It has been so long since I blogged. I know; I can’t pretend like saying I will write more often will make it happen, but in the meantime I’ll let you in on my life. Africa was fantastic, every ministry day, everyday out. God was claiming the glory that he deserves through every moment. Through my 3 months in Africa hundreds of people experienced the love of God in a new way. Not that I was the proprietor of bringing that but I watched God pour through me. People who had never known what the name of Jesus meant were coming to his throne by the masses. Proclaiming freedom from their pasts and accepting the ultimate gift from the only King who can save them. I take great joy in stepping into whatever need God asked of me to fill. Going house to house I met so many people who were thrilled to encounter God, but they had no idea how to continue walking with Christ after that. My church found a way to meet a need of getting bibles into their hands before I even knew that it was something God wanted to use me in. Over the last month I was in Africa I had the opportunity to see 71 bibles make their way into the hands of people who were without the word of God. My dad had the opportunity to join me on the field for a week just before I left Africa. He came with a group of about 70 parents, I was able to share with him stories of what God has done and watch him serve alongside me with children’s ministry, mall outreach and daily life. I’m thankful for the opportunity to have a bit of home join me, but more than that I pray that as he goes home he takes back the fire of God that had been ripping through Africa with him. That Cresson, Tx would feel the full weight of God’s love through my dad and through whoever else God chooses to use.
After my dad went home, my squad traveled to Thailand. 30 Hours after leaving Johannesburg, South Africa, stopping in Hong Kong and staying the night in Chiang Mai, my team of guys hopped on a bus to Chian Dao. I will be staying here for the next 2 months. Since my arrival, we have struggled with the jet lag that springing 5 hours ahead creates, attended 2 weddings, skinned a water buffalo, and been introduced to our new friend: the squatty potty. The thai language creates interesting miscommunication about timing and details in plans, so I look forward to becoming more and more flexible with timing. I’m not entirely sure what ministry will look like, but from my understanding there will be teaching english and we are going to help construct a fence for our host.
