Im back to Chiang Mai from the jungle adventure. Let me tell you quickly that God blessed SOO greatly...
We had a nice place to stay...I slept on a mat on the floor, but was sheltered. ;) I had ants in my pants, and ears, and toes....and I look like I have measles from the mosquitos...but it was shelter from whatever else is out there in those jungles!
Many Christians there...Praise God for brand new Christians and previous Christians!!!!
Great Friends!!
Great relationships built.
Many answered prayers.
The owner of the home we stayed in told me this morning, "You look Koreen (the tribe), you stay here. You cannot leave." I amazingly DID kinda look like a member of this tribe. Weird. Who knew a Mexican/American/mutt could find such community there?!?
I will try to blog when I get to the next country. We leave early in the morning. Right now, Im about to leave to go eat dinner with the team. We've had rice, rice and more rice...So, Im gonna be searching something non-asian. ;)
Thank you all for praying. I know this is a short post with little details...but there is more to come! We are safe, worn-out completely, maybe have a few parasites..hehe... But God has provided for all of our needs and is faithful. Im sooo blessed to have been a part of reaching this area for Christ. I cannot, cannot, cannot wait to share more stories soon!!!!
P.S. Please pray for an 'unspoken' for me tonight. Thanks!!
Love you!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
25 years
I just want to praise God this morning for the ending of 24 GREAT years and the beginning of the 25th year of my life. Today, Im heading to the jungles! In just a few minutes...
Leah bought me a journal for the trip...Here is the verse Im reading today:
Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phillippians 1:6
Leah bought me a journal for the trip...Here is the verse Im reading today:
Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phillippians 1:6
Im here!
Im in Thailand!
Wow. What a journey so far.
Our flights went well. No crashing or anything like that! ;)
The 15 hour flight to Korea was pretty rough. Sleep wasn't possible and my feet are still swollen and bruised from the pressure in the plane. I was restless on this flight. Wildly restless. I stood up and ran around the plane for 2 hours.
The next flight from Korea to Thailand was dreamy! I slept like a rock for 4 hours. We arrived and saw Dr. Fil. My heart was soooo thrilled. I was the first to see him and I just ran like mad and gave him a big hug. He said, Amber, are you excited about your birthday tomorrow? I said "I can't believe you remember that!" He said, "Oh, how is it possible that I forget something like that?!?" I love these people.
Im at a wonderful hotel called the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel in Chiang Mai. Today, arrived in the hotel at 1 am. and slept until 7:30. I came down for breakfast. We went to money exchangers; to McDonalds (Asian Style--hehe.); then to see the elephants; then I just came back from an Orchid farm. It was soo beautiful. Im enjoying this time of rest and fellowship. We went to the market and bought rice and water for the journey tomorrow. We will be there for 3 days. Im thrilled! Oh, and something else...We found a place called the Thailand Bible Society where we purchased 300 Bibles in the native language of Korene. This is the people group we will work with the next few days. Once we get to the jungle--we will hike 2 miles up to 2 more ethnic villages. Please pray for safety, health and the lost souls. Our van driver is named Pan..Please pray for his salvation too. (The picture below is him...He's wearing the nice shades...He is 51! Can you believe it?!? He told me his age while we were in the market--I said "No!!" He said in an Asian accent "Oh yes, its true. 51, 51." )
I love you all. Thank you for your posts recently. When we return from the jungle, I may have a little bit of time to write. In the next post, I cannot let you know where we go after the jungle due to the safety of the team. However, God knows right where we will be.
Praise God for the safety and provisions He gave. This time alone with God has already been overwhelming. To see the beauty of the people, the countryside, the fellow believers, the soon-to-be believers...God is indescrible, really.
Tonight Im going to the 'night markets' where people sell things on the streets. I will be finding many things to take to the children of the village. There are 1500 people in the jungle! I cannot believe it....Im hoping to see a delivery or at least play with lots of children...
Mom, I have so much to tell you about these children here already! Lots of good ideas for the future. Remind me. ;)
Praying for everyone at home. Love you.
Amber ;)
P.S. In my room, there is a Thai Bible from the Gideons. I sat and wondered for an hour or two last night how many people recieved Christ from this. There were markings in the Bible too!
Pray for souls to be saved. There are so many idols here. There is also much underground prostitiution as well.These people need hope.
Love you.
Our flights went well. No crashing or anything like that! ;)
The 15 hour flight to Korea was pretty rough. Sleep wasn't possible and my feet are still swollen and bruised from the pressure in the plane. I was restless on this flight. Wildly restless. I stood up and ran around the plane for 2 hours.
The next flight from Korea to Thailand was dreamy! I slept like a rock for 4 hours. We arrived and saw Dr. Fil. My heart was soooo thrilled. I was the first to see him and I just ran like mad and gave him a big hug. He said, Amber, are you excited about your birthday tomorrow? I said "I can't believe you remember that!" He said, "Oh, how is it possible that I forget something like that?!?" I love these people.
Im at a wonderful hotel called the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel in Chiang Mai. Today, arrived in the hotel at 1 am. and slept until 7:30. I came down for breakfast. We went to money exchangers; to McDonalds (Asian Style--hehe.); then to see the elephants; then I just came back from an Orchid farm. It was soo beautiful. Im enjoying this time of rest and fellowship. We went to the market and bought rice and water for the journey tomorrow. We will be there for 3 days. Im thrilled! Oh, and something else...We found a place called the Thailand Bible Society where we purchased 300 Bibles in the native language of Korene. This is the people group we will work with the next few days. Once we get to the jungle--we will hike 2 miles up to 2 more ethnic villages. Please pray for safety, health and the lost souls. Our van driver is named Pan..Please pray for his salvation too. (The picture below is him...He's wearing the nice shades...He is 51! Can you believe it?!? He told me his age while we were in the market--I said "No!!" He said in an Asian accent "Oh yes, its true. 51, 51." )
I love you all. Thank you for your posts recently. When we return from the jungle, I may have a little bit of time to write. In the next post, I cannot let you know where we go after the jungle due to the safety of the team. However, God knows right where we will be.
Praise God for the safety and provisions He gave. This time alone with God has already been overwhelming. To see the beauty of the people, the countryside, the fellow believers, the soon-to-be believers...God is indescrible, really.
Tonight Im going to the 'night markets' where people sell things on the streets. I will be finding many things to take to the children of the village. There are 1500 people in the jungle! I cannot believe it....Im hoping to see a delivery or at least play with lots of children...
Mom, I have so much to tell you about these children here already! Lots of good ideas for the future. Remind me. ;)
Praying for everyone at home. Love you.
Amber ;)
P.S. In my room, there is a Thai Bible from the Gideons. I sat and wondered for an hour or two last night how many people recieved Christ from this. There were markings in the Bible too!
Pray for souls to be saved. There are so many idols here. There is also much underground prostitiution as well.These people need hope.
Love you.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Frogs, Thugs, and Harmony
Here's the scene so far in my town: A bean field, my main road, and the local paper mill.
(The background noise of the town is frogs on the local ponds or down by the levy.)
I enjoyed dinner with my sister, one of the local UCA thugs.
After dinner, we stamped over 100 mission letters. While Im in SE Asia, I still have to raise funds for Haiti. I leave for Haiti 10 days after I arrive back in the states. If you don't recieve a letter and want to help, I cannot deny the opportunity..Im desperate here folks! You can still give! My good friend Leah is fielding donations and support for me while Im away! (Thank you!)
Donations should be made out to:
Aid for Developing Countries (Memo: Amber) 12341 Martin Rd Fayetteville, AR 72704;
$1 $5 $10 $20...Every gift is appreciated and much needed to help the people in Haiti receive medical care and hear the gospel.
I leave for Southeast Asia in 2 hours!!! Praise God!!!! I haven't slept yet because Im too wired and there is much to post! Please stay tuned for the next post from Asia. :) I will give an update of arrival and safety if possible. Until then, God bless and thank you for the prayers and support.
Romans 10: 13-15
Scoops...Here you go!
Scoops...You know Im true to my word...I hope you enjoy these pictures!
Smile. Bea loves you. ;) And be nice to Jai today...She's married to this superstar!
Farewell
Farewell to normal life.
Each morning I wake up and think of funny things that just have to be told at work. The funny things my roommate says, or the crazy guy with the mullet on the side of the road, or more of my family stories.... Sometimes I even laugh out loud in my car thinking about all the things that will happen in the day. Thursday was the last day of what I have come to consider "normal life". It was my last day with the bank; the last day of a sense of financial security for me; a goodbye to my family and friends; and the continuation of following God's will for my life--no matter where He may call.
When I got to work Thursday, I came to the people who have been literally my family during my time in NWA. Karen, Terry, Jai and Michael---you mean the world to me. I love you guys so much. You have helped me become a better person and have been such a support and stronghold in my life. So...I didn't cry at work on Thursday like I was SURE I would....after our awesome dinner at Carabas (pictures below!)...I got in the car and just lost it. I cried deeply over and over again. I have been so privilaged to work with you---and I already miss you all deeply. I know you guys are busy answering one call after the next after the next.....And Im praying for you. ;) I know God has a great plan for all of you. Love you guys! Thank you for making my last day a FANTASTIC day!
Farewell to normal life...
Each morning I wake up and think of funny things that just have to be told at work. The funny things my roommate says, or the crazy guy with the mullet on the side of the road, or more of my family stories.... Sometimes I even laugh out loud in my car thinking about all the things that will happen in the day. Thursday was the last day of what I have come to consider "normal life". It was my last day with the bank; the last day of a sense of financial security for me; a goodbye to my family and friends; and the continuation of following God's will for my life--no matter where He may call.
When I got to work Thursday, I came to the people who have been literally my family during my time in NWA. Karen, Terry, Jai and Michael---you mean the world to me. I love you guys so much. You have helped me become a better person and have been such a support and stronghold in my life. So...I didn't cry at work on Thursday like I was SURE I would....after our awesome dinner at Carabas (pictures below!)...I got in the car and just lost it. I cried deeply over and over again. I have been so privilaged to work with you---and I already miss you all deeply. I know you guys are busy answering one call after the next after the next.....And Im praying for you. ;) I know God has a great plan for all of you. Love you guys! Thank you for making my last day a FANTASTIC day!
Farewell to normal life...
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Welcome to Motown!
The people at my place of work have literally been my family the last few years.
Jai, Terry, Karen and Michael. These people are the most amazing people. How often do you leave work and say, 'I love you guys', and REALLY mean it? I shed some deep tears last night thinking about leaving this family...We've had some wild times!
Halloween as the JACKSON FIVE! 
Yes, we painted ourselves black. There is one
Yes, we painted ourselves black. There is one
"I- was-born-with-a-real-fro" person...Can you find who??
Can you find the modern Michael Jackson in the bunch?!?
This was the funniest day of my life. I was so scared to drive to work painted black with a fro. I thought someone would see a 'white spot' and get offended (cause I wasn't truly representin') and just run me off the road. I called Karen and showed up at her house...I scrunched down in the seat all the way to work! We almost died laughing the whole way to work. Way too much fun!
Im going to cherish these last two days with this wild bunch!
Jai, You and I need to master these dance moves before I leave!!
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