Challenges and Blessings

There is a reason why i dont have picture posted when i update my blog. I left my camera and i still have not got it yet. I do not mind because i can just share without a picture. some people might say that "but it's good if you take pictures for the ministies you do in Thailand". Well, that was in my mind the first time i got here and i was so frustrated that i might not get the pictures of what i am doing here for memory, but s0mething just came to my realization. Taking picture is good but that is not the reason why i am here in Thailand. the reason why i am here is to share the Good News to the people over here in Thailand. Picture is only my interest but not my mission. That is why i was not and still not worried if i take pictures or n0t. i know who has my camera and he will give me as he said. It was a challenging to left my camera and not having it for some days, but it is a blessing because it helped me shape up my view of my ministry over here in Thailand.

Anyways, let me continue the sharing of blessings that i have faced over here in Thailand. During the time of Erten's injury, it was suppose to be a downpoint for everyone. But because everyone's focus was on Christ, it did not slow down our work, but motivated us to work even harder. During that night of injury, I challenged my brother Erten while he was laying on the bed waiting for the doctor to bring him to th O.R. I told him that everything that comes to our lives, either joyful moment or painful moment, we have to thank God for allowing these things to happen in our lives. I explained to him of how he can consider this injury and the situation that he went through as a blessing. Brothers and sisters, Erten's injury did not only impact us alone, but also impacted Campus Crusades and this brought us more closer and motivated us to stand firm on our mission and not giving up, not making excuses, but it derived us more toward the core of our goal. After he came out from the hospital, I challenged some of my brothers and sister's one night when we were in the kitchen and i told them about Job's faithfulness toward God and compare it to the situation that happened to us. First, it was Job's animals and crobs were taken away but Job did not submit to the hands of satan. Then his family were taken away too but his faith remained in God's presence. For that, the enemy thought that attacking his physical body would make him give up. But Job's faithfulness was fixed on God. Later on that story, we knew that God doubled up the things that Job lost. Same situation that happened to us and this is what i told my brothers and sisters that night, "The enemy was trying to destroy us through miscommunications and some little insidence even until few days before we leave, but we survived because we allowed God to take charge. We are here in Thailand and the enemy try to separate us or make us give up on reaching out to the students, but we never gave up. He could not destroy our relationship and our focus to God because our mind is fixed toward God, so he try to destruct us by hurting our brother Erten. We did not give up but continued to minister and actually our ministry and our relationship got even more stronger than ever." This is what i challenged them that night. Brothers and sisters, our ministry is still strong and we will keep it that way so the fountain of blessings will continue. I believe yesterday the heaven was shaking and the angels were shouting for joy because one of the student allowed our Lord Jesus Christ to take over her life. She was sitting with us today and we continued having a good fellowship in the campus. Like what i said earlier, there are lot of blessings happening over here and i always want to share. but since my fingers are already hurting from typing because of this keyboard that is so stiff, i will have to say to be continued. Pray for us that we may have good rest for tomorrow because these past two nights we stayed up until 2am for fixing foods for the booth. some members just went straight to sleep after we came back from campus because they were so exhausted from last night and the work we did today. Alright, it's time for me to go because my body need rest like those other brothers and sisters of mine that are resting right now. ZZZZZZ.......ZZZZZZZZ......

Great Commission

Being a student with a desire to serve the Lord outside my own comfort zone is really challenging but a great blessing too. I've been here in Thailand for about two weeks and there are lot of things that happened which really made me more closer to God than ever. One thing that i kept in my mind before I left, even pastor Hiob was telling me about was the washing of the feet. I kept this idea in my mind and i was really convict to do it. From the day i left Guam and until i arrive here in Thailand, it never got out of my head. so for a week, i was looking for a chance to do it. I really wanted to do it before we started our ministry on campus but i did not have a chance. After a week, it was my turn to do devotion, so that's when i had a chance to do it. I read John 13 while i was washing the feet of my brothers and sisters. The reason why i was doing it is because it says in the bible that we should do it because our teacher did it. At the same time, it helped me humble myself down and always know that i am not better or above anyone on this mission trip but same level. And last was to show that i do love my brothers and sisters on this mission trip and i am willing to wash their feet and help them through any sort of challenges that we face on this mission.

Other than that, the mission is so blessing and this coming Tuesday and Wednesday, we will have a chance to show the Thai students where we come from by showing them in our booth. Sorry there are no pictures because i left my camera in the church last sunday and the pastor that took it says he will give it to me tomorrow. The family that im experiencing right now is flooded with blessings. We make jokes to each other and we comfort each other. We tease each other and encourage each other and it really helps us especially when we finish our good day in the campus. The ministry in the campus is very effective. Before, we approach students to talk to them. But now, there are some students that actually asking us to sit with them and ask a lot of questions about us which is really a blessings. I already met one student who is a christian and Kalvin met one student on friday who is Christian too. it makes us feel good and know that there are some students attending Maejo University that are part of God's family. I have a lot of blessings that i want to share on this post but i have to go because we're going to do a "Walking Street" today. i will post again whenever i have a chance. Thank you all for praying for us.