Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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April 13th, 2010:
I went to the bar earlier than usual, and there was Nan, so beautiful… and sad.  When she saw me walking into the pub, her face lit up and she ran to welcome me with a hug!  As we sat at our table away from the loud music, I asked her again if she would accept my offer to pay for her time so that she could have a night off.  Without hesitation, she said yes.  I made sure she understood that I wanted to do whatever she wanted and not the other way around.  I could tell by the look on her face, she thought I was crazy or would maybe change my mind soon.  My heart’s desire was to give her that choice-that freedom; it was her night off.

Nan said she wanted Mexican food (yeah!) and wanted to go to her favorite place just down the street.  Hannah, Nan and I enjoyed some amazing dinner and conversation.  Since Nan hadn’t been to this restaurant since she was married to her ex, she was ecstatic when she was able to reunite with her friends there.   As we ate Nan shared so much more about her life and she said several times, “my life is stupid.”  Each time I heard that lie I cringed.  I knew God, her Creator, would never say that about her, but several people that “love” Nan had.

After dinner, Nan said she knew a friend who worked at a fish spa in the night market area.  I treated her to a spa treatment and it was there that we learned that the owner had asked about her.  The boss really wants to hire her to work there!  Oh how quickly God was providing for Nan this night!  Nan was ecstatic about this news and the prospect of having a good salary and a better life.  However, she knew that she has to somehow get money to move out of her boss’ apartment/room where she’s living now.   I could tell her hope was fading from her mind…
 
        
Enjoying a fish spa treatment!!  It’s interesting to say the least…

From the fish spa, we walked back by the bars, and soon after that, she led Hannah and I down a dark street to a rundown complex.  She took us back to her boss’ apartment so that we could have a quieter place to sit and talk and let Nan relax.
 
walking through the darkness of Loi Kroh Road
 
Hannah and I listened to Nan pour out her heart full of worries and tears for her family and where her life is now.   Both of us shared testimony of our Awesome God and how He has provided for so much in our past, including this trip.  Nan began to realize that perhaps God has been taking care of her too over the years.

I could sense that because of where we were and how much Nan has already shared with us, she trusted us.  I asked her that if she felt she could trust Hannah and she can trust me, and the two of us trust God completely…could she find it in her heart to trust Him as well?  After a few moments, she smiled and said, “Yes, I think I would like to try that.”  Amen!

Hannah and I explained simply what prayer was…how easy and wonderful it is to be able to talk with our God and to know that He listens and loves us.  God is pleased with us, even when we have little faith, because we believe in Him and have accepted His gift of Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins.  She said that before she went to bed that night, she was going to pray to God too.  Hannah and I prayed and spoke life over Nan.  As we held hands she would squeeze my hand and begin to cry.
 
 (this is on the wall @ Wongen Kafe, where we do our ministry during the day)

Nan is so amazing to me and her perseverance is admirable.  I pray that as we continue to be friends and share more with each other that she will come to see just how good, loving and mighty God is.  It’s unfair of me to expect her to let go of many things in her life overnight…I certainly never did when I became a Christian 14 years ago.  But I know that God’s truth is being planted in her and has not gone void. 
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I really need you to please partner with me (especially) in prayer, but also financially for the last of what I need for this race, so that I can be able to bless Nan as much as possible before I have to leave Chiang Mai.  So that I can use my own funds now to show kindness and generosity to Nan, it would be awesome to receive the last of my support ($454.50) from donors.  God has been blessing me so much through supporters from all over…this is the last leg of the race.  I want to finish well. 🙂

God is good, all the time!