Making A Big Difference

Story Time at the Temple...

2012-02-03T00:18:00.004+07:00

All the homeroom teachers being gone today when I showed up to teach English, makes for an eventful class.

Like I do every Thursday, we took hours to prepare the lesson before we leave at 11:30a, we traveled 2 hours attempting by bus, taxi, boat, tuk tuk and motorcycle, then finally arrived at the Thai governmental temple school. We teach there every week, usaully 2 classsrooms unless there is a random holiday or assembly planned right in the middle of the day that I usually find out about when I arrive (and this happens often!).

This is in one of the communities that our team, at ARK International, and I get a chance to work with each week.

It was organized chaos. No, in fact, there was so little organization I would heave to say, "chaotic chaos." In the middle of the lesson 1/2 the class got up and walked out.

With very limited Thai explanation...I was dumbfounded. I got another assistant teacher (after the fact) involved in the crisis, and she told them a thing or two that I missed becaue I was on the phone trying to arrange the four other people that were joining our team that afternoon. Trying to get them to the right bus stop to meet our team to join in helping us in this community. The helper apparently scolded them and when I came back in the room, they were very oddly very quiet.

The tricky part comes a little after. I found out 1/2 (of the 1/2 of the student) who left had to go to practice for their community games tomorrow and the other 1/2 were being cheeky in another room staring intensely at another child who was sitting on the floor crying with the things from his desks overturned. What do I do now?

But at the end of it all. We told a little story I think all of you might enjoy...

Here is that LOVE story...

A Love Story -- I want to tell you a LOVE story. Who likes love stories? This story is the story of one way to LOVE:

One day 20 yrs ago George moved into a new house. Since he loved to Garden he planted a small seed of one of His favorite trees just outside his back porch.
He decided to plant it at the edge of the yard, next to the fence, because he wanted to imagine seeing it everyday as he looked out if his kitchen window.

Everyday he would go out to water it, but the tree grew very slowly. George knew the flower would give beautiful flowers as it grew...because he knew the tree well and grown many like it...

And he watered.

And watered...

...and WATERED...but the tree grew so slowly that it began to frustrate George.

In fact, instead of bringing him joy everyday, George would look out his kitchen window and become more & more angry. George knew he was a good gardener, but “Why was this tree not producing any flowers or fruit?”

Finally, one day, after 10 yrs of watering and caring for the tree. George couldn’t take seeing the old brown trunk anymore.

He grabbed an axe and headed to the backyard. Just then George’s next door neighbor could see over the fence he shared with George. He could see George’s frustration and asked him: “What’s wrong?”

“I have been watering this tree for 10 years, George remarked angrily. “And NOTHING has grown from it!” “Not so much, even, as one flower...” As his speech began to trail off, He grabbed the axe and raised it up.

George’s neighbor, held up his hand to stop George, and said. “George before you do that please come with me.”

George, followed his neighbor into his neighbor’s yard. As he walked over, George realized that he had never taken time to even come visit his neighbors. He had been so busy.

As he entered his neighbors yard, his eyes WIDENED. There, along the fence that George & the neighbor shared together he saw the most incredible thing...

“The tree that you have been taking care of for so long has been blooming like this for 10 years,” The neighbor shared. “In my yard. I have been enjoying its beauty and your hard work. I didn’t realized”

George was so amazed at the gorgeous blooms but realized he had been so busy and concerned with trying to see fruit from the tree for himself, that he hadn’t taken any time to even come visit the people around him. He hadn’t realized the tree really had been giving incredible beauty and fruit in other people’s lives.

George asked his neighbor, “Can I come visit you more often?”

His neighbor smiled. “I never thought you’d ask. But promise me one thing,” the neighbor commented. “Never stop caring for your tree. We can sit out here and enjoy it together.”

“You got it,” George said. “I’ll never stop caring for it, even if I never see the beauty of it on my side of the fence.”

_______

This is a beautiful story of loving so much, loving but almost giving up. In this story there was a condition or an expectation to the loving care of George when he loved and cared for the tree. He expected something in return: for the tree to bear fruit, or in this case, flowers. For awhile George cared for the tree & loved it while it was young. Then over time, George began to get frustrated because there was this condition that he would see something beautiful, the tree would give something in return. GEORGE loved on Condition.

BUT now I want to tell you another LOVE story, yet this is a story about LOVE without any conditions...(to be continued after Nak Suu Next week)

What's in a name? Everything!

2012-01-28T09:50:00.002+07:00

What's so incredible is right now I am listening to this song. Desert song. about what happens in the Desert reading about the names of the Lord...

ADONAI

(ad-o-noy')

Lord, Master

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Adonai occurs 434 times. There are heavy uses of Adonai in Isaiah (e.g., Adonai Jehovah). It occurs 200 times in Ezekiel alone and appears 11 times in Daniel Chapter 9. Adonai is first used in Gen 15:2.

Meaning and Derivation: Adonai is the verbal parallel to Yahweh and Jehovah. Adonai is plural; the singular is adon. In reference to God the plural Adonai is used. When the singular adon is used, it usually refers to a human lord. Adon is used 215 times to refer to men. Occasionally in Scripture and predominantly in the Psalms, the singular adon is used to refer to God as well (cf. Exd 34:23). To avoid contravening the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (Exd 20:7), sometimes Adonai was used as a substitute for Yahweh (YHWH). Adonai can be translated literally as, "my lords' " (both plural and possessive).

Further references of the name Adonai in the Old Testament: Complete list available here.

Thinking about this position of God in my life, I am lead to ask the question: Is Jesus the Lord of my Life? Am I allowing Him and His word to have authority over my thoughts and my actions?

I am reminded of how we interpret what God's word says, and I found this story:

A mother and her young son returned from the grocery store and began putting away the groceries. The boy opened the box of animal crackers and spread them all over the table. "What are you doing?" his mother asked."The box says not to eat them if the seal is broken" the boy explained. "I'm looking for the seal."

Sometimes we look at God's Word like that, we take it very literally, open to our limited interpration of what we understand. Then we end up interpreting it as "Don't do this, Don't do that..." Probably you have an idea of what I mean when you meet, what I'll call, a 'Black & White Christian.' One with very little room for GRACE in their life, or in others' lives.

I have thought of myelf like that.

Recognition is the first step to recovery, though, right?!?

So I am learning to change. So, allowing God to be Master of my Life also allows me to ask the Holy Spirit to help me study and interpret the Word of God. Understand the context, who the people are God is addressing and what message He is trying to give. Plus the critical point, what is God communicating to me, now.

A few friends of mine did the BCC (Bible Core Course--3 months) and the SBS (School of Biblical Studies--9 months) and there they study the Bible for a "change in their lives." They call it Inductive Bible study and the tools they learn are organized in 3 categories: Observation, Interpretation, & Application method.

I am very naive in all of this but it intrigues me so much when I understood a fraction of what they were studying. When I really read the Word, ask questions and let the Holy Spirit in, it is perfect, it gives me perfect peace, life makes sense. Even tragedies, even horrific things that have happened.

When I ask God, "Why?", I continually come back to the truth that God gave us authority, that we have free will and that He is good. [Period]

God is good.

The only next question to Him is, now that I have been made aware of these things, is to ask God: "Help me, how am I to respond?"

A little 'something,' makes a BIG impact to kids in poverty in Thailand

2011-12-23T15:41:00.001+07:00

Some of the 80 Rugby 'boots' Jess brought after her 'Cleat Drive' from Canada

Making a BIG difference starts with a little idea, and BIG heart to see it done. "I just wanted to do something." That's what teen-ager, Jess Neilson, said Wednesday, after she fundraised, promoted and delivered from Vancouver, BC, Canada, IN PERSON to Bangkok -- 80 pairs of Rugby cleats for the children at the NAK SUU Tigers Rugby Academy in Thailand!

Jess, a grade 11 at Carson Graham Secondary, in North Vancouver, BC and her "Cleat Drive" was featured in the North Shore News & the BC RUGBY Union News. After meeting ExtremeSports leader and former Canadian & Japanese NATIONAL Rugby player, Eddie Evans, co-founder of NAK SUU Rugby program in Bangkok, she said she was so encouraged to be a part of their vision.

She has an incredibly supportive family, too. ARK International was blessed to meet her, her brother, Andrew, her parents, Lindsay and Brian as they brought in 3 huge bags full of the Rugby boots for the slum kids that attend the year-round Rugby program.

NAK SUU, also written นักสู้, means 'warrior.' This refers to the heart of the children that this non-profit team works with. In spite of the difficult situations they come from, they can still overcome.
Since the inception of the work in Bangkok’s disadvantaged communities over 3 years ago, Ark International has worked mentoring hundreds of children.

These targeted regions are considered to be ‘at-risk’ because of poverty, lack of opportunities, the challenges of migrancy and documentation, limited health care access and limited educational opportunities, etc.

Watching the NAK SUU 2011 video at the ARK office

See here for the 2011 End of the Year NAK SUU video and more info on NAK SUU at ARK International!

Flooding in Thailand -- There is Mercy

2011-11-01T20:30:00.000+07:00

Mercy in Thailand. Its November, now. Four weeks of deep heavy effects of flooding has happened here in Thailand. Although the floods still stand in parts of Thailand, the damage that was anticipated has not been nearly what has been expected and no one really knows why.

We know why.

God is a god of Mercy.

There are some of us here that are dry and want to help. This a little video that is Making A Big Difference. Prayer changes things, we are seeing it happen. As Mercy prays, please pray. And keep praying...

Does this story have to end this way...? There is HOPE.

2011-09-11T23:45:00.001+07:00

I can't think about anything else until I share this story...

It's a sad story--BUT there is hope.

Watanaa, left, is 44 years old, no children, not married

This is Watanaa. I met her today. She is 44 & homeless.

Nang feeding her 8 month-old, Go Gai

Typically, I work with children at risk in Bangkok, but the last few weeks the Lord has been pushing me into new territory on the streets of downtown Bangkok.

Today, I had felt challenged to finish some new things He had stirred in me a few weeks ago. I went trying to find a Thai homeless mother I had met on Saturday, three weeks prior: her name is Nang, and she has 8 month old baby, Go Gai. I had met them on Sukhumvit, Soi 23. This is a picture I took of her 3 weeks ago, pray that she and her baby are safe.

Today, however, things were different. I could not find Nang. Today, I met Watanaa instead.

Watanaa wasn't begging. She was was just sitting next to her black garbage bag full of things at Soi 25. We began to chat about her life.

She showed me the stuff she found in the garbage and that she now sold as her means of income. She told me about her father who had died, and her mom and younger sister that she hadn't seen in a really long time.

I heard her story.

I saw her determination to change.

Her eyes were a deep beautiful dark color, but there was deep hurt I could not ignore.

I asked her, if she could work, would she want to. She said she would like a job, but she needs a place to live. What she shared most, though, was her deep desire for a shower. She had worn the same clothes for months. She was embarrassed about her odor. She said anytime she goes on the bus she is embarrassed because she smells. She really wanted to shower. I told her I had a friend who may be able to help.

I called a friend named Junkiat. He was a friend that Pat from YWAM Thailand and John from Step Ahead had recommended. I had called him a few weeks back about the woman and her baby that I had met. He spoke Thai and English very well. I explained who I was and the situation I had found. I was overjoyed when he said his home, Lydia House, could help her and give her a place to stay. I told her they could help and we would meet them together.

She began crying.

I put my arm on her shoulder and I told her how much she is loved. That the LORD wanted to give her a home. She continued to cry and I did too.

We worked out to meet Junkiat at 6p. It was only 3:45p. So, I asked Wantanaa if she wanted to get some food with me. She told me she didn't have any money. I told her I would get it and we could eat some food together. She hesitated, saying she smelled but said she would wait for me here at the corner where I met her.

I hesitated leaving. I felt like I should do something. I felt something major was happening but I didn't know what to do for 1 hr 15 min.

I would be back to meet her at 5p, telling her I was going to get food and come back.

As I walked away, it started to rain.

I bought 2 umbrellas, and started to walk back to share with her, but wanted to find food first.

I got distracted in my thoughts, not knowing what to do, feeling confused. Wanting to help her, but not knowing what exactly she needed. I went to Newsong church, close to Soi 39, found Nok there and asked for prayer. I arrived to meet Watanaa at 5:10p.

She was gone.

I was 10 min late. She wasn't at Sukuhmvit Soi 25. I asked around but could not find her. I found her about 10 minutes later, under BTS on the bridge she told me she sleeps on when it rains. I woke her.

She looked different, she was not the confident person I had met an hour earlier.

She looked different.

She was not the confident, encouraged person I had talked to and hour ago. She took the food but when I said we had to go meet my friend, said she did not want to go.

I said, "Watanna, you can have a place to stay and a shower. The home is a good place, they are nice people."

She waved me off, closed her eyes and took the food under her dirty, tatooed had. She did not want to get help with housing or take a shower. She waved me off and went back to sleep...she changed her mind, I guess.

I was speechless.

I called Junkiat back, and apologized. He says this happens. He sees it often. I had not seen it.

I know this battle is not against people, I know there was something ELSE going on here. She wants and needs help.

I text messaged friends: {Asking for prayer: i was going w/a homeless lady on BTS to meet a leader from Lydia house, but I went to meet back w/her & she had changed her mind. Pray for her journey, please. Thx Amy}

I'll say it again. I KNOW this battle is NOT against people. I know there was something ELSE going on here. She wants and needs help.

That's why I am writing this blog. I added a picture and the story on facebook.

A friend, from ARK International, has worked with homeless for years on skid row, said she has seen this before. It sounds like drugs. I think there is truth to this...

Under the BTS on "her" bridge

I know it's sad, but its a reality. I feel like there is a valley before the mountain. BUT this climber needs prayer, she needs help up! Please pray.

Please pray for Wantanaa.

Teaching Children from the slums basic health care: We LIVE LIFE

2011-09-02T16:39:00.000+07:00

LIVE LIFE is an incredible opportunity to pour into the lives of 20 to 40 kids, from 4 different slums in Bangkok, Thailand -- each Wednesday...

SAN FRANCISCO, an unplanned STOP, and GREAT times!

2011-07-27T15:58:00.000+07:00

In Mission in San Fran, you see much need...

Today, I ended up in downtown San Francisco. How random is that?

It about choices, and apparently its a choice I made 3 months ago when I booked my ticket that I had forgotten about.

As I was getting my flight in PDX (Portland, OR) after my 6 weeks in the USA & Canada, getting ready to go (ultimately) to Bangkok, the beautifully sweet gal at the check-in counter at United Airlines said there was a problem...

She asked, her nose buried behind the computer, “What time is your flight to Bangkok?”

“11:30pm,” I said, in my very friendly but matter-of-fact tone, as I had checked it many times in the last 3 days.

“Well, the flight says here, its tomorrow morning at 11:30AM, not tonight,” she shared sincerely.

Then it gets funnier ... for a minute. She couldn’t check my enormous-too-much-of-a-pain-to-carry bags all the way through to Bangkok because I had more than an 8-hour layover.

Mission St & 24th -- BART

“What?!?” I asked.

I wrinkled my face, looking at my brother and sister standing off to the side on the Monday evening at the nearly empty airline counter. They were involved in their own side conversation, laughing at wise cracks my sister was telling about my chattiness to the attendant. As they smiled at me, I began to laugh out loud in a weird eerie way, so they stopped smiling.

I was thinking, ‘What was I going to do for 12 hrs in San Francisco?’

My sister replied, after I told her the not-so-funny news, “Call someone,” She smiled. “You have friends everywhere.”

I made a decision on the flight that I would get a hotel, SOMEWHERE CHEAP, but close to the airport. Possible, hmm?!? Not when I arrived. Nothing. Nothing, was available for the airline reduced rate.

Downtown in Traffic, this was a fun truck!

As back up, my next idea: Facebook. Found all my great and crazy San Francisco friends and send a message. Here’s that message:

Amy (Me)

Report · 9:40pm
Hey Crazy San Fran friends! This is Amy, yes, i know its been a LONG time... sorry about my slowness! But I'm in San Fran for 12 hrs! I'm in SF, are you here?!? I'm going back to Thailand, but misread my ticket! Tmrw at 11:30a, not tonight!!! haha!

I don't have a phone but I can call you! If you are around!!!

Message if you know the haps tonight or tmrw morning! Amy

Rose & Liz, replied:
Report · 9:54pm
Arrived Lombard ST, my greeter: ROSE!!!
Come over!! Bachelorette at my house tonight. Rose is here too. You can stay here if you need a place to stay too! I'm at (phone #).

Jen, replied:
Report · 10:01pm
Hey Amy! I'm busy tonight but I'm happy to buy you breakfast if you're around my hood tomorrow morning. I live across from the ball park (South Beach/Soma). Meetings start at 11:15am so I'm open until then. Let me know, (phone #).

Kelsee, replied:
Report · 10:17pm
Amy I wish I was in the city! I'm in Texas right now! Enjoy your short stay

Liz & Amy: Haven't seen each other in 5+yrs!

Out the window of the BART on Tuesday morning...

Those were the replies last night. Needless to say, it wasn't a quiet night. After calling back Rose & Liz, I ended up taking the BART, San Fran subway, downtown, then a managed to barely survive a taxi ride from a rather irate middle eastern man, who said he felt so honored to have a US passport, but talked about the conflict all around the world as though war would outbreak tomorrow! I prayed a lot. And talked to him about how important people are, no matter where they came from.

I DID finally make it to my destination on Lombard, just a block from the windiest street, and hung out with great friends, eating savory hummus and fresh strawberries.

Sitting in SFO I am reflecting on the incredible 6 weeks in the US and Canada. Think I need a vacation from my vacation. Now, sitting on the aircraft, waiting to go to to Asia...

Pulling Out a sliver brings the Kingdom, on the border...

2011-05-10T02:33:00.000+07:00

There are kids everywhere. Before I arrived at the "Welcome to Cambodia" entrance, I hung out with some of the kids I saw. As I crossed under the border I met a little boy named 'Aluta' and I took a picture with him, but quickly realized he was not alone. So then I stopped and attempted to speak my limited Cambodian and took another picture with him and some of his friends. Just after I had began to walk away this young boy in the back right of the photo started crying. I felt vulnerable, I had not had much experience at the border, only being my 2nd time there and not knowing what was really happening or where these kids were from, or who was watching. I was so chaotic. But before I could leave that moment, with that little boys tears in his eyes, I stopped and asked what was wrong.

The woman next to him said in mixed Thai/Cambodian, "His foot was hurting."

So my thoughts at that moment were: do I engage? do I take the time to investigate? Selfishly, I thought: what's it going to require of me?" BUT then that caused me to ask the question in my mind: what is my point of being here? So in my spirit I asked the Lord, "Why am I here?" That question allowed me to be open to the Holy Spirit's response: "To love my creation. This little boy is one I love. Will you ...

...love Him as I do?" So, it didn't take long, but being open like that, and not having much to give, I ventured back to investigate that little boy's foot pain.

I saw it right away. A little piece of wood combined with dirt and whatever else he had picked up shoeless on the streets at the border had become a sliver close to the ball of his foot.

I didn't have much. Anti-bacterial wipes and I remembered some safety pins I had in my pencil case. BUT I felt like God had planned it all. As I knelt there with 6-10 children and some adults staring over us, I had beads of sweat and tears running down my face realizing this little boy hadn't even had someone help him get this sliver out. Then thinking about all the other needs of these children. I felt like this what Jesus meant when he says to Peter, "Take care of my sheep." Together, as a team, the little boy and I got the sliver out. As I hugged the kids and the adults there and walked away, I felt like it would not be the last time I would see them...

All I knew is that I had to renew my passport, so I had to leave the country. The Lord knew I would be at the border. I had to be at the border, and I knew the Lord was already there. So I just waited. I looked for His leadings and used what I had, which wasn't much. But it was enough to show his Love. Thank you Lord for blessing me.

True Story of a Football Club in Southern Thailand...Making A Big Difference

2011-04-29T12:20:00.000+07:00

This is incredible, a true story of one of the best Football clubs in the South of Thailand.... it encourages us to use of our resources wisely and believe that it is possible~

I cried and got such a picture of what God is doing in our hearts, to trust Him, too. I have such a vision for the children in the Nation of Thailand and Asia through ARK International if you would like to be a part of what they are doing in Asia please write: arkthailand@gmail.com.

'randomly' woken up at 3:30a...

2011-04-25T21:03:00.000+07:00

its 3:30a, i just woke up 'randomly' a few minutes ago, then went back to bed thinking it was weird i was up, then all of a sudden this () started playing on the computer downstairs that was LOGGED OUT! crazy GOD! think i am supposed to share this in a big way. i think i a s'posed to pay attention. i hope you do, too...! Love, Amy

A Few Months in Review ... NAK SUU Tournament to Christmas!

2011-02-18T18:43:00.000+07:00

So I think its about time for an update! How about some pictures with some headlines...?!? So much has happened since the last POST, I'll give a few highlights:

NAK SUU and the BIT in BANGKOK

(Keep Scrolling for 30+ picts!)

Some of our Nak SUU at the BANGKOK International Tens in Feb 2011 -- unbelievable event! Check here for more info!

NEWSONG CHURCH -- Its "ALL IN" for the Lord!

Some Fun Times at NEWSONG Church in BKK!

One of our kids who has been missing from our program for a few weeks -- this picture is an answer to prayer!

If you have never seen a Rugby SCRUM, you just have to see our NAK SUU Tigers give it 100% at the BIT Tournament!

ONE...

TWO...

THREE...

GO!!!

They'll NEVER catch Him -- He is Jesus powered! (By much prayer!)

Next Amy Hanging with Friends & New ARK staff, GRACE!

Silliness as we add a new staff to ARK International! Lunch with Friends!

Just in TIME at the Siam Paragon in Downtown BANGKOK!(The US clock said United Stage... I wonder if that was actually not a mistake?!?

Friends like Ja are not only cool, but very photogenic...

The waiter practices photography and he had good subjects! Dinner with Friends after New Years!

More shots from Siam Paragon!

Inside the Lanterns!

The Fountains Outside SIAM PARAGON coincide with the music and had great spectators...

Inside the upper floor at Siam Center in BKK!

THIS Scene blew me away...!

NOW its SuperBowl 2011 Time! AT 6:30a in Bangkok we watched! Had Breakfast with Averyl and Dagmar, and saw Brittany celebrate as the Packers WON and saw Jeremy cry as the Steelers LOST...

I think Brittany was praying here...

Packers Scored!

A TRUE Packers Fan at 7a on Monday morning in Bangkok!

The Steelers fan are a little upset... (for the record, Amy was actually "for the Packers," I am posing here for dramatic effect only! Here I was actually very happy Packers had scored...

That's 8am! The Super Bowl Game was about 1/2 done in Bangkok! BUT it was already Monday for us!

Will these Steeler's Fans ever give up!??

LIVE Life with ARK International and Kings Kids Thailand goes on:

A DAY after LIVE Life, taking the kids HOME! We are extremely short staffed for the next 3 months...so hardly any pictures BUT Ministry still runs every Wednesday with LIVE Life and 3 Saturday's a month for NAK SUU!

RELAXIN'

A PEACEFUL Swim in the middle of a stressful week -- met some friends at the pool later!


Peaceful night at Baan Suan LalaNaa...

THE BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL TENS begin Feb 12-13 at Patana School...

This WAS incredible -- Our Kids Played so well, we had over 16 Volunteers from all over BANGKOK and We raised support for our Program!

What an amazing group of kids the LORD has blessed us with -- to be able to pour into these Childrens' Lives -- unbelievable! PTL!

CHRISTMAS Afternoon

Package from HOME on Christmas day!

OUR crazy Motley Crew! ARK International and X-Treme Rugbywear!

Celebrating Christmas like it should be: with friends and family!

Incredible Food on Christmas! Ummm... can anyone say: "So BLESSED!"?!

Christmas DAY 2010

Making Pumpkin Pies on Christmas DAY! Praise the Lord that He sent an expert from Canada to Help! And an assistant from Thailand!

The Christmas Morning Breakfast for our friends from the PCYM and Thai Song!

WE get to eat with Jason, Nat, Amy, East, Tim, Muu, Stephen, Kwan and Bank (plus Oo and Michelle)!

And YES! AMY did help pour the mixture into the homemade crust -- Cheers to Steven and Nat who had never cooked Pumpkin Pie ever, let alone eaten it!!

The FINAL product ... Mmmm!

Northbridge in Perth has a shower of the presence of the Lord...

2010-09-30T18:07:00.000+07:00

The three evangelists in Northbridge just before we shared about the love and forgiveness of the Lord

Last Week – Northbridge Perth, Australia
Thursday (9/16)
Bairbre, Faith and I went to an area called Northbridge in Perth to go to a coffee shop before Bairbre headed back to Ireland. On the way back was a long-haired gentleman strumming his guitar with a bus card and we began to talk. After chatting he had admitted to some very challenging life choices he had helped take the life of over 1,000 babies in an abortion clinic as an assistant. He told us that he desperately needed the forgiveness of the Lord. We prayed with him and the Lord touched him...the Word says:

...As far as the east is from the west, so far has He [the Lord] removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him...Ps 103:12-13

Please continue to pray for Patrick. He needs men to surround him that love the Lord and will love him unconditionally. Showing him the loving Father heart of God.

Monday (4 day later...)

Famous corner in Northbridge

Went for a walk with two other friends Ricardo, from Brazil and Sibylle from Switzerland and we ended up in Northbridge again. This time Sibylle started a conversation saying "Hello, good evening" in Turkish ("Merhaba, Tünaydın") to one of the workers at a Turkish kebab restaurant. After a conversation about why we were in Australia--we told that we had been studying the bible, Bazirs's eyes lit up. "The Bible?!?" Bazir asked, much to our delight. "I have always wanted to learn about the Bible! Do you know where I can get one in Turkish?" So we got his e-mail, and Ricardo has been in contact with him.

Please Pray that we will be able to meet him to give him the Bible and share the true love of the Lord with Him.

Then we saw a guy in the plaza watching football (soccer) on the big screen and heard the Lord say, "Speak to him, I love him." So I did. His name is Chris. This German man had been in Australia 5 years and he wanted to talk awhile. Sibylle started telling him a story about how the Lord fills everyone of our needs, and in the middle of the story Christian really related and needed to give some things over to Jesus. We shared how in the true love of God, that He is our everything.

We, also, prayed with him and he said he felt there was something in the fellowship of the real church, a kind of connection and fellowship. It felt really good. He had been raised Catholic and got nothing out of mass except "being bored"--he wanted more of God. Ricardo related, because he had been at the Catholic Church in Brazil that really talked more about Mary than about the life of Jesus Christ. They had a good chat about football and we got to encourage him, too.

Pray for Chris to fully understand what it means to know and love God, so that he will repent and give over his life to the Lord. The Lord wants to be Chris' everything, not just his Sunday entertainment.

NORTHBRIDGE is being filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit! Amazing week!

SO much silliness my gut hurts...

2010-07-21T23:13:00.000+07:00

Poppy (Paula), such a giggler

So I came here, into my room, tonight to journal all that You, Lord, were talking to about tonight when I was talking to you about work duty and dishes and then I got into this silly super fun discussion with Judy, Paula, Kristen, Laura and Christel about blankets/skirts, teeth coming out while eating in the dark and basic nonsense, and even prayer for protection over our thoughts and mind in this time of study and preparation. And LORD you were glorified--we had so much fun...then the rest of our roommates--well...ALL, but 3 (Courtney, Laura S, and Tasha)--but Anna, Christine, Rachel, all joined in the craziness and we ended in full abandoned prayer to our Jesus for this season of our lives and the covering over our room!

Yes, this is Judy! And her silliness--think we were separated at birth--'cept she is 10 yrs younger!

That Father you have victory even in THIS place over anything the enemy wants to throw at us! Greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world...! ...because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. See 1 John 4:4...

God you alone are our rock and our salvation--our fortress that WILL NEVER be shaken! Ps 62:2...

Lord, I love you! Holy Spirit, You showed up and blessed us a ton--wow, how much I LOVE you!

Its Gonna Look Like Something Else...

2010-07-18T21:15:00.000+07:00

"When the church begins to walk in the gifts the Lord has given them we are going to see something extraordinary happen -- and its not going to look like what we thought." -- Kelly Chisholm

I am able to see the church working as I am here in Perth on a pretty regular basis. Being at YWAM is amazing! We have people come in from all around the world and Sundays are a day when we have the freedom to go to the church where we feel called to. This week I saw an amazing movement to fight for freedom for the 27 million people in slavery today called NOT FOR SALE share their picture of how the church can respond to the reality of modern day slavery and human trafficking. Today I went to Thai Community Church, meeting once a month. The Holy Spirit moved when the Pastor Warong talked about the presence of God is always there, in the desert or by the river...

I really wanted to communicate, however, the message from "Gifted to Serve," the topic Kelly Chisholm spoke on last week. Its from a series called Gifted and Powered to Serve -- the theme for Riverview Church for the month. I had a chance to go last weekend. And LOVED it.

God has given us each gifts. They have meaning and they are each important. They can be leadership, mercy, giving...see Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 for lists of gifts. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (I Corinthians 12:27) They are things that are within us that supercede us. They are gifts from God that He never takes back. Sometimes we even get tired of them, "oh this mercy stuff -- I'm tired out..." Or we try to avoid them, but then that gift keeps coming forth. There are gifts that are just in us. They're not about us.

Kelly said: "I serve the gift-giver." The Word of God says: ... anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) There is a reward, He is a gift-giver. We are created but the Lord to love Him and love others. One of the ways we can do that is to serve them.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (I Corinthians 12:27)

Eric Little, the real-life character from Chariots of Fire, who has a gift of speed says: "When I run I feel God's pleasure..."
The gifts look like all kinds of different things. BUT there is no meaning if I am not connected to the gift-giver...my realtionship, my peace, my strength, my purpose, everything comes from my relationship to Jesus. No matter what I had, have or what is coming to me, nothing compares to this deep friendship with the Lord.

This gives such an incredible picture in Philippians 3:7-10 of the depth of that relationship: But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ...

There is nothing deeper that fills my soul than knowing Christ...its what all of me cries out for, its what makes everything else have meaning, its the deepest need of our hearts -- we were created for that relationship.

Lord: I am ever-seeking, Father, to know You, and know all that You have for me. I desire this because I want to walk in the fullness of this relationship so that I can be a blessing to others. I don't deserve all that you have given me, but by Your grace I have been given everything. Lord help me walk in these gifts and be a good steward of everything you have given me. But, Yes, Lord, the most amazing gift You gave me is Jesus and because of His gift on the cross, that's why that grace exists. Then You sent the Holy Spirit, the comforter to be my best friend. Always there, always on guard. Wow, God -- I keep thinking: why me? And then I keep coming back to the reason. These gifts were meant to be given away. And it always comes back to the reason. Its YOU. To have this realationship with You...and You will always ourgive me. Lord Jesus, you fill every need...Thank You. I love you.

Can you believe His grace...?

2010-06-29T09:11:00.000+07:00

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said:

In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give; life can be rich only with such realization. source: Letters and Papers from Prison

Well that's where I am at. Today. And should be everyday. Although, unfortunately, I often forget how much He gives and gives and gives.

Here are our MEXICO TEAM support raising results: 25 minutes before the we lost our tickets into the sea of seats again the Lord gave us the rest of our finances for outreach! Amazing! Thank you for praying! He is SO faithful! Tickets finally purchased on a Monday, leaving on Wednesday.

If you are keeping tabs--that's about $30,000 the Lord brought in in 4 weeks for our 7-person Children at Risk School team to take 5 people to Mexico City to work with children on the streets, build the church and establish His kingdom for 3 months.

5 people
3months
1 million street kids
(see the Big Picture, UNICEF)

These women are taking these next 3 months to dedicate it to understanding God's heart for justice, on a practical level and bring love & truth to children who have little hope.

PLEASE pray for them and the children they are about to meet.

If you want their updates please write: crs@ywamperth.org.au

Our Mexico situation URGENT!

2010-06-24T00:19:00.000+07:00

Hey PLEASE Pray! WE need to see a miracle happen by Friday! My team from my Children at Risk school has raised about 60% of their finances for the 3 month missions trip to volunteer and change the world in Cuauhtémoc in Mexico City.

Fighting for the rest of the finances right now--6 person team has raised about 60% and need the rest ($14,411.40) by Friday June 25th!!!

As for our team, we have been given a proclamation that we will do a huge work with street kids and work with the local church in that area. BUT our team (minus me, as I stay in Perth for another training school called School of Frontier Mission before I go back to Thailand) is fighting for the rest of the finances right now--they have raised about 60 % and need the rest ($14,411.40) by Friday June 25th!!! PLEASE Pray or if you want to give and be a part of His work there, please Link to YWAM Perth here.

THIS IS MY PRAYER REQUEST: we need advocates right now in prayer and finances for a Mission trip for the 6 people from my school going to Mexico city by this Friday June 25th!!!!
Their names:

Cloe, from Kenya
Nikita from Australia
Bairbre from Ireland
Faith from Australia
Chelsea from New Zealand
Heidi-Maria from Faroe Islands

We are called to go and YES, we know we are going! We know the Lord will provide! We are joining the work the Megacities project is doing. Bless you, too!

Thanks for your amazing support!!!

These 'good-byes' are good-ones

2010-06-22T20:32:00.000+07:00

At the detention center we say good-bye many times. In fact, each week, our hope as we enter this door that when we get there they will be all gone. We come to serve the 11-17 year old girls at the juvenile remand center.

It's not because we don't love going. We do.

We just hope and pray that they will make right choices and learn that there is a God that loves them, who desperately wants to be the center of their lives. He knows being in a true friendship with Him will satisfy even their deepest desire.

I volunteer with an organization in Perth, Australia to bring life and visit the girls in this center, but today was the day we had to say our final good-byes. Just as we were leaving one of the girls we had just seen "on the outside" this weekend came stumbling up the walkway dressed in the red shirt and green sweatshirt uniform of the remand center.

"It's good to see you," I said, but I thought, "not here. I love seeing you, but not back in here." Even our director said it well, we are happy to see these girls--we really love them, but we want to see them on the outside. Not in this juvenile detention center.

Today we had made pancakes for them--even these random ones with chocolate in them. Plus decorated and brought cards we could leave with them where we asked about thair lives and shared with them what we thought about them and how God sees them.

I met a new girl. She was 14. "J" had been in the center for 4 days and would be leaving in 3. I pray. I hope she will be leaving Friday.

That day God opened a door that otherwise we may never have had if we had not come today. We talked about her life, what she was good at, what she liked, and how God sees her. A very out-going girl. After awhile the Lord shared with me that she loves stories.

That opened the door. She loves stories. To tell them and to hear them.

So for the next hour it was all story time. Her story about how following the crowd got her in that place. Me, telling her about the Lord who gave her strength to say, "no" and still love her friends (2 Tim 1:7). Telling her that the Lord has a plan for her, not to harm her, but to give her hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). We talked that He never intended for bad to happen to her.

Next, we got to play basketball. Another chance to tell a story happened when it started to sprinkle as an odd gray, yet sunny, sky tried to rain us out. A rainbow appeared. Blanketing us in hope. Two of us, staff--without knowing the other was doing it--began telling the story of the very first rainbow. The story of how all the people, except Noah, turned from God. God asked Noah to build a huge boat, long before the first rain ever fell. Trusting God but getting laughed at the whole time. Sharing that sometimes it is not "easy" to follow God. But there is a huge reward. If we hurt God, if we deny Him with our choices there are consequences for our behavior.

Also sharing with her that after the flood was over, the Lord promised to never destroy us by a flood again.

Each of the girls got to understand the revelation that God keeps His promises. And He gave us Jesus to give us a way to God. He knows that is the best thing for us--a deep active relationship with God. To follow after the Lord's ways, to know Jesus and to have a deep friendship with the Holy Spirit, to obey God's voice--even in spite of what other people think.

It was a tender time when we had to leave. For us mostly. The girls are used to people leaving. But one of the girls who had been one of the hardest to get to know 3 months ago when we first started going in, gave a huge hug. A few of them.

I told her, "We are leaving, but that feeling that you have when we are around, that is the presence of God and you can have it, too. We may be leaving but once you've invited Him in your life, He never will."

I asked lovingly, "Do you know that?" And I prayed with her...

Lord Jesus, I pray that you would touch, "K's", heart right now. Father, I ask that you guard her life and her mind so that she will come to know a deep personal relationship with you. That the enemy will have NO authority in her life. That she will be able to stand strong and operate in the self-control you gave her--choosing You over her own ways. Yes, Holy Spirit do a huge work in her life and give her a fresh understanding of who You are. In Jesus' name. AMEN

A Little Story of Hope

2010-06-15T21:49:00.000+07:00

An ancient battle

Thousands of years ago there was a battle fought whose outcome was determined by the prayer of the ones who did not fight, but who were called to lift their hands (Ex 17: 8-16). Victory was given by God, not because of valiant soldiers, excellent weapons, nourishing food and drink, or favoring weather, but because of the obedience of the ones who helped hold up Moses' hands during the struggle against the Amalekites. While He was in obedience to God to lift His hands, Moses became weary. “Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” His obedience was lifting his hands. The obedience of the ones who supported Him, was helping Him, (praying) when they saw Moses needed it! They helped him keep his hands held up and they won the battle!

Transformational time, facing rejection & selfishness

God has been doing amazing things since I have arrived at Perth, the Children at Risk school has been transformational for me. It is a very critical time as we are nearly all the way through our lecture phase of the CRS. We have been covering subjects that have really helped me understand more fully the character of God. Situations have happened that really have allowed me to press into Him. I am also in a difficult time of facing my own pride, lack of purity of my heart, and prideful expectations of others--stemming from areas of rejection, of selfishness and lack of humility in my own life.

State of my heart

Wow, I am getting rocked in so many important areas of my character, but I sense the freedom. After I have come to grips with the reality of them I have to give them over to the only Person who can completely heal me. God has designed us for bigger things than wallowing in my own self-pity or watching others do the same. In fact, if I really stop to give thanks to the Lord for all He has done then I can see how much He loves me. Even in all of my failures! His grace is IMMENSE!

Yes, it has been quite the adventure...! How did this all begin, you ask?!?

Well, here is a small taste of what's been happening the last 5 years:

Three years in Argentina

After I worked with the Southwestern Company for 13 years I have had the opportunity to go all over the world serving with a missions organization serving to give hope to children at risk. I was first in Argentina for 3 years. After attending a life changing 5-month course called Discipleship Training School with Youth With A Mission, I taught pre-school at the New Generation Elementary school for 2 years and volunteered in our tutoring and mercy ministry program on the YWAM Corrientes base. Then I staffed a DTS and was able to speak into the lives of people from 17 to 70 years old, and see them receive even more fullness of what they were created to be.

Three countries, one year

I then helped friends in Brazil, went to work at an art project in Beijing China during the 2008 Olympics--an incredible experience! I was home in the USA for a year where I finished my master's degree, prepared for long-term volunteering in Thailand, and substitute taught at the elementary schools in Pasco, Washington!

Preventing Trafficking in Thailand

I have been in Thailand since November, 2009. I work with a project--also through YWAM, to prevent trafficking in the slums of Bangkok called Children's Resource Center. God has given me a vision to educate the children in the slums of Pattaya. Currently I am Perth, Australia training with a Children at Risk school and will be here until Oct/Nov 2010 to finish training.

It has been an amazing season. I have fought some amazing battles. Knowing all along that I can't do this alone, but now realizing that I need to ask for help along the way...Thank You for being a part of this amazing life-giving process!

God said, "Ask." So, I did. God Responds...

2010-06-12T19:01:00.000+07:00

After Midnight Prayer, God Responds...

The Lord answers prayers, I am learning we just have to be willing to do ask, do our part, and fight for help!

Story from last night: I had JUST gotten out of midnight prayer here in Perth, Australia on Saturday early AM. We are fighting for our finances for outreach! Then I got 2 messages when I cam back to my room as a direct answer from Him--wow! It was 3/4 of the $5885 I needed to raise personally was offered. Incredible!

We are praying through the night for breakthrough again tonight! And He has answered in an incredible way through these messages...! God is so good!

I can't believe that He does this--I give Him all the honor and glory...I am in AWE of how faithful You are, Lord! In Jesus name. Amen

Thank YOU! For me, so far 3/4 of the money has been raised since yesterday (about 16 hours ago raised, still need $1,352, oh, so close! Our team needed $36,000, which we have seen approx. $10,000 come in--still needing ~$26,000. Yes, please keep praying!

The Lord answers prayer, I am learning we just have to be willing to fight and ask for help!

As for me personally in this training, I am getting rocked in so many important areas of my character, but there is so much freedom in giving all of these life-long insecurities to the living God and to TRUST HIM. I just sense how much He loves us--even in all of my failures! His grace is so HUGE!

We will be back fighting in prayer and worshiping the Lord and Blessing Mexico tonight 10p to 3a AGAIN! Won't you fight with us in prayer and ask God to bring the rest of the $26,000 our team is raising to work with Children at risk in Mexico city for the next 3 months?!?

Only by His grace--Amy

Making a Difference...one person at a time...

2010-05-20T22:02:00.000+07:00

She told me she turns 16 this month, she told me they won't let her go because she has no where to go home to if she left, she told me she wants out...I told her--in the middle of the upstairs cell block for girls, inside a air-conditioned and heated building, with the trampoline, basketball and volleyball courts outside--that she is loved more than she can imagine, and she is safe in this place, for now. Then I hugged her and I didn't want to let go. But I know the Lord wouldn't.

Every week my Children at Risk school team goes to the detention centre in Perth and spends time showing the girls the love of Jesus. Most of the time they love it. BUT sometimes they don't--no matter how many times you come back, no matter how hard you pray for them. They don't trust many people. But I pray they know we will never give up on them.

How do you feel about this generation? This generation has peers but no heroes. They are not apathetic--there is anger and fear on their surface, however, because they are supposed to have authority that would protect and love them and DIDN'T. We have to give them a bridge to prove their significance--they want to make a difference in the world. They need an outlet to show it to you and to themselves...

Someone this Tuesday called us 'brave' as our team walked into our weekly visit, but I seldom feel that way. But after that visit with the girls I was humbled. The Lord loves these girls more than we can imagine, and He showed it.

I felt God's love for them and I was able to tell that 15 year-old girl about that true LOVE He has for her...

Our goal is that we would come back one week and the centre would be empty--not because we don't love the girls, but because we love them so much. They need to learn to make choices. I want to teach them that their choices have consequences. And they CAN choose the right way. They need help. They need the Holy Spirit.

Please pray for these girls to know Him. Pray for our lesson next week, as I really feel prompted to tell the story of Queen Esther and not sure exactly how...

Only by God's grace--Amy from America, living in Thailand, training in Australia...

Last Days Before Going to Australia

2010-04-01T04:04:00.000+07:00

Reaching the last few days of my first 5 months of full-time work with ARK International in Thailand...

So much to do to prepare for Perth, Australia where I will attend two training schools over the next 8 months~School of Frontier Missions and Children at Risk School. There are some things that the Lord is showing me that I will defintely need to work on and I am excitied that although it is goign to be a lot of work and times of service, that it will also be a time of reflection on how far God has brought me and fine-tuning those areas of my life that will bring my closer to understand and BELIEVING what HE SAYS about me...He LOVES me and He wants the best for me, I get to share in His inheritance...

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

BUT most of all I just long to be in His presence for eternity, and it is happening even now. Living in heaven starts the moment I give my life to Christ. Eternal life is knowing God--loving Jesus is the cry of our hearts. Our love for Him causes us to want to worship Him...

Graduation News & a link to GIVE through PayPal...

2010-03-07T13:56:00.003+07:00

The "Make a Face" Picture from my Module 2 Thai Class

I am so excited to share good news! I just graduated from Module 2 at Unity Thai Language School in Bangkok. We had an awesome lunch at this Mexican restaurant, Sunrise Tacos, next to the Time Square Building, where our school is located. Many of my classmates had never had Mexican food, including our teacher--although she said she had tried to make a burrito once with little success! Even more exciting was what happened as lunch was wrapping up.

My teacher, Ganok Gon, looked over at me and pointed to my wrist and asked, "Nii mii kwammai mai kha?" (In Thai 'Does this have any meaning?') I pointed at the bracelet we had made in our Activity Time with the kids in the slums we work with every Wednesday and replied, "Soi muu, mai kha?"(In Thai, 'The bracelet?') She said, "Kha." (Thai: 'Yes.') I secretly got so excited and nervous at the same time... How was I going to explain the five-colored bracelet we had made with kids in the slums in THAI?!??!? The bracelet tells the story of Jesus life, and I had done it a few weeks earlier, when we made the bracelets, but THEN I had a TRANSLATOR!!!

I stumbled through, explaining the yellow, grey/black, red, clear/white, and green beads each one-by-one. In as many Thai words as I could put together to the BEST of my 2 1/2 months of Thai language ability and I think SOMEHOW THEY GOT IT! With 3 of the 7 people that heard the story not knowing much about Jesus or who He was, it was an honor to share the story of His life (Thai: 'Ruan raw deo gap Pra-Yesu')!

Here's a little poem I found online that just might help explain:

I have a little bracelet,
I keep it in my sight;
For hidden in its colored beads
Is a great delight.

Each color holds a piece, you see,
Of a story dear and true;
And because I love the story so,
I'm sharing it with you!

GOLD is for the precious gold
With which the streets are paved,
In Heaven above, where all will go,
If sure they have been saved.

But saved from what, you may well ask,
That too, my colors tell;
BLACK is for our stain of sin,
For which we merit Hell.

But with the next bright color comes
A message that brings joy.
RED, the blood of Christ, was shed,
For every girl and boy!

His blood will cover all our sins,
And wash us WHITE as snow;
If we will just have faith in Him,
And that, we all should know.

Last of all, we come to GREEN,
The color of things growing,
As each of us shall grow in Christ,
His glory overflowing.

Now you know the gospel truth
My bracelet's here to share,
About the Christ who died for us,
Our sin and shame to bare.

And if you want to hear some more,
The story more complete,
Ask the one who shared with you
For telling it's a treat!

Thanks for reading this blog and I'm excited to share that next month, April, I will be leaving for Australia (prayerfully!) for 6-8 months to attend to training schools: School of Frontier Missions and the Children at Risk School.

Some of our topics will be be taught by teahers from all over the world:

SoFM: Biblical Basis of Missions
Team Dynamics
Church Planting
Cross Culture
Mission Strategies

CaRcSchool: Introduction to children at risk
Child development
God's heart for justice and children
Child counseling
Evangelism/creativity
Health care
Discovering your potential
HIV/AIDS
Restoration of a generation
Biblical view of families

With new challenges also comes new responsibilites, I am feeling like I am finally getting settled in here with my team and the culture in Thailand and now I leave this for new adjustment! I just want to ask for prayer and for you to prayerfully consider giving. We are all here on support-basis, volunteering, but I believe this is where I am truly called to be doing and where I should be right now...

(Support sent directly to Youth With A Mission, Accounting Dept, P.O. Box 3000, Garden Valley, TX 75771, with a note attached that it is for me, is tax-deductible. Finances cover the costs of the schools~approximately $3,500 each, daily living and travel expenses. If you would like a copy of my budget, please do not hesitate to let me know!)

Only By God's Grace,

Amy

You my also link on PayPal below and give directly to me:

Rugby program begins...almost!

2010-02-20T23:25:00.000+07:00

We have just had the craziest day--tournament all day for our rugby program promotions fundraiser and most of our leaders played three games in the scorching heat!

Then went to church (got there SOOOO late), but went with friends after to fellowship -- now back home for an EARLY start tomorrow to spend time at a new church -- I still have NO idea where it is, however!

BUT I'm so excited to GO to hear our Mercy Ministry leader share on FREEDOM SUNDAY--Worldwide Day of Prayer to end human trafficking and modern day slavery, Feb 21! Then its off to the RUGBY field again for day 2 of the tournament!

SO Crazy with 50+ kids, 20+ leaders, and 2,000+ people -- it is just a lot going on...! But even in all THIS God is teaching me to JUST REST and meditate right now:

Blessed is the person
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

But their delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on His law they meditate day and night.

The person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever that person does prospers...(Psalm 1:1-3)

Learning to just enjoy quiet moments and enjoy His presence...!

I am praying you are too -- Love, Amy

There are no words

2010-01-27T21:44:00.001+07:00

This is a little bit of what happened one day in our slum in Thailand, there aren't words to express how much joy I have by just being here...

Wednesday's are the days the Lord shows me the most how BIG He is, how little I am, and how He can use me in spite of it all...can't imagine what joy it was to sit w/our kids on the tarps underneath the tin roof, and just talk...there is nowhere else i could be that would bring me more joy...

After Christmas Dance Party

2010-01-04T23:30:00.000+07:00

A little too much fun to handle--after worship we closed down the NRTC--Nancy Ross Training Center at YWAM Thailand and this is the result....Tyler, Amy, Samuel, Keith and the dog we all ran to at the end of the video...

Question: If your resources & time were endless, what would you do with them?

2009-12-17T02:54:00.000+07:00

Question: If your resources & time were endless, what would you do with them?

That's what this blog questions everyday (well not everyday, 'cause I post about 2 times a month...)!!!

BUT I really was challenged by that question about 10 yrs ago and I think I may have an answer, but it doesn't mean its right--we really could be up for a little discussion in this BLOG.

For reals!!! I really want to know...Post any answer here on this page OR here on twitter (talk to ya, SOON!!!)

Love, Amy

Bigger plans for us: The Legend of the Three Trees

2009-12-09T23:19:00.000+07:00

The Legend of the Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

The second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

The third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.

When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true.

One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenter's, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do.

The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped.

At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill.

When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things do not seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, but not in the way they had imagined.

We do not always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
I just wanted to encourage you that may be alone this Christmas...I am a long way from family and friends, but the Lord is always with me and in Psalm 68 it says God is "a Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows... God sets the lonely in families..."
I am so thankful for the freinds and family He has given me here, in Thailand...and He has one for you, just ask.

Have an amazing Christmas and enjoy His presence

Rugby CAMP had Unthinkable Results:

2009-12-04T17:26:00.000+07:00

RUGBY CAMP KICKS OFF with 80+ kids from 3 different slums, 30+ volunteers and an amazing field!

By Amy

An extraordinary display of God's creativity, after nearly losing a venue He opened up a spectacular field that would help us host over 80 children from 3 different slum areas!

Link to ARK International for the real news story...

And don't miss my testimony with one of the rougher kids-- called 'God's Love knows NO boundaries' (even language!)

Exotic places with Amazing Food

2009-11-15T08:05:00.000+07:00

The BEST of both worlds: Living in a beautiful country with amazing people, yet there is so much around that calls your attention.

Even Breakfast on my 2nd full day in Thailand--French Toast made by the brilliant Rachael was impressive!

Then heading out to the shopping centers, you could not help but miss the extensive displays of all kinds of pleasures: shopping for fashion, beauty products and yes, even food to fill every desire!

Once we headed out to the mall, the food was comig out of the seams!

Shopping at TOPS Foods was quite the experience: the foods the smells the people...too much of everything for me on my 2nd day.

Turtle BAY had a ton to offer and they deliver!

But of course Malaki's favorite was the good old Mickey D's !!!

Ronald even says Sawasdee Krap to all those crossing by!

When you got it, you GOT it

2009-11-12T02:19:00.000+07:00

This blog comes LIVE from Bangkok, Thailand at approx 2:20 a.m.--waking up from weird jet lag, still--just got in yesterday. (That thailand blog should come soon too) But first, as promised i need to share the Portland/Seattle trip. i'm titling this blog based on having God's favor, because there is no other way to explain the blessings of this quick 2 day trip before i headed to the 'land of smiles' to work indefinitely at fighting human trafficking and do what the Lord called us to do in Matthew 28 to disciple the nations. Look out Thailand...He is here!

So i left Tri-Cities, WA about 3:30p on Friday, fully intending on leaving after my last day subbing a 1/2 day, at noon, but when i didn't hear back from my sister, i figured i had a little more time...but as I drove away from the little big TC, leaving behind all my packing, moving out, organizing my life over the last year of being in the US and not having much of a plan in Portland, i began to question my decision to make this crazy quick 3 1/2 hour trip. My aunt and uncle were out of town, my sister had not called me back in 2 weeks, my step-sister and brother in law, coming from Seattle wouldn't be getting there until about 8p and i had just received a text that my other aunt's car had broken down so she couldn't make it...WHAT WAS I DOING DRIVING to PORTLAND AT ALL?!?!

well, i asked the Lord that same question and He just said, "Trust me."

I thought, "OK, but i still don't understand..."

"Have I ever let you down before?" He replied.

"Oh good point, " i thought, as i humbled myself in my seat a little more. So i kept driving.

as i approached p-land and i still had no more news, except that my step-sis and her fam hadn't left seattle until nearly 6p, so they wouldn't be getting to town until at least 9:30p and calling one of my best college friends and making pans for Saturday morning i still had 2 hours of complete and utter freedom, and my only sure plans were definitely delayed until 9:30p. so after calling a good friend and releasing my frustration about having 2 hrs to chill dilemma, i calmed down and realized that might not be such a dilemma.

i called my aunt to ask her to get on-line to get directions to the CreationFest Tour where B.Reith was going to be playing, (but he had gotten sick so i had decided to skip the concert) realizing Thousand Foot Krutch, Jars of Clay, Mark & Will from Audio Adrenaline, and few more bands would still be there.

as she gave me direction, "take 205 north" i had jsut passed the sign for 205 north, and then just as she said, "you should see exit 9" i crossed under the sign for exit 9! Then she said, "you will exit at Padden Parkway" i saud "no way! that's the exit for my sister's job..i can even see if she is still working and still make it to the concert...!" so i exited about 7 monutes later at Padden Pkway and went to see if she was working at her Starbuck's and YEP, saw her car--her bright yellow/green w/blue striped car--can't miss it! she was so surprised to see me and she got her break right as i got there. i got to show her the new video we had been workign n for the ministry and gave her a huge hug and invited her to eat dinner w/us after work. then i left for the church that was just minutes away and in a parking lot FULL of cars there was my spot. Just the 2nd closest from the front and available for me--talk about favor. All of this trip was all becoming perfectly purposeful in those few short minutes.

The rest of the trip was amazing, after gettting into the concert, after it was 1/3 over and knowing some of the people that take photgraphs, the guy in charge gave me a free pass--oh well, no B.Reith, but I got to see and meet Will & Mark from Audio Adrenaline.

Then had awesome dinner at Outback with my step-sis, her son, and hubby, my uncle, his son, Jazz, and my sister joined us--it was awesome! Then we found an awesomely HUGE hotel by the Vancouver mall, had an incredible breakfast, met firends from Japan I hand't seen in 4 yrs, met my aunt off the Kelso exit w/enough time to give her a few gifts and a hug, then got to Seattle at 2:45p for the Good-bye party that started at 3pm...hung with amazing friends!!!
After the party...
I headed to Enumclaw to see best buddies Ron & Jess and their 7-mnth old twins, by the time i had gotten there one was sleeping...but i got to see the new house and talk about the 'joys' and 'trials' of parenting and pray for my friends...

The Snoqualmie pass was horrible on the way home, cars were spinning out of control, there wer eople stuck, others outting chanins on, but that 'favor' kicked in, and while i still went slow, i didn't even slip once... AND i made it home by 1:30a for church on Sunday 9a & 11a where they had a special send-off and interviewed me before they prayed for me. Then went home with LOTS of help and packed my room up, got my two bags in order and jumped on the plane Monday at 12:40 pm! This is Marcia and Nate saying good-bye, and giving me their love!

Whoever said 'let old friends be forgot' did not have AMAZING friends like me!

2009-11-08T17:14:00.000+07:00

These are not old friends but getting to be new friends! B.Reith (pronounced /RITH/) and Mark & Will from Audio Adrenaline...

I really need to blog about this amazing weekend AND how cool it was to see peeps I had not seen for 3-8 years this weekend!!! RIGHT NOW SOO TIRED its hard TO WRITE, MY EYELIDS ARE HEAVY...

But soon i will finish this post: My Portland/Vancouver Trip on Friday turned from disaster to perfection (i'll blog that story, when i'm not sooo exhausted) and the Seattle trip today was awesome! It ended w/seeing one of my best friends and his wife--parents for the first time with twins!!! (AND Here's a first: i took no pictures this trip--ahhhhh! That was not a good ahhhhh!)

JUST A Teaser: What a whirlwind trip to say good-bye--due to preparing to leave for Thailand Monday 11/9/09 at noon--but TOTALLY worth it! ('cept i didn't get to see B.Reith at the CreationFest Tour Friday night in Vancouver, but i did meet Mark Stuart, and Will McGinniss from Audio Adrenaline and handsandfeetproject.org !! read this review )

BIG Send-Off Party, Nov 1st~!!

2009-10-28T00:07:00.000+07:00

This Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 4pm: Amy's Send-Off to Thailand!!!

Place: Traci's in Kennewick WA--please contact me for specific details!!

Time:
Sunday, November 1, 4-6 PM

Bring Dessert:
Potluck & Send-off, and some non-sweet snacks would be OK, too! :)

Note (From Marcia, my leader & friend):
I don't know if any of you were at the last going away, but Amy has a silent auction to sell of her belongings for that last bit of cash. I encourage you to bring a card with a word of encouragement (her love language :) ) and if the Lord has you bring an offering of some sort I know Amy would be grateful. Other gifts...well...they will have to be auctioned off with the rest of her stuff! Hahaha.

Anyway, if you have questions please call Amy or me, Marcia. If you would like to help Traci set up for the party I am sure she would welcome an extra set of hands.

I hope to see all of you there...

You're NEVER Gonna believe this?!? Lost 1" SD Card found through internet, really!!

2009-10-22T15:08:00.000+07:00

On October 10, 2009--After a 911 call on Saturday after my dad's funeral and a very crazy day of rushing to Walla Walla general hospital to get tests for my uncle john, I lost ALL the pics and videos of my Dad's burial, the Sports BBQ to honor him, and the Memorial at the church, the pics at the football game after, the announcer announcing & honoring my dad's name at the football game that night, plus my family and all the pics of my niece who is like 3 months old... :( i think i shed a few hundred tears* and people prayed...i called everywhere, talked to everyone, retraced my steps a zillion times. It is really a sad thing, I was sick for losing it...

THEN TODAY (10/19/09--9 days later) I FIND THIS msg on the tri-city herald web site looking for my dad's obituary for my cousin Aaron and I see THIS, a comment on the newspaper web page:

instigator wrote on October, 11 6:45 PM:

Hello, My name is Tim and I found a 4GB SD Card on the street near my house that has several pictures of a Blonde lady that appears to be David's adult daughter and several pictures of his military funeral. I can only imagine how upset she must be that she lost this card. I would very much like to get it back to her. My # is _______ if someone could have her call me. Thanks.

SO i started screaming in our house--told Traci, gc3, Kristi, Patrick, and we all started saying, wefriends have, too!!! I called the guy,Tim, he lives a few doors away from Crissy, my sister-in-law, Toni's house but he had knocked on the door in front of where the SD card was found but the people had moved out, so he posted on the internet to try to find out who's it was!!!! Thank you---

If some peeps are curios about the funeral, I will have pics after tomorrow...the burial was really awesome...one of the pastors from our families old church shared a word, "Miss me, but let me go..." then they had military honors. 21 gun salute, played taps, gave me an American flag, and shook all of the families hands. it was VERY emotional. we also laid his ashes into the ground. then in honor of my dad's love for food we had a huge family BBQ at my cousin's house and celebrated by watching football and telling stories. then we had the memorial at my church at 6 pm. It was really awesome, too! lots of laughs and lots of tears. VERY VERY full of the spirit--my missions pastor (one of our assistant pastors, Dave Dawson) spoke and shared a message about making our lives better now, for the things that happen too soon. (My dad died from liver failure--due to yrs of drinking)...we had 3 neat short videos in honor of his life, videos of him and about him and 3 people gave eulogies, including my step-bro. then we had dessert reception. we also went to the HS football game to cheer on the team my uncle coached for and they made an announcement about my dad to honor him! that's when our team came from WAY behind to WIN the game!

LOST SD CARD

2009-10-18T00:55:00.000+07:00

I'm desperate! Lost the SD Kingston (SD4/4GB) Memory card of my Dad's Funeral! All the pictures from 10/9/2009 to 10/10 in the am, on 10/10/09 we drove to Walla Walla General to the emergency room from Tri-Cities, WA and somewhere in between lost the SD Kingston (SD4/4GB) Memory card! We were there the entire day after the funeral...when my uncle went in for a bunch of tests. It is really a sad thing, kinda makes me feel sick, for losing it...ALL the pics and videos of my Dad's ...burial, Sports BBQ to honor him, and the Memorial at the church, the pics at the football game after, the video of the game announcer announcing & honoring my dad's name at the football game that night, plus my family and all the pics of my niece who is like 3 months old... :( i think i'm gonna shed a tear*

If you happen to find it, it is in the small, clear plastic case and it has a small piece of blue tape on it...please message me here! Thank you for your prayers...

Substitute Teaching is amazing!

2009-09-30T23:24:00.000+07:00

Substitute teaching is a blast! Last week, at Pasco High School I had the opportunity to teach for a history class that started after 8 am--the same day as "See You at the Pole". Since it started around 7 am, I got to meet some incredible students who were Kingdom claimers for Jesus, too and pray for them while they prayed for their school, the nation and this generation!!!

Today, I am in an advanced Math class at the same school, and got to see one of those kids from last week. After 3 days of teaching Life Skills and Special Education at 2 of the local middle schools...what a great chance to work with these kids that just needed a little MORE: more patience, more time, more boundaries, more discipline and more love! I realize that's what all kids (and adults) need too!

Handling stress: Giggle 101

2009-09-18T15:39:00.000+07:00

A little revelation on this just NOW... (I really am going to sleep, I have to teach middle schoolers tomorrow! but I just had to add this)...After talking to a friend about handling stress, I read this:

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry; the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.

From Psalm 34:10-17...

Omnipotence or Omnipresence... Which one is it!?!

2009-09-18T13:27:00.000+07:00

Seriously, very inspired today by how BIG my DAD is and i'm not just talking 'bout His size...i'm talking about how He can pick me up & hold on to me & restore me & console me & encourage me & BE by my side ALL at the same time (...it that His omnipresence or His omnipotence...?!?!? aaaahhhh it blows my mind how much He loves....whew! wow! my mind is blowing up just thinking about it! ...wow (shaking my head...in awe...) ...this is like 'a serious topic to contemplate'...huh?!?! wow--THxDADDY!

These kids will transform your heart....

2009-08-19T02:20:00.000+07:00

This is a blog about sharing, releasing, and reflecting--to honor God--what is being stirred in my life and my thoughts. Plus, it is to encourage the ones that are drawn here (that's you!) either by "accident" or on purpose to live life to the FULLEST according to the Lord's will!

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

Getting to know his heart....

2009-08-05T15:46:00.000+07:00

Why DO I have such deep thoughts about this New American IDOL: Kris Allen?

Have to admit that there is something VERY unassuming that draws you to Kris Allen. Kris' heart for Music and People--He genuinely loves to play music and love on the people he meets--he is very REAL. There was this Jimmy Fallon Show bit I saw not too long ago--just watched it again but I kept laughing this time because of what Kris says (express interview last week http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/08/kris-allen-american-idol-live-summer-tour.php) a bout the interview on 'The Jimmy Fallon Show', Kris says "...it was the most laid-back and fun!!! He made fun of me, which was nice..." WHO says that accept people that CAN laugh at themselves?!?

I think it is funny he wears almost the same plaid shirt and slim jeans at every IDOL Live performance--but what you figure out (if you are even 1/2 paying attention) Is that he is who HE is...that says more than words or a voice or even a performance.

Personally, American IDOL means someone that we REALLY can and WANT to look up to. Kris to you we say, "America decided, 'We look up to you!' Keep doing what you are doing and be who you were created to BE!"

Truth about Passion

This sounds cliché, so sorry, you can keep reading if you want--BUT...I am wishing I could share my HEART with the world, my passion for LIFE, my desire that you find true JOY in your life, that you find the meaning of life...you are doing it!!! PTL!

And, for me, personally, this has been an amazing season of life... finding truth, too!

CREATION Rocked Our FACE-OFF!

2009-07-30T04:34:00.000+07:00

Over, an estimated, 100,000 people attended the 4-day Festival--CREATION WEST at the GORGE Amphitheater in George, WA 22-25 July 2009--

This photo was taken by the David Crowder Band from stage on the last night and then posted on their Twitter page the SAME DAY--I am in it, too!

With festivals held in both the Northeast and Northwest, this is the nation's largest Christian music festival. Learn more at www.creationfest.com. Creation offers days filled with the top musical artists, children's activities, a worship tent and more. However, the Creation Festival is about much more than music. Creation is also about honoring the Word of God through speakers and seminars.

Its purpose is to change lives and glorify God. The sponsors' prayer for CREATION '09 is that people will be changed, restored, and challenged to serve the Lord and to make a difference in the world. (This is some promotion From the Eastern University in Pennsylvania--a co-sponsor of the national yearly event--webpage.)

MUSIC was intense and varied...from Heavy Metal sound of SKILLET-- To Rock sounds of KUTLESS, to Crunk Rock edgey sound of FAMILY FORCE 5, and Pop Rock of HAWK NELSON, to Hip-Hop of Clique 116 featuring Lecrae, R&B of Group One Crew, to Gospel Soul of ISRAEL HOUGHTON. Plus TONS of up and coming bands like the Talent Search winners SONSOFDAY, R&B/RAP/Soul of B.REITH, and Stephanie SMITH, a discovery of TOBYMAC (who did not perform)...The real suprise was the hard rock sound of RED, who took main stage in place of THOUSAND FOOT CRUTCH, who told CREATION they could not make the Festival 2 days before they were set to perform on night 3 due to one of the member's appendicitis, who was recivering form emergency surgery. After the crowd and staff prayed for his recovery, they announced RED taking their place to a favorable reaction from the audience!

Their Talkback at the Youth Leader's hut and prayer for the youth leaders was an amazing way to start their PHENOMENAL SHOW! (oh the vidoe is 29 megs too big...i'll change that and upload it soon...)

SO BLESSED BY THE AMAZING WEATHER & FOR WATER, lots of IT!!!

CAMPING was the key--it was HOT but there was amazing fellowship with people from all over the US and Canada and there was time to BE STILL before the Lord...

To Kris Allen and Family...One Life to Love

2009-07-14T13:10:00.001+07:00

Kris has posted that there was a death in his family and will be with them on July 15, 2009...

There are no Words but the Lord comforts us and gives us Peace...the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Cor 1:2-4

To the Allen family: May you have His strength in this difficult time and may the Lord be glorified even in this...the strength that your family has is a shield for the ones that are hurting...When I look at you I see a solid foundation resting on Christ! I stand beside you in prayer and ask for our DAD's peace that passes all understanding...

God Bless you, a YWAMer from Argentina to Thailand

Maturtiy is doing the right thing at the right time...and sometimes 'not' doing something at the right time!

2009-07-02T02:30:00.000+07:00

"Some pursue happiness, others create it."--Anonymous

"The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself."--Benjamin Franklin

"We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same."--Carlos Castenada

"You grow up the day you have your first real laugh at yourself."--Ethel Barrymore

It never ceases to amaze how I can be so weak and full of mistakes and so well, frankly so immature. And yet, how God can be so strong and loving and be, well, so...God. And that in spite of all my mistakes, He continues to love me, forgive me and mold me to be the Masterpiece that He created. In fact, that He loves me as I am, faults and all. ALL of them. But like any good parent, He loves me SO much He knows I need to grow and mature, to experience the fullness of life. If I stayed a baby, I’d be missing the biggest piece of what life is all about: enjoying Him. So as the Potter, He is molding the clay. As the sculpture, He is chiseling away the excess, the sin--the things that keep me from this intimacy with Him.

Just try reading Hebrews 12. The WHOLE thing, but here’s a tidbit: Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ...Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

As far as all this goes, one of the biggest errors in loving I hear today: “I love them so I am going to let them do whatever they want, what’s it going to hurt”...that is surest way to show we don’t care. That, to me is like saying, “I don’t know the rules myself, how can I teach them to someone else.” It sounds like self-pity, as if we don’t know what’s right. "What poison is to food, self-pity is to life."--Oliver C. Wilson.

I heard it expressed this way once. Putting guidelines in a child’s life is like putting guardrails on a road. The surest point from point A to B is a straight line, but you can’t make them drive, you can only show them how to get there. Give them guardrails and they are more likely to get there safer, less “banged-up” and using less of the valuable resources we have available to us: mainly painful emotions; especially suffering and regret..."Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will--his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals."--Albert Schweitzer

Here’s a little last thought about what I have been contemplating. Maturity is "When you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself."--Anonymous. To love our kids is to teach them to love: teaching one another to love unconditionally by how we love.

Kids Camp--Amazing week!

2009-06-29T05:52:00.000+07:00

Getting behind in this blogging business...Its the end of June-ish. June 28th to be exact. I know that because I just caught up in my one-year Bible. I had missed a few days after finishing staffing at a Kids' Camp in Washington this Friday.

I am not sure how I feel about being home. I definitely miss the Bethel Staff that I got a chance to work with and really the kids, their hugs, innocence and being there for them. Most of these kids have faced a lot--moving around from house to house or from place to place. They are all foster kids, and although the camp is really intended that they get a chance to be blessed, they REALLY blessed us. The whole experience is for the camper.

Their situation happens more often than any of us want to believe. Each year, over 3 million American children are reported as abused... physically attacked, emotionally damaged, sexually molested, or severely neglected - often by the people they have loved and trusted most.

It is for children like this that they created these camps.

In the USA, most Social Services departments refer children to faith based camps when two criteria are met; namely, that no child is coerced to accept any particular religion, and that the foster placement program, foster parents or other caretakers are given a voluntary choice. Our Camps meet these two criteria.

Kim Allen & Post-Idol Commentary

2009-06-06T09:19:00.000+07:00

Whew! Its been since April--things have been happening. Guess I feel like on a blog I have to really have everything in order to post--but its just a blog, "who reads this really anyway, right?!?"--its really just a "good time to reflect and appreciate life globally, right?!?"

I have to admit, but this is NOT a huge secret, I HAVE been following the American Idol Post-Season 9 news. (Oh, this Internet and all the trouble we can get into reading about other people's lives!) I am LOVING all the interviews with Kris Allen and Adam Lambert. And there is this amazing set of 5 radio spots on Little Rock's B98.5 FM from June 1st with Kim Allen, Kris's mom, that just might blow your socks off (its about halfway down on this site: http://www.krisallenation.com/2009/06/kim-allen-radio-interview.html). She is an awesome woman! I would READ any BOOK she wrote! (That's a hint, Kim! Hope you are reading this!)

If you haven't followed American Idol this season you are missing some amazing talent and soem great comraderie that we don't see often in the public--'famousness'--area of media attention. I have felt blessed almost everytime jsut hearing the love that has gone on in the spotlight of this AI Season 8. I only started tuning in the last month on April/May on and off and then catching up on the internet for the episodes I missed http://www.americanidol.com/finale/. I became a Big Fan in a short time just because of the CHARACTER of the contestants, especially the final 4: Allison Iraheta, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert.

Side note: Its graduation weekend here in the Tri-Cities, New Horizon's HS is tonight at 7p at Columbia Basin College, and Pasco HS is tomorrow at 6p Edgar Brown Stadium! I love watching these amazing milestones of my kids' lives--well, they're really not MY kids but the Lord allowed me to invest in their lives by sahring wiht them in their classes so I also get to feel their joys!

Lastest on "A Taste of Thailand: Its Food & Its Fears" Event

2009-04-04T07:33:00.001+07:00

...I am honored to invite you and share this opportunity with you! SUN, April 19th 3p! Please RSVP by April 14th here at A Big Difference blog or to my e-mail!

The world is unprincipled, we are in the Beautiful Fight

2009-04-02T02:52:00.000+07:00

The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity. (Msg)

His ascension gives us hope. What we want to be, Jesus already is. (BF)

I want to be honest: I am refreshed from a long weekend of inconsistency, thoughts of condemnation and angst. It has been a fight to NOT have the busy-ness that I am so normally accustomed to. Its Spring BREAK, so there are no subbing jobs here, for now. So when I sit and rest, it is important to have thoughts of TRUTH and not lies. But a few lies crept in this weekend. So I had to get in deep in truth and I am so excited that you are reading this, I think the Lord wants to tell us both something. This is what Job tells me today...

...to know wisdom and to have understanding.

"But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?

Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.

The deep says, 'It is not in me'; the sea says, 'It is not with me.' It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver.

It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires.
Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;
it cannot be bought with pure gold.

"Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?

It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds of the air.

Destruction and Death say,
'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'

God understands the way to it
and He alone knows where it dwells,

for He views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.

When He established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, when He made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, then He looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.

And He said to man,
'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' "

So after we have ALL that--which is a lot. I read this first in this great book, my friend Teri recommended, this afternoon 4/1/09, (which then brought me to that verse in Job):

Because Jesus reigns now, we have hope. Even though my eyes are weak and greedy and judgmental and lustful, there stands Christ, with eyes filled with burning purity, holy passion, and selfless love...(p 42-3)

...Some may ask, is it possible to be truly transformed? Yes, indeed--especially when we see the ascended one now reigning...the Christian life is about surrendering to the work Jesus is currently doing; it's opening ourselves up to Christ's presence, wisdom, and power rather than trying to make an impression by relying on our gifts and abilities...(p 44)

The Beautiful Fight: Gary Thomas. Zondervan, 2007.

So where does all this leave me (Amy)? Comforted, in the middle of this life, full of the mistakes that I make--on this rainy Tri-Cities afternoon wondering why I constantly am worried about what the next step is going to be...THIS GIVES ME PEACE...It reminds me I will never be good enough and I will especially fail miserabley if I KEEP TRYING TO DO IT MYSELF! So I will focus on listening to the voice that is the one of TRUTH--"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt...(Jer 31)

This has given me an immense PEACE; I pray it does for you, too:

When You hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.

When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in His works-

He who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to Him,
as I rejoice in the LORD. (Psalm 104...)

Father, I ask that you hold me close to you so that You may ever be honored and glorified by what flows through my heart and when my thoughts are not held captive by You, then I hold in my heart this word: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:5)

And in the Message, once again, this is a powerful word from 2 Corinthians:

Piper Wisdom

2009-03-29T15:33:00.000+07:00

It's Amy here...!

I am delighted to post this...it speaks to me so much about the strength we have simply in recognizing the power in the name of God...from www.desiringgod.org

The Most Important Prayer Request in the World

March 26, 2009 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary

The most important prayer is that the most important person in the universe do the most important act in the universe.

That’s why Jesus put this request at the beginning of the Lord’s prayer: “Hallowed be your name.”

God is the most important person in the universe. More important than ALL others put together.

All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness” (Isaiah 40:17).

The whole-souled act of hallowing God’s name is the most important act in the universe.

To “hallow” means to “sanctify” which in God’s case means to set apart in your mind and heart as supremely great and beautiful and valuable.

“Hallowed be your name” means, “See to it that your name is hallowed. Use your infinite power and wisdom and love to stir up billions of hearts and minds to admire you and prize you above all things." ...

(For more of John Piper, see www.desiringgod.org)

Making A Big Difference

2009-03-25T03:33:00.001+07:00

You never realize your dreams really can come true. Putting them in the hands of God was one of the hardest thing I had ever done. From the skyline of Vancouver, Canada then the the our BIG little area of Tri-Cities in Washington State to the view of the lines of sky that I have been blessed to see in the last 4 years serving to extend the Kingdom full-time, I am constantly humbled that the Lord is blessing me with the opportunity to take flight again and again. The first big trip, after fishing in a successful, in wordly terms, career job for 13 years and still missing "it", The Lord kept saying, "Come, I will show you how to fish..." It took me 3 years to obey. And in 1994 I quit my 6 figure job to go to follow that command. As we are called to go "... in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

MY ENDS OF THE EARTH

I first set foot in Northern Argentina for a 6 month training course with a well-known Youth ministry 4 years ago. Then, while I was there, He started showing me Thailand again, a country I had been to 5 years previously. After the intense, value confirming, life-changing, and extremely rewarding training I went back to America to debate what to do...but the mission field continued to speak to me. I returned 6 weeks later to continue to serve where He wanted me to for the next 3 years:

In our Mercy ministry: tutoring, teaching, discipling, and fostering hope in at risk kids...
With Education ministry, teaching at our now nationally recognized Elementary School!
On the base, with community responsibilities & gardening the well-landscaped 3-acres.
Leading a Dicipleship School, just like the one that changed my life 2 1/2 years earlier!
While raising support by Teaching English to staff and people in the community and with a small business with a fruit smoothie stand, too!

I knew that my time in Argentina would come to an end and with many tears, but a sense of the Lord's peace I left there 8 months ago to beging the new phase of God's plan!

FINISHING A DEGREE WHILE BEING IN 3 DIFFERENT HEMISPHERES!
While serving full-time finishing my master's in education was NOT easy. The arrangement I made with my directors was that ministry came first. There were many conflicts over the 18 months of courses--especially lack of internet connections to send in essays & do research as we were writing almost a 1000-word essay (at least!) a week! So after leaving Argentina, I traveled to help missionary friends with their wedding in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and visiting a missionary called to art ministry in El Salvador and then stopping for 4 days in America before heading to Beijing, China to have to opportunity to extend God's Kingdom during the Olympics--it was so unreal, I felt as though I had been placed for a little while in a place where all people were united for the same thing--it was AMAZING! And God was glorified!

Now after raising support, taking some classes and working part-time I will leave once again for Australia. After training in a School of Frontier Missions there, in Perth Australia, I will be heading to join my team already on the field in Bangkok, that works to love, educate, restore and advocate for children at risk...

Making A Big Difference

Story Time at the Temple...

What's in a name? Everything!

A little 'something,' makes a BIG impact to kids in poverty in Thailand

Flooding in Thailand -- There is Mercy

Does this story have to end this way...? There is HOPE.

Teaching Children from the slums basic health care: We LIVE LIFE

SAN FRANCISCO, an unplanned STOP, and GREAT times!

Pulling Out a sliver brings the Kingdom, on the border...

True Story of a Football Club in Southern Thailand...Making A Big Difference

'randomly' woken up at 3:30a...

A Few Months in Review ... NAK SUU Tournament to Christmas!

Northbridge in Perth has a shower of the presence of the Lord...

SO much silliness my gut hurts...

Its Gonna Look Like Something Else...

Can you believe His grace...?

Our Mexico situation URGENT!

These 'good-byes' are good-ones

A Little Story of Hope

God said, "Ask." So, I did. God Responds...

Making a Difference...one person at a time...

Someone this Tuesday called us 'brave' as our team walked into our weekly visit, but I seldom feel that way. But after that visit with the girls I was humbled. The Lord loves these girls more than we can imagine, and He showed it.

I felt God's love for them and I was able to tell that 15 year-old girl about that true LOVE He has for her...

Last Days Before Going to Australia

Graduation News & a link to GIVE through PayPal...

SoFM: Biblical Basis of MissionsTeam DynamicsChurch PlantingCross CultureMission Strategies

CaRcSchool: Introduction to children at riskChild developmentGod's heart for justice and childrenChild counselingEvangelism/creativityHealth careDiscovering your potentialHIV/AIDSRestoration of a generationBiblical view of families

Only By God's Grace,

Amy

You my also link on PayPal below and give directly to me:

Rugby program begins...almost!

There are no words

Wednesday's are the days the Lord shows me the most how BIG He is, how little I am, and how He can use me in spite of it all...can't imagine what joy it was to sit w/our kids on the tarps underneath the tin roof, and just talk...there is nowhere else i could be that would bring me more joy...

After Christmas Dance Party

Question: If your resources & time were endless, what would you do with them?

Bigger plans for us: The Legend of the Three Trees

Rugby CAMP had Unthinkable Results:

By Amy

An extraordinary display of God's creativity, after nearly losing a venue He opened up a spectacular field that would help us host over 80 children from 3 different slum areas!

Exotic places with Amazing Food

When you got it, you GOT it

Whoever said 'let old friends be forgot' did not have AMAZING friends like me!

BIG Send-Off Party, Nov 1st~!!

You're NEVER Gonna believe this?!? Lost 1" SD Card found through internet, really!!

LOST SD CARD

Substitute Teaching is amazing!

Handling stress: Giggle 101

Omnipotence or Omnipresence... Which one is it!?!

These kids will transform your heart....

Getting to know his heart....

CREATION Rocked Our FACE-OFF!

To Kris Allen and Family...One Life to Love

Maturtiy is doing the right thing at the right time...and sometimes 'not' doing something at the right time!

Kids Camp--Amazing week!

Kim Allen & Post-Idol Commentary

Lastest on "A Taste of Thailand: Its Food & Its Fears" Event

The world is unprincipled, we are in the Beautiful Fight

Piper Wisdom

It's Amy here...!

I am delighted to post this...it speaks to me so much about the strength we have simply in recognizing the power in the name of God...from www.desiringgod.org

The Most Important Prayer Request in the World

Making A Big Difference

SoFM: Biblical Basis of Missions
Team Dynamics
Church Planting
Cross Culture
Mission Strategies

CaRcSchool: Introduction to children at risk
Child development
God's heart for justice and children
Child counseling
Evangelism/creativity
Health care
Discovering your potential
HIV/AIDS
Restoration of a generation
Biblical view of families