Busy day...going out...scripture...

Wow! What a day! As much as I know that you want to hear about John's time in Chiang Rai I have to make a short entry about today and tomorrow I will begin to put up the stories that John has told me. Since John has come back I find myself with very little time.

Today was a "getting things done" kinda day. You ever have those? They seem to take forever but when all of it's done it feels so good. John didn't go out with the guys today because he had to help me get these things done. So we got things done - like mailed off newsletters that couldn't be sent via e-mail, got the registration for our car and scooter renewed and took care of some bills. After all that was done and we had finished dinner - Katherine let me know that they had changed the night that they go out to minister to the 'night time girls' to tonight.

It turns out MaryBeth and Amber couldn't go tonight so it was just Katherine and I. I got Josiah into the bathtub, fed Jude and got my bag ready full of tracks....hopped on the back of Katherine's bike and we were off. We decided to go downtown to pass out tracks instead of the area that they normally go to. It was really awesome to go this time because it was just Katherine and I. I sometimes allow myself to just tag along and pray because I don't speak Thai as well as these 4 year veterans...but tonight I spoke and I felt the hand of God as I looked those people in the eyes.

We even a had a few people come up and ask for books - this is rare downtown because it is a much more modern area whereas in the village you are surrounded by people wanting to know what you have to say. Downtown people had rather be about their own business and they are used to "farangs" (foreigners) being rude and only interested in sex and partying.

I feel so blessed to be here...to be able to do what we do...tonight was so fulfilling. I remember when I first came and John was passing out tracks I really kinda felt discouraged because I wanted to be able to do more than just pass out tracks but because of language we had been very limited and now to me it is an honor to be passing out these tracks because we have seen a dramatic increase in interest from passing out tracks.

We changed the insert inside of our tracks to a bigger insert and just in the past month we have received over 70 response cards of children and adults wanting to know more about Jesus. Every Sunday we are going to be making visits to the homes of the people who have sent in response cards. It is exciting!

I also just want to share with you that God has just brought me into a time of new appreciation of His word!!! As I read the Bible it is literally like life being breathed into me more than ever before and I praise God for that! Every since John has returned from this trip there has just been an increase in us all for wanting more and more and more of God!

Anyway, I realize that I have been very long winded in some previous posts and I have lost readers because of it so I'm just going to make every effort to say what needs to be said and leave it at that because I don't want to loose any more of you because I'm too long winded!!! :) So, with that I'm going to leave you with some scripture that has touched my heart!

Ephesians 3:14-21

14When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.

May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

20Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. 21May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.

I pray that Jesus, our Savior, will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him and that your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. I pray that you understand how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love really is for you! Know that Jesus is not just a Sunday friend or a someone to call on when things are tough. His love is real and he is interested in a real relationship with you. He has a plan for your life...are you allowing him time to work in you to accomplish that plan in your life? His sacrifice on the cross is worthy and deserving of your life...

Please stay tuned!! With much love,
Steph