Our internship is finished and now its "full-swing" support-raising time! For those that are in the lower mainland & area, and would like to hear us share about Thailand (and hear Jon preach!), here are some of our upcoming church visits for the summer. We'll keep you posted as more come up:
Sunday, July 17th- River of Life Community Church (Sorrento, BC)
Sunday, July 24th- Broadway MB Church (Chilliwack, BC)
Sunday, July 31st- Westwood MB Church (Prince George, BC) -- we'll just be visiting while we're in PG for a family reunion, not actually sharing during the service. But would love to see you there!
Sunday, August 7th- Greendale MB Church (Chilliwack, BC)
Sunday, August 14th- Clearbrook MB Church (Abbotsford, BC) -- EVENING service @ 7pm
Hope to see many of you over the next few weeks!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Blessed...
I can hardly begin to tell you about all the ways Jon and I have felt supported over the last few months. As we've continued our journey toward Thailand, we have been blown away by the number of people who have got behind us, through both prayer & finances. We are truly blessed beyond measure by our friends & family!! We're currently at 70% of our support-raising and feel so encouraged by peoples' willingness to team up with the ministry that is happening in Thailand. Praise God!
And just to add to that blessing, our dear friends Kristy and Michaela put on a fundraiser for us last weekend!
Kristy was gracious enough to head the whole thing up and host it in her beautiful home. She has an Etsy business called Sweet Dreams and makes a wide variety of gorgeous hand-sewn items. Check out her website for everything from aprons to napkins to baby blankets and so much more!
My friend Michaela is a Stella & Dot stylist and had all of her gorgeous jewelry displayed for Saturday's sale. Check out her Stella site to put in your order!
We can't thank you enough, Kristy & Michaela (and Nathania too!), for your willingness to put on this fundraiser and support the ministry in Thailand in this way. We couldn't do it without you and so appreciate your friendship and generosity!
If you're interested in checking out the girls' websites... just click on the links in this post to find out more! Or, if you're interested in getting behind the ministry that is going on in Thailand, click HERE to donate!
And just to add to that blessing, our dear friends Kristy and Michaela put on a fundraiser for us last weekend!
Kristy was gracious enough to head the whole thing up and host it in her beautiful home. She has an Etsy business called Sweet Dreams and makes a wide variety of gorgeous hand-sewn items. Check out her website for everything from aprons to napkins to baby blankets and so much more!
... some of the "Sweet Dreams" merchandise that was on sale last Saturday...
My friend Michaela is a Stella & Dot stylist and had all of her gorgeous jewelry displayed for Saturday's sale. Check out her Stella site to put in your order!
The beautiful hostess, Kristy (on the right)
chatting with Michaela's twin sister, Nathania :)
The beautiful Stella stylists,
Nathania & Michaela.
We can't thank you enough, Kristy & Michaela (and Nathania too!), for your willingness to put on this fundraiser and support the ministry in Thailand in this way. We couldn't do it without you and so appreciate your friendship and generosity!
If you're interested in checking out the girls' websites... just click on the links in this post to find out more! Or, if you're interested in getting behind the ministry that is going on in Thailand, click HERE to donate!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I can dream, can't I...
It seems as though we may never get spring here in the Lower Mainland. As I write this, the rain continues to pour down in a deluge that could sweep away the entire backyard.
So today... I'm dreaming about Thailand and anticipating our future in a warmer climate. I realize that the heat will be a bit much, most of the time, but today... I would take it over this rain in a heartbeat!
(pictures taken during our trip to Thailand in 2009)
So today... I'm dreaming about Thailand and anticipating our future in a warmer climate. I realize that the heat will be a bit much, most of the time, but today... I would take it over this rain in a heartbeat!
But alas, I'll just have to dream for now.
So... if I was in Thailand today...
I'd enjoy a nice cold slushie from one of the local vendors...
... and a big plate of fresh papaya salad...
... perhaps a nice cold Coke...
... I'd enjoy sitting under the beautiful umbrellas at the beach...
... take in the beautiful greenery & foliage...
... get around town in one of these...
... maybe spend some time at the zoo...
... and just, all around, enjoy the warmth & beauty of Thailand :)
(pictures taken during our trip to Thailand in 2009)
Monday, May 2, 2011
My first words...
As much as I'd love to have lots of time to commit to language learning, I have to admit that this hasn't been the case. Between internship, fundraising, parenting, sharing at Care Groups, socializing and everything else that life includes these days, language learning has been at the bottom of the list of priorities (unfortunately).
Thankfully, we're not actually required to do any language study prior to mobilizing, but we decided that we'd like to try to get a bit under our belts before we leave. So... for now, although the lessons are few and far between, we press on with Rosetta Stone Thai whenever we get the chance (ie: during Callie's naps on our days off :))
Here are just a few of the random words I've learned so far (showing the English word, the Thai word spoken phonetically, and then the thai script.) :
Hello (female speaker)/ Sa-wat-dii-ka / สวัสดี
Thank-you (female speaker)/ Kup-kun-ka / ขอบคุณ
Girl / dek-puu-ying / เด็กผู้หญิง
Boy / dek-puu-chaai / เด็กผู้ชาย
Woman / puu-ying / ผู้หญิง
Man / puu-chaai / ผู้ชาย
Horse / maa / ม้า
Cat / maew / แมว
Dog / su-nakh / สุนัข
Elephant / chaang / ช้าง
Airplane / kruuang-bin / เครื่องบิน
Car / rot / รถ
In / nai / ใน
On / bon / บน
Under / dtaai / ใต้
Red / deeng / สีแดง
Yellow / luuang / สีเหลือง
Blue (sky blue)/ sii-faa / สีฟ้า
White / kaao / ขาว
There are actually quite a few others I could add to the list but I'll leave that for another day... :)
Thankfully, we're not actually required to do any language study prior to mobilizing, but we decided that we'd like to try to get a bit under our belts before we leave. So... for now, although the lessons are few and far between, we press on with Rosetta Stone Thai whenever we get the chance (ie: during Callie's naps on our days off :))
Here are just a few of the random words I've learned so far (showing the English word, the Thai word spoken phonetically, and then the thai script.) :
Hello (female speaker)/ Sa-wat-dii-ka / สวัสดี
Thank-you (female speaker)/ Kup-kun-ka / ขอบคุณ
Girl / dek-puu-ying / เด็กผู้หญิง
Boy / dek-puu-chaai / เด็กผู้ชาย
Woman / puu-ying / ผู้หญิง
Man / puu-chaai / ผู้ชาย
Horse / maa / ม้า
Cat / maew / แมว
Dog / su-nakh / สุนัข
Elephant / chaang / ช้าง
Airplane / kruuang-bin / เครื่องบิน
Car / rot / รถ
In / nai / ใน
On / bon / บน
Under / dtaai / ใต้
Red / deeng / สีแดง
Yellow / l
Blue (sky blue)/ sii-faa / สีฟ้า
White / kaao / ขาว
There are actually quite a few others I could add to the list but I'll leave that for another day... :)
Monday, April 25, 2011
To be really honest...
Can it really be the end of April already? Wasn't it just January yesterday? Its hard to believe that the start of our internship at Central (and the final phase of our training) wasn't just a few weeks ago anymore, and that we're actually nearing the finish line now. Only 2 months to go.
If I'm going to be perfectly honest, on one hand, the thought of that is almost debilitating. The fear & anxiety that come with the reality of picking up and moving continents and cultures and languages is pretty much more than I can bear at times. And if I look at it that way (ie: me handling it), then yes... you may as well take me out of the game and put me on the bench. Because I can't and won't be able to handle that kind of change on my own strength.
But this is exactly why I'm extra thankful this year, for what Easter is really all about. The fact that I have a relationship with the Father of the universe. A Father that loves me deeply. And a Father that not only wants to give guidance & strength for the journey, but also actually does give guidance & strength for the journey. What an incredible gift!! Its been absolutely amazing to see the way God has brought peace whenever I start to feel like I can't possibly do this. The refocus that has come as I've wrestled through the "why's" and the "how's" and the "what if's." I love the gentleness He uses when he needs to slowly bring me back to the reassuring call he's put on our lives. I'm so thankful for the unwavering love of my heavenly Father.
Thankfully, there is another 'hand.' And on that, I can't wait for our journey in Thailand to start. Last week I just felt true & utter excitement for what lies ahead. All these months of training and preparing and waiting. Its all been leading to our life ahead in Thailand and that is exciting.
Of course there are a lot of unknowns (ie: where we'll live, where our language training will be, what team we'll join, etc...). But as scary as those unknowns can be at times, they're also really exciting at times. Almost like a fresh start to life. Something totally and completely new.
Anyway... all this to say that I've been doing a lot of reflecting lately. Life has brought lots of change over the last few months and there's only more change to come. And if I'm perfectly honest... the emotions that come with that are very 'wave-like.' Lots of good days. Lots of not-so-good days. Lots of joy. Lots of grief. But through it all, I'm just so grateful for the Lord's leading and the fact that I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He'll never leave us and will be there every step of the journey. Just like He has been all along.
If I'm going to be perfectly honest, on one hand, the thought of that is almost debilitating. The fear & anxiety that come with the reality of picking up and moving continents and cultures and languages is pretty much more than I can bear at times. And if I look at it that way (ie: me handling it), then yes... you may as well take me out of the game and put me on the bench. Because I can't and won't be able to handle that kind of change on my own strength.
But this is exactly why I'm extra thankful this year, for what Easter is really all about. The fact that I have a relationship with the Father of the universe. A Father that loves me deeply. And a Father that not only wants to give guidance & strength for the journey, but also actually does give guidance & strength for the journey. What an incredible gift!! Its been absolutely amazing to see the way God has brought peace whenever I start to feel like I can't possibly do this. The refocus that has come as I've wrestled through the "why's" and the "how's" and the "what if's." I love the gentleness He uses when he needs to slowly bring me back to the reassuring call he's put on our lives. I'm so thankful for the unwavering love of my heavenly Father.
Thankfully, there is another 'hand.' And on that, I can't wait for our journey in Thailand to start. Last week I just felt true & utter excitement for what lies ahead. All these months of training and preparing and waiting. Its all been leading to our life ahead in Thailand and that is exciting.
Of course there are a lot of unknowns (ie: where we'll live, where our language training will be, what team we'll join, etc...). But as scary as those unknowns can be at times, they're also really exciting at times. Almost like a fresh start to life. Something totally and completely new.
Anyway... all this to say that I've been doing a lot of reflecting lately. Life has brought lots of change over the last few months and there's only more change to come. And if I'm perfectly honest... the emotions that come with that are very 'wave-like.' Lots of good days. Lots of not-so-good days. Lots of joy. Lots of grief. But through it all, I'm just so grateful for the Lord's leading and the fact that I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He'll never leave us and will be there every step of the journey. Just like He has been all along.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:8-10
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The start of something new
Seeing as our journey towards being missionaries in Thailand is a completely new phase & chapter of life, it seems only fitting to start a blog that is completely dedicated to just that.... our journey to Thailand. I also want to be able to offer updates & news about ourselves to a more broad spectrum of people, especially once we leave North America so I think this is a good place to do so.
I don't have a whole lot to report tonight, but just want to say thanks for stopping by & feel free to check in for more frequent updates from here on out. We look forward to having you join us on this journey!
Image taken from here
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