Here's John on the other side of the camera for once...being John... :) That's Amber back there. The following pictures are all from today - most of the team went out to pass out tracks and put up signs in a very busy area of Hat Yai...
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Today the team passed out tracks in a busy area of town - near Carrefour (where the bomb went off some months back) - and even the stopped TukTuk's were given tracks :)
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This is May and Pii Thak out with the team passing out tracks telling how God has changed their lives.
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Here is Clinton out with everyone passing out tracks and putting up signs today...
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This is Nawng Bouie and Nawng Am. Nawng means younger...if someone is older than you you place 'Pii' before their name when you speak to them or about them. Both of these girls know Jesus and are living for Him. I will be teaching and discipling Nawng Am every week beginning this next week at my house along with the rest of the team through out the week...so keep Am in your prayers and us as well :)
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Most of the team went out today put up these signs and passed out tracks...To be totally honest I forgot what this sign says and I can't read it yet...so...when I ask someone I'll update and let you know...I can guarantee it's about Jesus though...lol
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Here's John soaked after getting caught in the rain on the motorbike...I was supposed to be cooking "aahaan farang" (western food) for Pii Noi...who always cooks for us at a small shop down the road. She doesn't know God at all...But unfortunately she couldn't make it...so we settled in for a nice quiet speghetti night together.
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Check out this guy that visited our front door tonight! First one I've seen so far...looks like something out of a movie to me...AUGG! Yuck...but...you gotta admire God's creativity on this one...right?
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This is after the cat had a little bit of fun with it...It's still alive...
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Yep...that's me...I'm officially 30 weeks along! :) I feel like I'm ready to have this baby now...but...nope...2 more months left. :)
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Josiah hanging out with the guys while they spread the good news...
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Pic of Clinton going through a track with a man from the village...
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Josiah looking pretty serious about passing out tracks... :) hehehe...
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Trecking through the village area looking for people...
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John just told me the story on this picture...beside the man in the purple shirt on the right is a man hunched down on the ground because he didn't want his picture taken. It's not that he didn't want his picture taken at all...it's that he didn't want it taken while he was drunk and had been drinking all day. He was ashamed...John learned this after he snapped the shot.

John also informed me the only way he felt comfortable taking these pictures was because the men were in awe of the camera and the screen on the back of it. They wanted him to take pictures so they could see how it works and see themselves in the screen.
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Some men looking at tracks and listening to Clinton...I think this picture gives you a good idea of what it is like to take pictures when out in the villages. I specifically asked John to take some today because Josiah was going and if you notice...you can tell this guy is like...what are you doing?!? It can really hurt your witness to these people but John felt that it was ok to snap a couple with these guys...
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Clinton telling these two men the good news...
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Trials

Man...it is just HOT today! whew!

"Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you wil be strong in character and ready for anything..."
James 1:2-4

There has been so much going on in the past month and I look over the blog and I don't see much evidence of it. You could think we were just sitting on our hinney's from what I've put up recently...:) I have to admit - I have had an extreme case of writters block but I think that's about gone now...

It seems like in the past couple of weeks everyone I know is going through some kind of trail in their life. A time when they can feel that they are being pulled and stretched to their limits - with all that is going on with Katrina having hit and the coming storms and hurricanes...I can only imagine the trials that many are going through. My little nephew...Braden...who has set an example for us all is facing another trail along with is parents (Steve and Annie). I just received news that they found that the shunt in his head is working BUT now that the fluid is starting to drain they have found a cyst and he may have to have surgery. He is going to have a MRI today at 10 am...

I can only imagine what it would feel like to have to send your little baby boy off for another surgery...after all he's already fought through(Braden was born at 1lb and 7oz). Another trial worth mentioning is my mother who just recently had neck surgery - she wrote and told me of her trial of missing us and how there are times when she just sits down and cries like a baby because she misses being able to be active in our lives. She misses out on the growth of her grandson...the life of her daughter and son-in-law and the birth of her next grandson.

Another trial is that that my fellow Texans are facing right now being forced to leave their homes and evacuate because of the on coming storms...and even as far inland as Sherman they are preparing for power failure...and gas prices rising and much more. Here in Thailand we are facing trials as we are continuing forward in what God has set us here to do...spiritually and financially we have felt the attack and pressure....not to trust in God and believe His word. It's a lot easier to run from a battle than to stand up and fight when your legs are weary and your hands are shaking from holding on with all you've got.

For all of us who are facing trials right now - I just want to remind you that we are to count it as joy when we face these trials - because we know that God is at work in our lives. With that being said let me also say that you can not always call trials that come your way the work of God. The enemy is at work too and you must trust in God and stand on what He has promised in His word for us.

With that being said - I wanted to share something cute that happened this morning that just made my day. John got up around 8:30 this morning getting ready to out to a village with Clinton and Brandon...Clinton was running a little late so they didn't get to leave when they expected to. So John left only to return about 20 minutes later to get Josiah to go with him. Normally John would leave Josiah with me unless I was at school or it was one of the days Pii Saow comes but today he had to come back and get him because he was running out of time.

I had to be at class at 12:40 and he wouldnot have been back in time....so John walks in and says "Josiah...you wanna go with Daddy to the village to tell people about Jesus?" Josiah jumps up and starts jumping on the bed saying "yes, yes..." John goes to Josiah's room to get him some clothes and he looks at me with his sweet grin and says "Momma...I get to go tell people about Jesus with Daddy..." Now the reason this touched my heart is because my son doesn't get to go out to too many places so normally when he does he's excited about going out...so I expected a response such as "Momma...I get to GO to the village with Daddy..." but this time he was excited because he got to go tell people about Jesus.

He loves to tell people that "you should always say 'yes' to Jesus". Anyway, John, Brandon and Josiah just returned from the village so I am going to cut this short although it's not very short...hehehe...

I'll write again soon and leave you with this from Hebrews 12:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.

v. 12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet."

Yesterday (Friday) we were able to take some time out of our day to go to the beach for about 3 hours! I had never been before and it was a blast. Josiah was extremely excited about seeing the ocean again...it was very fun and some how we all made it out with no sunburn! Wahoo!
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Josiah loves the sand...
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Josiah making a lawn chair in the sand....with Daddy and Brandon.
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John and Josiah trying to open their eyes enough in the sun for a smile...
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Yes that shirt does say "Sherman Stuco" - a sweet reminder of Sherman... :) Hello all you Shermanites!
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John and Josiah having fun in the water...
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This past week we celebrated Asia's Birthday! Here is Asia and Josiah enjoying the fun! I was so proud of him that night as he watched Asia open present after present and he was just happy for her - he didn't fuss for a present of his own...he just took it like a BIG little man. It was wonderful and Asia got some wonderful presents!
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Since Asia was born Mommy (MaryBeth) makes her a cake for her birthday every year with a scripture on it - this one reads "We know that in all things God works for the good for those who love Him". Asia is such a sweet and wonderful little girl and we are so proud to be a part of her life.
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Asia's Birthday Party
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John and Brandon on Willie's boat taking some much deserved time off after working all week making bricks and more...This is one of the few pictures of John in all of these photos because John was behind the camera most of the time - John took this pic too...can you tell?
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A Burmese school that has been setup in Baan Nam Khem...these children are victims of the tsunami...many lost their parents or have been abandoned because of hard times.
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John and Brandon both taught English at the school while they were in Baan Nam Khem...It was quite an experience for both of them. It was John's first time to teach English ever and it was Brandon's first time to teach children - they did an excellent job and had fun doing it.
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Todd is holding a cake because two of the kids in the Burmese school were having a birthday that day...
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One day John, Brandon and Todd worked in the area behind the Pruitts home to clear debri that continually comes in from the ocean...even now...almost 8 months after the tsunami hit Baan Nam Khem...
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These are the product of John and Brandon's hard days work! Go guys!
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Mixing the cement and dirt together...
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John and Brandon worked one press machine while the other workers were able to work on their new press machine that they recently received.
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This is the building that they work in while making the bricks - the top loft area is where the workers sleep at night.
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Here is Brandon working hard making compressed bricks. John and Brandon spent about 6 hours or so each day making bricks in the sweltering heat of Baan Nam Khem. These bricks are used to rebuild homes that were destroyed by the tsunami.
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This is the Pruitt family that moved to Baan Nam Khem about 5 months ago (I think that's right?). Even though they are 5 hours away they are very much apart of our team, lives and prayers.
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This is the meeting that the Pruitts have in there home once a week with the Burmese crew that Todd works with daily - building bricks. Notice the fruit in that bowl - betcha never seen that before! I'll get a closer picture of this fruit sometime - it's actually delicious.
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John and Willie on Willie's rebuilt boat thanks to the hard work of Willie and Todd Pruitt - and the donations from the body of Christ.
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Ah...a side of Thailand I have yet to show you. I have found that many things that are NOT normal have become NORMAL to me and I forget to take pictures to show you guys...but this morning...I didn't forget. This morning we were all chomping away at our khow-knee-ou (sticky rice) and John comes down to join us and says..."Uh guys, have you looked at this rice?" Brandon and I look down and find that those little black specks weren't seasoning...they were ants. Needless to say John didn't eat much more while Brandon and I picked around the ants. It's just protein right?
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These are the leftovers from this afternoon's breakfast/lunch. Yeah...those things...that look like yummy claussen pickles ARE NOT pickles. Those are cucumbers...some ant infested sticky rice...watermelon and pineapple...chicken leg...and some somtom. Yumm Yumm!
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Ok - so...I can't say this is normal but here is what we deal with here. My friend Kathryn came over to use our washer and she saw a huge cockroach so she sprayed it and when she did...about 15+ cockroaches came out and came into my kitchen - crawling on the door, the walls, the ceiling...and the floor! They were coming from everywhere...

It's a good thing I can do cockroaches - it's spiders I have the issue with. So Kathryn and I fought off the whole onslaught of them and here lies the remains from the battle. NASTY!!! Some of them are as long as your middle finger!!!
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I still don't use it all the time but here is a Thai broom. Yeah I know...it looks like it wouldn't sweep anything up - but you would be surprise...it's all about the skill! I found an American broom so I have that to fall back on if my skills are not up to par for that day...
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For those women out there - this is my Thai kitchen and burner. This house came with very nice tiling - I'm blessed. Notice no sockets...can be very not fun - but I can't complain - I do have 1 electric socket in my kitchen and one cabinet with doors!! :)
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Father - Son time at the park

Yesterday John and Josiah had some father/son time out at the park and John brought home these pictures. I was shocked - my little boy is growing up sooo fast!! I posted all these picks of Josiah for all those family members and friends who miss him terribly. We love you! Thank you for sharing Josiah with Thailand and loving us even though we're so far away...
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Josiah Evan Blake
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Josiah Evan Blake
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Josiah Evan Blake
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Josiah Evan Blake
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Josiah Evan Blake
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