We’re leaving in just a few minutes to teach the last session at the college, then this afternoon we’ll take the 2 hour drive to Bangkok and get on our flight to LA. Once we arrive, we’ll rent a car and drive to Phx, arriving about 3 or 4am on Friday. This might be a long day!
Thanks for praying for me while I’ve been here. It’s been wonderful and I’m grateful for all God is doing and has allowed us to be a part of here in Thailand. I’m ready to come home.
We’re here in Sriracha teaching a few classes each day at the Bible College. I really do love teaching the Bible and that is only highlighted when you’re teaching students at a Bible College. Pray for these students as they are preparing for ministry and just like the rest of us are learning to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
Here’s a brief, unedited intro from this morning
It was a wonderful treat to have dinner with Molly tonight. She looks great and seems very happy to be right where God has her. I’m going to meet up with her and go to her church tomorrow morning. Thanks for praying for Molly!
The three of us each spoke Thursday morning to conclude the teaching for the week. Later that afternoon we were privileged to visit one of the churches in a nearby village and pray with the pastor and his family. Thursday evening in our closing service we gave and received gifts as a cultural expression of saying thanks.
After a full day of ministry, we ended our time by praying for pastors and leaders. At the close of my teaching, I asked for any pastors that wanted prayer to stand and we’d come and pray for God’s peace and power to encourage them.
We’ve been teaching at a high level the past couple of days and we have more for tomorrow. It was my turn to speak tonight, and my fellow pastors agreed that the men may need some encouragement. You see, persecution is not a foreign thing to them. I’ve not lived through the same kind of persecution as they have experienced. Truth is, we know life is hard and the enemy is still working full time to hinder the gospel no matter where you serve Him. But these guys really are facing tough issues. So, we prayed. We prayed individually over many tonight. It was humbling to think of who I prayed for, the cost of ministry for them, the people they lead and teach. I was blessed to come before Jesus on their behalf and ask God to continue to strengthen them and keep them focused on Him and the amazing mission of grace we’re all called to be a part of!
Tomorrow we each lead one more session, then close out this part of the trip tomorrow evening and Friday morning. It’s been good. And we’re all tired. But it’s a good tired.
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power 2Thes 1:11
I’m not even sure how to write this evening (morning in Flagstaff). The people I met and what I learned today is of the kind that can change a person’s life. It will take some time for me to process.
My main assignment is to do what I love and that is speaking on grace. However, I’m asking myself why I am the one up front doing the teaching. I’m speaking to men who have experienced great persecutions. I talked to people today who are not allowed to own property in their particular country because they are Christians. I met a man who spent over 2 years in prison, because he is a Christian. I need to find out what I can and cannot say about the men I met with today from an underground church movement. The numbers blow me away. These are humble men.
And I’m the one teaching them about grace. I should just sit down and shut up.
But, by God’s grace and in obedience to Him, I’ll keep teaching what I know. And, I’ll also continue to sit and listen to the stories.
I’m not going to lie, I’m tired.
And grateful.
Thank you Lord, for letting me have the mic on this needed topic of grace. And Lord, bless these dear men. Help me to learn from them in our time together. I’m so grateful #T2RS
It’s Monday morning and we’re soon on our way to the pastor’s conference to begin the teaching today through Thursday. Yesterday we were able to visit another of the Children’s homes of Bahn Immanuel. The young man that leads it was raised in the first one and now married with two kids is running a home in a small village not far from town.
I woke up early to see several messages on my phone. The big snow has arrived in Flagstaff causing a few changes. I’ve been thinking of you all and praying for you as the day is winding down for you. Grateful for Laurie’s family visiting and helping her out in my absence. Who doesn’t want to run a snowblower while vacationing on Spring Break? Yikers.
Thanks for praying for us as we travel today and begin the conference. I hope to check in this evening.
We arrived in Bangkok at 5:30 am Saturday. Now it’s 6:30 pm, and I’m a little anxious for bedtime. The plane was very nice, so no complaining, but I’m looking forward to a bed. I won’t even count the hours. Glad to be here in Chiang Rai for a couple of days before the conference starts. Honey, look what I had for lunch!
It was a privilege to meet up with Ron Miller at Baan Immanuel here in the city. It’s a wonderful children’s home. I was very impressed with what the Lord has done in this place!
The guys are waiting for me, so I’ll post more later. Thanks for your prayers, I’m very thankful to the Lord for safe travels and good health! #T2RS
As many of you know, today I leave for a 15 day trip to Thailand with Pastors Paul Hayes and Dan Holgate both of Calvary Community in Phoenix. We will meet up in just a few hours and fly to LAX, then begins our 18 hour flight to Bangkok, followed by another hour or so to our destination for the first week. The three of us will be teaching a pastor’s conference the first week.
I’ve been to the doctors twice this past week, just dealing with the normal junk that get’s passed around this time of year. I’m praying the flight over will give some rest and not an irritation to those around me.
Pray for my sweetheart as she keeps things rolling here at home. This might be the longest time we’ve been a part. No matter how busy each of us are, it’s just not the same.
I’ll do my best to keep my blog updated throughout the trip. So, please watch for that, and pray for our time traveling and ministering to the pastors.
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