the entire iDTS will be together. Up in... Doi Inthanon! We will be up there together in the same house, with one bathroom, and no internet or cell phones. So this is probably the last update I will be doing until we get back.
Actually that is all that I really have to update on.. Except that today was the first day the we had confessions and we have had alot of people really being opened up and set free. We will have class again tonight and also tomorrow morning. It is amazing to see all these people getting set free and finally be able to start the healing in their lives. So many people carry hurt from when they are young their entire lives and never feel like they can open up. What Joel does is so amazing and so valuable. I'm so grateful for what he did for me last year and for what he is doing this year for all these people. I know that it is God working through him, but none of it would be possible if he wasn't willing to be used.
God has been really working on me as well.. These last few days, maybe this past week, I have been experiencing a lot of growing and healing and have been able to open up and talk about a lot of things that I have never been able to before and it is just really wonderful. Thank you all for your prayers. They are felt and so appreciated.
Please continue to pray for the students. Lecture phase is almost over, but outreach is going to be really difficult. Emotionally and physically. Up in Inthanon we will be doing a lot of really hard labor, a lot of times we will have to be working in tea fields from 8 to 5 and when we aren't we will be using our time for ministry and outreach to the people living up there. It will be very difficult for everyone. Please pray especially for good attitudes and for strong unity!
I won't be able to update while I'm there but I will be sure to journal and update on everything when we get back.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
China
It feels like we just got back, but really it's been a week already! Time has been going by so fast. My computer isn't fixed yet, but one of the students is letting me borrow hers so I thought I would use my down time to try and get an update out.
On November 10th. 19 of us headed off to China and the Shan DTS group took off for Wiang Haeng. China was an adventure from the very start... We thought that we would be staying in the same place that we did last year, but when the person who was leading us told us to get off the bus we discovered that we had to carry all of our luggage quite a ways to a different apartment that he had gotten for us. On the way to the apartment straps on bags broke, people were getting blisters, and almost getting hit by cars flying down the highway almost happened a few times. But it was so awesome to see the way the students kept helping each other and took care of and looked out for each other. When we got to the apartment we couldn't help but notice that it was smaller then the one we had been planning to stay in. And there was only two bathrooms... One of them a "Squatty Potty." The bathrooms made for some interesting situations at times, but we made it work and just tried to always have fun.
The first week was amazing. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I, along with Sarah, Lauren, Chelsea, and sometimes Gam, went to a kindergarten and was able to sing kids songs, tell Bible stories, and just help the teacher with whatever she needed. The other days our whole group split into two groups. P'Nit and I were in a group that went to univeristies and did prayer walks and talked to students. We also got to go to a nearby slums area a few times and clean the kids, give them food, play with them, and just love on them. It was such an awesome experience. I had never seen something like that so up close before. It was especialy crazy since only a few yards away was a huge business district and you could see the contrast in such a real way.
The second week was equally as incredible. On Monday we went to the kindergarten again, but after that we had to stop because of the ellections in China would have made it dangerous for us and for the teacher. The other days we did a lot of prayer walking and going to universities to talk to students. On Thursday we got to go to a church that we went to last year and perform our dances. As one of the students put it, it was incredible to see so many Chinese people all worshiping God. The whole service was in Chinese but you could always make out the name of Jesus. It was just amazing. On friday we went even further south, down to a lake. When we were walking on the pier we saw two wedding parties. We decided to walk into a little park area to rest. While there one of the students started playing guitar and some others starting singing worship songs. When people heard it they came to listen and watch. After awhile people just started pouring in! One of the wedding groups even came and wanted to take pictures with us. We even ended up being in their wedding video! It's so cool to think that when they go back and watch that movie of when they were first starting out, they will be able to see and hear us playing worship songs for them.
We left that Saturday. One of the students got sick that day and another got sick on Sunday. Please be praying for them as they continue to recover! I am also sick..
Please also be praying for the students this coming week. They just got through one of the harder lecture topics, and next week is going to be a difficult one for a few of them as well.
We are still trying to figure out where to go for major outreach and whether to be one group or split into two, but we are just listening to God and seeking His will. We feel like He has great things planned for this group of students.
On November 10th. 19 of us headed off to China and the Shan DTS group took off for Wiang Haeng. China was an adventure from the very start... We thought that we would be staying in the same place that we did last year, but when the person who was leading us told us to get off the bus we discovered that we had to carry all of our luggage quite a ways to a different apartment that he had gotten for us. On the way to the apartment straps on bags broke, people were getting blisters, and almost getting hit by cars flying down the highway almost happened a few times. But it was so awesome to see the way the students kept helping each other and took care of and looked out for each other. When we got to the apartment we couldn't help but notice that it was smaller then the one we had been planning to stay in. And there was only two bathrooms... One of them a "Squatty Potty." The bathrooms made for some interesting situations at times, but we made it work and just tried to always have fun.
The first week was amazing. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I, along with Sarah, Lauren, Chelsea, and sometimes Gam, went to a kindergarten and was able to sing kids songs, tell Bible stories, and just help the teacher with whatever she needed. The other days our whole group split into two groups. P'Nit and I were in a group that went to univeristies and did prayer walks and talked to students. We also got to go to a nearby slums area a few times and clean the kids, give them food, play with them, and just love on them. It was such an awesome experience. I had never seen something like that so up close before. It was especialy crazy since only a few yards away was a huge business district and you could see the contrast in such a real way.
The second week was equally as incredible. On Monday we went to the kindergarten again, but after that we had to stop because of the ellections in China would have made it dangerous for us and for the teacher. The other days we did a lot of prayer walking and going to universities to talk to students. On Thursday we got to go to a church that we went to last year and perform our dances. As one of the students put it, it was incredible to see so many Chinese people all worshiping God. The whole service was in Chinese but you could always make out the name of Jesus. It was just amazing. On friday we went even further south, down to a lake. When we were walking on the pier we saw two wedding parties. We decided to walk into a little park area to rest. While there one of the students started playing guitar and some others starting singing worship songs. When people heard it they came to listen and watch. After awhile people just started pouring in! One of the wedding groups even came and wanted to take pictures with us. We even ended up being in their wedding video! It's so cool to think that when they go back and watch that movie of when they were first starting out, they will be able to see and hear us playing worship songs for them.
We left that Saturday. One of the students got sick that day and another got sick on Sunday. Please be praying for them as they continue to recover! I am also sick..
Please also be praying for the students this coming week. They just got through one of the harder lecture topics, and next week is going to be a difficult one for a few of them as well.
We are still trying to figure out where to go for major outreach and whether to be one group or split into two, but we are just listening to God and seeking His will. We feel like He has great things planned for this group of students.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Mini-Outreach
As I sit here eating my delicious waffle and drinking my extra-sweet caramel latte, I can barely control my excitement! It is already time for mini-outreach.. Oh my goodness how time flies! It feels like DTS just started and now we are getting ready to go to China. Then after that only three more weeks of lectures before major outreach.. So crazy!
We will be going to the same place I did last year for mini-outreach. I am hoping to get to see some of the same people that I did last year, and continue to build those relationships. I could see God starting work while we were there last year.
Please be praying that the people that we come in contact with will have open eyes and be able to see that there is something different about us.. That way we can share our faith with them. We do not come right out and share our beliefs unless they ask, then we tell them what it is that we believe and why.
Also pray that they will have open hearts, ready to hear, understand, and accept the truths that we will be sharing with them!
Pray that our group will stay united the entire time that we are there and in everything that we do. So far unity has not been a problem for this group, but it was last year and I know that is one of the enemies tactics..
Also be praying for the Thai-yai group that is going to Wiang Haeng for mini-outreach.. That they will stay safe and have a successful time ministering to the Shan people there.
We will be going to the same place I did last year for mini-outreach. I am hoping to get to see some of the same people that I did last year, and continue to build those relationships. I could see God starting work while we were there last year.
Please be praying that the people that we come in contact with will have open eyes and be able to see that there is something different about us.. That way we can share our faith with them. We do not come right out and share our beliefs unless they ask, then we tell them what it is that we believe and why.
Also pray that they will have open hearts, ready to hear, understand, and accept the truths that we will be sharing with them!
Pray that our group will stay united the entire time that we are there and in everything that we do. So far unity has not been a problem for this group, but it was last year and I know that is one of the enemies tactics..
Also be praying for the Thai-yai group that is going to Wiang Haeng for mini-outreach.. That they will stay safe and have a successful time ministering to the Shan people there.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Past few weeks..
Sewadee Kha!
That is Thai for Hello! I've been picking up so much more Thai. I love being able to communicate more. I think to really become even semi-fluent I will need to take a class, but I hear that there are some good ones in Chiang Mai.
I am sorry for the lack of updates.. I am still trying to get my computer fixed, so it has been more difficult finding ways to get online.
Last week we learned from Larry Dinkins and his team about story telling. They taught us how to take stories from the Bible and tell them to people, anyone not just christians, in such a way that they get something from it to apply to there everyday lives. It was so much fun and it is a wonderful tool to have. This week we were taught about hearing God's call for our lives and following through with it in the correct manner. Our teacher was Scott..? I never caught his last name, but he also spoke to us staff before the school started.
Next week we will hear from Stan Hankins, then we leave to spend two weeks in China for our mini-outreach! We are all very excited, especially for the walmart that is just down the street from where we will be staying..!
That isn't really what we are most excited about.. But it is definitely going to be nice to be able to stock up on some things!
I am very excited to get to go back to the university and hold English Corners there in the evenings. That was definitely my favorite part last year. We will probably also be teaching at a kindergarten there and an orphanage.
Please be praying that we will all have a good time, remember the real reason why we are there (expanding God's kingdom), and that none of us will get sick! It is very cold this time of year where we are going and after spending the last few months in Thailand it will be a very difficult change for all of us.
Please also pray that the students will continue to learn and grow as we finish up the last we weeks of the classroom phase of DTS.
Please also pray that we will continue to stay as unified as we have been. As the school goes on it is normal for people to start getting on each others nerves and such. But we are really wanting to work against that, since it is a major strategy of the enemy. One that was quite successful last year, so I am constantly praying against it and would appreciate your prayers in this matter as well.
That is Thai for Hello! I've been picking up so much more Thai. I love being able to communicate more. I think to really become even semi-fluent I will need to take a class, but I hear that there are some good ones in Chiang Mai.
I am sorry for the lack of updates.. I am still trying to get my computer fixed, so it has been more difficult finding ways to get online.
Last week we learned from Larry Dinkins and his team about story telling. They taught us how to take stories from the Bible and tell them to people, anyone not just christians, in such a way that they get something from it to apply to there everyday lives. It was so much fun and it is a wonderful tool to have. This week we were taught about hearing God's call for our lives and following through with it in the correct manner. Our teacher was Scott..? I never caught his last name, but he also spoke to us staff before the school started.
Next week we will hear from Stan Hankins, then we leave to spend two weeks in China for our mini-outreach! We are all very excited, especially for the walmart that is just down the street from where we will be staying..!
That isn't really what we are most excited about.. But it is definitely going to be nice to be able to stock up on some things!
I am very excited to get to go back to the university and hold English Corners there in the evenings. That was definitely my favorite part last year. We will probably also be teaching at a kindergarten there and an orphanage.
Please be praying that we will all have a good time, remember the real reason why we are there (expanding God's kingdom), and that none of us will get sick! It is very cold this time of year where we are going and after spending the last few months in Thailand it will be a very difficult change for all of us.
Please also pray that the students will continue to learn and grow as we finish up the last we weeks of the classroom phase of DTS.
Please also pray that we will continue to stay as unified as we have been. As the school goes on it is normal for people to start getting on each others nerves and such. But we are really wanting to work against that, since it is a major strategy of the enemy. One that was quite successful last year, so I am constantly praying against it and would appreciate your prayers in this matter as well.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Short update
I'm sorry that I have not been posting lately. My computer broke a few weeks ago and I am still working on getting it fixed. I am currently on my friends computer...
DTS has been going great. It really is amazing how smoothly it has been running. No big problems have come up and everyone is still getting along great. It is definitely God's working.. According to a few people last years DTS, the one I attended, was one of the worst. I think that was mostly due to the fact that a number of the students didn't have good attitudes or open hearts. Thank God this year is so much better! It seems as though the students are really growing and letting God work in them, and I can see that staff, especially me, are growing also.
We are getting ready for our Mini-Outreach! We are all so excited. We will go to the same place I went last year. Hopefully it won't be to cold so the students don't freeze like we did last year.. We will be gone for two weeks, then come back for two weeks, then major outreach starts! It is crazy how fast time is going! It's almost over.. Which is so sad. But I am also excited to start the next phase.
I'm not sure if I mentioned it before but after DTS is over I will go down to Korat to teach for 4 months there and I think I will also be working in a cafe.
Please be praying that everything will continue to go smoothly, that we will all stay unified, and that everyone will have a great time on our mini-outreach.
Love you guys, and I am so thankful for all your prayers and everything!
DTS has been going great. It really is amazing how smoothly it has been running. No big problems have come up and everyone is still getting along great. It is definitely God's working.. According to a few people last years DTS, the one I attended, was one of the worst. I think that was mostly due to the fact that a number of the students didn't have good attitudes or open hearts. Thank God this year is so much better! It seems as though the students are really growing and letting God work in them, and I can see that staff, especially me, are growing also.
We are getting ready for our Mini-Outreach! We are all so excited. We will go to the same place I went last year. Hopefully it won't be to cold so the students don't freeze like we did last year.. We will be gone for two weeks, then come back for two weeks, then major outreach starts! It is crazy how fast time is going! It's almost over.. Which is so sad. But I am also excited to start the next phase.
I'm not sure if I mentioned it before but after DTS is over I will go down to Korat to teach for 4 months there and I think I will also be working in a cafe.
Please be praying that everything will continue to go smoothly, that we will all stay unified, and that everyone will have a great time on our mini-outreach.
Love you guys, and I am so thankful for all your prayers and everything!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Pictures
Here are a few pictures so you guys can get a glimpse of what it's like here -
We have intersession every-other day during the week
We pray for many different things during intersession
Our speakers come from all over the world (this is Pastor Sidney who lives in Chiang Mai)
My "husband" Bruce's youngest, Christopher
Two of the students! Hanna from WA and Gam from Thailand (But we tell her she is Russian)
P'Whell (one of the Shan staff) showed me how to catch mole crickets
Then how to clean them, fry them, and eat them :)
The Shan family's little girl
Volleyball, one of our favorite pastimes
Gigi and Kartson watching us dig up some crickets
Lauren, one of the students, being fed one of the fried up crickets
Hanna was brave and put it in her mouth! Then spit it out after the picture..
Friday, October 5, 2012
And back we go..!
This week has been pretty rough, as far as learning and growing. This week's speaker was teaching on being a christian and disciple of Christ, and I was really looking forward to it! But it turned out that he is really hard to follow.. I feel like I got almost nothing out of his talks and didn't do a lot of growing. A good thing that came out of it though, was that it really motivated a lot of good discussion with my small-group girls, and others too. I feel like the lack of understanding and confusion that most of the students, and I, had made is really look into it and try to dig deeper. Just more proof that God can use everything!
Tomorrow I am planning to go into Chiang Mai to see Carissa's (my little Thai sister) volleyboll tourny. Then I will stay the night in town and go to the night market again with some of the girls.
This time we are going so that we can pray for the people there. Mostly the beggars and the people selling stuff. I am so excited!
I am also excited for next weeks teaching! Larry Dinkens is teaching on prayer and counseling, and weaving the father heart of God into it! Last year that was the week that I experienced the most growth. I am looking forward to being able to grow even more, and for the students to also.
Thank you all for the prayers! I can definitely feel them, and really appreciate them.
Tomorrow I am planning to go into Chiang Mai to see Carissa's (my little Thai sister) volleyboll tourny. Then I will stay the night in town and go to the night market again with some of the girls.
This time we are going so that we can pray for the people there. Mostly the beggars and the people selling stuff. I am so excited!
I am also excited for next weeks teaching! Larry Dinkens is teaching on prayer and counseling, and weaving the father heart of God into it! Last year that was the week that I experienced the most growth. I am looking forward to being able to grow even more, and for the students to also.
Thank you all for the prayers! I can definitely feel them, and really appreciate them.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Weekend
This was such a great weekend! Not as relaxing as I would have liked, but God is giving me strength.
On Saturday most of us just hung out at the base or went to the cafe. Then on Sunday about 16 of us went into Chiang Mai for the day. Everyone went to church, but I decided to just sit in Starbucks and read my Bible and listen to worship music. I love how much you can learn from simply meditating on just a few passages! He is constantly showing me new things and helping me apply them to my life.
After some of us walked around the mall and just hung out until it was time to go to the Sunday night market. I just love getting to spend time with these girls (and boys)! They are such a good group and constantly blessing me and helping me to improve my walk with God.
The last thing we did was go to the Sunday market. It is a huge market at one of the gates in Chiang Mai. It stretches over multiple streets and draws thousands of people every week. It is such a blast! Venders there sell anything from clothes to hand-made jewelery to delicious street food.
This week we are learning about what it really means to be a christian and a disciple of Christ. I think being a christian and a disciple should be the same thing, but aren't. It is so common for people to just become christians but not truly follow Christ and His will for their lives. It seems like more and more people accept Christ, but continue to be the master of their lives and not truly follow Him.
Prayer requests:
Please be praying for strength! Not only for me but for the students as well. Some of us have been having trouble sleeping, and that on top of classes all morning, work in the afternoons, and more classes at night can really exhaust you. And a lot of the students have been getting sick now that the seasons are changing!
That the students would continue to have open hearts! I am really amazed and inspired by their openness and willingness to listen and accept, but I know that it can get difficult sometimes. So please pray that they will continue to be open.
Please continue to pray for Bowling. Even though she isn't here God is still working in her life.
Also still praying for a car.
Oh, and that pop tarts and sour patch will magically fall from the sky. :)
On Saturday most of us just hung out at the base or went to the cafe. Then on Sunday about 16 of us went into Chiang Mai for the day. Everyone went to church, but I decided to just sit in Starbucks and read my Bible and listen to worship music. I love how much you can learn from simply meditating on just a few passages! He is constantly showing me new things and helping me apply them to my life.
After some of us walked around the mall and just hung out until it was time to go to the Sunday night market. I just love getting to spend time with these girls (and boys)! They are such a good group and constantly blessing me and helping me to improve my walk with God.
The last thing we did was go to the Sunday market. It is a huge market at one of the gates in Chiang Mai. It stretches over multiple streets and draws thousands of people every week. It is such a blast! Venders there sell anything from clothes to hand-made jewelery to delicious street food.
This week we are learning about what it really means to be a christian and a disciple of Christ. I think being a christian and a disciple should be the same thing, but aren't. It is so common for people to just become christians but not truly follow Christ and His will for their lives. It seems like more and more people accept Christ, but continue to be the master of their lives and not truly follow Him.
Prayer requests:
Please be praying for strength! Not only for me but for the students as well. Some of us have been having trouble sleeping, and that on top of classes all morning, work in the afternoons, and more classes at night can really exhaust you. And a lot of the students have been getting sick now that the seasons are changing!
That the students would continue to have open hearts! I am really amazed and inspired by their openness and willingness to listen and accept, but I know that it can get difficult sometimes. So please pray that they will continue to be open.
Please continue to pray for Bowling. Even though she isn't here God is still working in her life.
Also still praying for a car.
Oh, and that pop tarts and sour patch will magically fall from the sky. :)
Friday, September 28, 2012
Saving saving saving!
So I have decided to buy a car or truck! The only thing is that they are crazy expensive in Thailand.. But in the long run it will save me a lot of money on taxis and bus fare. Especially since I will be moving to Korat after DTS and then I'm not sure what I will be doing so I think it would be a good idea to have a vehicle. It will also be a blessing to other people to be able to give them rides, especially into town. I decided that I have about half of what I am willing to spend, leaving me needing to raise about $1,500.. Sounds like a lot, huh? I am certain that God will provide though. He has never failed me in the past and I know He won't let me down now. Especially since I have been praying about this almost since I first got here and I feel like He has given me the "go ahead."
If you are interested in helping to support me not just in this but also just in general living expenses there is a way to do so that is tax deductible. Make out a check that is payable to YWAM. Put my name (Annie Petersohn) and also Chiang Mai in the memo line. Then send it to my mom. Her address is 394 Winston Creek Road, Mossyrock, WA USA 98564. She will then send it off to YWAM Montana and they will process it, send to to Bangkok, then from there it will get to me! Sounds pretty complicated, I know.
I have decided to make a two year commitment to YWAM. Well, actually I needed to to be able to have my funds processed through them. But I am at total peace about it, and I would have probably ended up being with them for about 2 years at least anyways since after DTS I am going to be working with them, then next January I am hoping to do an SBS. That is just a tentative plan though. They always seem to change on me..
Please keep me as well as all the other staff and students in your prayers! All the western girls are fasting for the first time and they are doing so well! I promised that when they were done I would take them to a cafe and buy them all cheese cake because I am just so proud of all of them! I am so glad that I listened to God and came back to Chiang Mai DTS. I'm not sure if I have been a blessing or a help to them, but I know for a fact that they all have been to me! All the students, Thai and western. And I am having a blast learning Thai from them! It is so much fun learning from them and then teaching them English. We just have such a great group this year. I am so happy to be a part of it.
Thank you all for your help, financially and spiritually, in getting me here!
Blessings,
Annie
If you are interested in helping to support me not just in this but also just in general living expenses there is a way to do so that is tax deductible. Make out a check that is payable to YWAM. Put my name (Annie Petersohn) and also Chiang Mai in the memo line. Then send it to my mom. Her address is 394 Winston Creek Road, Mossyrock, WA USA 98564. She will then send it off to YWAM Montana and they will process it, send to to Bangkok, then from there it will get to me! Sounds pretty complicated, I know.
I have decided to make a two year commitment to YWAM. Well, actually I needed to to be able to have my funds processed through them. But I am at total peace about it, and I would have probably ended up being with them for about 2 years at least anyways since after DTS I am going to be working with them, then next January I am hoping to do an SBS. That is just a tentative plan though. They always seem to change on me..
Please keep me as well as all the other staff and students in your prayers! All the western girls are fasting for the first time and they are doing so well! I promised that when they were done I would take them to a cafe and buy them all cheese cake because I am just so proud of all of them! I am so glad that I listened to God and came back to Chiang Mai DTS. I'm not sure if I have been a blessing or a help to them, but I know for a fact that they all have been to me! All the students, Thai and western. And I am having a blast learning Thai from them! It is so much fun learning from them and then teaching them English. We just have such a great group this year. I am so happy to be a part of it.
Thank you all for your help, financially and spiritually, in getting me here!
Blessings,
Annie
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Bowling..
No, the title does not refer to the popular sport/activity. A Thai student here named Bowling is in need of prayer.. She was having doubts about whether she should be here or not, and was confused about what she thought God was speaking to her about and telling her what she should do. She wanted to leave Saturday night but a few staff talked to her and asked her to stay. So she promised that for the next two weeks she would stay here and learn and seek God's will. Well the other night her family called and said that they were on there way to pick her up. She left today. It has been very hard on me because I was starting to get close to her and I really thought she was making progress. This might really be what God wants for her, and I know that nothing happens that He doesn't allow and that He can use all things for good, but I cannot help thinking that came here for a reason. I really think she would have seen amazing changes in her life if she had stayed.
Please be praying for her as she goes back to her home and starts working at her family business.
She has a daughter but the father is not in the picture anymore.
Bowling is such a wonderful and lively person, but she needs to know that God forgives her and loves her. I tried to show her how much I love her, and I think the others here did as well. She is someone who needs alot of love. Please be praying that she will experience that wherever she ends up!
Other then that, this week we are learning about the character of God and knowing Him. I love this topic and I am excited for this coming week.
Please pray that I will have strength and will be able to get more sleep!
Thank you for your continuous support, it means so much to me.
Blessings!
Please be praying for her as she goes back to her home and starts working at her family business.
She has a daughter but the father is not in the picture anymore.
Bowling is such a wonderful and lively person, but she needs to know that God forgives her and loves her. I tried to show her how much I love her, and I think the others here did as well. She is someone who needs alot of love. Please be praying that she will experience that wherever she ends up!
Other then that, this week we are learning about the character of God and knowing Him. I love this topic and I am excited for this coming week.
Please pray that I will have strength and will be able to get more sleep!
Thank you for your continuous support, it means so much to me.
Blessings!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Amazing things!
God is doing such awesome things! During class today I had three people tell me that God had showed them things about me and all of them were huge confirmations for what I had been feeling like God has been telling me to do.
I got an offer the other day to go to Korat, another area in Thailand, and volunteer teaching English at a relatively new mission there. I really wanted to, but I knew that I had to pray and really seek God's will on this. I had been feeling like I had the go ahead, and this morning just seemed to confirm it. I am still praying and listening, but I am sure this is what God wants me to do.. At least for the first 4 months after DTS.
I can tell that things are already starting to get hard for some of the students.. A little earlier then I expected honestly. But I know that all of them are going to get through this and come out stronger in the end. God used the difficult times in my DTS to completely change me, and I expect Him to do the same for all of these students as well.
I am having a blast getting to know all the students. They are all so nice, and the westerners especially are just hilarious. It is going to be an awesome four and a half months!
Also, Bruce is contacting YWAM and trying to get something set up soon so that I can receive support and have it be tax deductible for y'all. So if that is what was holding you back please contact me! I can give you all the details.
Love and blessings!
I got an offer the other day to go to Korat, another area in Thailand, and volunteer teaching English at a relatively new mission there. I really wanted to, but I knew that I had to pray and really seek God's will on this. I had been feeling like I had the go ahead, and this morning just seemed to confirm it. I am still praying and listening, but I am sure this is what God wants me to do.. At least for the first 4 months after DTS.
I can tell that things are already starting to get hard for some of the students.. A little earlier then I expected honestly. But I know that all of them are going to get through this and come out stronger in the end. God used the difficult times in my DTS to completely change me, and I expect Him to do the same for all of these students as well.
I am having a blast getting to know all the students. They are all so nice, and the westerners especially are just hilarious. It is going to be an awesome four and a half months!
Also, Bruce is contacting YWAM and trying to get something set up soon so that I can receive support and have it be tax deductible for y'all. So if that is what was holding you back please contact me! I can give you all the details.
Love and blessings!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Quick update
Just a short update..
Tomorrow we start our lecture phase, our first topic being spiritual warfare. Please keep everyone in your prayers as we learn to recognize and deal with enemy attack and spiritual things.
Also, I just learned that the children's home in Chiang Rai has filled the position that I was hoping to get. So now I am once again very unsure of what is going to happen after DTS. Please be praying that I will be able to focus on what is happening now and not worry about the future.. I am someone who likes to have everything planned out so this is pretty difficult for me.
I am having a wonderful time getting to know the students and other staff, and I am very excited to see the awesome things God is going to do in these upcoming five months!
Please keep praying for my financial situation.. I am still trying to get support and figure out how I am going to survive here after DTS is over.
Also, please be praying that I will be able to continually progress in learning Thai! I feel like I was learning it quickly when I first got here, but now I feel like I am just not able to retain anymore.
Blessings!
Tomorrow we start our lecture phase, our first topic being spiritual warfare. Please keep everyone in your prayers as we learn to recognize and deal with enemy attack and spiritual things.
Also, I just learned that the children's home in Chiang Rai has filled the position that I was hoping to get. So now I am once again very unsure of what is going to happen after DTS. Please be praying that I will be able to focus on what is happening now and not worry about the future.. I am someone who likes to have everything planned out so this is pretty difficult for me.
I am having a wonderful time getting to know the students and other staff, and I am very excited to see the awesome things God is going to do in these upcoming five months!
Please keep praying for my financial situation.. I am still trying to get support and figure out how I am going to survive here after DTS is over.
Also, please be praying that I will be able to continually progress in learning Thai! I feel like I was learning it quickly when I first got here, but now I feel like I am just not able to retain anymore.
Blessings!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
And it has started!
School has started! I'm so excited, this is going to be a great school! I can tell already. I am a little scared about being a staff, but I just keep praying for wisdom and I know with God's help I can do it.
This first week we have just been having orientation and cross-cultural training. We have all been having a fun time with it. Today was our first day doing work duties all together and it was so encouraging to see all the students working together and having a good time doing it. It was great to see students that got done with their own responsibilities early go and help others finish theirs, and have a willing heart to do it.
It is also very encouraging to hear everyone's expectations for the next five months here and to hear how excited and open everyone is already. It makes me even more excited! I know God is going to do amazing things in the lives of these students and work through each of them into the lives of others. I really believe that us staff are going to change right along with the students. I can already see how I have changed since last year, just in my attitude towards work and going to classes every day. I am praying that God will continue to change me and work through me.
If there is anything in particular that you guys would like to be updated on please let me know!
Blessings,
Annie
This first week we have just been having orientation and cross-cultural training. We have all been having a fun time with it. Today was our first day doing work duties all together and it was so encouraging to see all the students working together and having a good time doing it. It was great to see students that got done with their own responsibilities early go and help others finish theirs, and have a willing heart to do it.
It is also very encouraging to hear everyone's expectations for the next five months here and to hear how excited and open everyone is already. It makes me even more excited! I know God is going to do amazing things in the lives of these students and work through each of them into the lives of others. I really believe that us staff are going to change right along with the students. I can already see how I have changed since last year, just in my attitude towards work and going to classes every day. I am praying that God will continue to change me and work through me.
If there is anything in particular that you guys would like to be updated on please let me know!
Blessings,
Annie
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
My how time flies..
Almost time for school to start! I am so excited, and so ready!!
This years staff have spend the majority of this week at P'Bruce's house in the city. We have been spending time getting to know each other and working out last minute details like the schedule for the first week, who has what duties (I'm Bruce's administrative help) and Jup and I have been getting the handbook finished up. Let me tell you, making a handbook is a ton of work! Especially if you need it in both Thai and English! But we are just putting the finishing touches on it as I am typing this up.. Such a huge relief to be done with it.
The rest of the staff will be coming to the base to move in with us today and tomorrow. I can't wait to have more then just Jup and I at the base! It was getting a tad bit lonely with just two people. And the students start arriving in the next few days as well. I think one might be flying in tonight! Last night we went through all the applications and I think this is going to be such a great school. I really get the feeling that God is going to do such great things in this school, and I am so excited to be able to get to be a part of it.
Thank you all for your prayers and support! I can use as much as I can get for sure!
A few prayer requests:
That the Shan will feel welcome and always included. And also that they will be able to understand all the teachings and everything
That the students will have hearts that are open to the change that God wants to work in them and through them.
That I will not get homesick!! I am starting to already.. This morning when I woke up I could swear that I smelled fruit loops! I wanted some so bad, but they don't have them here:( It's just little stuff like that but it is really making me miss home and family.
My friends from last years DTS, P'Thun and EiEi, just had their third child, a son, and he is in the hospital with a lung infection.
That more people won't get sick. I am sick, Jup has bad allergies, and some of the Geske kids are sick too.
Blessings!
This years staff have spend the majority of this week at P'Bruce's house in the city. We have been spending time getting to know each other and working out last minute details like the schedule for the first week, who has what duties (I'm Bruce's administrative help) and Jup and I have been getting the handbook finished up. Let me tell you, making a handbook is a ton of work! Especially if you need it in both Thai and English! But we are just putting the finishing touches on it as I am typing this up.. Such a huge relief to be done with it.
The rest of the staff will be coming to the base to move in with us today and tomorrow. I can't wait to have more then just Jup and I at the base! It was getting a tad bit lonely with just two people. And the students start arriving in the next few days as well. I think one might be flying in tonight! Last night we went through all the applications and I think this is going to be such a great school. I really get the feeling that God is going to do such great things in this school, and I am so excited to be able to get to be a part of it.
Thank you all for your prayers and support! I can use as much as I can get for sure!
A few prayer requests:
That the Shan will feel welcome and always included. And also that they will be able to understand all the teachings and everything
That the students will have hearts that are open to the change that God wants to work in them and through them.
That I will not get homesick!! I am starting to already.. This morning when I woke up I could swear that I smelled fruit loops! I wanted some so bad, but they don't have them here:( It's just little stuff like that but it is really making me miss home and family.
My friends from last years DTS, P'Thun and EiEi, just had their third child, a son, and he is in the hospital with a lung infection.
That more people won't get sick. I am sick, Jup has bad allergies, and some of the Geske kids are sick too.
Blessings!
Monday, August 27, 2012
DTS 2012-13
Howdy!
These last few weeks Jup (the other staff member here with me) and I have been cleaning the base and getting ready for the students to arrive! It is so much work! I never realized it last year just how much work the staff had put in before we even got here. I have a whole new appreciation for them and all that they did. Yai, the other girl staff, will probably arrive sometime next week.
Today we found out that our dts will be joining up with another school.. The very first Shan dts! It is so exciting. We will get a few more students, as well as more staff. What a huge answer to prayer! Among the new staff is a couple from my dts from last year. It will be so great to get to spend more time with them. Please be praying for them, they are expecting a baby and she is about 2 months along.
I am still praying about what to do after the school is over. I have a few options.. Working at a children's home in Chiang Rai is the one that is most appealing to me. After that I am hoping to do an SBS. I am praying about my future, but at the same time I am trying not to think so much about the future and focus on this school and making it the best it can be.
Please be praying that I will be a good staff!
Also, please be praying that the new Shan students will be able to understand the teachings, because for most of them their first language is not Thai or English, which is what the teachings will be in.
These last few weeks Jup (the other staff member here with me) and I have been cleaning the base and getting ready for the students to arrive! It is so much work! I never realized it last year just how much work the staff had put in before we even got here. I have a whole new appreciation for them and all that they did. Yai, the other girl staff, will probably arrive sometime next week.
Today we found out that our dts will be joining up with another school.. The very first Shan dts! It is so exciting. We will get a few more students, as well as more staff. What a huge answer to prayer! Among the new staff is a couple from my dts from last year. It will be so great to get to spend more time with them. Please be praying for them, they are expecting a baby and she is about 2 months along.
I am still praying about what to do after the school is over. I have a few options.. Working at a children's home in Chiang Rai is the one that is most appealing to me. After that I am hoping to do an SBS. I am praying about my future, but at the same time I am trying not to think so much about the future and focus on this school and making it the best it can be.
Please be praying that I will be a good staff!
Also, please be praying that the new Shan students will be able to understand the teachings, because for most of them their first language is not Thai or English, which is what the teachings will be in.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
DTS.. Again.
Wow! I haven't posted in so long. I will do my best to get everyone caught up.
So about three months ago I got a message from the DTS in Chiang Mai, asking if I would come back and be staff. In my head my immediate response was "no way, jose!" DTS was a huge learning and growing experience for me but I never wanted to go back. Well, I'm now staff at the 2012-2013 Chiang Mai DTS. I prayed about it and realized that this was God answering my prayers. Ever since getting back to the states in February I had been asking God to send me back to Thailand, and this was Him doing. But it wasn't just that I didn't want to go back to DTS, I didn't have the money. In fact, I didn't have any money at all. I could barely pay for gas to get to work. I decided to just trust God fully and sure enough, it all came in somehow. Even now looking back I don't quite know exactly how it happened. I do know that a HUGE part of it was many of you guys being incredibly generous and offering to support me not only in prayer but in finances as well. How generous you guys were just blows my mind!
Ok so I told Bruce that I would come be staff, I got the money, the ticket, and the visa. I got on the plane, and 24 hours later I landed in Bangkok, Thailand. For some reason I can't really go anywhere without meeting people and making friends. I met two really neat girls on the trip here who really helped make the trip a little easier, even enjoyable. God is so good! He knows the things we have a hard time with, like sitting in airports alone and being on a plane for 11 hrs, and helps us get through them. When I arrived in Bangkok I was about to spend a few days with a good friend from my DTS. After that I took the 9 hour bus ride to Chiang Mai, where I started a DTS staff work shop the next day. It is only the second day into it and I have already learned so much! And I am really able to enjoy it, which is a miracle all in itself considering sitting in classrooms was never something I really enjoyed. We stay here until Friday, then we go back to the base in Mae Taeng, which is about an hour and a half outside of the city of Chiang Mai. The DTS doesn't start until the 10th of September so until then me and the other staff member, Jup, will clean up the base. I will also have to travel to the boarder to exit the country and then re-enter.
I will try to keep this and my email list updated as often as possible!
Here are a few things you could pray for:
There are going to be 17 students and only two staff, and that is including me. So one on ones and small groups will be a challenge but I am certain that God will use this in a huge way in both the student's lives and mine.
I also have been thinking a lot about doing an SBS (School of Biblical Studies) ever since my DTS and it hadn't worked out yet. There is an English SBS in Chiang Rai that I really feel like I am being led to do, but I am still praying about it. It overlaps with this DTS a little and it is about $5,000 dollars, and I don't have any money. So I am really praying and seeking God about whether this is the right time and place to get involved with this.
Please pray that the students will come with an open heart to learn and grow as well. And that I will be able to right along with them.
So about three months ago I got a message from the DTS in Chiang Mai, asking if I would come back and be staff. In my head my immediate response was "no way, jose!" DTS was a huge learning and growing experience for me but I never wanted to go back. Well, I'm now staff at the 2012-2013 Chiang Mai DTS. I prayed about it and realized that this was God answering my prayers. Ever since getting back to the states in February I had been asking God to send me back to Thailand, and this was Him doing. But it wasn't just that I didn't want to go back to DTS, I didn't have the money. In fact, I didn't have any money at all. I could barely pay for gas to get to work. I decided to just trust God fully and sure enough, it all came in somehow. Even now looking back I don't quite know exactly how it happened. I do know that a HUGE part of it was many of you guys being incredibly generous and offering to support me not only in prayer but in finances as well. How generous you guys were just blows my mind!
Ok so I told Bruce that I would come be staff, I got the money, the ticket, and the visa. I got on the plane, and 24 hours later I landed in Bangkok, Thailand. For some reason I can't really go anywhere without meeting people and making friends. I met two really neat girls on the trip here who really helped make the trip a little easier, even enjoyable. God is so good! He knows the things we have a hard time with, like sitting in airports alone and being on a plane for 11 hrs, and helps us get through them. When I arrived in Bangkok I was about to spend a few days with a good friend from my DTS. After that I took the 9 hour bus ride to Chiang Mai, where I started a DTS staff work shop the next day. It is only the second day into it and I have already learned so much! And I am really able to enjoy it, which is a miracle all in itself considering sitting in classrooms was never something I really enjoyed. We stay here until Friday, then we go back to the base in Mae Taeng, which is about an hour and a half outside of the city of Chiang Mai. The DTS doesn't start until the 10th of September so until then me and the other staff member, Jup, will clean up the base. I will also have to travel to the boarder to exit the country and then re-enter.
I will try to keep this and my email list updated as often as possible!
Here are a few things you could pray for:
There are going to be 17 students and only two staff, and that is including me. So one on ones and small groups will be a challenge but I am certain that God will use this in a huge way in both the student's lives and mine.
I also have been thinking a lot about doing an SBS (School of Biblical Studies) ever since my DTS and it hadn't worked out yet. There is an English SBS in Chiang Rai that I really feel like I am being led to do, but I am still praying about it. It overlaps with this DTS a little and it is about $5,000 dollars, and I don't have any money. So I am really praying and seeking God about whether this is the right time and place to get involved with this.
Please pray that the students will come with an open heart to learn and grow as well. And that I will be able to right along with them.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Exciting news!
I have officially been accepted as DTS staff for the Chiang Mai school, starting in August. I am so excited, probably more so then when I found out that I was excepted as a student there last year. This is a huge answer to prayer for me. Ever since returning home my thoughts have constantly been on going back, and now I finally get to! I will be leaving a little early so that I can go and meet with a few organizations that I have been in contact with, hoping to find a position with one of them. It is my hope that I will be able to just stay and serve in Thailand when the school ends next year. I have two major prayer requests for the time being.. The first is that I will be able to focus on what I am doing while I am still here. That has been hard enough since being back, but now that I know that I am actually returning to Thailand I am sure that I will be extra hard. The second is that I am in need of at least $3,500.. That is to cover the airfare, the visa to China and Thailand, and the room and board while there. I am currently working as a barista at Forza Coffee and trying to save up as much as I can, but that doesn't give you the best money. I would greatly appreciate prayer about both of these things.
Thank you all!
Annie
Thank you all!
Annie
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
New opportunities!
So while I was on my DTS a few months ago I started thinking about possibly going back and helping on staff during one of the following schools. I really wanted to do it but it just didn't seem possible. Since being back I have been searching for ministry/job opportunities in Thailand, because during these few months that I have been back I have felt a constant pull on my heart to go back and I can't seem to ever stop thinking about it. I have been messaging a ton of people that I met over there asking if they know of any possible openings over there. The leader of the DTS school in Chiang Mai messaged me back this evening saying that they are looking for a western girl to be on staff this year. Putting it simply, I instantly got excited. So excited that I might have started dancing.. At work...... Anyways... I feel like this would be a perfect fit and exactly what God wants me to do. The only thing holding me back is the money.. Well timing isn't exactly ideal either but I mentioned it to my boss and she was supportive. So the only thing is the money. I would really appreciate if you guys could pray about this and consider supporting me yet again. I know that it isn't a for-sure thing yet, and it seems almost impossible to get enough support in the short amount of time that I have.. But there is truly nothing that is impossible with God. I also know that this economy makes it difficult to support people financially, but in my opinion prayer support is as good as gold so even if you don't feel led to support me financially, prays would be soo appreciated. And even if this doesn't work out and it turns out that God has other plans for me, I am still searching for chances to minister in Thailand. So just having prayer for that in general would be fantastic! Once again, if you have any questions, advice, prayer needs of your own, ect.. Feel free to contact me! My email is sara_ann93@juno.com and I have facebook: Annie Petersohn It used to be Sara Petersohn but everyone was confusing my mother and I so I changed it.
I love you all and appreciate everything you guys have done for me:)
I love you all and appreciate everything you guys have done for me:)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The end..
Wow, it is so crazy to think that DTS officially ends tomorrow! We graduate tomorrow evening then Saturday morning I will go into Chiang Mai and hang out in the city one last time (for this trip at least) before flying out at about 7 that evening. I cannot believe that it is almost over.. This has been my life for the last five months, and now it's all about to end. And then I will be starting all over when I get back to good ol' Mossyrock.
When I get back I am planning to live with my family until March and just get back into the swing of life in the states again, then I am planning to move to the Puyallup area and get a job and work for a year or two saving up money while taking a ESL (English as a Second Language) course. But those are just my plans.. Who knows what God has in store for these upcoming months. I'm just waiting and seeing what God has planned, but in the meantime those are my plans.
I am so thankful for all the support and prayers you guys have given. Every time I talk to my family or friends they are always telling me about people who are thinking about and praying for me. Every time I hear that it is such a blessing to me. I can definitely feel the support, even all the way over here in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
I'm not going to post any stories or any other updates in this post since I will be home on Sunday and can just tell you guys everything in person when I see you. Or if I won't be seeing you for awhile email me and we can skype sometime. Or I can email or facebook message you:)
I love and miss you all and can't wait to see you guys! Thank you again for helping me get here, and for the prayers.
When I get back I am planning to live with my family until March and just get back into the swing of life in the states again, then I am planning to move to the Puyallup area and get a job and work for a year or two saving up money while taking a ESL (English as a Second Language) course. But those are just my plans.. Who knows what God has in store for these upcoming months. I'm just waiting and seeing what God has planned, but in the meantime those are my plans.
I am so thankful for all the support and prayers you guys have given. Every time I talk to my family or friends they are always telling me about people who are thinking about and praying for me. Every time I hear that it is such a blessing to me. I can definitely feel the support, even all the way over here in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
I'm not going to post any stories or any other updates in this post since I will be home on Sunday and can just tell you guys everything in person when I see you. Or if I won't be seeing you for awhile email me and we can skype sometime. Or I can email or facebook message you:)
I love and miss you all and can't wait to see you guys! Thank you again for helping me get here, and for the prayers.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Prayer requests
Okay, I always forget to add all the prayer requests to my posts so I will do a whole post just for that..
1. EE and Thun: A married couple in my outreach group. EE was very sick for a while, then when she went into the hospital, she found out she has pnemonia. The whole family had to go back to their home in Fang, and one of the staff is there with them to take care of their two kids, Hosanna (2 1/2) and Daniel ( 9months?) She is a little over a month pregnant, so please pray that she gets well soon and that the baby stays safe.
2. That this village that I am in, Wiang Haeng, will just be set on fire with a passion for God and that revival will sweep through the valley. There are a few faithful believers here, and we have led some of the villagers to Christ. What we really want to see is for a few of the believing men to step up and continue the work that we have started here and really try to get the church growing. I strongly believe that this church will go from about 25 members (over twice what it was when we first came) to overflowing with people.
3. There is alot of spiritual warfare going on in this town, so please also pray for safety for the members of the church here.
4. For all the people doing DTS. Some don't know what to do or where to go after this is over in two weeks.. Please pray that they will listen for Gods plans and follow them concerning what to do next. (And everything in their lives:) )
5. I just heard that my friend Vickie is in the hoptial with ITP. It is where where some of her blood cells are attacking her platelets. It is a fairly serious condition, but the doctors said it is very treatable. Please be praying!
1. EE and Thun: A married couple in my outreach group. EE was very sick for a while, then when she went into the hospital, she found out she has pnemonia. The whole family had to go back to their home in Fang, and one of the staff is there with them to take care of their two kids, Hosanna (2 1/2) and Daniel ( 9months?) She is a little over a month pregnant, so please pray that she gets well soon and that the baby stays safe.
2. That this village that I am in, Wiang Haeng, will just be set on fire with a passion for God and that revival will sweep through the valley. There are a few faithful believers here, and we have led some of the villagers to Christ. What we really want to see is for a few of the believing men to step up and continue the work that we have started here and really try to get the church growing. I strongly believe that this church will go from about 25 members (over twice what it was when we first came) to overflowing with people.
3. There is alot of spiritual warfare going on in this town, so please also pray for safety for the members of the church here.
4. For all the people doing DTS. Some don't know what to do or where to go after this is over in two weeks.. Please pray that they will listen for Gods plans and follow them concerning what to do next. (And everything in their lives:) )
5. I just heard that my friend Vickie is in the hoptial with ITP. It is where where some of her blood cells are attacking her platelets. It is a fairly serious condition, but the doctors said it is very treatable. Please be praying!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wiang Haeng
It's been forever since I've last posted, sorry guys! So much has happened since I arrived here in WH, and time has gone by so fast. I don't even know how many weeks I've been here now. But I do know that I only have one more left! I'm so excited to get back to the base in the city. I'm very sad to be leaving everyone here though.
Our team has seen some amazing things happen here, as well as made some wonderful relationships with the village people. Everyone here is just so wonderful. Well almost everyone.. One day me and Kathryn were walking back from the night market and this boy started following us and then he gave us a note that said "I love you I like you." He followed us all the way back to the camp that we are staying at and just stayed there for awhile. So we gave him some food and evangelized to him. He left soon after we started sharing about Jesus with him. Later we found out that he has something wrong in his head and is also on drugs. And possibly running from the police? So when I say everyone, there might be a few exceptions haha
For the second and third week here our team was split up into two groups. One group went to a jr high/high school and taught English and the other group went evangelizing. I was in the group that taught English. It was so much fun and a really great experience. I also discovered a passion for teaching English to high schoolers, which I might do if I move back to Thailand. The other group had a great time too, and also witnessed God's healing power! They were praying for a man that had a shriveled up hand, and while they were praying the man started to be able to stretch it out a little, so they kept praying, and now it is fully restored to normal! We were also praying for a lady whose legs were swollen and very hard. About two weeks ago they were healed. It's amazing the things God is doing in this town!
We have also seen the church here grow so much, and many people come to know Christ. When we first got here there were less then 10 people who came to the church. Now, there are about 25 or 30. And the people have been coming to Jessica's classes and learning how to evangelize and be leaders not only in church, but also in the community. Our hope is that when we leave here they will step up and keep going with the work that we have started here. Please keep these people in your prayers!
Way to much stuff has happened here for me to fit it all into one post. If you want to know more either email me or set up a time to get together when I get back, only two more weeks! And please keep praying for me too.. I am having very bad back pains and head aches. I went into the city on Thursday and got my back x-rayed at the hospital, but I need to go back next weekend for an MRI because the doctor isn't really sure what he saw. But there are two potential problem areas. And he doesn't know what is wrong with my head, he doesn't think it's connected to my back. It is very hard for me to walk, or stand, or even sit for a while. The only thing that doesn't hurt is laying down, so that makes doing anything difficult. But I know that God is in control. Just please keep praying for me:)
Our team has seen some amazing things happen here, as well as made some wonderful relationships with the village people. Everyone here is just so wonderful. Well almost everyone.. One day me and Kathryn were walking back from the night market and this boy started following us and then he gave us a note that said "I love you I like you." He followed us all the way back to the camp that we are staying at and just stayed there for awhile. So we gave him some food and evangelized to him. He left soon after we started sharing about Jesus with him. Later we found out that he has something wrong in his head and is also on drugs. And possibly running from the police? So when I say everyone, there might be a few exceptions haha
For the second and third week here our team was split up into two groups. One group went to a jr high/high school and taught English and the other group went evangelizing. I was in the group that taught English. It was so much fun and a really great experience. I also discovered a passion for teaching English to high schoolers, which I might do if I move back to Thailand. The other group had a great time too, and also witnessed God's healing power! They were praying for a man that had a shriveled up hand, and while they were praying the man started to be able to stretch it out a little, so they kept praying, and now it is fully restored to normal! We were also praying for a lady whose legs were swollen and very hard. About two weeks ago they were healed. It's amazing the things God is doing in this town!
We have also seen the church here grow so much, and many people come to know Christ. When we first got here there were less then 10 people who came to the church. Now, there are about 25 or 30. And the people have been coming to Jessica's classes and learning how to evangelize and be leaders not only in church, but also in the community. Our hope is that when we leave here they will step up and keep going with the work that we have started here. Please keep these people in your prayers!
Way to much stuff has happened here for me to fit it all into one post. If you want to know more either email me or set up a time to get together when I get back, only two more weeks! And please keep praying for me too.. I am having very bad back pains and head aches. I went into the city on Thursday and got my back x-rayed at the hospital, but I need to go back next weekend for an MRI because the doctor isn't really sure what he saw. But there are two potential problem areas. And he doesn't know what is wrong with my head, he doesn't think it's connected to my back. It is very hard for me to walk, or stand, or even sit for a while. The only thing that doesn't hurt is laying down, so that makes doing anything difficult. But I know that God is in control. Just please keep praying for me:)
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