Well, fall has arrived in the Ozarks and while I'm enjoying the cool, crisp air right now, I'm sure that by the time the inevitably bitter and icy winter comes, I will be even more motivated to get to hot, humid Thailand!

Yesterday I had my new support letters printed off and I am so happy with them! My friend Carrie designed them and she did an incredible job. I'm actually going to be proud to send them out, which I think is important. In my opinion, sending a quality piece helps convey just how serious I am about my time in Thailand. Hopefully, the words I've written will also communicate my heart and passion for what God's called me to do.

If you are interested in receiving a letter and prayer card, please click here to send me an email with your address. I'd love to share in greater detail what I'll be doing in Thailand and I'd greatly appreciate knowing others are praying for me. Which reminds me, please remember to pray for any missionaries that you may know. I know with the current state of the economy, budgets are tight for many people right now, but that does not lessen our obligation to reach others with Jesus love. Many missionaries are having a hard time financially, but pray that God will continue to sustain them and provide for their needs, as well as the needs of those they are ministering to.

I am way overdue for a Thailand update, and for that, I apologize. Unfortunately, sometimes I get really overwhelmed at the thought of writing these because I'm such a perfectionist and I worry that my entries won't end up as informative, inspiring and entertaining as I would like.

But my personal quirks aside, there's a lot of news to share.

A couple months ago, I was faced with a really difficult decision. (I'll try to make this shorter and less complicated than it actually was.) When I was hired at AG headquarters last November, it was with the understanding that I would be leaving in early September or October 2008. They wanted me to stay longer, but at the time, that was my target departure date for Thailand. Over the course of this summer, I realized my budget probably wasn't going to be raised by October of this year, which would have been fine, except with the role my job plays in General Council preparations, I didn't have the option to just stay until my budget was raised.  My department either needed to hire somebody in the early fall or I needed to stay until after General Council in August 09. 

For weeks I spent a lot of time praying, and admittedly worrying, about what to do. With only having around 20 percent of my budget raised at the time, it didn't seem practical to just quite my job and have no source of income while I tried to keep raising my budget. But, I also didn't want to discount the fact that God can do miracles and provide in ways we could never imagine. But as June and early July progressed, the more I prayed, the more peace I felt about pushing back my Thailand departure. There were times in prayer when I really sensed God telling me "wait." Yes, there were some feelings of fear and worry that I had disappointed or let down the missionaries and my supporters, but once again God was faithful. When I talked to Michele Dove (the missionary I'll be working with) she was tremendously supportive and understanding of my decision to wait. I also spoke with a handful of people who have supported me in prayer and financially and they too, were encouraging. In everything, God seemed to be guiding the hearts of everyone involved in my future ministry in Thailand. So, in case I haven't been clear, I made the decision to stay in Springfield and at headquarters until after General Council next August. I believe God will continue to provide for all of my needs and that come early September next year, I will be on a plane to Thailand. 

In the meantime, I am praying for the women of Thailand and those who are already ministering there. Michele and I have also talked about me starting to write and edit some articles for the magazine, so that I can help her even while I'm in the U.S. Thanks to the power of the Internet and email, I think that will work out well.

Throughout the past few months God has continued to provide encouragement at just the right time. Whether it's been an aptly timed sermon at church or a new contribution to my budget, God's reminded me that he has indeed called me to Thailand for a year. I am so appreciative of all the support that people have given. I've never been one who's been good at asking for help, so as I've mentioned before, the budget raising is truly the most challenging aspect of this journey. But time and time again, generous people have provided support. If you are one of the many who's helped, please know what a tremendous blessing you have been. Words can't express how much everyone's support means. It's incredibly humbling (and a honestly, a little bit scary) to know that God and others have entrusted me with the task of sharing His love in Thailand. With your prayers and continued support, I will do my best to serve Christ on the other side of the world. I am so thankful that He will be my source of strength and wisdom as I prepare and once I arrive.

O is for the only one I see

After attending three weddings this summer and talking to two newly engaged friends yesterday and today, I'm just so happy knowing that my friends are going to have great marriages. Love is great. And one day, when it's time for me to get married...I vow to throw the biggest dance party of all time at my reception. It will be the stuff of legends.

I mean, forget the groom, I've got to start working on the play list.

Mmm mmmm mmm

Among the long list of things I'm really looking forward to in Thailand (falling somewhere in between fulfilling what God's called me to do and the reportedly insane humidity) is eating authentic Thai food. 

Last night I went with a group of friends to a Thai restaurant in Joplin, Missouri, that has the reputation for serving some of the best Thai food in the area. And I definitely was not disappointed. We decided to eat family style, so I was able to try about eight different dishes and they were amazing. Some of them could have used a little more heat (as in spiciness) for my liking, but I'm sure that will never be the case once I get to Thailand. I've been told by friends who've already been there that my Thai friends will be impressed by heat tolerance... and I can't wait to push that tolerance beyond its limits!

If you've never eaten Thai food, you really should try it. I've always found it to be so much more flavorful and fresh than Chinese food, and usually a lot less greasy and heavy feeling. Yum, yum, yum... my only regret from last night is that I didn't get to take home any leftovers.

9.5 on the Conviction Factor Scale

1 John is a fairly small book, but, wow, can it be challenging.

As I was reading my Bible this morning over my old breakfast standby of Kashi Go-Lean and a banana, this verse really stood out to me (as it has several times before).

"Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6

It's a short verse, but when we hold every aspect of our daily lives up to that standard, it's easy to see that we all definitely fall short. So I've decided to use this verse to help keep me accountable in my daily interactions and overall outlook. Here's to walking as Jesus did- a whole lot easier said than done!

If you haven't already read the previous post, read that first. Context is key here.

God already seems to be following through on his promise to provide.

I just got a call from Pastor Bradford's assistant at Central Assembly (my home church here in Springfield). She told me that in a board meeting last night, they decided to support me for $100 a month while I am in Thailand! Praise God!

I'm just blown away by the fact that last night, probably at the same time the board was meeting, the girls in my Bible study were praying for God to do miracles in helping me raise support. Sure, sure, it could just be a coincidence- but I'd rather call this a miracle.

Central's monthly commitment comes at just the right time and it is such an encouragement to me.

So as of right now I have $115 out of $2,077 of my monthly pledges raised. That may only be 5.5 percent, but I believe it will continue to grow. (Hint, hint- Mom and Dad, fill out those pledge forms!) I'm not sure how far along I am on my cash budget of $8,958 at the moment, but thanks to the generosity of others, it is growing as well.

Thank you to those who have given for following the Holy Spirit's leading and being a part of his work in Thailand. Please know that your support means so much to me and I am grateful that you have a heart for seeing Christ's love change lives on the other side of the world.

Some friends and I are having a Tuesday night Bible study this summer at my apartment and tonight was our first official meeting. Only four of us were able to attend this evening, but we still had a powerful time of sharing and prayer.

As my friend Charity took her turn praying for me, she prayed for requests concerning Thailand, such as my budget and certain anxieties, that I hadn't even mentioned. The words she said both challenged me and encouraged me. After we prayed, I had to thank her for being faithful to listening to the Holy Spirit.

One of the specific things Charity prayed for is that God would do a miracle in my finances, especially as I travel home this weekend and will have the opportunity to speak with Pastor Wade and David Crosby (the missions director for Penn-Del). Later, we discussed how sometimes we don't always pray for and expect miracles and I felt challenged to be bolder in that aspect of my faith. Earlier this week, I was reading a portion of a book that asked "What is it that God wants to be for me now that He couldn't be at any other time, in any other way?" As soon as I finished reading that question, I felt him answer, "Provider." 

It's becoming more and more apparent to me that I need to fully trust God to provide miraculously. Even if things still don't happen within the given timeframe, I want my faith to stretch and grow, so that when I do make it to Thailand, I will be able to minister with a heart that is fully dependent on the Lord.

If you're reading this, will you join me this week in praying for miracles?