Jess from the temple

For those who need a face with a name to pray with and for, I added a picture of her (I forgot I took one of her at the temple doing the deal) below in the original post. Click on the "Temple" label below for a quick jump to the "Public Display of Jesus" post.

Gai's Testimony

One of the great people I met in Thailand, Gai is a Godly woman with a great story of how God has worked in her life. She's a great friend, and this is a peek into God's story through her life.

This is Gai (in the middle) with two of my friends on the trip, Rob(left) and Natalie (Right).

First of all, I would like you to get to know me and my background. My name is Gai. I’m Thai. I was born in a devout Buddhist family. They love to go to the temple so I have to go with them all the time. Because we believe that we will go to heaven and be reincarnated as a human body not an animal such as a dog or a cat, it makes me scared so I have to recite before bed everyday so I don’t have to be the dog. I’m so glad that my childhood life was a wonderful time because I was with my family.
Until I was 15 years old my parents sent me far away from home for high school. In their mind, they thought that it will make me be a good person. I was studying there alone without my parents beside me since high school until my first year in a university. That
sometimes made me so lonely. So I found my way by having a boyfriend and living together with him since high school until the university. My boyfriend liked to go out at night, smoking, drinking alcohol and taking drugs. I did everything the same as he did because we had fun when we did that. But one day my boyfriend walked away from my life. It was not a big deal for me because I have a lot of friends but it has been not long, there were the exchange students from America who came to my university. I didn’t know what they were exactly doing here but I only knew that they like to spend time with Thai people. They like to laugh and smile all the time. I hate them very much and for me I don’t like to spend time with people I didn’t know. That's the reason why I always stayed alone in my room. One evening the exchange students came to knock on my door and what they did made me not satisfied at all. Because they looked strange to me, I opened the door for them for a few seconds, because of my respect to the Thai culture which is not polite if I will not open the door if there is a guest. So I was forced to open the door. Honestly I was glad that they came. My impression was opposite to what they shown me when I actually invited them inside my room.
After that, they invited me to the party that they made. They told me it is free and fun. I decided to go with them because I was bored. I saw many people there both Farang and Thai. I felt so good when I walked in there, everybody gave me a great warm welcome. They have fun without taking alcohol. I asked them what they want me to repay for them they told me they don’t want anything from me because they got a lot more than enough from one person who always gives to them and no limit. That made me wonder who is that person was and I wanted so much to know the answer. After that they invited me to the camp. We had an activity at the beach and we had a lot of fun together. We also watched a movie at night. The movie that we watched was the story of Jesus. I was so amazed and started to cry while Jesus was nailed on the cross. I thought it is not equitable for Jesus to die on the cross. Besides, he did not do anything wrong and why he had to carry everybody sins and was punished for them. After we finished the movie, there was one sister who came to explain the reason why Jesus has to die on the cross for us. She explained in Romans 6:22-23. I understood, but I still didn’t want to receive Christ at that time and I didn’t want to have relationship with a Christian.


Later when I came back from the camp I was so sick and with a high fever, I thought I was going to die for sure. I called my mother that stayed 18 hours away from me. I told my mom that I have a high fever and I’m going to die. I really need to see the doctor. My mom wanted so much to come to help me but she couldn’t come because of the long distance and it was very difficult to travel at that time. Thus my mom just cried and told me to ask someone to help take me to the doctor. But I don’t have any friends who can help me at that time because all of my friends went to the school and it's only me in the room. I felt like I’m almost died and it made me think about Jesus and pray if there is really a God. Maybe he is listening to me right now. "Please send a Christian sister who went to the camp with me to come here and take me to the doctor then I will believe that there is really God," I prayed. 5 minutes later, there were people who came and knocked at my door. I was so happy but I couldn’t move my feet to open the door for them so I crawled to open the door for them. Then I was so surprised when I saw my Christian sister at the door. In my mind I knew that God exists, but I didn’t tell them. They took me to my bed, stood around me, laid hands on me and prayed for me. Actually deep in my heart, I believed that God would heal me. After they took me to the hospital, the doctor had checked me and told us that I had a serious fever. But it was a miracle that my fever was getting better and better in a short time. The doctor was so amazed.
After that, I decided to go to church and received Christ into my life. I walked with Jesus for 5 years. I served the Lord by doing activities at the church and helped the church a lot within 5 years. Everybody was so happy to see me serve the Lord together with them. But later I went back to my old boyfriend again. I made a big mistake, went back to my old way, then ended up with serious sin. I drank again, smoked and did everything to make my boyfriend come back to me, but it was more badly for me because I still served God at the church and did the bad things at the same time. Nobody at the church knew that I went back to my boyfriend and did many sinful things.
God loves me so much and He wants to teach me something, so he toughened me up by allowing me to get pregnant. It was a nightmare for me when I knew that I got pregnant. I didn’t know what to do because my boyfriend said that it was not his responsibility. I couldn’t tell my mom; also because it would be so embarrassing for me if the church knew about it. I decided to kill myself... but I was afraid to do it. I was thinking of aborting the baby 5 times because I thought nobody will know. But God talked to me through his word on Psalms that said that, “I will give you the gift and you will have abounding food, don’t worry in everything.” Thus I started to cry, knelt on the floor and asked for forgiveness from Him. I decided to go back to Him and told Him that I’m so afraid. I asked Him to dwell in me and asked Him to help me when I go to talk with my Christian friends at the church; that they will not abuse me. By that time I didn’t need anything except encouragement and a hug. After that, I went to my friend and said, "I have something to talk to you about." And instead of abusing me, she welcomed me and brought me to her room. In my heart, I prayed for something that I didn't expect would happen to me. I asked my friend, "If I do something bad, are you going to forgive me?" Then she said, "Sure I will forgive you because the Lord always forgives us and that people also have to obey Him." So I told her while crying that I got pregnant but she thought that I was lying. I confirmed her that it was true, and then she was so quiet, hugged me and we cried together. She told me that she will take care of me and was sure the Lord will take care of me also. I couldn’t say anything, I just cried and thanked her that she did not abuse me. I saw God’s love many times in my life. That gave me peace and encouraged me to take care of my baby. God gave me my very nice girl and a cute one at that! I even thought my life was not complete because I don’t have a husband, and my daughter doesn’t have a father. But we got more than that, we have God’s love in our heart all the time and it will be with us forever. Now my daughter is 5 years old. Every time when I was looking at my daughter I will tell her, "Thank God for He gave you to me to be my daughter." My daughter made me so happy and so blessed, sometimes it makes me cry when I think about the day that I wanted to abort her. Her smile is so beautiful and she is a cheerful girl. Many people said that she is a happy child when they meet her.
We live without any help from our family now because they said that if there is really God then they don’t have to help me. By the way, God is so good to us always even though our life is so difficult sometimes but we have to be patient and learn to depend on God only, not just one thing but everything.


Gai lives in Chaing Mai, Thailand with her daughter and is the manager of a Christian book store and coffee shop called "Kingdom Book." You can check it out at www.kingdombook.com. It's a great place! Thanks Gai for your testimony!

Add your thoughts, prayers, testimonies!

I'm hoping to get some others from the Thailand trip to share their stories with the world too!

In the meantime, I will continue to write about where and how God is moving with our congregation and people we meet along the way! Stay logged on for more...

Hard days in the rice fields

Nothing like a "hard day's work" to remind you what you're on this Earth for.

For three days we sweated, bled (really) and the tears that were shed were from when the sweat that rolled in our eyes and stung us to a painful irritation!

After working at the Im Jai House earlier in the week, we headed North to some new ministries beginning called the "Faithful Heart" Homes. It's being orchestrated through the Im Jai House managers Dave and Shirley. These homes are for another group of orphans in Thailand who have no family to care for them.

Much less off than Im Jai, 10 kids and a few adults live in homes big enough for what Americans may consider "cozy" for two parents and a kid or two. Shower is a hole in the wall with a pipe-like water hose for the shower head. The team worked their tails off building a grass hut and an outhouse in the rice fields, preparing the area for the rice season. With our help, the families can get to planting the rice and cultivating the fields, and not have to worry about the dilapitating huts that we replaced. In 3 days time, we were able to build these huts with the help of two Thai construction geniuses. The huts are used during the hot summer months in the rice fields for a shady shelter and to work with the rice stalks once they harvest them.

Our brauny, arrogant minds wanted to take over and say, "Step aside, we'll not only build these huts for ya - but we'll build them better, stronger, like a 10-foot high skyscraper type hut that "The Jones's" in the next rice field would be jealous of!!" The first day and a half was the most humbling when we had to swallow our pride, look to God for guidance, and realize that these construction guys were here to show us how to do it "the Thai way" and for us to also realize that they may not want or need it done "our way." Thai folks have been building these huts for centuries; through tsunamis, and other stormy situations and have done just fine with them. We're here to help them do it - not to build them a better mousetrap.

After we sucked up all the pride, the missionary team melded so well that the outhouse hut went up in four hours! Solid as a rock, and all done before lunchtime. Thai helpers and the "western team" (us) were singing worship songs as we tied down each roof piece with twisty-tie bamboo pieces. It was like tieing off a loaf of bread - several hundred times.

Later on, on the third day, part of the team went to the local market and bought roughly 3 to 4-thousand small fish ( I bet that vendor was happy) and threw them in a pond in the village with the purpose of starting an eco-system and providing a natural food source (as the fish grow up for years to come).

"These are the days that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in them," I thought to myself.

Hard work never felt so good. Bedtime was also a blessing when it came on those nights too!

While part of the team was building huts, another team was at the house giving them an overhaul paint job inside and out! They did such a wonderful job that once they finished the outside, they were asked to do the inside too! It was like the outside paint job was a test of skill for worthiness to paint the inside. It was a funny thought anyway. I noticed a huge difference in how the house "shined" after coming back from the rice fields. Great job to all teams! I'm sure God was smiling from ear to ear!

"God's Story" Video Uploaded below!

All this work has come down to this exciting time! The video is here!

See how God works in people's lives on missionary trips, including two groups of eight people from Okinawa, Japan and the Colorado Community Church who came together to show God's love to the Im Jai House orphanage in Chaing Mai, Thailand...and how YOU can help!

Get the word out - share this with your family, friends, and church! To find out how you can help these orphans, go to http://www.imjaihouse.com/.

If you can't see the video, click on the links below for the video. Please share these with as many people that may want to help out the Im Jai House. Get everyone to invest in Eternity! More links will come in the future!


http://www.godtube.com/uvideos.php?UID=29635&type=public

http://www.youtube.com/StoryOfGod

http://www.okiharbor.com/ (click the link to photos)

A Public Display of Jesus

The setting: A tourist-attraction-looking Buddhist temple, with trinket shops and vendors of all sorts.

The Mission: Pray for the spiritually-lost and have an eye-opening experience

Some members of our team and I had the chance to visit this location, not knowing what to expect. When we arrived, we walked the hundreds of stairs it took to get to the temple area.

We took our time individually to look around. I felt my mission for God was to do a prayer walk around the area, where I prayed out-loud (a little louder than a whisper-like I was talking to myself) as I walked through the different areas. I prayed for God's compassion on the people worshiping Buddha "as they don't know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

As I walked around, I saw a young girl, possibly early-20's, who was "learning the ways" of Buddhism (as I can only guess) from what it seemed, bent over and lighting candles while watching a local lady next to her showing her how to do it. I felt I needed to pray for her. As I walked by her and out of the temple, I said a prayer for the "lady with the pink sunglasses" to come to know Jesus, and for God to forgive her for she "knows not what she is doing." This is her on the left in the picture.

A few minutes later, I felt a strong conviction from God to know her by name. If for anything else, to pray for her by name. By this time I had left the temple and walked out to an area filled with hundreds of tourists. I asked the Lord to show her to me again if it was His will I talk to her. No more than a couple of minutes went by when I turned around and saw her again.

I walked up to her, shaking visibly, nervous with a choked-up voice. This was out of my comfort zone.

"Excuse me ma'am, what is your name?" "Jess," she said politely. "My name is Kevin, and I saw you in the temple." I continued, "I felt a strong conviction that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wanted me to know your name so I could pray for you by name. I don't know if you have any issues or concerns that I need to pray for you, but I just needed to come and tell you that. Thank you." She smiled politely and said thanks.

I got the feeling that she was humoring me and doesn't know Jesus, otherwise I think it would've been a stronger conversation. She may be in a position that I and others who've come to Christ have been in; experimentation...trying to find something to fill the void, the hole in her life and heart. Christian rock group Plumb says it this way-- "There's a God-shaped hole, and it's a void only He can fill." Click here to hear a preview of "God-shaped hole" (track 11 on the "Best of Plumb" album).

Maybe you're in that position now. Let Jesus come into your life and fill your world with His mighty wonders!

Day 3; Praising God in the utmost highest

The most uplifting day for me was on God's day of rest, Sunday.

We went to a Christian Thai church in town where the kids go to and the leaders do a sunday school class. The church welcomed the "new people" and the missionary groups in town.

Then, the congregation band kicked off Thai versions of "My Jesus, My Savior", "All in All", and other western culture favorites. They sang in Thai while we sang in English.
I'm reminded of these verses:

Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."(NLT)

Revelation 7:9
"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. " (NLT)

Two cultures praising the same God in Thailand...wonderful. We, too, caught a glimpse of Heaven as the Apostle Paul did.

To welcome each other to church like we do in most western churches, they sing a song called, "Sawadee Ka", which means hello or good day in Thai. It's catchy and I still can't get it out of my head 2 weeks later. Ugh. I guarantee everyone reading this that was on the trip is singing it right now.

You're welcome.
(singing) "Sawadee ka".....

Day 2; "Play" is invaluable

"If I were to die from some unforseen circumstance, would I want Christians to come play with my kids? Absolutely!" said Mark Oshman, the leader of our Okinawa missionary crew.

Some folks in our Christian military realm feel that going to Thailand to "just play with the kids" is not a good reason to go, nor is it really considered "missionary work."

Keep in mind these kids have no parents, or if they have any family members out there at all, they can't afford to keep them, so the Thai government considers them orphans.

James 1:27 calls us to care for widows and orphans by stating, "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (NLT)

Pretty plain English to me.

Saturday we played most of the day with the kids at Im Jai in a large room (pictures to come) playing soccer, giving piggy back rides until we collapsed, and playing games like "duck, duck goose!" and an interesting one I never heard of before called, "slide your buns" or something like that. Basically, you round up some chairs in a tight circle and leave one open for the person standing in the middle to sit down. But that person must grab an open seat while the circle of folks sitting continue to "move their buns" quickly from chair to chair in order to make it difficult for the "monkey in the middle." Amber from Colorado got it started and the kids loved it. By "buns" hurt afterward:) Again, I took limited video of the horseplay, but I felt God's tug to focus mainly on playing with the kids that demanded my attention most of the day.

We also split up the teams and took the kids bowling and swimming. I was on the swimming team. Darn tootin'-after being in the hot sun sweating, playing with these kids hard all morning - bet ya batooty I'm going to a pool! At first we thought their version of a "pool" was going to be some pond out in the middle of something. But it was an actual pool with chlorine so it was good. We played "marco polo" games, threw the kids around (the boys especially loved it) and did "chicken fights" (again the boys' cup of tea). The girls had fun too.

God smiled on us this day as we took care of His children.

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Searching for God's Will

As I originally signed up for this trip, I knew God called me to use my broadcasting skills to shoot video to use as a documentary of how God worked in our lives and in the lives of the children at the Im Jai House. When I mentioned this to our Paster and leader of the Okinawa team, he said, "I just got off the phone with the Im Jai folks and they said they could really use a commercial on their website." I thought, "Wow! Is this how God wants to use me?"

As the trip got closer and after we got there, questions arose in my head on God's particular plan for me there. The Im Jai House was losing sponsorship of kids, house funds and their liscense to operate due to problems between the kids. Now the questions were like, "Does God still want me to shoot video or was it a ploy to get me to Thailand to be used otherwise?" And if it was for "otherwise", what WAS my purpose for God in Thailand? Love on the kids? Work with them in knowing Jesus? Encourage the staff members during the troubling times? Produce a TV story on the troubling times? Just work hard in the sun? I prayed more and played it by ear.

I shot limited video on the first couple of days, while keeping an eye out for God's signs for me. I played with the kids some, did yard work and teamed up with others to get whatever else done that needed to be done. I was hoping the next few days will tell me where my place was on my first missionary trip outside of my comfort zone...

Day 1; Hard work in the hot, hot Thailand sun

First thing on God's agenda was landscaping and yard work that was long overdue. I'll have some pictures later, but let me just say there was sweat, blood (really), and no tears:)

This is where we saw God's strength come out to show up early, work hard using the hoe, pulling weeds, using the high-powered weed whacker on weeds more than 2-feet high (with hidden rocks which reminded me why I should've been wearing long pants!) and cultivating the flower beds.

There were fire ant bites and biting flowers!

Later in the afternoon is when we met the Colorado team who flew more than 24 hours straight to get here, so needless to say the jet lag and lack of sleep was hurting the team. But the 2 teams melded together like we've known each other for years. Another testimony to God's love and keeping God's commandments "loving each other as yourselves" was evident. What a blessing to meet other Christ-followers who are ready to do God's will at any time.

Thailand Bound; The Vision

Mission Team background - This has been a great learning experience in Okinawa, Japan and my love for God has grown and coming to know more about my Savior Jesus Christ with my church group here has been an eye opener. It’s this group, “Project 196” I want to tell you about (http://www.project196.com/). It’s a Christian ministry geared toward young adults in the U.S. military ages 20-30 years old (but some of us old folks attend too!). The name comes from Revelation 19:6, where the Apostle John saw a glimpse of heaven from God, "I heard what sounded like the shout of a huge crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves, or the crash of loud thunder. I heard them say, 'Praise God! For the Lord almighty God reigns!'"

The team of worshipers is also a huge advocate for sponsoring mission trips to third-world countries to share the love of Christ. Most recently (June 7-17), we took on a trip to Thailand to an orphanage for kids through 18 years of age that have been orphaned due to their parents dying of HIV/AIDS. The orphanage is called The Im Jai House (http://www.imjaihouse.com/)

The mission was to initially go to the Im Jai House and love the kids, help with whatever was needed to keep-up the place. As the trip drew closer and throughout the trip, we saw a bigger plan through God as turmoil and pain came down on the Im Jai House, the kids and the staff.

Our ministry consisted of 8 people working with the kids by doing nightly Bible devotions, doing work and gardening projects at their orphanage, and I videotaped it all, as well as helped where God needed me. Look for a video documentary here soon. We also joined up with 8 people from the Colorado Community Church. http://www.coloradocommunity.org/

More to come...

Coming soon!

Stay locked on for more great stories of how God is working in Thailand, testimonies, stories about missionary teams who did God's work of "taking care of Orphans" (James 1:27).

ALSO!! I'm currently making a documentary video of the trip and how you can get involved with the Im Jai House and other missionary work in Thailand! Be on the look for that around July 1st, 2007 .