Inspiration unlike any other!

I have been praying for inspiration in my last week’s here. And what better inspiration than the addition of a family member to the most important family--eternal family with an unconditionally loving heavily Father. I not only have an Earthly brother but another brother is added to the kingdom!

I left English volunteering today after work just as drained and exhausted as I have been my last couple weeks here when I received a message that filled my heart with overwhelming Joy! My brother has given his heart and life to the Lord. My heart jumped for Joy and tears of joy filled my eyes to the point of almost being hit by a motorbike in the streets of Bangkok. I had to finish reading the message once I got home. Gods faithfulness and as my father said "class" astounds me. God is an on time God and does not force himself on you. But he desires nothing more than to have an intimate personal relationship with each and every one of us. So naturally RIGHT when the words left my brothers mouth he was struck by the power of God with so much force he could not get off his knees! HOW powerful is God? Josh had a supernatural encounter with God and ALL he had to do is mutter the words "I am ready Lord, I don't want to live the life I have been any longer" Prophecy that was spoken over Josh to my mother in Jerusalem was fulfilled. If THAT does not make you want to shout praises to our Merciful Lord and Savior then I don't know what will. God knew in that moment lying in bed Josh would be ready and he was waiting patiently with excitement--

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.4 before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

God knows the desires of our heart (Psalms 37:4) and NO prayer goes unheard--Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things.-Jeremiah 33:3 and we know from 1John 5:14--Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us!

This is a wakeup call to me! The ultimate Joy in life is a relationship with God the Father and spreading his Word to the Nations. This is our first and most important call! This was Jesus' last words to his disciples before he left Earth to return to heaven.

"Go forth and teach all the Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded. And I will be with you always even until the end of the Earth. Matthew 28:19

When someone joins the heavenly family with the Heavenly father that should be our biggest Joy and inspiration. They know the meaning of life now and are living in relationship with the Father. I am so overjoyed and overwhelmed with thanksgiving and praise that my brother accepted God as his personal Savior! It is my encouragement to move on my last weeks over here. I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for him. He is SO talented in so many ways! So PROUD!

The angels rejoice when an addition is made to the Kingdom and in the same way we should be rejoicing as well!

Oh the Places you will go, NO oh the people I will meet!

From Thai to Part Nigerian Part Thai, to Japanese and on to Sri Lankan.

It is always good to know, if only in passing, charming human beings. It refreshes one like flowers and woods and clear brooks.
Only minor flaw in this quote is "if only in passing." Why not share quality time with charming people that inspire, enlighten, encourage and take your breath away? To say I have met sweet people or kind people would be an understatement. God has put different families and individuals from other Countries, Cultures and backgrounds into my life. They have changed my perspective on life and taught me how to love beyond the boundaries of race and circumstance. These are stories of a couple individuals, families and or groups that have touched my life in a drastic way while living in Asia.

Of course I will start with the Thai people I meet on a daily basis. Their kindness astounds me. Do I occasionally get frustrated when trying to communicate? Yes. Do I get frustrated when I cannot locate certain things I am in need of? Yes. But ultimately this experience has taught me how to live a life not of ease but of thankfulness and admiration of people around me with so little that continue to praise God regardless.
Many people ask me why I would ever want to live in a third world country and why Asia. But God has given me a desire to see the Asian Buddhist community come to know Christ. When I read Joshua 24:15 I think immediately of the Thai/Asian culture:
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Most Buddhist are simply Buddhist or call themselves such because they are worshiping the gods of their fathers (generational). But they lack one important thing: relationship. Christianity is not just a religion because religion is a manmade system and refers only to rules, laws and or ritualistic behavior but to live in Christ and with Christ we have a relationship with Him. We do not deserve eternity with Christ and therefor it is not a merit based system. There will never be enough that we can do to reach heaven. Jesus' sacrifice and his grace, that is freely given, allow us to have a relationship with him. This is what makes us different from Muslim or Buddhist. They are merit based and ,erely ritualistic. Unfortunetly, some "christians" in the states proclaim but do not bear the fruits or know Christ outside of religion and laws.
My desire is for those that are searching for more and looking for Hope to come to know that God designed them to have that Hope and unconditional love that only he can give. I not only have a heart for Thai people but when visiting Vietnam and Cambodia I met kind people that were so happy just to be alive. Did they have lots of money and shiney things? No. Most of them barely get along. But they were always positive and uplifting. Remember wordly riches will parish so store up your riches in heaven!

Lights of the world: Children
I have had the privilege to meet and see God work through many leaders and volunteers. I have had the opportunity to let God use me a messanger/delivery woman asn well. But where was the honor? In saying I did good works or good deeds? No, it is not by merit that we are able to enter the kingdom of God. But it has been meeting these children and developing relationships with them and interacting with them that has been the benefit. The children I see and get to work with will forever hold a special place in my heart and have changed my life forever. These children have absolutely nothing. From children that live in the slums, to children that are orphaned by human parents yes, but not orphaned at all actually because they have a Heavenly Father whose love is UNconditional and NEVER changing. What better love is there? There is None. I have had the opportunity to spend time with children that have HIV and are very sick. But the love and light of Christ burns so much inside of them that it burst out for all to see. Not only was I thankful beyond measure and humbled but I know now what it truly means to Trust and Love God no matter what the situation or trial may be. It puts things into perspective when you get outside of yourself and your own problems and see how SMALL your "trials" and "problems" actually are. These children have and continue to be such a blessing to me and I see God all over them. I am humbled daily.

One child in particular: I meet many children and fall in love with them instantly but one boy at BanNokkammin caught my eye and my heart as I walked into the orphanage the first day. This orphanage is bursting with love for one another and focuses on the most important thing--God's Love and Grace:) The children  at the orphanageand those that run the orphanage, including the foster parents, have developed a close nit family like environment and I have been so blessed to be able to watch and be a part of it. Kingston is his name and playing is his game. Kingston is a 5 year old boy at the orphanage who is very new to BanNokkammin. He arrived just last year and tends to be picked on some here and there because he is the new guy. He is very shy and timid but once you get him laughing and playing he doesn't want to stop. He was given up by his mother and more than likely has never seen his dad. He is the most beautiful little boy. His mixture of Nigerian features and Thai features makes him so unique and beautiful.

I had the privilege of meeting a Japanese family through one of my good friends Holly. Holly taught Sato English and Sato invited her along with 2 other men that helped teach her at the school over for dinner. I was lucky enough to get the plus one from Holly! Sato and her hubby Hedika had over 2 other Japanese couples and they were all in the kitchen cooking up a storm when we arrived. Seeing their hospitality and genuine concern for our comfort was such a blessing. They have so much character and are so selfless. We insisted they sit and eat but they stayed in the kitchen cooking more and more food and bringing it to us to eat. Not only was I able to learn about and eat lots of delicious Japanese cuisine but I was able to learn about Japan and customs and traditions that differ or are somewhat similar to my own. Meeting people from other areas of the world is so enriching. Japanese are known for their compassion and their kind hearts. I need and want more Japanese friends;)

The pleasure is all mine...Supporting a refugee family and hearing about them is one thing. But to go to their home and spend quality time with them is another. And when I say the pleasure was all mine, I mean it. These two families live in 2 rooms that have 1 bathroom. All together there are 10 people in 2 small rooms. These refugee families had to flee from Sri Lanka because whatever religion the Prime Minister is the rest of the country must be as well. The prime minister is Buddhist and unlike in Thailand, they are very oppressive and violent towards anyone not Buddhist. These two families are predominately Christian. One family, the one we spent most of our time with, had lost their father 10 years ago. He went to work and never returned. They continue to pray he will return and be able to find them. The rest of the family had to flee after the government became more oppressive. They have been living in Thailand for three years now and can only attend school one day a week and must stay in the confines of their home. I talked with one of the teenage girls who speaks good English and I asked her how she stays so happy all the time. "What is your secret?" She replied that "God is their Hope and that he gives them joy regardless." WOW what an inspiration. The things I complain about...the Sri Lankan food was amazing and I even got some beautiful body art that Sri Lankan people do for celebrations and big events.

Gods Timing: Another very special person. No he is not Asian but he is beautiful also with a heart of gold. People talk about God and his timing being perfect. I have always believed that and God is showing me once again he is in control of everything and knows the desires of our heart. There is a certain someone I met back in middle school and was very close friends with in high school. He moved from Columbus to California with his mom and sis and I did not see him again until graduation in '06 for a quick visit. We have not talked much since then but when visiting home during the flood a time presented itself and we began to talk. This led to talking endlessly for hours each day and lots of frozen moments on Skype. He has been such an encouragement and someone I can confide in. He has been a blessing the past couple of months and I am blessed and thankful to have him back in my life. God is so good! Relationships that last a life time.

In Search of Sanuk. Children's day in the Slums

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-20
A blog to go along with the Video I posted.
In search of Sanuk is a nonprofit organization geared towards not only bringing education to children that cannot afford it but also interaction to children that are in need of it.
Many parents are unable to spend time and invest in their children’s lives because they have to worry about making enough money to put something on the table at least once a day.
This organization, ran by some amazing Godly people Dwight and Nicole, brings English speakers to the slums to teach in fun and interactive ways. We are able to interact and spend time with the children and bring necessities like food and fresh water to the communities as well.
To learn more about the organization check out the video I posted. It gives an opportunity for you to give as well on the website.
This particular community literally straddles a railroad track. They have their houses/huts set up on either side of the tracks. Unfortunately for them, there is NO warning sound when the train is coming and the main way of getting around the village is by walking on the tracks. Many people have died or been seriously injured by the train.
Walls were put up eventually to help people with safety precautions. We saw when we arrived that the walls have been slowly taken down, at least enough for them to be able to see around. When your main way of moving is on the tracks it is hard to have that source taken away completely. And with the walls up it is difficult to see and you are closed in pretty tight.

Saturday we were able to bring fun games, songs, crafts, put money together to sponsor 3 families and give out food supplies to the 3 families most in need. The children got prizes and had a fun day of performances. This was such a wonderful opportunity I am so thankful God provided me with this opportunity to see lights of the world. We are to become more like children in their purity and selflessness. Remember the verses in Matthew:
Matthew 18:3-6 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Life Lessons and experiences in CAMBODIA

You learn a lot about a Country based on its History.
Not many know about the terrible oppression in South East Asia because in America history curriculum does not touch on Asian history. Many may say I am simply an Asian fanatic with a passion for Asia and that is why I study their history. But I think it is important for all to be aware of things that take place in other areas.
Awareness.
We learn about the Genocide of the Jews which was led by Hitler and the Nazi's but not about the Genocide of the Cambodian people. Both parts of history were devastating BUT the Cambodian Genocide was conducted by one of their very own people. Pol Pot's radical communist ideals and accusations against many he thought to be rebels against his plan, led to Genocide of millions of people. It was the end of the Cambodian Nation as a whole. A map hangs in the Genocide museum in Phnom Penh with an outline of the Country covered in skulls to represent the death of a Country.
Having read the book "Stay Alive my Son" by Yathay, one of the few that escaped and lived in the jungle making his way to the Thai border, inspired me to read more. His story was full of testimonials that will pull on your heart strings. This book encouraged me to read more about the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pat. When going to Cambodia we were able to go to the Genocide Museum (this is the high school he turned into a detention center for extracting "evidence" and names of those rebelling (which no one actually way rebelling for fear of being tortured and killed). After being tortured for so long people started to make up things and in turn were killed anyways.
We also visited the killing fields. Pol Pat and the Khmer Rouge desired for Cambodia to not only be a communist Nation where there were no social classes and no ownership but he wanted them to get rid of ALL modern day ideals even religion and education, books and currencies. He killed all those educated first. He wanted to start at "year zero" and for everyone to live as peasants. He drove everyone out of their homes and into the fields where they worked 12 hours a day with little to no food. The Khmer rouge started to eat not only their portion but also the portion of the people and they began to starve or turn to cannibalism. To Pol Pot more people alive meant more mouths to feed so he told the leaders they only needed a certain number alive to work and start the new Nation so they needed to kill off all the rest. Families’ members watched other family members either starve to death or be taken away to the killing fields. They would have to dig their own graves and then they were hit over the head with something that knocked them into the graves they dug. Most of the time they suffocated.
O my people, plundered by your rulers, enslaved by your creditors! O my people, your leaders deceive you and lead you astray.-Isaiah3:12
Bad leaders of this world that are full of evil will reap what they sow Galatians 6:7

Needless to say, knowing this about the people helped me to better understand their background, the way they went about life and why they act the way they do.
Cambodia is a VERY poverty stricken Country full of lots of sadness and little to no emotion. When passing 2 men that had died on the road from a motorbike accident with blood and insides on the road I was physically sick and could not look but the Cambodian man in the tuktuk with us simply said "they are dead" and moved on with his conversation. They are SO used to death and seeing death they are numb to it.

The need in Cambodia is so great that it was overwhelming for me. One person cannot take on the entire need and I wanted so badly to be able to help everyone one in every situation. I brought toys for street kids that are sick in the hospital, we came together and paid for a month of school for a young student, we donated to the floating village school, gave to street kids the formula they asked for (while being pooped on by a nakey baby) BUT they still needed and wanted and begged for more. I was in a state where God really taught me that one person cannot do it all and then comes the call to the Church and Christian body! This is a task that with one person can be overwhelming and frustrating but with multiple people this need can be met and lives can be saved.
Matthew 10: ²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
 ²² When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Remember we are to store our riches in heaven because everything here will parish. I am not saying you have to invest in a ministry out of Cambodia but help somewhere in some way and we all have to remember these verses.

This last picture is the floating school we visited at the floating village. This village is made up people that cannot afford to pay taxes so they were put on the river to live. They cannot live on the land without paying taxes to the government. They built floating huts and a school for the little bit of education they can receive and they are fishermen. We helped as much as we could. This among MANY other things I see makes me not only thankful but hurts my heart. It hurts my heart because we have SO much and they have so little. Can we fix this please?

Other things we did on our journey included seeing the beautiful Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom in Siem Reap. These are too famous temples in Cambodia that were designed to carry on tradition, culture and mythical legends. It was interesting to hear our tour guide tell us all about the pictures that were engraved in the walls that tell a story of their "gods."
The temples were beautiful and the nature was breath taking.
We spend our New Year’s having Cambodian food, watching Cambodian dance and then celebrating in the streets with hundreds of people jumping, dancing and acting craycray:)
We met amazing and beyond sweet Cambodian people. The Cambodian people are the most pitiful but yet are so eager to help and have such a sweet spirit about them.
Some people we met: Our tour guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom who liked to eat bugs as snacks.
We became friends with our sweet hotel receptionist that was in college to learn English. We had the privilege of being able to take him to see the capitol of his own Country for the first time (he has never been able to afford to leave Siem Reap) and he took us out for New Years.
We met a sweet tour guide on the floating village that we had the privilege of helping go to school his next month to learn English as well.
AND I met a new sweet friend named Asuka that backpacked with me and Holly.
I LOVE seeing God work!! Thank you Lord for using me and my friends as vessels. I want to be your hands and I want to be your feet, I will go where you send me!