Oriental Soul
Well, our time in the Philippines has officially come to a close and RockStar had to say goodbye to our family and friends in Aninuan and Manila, even goodbye to our Squad Leaders (Abby, Tim, and Lauren). It was tough, but we're ready and strong enough for this new month in Thailand.
We made our way to Thailand, via plane and made our way to a YWAM base in Bangkok, which allowed for us to get together as a squad for worship, rest, and catch-up times with each other as we learned more about our ministries and the culture of Thailand.
After the first night, nay probably as soon as we walked out of the airport, I fell in love with this country all the more. It was a year and a half ago or so that my pastor in my home-town made a random comment about the youth group going to Thailand, which was no where close to happening, but it was from that very moment that God put a love and desire for Thailand on my heart. I even love the language and will definitely learn it in-depth, as soon as I'm able.
As for Team RockStar, we are in Khao Lak, Thailand working with the Step Ahead Training Center and we will get opportunities to teach english, work with their programs Thai Totes and Keeping Families Together (KFT) — Thai Totes allows women to make purses for sale and KFT works to help those families affected by the tsunami of 2004 (yes, there are those still recovering from that disaster). We'll also be doing a lot of prayer walks, as well as hanging out with Sea Gypsies!! The full story about Step Ahead can be found at http://www.stepaheadmed.org/.
As for our accomodations, we are staying at the training center that allows for Dex and myself to each have a room and the girls to split in twos in two rooms. I seriously feel like I'm in a five-star hotel. My room comes with a wardrobe, mini-fridge, tv, bed, and my very own bathroom. Let me tell you this was definitely such a blessing and surprise to our team. Our ministry contact is a beautiful daughter of God that is pretty rock-solid in the Lord and I'm blessed to have met her. We're her first World Race team ever here, but I'm sure we won't be the last. She's awesome and sent from heaven (an indication to her name, as I don't feel led to share it on here…just sayin').
Today, I got to run around and chase the cutest, most precious children I have ever seen. I'll include some photos of them. They were really shy though, so I don't have many of their faces.
To share about the title of this blog…I talked to my mom the other day and I was telling her about how much I love it here even though I've only been here a few days and she responded with something about her guessing that since I have an 'Oriental Soul'. I've been thinking about that ever since, and I believe she's right. I come to life here like never before and I can't wait for God to use me to bring His Kingdom here.
Anyways, thanks for reading and being apart of this with me. Your prayers for my team and squad are strongly needed as we are in some very dark places. Please pray for us as the Lord prompts you. Also, stay tuned for the next blog…I'd give you some insight into what it is, but honestly I have no idea at this moment. 
