Merry Christmas from Chiang Mai - the beautiful, and significantly cooler, city in northern Thailand where I'm celebrating Christmas this year. With a Christmas day hike, an elephant ride, 10k race and sushi dinner among our weekend plans, it's certainly shaping up to be the most unique Christmas I've ever experienced. I can't wait to share pictures from my soon-coming adventures.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king. Let every heart, prepare Him room. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and nature sing. Let heaven and heaven and nature sing.

Those lyrics seem especially fitting after looking out over Chiang Mai late last night from high up on a mountain. The stars were shining and the lights of the city gleamed below us. As beautiful as the view was, I had to pray a silent prayer that God would reveal the true meaning of Christmas to the thousands of people living below. May many more people in Chiang Mai celebrate Jesus' birth next year.

As I write this update, I'm sitting in Lauren's lovely apartment and Heather asked that I wish you all a Merry Christmas! It may not look and feel like Christmas here in Thailand, but the spirit of Christmas is alive and well! Have a wonderful day and God bless us, everyone!

Happy Father's Day!

December 5 is the King of Thailand's birthday. At 82, the King is the world's longest reigning monarch and he is greatly loved and respected by the people of Thailand. While I certainly don't understand all the intricacies of Thai politics, I've learned that it is this deep reverence for the King that keeps some level of peace in an otherwise politically volatile nation. He is so beloved that before every movie shown in the theater, there is a several-minute-long video dedicated to him, during which everyone stands in respect. I have to say that I almost teared up a little bit when I watched the video because it included moving scenes of the King throughout his reign - greeting people, crying when he witnessed a disaster, as a young man with his wife. Those video editors know how to pull on people's heart strings!

Because the King is viewed as the father of all Thai people, Father's Day is recognized in conjunction with his birthday. So Happy Father's Day to all of you fathers! My dad told me he was going to milk this for all it's worth from my siblings...but we'll see how that actually goes. (Dad, if you were here, I'd take you out for noodles and a ride on the BTS skytrain - la la la.)

There are always photos and tributes to His Majesty on display throughout Bangkok, but in the weeks leading up to his birthday and Father's Day, they seemed to pop up everywhere!

Outside of my apartment building.

At a park near my language school.

Every coin and paper baht (Thai currency) feature the King's image.

And I even think I saw the King running in the park the past two weekends...okay, so that's not true because the King was in the hospital, but the runner could have been his twin! :)

I hope you all have a chance to wish a dad a Happy Father's Day today! And if for some reason you eat a piece of birthday cake in the next few days, think of the King and then say a prayer for the people of Thailand. 

And because I miss my own father, here's my slightly-less-impressive, but equally-heartfelt, version of a monument in a park:

All the children of the world..

Since arriving here in Thailand, I've attended International Christian Assembly in Bangkok. The church is made up of hundreds of people, representing dozens of countries around the world. Watching people from so many different backgrounds worshipping the one true God is a beautiful sight. And let me tell you, if I'm ever having a day of doubt or am feeling a little down, my faith is totally strengthened by the sight of so many believers of varying skin color and native tongue totally united. Only God can do that. 

This morning in church a choir made up of adults and children performed. I took a few pictures (although the quality isn't very good) to share a small bit of ICA's beautiful diversity. I think it's a glimpse of what heaven will be like. Beautiful.

 

And seeing all of the adorable Asian and African children seriously increases my desire to one day adopt. EEEEEEE they are soooo cute!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I have so many things to be thankful for this year. But as I sit here in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day, waiting to leave for language school, I'm still so overwhelmed by the generosity, prayers and encouragement that my supporters share on a daily basis. I am so thankful for each one of you and you truly make my work here possible. On the days when I'm tired and feeling discouraged, knowing that people are praying strengthens me. There's nothing quite like being lifted up in prayer by so many wonderful and committed people, and it certainly is a humbling experience. So today I prayed that God would help my friends and family know just how much I appreciate who they are and all that they do. And I pray that He would continue to bless you and use you right where you are. After all, we're all called to a life of  missions, whether we're walking into work in Pennsylvania or walking into one of Bangkok's red-light district.

No matter what role you play in my ministry here in Thailand, please know that my heart is overflowing with gratitude for you, not just on Thanksgiving, but every day. I just wish I could express my appreciation in a more tangible way!

May you be even more aware of God's love and faithfulness as you count your blessings today! After a morning at language school, I'll join approximately 30 other missionaries (including kids) for a big Thanksgiving dinner.  Mmmmm, I have stuffing on the brain....

Please Be My Friend

Although I occasionally post pictures on my blog, I primarily share my photos on Facebook. I've already posted hundreds of pictures from Thailand, so if you're on Facebook and want to take a look at all that I've been up to the past two months, send me a friend request! Even if we haven't met in person, feel free to send me a request and a message to let me know you read this blog. I really want as many people as possible to feel as though they are taking part in this great adventure! So, please, be my friend!

It was just one of those mornings. Despite getting eight hours or so of sleep, I felt way too exhausted for my 5 a.m. run. So, I turned off my alarm and slept for another 50 minutes. Even with the additional rest, I was dragging as I got ready for the day, read my Bible and ate breakfast, all the while wishing that I could crawl back into bed and sleep the day away (or at least a good chunk of the morning).

I prayed that God would strengthen me and help shake some of the tiredness from my eyes. But alas, no supernatural caffeine jolt.

As I walked to the bus stop for the first leg of my daily commute to language school, I was thankful for the early morning heat, which took some of the sleepy-induced chill from my bones. Still, I was feeling pretty weary and the thought of the long day ahead was a little daunting.

As the somewhat rickety bus came throttling to a stop, I saw that it was extra-crowded. The seats had long been occupied and the aisles were crammed with standing passengers, holding on to whatever nearby handrail or seatback that wasn't already in someone else's hand. Well, in some cases there was some overlapping.

Now, I'm probably stereotyping, but I would guess that upon seeing this, most Americans would think there was no room for additional passengers and that to board such a packed vehicle would be fairly dangerous. But if I've learned anything about life in Thailand these past two months, it's this - when it comes to public transportation in Bangkok, there's always room for one more. So I, along with five or six other people at my bus stop, quickly boarded the bus, pushing and squeezing our way until the doors were able to close.

And as I, the lone American among dozens of Thais, faced the rear of the hot bus, wedged between multiple strangers and completely disregarding any concept of personal space, I smiled and thought to myself, "I love my life."

I really, really do.

Yes, the current combination of language school, writing for the magazine and nights of ministry once or twice a week can be tiring, but I wouldn't trade these experiences for the world. My busmates, and the millions of Thai people they represent, are the reason I'm here. And in the meantime, I'm having one amazing adventure.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Dichan phuut phasaathay nit noy. (I speak Thai a little bit.)

Take a look at how a good chunk of my free time has been spent lately. Those flash cards are among the hundreds of Thai words and phrases that I've been learning and studying for almost a month now. Of course, the words on the cards are only phonetics and not actual Thai letters, but I'm no Lauren Becker. :)

I'm almost halfway through my two months of language school and I have to say that I am absolutely loving it. Although three hours of language school five days a week can be mentally draining sometimes, I have a growing passion to learn the Thai language. So much so that I'm considering finding a tutor to work with me after my two months of school are complete.

You see, I'm all about a relational approach to missions, especially here in Thailand. I want to be able to talk with the people I encounter throughout my daily routine and begin to build relationships with them. I want them to understand that I value their language and culture. I want to be able to ask questions and, when people are comfortable enough to share, learn about their lives. I want to speak Thai so that my growing (though still meager) ability can be another available tool for God to work through while I'm here. 

And, of course, I want to be able to order a whole lot more Thai food. ;)

I would really appreciate your prayers that God would continue to help me retain what I learn, give me the confidence to try out new words and create opportunities for me to begin building friendships with my Thai neighbors.

On a cool side note, God definitely blessed my first session of language school. My teacher is a really sweet and fun Thai native who became a Christian about five years ago, and three of my fellow students are here in Bangkok for one year of missions work with the equivalent of the Assemblies of God in Canada. I'm praying God will use us to be a tangible example of His love to the other students.

Old Friend, New City...

YAYYYYYYYYYY!!!! I don't know what word could better sum up the way I feel about Heather Goff's Bangkok arrival earlier this week. Heather is a dear friend from Evangel and she will be here for seven months to assist with an outreach to university students that centers on teaching conversational English.

Heather and I went on our first missions trip together nearly four years ago and share lots of great memories from that time spent in Morocco. Soon after Dr. Martindale "recruited" me for this year in Bangkok, I discovered that Heather was planning on serving here, too!

It's been about two and a half years since this crazy adventure first began and Heather has been a tremendous encouragement and support throughout the ups and downs of fundraising and the many preparations necessary to get to Thailand. After being here for one month, I am so, so grateful that she's now arrived and that we can continue sharing in this journey together.

As we chatted last night, I was reminded again of how many wonderful people God has put in my life and He is so faithful to put the right person in the right place at the right time.

For all of my friends and family reading this- I love and miss you all so much, but I'm thankful that God has given me a little piece of home by bringing a good friend to Bangkok. It really helps make the separation much easier. Plus, Heather loves adventure and travel as much as I do, so we're going to have a ton of fun. :) I predict a great influx of pictures in the days to come.

Please pray for Heather in the weeks ahead - that she will continue to have a smooth adjustment process, that she will find an apartment that she really loves and feels safe in (she's currently living with the missionaries she's assisting), and that God will use her in awesome ways to share His life-changing love with Thai university students.

** I have a link to Heather's blog posted on the right.

After my first two days of Thai language school, I have plenty of thoughts that I want to share. But, after two days of language school, my mind also feels a little bit like mush, so I thought I'd just post some pictures to give you a closer look at life in Bangkok until I feel like thinking again. :) 

The market down the street from my apartment.

On the BTS sky train with my roommate Rebecca and our friends Pranee and Eve.

I love buying food from the street vendors. Yeah, it might not be the most sanitary, but it tastes the best and a big meal usually only costs 30 baht or so (the equivalent of $1 U.S.).

This is the view of Bangkok from the apartment living room.

Last night I joined my roommate Rebecca and our friend Laurel as they taught their weekly English lesson and Bible story to children living in a rundown neighborhood of Bangkok. The English lesson was all about doctors and how they help people get well. The girls each took a turn using a doctor puppet to practice saying "I am a doctor, I help people get well" in English. I was definitely impressed by how quickly they picked up on everything! (I can only hope that I'll be as receptive when I begin my Thai classes on Thursday.)


The little girls, who are absolutely adorable, then helped act out a retelling of how the Good Samaritan helped the injured traveler. It was a wonderful evening and I can't wait to go back! But in the meantime, I wanted to share the faces of some of the beautiful children so that you can join me in praying for them.

The fruit (and food in general) here in Thailand makes me very happy. This market is just down the street from my apartment and I've already been there several times. The pink fruit is called dragonfruit and I tried it for the first time the other night.


I cut it open to reveal the vibrant pink color on the inside and lots of little black seeds, which are edible, like kiwi. The consistency also reminded me of kiwi, but sweeter. Yum! I want another!

I'm in Thailand!!!!


I've been here for almost three full days now and so far, everything has been amazing! Hopefully I'll have time to write a more informative update this weekend, but until then, I just wanted to let anyone who may be reading know that I arrived safely and my time here is off to a great start. I'm still so in awe of how God worked out all the details to bring me to Thailand. There were definitely worries and doubts along the way, but now that I'm here, it just seems so right.

Earlier this year, a friend sent me a card with multiple Bible verses in it, all of which really resonate with the work I am doing here. Isaiah 61:1-4 is especially meaningful for the ministry to at-risk women and children here in Bangkok. I have a feeling I will be going back to that passage many times as I witness some of the downright evil things these people encounter. But as Isaiah 61 shows, there is hope. Would you join me in praying those verses for these women and children this upcoming year?

I'm off!!

After a wonderful, prayerful sendoff at church this morning, I'm about to hit the road. First stop, JFK Airport in New York City. Then, I'll take to the skies and head to Anchorage, Taiwan and finally Bangkok.

Well, until I'm in Thailand...take care and enjoy life's daily blessings! The Lord is faithful!

Packing = Chaos = My Least Favorite Part of Any Move

My visa has arrived!!! That's a major praise report, so thank you to all who prayed. With my visa in hand, I'm all set to go...well, after I pack up a year's-worth of clothes and personal items in two suitcases and a carry-on. Yipes! I better get busy!

19 Days

September has begun, so I guess a countdown to Thailand is fitting. Only 19 days until I board my flight to Thailand, although technically 21 days until I actually arrive.

After running all over Camp Hill and Harrisburg, I was able to get everything together and sent out for my Visa application this morning. (Thanks Mom for being a great chauffeur!) With that task completed, I definitely feel less anxious about the other details I have to attend to in the next few weeks.

Last night I was actually getting pretty anxious about everything that I need to do before leaving - visa, packing, buying some necessities, finish a big freelance assignment...I'm sure there are several other things I'm currently forgetting. As the worries began to eat at me, I realized it had been a few days since I'd really spent some good time in prayer and reading the Bible (shame on me, I know, but it's been a whirlwind of sorts since I arrived in PA). I really wanted to read some of the promises about Jesus in Isaiah, so I turned to that book of the Bible and just began to read. When I came to the following verses, I felt such comfort in the face of my seemingly endless pre-Thailand checklist.

Isaiah 40:27-31
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Thank you God that you love me and give me strength when the tasks seem too cumbersome and the to-do list keeps growing. In some ways I feel like I should get these verses tattooed on my palms to always be reminded of the hope I have.

Ready for Takeoff

I just bought my plane ticket to Thailand.

I leave JFK Airport at 11:45 p.m. Sunday, September 20 and I arrive in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday, September 22, at 11:20 a.m. I'm pretty sure I have an aisle seat, which is I wanted so I can stand up and walk around without crawling over a whole row of people.

Wow. I can't believe this is actually happening! God is so good!



If you could please pray for my visa, I would greatly appreciate it. The contact whom I'm supposed to work with is "away on holiday" right now, so it's put a slight delay in getting my paperwork sent out. However, I've been told that she can turn everything around very quickly once she does return. Pray for a speedy return! :)

Almost time to pack my bags

Well, I ordered a new set of luggage several days ago. In a few short weeks, these guys will accompany me on my journey to the other side of the world. How does one pack for a yearlong trip? No, seriously! I want to know the logistics of such things! When the time comes for me to begin filling those suitcases, I'm going to be a little overwhelmed. Thank goodness I'll be at home in PA, where my mom will lovingly roll my clothes into tight little bundles and provide a measure sanity as I will more than likely be running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Sounds a little crazy - but I can't wait! :)

Update Time
The following is an email I sent out this morning to those on my email update list. If you aren't a part of that list, but would like to be, please email me at karamchase@gmail.com or leave me a comment.


Good morning everyone!
I hope you are all doing well. Please know that today, you all are in my prayers as I thank God for the blessing you've each been in my life and ask that He will continue to move in mighty ways in your own lives.

I wanted to share a quick update on my Thailand status. I have officially begun the process of obtaining a visa and hope to have all of the necessary paperwork sent out in the next few days. From the impression I've received, obtaining a Thai visa isn't as difficult as in other countries, but I would still appreciate your prayers for a speedy turn around.

I am also awaiting final financial clearance from Assemblies of God World Missions so that I can go ahead and purchase my plane ticket to Thailand. I still need a few hundred dollars a month in monthly support, but with the help of one-time cash donations that I continue to receive, that number continues to decline. (Praise God!) I also have money of my own that I will be contributing to help reach my budget. I am amazed at how God has brought everything together and I am so incredibly grateful for all of you who have played a vital part in getting me to Thailand. Words really can't describe how thankful I am for the generosity of so many wonderful people who were moved to share God's love with women in Thailand.

Friday will be my last day of work in the Office of Public Relations here at AG Headquarters and the following Friday (August 28), I will move home to Pennsylvania until I leave for Thailand. The next few weeks will be some of the most bittersweet that I've yet experienced. I want to cry every time I think about leaving all of my wonderful friends here in Springfield, but I know this timing is right and I am SO ready to be in Thailand. I am also looking forward to spending lots of time with my amazing family in PA and reconnecting with people from Christian Life Assembly, my home church. My target departure date is Tuesday, September 22 - I've been eyeing a one-way ticket to Bangkok on Orbitz that is only $505!!! Please pray that everything will come together in time for me to purchase that ticket.

Again, thank you all so much for your financial and prayer support. This upcoming year would not be possible without the support of an incredible Christian community. On behalf of the women who will be impacted by my work, thank you for caring enough about their lives and their eternity to share your finances and your time in prayer.

I will be sure to send another update once my departure date has been confirmed.
Please let me know if there's any way I can be praying for you individually. I will have lots of time for prayer once I'm unemployed :) and I would love to uplift you, as you have uplifted me.

God bless!
Kara Chase
Missionary Associate to Thailand

Life has been very busy lately, with several freelance jobs and a little thing the Assemblies of God likes to call General Council in Orlando, Florida. Hopefully I'll have time to write a real update in the next few days, but in the meantime, I wanted to share a photo from one of the highlights of my General Council adventure.



I had the opportunity to interview Tony Dungy, former coach of the Indianapolis Colts, for The Council Today newspaper. He was such a gracious, humble and sincere Christian and it truly was an honor to meet him and hear his heart.

To read our conversation, go to the following link: http://ag.org/top/Events/General_Council_2009/News/20090806/20090806_06_DungyQA.cfm

In a month and a half I will leave Springfield, the place that's been home (at least physically) for the past six years. I'm feeling good about leaving the town, but as August 28 comes closer, I'm realizing more and more how much I will miss my friends here. They have been such a blessing in my life and I'm so thankful I've had these years to live so close to such a tight-knit group of friends.

I have some other exciting news to share, but that blog will take a little longer to write. Please check back soon for an update on my status!

Will Write for Support

September is right around the corner and I'm trying to come up with some creative ways to raise my remaining support. So, I'm looking for freelance writing jobs. News and feature articles, brochure copy, appeal letters, Web copy, devotionals...if you need a writer or know someone who does, please contact me! All I will ask for is a small donation made to my missionary associate account.

Since my writing on this blog is more casual and doesn't reflect my overall writing ability, I can email samples of my work to anyone who may be interested. I've been writing articles for AG News for a year and a half now; have had articles published in Today's Pentecostal Evangel (see this week's issue for an article on General Council); did freelance work for the AG's T5 teen devotionals; and did extensive writing of all kinds for Convoy of Hope during my one-year internship. I am also a nerd who really (I mean really) enjoys editing (primarily AP style), so I would also love to do that kind of freelance work as well.

Yesterday at church, God reminded me once again that He is making a way for me to get to Thailand. And He has given me peace as I trust in Him to continue to provide. But at the same time, I'm also aware that He's given me abilities that I can use to be a part of His process of provision. So, if the opportunity presents itself, I am ready and willing to write for Thailand!

My email address is karamchase@gmail.com

**UPDATE**
It's been a few hours since I posted and I already have a praise report to share! I'll be writing an article for OnCourse magazine (the publication for AG teens). The best part is that the article will be all about how teens can practically prepare to become a missionary-- and I get to weave in some of my own experiences! I'm so excited and grateful for this opportunity! As always, it's so cool to see what God does when we make ourselves available and put in a little of our own leg work!

Almost There?

I ran my second 5K yesterday, this time accompanied by my roommate Bethany (yay!). I finished nearly two minutes faster than my previous race in February, so that alone made me feel pretty good. But now in a contemplative moment (which could have been brought on by the excessive amount of bleach I just used to clean the bathroom), I'm beginning to see a metaphor from yesterday's 5K that is providing some much-needed encouragement as I am just three months away from my target departure in September.

If my math is correct, I am only $100 or so from having raised 100 percent of my cash budget. (God is good!) Once my cash budget is entirely raised, any additional cash I receive will be distributed to my monthly support, which is still only at 30 percent. While knowing I'm this close to having raised my cash budget has been a huge reminder of God's faithfulness and the generosity of many people, the worrier in me realizes there's still a lot of money to be raised in three short months. (Oh me of little faith!!)

So back to the 5K.

I was feeling good throughout the majority of the race. I had set a good pace and was able to pass a lot of other runners. But towards what I estimate to be the last half mile or so, I began to tire. The road was not well shaded and the sun was beating down. I couldn't see the finish line, so I had no idea how much longer I would have to run. Some people who were around me began to walk and, although walking was never an option, I was tempted to slow down. But I kept running, knowing I wouldn't be satisfied if I didn't beat my previous 5K time. As I rounded the final corner and finally saw the finish line a mere hundred yards away, I realized I was going to make it. And I knew I wanted to finish strong. I forced my legs to pump as hard as they could and sprinted (well, it felt like a sprint to me, onlookers might have called it something else) to the finish line.

As my September goal draws closer, I admit that sometimes I wonder if I'll reach the goal. But I'm choosing to place everything in God's hands and continue on this path that He first directed me to two years ago. It's been a great journey so far, and it's pretty cool to think that my September finish line is really just the starting point of a yearlong adventure in faith and ministry. If you are reading this, please keep me in your prayers as I finish this first leg of the race - that I will not grow discouraged and will continue to rely on the Lord and trust His promises. Although I could rely on my own strength to finish yesterday's run, this metaphorical run will by no means be won on my own. Pray that I will finish strong, so that I can start strong.

Electronic Mail

As September, my target departure month, draws closer I'd like to keep in better contact with my financial and prayer supporters. If you are interested in receiving email updates, please send me a message at karamchase@gmail.com. At this point, I'll probably send out the emails on a monthly basis, but once I arrive in Thailand it may be more frequent, especially as prayer needs and praise reports arise. Of course I'll still update my blog, but the emails will be more in detail and have more of an emphasis on the much-needed prayer support.

In the next few days I'll probably be posting an update on the current status of my budget. With the success of last month's Zumbathon, the ongoing generosity of my monthly supporters and the generosity of other friends and my home church, I am getting closer to Thailand every day! God is good!

I know fortune cookies aren't real, but this one made me smile.



Thailand, here I come!

As a missionary associate, I see the issue of frequently running out of thank you cards as a very good problem to have.


The generosity and faithful enthusiasm of my friends, family and fellow Christians continually amazes me. I wish I had better ways of expressing how truly grateful I feel. But in the meantime, I'm going to buy a bigger pack of thank you cards this weekend, as I believe God is going to continue provide in miraculous ways.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galations 5:1

I'm so grateful when God gives me much-needed reminders that this promise applies not just to the women that I'll be working with in Thailand, but also to me.

Exceeded Expectations

Yesterday morning my parents prayed that God would exceed my expectations of Zumbathon. And their prayers (as well as mine and everyone else who prayed for Zumbathon) were definitely answered!


More than 100 women attended Zumbathon and the event raised a little over $1,300, including a few donations that were made by friends unable to attend.

I still can't believe it! As my parents prayed, God completely exceeded my expectations through this event. I am so amazed at the generosity of the women who attended. Their excitement for the ministry that I'll be involved in was incredibly encouraging and another confirmation that God will provide for my needs.


Having the opportunity to briefly share my heart with so many people was also a blessing. At the conclusion of Zumbathon I read Psalm 103:6, "The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed." I told the ladies that I believe God uses His people to help work justice and that through their support, they were a part of bringing justice to the women in Thailand who are involved in the sex industry. I can't wait for the day when I can send back stories to them of how God is transforming lives!

As I think back over the tremendous success of Zumbathon, one verse comes to mind. Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen."

Through Zumbathon, God really did more than I could ask or imagine.

Every Tuesday morning from 8-9 a.m. AG headquarters employees meet for chapel. Today's service was a powerful one as Dr. Jim Bradford (my pastor at Central Assembly) was installed as the new General Secretary and then shared a message about following the Lord in spite of the sacrifices it may require. At the conclusion of the service Dr. Wood led us in singing "Trust and Obey." There's something I've really come to love about the deep meaning behind old standards like that and the words especially resonated with me as I thought about my approaching departure for Thailand in September. A lot has to come together between now and then, but for now, I have to make a daily decision to just trust and obey.

Zumbathon for Thailand is this Saturday! Plans and preparations have gone well so far, but there's still a lot to do in the next few days. Please pray for the event, that lots of women will come and have a great time; that the fundraiser will make a nice dent in my budget; and that, most importantly, God will speak to the hearts of the attendees and move them to prayer on behalf of the women in Thailand. There are many spiritual bonds to be broken and we can all make a difference by consistently praying for these women.

Check back soon for a follow-up report on Zumbathon!

It's Coming...

Zumbathon for Thailand!
March 14, 2009
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
First Baptist Church
Ozark, Missouri

Check back soon for more information and please join me in praying that this will be a successful event- I already know it will be a ton of fun! Are you ready to Zumba?

Don't know what Zumba is? Click here.

There's a First Time for Everything

Yesterday, I competed in my first 5K. I've enjoyed running for several years now, but the thought of running in a pack of other people always intimidated me. But when the opportunity to run in the Bolivar 5K came up, I knew I should get over my silly insecurities and sign up. Thankfully, yesterday was a surprisingly warm February day, so warm, in fact, that during the race I had to figure out how to remove my sweatshirt, with my numbers pinned to it, and repin the numbers to my long-sleeve shirt...while continuing to run and hold on to my car key. Haha, I'm sure I looked a little crazy for a half-mile or so, and I also blame the incident for adding a few seconds to my time.  The fierce competitor in me loved pushing myself up the hills and keying in on people before passing them. Of course, even after passing people, I still came in 87 place overall. I have to admit, I wasn't too pleased with my time, (3.1 miles in 29 minutes, 54 seconds), but somehow I managed to come up third place for my age group, 20-29. Receiving that little trophy was a nice, and completely unexpected, surprise during the awards ceremony. I'm looking forward to running in a 5K again, hopefully in March. I guess it's stating the obvious, but my goal is to finish with a much better time. Maybe next time I'll skip the sweatshirt and pin my number to a piece of clothing that I have no intention of removing. :)

Well, the deadline for the matching fund challenge has come and gone...and it was a 100 percent success! Thanks to the generosity of four wonderful supporters and my Dad, I am now several steps closer to Thailand. As I've mentioned before, knowing that there are other people who believe in the work I'll be doing in Thailand is both humbling and encouraging. Although this budget raising process has definitely had its moments of stress and frustration, through it all, God has been faithful and He's taught me a lot about His own character and the importance of trusting Him. And I'm so grateful for the support team that He's raised up. My missionary associate term is definitely a team effort and the matching fund challenge is just one example of that. Thank you, thank you, thank you to every one who is praying and giving on behalf of the women of Thailand! 

Make it a Double

This man wants you to make a difference!

I received the following text message from my Dad this morning:
"We will double match the next four $25 investments others make in your Thailand trip. Deadline noon January 16."

With a little less than nine months until my target departure for Thailand, I admit that my budget can still use all the help it can get. Thanks to my dad's challenge, if you are able to give a $25 contribution before Friday, January 16, it will have twice the impact!

I can't express just how grateful I am for all of the support I've received since beginning this missionary associate journey. Whether it's a word of encouragement, prayer or a finances, there have been so many people who have had a hand in getting me to Thailand. Through everything God has taught me just how dependent I am on him and how powerful an impact Christians can have when we work together. If you ar have been a part of my support team, thank you again from the bottom of my heart. Please continue to join with me in prayer as my time of ministry approaches. What a humbling and exciting thing it is for each one of us to be part of God's work around the world.

If you are interested in joining the Keith M. Chase 2009 Challenge, go to https://secure1.ag.org/contributions/index.cfm and enter the number 294539. It will take you to a page where you can click on my name . I will receive notification of your support s a few days after it is made, but if you want to notify me sooner, you can email me at karamchase@gmail.com

Happy New Year!

This is the year that I will move to Thailand and I can't wait to see what else God has in store!

I'm finishing up some free lance devotions on this first day of 2009, so my creative energies are focused on those for now, but I will be sure to write a real update very soon.

*If you'd like to hear my first (and probably only) foray into the world of video voice-overs, and learn more about the Assemblies of God National Prayer Center, click the following link. http://ag.org/top/Media/Video/index.cfm#National-Prayer-Center