Starry nights, moonlight, mountain view, sunshine, dust, cool breeze and laughter surrounded us in Kanchanaburi. Weve spent the last month and a half (Dec.16-Jan.29) teaching English to 3rd – 6th graders, facilitating Bible studies, installing an irrigation system, and fertilizing cucumbers, chili, papaya and rubber trees. We also planted chilis, eggplants, and long beans.
Living in a jungle and farming community has made me realize how much work it takes to keep a farm. We worked extremely hard helping the family and their friends prepare their fields for harvesting and planting. When we were not in the fields, we were either teaching or facilitating Bible studies at different neighbors and family members homes (at least three times a week).
I came on this trip because I wanted to help bring hope to others. In the process of giving hope to others God was giving me hope also. I was in the middle of the fields when all of a sudden God said to me,It is time.Once I heard those words I broke down and cried. Here I am, in a field in the middle of the jungle, and God cared for me to be free of something that Ive held onto for a long time. This specific relationship is in one of the areas that I know Ive kept control of. Ive tried to figure things out on my own, wondering things such as,Is he the one?or Will my future husband leave when it is hard? What I realize is that I need to give the pen over to the Author and let Him write that chapter; not only that chapter, but the book.
I did not know how deeply rooted the pain was until He wanted me to give it to Him. All this time I was holding on to that chapter, I was trying to figure out whom my husband would be – all the while the fear of abandonment rising up as I forgot that my Father is the one in control. He said it was time for Him to uproot the plant. He wants to plow the ground and prepare it. He wants to turn the soil, plant the seed, water it and fertilize it Himself. He is the Creator and what He plants is good. It was so painful to let it go. I kneeled down in the field with my hands held high and all I could pray was,Father, now that Ive given it to you please help me not to take it back. My future is in my Fathers hands, and I know the time will come when I will be married and have my hearts desire. To have a household that serves the Lord will become my reality.
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Team Changes and new route
As you may have noticed, our route was changed and I now have new team members. Our new routes due to some political unrest and visa issues, so starting in the month of January, V Squads route includes Thailand, South Africa, Swaziland, Ireland, Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania. I am really going to miss my Chainless family; they mean the world to me. I will always be a Chainless; however I am excited to see what God has in store forDawn Traders.I would love to introduce my new team members on the left side of this blog.
