Joy

Okay -- it has been awhile. My summer was full of high-highs and some really low-lows. August was a particularly hard month, however, the Lord is good! I won't bore you with the details. To be really honest, I do believe this past year I have been struggling with a mild state of depression and grief -- definitely a new thing for me. But I was still amazed at how the Lord brought people into my life to encourage me along the way and how the joy that I have in Christ still shined from my face. There is definitely a difference between happiness and joy. And I am so thankful for the church.

"Trading my Sorrows" came on the radio the other day, and these lyrics had a new meaning to me:

I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed.
I am blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's going to be my strength.

The struggles I was struggling with are nothing compared to what other people struggle with everyday. But next time, I will remember those lyrics :) Regardless, I feel like this season is changing, and I am excited for those changes.

A brief update:
1. Shayla is engaged!(proposed to on Mt. Bierstadt. I lugged that camera to the top! It was a labor of love ;) and *totally* worth it.)

2. I am living in a house with Shay and Kenz, and it's been great.
3. I PAID OFF MY STUDENT LOANS. (still have a little debt, almost there!).
4. Because of this I will probably be moving in January? I have options, and am praying about possibly returning to Thailand later in the year. I have also thought about attending a discipleship training school in September in California.
5. I have found a church near my house. It has been a huge huge huge blessing. Thank you, Lord.

Persevere

I thought I should post an update of my life. Does this blog need to end now that I am back in the states? No. :)

The Lord has given me the word "Perseverance" and I think that describes my life well right now. That is the word I run over and over in my head when I feel like giving up.

I am adamantly working toward paying off my students loans. I am so close I can almost taste it! I am going against my nature and intentionally not thinking about "what will be next" but am focused solely on paying off my loans. Then I will pray, a lot, and go where I feel lead.

I have also taken up running :) This takes a lot of perseverance, and has has taught me a lot.

There are also a few other very pertinent ways the Lord is asking me to persevere  but I don't think those need to live in the public internet.

My life in a nutshell this past year:
1) My beautiful Grandma passed away in July. I miss her dearly.
2) I have been working at the photography studio and my own wedding photography business.
3) Wednesdays I help teach a bible class to Jr. High kids -- it is so fun! Tomorrow is the last day.
4) I also help lead worship at a church singing and playing the keys. It has been a great learning experience, and I love being able to worship God with other people.

I do have a few stories I want to share about things that God has done, but I thought I would keep this post short. More to come soon!

Pray for Jomar

Hi everyone!

This is a quick email, but my main purpose of this email is to ask for prayer for Jomar!
I also have a friend very knowledgeable friend who is wanting to do some documentary screenings about human trafficking (in Lincoln, Omaha and Seward).
Read below for more info:

#1. I have a little boy whom I have sponsored through compassion for about 8 years. When I returned from Thailand I had received 3 letters from him and his mother in the meantime, talking about their brother who is in poor health. I inquired through compassion about his situation. This is an email I received from them this morning:

“The Project Director said that Christian’s brother has SUBACUTE SCLEROSING PANENCEPHALITIS. His present condition as of now is that he cannot walk/ stand and is very thin. He is taking some medications now said his mother but his doctor recommended bringing him to Manila to further check-up/treatment. However, the family does not have enough money to do this. The fare alone cost more or less than Php4000.00 (US$88.89) per person. The cost of the accommodation and hospital expenses is not yet determined.

As of now, the PD said that his condition is not good. According to her, his condition started to worsen in February this year when his mother reported to the ICP that her child was admitted in the hospital.  The family only rely help from the DSWD (Department of Social and Welfare Development). The ICP is also able to assist with the medical expenses of the child through the CIV medical reimbursable fund. They are still helping the family in looking for help to travel the child to Manila. The PD is in contact with their Partnership Facilitator to ask advices on how they should address this concern.

Please help us pray for God’s provision for the family especially the healing of this child.

His name is Jomar Igot and he is only 14 years old.”

Please join me in prayer for Jomar!
I am very concerned about him and will be sending a large part of my paycheck this month. If anybody wants to assist monetarily, please let me know in the next 2 days (because I want to act quickly).

#2. I have a friend who is fighting human trafficking in Mexico City, her name is Ann. She is doing great work and I can't say enough good things about her! She is stateside for a little while and is wanting to have some documentary screenings, one in Omaha, one in Lincoln, one in Seward and a few small house screenings. "The purpose is to educate people about the roots of the problem (abuse in the home primarily) and what they can do, but also to bring people together who are already involved/want to be involved." The dates she is looking at are Sept 5 6 and 7. Please let me know if you are interested in hosting/attending, and I'll forward it onto Ann!



As for me, life feels like a whirlwind right now. I'm back in the states and I've been fighting for my quiet time with the Lord, it has been a struggle. Trying to hear God's voice and am trying doing the best I can with what I have. I think this time is for important preparation work for what is next in my life -- I just don't know what that is yet! Haha. Will keep you updated.


God Bless,
Amber

Home.

I just wanted to post an update.

I have been home for one month now and life feels like a blur. Things I have re-gotten used to:
1) not having ants swarm *everything*
2) being COLD at night
3) driving on the right side of the road.
4) the lack of Asians in rural Nebraska.
5) understanding what people around me are saying (no misunderstandings! wow..)

It's been strange. Lol.

I miss the kids and the Thai people. It is weird to think that school is still happening, but thankfully I am connected with many friends from the school who send updates.

I like being with my family. And I like the open skies here at home.

Life has been a whirlwind and since being back I haven't had any time to breathe. I look forward to resting and spending time with God. While I was gone my parents emptied out a room that will eventually turn into a workout room, but for now, they said I can turn it into a prayer room. I am very excited about this. It's nice because it's just *space*--there is something about having space. You don't feel constricted I guess.

As for my future plans, I am planted until God moves me. Right now I am at home being kept very busy with work, weddings, friends and family but am praying for leading. I hope to return to Thailand soon, but am not making any plans until I have further guidance from God. Trying to live in the moment :) Something about myself I really want is for people to see Christ shining through me at all times. You know, I have been attending a church since I have been back that reaches out to addicts of mostly drugs and alcohol. Most of the people who attend the church are recovering addicts (truly, that's what we as sinners are, right). It amazes me that many of them just seem to know that I have never been addicted to either of those things without hardly even speaking to me. I only tell you this to explain my point. In that same way, I want people to know it is Jesus shining through me without knowing anything about me. Does that sense?

Well I need to go. Good night! I do plan on posting on here but probably not as often as before.

Christs Love,
Amber

In Seoul!

We had quite an excellent send-off!
Saturday night our neighbors took us to eat salads (very interesting salads! Delicious though) and we also had some of our favorite dishes: Som Tum (Papaya Salad) and Pad Thai. A roi! They took us to pick up a few souvenirs and then for some warm milk and toast slathered in cream corn. Haha.

Yesterday (last night? errr...traveling...)  was a slow day, we finished packing and tying up loose ends.

Over the course of the past month we have learned a bit more about the new guard who has been at our gate. We have two guards: a day guard and a night guard. The day guard works every day of the week from 7am-7pm. He is from the Lahu tribe! Mackenzie and I knew he was a Christian because he is always reading his Bible :) He taught us how to say "Pra Jaao Ooi Pong Ka" (God Bless You).

Last week Pat spoke with him in Thai and found out a bit about this mans life. He has 5 kids and they are struggling. We went to visit them 3 hours before we needed to go to the airport.

13 people live in this abandoned house - grandparents, parents and kids. Maybe a few other extended family members. It looked to me as if people began constructing and stopped before it was completed. They were essentially squatting -- living there for free. Between he and his son (the only people able to work) they make about $500 / month to provide for 13 people. They have been told they will need to move soon. The father has stomach problems because he used to work as a farmer and he was inhaling a lot of fumes and chemicals, so now he cannot work as hard as he used to. He was not educated or given a chance to learn how to read or write, but he is learning how to read now by reading his Bible. He cannot go to church because he works all day on Sunday. His son has a rare blood disorder where when he is cut, it takes a very long time before it will stop bleeding called Hemophilia. The Grandmother is recovering for an eye surgery.

So, we prayed for these people and this family for the Lords favor and health. I felt like the Sun was blazing for them -- not like it was rising but that it was already blazing with love.

Then they prayed for Mackenzie and I in parting. And they sang Amazing Grace to us in Lahu.

It was all very beautiful. I am thankful that there are other Christian believers I know who can continue building a relationship with them and updating me so we can continue to pray for them.

Please pray for them as they are really dependent on the Lord right now and we are trusting in Him for breakthrough.

---

Our wonderful neighbors took us to the airport! Oh how we will miss them.

We are currently in Seoul Korea, headed to Texas in a few hours.

With Love,
Amber

Time in Thailand has quickly come to a close.
We will fly out tomorrow night.

Sad to leave all of our new friends and family members.
Happy to see family and friends from home.

My next plans? Planted til God moves me...

I wanted to show ya'll what I've been working on these past few weeks!
The new Hope International Schools webpage AND the new School of Promise webpage:

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE ACTUAL WEBSITE!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE!

We're slowly getting ready to go. We want to leave well, and not in a rush missing important goodbyes. We're disconnecting slowly. :(