Well, sorry we weren’t able to keep up this blog while we were away. The internet was scarce at best. If you follow Hope on Twitter (hopechurchlv) then you were able to get my quick blurbs about the project I sen out from my phone. If not, you can check all of them on twitter now and there will be pics on some of the posts.

The project was amazing. The Hope Team and the FBC Henderson, KY Team worked extremely well together. MOre than 300 pastors and leaders were present at the conference. We were able to teach about basic Hygiene Care, Swine FLu prevention and care, Nutrition, Livestock Care, Coaching Skills, Basic Business Principles, Biblical INterpretation, Ministry and Family issues, and Women’s Bible Study. God really used the gifts of HIs people! Pastor Mike from Hope and Pastor Todd from KY did a fantastic job of preaching the Word at all the main sessions.

One of the highlights was hearing the stories personally from believers who are persecuted for their faith in Christ. It was an extremely eye-opening experience for all our team and will hopefully drive us to a more passionate pursuit to share our faith at home and beyond. When we asked the believers what message would they send to our friend sin America who don’t share their faith, they simply looked at us in amazement b/c that question doesn’t register in their minds. They said when you become a believer, sharing your faith is just what you do, even if it means you’ll be put in prison………

I pray that God would make that a reality in my heart and the heart of everyone in our church.

Be sure to follow tweats @hopechurchlv as well

Pastor Shane

We have made it to Bangkok.  It is a very interesting city definitely filled with sin, not much different from Vegas but it seems in some areas worse.  Interestingly enough we met a mission team not long after being here.  It is gorgeous though and filled with more people than you could imagine.  Definitely a city in need of the Light.  Pray for safe travels on Wednesday but I am off to bed as it is late and I am on a times computer. 

– Shannon

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

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 

October 24, 2008 8:00am

Greetings from Thailand,

As in the past few trips it has been a true blessing working with and visiting our brothers and sisters in Christ. I have come to the conclusion that one of the easiest jobs would be a Thai weather forecaster, every days forecast would be “ Today it will be hot, humid and a chance of rain” We have had a great opportunity to work alongside of our Thai brothers mixing and pouring concrete footers for the new cafeteria/ meeting pavilion on the campus here. It is hard, hot work but rewarding, as all of us are able to fellowship and connect with the Thai men. They are a very humble people that love Jesus and it shows, they are eager to learn about us as well as learn our language and teach us theirs. It makes the work seem to go faster and easier. I am once again so impressed with the spirit and community they have amongst themselves here, everything with a common purpose with Christ as the center. They seem to emulate the young church in the book of acts. I would highly encourage those reading to pray about visiting here on future missions trips, it is a true blessing. Please keep our brothers in Laos in prayer as persecution continues to take place there. Also, please keep our team in prayer that God is glorified in our trip and service toward his kingdom work.

Sa Wadi Kap

John

October 22, 2008 4:00m

Wow what a humbling experience this has been so far and we aren’t even to the halfway point in our trip.  The last 2 day I had the opportunity to lead VBS with some Thai children.  School is out right now so it looks nothing like we thought it would but is amazing nonetheless.  There is a conference for the staff of Mercy and their children are the ones that I have gotten to share my time with.  None of them speak English so I have a translator with me.  Yesterday was wonderful.  After I was finished with the story and we made a craft they asked me to teach them a song.  I taught them J-E-S-U-S and they loved it.  The end was a little difficult since they are not great English speakers but they loved dancing and singing the song with me.  They then sang me a song in Thai, which I have no idea what it said, but it was wonderful.  After VBS there was about 15 minutes left in the conference so the woman in charge of watching them put on a movie.  As we sat there and watched it some of the girls came up and were sitting next to me with several in my lap.  They simply long for attention and love just like our children at home.  One little girl’s story broke my heart.  She is about 6 years old and last year her dad died.  Her mom teaches at the school but the translator told me she misses her dad a great deal.  It was an unexpected passing as he came back from a trip and became ill and not too long later passed away. 

Today I had the opportunity to spend some time in the orphanage teaching them a Bible story and running something very similar to a day at VBS.  I also had the chance to take some of the toys we had brought for them from the children at our VBS to them.  They loved them and it was amazing getting to watch them play with the toys and interact with each other.  Weepah, whose name I am sure I have spelt wrong, told me some of their stories and it broke my heart.  Many of them have lost both parents, or the only parent they had, while others parents simply did not want them.  They are so precious and simply loved having someone new there to love them and give them attention.  I got to teach them to play some of the games that we brought to give them and to sit one on one and interact.  That was a blessing and the fact that we couldn’t speak to each other didn’t seem to matter.  It was simply being there and giving them attention that mattered.  They told me to tell the children at Hope thank you for the toys they sent, they loved them. 

It continues to amaze and bless me the ways that God can use someone like me.  I think they are teaching me more that I could ever teach them.

–Shannon

Hello from rural Thailand!

Greetings from the beautiful land of northern Thailand! Our time here has been excellent thus far.  We have had the opportunities to minister and serve in a number of ways and I have been touched by the way God orchestrates his plans all over the world.  Eric, John and I have been busy mixing concrete for the cafeteria during the past two days. Ron has continued his dental work here on-site yesterday while Shannon ran vacation Bible school. 

The most touching part of yesterday for me was having the opportunity to teach a few young musicians here English words to Amazing Grace and Here I am to Worship.  I have little or no musical ability but thankfully the talented Thai guitarist could probably play the melody to these songs in his sleep.  It was amazing to be able to praise the Lord with them and I even tried (emphasis on tried) to learn a song in Thai.

After a great night of rest and some banana and chocolate pancakes we are ready to go today!  

Kevin

Greetings,

  Yesterday was a day of relief in one way and an opportunity to dive into some work on the other.  We arrived (finally!) here at the Mercy foundation and with all of the luggage.  My dental equipment made it through airport searches and customs as though it was invisible.  Praise God!  We arrived around ten in the morning after hanging out in the airport all night and made it in time for Sunday morning service.  –In English, yes it was English with a South African accent.  God has recruited people from literally all over the world to meet here for different purposes to reach His people.  –Sound amazing, well it has been already. 

After service we enjoyed an authentic lunch and the work began.  I took a 2-hour nap to recharge my batteries from the lost sleep over the days (literally) of traveling to get here. 

Around 3:30pm we left here to go to one of the local churches for some dentistry.  I had my tackle box full of equipment and so I was ready to go fishing!  –Just not for fish. 

I was able to treat about 16-17 patients in the time I had.  I was able to do some extractions and cleanings for some of the local people and children that were there.  One of the first was a lady who was 64yrs old and could not have been more than 4ft tall (give or take a inches of course).  She let this huge 6’5” 280lbs + American dentist perform a few extractions!  How courageous.  She said it wasn’t that bad given this was the first time she had ever been to a dentist.  I don’t know whether it was grace or being a gentle giant, but nevertheless, Praise the Lord for the opportunity! 

Once 10 o’clock rolled around I finally saw the last patient, got a few photos, and proceeded back to “base camp” for that much sought after bed—Finally.  Overall it has been a phenomenal opportunity and experience and look forward to more in the days to come. 

Blessed to be a blessing,

–Dr. Ron

October 19, 2008 8:30pm

After what seemed like forever on a plane and in several airports we have finally made it to the Mercy Foundation.  Overall the trip seemed very smooth with no problems or delays.  Kevin had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a Thai gentleman in the Bangkok airport.  The conversation seemed to go well and there was at least a seed planted.  A South African missionary that lives here gave the message in church this morning and then was translated into Thai.  My favorite part of the day though came after lunch when we had a chance to walk around all that goes on and hear a little bit about how it has become what it is today.  It fascinates me that what started with one building has evolved into and orphanage, school, several homes, church, and rooms to house teachers and missionaries.  The impact that this foundation has throught this entire region amazes me.  We visited the orphanage and learned that 3 of the girls just turned 18 and had to move out, they did not want to because this place truly becomes a home to them and one even has stayed to work with the couple that runs the orphanage.  We also had the opportunity to visit a Buddhist Temple this afternoon.  It amazed me to walk around in there and see the things that they believe and the artwork that graphically portrays how they view eternity.  I am so thankful that we have a Savior who has saved us from anything like that through the amazing grace that He extends.  Now after what seems like 2 days of travel and an entire day here it is finally time for some sleep.

- Shannon