Birthday Time!

Happy Birthday to my 11-year-old nephew!!! He moved out to Indiana last summer and got saved several months ago, and although I don't see him much, he seems to be growing!

-Tyler in July 2006-

-Tyler with his family in November 2006-

-Tyler with some of his cousins and his great-grandmother in May 2007-

Chatuchak, Take Two.

We went back to Chatuchak today and had a great time! Our taxi driver dropped us off at a different location then the last time we went to Chatuchak which worked out really well because we came in the back way and saw a whole new section of the market that we hadn't seen before! Bro. Gary was only going to buy one thing, but let's just say he spent 1,000 baht:o).

They had some really neat magnets here... not just your typical-run-of-the-mill junk, but the shop owner wasn't a big fan of bargaining apparently! I did buy two magnets and Bro. Gary bought six:o).

Because we got to the market around 10ish, the crowd was very light and the weather wasn't too bad... by 12:30 it was hot and crowded, so we got out of there! It was worth waking up early on a Saturday morning to go shopping!

Once we were done with Chatuchak, we went to Baiyoke Hotel, which is the tallest building in Thailand... the view was very neat and we even got to go on a rotating track that took us all around the outside of the building at the top...

I was pretty impressed with the size of this city.... we could see all the way to the horizon with no end in sight!

The breeze felt sooo wonderful on our faces... let me tell ya: there's nothing "breezy" about Thailand! This was the first time I was outside that I wasn't really hot, so I guess having our heads in the clouds this time was a good thing;o).

Looking at this picture makes the rest of the buildings look so small!

This tuk-tuk was very tiny! I think only one person is supposed to ride in the back, but Psalm and I squeezed in!

Psalm decided to sit in the elevator since we had to go down over 50 floors before we reached the Lobby on the 18th floor:o).

It was another pleasant day here in the land of smiles and sweat:o). Have a great weekend ya'll!

A Day Off:o).

Since all the guys left on Wednesday, Miss Krinny was sweet enough to give us the day off today!!! What a nice thing to do, especially since all of us girls have been getting to bed late and getting up early, particularly Psalm. So sleeping in was sooo nice today:o). Psalm and I decided to clean our townhouse since we'll be gone on Saturday. So after everything was all nice and clean, I decided to take you on a visual tour of what we call "home sweet home" for now:o).

The light blue town houses are where we live... the Gaudets are on the left and our home is on the right.

When you first walk in the door you enter our living room. This is where we meet for prayer each morning, where we have services, and where we fellowship and hang out each evening:o).

Our "dining room". I like the way the living room and dining room flow together. You could be sitting on the couch and taking part of what's going on here... lovely!

Just an overview of the downstairs...

Our stove, counter, sink, and washing machine!

Our cupboard... and a peak into the Gaudets kitchen. Of course since I'm so short I can barely see over the wall:o).

Originally after April and Susie left, I was going to move into this room but it was just too hot at night!!! (And we're too cheap to run two air cons at night;o). So we decided to keep this room as the dressing room...

... and this room as where we sleep!

And that's our humble abode:o). I like cleaning the house because there's only one carpet (in the living room) and the rest is tile. The kitchen and bathrooms are so easy to clean because you just throw water on the floor, scrub away, and the water goes down the shower drain! Nice:o).

Lessons Learned.

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I have really enjoyed working with the Gaudet family. Living in Thailand and interacting daily with this dear missionary family has taught me more than I could have imagined:

*Pray is not just a four-letter word that should be thrown around churches, conferences, meetings, and "spiritual" discussions. God is still on the throne and prayer changes things. How sweet it is to meet each morning and to share burdens, joys, and prayer requests and then to bring those very requests before the Lord collectively.

*God is not broke. In a way, this goes along with the first point because often I have a genuine need, but I don't think to pray and ask God for the __________ (money, time, resources, etc.). Jeremiah 33:3 is in the Bible for a specific reason!

*God's work is bigger than any one ____________ (person, group, church, missionary, etc). I have met at least 8 other missionaries/pastors while on this trip and I realize that God's Hand is moving in so many ways.

*Like-minded churches are actually producing godly young people. It is so easy to fall into "we're the only ones living for God" rant when it just isn't true. Numerous young people have come to help the Gaudets over the last 10 years and they came from all over the USA and have been used of God.

*Any spiritual growth I'm going to do needs to be cultivated by myself. Without having: "church" to attend 4 times a week... a Bible study... a specific visitation time... I am pretty much on my own. Any lapse in my growth is my fault, not the Lord's, not the missionary's, not the pastor's, not the people back home - MY fault. This also makes watching the Sunday morning service online a very sweet time and one that I will not miss being a part of!

*It's a choice to rejoice even in what seems mundane. Without having the opportunity to jump in my car... go to work whenever I want to... plan what I'm working on... going shopping... hanging out with friends... being spontaneous... taking trips...; it would be pretty easy to get bored with going to the office 5 days a week and coming home and STAYING home each night (for the most part) and spending the weekends around the house (with the exception of going to Future Park and to church). The first couple of weeks might be exciting, but routine is routine - no matter where you are! It's my responsibility to be happy and smile and be thankful that God put me here, which I am!

*Just because one thing was done "a certain way" back home doesn't necessarily mean that it is done the same way somewhere else. Having had the opportunity to work in the church office for four years has taught me a lot of things, but there's always more to learn from someone else, and perhaps it's even something I thought I "knew".

*Communication is vital! There have been some "miscommunications" that have happened around our office, and as a result, work was either done twice, not done soon enough, or a step was missed. I've learned that even if I think I'm doing Bro. Tom a favor by jumping onto a new project, it really is a better idea to double-check with him (or whomever the boss may be!) to make sure there was no new project lined up.

*Even when I'm not talking, I'm communicating something. It's been said body language makes up for 60-70% of all communication and I think it's true! A smirk... a giggle... a raised eyebrow... slouching in the seat... a hand covering the mouth... shoulders shaking... a frown... angrily walking away... an injured expression... the list could go on and on. One example I can think of is when a national pastor asked Bro. Tom, "how long was Pookie in America?" Pookie has never been to America but has picked up on the "American lingo" from the Americans around her. Now that's not a bad thing; it just happens to prove the statistic:o).

*And finally, being on a foreign field for an extended period of time gives a very small glimpse into a missionary's reality:
1- The burdens that can't be effectively shared with those back home other than, "Please pray!"
2 -The numerous daily blessings that never make it into a prayer letter.
3 - The sweet times of fellowship with national believers, even with a language barrier.
4 - The feeling of helplessness as a very hard trial shakes your family and you can't be there.
5 - The times of loneliness after you've been gone for a while and the "novelity" wears off. Sometimes it really is "out of sight out of mind."
6 - The way you soak up any news from back home, even if it is "only two people were in nursery tonight" or "some of the teen boys came and helped put in new cabinets in the lunchroom".
7 - The reality that some final good-byes were said and you kick yourself for not going over to visit "one more time" with ____________.
8 - The fact that some events are going to be missed... whether it be a national holiday, a yearly happening at the church, new babies born, or just something you've "always done". That's the way it is and there's no use moaning or complaining over what is missed.
9 - The opportunities and experiences of a lifetime that God has chosen you to have and as you drive in an international city, you think nothing of motorcycles and scooters weaving in and out of traffic as they try to beat the cars, trucks, taxis, buses, and street vendors.

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I truly consider coming to Thailand as one of the best experiences of my life and I thank God for it! For now the Lord is leading me home, but I also am praying about coming back for an extended period of time to work with the Gaudets... and I believe that, in God's time, that will become a reality again! So although I will be packing my bags up in just a few weeks and leaving for Pennsylvania, I know it won't be too long before I pack my bags up again as I follow my dear Saviour's leading! And you know what??? I wouldn't trade it for the world! God has been so good to me:o).

Another Bangkok Experience.

Today we decided to go to the Grand Palace. We really haven't been doing too much "tourist-y" stuff and Pookie realized yesterday that I only have 24 more days here (*sniff, sniff* - this is not a good thing!). So off we went - by taxi, sky train, and by boat! It was an enjoyable day spending time with Psalm and Pookie and we even managed to talk Sokchea into going with us too since he's been working non-stop since he got here last Tuesday evening. He's anxious to get home to his family, but I'm pretty sure he enjoyed the day too:o).

The Grand Palace shows in the most visual way the emptyness... the facade... the hopelessness... the plight... of what Thailand is in. While I enjoyed experiencing more of Bangkok, what we saw today is the exact opposite of what Christ has done and it's enough to make you weep over the souls that are lost and heading to a Christless eternity. As you experience a little of the Grand Palace below, would you take a moment and pray?

Pookie and I at the office before heading out for the day!

The signs around Bangkok are absolutely hillarious at times! In addition to this one, I saw one today that said, "Sedruced Apartments For Rent". .. I think they meant "reduced":o).

Some of the scenery we saw while we took a taxi-boat to the Grand Palace.

On the boat! It was a little windy:o).

Right before I saw this sign, someone came up to me and asked, "Do you want a guyie who speaks English?" He really meant guide but it came out sounding like I needed an English speaking guy! Pookie about keeled over right there from laughing so hard!

Psalm:o)

Nice sky, huh?:o)

Just hangin' out!

Who will go and tell?

In front of the Grand Palace.

Wow... who thinks of this stuff?

Pookie on the sky train "stuck" between two women who were part of a rather loud, obnoxious group (whom I'm rather glad to say weren't Americans!). The kids in the group apparently thought that the bars hanging from the ceiling of the boat and sky train were put there for the express purpose of doing pull-ups.... um no!

Gone To Bangkok!

The four of us farangs got to go to Bangkok today and it was sooo wonderful browsing through a bookstore (!) loaded (!) with English (!) books:o). :Sigh: I think I was pretty close to complete contentment, except for the fact my stomach was grumbling. But I did pick up two books to read. After Miss Krinny and I were done there, we went to a mall and ate fish and chips. This was our view out the window...

Thankfully we made it to the mall before it started to rain:o)

I am just amazed at how *big* Bangkok really is! And I do believe that Bangkok takes the honor for having the most congested roads:o).

Now this next picture would probably shock many of you! I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a coffee drinker ~ at all. I tried it when I was younger and just wasn't impressed with it! It really is a shame too, because most of my friends are die-hard coffee fans... but alas, I haven't "acquired" a taste for coffee. Well Miss Krinny and I were not about to stand for 4 hours while we waited for the guys to get what they came to town for, so we found a Starbucks and I actually tried a cappuccino ~ shocking, I know!

It actually wasn't too bad... I definitely had to put some sugar in to cover that very "coffee" taste.

Perhaps there is a .01% chance that I might eventually come to like coffee... but don't hold your breath on that one;o).

All in all, it was a very pleasant day...:o).

Just A Random Fact!

Well who would have thought that this would be true?!?!

I am partial to Emmaus though:o).

No Worries!

This morning I got an e-mail from my mom with some disappointing (to me!) news. As I read over the e-mail, I thought, "Now what am I going to do?!?" I pondered what "I" was going to do on the way to church and began to worry right as a Vietnamese preacher got up to preach. Because he was preaching with a Thai interpreter, it took him about 15 minutes to tell us what the passage was going to be, but eventually he gave the reference - Matthew 6:33 ~ "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

What a balm that verse was to my soul! It brought instant peace and comfort to me as I realized what I was worrying about wasn't allowing me to seek first the kingdom of God.

The next verse he brought out was Proverbs 3:5-6 ~ "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Oh what a thought! What a promise! "He shall..."

While the preacher continued on, my eyes dropped down into Matthew 7. Now I don't know about you, but I tend to underline verses in my Bible or put musical notes next to the verses that can go to a song. I noticed one verse in particular had two music notes by it, so I began to read it. Matthew 7:7 ~ "Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"

My eyes continued to move down the chapter and I saw verses 11-12 ~ "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."

The final verse I read was most precious - Matthew 6:34 ~ "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

The problem isn't resolved, but God isn't broke, forgetful, and suddenly out of miracles! I'm looking forward to what my rich, remembering, miracle-working God is going to do!!!! My prayer was answered this morning...what a blessing to be able to meet with God!

On Sunday night...

The Lord answered my prayer in that as I was talking with someone back home on Sunday night, they pretty much started the conversation with: "The Lord laid it on my heart to..." The Lord provided!!!! Praise HIS name!

A Flurry Of Lasts.

The last couple of days have been a flurry of lasts... for April and Susie anyway! They went one last time to Bangkok... one last time to church... one last time time to the food court at the mall... one last time for a foot massage... There were a lot of "lasts" but there are also a lot of "firsts" awaiting them!!! I really enjoyed getting to know them; some people become "instant" friends and that was the case with April and Susie (or as Psalm says, "Apple" and "Zoosy":D). We took them to the airport last night and hung out at Black Canyon Coffee (I had a gelato thankyouverymuch!... NOT coffee:o) until about 11:45 PM. With hopes of seeing April in August, it wasn't good-bye, but see ya later! Such is life when you know missionaries:o). Here are some pictures... worth a thousand words each, huh?!?

Enjoying ourselves at the food court with some delicious Thai food!

Susie hanging out at her favorite lunchtime supplier ~ the soup man! He lost some business with Susie leaving:o)

April finishing up her last day at the office:o)

The *only* complete group shot we had taken... at least we got a picture:o)

Good-bye April and Susie!

It's not the same without you around...

Please Pray.

Please pray for my family this week. After 87 years, my last grandparent passed away on Thursday night. Grammie was the only grandmother I knew and I have so many special memories. Right before I came to Thailand, we had a huge family reunion on my dad's side and it was so special because I got to see everyone. Two days before I left, I went and visited with my grandmother for two hours and the Lord had given me peace that I had said my final good-bye to her. The Lord prepared me two months ago and I just "knew" that Grammie was going to pass away while I was in Thailand, but He alone gives perfect peace!!! But please pray for my family, especially with the funeral on Tuesday.