Second Full day!

Well,  it's Friday morning here in Thailand. 10:45 am local time and we are hanging out at Zoe receiving training and info about all the ways Zoe ministers here.  Zoe is not only involved in helping children, but also runs a ministry school for adults including Bible and even business training. They hope to win the nation of Thailand for Christ by developing local leaders who will become influential in business,  politics and other areas. So much we've experienced already.... more to come later! Thanks for all your prayers.

Here we go!

Well, today is the day! I'm almost done packing and will leave for LAX in less than an hour. I'm not really anxious or even really excited yet. I think it's partially because it hasn't really hit me that I'm actually leaving and also because I'm not fully awake yet. As I sit at my desk writing this, it is however slowly sinking in that I will not see my family for some time. This is actually the longest I will be separated from my kids. Please pray for them that they will be ok and not miss me too much. Please also pray that I won't miss them or worry too much and that I will return home safely. I know it's almost horrible to think it, but I know all too well that safety isn't guaranteed to anyone. But I do know that I've placed my life and the care of my family in God's hands. Please lift up Caroline as she will be caring for the kids, shuttling them to school and also working at the same time. She has been a great encouragement and has really helped make this trip possible. Thank you all who have supported me financially and committed to lift me up in prayer! I've been really amazed and blessed by your hearts and willingness to give! I'm not yet sure why God has placed a burden for Thailand on my heart or what he plans to show me while I'm there. I'm not even really sure what I'll be doing on the trip! We have such a great team and I really feel like I've been around to simply fill in wherever there's a need. I'm surrounded by great leaders with huge hearts so I know the team is in good hands. Personally, I've begun praying that God will do something amazing in my life during this trip. I pray that he will increase my love for people and that he would give me eyes to see people as he does. I plead with him to reveal his heart to me and let me share in his compassion for his children. I've learned that love really is the answer! More than clever points or airtight apologetic arguments, love really is the light that breaks through the darkness. In all God's power and might, he chose to humble himself and become vulnerable, sacrificing his life so that we could be spared. Instead of flexing his muscles and destroying those who oppressed him, he chose to demonstrate the magnitude of his power by showing the depth of his love. I pray that I will be able to love all I come in contact with and that light would really shine in dark places.