God dependence

October 25, 2008 9:00am

Good Saturday morning.  I can’t even begin to believe that we have been here for a week.  It has been such an amazing experience and such a humbling one.  God amazes me at how He works.  Last night they threw us a party and we had the opportunity to thank them for all they have done for us while we have been here.  The children have taught me so much and I just pray that God has used me to teach them something.  I also hope that the children have felt the love of Christ through my interaction with them.  I think that they have taught me more by their love and acceptance as well as the amazing community they have here than I could have ever taught, but I trust that God brought me here for a reason and will use it to His glory, whatever that may look like.

If there is one thing that I have learned here in a great supply it is God dependence.  The majority of my days have been spent away from the rest of the team with children that do not speak my language at all and maybe if I am lucky a translator.  There is nothing like being in a room full of children without the ability to communicate with them.  When I teach with a translator they have to further explain a lot of what it taught and so in essence I have no idea what they are learning or being told through my teaching.  All that I can do is trust God to use what I say and what the translator says to make a difference in the lives of the children and plant seeds.  Without a translator they try to read a story out of the Bible that comes from wherever I am trying to teach out of and that shows even more God dependence.  It is also very interesting how alone you can feel in a room of people when you cannot speak to anyone but to know that God is there with me tends to make all the difference.  I am so thankful for this trip and the ways that God has revealed Himself to me and forever changed me because of what I have experienced here.  He never ceases to amaze me with His goodness to us even though we don’t deserve it and the ways that He uses sinners like me to further His kingdom.

 

–Shannon

God’s Work

October 25, 2008 7:30am

 

I was not sure what to expect coming to Thailand.  I praise God for preparing my heart in coming here.  During the days I’ve been working with Kevin and Tom at the construction site mixing and pouring the concrete for the cafeteria.   The labor has been hard, but each day God has given us some sort of reprieve, through rain (which I’ve been told is very rare here this time of year), cloud cover, or even with an extended break due to a mechanical breakdown.  We finished laying down the perimeter yesterday and last night we had a festival.  The entire village came out in celebration.  We feasted on amazing fish, pork, corn on the cob, chicken, and other more unique Thai delicacies.   We were presented with thanks and gifts for our time here and then the night concluded with a jubilation of singing and dancing.  It was an experience that I will not soon forget.

            We are finished with the construction work and will be working as a group for the next couple days, visiting the other churches in the area, and fellowshipping with the people in the area.  It is amazing to see how God has worked here in Thailand.  There is unity among the people, and though by our standards they may not have much, there is such a sincere air of contentment here that fills me with peace and joy.  The spirit of God is alive and at work here and it has been such a blessing to experience this part of His kingdom firsthand.

 

Eric