I'm sorry!

I'm sorry for the long delay of writing!! It's been a busy month but a good one. Here is a short recap of some things that have been happening:

Ramkhamhaeng University weekly outreach. We hang and get to know the students in the common areas.

School Outreach. We got to teach English in a Muslim school to continue to build relationship with them.


Spontaneous teaching at Mae Sot church.
Cute Thai ladies!
The Wai

Cool buildings

Crazy adventures

..Arrival!!..

Well I've been in the sweaty country for 3 days now! Up to this point I've just been settling, adjusting and observing. Tomorrow classes start, craziness beings and relationship building begins!! I've learned here that not being able to speak Thai does limit you quite a bit since English isn't so present. BUT, thankfully God transcends the nations and that He is the same God here in this place as little Bend, Oregon.

Now is the intensity of Bangkok - we take taxis mostly for transportation. I just feel I need to share my 2nd taxi experience. Let me warn you: problems come when the driver doesn't understand where you are wanting to go. So we were on our way back to "The Center" which is my new home/school/church on Ramkahmhaeng Soi 30. No matter how many times told this wonderful man in Thai where we wanted to go, he just did not understand because of our accent. But you see..he did not tell us he didn't know. Instead he decides that he needs to grace us with singing. This dear man obviously didn't enjoy the radio. No. So let me tell you about this singing...picture humming/moaning/speaking/singing all in one, in Thai. I felt like I was living a very mbad American Idol audition in real life but he was taking this serviously. It wasn't consistent though...it came in bursts. I cannot tell you the effort it took to keep myself composed. But really it was useless. When my friend Cindi turned around to look at me, I lost it completely. I was laughing so hard I was crying. Poor, poor taxi man. I feel really bad but I honestly couldn't control myself. Now after the singing subsided, we find ourselves WAY far from home. Not at all where we were supposed to be. The amazing singing might have just been a distraction to take us away from where we actually wanted to go or he may really not have understood us. I will never know. We eventually got home but it took a bit longer than it should have.


So in addition to my taxi experience the adventures have begun. But in sitting backing and watching life here the past 3 days this is my first and very strong observation: this country of beautiful, smiley people need Jesus desperately. In this city of around 12 million people (and that is just big number to people until you are actually in the midst of the 12 million and it becomes incomprehendable), the Christian population is so little. I've heard different statistics but it's approx. 98% Buddhist and the rest is other. In the US where I'm so used to to going to a big city to find a big population of Christians, that's not the case here. Followers of Jesus are rare. It's not necessarily because they aren't being reached but it's the hardness of the hearts.

What's does it take to reach these people? Faithful, long term relationship building and more laborers.

I keep on being reminded of this verse today- "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers in to his harvest." Luke 10:2

So pray with me for the church of Thailand for increase in faithful followers and disciples of Jesus to be able to reach out the HUGE population of a hard people to reach.

..Last Moments..

I sit here in the Seoul airport trying to figure what to do with myself before I get on to my last flight taking me to my new home, Bangkok, and thinking about all my last moments at home. I didn't really get many pictures, but the last few weeks have been saying lots of goodbyes to friends and family.

In about 20 mintues I will be off to a new place with new friends to meet and a new bed to sleep in. Scary but so exciting. Goodbye US (and Seoul)!

When I have more time, I will post about my fun vacation in Hawaii the past 2 weeks!

..San Jose..

Family adventures are the best. Last week I got to visit family, some that I haven't seen in at least 4 years or so. Here's a glimpse of the craziness of basically 2 days...

My new favorite little girl...my cousins daughter with her mom Naialie

Ava and great grandma

Grandma and IGrandpa and 2 of his 6 kids - my dad and aunt

Beautiful sister Rachel and aunt Gail

3 of the 6 Estopare kids

The crazy gang

Gorgeous cousin Morgan- congrats!!

..Seattle..

I had the privilege of spending the last 9 days in Seattle at the Foursquare Missions Training with the awesome FMI staff. It was a great time of teaching, connecting with other missionaries that are getting prepared to head out all over the world, make new friends and hearing from the Lord. Many, many hours of sitting in benches but so encouraging to hear the heart of the directors and leaders.

I can't tell you how much excitement I have from gathering a little bit more of the heart of God that I've grasped. His heart for people and His goodness is so incredible. The little bit that I'm starting to grab a hold of is so powerful. Without writing a whole book, I'll try to share a little bit from this week.

John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Jesus became flesh and humbled himself and went to the people to be able to reach them. The Son of Man came to see and save. He sought out the people who needed Him. Jesus is the example of giving up our lives; humbling ourselves and going to find the people who need Him. Our job in to become incarnate to the land that God has called us to, wherever that is to share the love and freedom of Christ.

Here are a few thoughts from the training:

• The diversity of the nations gives us the ability to hunger for something beyond ourselves. (J. Amstutz)
• We are desiring disciples of all nations, not converts in all countries. (J. Amstutz). We want to see true followers of the Christ increase not just the decision numbers rise.
  
• How do you know you have a peach tree? It makes peaches. How do you know you have a leader? It makes leaders. (J. Amstutz)
• What would you dream big to do for the Lord if you knew you couldn't fail? (S. Donegan) Vision big and go after it.
• I can't give away what I do not have. What is in my hand [life, heart] that I can give away? (S. Donegan)
• Missionaries go to where the people are, they don't want for people to come to them. (G. Cline)
• If you are called to be a missionary, don't stoop to be a king. (J. Loop) Whatever God has called you to is better than what may be seen as better in the flesh.
  

Now, my wonderful friend Jenna and I drove to Seattle together and you'd think that between the both of the and step by step mapquest directions, we could make it easily to our hotel. Of course not. We had to take the worse way possible ending up downtown Seattle during rush hour and right at Safeco field right as a Mariners game was about to start. Brilliant, right?

All48 of us trainees-can you spot me? :)

My amazing new friends Kathy, Krisnee and Jenna!

Me and Jenna

..Memories Part 2..

I honestly tried to make some kind of order to the pictures
but it ended in frustration so I gave up. This is a little glimpse
of all over Uganda.

Model material? I think so. The amazing Ossanide Kids!

Another Kristen but Ugandan version!!
All should experience the "uniqueness" of Pleasure Restaurant. If you are ever in Kigumba...you must give a try! Mmmmm....

..Memories..

I decided to take a little trip down memory lane to 2 of the most memorable trips in the past years. This is the first of 2 trips that continued to fan the flame of me branching out in missionary mode! Hope you enjoy this as much as I do!!

BARROW

And we are complaining about the snow in Bend...

The result of me being forced to do something I didn't think I wanted to do at the time.

Mmm... polar bear for dinner anyone??

Riding in style!

These are the awesome youth we got to hang out an encourage for week!

Barrow, AK-The Top of the World!