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.
Friday, November 30, 2012
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.
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