Single Digit Days!

Can't believe how fast the time is going! Now we're down to single digit days! The closer we get to leaving, the more I've been thinking about what we will do while we are there. I'm not a Bible teacher or minister, don't play an instrument (although I did attempt to learn the violin MANY years ago!), don't have any special talent to speak of and don't speak the language. However, I can work with my hands, know my way around computers and can usually find something that  needs to be done wherever I am. Need a toilet cleaned, a trash can emptied, a room painted, furniture moved, yardwork done? I'm your girl! The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:10,"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." (NKJV) The truth is, I think that's what matters...not so much what we know how to do, but that we are willing to do whatever needs to be done and maybe learn something in the process.

Someone asked me recently to use just one word to describe myself. The word that came to mind was servant. I simply enjoy doing things for other people and I get a kick out of helping people with projects they can't or don't want to do alone. There is something satisfying about being useful! In our recent history, that word has a much different connotation than the way it is used in the Bible. Nowadays when we think of servants, we think of rich people employing poorly educated people who were forced to put up with their employer's abuse because they needed the job. In Bible days, however, a servant (sometimes also called a slave) was one who willingly chose to serve a master and put the master's need above their own. A servant was responsible for making sure the master had food, clean clothes and whatever else was needed. This was especially important to the men of God like Moses (Joshua) and Elijah (Elisha). Even the twelve disciples could be called servants to Jesus. After all, they left everything behind to follow Him, took care of His physical needs and were devoted to him.

I've been reading this awesome book for class (Life Christian University) entitled The Ministry of Helps Handbook by Dr. Buddy Bell. I have been in church nearly all my life, but I've learned more in the first 4 chapters than in that whole time. If you are a volunteer or even a staff member at your church, I highly recommend this book! Although I have always been involved in volunteering in some way, I never understood why so many people sit on the sidelines and let others do the work. When I was younger and my dad pastored a small church, as the pastor's family we didn't have a choice of whether or not to "volunteer". It seemed like we were the only ones who could be counted on to do the work and if we were lucky a few others would occasionally show up! Even when volunteering wasn't really volunteering, I still liked to help other people. I'm so thankful to attend and be involved in a church where volunteering is the norm rather than the exception!

Anyway, back to Thailand...I'm so excited to be able to go and be a part of this project, no matter what we end up doing. Keep our team in your prayers!

Day 25

I remember as a kid, I thought I wanted to be a missionary someday. I think every kid who grows up in church goes through that phase! I dreamed of going to a far away country and teaching children about Jesus and in my dreams it was always Africa or Mexico. Yeah, I know qute a difference between the two, right? Not sure why Africa, but I know why I dreamed about Mexico. When we lived in Idaho, we used to go to the migrant labor camps and hold church services for the workers. The little kids always got to me, even though I was still a kid myself.  A few years later, I went to a program put on by Wycliffe Bible translators with a friend. They showed us a very abbreviated lesson on how you learn to communicate and translate the Bible in a language that has no written form. I don't remember all of it, but it was very fascinating.

I never did "become a missionary". As I got older I think - no, I know - I got scared of what all that might entail and closed my mind to it.  Of course, life goes on and other things happened. Normal, every day stuff that we all go through; finishing school, getting married, raising a family, working, etc. Every once in awhile, I would think about how my life would be different if I had chosen that path. While I don't regret the decisions I made at the time, I do regret that I was too chicken to pursue it and see where it would lead. Three years ago, if you would have asked me if I was interested in a missions trip I would have said no. Too many responsibilities and too many other things going on at the time. I still miss Jim every day, but now that my circumstances are different and I have the opportunity I'm taking it!

I usually prefer to be a more "behind the scenes" type person so this is WAY outside my comfort zone. It's still kinda scary to be doing this...but it also feels right. I'm not worried about the food (I'm an adventurous eater!) or the "squatty potties" so perhaps it's more the sense of responsibility that this trip brings. Of course, I want to be a good reflection of Life Christian Center and Pastor JD, but it goes beyond that even. Will I say the right thing at the right time? Will these kids see Jesus in me, someone who cares about them as individuals? Or just some tourist person handing out little toys? What if this is what I was meant to do? How will I know for sure and more importantly - will I have the courage to follow through this time?

So many questions to ponder for the next 25 days.....

28 Days and Counting

Wow, it doesn't seem possible that we leave in just 28 days! When we first started talking about this trip it seemed so far away and now it's almost upon us. This is my first ever attempt at blogging, so bear with me as I learn the ropes. I plan to post things periodically, especially during the trip to keep everyone up-to-date. In some areas there won't be internet access, so I'm not sure yet how often I'll be able to update while we're gone.

For the uninformed, let me start with the basics. A group of us from Life Christian Center in Milwaukie Oregon are traveling to Chiang Mai, Thailand at the end of May for a missions trip. Our church actively supports Living Word Ministries International as they minister to the nation of Thailand. Rev Charlie Milbrodt has been there for 25 years now and is literally changing the nation.

Rev Milbrodt has been instrumental in rescuing many, many young children from a life in the sex trade. Some are taken advantage of because they are orphaned; some are sold by their parents because they see no other alternative. If you are a parent, can you imagine the sheer desperation you would feel if the only way to make sure the rest of the family survives is to sell your child? I can't, and I thank God that I can say that.

Living Word Ministries International operates several orphanages, a Bible school and a refugee camp. Thousands of people from Myanmar (formerly Burma) have fled their country due to the political unrest there. These are people without a home and without hope. What an opportunity to impact a life!

On our trip we will be painting and dedicating a new church in a remote village, visiting one or more of the orphanages, the Bible school, and the refugee camp and will see between 600-700 children and their teachers. Right now, that is just a number to me - and a mind boggling one at that. However, each one of those kids have a past, present and future that will become real to us as we interact with them. I can't change the past, but maybe in some small way I can improve their present and maybe even their future. I intend to sponsor a child in need and hope to be able to meet him or her during our trip. To physically meet them and get to know them, even a little bit, will have a much greater impact for me than simply a name and a picture.

We are collecting small items to give to the kids. Note the operative word here is small! We will each have one suitcase dedicated for this purpose (there are five of us) so if you are interested in donating, let me know. We're looking for things like Matchbox cars, pens, pencils, writing tablets, hair ribbons and barrettes, combs and brushes, etc. The dollar stores are a great resource for these items.

For those of you who contributed financially and made it possible for me to go on this trip - wow. All I can say is thank you and that is so inadequate. It doesn't even begin to express how much I appreciate your generosity. Of course you know that whatever small effect I have as a result of this trip is just as much yours as mine.