I'm
waking up at strange hours, not yet adjusted to the time difference. All is
well with our first Thailand team. We are into our second full day of ministry.
I'll try to back track and give you a short update thru pictures.  

We
arrived Thursday night after a 21+ hour travel day/plane ride. We spent Friday
and Saturday running logistical errands, learning the area, and soaking up as
much Thai culture as we can. Both of us noticed right away that there is a
reason why this country is called "The Land of Smiles". Everyone here
smiles and is so nice! 

A couple
days after our arrival, "Team 1" arrived and we spent time getting to know
them. Sunday was the first day of ministry. We went to an Anglican church in
the morning, then prayer walking in a trafficked district in the evening. Then taught
on listening prayer and AIM's 5 objectives. These are important things we cover
on every trip and have a huge impact on our ministry times.

Our
evening was spent walking thru the streets where in late afternoon it is
transformed from a street to a shopping district...drawing visitor into the bars,
strip clubs, and more. This is a great way for us to ease them into the kind of
ministry we will do and to adjust to the time change/culture shock. While
walking, we prayed.

Tonight
we start going into bars and sitting with girls. Earlier today we went to the
Grand Palace (Royal Palace) and prayer walked. There are stories from our time
there I hope to tell later. Our second stop was to bring some joy and love to
those that have been displaced by the flooding, who were staying in a local gym. We
arrived to find they had been moved to higher ground, as they were expecting
that area to be flooded as well. 

Some of
you have seen stories of the flooding in Bangkok. While it hasn't rained since
we've been here, there's been more rain here than there has been in the last 50
years. Parts of the city are underwater.... not the part we are located in.
However, the government is doing a "slow release" of the build up in
order to avoid the same tragedy NOLA experienced in 2005. Everywhere we go,
sandbags are stacked in front of doors and windows.

A picture
is worth a thousand words!

 

 

 

 

The more
I learn about this culture and the heartbreak of what's going on, the more I
pray specifically for the people I will personally meet on these three weeks...
that God will give me the words to say and that they will feel His love through
me.

Thank you
all for praying!