Goin' a little too far...

There is not a photo to post with this.
You will understand after you read it.
Here is the scenario:
Women's restroom at the resort.
Stalls side by side.
Woman number 1 is in her stall, peeing.
Woman number 2 is in her stall, peeing PLUS talking on her cell phone in the volume most people talk on their cell phone.
Woman number 3 is in her stall, peeing.

Okay, women go with me on this (no, that is not a pun). You can hear all three women peeing. And you hear #2 TALKING. So, logic has it that on the other end of the phone the person #2 is talking to, can ALSO hear the three women peeing.

I was either #1 or #3, it doesn't really matter. The point is, I did not feel like I was in a private, safe place. My personal business was being broadcast to who knows where (people visiting resorts have traveled from homes all over the country or world)!

It still has me in shock, and the pee broadcast happened 5 hours ago! Ugh!!

Who has had a significant role in molding you?

What a treat I had tonight! I am in 112 degree Phoenix, Arizona for WinShape ministry. What a perfect opportunity to spend a couple hours with dear friends, Jim and Pat, who have retired to Phoenix. I was disappointed that I forgot to take a picture of the three of us, so I copied this from Jim's facebook page.

Jim and Pat are stable, precious, Godly people who have made a big impact on my life. I have been so blessed by the many people God has chosen to sow truth and grace into my life, and the lives of my family. Jim and Pat were special, though. Not only did Jim and Pat watch me grow up, but they also saw me get married, were there to hold each of our new-born children, teach Sunday School to Kyle and me for years, and then come to Georgia in the early years we were here, to do a marriage retreat at our church. Stories around the table tonight were catching up on their children and grand children, and just sharing memories and stories of God's goodness to us all. I took a friend, Julie Baumgardner with me, and it was a treat to introduce them to each other.

Jim and Pat told me tonight, that my dad's love for teaching the scripture had molded young Jim in many ways. They even said I was the one who originally asked Jim to teach our class in Iowa. I don't remember, but I know if I did encourage him, it was because God showed me that Jim could not only teach, but Jim and Pat together, could shepherd our class of young married couples. And, that they did! So many couples were nurtured and loved by them. Proof, now 25 years later, I scramble to spend time with them whenever I can. It is a reminder to me that people need to hear how they are gifted and encourage them to use their gifts and talents.

Who are some pillars in your life that have made a big footprint on your heart, the way Jim and Pat have on mine?

Rhubarb

In 1985 we transferred all our earthy possessions from Iowa to Georgia. Crossing the five state lines, Kyle was behind the wheel of our bulging Ryder truck that towed our hillbilly packed pick-up truck, and I drove the yellow Buick station wagon with bedding and toys stuffed tight from roof to window to seat! In the midst of it all were two drugged dogs and four precious trusting children. We knew we would miss so many things in Iowa, of greatest loss was the relationships we held so close to our hearts.

What I did not calculate missing were two things that had been foundational in my mid-western life. Lilac bushes and RHUBARB! Spring of 1986 brought heartbreaking reality when no one had either one in their yard and I couldn't find any in the local farmer's market. My solution was to buy plants from Iowa and start my own lush lilac bushes and hearty rhubarb plants. To make the long story short, after several years of attempts, the verdict was clear. Neither one will grow without a deep freeze in the winter. My spring staples of rhubarb crisp, rhubarb pie and rhubarb jam all served at a table with a lilac-filled pitcher were to be no more.

For years, my mother cut up rhubarb and froze it and brought it down to me in the fall. I used the last package of her loving care a couple years ago. But since mother died, I have not had the storehouse of rhubarb to enjoy. Until this spring. It is now in the freezer section of the grocery store. Ahhhh...not quite as good as fresh, but so good to our family. I grab the South Waterloo Church of the Brethren cookbook, find Merna Miller's recipe and make the bubbly crisp. Add ice cream, and we are back to our roots in minutes!

Tonight, Mike and Judy were visiting, and since rhubarb is not available in Thailand, I made some for our dessert. Mmmm.....it smelled so good baking, and I just had to nibble a few spoonfuls out of the corner while it was piping hot!

Do you have a rhubarb memory?

The stone was rolled away.

Studying John 20 during another makes-me-think Sunday school lesson, I became aware again of a truth that I hadn’t thought on for a long time. I love our class and the discussion of so many people who know the Word! Here is where the discussion took me:

· Why was the stone rolled away from the tomb when Jesus resurrected?
· Did He need the stone rolled away to get out of the sealed tomb?
· I think the tomb was rolled away for your and my benefit. As with everything surrounding the death, resurrection and ascension, it was done for us. So we could see. And believe.

Admittedly, I see the work God has and is doing in other parts of the world through cloudy glasses. I live the missionary life vicariously through prayer letters, emails, and the spoken word. After stepping into the culture and world of Thailand for just a couple of weeks, my glasses are clearer. God was so gracious in allowing me to see into His work for those days. From the perspective of those who have served there for years (Mike and Judy are now 30 year Asian missionaries), I have seen so little. But, from my perspective, the stone was rolled away. So I could see. And believe.

This YOUTUBE link will take you to my picture of Thailand. I hope you capture the people and can feel their need through the words of the song.

Boys will be boys!

Okay, so I agree that a good trip lets the guys be guys and the gals be gals. Recorded below are the differences in what the guys and the gals enjoy.......

The story begins with fishing.
Bait: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches wadded up in a ball
Line: 20 pound test
Total catch: 250+ pounds of fish
Grand prize: Kyle's 100 pound catfish!
Extra Bonus: New friend - BJ!

The story continues with motor cycle riding.
Transportation: 250 Kawasakis
Cost: $25.00 per bike for 24 hours (helmets included)
Destination: Mountain top (beautiful!)
Obstacles: Mud, trees, heat, getting lost
Results: Bruises, blood, and getting home (finally)
Extra Bonus: Memories and laughter (eventually)

And not to be done yet, go cart riding.

Outcome: Fun but much less exciting than the first two adventures.

And, all the while, the girls were enjoying some quality five-on-one time!

Elephants galore!

Elephants are synonymous with Thai life.

We learned several interesting facts about them:

• Gestation is 22 months (oh my!)
• A new born calf emerges into a loving network of mother, aunties and cousins
• Female calves spend most of their life with the same family
• Male calves become too rambunctious at about 12 years and are expelled from the herd
• Average life span is 55 years, some live much longer
• They mourn the death of fellow elephants
• They have personalities unique to each elephant
• They can learn over 40 voice commands

The elephant camps or farms, present a show which includes painting, playing soccer, stacking logs and other various tricks.Each morning, they have bath time, which was so fun to watch!
We rode elephants twice. Enjoy various photos of us riding through the jungle.

Sitting on an elephant before her bath time.

Off we go, on our ride....
Our driver got off and took our photo while the elephant reached to get fresh grass. Returning safe and sound.....
This is our second ride.

We thoroughly enjoyed the personality of the elephants, and loved riding through the absolutely gorgeous jungle. It was so hot each day and we got a kick out of the elephants blowing air through their trunks on us.

Campus Crusade for Christ ministry

Part of our desire while in Thailand was to understand and experience the heart and passion Mike and Judy have had for Asian people for the past 30 years. After spending two and a half weeks there, we better understand their love of the Thai people who they have centered their lives around for over 20 years. Thai people are so kind, gentle and appreciative. We fell in love with those we spent time with.

BJ and Lamoi serving a delicious Thai meal to us in their home.
Paul Utley (Jesus film CCC staff), Mike, Kyle and BJ.

We loved being in BJ and Lamoi's home for dinner one night. BJ is the director for Northern Thailand CCC College Ministry. He is a Thai man who came to know the Lord through CCC, and now leads the ministry. Mike is passionate about developing and teaching Thai nationals to lead and minister to their own people.

On another evening, we had the privilege of meeting with Judy's weekly Bible study group of college alumni that meet at her house. This was a highlight of our trip. We learned their names, had a pizza dinner, then we did a craft that was incorporated into their study.

Judy told me ahead of time to bring something for them to make, which was challenging. A ‘craft’ for men and women college graduates who speak broken English, that would have some meaning to it, and could be transported to Thailand. Hmmmm….after walking the isles at Michael's, I settled on a small brown cardboard box, that could be assembled. Then I bought several sheets of letters. My plan was to have them write whatever they wanted on the box, something like ‘Bible Truths’, ‘Promises’, etc. Then, I wanted each to suggest a verse or a 'truth' that had special meaning to them, write it down, and put it in each other's box

Here I am explaining the boxes, letters and verses.


It turned out pretty cool. They loved the alphabet letters, apparently they can’t get them there. They were very creative with what they wrote on their boxes. The most precious part was their verse selection and hearing them share the reason they chose that verse. It turned into a time to really hear their hearts. Mike and Judy and Kyle and I contributed verses and told the reason for our verses as well. I titled our box "Truth from Thailand" and treasure the verses each person hand wrote for our box. I can still hear their broken English explaining their personal story around that verse.

Then during the prayer time, we had the opportunity to hear the burden they have for family members to come to know Jesus. It was a very precious time for Kyle and me. Jane shared her burden for her boy friend's parents to know Jesus. She and Tuu have been dating for several years and plan to get married. In the Thai culture, Tuu would be disrespectful of his parents if he suggested they believe differently than Buddhism. Jane cried with the burden she feels for the family she loves and will marry into, that they be believers and able to spend eternity together. Since Thai value Americans so much, Tuu's parents would be more open to hearing the gospel from them than their son. So in August, the entire team will go to Tuu's parent's home for the Bible Study, where the door will be open to present the gospel to Tuu's parents.

Thai culture prayer time is different than we are use to in America. All members of the group bow their heads and pray audibly at the same time. We were in awe as we heard them all pour out their hearts to our Father at one time, in a language I could not understand, but knowing He was hearing and pleading on their behalf to the same God we all worship. WOW! Here is the group before they left for home, all showing their boxes of verses. I may not spell the names right, but I remember most of them...Lamoi, Jane, Tuu, Jin, Tuu, Ponn, Poy, (and one more that I can't remember). Verses were: Jeremiah 33:3, Matthew 5: 13-16, Isaiah 43: 18-19, Matthew 6:33, John 8:12, Matthew 11:28, and two 'truths' as written on the slips in my box were "If we have hope we can go on" and "He never done me wrong". (I love the broken English expressed by honesty in this one.)


I am praying for Tuu and will look forward to hearing how his parents respond to the presentation of the gospel in August. Tuu is in the red shirt and Jane is in the black and white shirt sitting in front of him. When you think of it, pray for Tuu's family to know Jesus.