So much to say and yet I do not know where to start.
Since being back in America, I have flushed toilet paper and I have eaten everything but rice. I have realized that coming from Thailand, where it is a billion degrees out, to Wisconsin, where I am constantly freezing, does not mean that I get to live on coffee. Although, it is a lot of fun. I hate jet lag- I still wake at ridiculous hours of the morning thinking it is time for ministry or food. But I like hearing everyone else's stories and seeing all my friends that I have made while in DTS.
I am excited for everyone's next step as it involves people going all over the world. Some are going to college, some to language school, some to staff, and some to a secondary school with YWAM. And as excited I am for them, I am even more excited about the turns my life is taking. Leaning on Jesus and waiting on Him is so much more fun and rewarding than freaking out and worrying.
This morning, directly after worship, we were told about a new school they are doing here in Madison- The School of Communication Foundation. The SCF. Listening to Dow speak about this school got me thinking about applying and going to it. The school starts in May and the cost is close to $3,500 and there is no outreach.
I had been feeling like the Lord was telling me to staff the fall DTS here in Madison, but I was not sure about what I was going to be doing over the summer. Where I would be staying,working, etc. Which was awkwardly fine. But now the opportunity of this school has arisen and I am totally thinking and praying about doing it. Please join me in praying.
And would you please pray and consider partnering with me as I partner with Jesus? Being a part of YWAM and missions here in the States for the next year will take finances and support through prayer from you all.
In order to be on staff, I need a minimum of $500 monthly support. In order to do the School of Communication Foundations I would need, basically, all of the tuition money, as I have about $2 to my name.
Whether you can financially support me or not, I covet your prayer for me.
Thank you all for reading my rambling and feel free to follow the page and even comment on the posts. I'll let you know what all is going on as I know.
Oh, also, a shout-out to the Europeans and Russians and Thais! I honestly do not know who you are, but I thank you for journeying with me!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Mae Sot and Bangkok
We arrived in Mae Sot the day before our visas expired and crossed over into Burma to gain a 15 day visa. We would do this again to gain a second 15 day visa. We were all tired and hungry, and as it was hot out, extremely thirsty. We had seen some crazy car accidents on the way to Mae Sot and I was just ready to relax. I do not recall what we did that first day, but I do know that Mae Sot changed my life and the outreach.
We did open air every night. We had no idea what that meant when we were first told about it. Did that mean...? Well, honestly, there was not really any questions because we knew there would not be an answer- including the question of "What time?". We went to a factory that first night. Speakers started blaring and I am sure, we were as confused as the migrant workers were. We were not sure what to do, but we figured we would do what we had felt the Lord told us to. It went well, other than the fact that they ran away from us if we went up to them. From there, open air was mostly the same. We pray, show up, and watch God do what He wanted to. There was one very special open air though. I am almost positive that the whole team feels this way. We showed up at a street market, there was a factory down the street, but this location was better to be at simply because the factory was on a more narrow road.
When we had prayed that morning, we all felt the Lord was saying to make it about Him. We did not understand what that meant fully and even after throwing around ideas for ways to do that we did not know. Not until we were at open air. We simply wanted to give God all the glory. There was one man there the whole entire time we were there. It was awkward, but somewhere in the middle of the program, as I stood there kind of grumbling, I felt the Lord say, "Hey Maya, you may not see anything, but you are changing the atmosphere. Do you really need people to do that?" Later that night, Coach had us sit down. I think he felt bad for us because no one was there. He opened up the floor and I knew I had to share what the Lord had said to me. When I finished a couple of my teammates said they knew the Lord told them the same thing. Crazy how God does that. That night would have to be one of my favorites. Of just knowing that no matter what, no matter who, no matter anything, we can always just say "Jesus" and release something great into the atmosphere.
We went all over Mae Sot. And even outside of the city. Many times, we had no idea where we were going. We would show up at Morning Glory school and work there or at the Burmese medical clinic or any other number of places. Let me see if I can remember some of the places we went: migrant factories, garbage dump, orphanages, schools (including one for the monks), markets, clinic, and I am sure many other places.
One of my favorite places in Mae Sot though, was the Burmese school. Morning Glory is a school where the Burmese children can go to school and get a very good education. They study mathematics, sciences, English language, Thai language, Burmese history and the Burmese language. They also study music, art and sports. These kids get a well rounded education and I got to be part of it for two weeks. However, when we were there, we learned that the Thai government had come in and said that the school needs to be remodeled. We helped with some of it, but it was difficult to try to do something when we were not 100% positive what they were saying. We did lay a concrete floor and I am sure that the measurements will never leave my head. I often went to the Grade 4 classroom wether we worked on the floor that day or not. The best day in that classroom was actually the last day. We were just hanging out and messing around and one of the boys pulled out a book that we had been working in. I sat down with him and watched him read one of the stories we had worked on. I asked him if he could read it to me. He read me The Hare and the Tortoise and then he read the second story we had worked on, Maung Pau's Egg. I was so proud of him. He only messed up on one word and paused only once or twice. I was so proud I thought I would cry. We played a game or two and laughed a lot. It was Friday and that meant it was a half day, they were all packing up to go home when one of the boys said, "See you Monday, Sister." It broke my heart to tell them that I left the next day for Bangkok. That I was on my way back to America.
That is what this trip gave me: a broken heart. I say that with as much love as possible. I fell in love back in January. My world collided with so many people over in Thailand and my heart was stolen over and over again. From Mae Sai to Mae Sot and even Burma and Laos.
Oh, and I am pretty much convinced that I am going to adopted a Burmese child. So stinking adorable.
Bangkok...I only love you cause you are a part of Thailand, after that I could not wait to get away from you. Although, the hotel we stayed in was great. It even had a shower head. Not that I minded bucket showers.
I need to sign off now, but I will update more either tomorrow or in a couple of days.
Thank you all.
Oh and also, you can follow this blog by providing your email address- you do not need an account or anything. Blogger sends you an email whenever I update. Just in case that is easier for you.
We did open air every night. We had no idea what that meant when we were first told about it. Did that mean...? Well, honestly, there was not really any questions because we knew there would not be an answer- including the question of "What time?". We went to a factory that first night. Speakers started blaring and I am sure, we were as confused as the migrant workers were. We were not sure what to do, but we figured we would do what we had felt the Lord told us to. It went well, other than the fact that they ran away from us if we went up to them. From there, open air was mostly the same. We pray, show up, and watch God do what He wanted to. There was one very special open air though. I am almost positive that the whole team feels this way. We showed up at a street market, there was a factory down the street, but this location was better to be at simply because the factory was on a more narrow road.
When we had prayed that morning, we all felt the Lord was saying to make it about Him. We did not understand what that meant fully and even after throwing around ideas for ways to do that we did not know. Not until we were at open air. We simply wanted to give God all the glory. There was one man there the whole entire time we were there. It was awkward, but somewhere in the middle of the program, as I stood there kind of grumbling, I felt the Lord say, "Hey Maya, you may not see anything, but you are changing the atmosphere. Do you really need people to do that?" Later that night, Coach had us sit down. I think he felt bad for us because no one was there. He opened up the floor and I knew I had to share what the Lord had said to me. When I finished a couple of my teammates said they knew the Lord told them the same thing. Crazy how God does that. That night would have to be one of my favorites. Of just knowing that no matter what, no matter who, no matter anything, we can always just say "Jesus" and release something great into the atmosphere.
We went all over Mae Sot. And even outside of the city. Many times, we had no idea where we were going. We would show up at Morning Glory school and work there or at the Burmese medical clinic or any other number of places. Let me see if I can remember some of the places we went: migrant factories, garbage dump, orphanages, schools (including one for the monks), markets, clinic, and I am sure many other places.
One of my favorite places in Mae Sot though, was the Burmese school. Morning Glory is a school where the Burmese children can go to school and get a very good education. They study mathematics, sciences, English language, Thai language, Burmese history and the Burmese language. They also study music, art and sports. These kids get a well rounded education and I got to be part of it for two weeks. However, when we were there, we learned that the Thai government had come in and said that the school needs to be remodeled. We helped with some of it, but it was difficult to try to do something when we were not 100% positive what they were saying. We did lay a concrete floor and I am sure that the measurements will never leave my head. I often went to the Grade 4 classroom wether we worked on the floor that day or not. The best day in that classroom was actually the last day. We were just hanging out and messing around and one of the boys pulled out a book that we had been working in. I sat down with him and watched him read one of the stories we had worked on. I asked him if he could read it to me. He read me The Hare and the Tortoise and then he read the second story we had worked on, Maung Pau's Egg. I was so proud of him. He only messed up on one word and paused only once or twice. I was so proud I thought I would cry. We played a game or two and laughed a lot. It was Friday and that meant it was a half day, they were all packing up to go home when one of the boys said, "See you Monday, Sister." It broke my heart to tell them that I left the next day for Bangkok. That I was on my way back to America.
That is what this trip gave me: a broken heart. I say that with as much love as possible. I fell in love back in January. My world collided with so many people over in Thailand and my heart was stolen over and over again. From Mae Sai to Mae Sot and even Burma and Laos.
Oh, and I am pretty much convinced that I am going to adopted a Burmese child. So stinking adorable.
Bangkok...I only love you cause you are a part of Thailand, after that I could not wait to get away from you. Although, the hotel we stayed in was great. It even had a shower head. Not that I minded bucket showers.
I need to sign off now, but I will update more either tomorrow or in a couple of days.
Thank you all.
Oh and also, you can follow this blog by providing your email address- you do not need an account or anything. Blogger sends you an email whenever I update. Just in case that is easier for you.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Continue to Break Me, God
We have spent the last couple of week in Mae Sot going throughout the city. Here, we do different ministry than we have done in any other place. Almost everyday holds something new. Afternoons are usually spent at Morning Glory, a school for Burmese kids. We have been working on the floor for a kitchen- one, two, three. Yeah, don't think I am ever going to forget the ratio after doing it so many times. So we did the floor and we also taught English. My friend, Brook and I taught class the first day and then he went to help with the floor and I was in the class by myself. We began to work on The Hare and the Tortoise. Kids who do not speak English as a first language saying "tortoise" and "will" is one of the most adorable things. Each day that I have not worked with them, I have realized that I miss them. They are such a joy. Especially the way they try so hard and are so interested in learning and saying a word correctly.
My Burmese is pretty bad and my Thai is awkward, but I have a language everyone speaks. A smile and a hug go a long long way. I learned this even deeper today at the prison. Not all the woman were released to spend time with us, and they would stand on the other side and watch us. One lady kept watching me; maybe because I kept smiling at her and trying to let her know that I saw her. I don't know to be honest. But I have seen a smile brighten days. Maybe a smile brightens their life. Thailand is the Land of Smiles and for the most part that is true, but the Burmese are not Thai. And it is evident to me by how little they smile in comparison to the Thais.
The other night, we had finished open air and were sitting at a restruant to eat when this young woman came up to our table. She was 17 and pregnant and had a 2 yr old baby in her hands. The little boy was her nephew, but he was always with her. She was begging, same as last night. Brook and I looked at each other, then at Kevin, our team leader, and then to the girl. "Would you like to eat with us". She began to speak Thai and the team translator told us that she could not because she still had to get twenty one baht. And there was also something about how she could not eat what we were eating, but we did not fully understand what was being said. If we gave her the rest of the money, but she at least sit with us? She sat and asked if it was okay to order for the little boy. I was glad to see that she ate as well. We asked her questions, but mainly she spoke with the translator who later told us her story. The little boy had an open wound on his knee and we had first aid supplies. We patched him up then Brook and Geert-Jan ran to the store to buy him some ice cream for his bravery. I have not seen the two of them since, but they are never far from my mind. Join me in prayer for the young mother and the two children.
We are forever hanging out with children. It is tiring work trying to entertain them and make sure they have a good time. We have worked with so many tribes and nations during this time and I am sure The Lord looks down and dances and sings and plays odd versions of rock, paper, scissors with us. Because when you get down to the heart of what we are doing, we are showing these children the tangible love of Jesus Christ. We are his hands and feet. And these children are Jesus.
Treat everyone like he is Jesus Christ for who never know who is.
There is still another week of outreach left and then the dreaded plane ride. For me, releasing that my heart is here in Thailand with everyone u have met along the way. Thank you so much football your prayers and support.
Oh, and my outreach is still not paid off so if you could pray for that as well. Thank you.
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