HI everyone!
I just wanted to share with you some articles regarding human trafficking cases that came out recently in COLUMBUS, McCOOK and LINCOLN NEBRASKA.
http://www.kearneyhub.com/news/local/article_24a348a4-9a14-11e1-bfa8-0019bb2963f4.html
http://www.kearneyhub.com/news/local/fourth-man-charged-in-child-sex-investigation/article_c85bce28-9f76-11e1-91e9-0019bb2963f4.html
The ages of the young girls who were victimized is disturbing.
Please pray for healing and restoration in Jesus' name.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
These past couple of days have been very reflective for me, mostly because we began our last month in Thailand about 4 days ago. God has taught me so much, but it's not from being in Thailand, it is from a desire to know God more. I am looking forward to the next step and just praying He will lead me along the BEST path for my life. Oh, God is so good, isn't He? He never gives up, never fails. He is perfect and good, just and forgiving. What a God we serve.
Last week I was thinking about singing this coffeeshop that I like to sing at in Lincoln called Cultiva, and right as I was falling asleep I thought "I should email Joe and set up a show sometime...". The next morning I opened an email from Joe asking me to come and play on June 13th (the day after I get back from Thailand). So I said yes, after praying and gaining access to a keyboard. I think God has a purpose in it. So...you are all invited :) Please come. I'll probably be jet-lagged. I'll post the time later -- my guess is the show will start around 7, but there are two other acts on the bill, I don't know the lineup yet. I'll probably tell some stories.
We went to the sea with our neighbors last week. You know, I really love them. Mackenzie and I had a wonderful time. We drove about 2000 miles (I got a lot of Bible reading in! It was so refreshing), had the best tour guides ever :) saw monkey's, dolphins, jellyfish and stayed with some really nice people along the way.
Here are some pictures of our trip, compliments of Mackenzie and her Ipod:
I wanted to share a short story about a conversation I had with Kitichai (Dtoi).
Mackenzie and I had our Bibles in the seats with us and we kept getting in and out of the vehicle. Somewhere along the line, Mackenzie's bible was placed on the floor of the vehicle. Kitichai saw it and sat it on the seat. Later, he asked me, "Why do you put your bibles on the floor?" He was curious, because this absolutely would not have happened in Thai/buddhist culture. The question took me so off guard, I did not even really know what to say! He told me about how the Buddhist books (bibles?) are placed on the highest shelves above your head out of respect, because in Buddhist culture, your head is the holiest part of your body, while the feet are the dirtiest. Therefore, putting a Bible where your feet are is very disrespectful and neglectful. I thought this was an interesting conversation showing a Eastern/Western mindset. I love my Bible! It teaches me about God. I take care of it -- but it is also a part of my life. I think having a bible is quite a bit like owning a camera. If you have a camera, you coddle it quite a bit at first and are very protective of it, but eventually it simply becomes a part of you. You climb mountains with it and sling it around your back and you use it, alot. What is the point of having a camera if you don't use it? You know? I can absolutely see how placing a bible on the floor can be seen as disrespectful though. (But Jesus, He knows my heart.)
Our new housemates have arrived! Caleb, Tracy and Geshem :) I don't even have a picture yet! Soon. It has been such a joy having them here. They are full of life and the Holy Spirit. We haven't had a whole lot of time together (things have been so busy!) but it is certainly great getting to know them.
Our friend Bethany went home on Sunday :( We'll miss you! We should've taken a group picture, but we celebrated her presence with us, and Lucy's birthday, by having ice cream! Here we are (sort of):
School started TODAY, oh it's going to be a good year! We.have.a.bus.driver. It is a blessing. 15 new kids, 45 total. We still need a few more English teachers, so pass the word on to your friends! You do not have to have a college degree, but it would be a year commitment.
Last week I was thinking about singing this coffeeshop that I like to sing at in Lincoln called Cultiva, and right as I was falling asleep I thought "I should email Joe and set up a show sometime...". The next morning I opened an email from Joe asking me to come and play on June 13th (the day after I get back from Thailand). So I said yes, after praying and gaining access to a keyboard. I think God has a purpose in it. So...you are all invited :) Please come. I'll probably be jet-lagged. I'll post the time later -- my guess is the show will start around 7, but there are two other acts on the bill, I don't know the lineup yet. I'll probably tell some stories.
We went to the sea with our neighbors last week. You know, I really love them. Mackenzie and I had a wonderful time. We drove about 2000 miles (I got a lot of Bible reading in! It was so refreshing), had the best tour guides ever :) saw monkey's, dolphins, jellyfish and stayed with some really nice people along the way.
Here are some pictures of our trip, compliments of Mackenzie and her Ipod:
I wanted to share a short story about a conversation I had with Kitichai (Dtoi).
Mackenzie and I had our Bibles in the seats with us and we kept getting in and out of the vehicle. Somewhere along the line, Mackenzie's bible was placed on the floor of the vehicle. Kitichai saw it and sat it on the seat. Later, he asked me, "Why do you put your bibles on the floor?" He was curious, because this absolutely would not have happened in Thai/buddhist culture. The question took me so off guard, I did not even really know what to say! He told me about how the Buddhist books (bibles?) are placed on the highest shelves above your head out of respect, because in Buddhist culture, your head is the holiest part of your body, while the feet are the dirtiest. Therefore, putting a Bible where your feet are is very disrespectful and neglectful. I thought this was an interesting conversation showing a Eastern/Western mindset. I love my Bible! It teaches me about God. I take care of it -- but it is also a part of my life. I think having a bible is quite a bit like owning a camera. If you have a camera, you coddle it quite a bit at first and are very protective of it, but eventually it simply becomes a part of you. You climb mountains with it and sling it around your back and you use it, alot. What is the point of having a camera if you don't use it? You know? I can absolutely see how placing a bible on the floor can be seen as disrespectful though. (But Jesus, He knows my heart.)
Our new housemates have arrived! Caleb, Tracy and Geshem :) I don't even have a picture yet! Soon. It has been such a joy having them here. They are full of life and the Holy Spirit. We haven't had a whole lot of time together (things have been so busy!) but it is certainly great getting to know them.
Our friend Bethany went home on Sunday :( We'll miss you! We should've taken a group picture, but we celebrated her presence with us, and Lucy's birthday, by having ice cream! Here we are (sort of):
School started TODAY, oh it's going to be a good year! We.have.a.bus.driver. It is a blessing. 15 new kids, 45 total. We still need a few more English teachers, so pass the word on to your friends! You do not have to have a college degree, but it would be a year commitment.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Wow! Time flies when you're having fun! I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks since my last post.
I don't have much time, but wanted to send a quick update.
>We have 3 new housemates!! It's certainly great having them here.
>Mackenzie and I just got back from the sea with our neighbors!
>We made them an American breakfast today :)
>Tomorrow I am going to visit an orphanage.
>Schools starts up again on Wednesday! Yay!
I want to elaborate on all of these things, but maybe later.
Love,
Amber
I don't have much time, but wanted to send a quick update.
>We have 3 new housemates!! It's certainly great having them here.
>Mackenzie and I just got back from the sea with our neighbors!
>We made them an American breakfast today :)
>Tomorrow I am going to visit an orphanage.
>Schools starts up again on Wednesday! Yay!
I want to elaborate on all of these things, but maybe later.
Love,
Amber
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
We wanted to share some exciting news! Mackenzie and I have a couple of very generous supporters, and yesterday we received an email that they are sending us $1000 ($500 for each of us) simply to give and bless people with!!
We are so excited about this opportunity to bless others financially! We will be praying about where this money will be given, and sharing some of the stories with you (if not all, but we will use discernment in the situations).
-------
Summer school has finished and now we are on a two-week break from school. My 'graphic design' role has already kicked back in as I am already redesigning a website AND helping redesign a storefront. Pictures will come as soon as the projects are finished!
---
Here are some pictures from the summer program:
TRACY AND CALEB! I WILL SEE YOU SOOO SOOOOON! Caleb is coming to teach at the school in about ***15 days!*** (can you believe it?) and am so looking forward to that!
Also, our lovely friends, Peg and Terry, were here in Chiang Mai for exactly 3 days, and we were able to have dinner with them one night (before whisking away to the hospital! Ah--no worries though, our roommate Emma was just having a check-up after a recent virus)
It was so nice to see them both and catching up, a breathe of fresh air, and so odd--I'm used to seeing them in Iowa and Nebraska. Now--Chiang Mai Thailand? What could be next? Morocco? the Alps? Worms, Nebraska?
That's all for now, I need some SLEEP!
God Bless,
please keep us in your prayers!
-Amber
We are so excited about this opportunity to bless others financially! We will be praying about where this money will be given, and sharing some of the stories with you (if not all, but we will use discernment in the situations).
-------
Summer school has finished and now we are on a two-week break from school. My 'graphic design' role has already kicked back in as I am already redesigning a website AND helping redesign a storefront. Pictures will come as soon as the projects are finished!
---
Here are some pictures from the summer program:
 |
| This is a craft I did with the kids (craft was my favorite thing to teach!) To my Chrysalis friend: These say "Fly with Christ" !! :) The kids all did such a good job. |
 |
| Poom is back at school! He is doing so much better. Praise God, for saving this boys life! AND he will be attending regular school with us in May. I am so excited to see how God continues to work in his life. |
 |
| Ohm, the boy from my last post -- the reader! |
 |
| This is a craft I did with the kids during the first week (and Emma...pointing... :) |
 |
| Leap Frog! |
 |
| A craft Mackenzie did with the kids! Most of these pictures are compliments of Bob Bowling (THANKS BOB) |
 |
| This girl LOVED Mackenzie. She has signed up for regular school as well! |
 |
| We took the kids to the pool twice a week for an hour. |
 |
| Snack time! |
TRACY AND CALEB! I WILL SEE YOU SOOO SOOOOON! Caleb is coming to teach at the school in about ***15 days!*** (can you believe it?) and am so looking forward to that!
Also, our lovely friends, Peg and Terry, were here in Chiang Mai for exactly 3 days, and we were able to have dinner with them one night (before whisking away to the hospital! Ah--no worries though, our roommate Emma was just having a check-up after a recent virus)
It was so nice to see them both and catching up, a breathe of fresh air, and so odd--I'm used to seeing them in Iowa and Nebraska. Now--Chiang Mai Thailand? What could be next? Morocco? the Alps? Worms, Nebraska?
That's all for now, I need some SLEEP!
God Bless,
please keep us in your prayers!
-Amber
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Things are just as nuts as usual here. We have been running a summer program for about 60 kids in the community (and it's been tough) but it's also been really good. I love the kids, even if I stink at discipline.
There is this sweet boy named Ohm who is really smart and funny, but he is pretty shy and doesn't know very much English. Over the past 3 weeks he's opened up quite a bit, and yesterday I helped him read a book! Today, he started reading "Green Eggs and Ham". I don't know what he is comprehending, but we are working on pronunciation and he is doing so well. I am so proud of him.
It gave me flashbacks because that is the first book I ever remember reading by myself (the first book of many!), sitting on the our living room floor (green fuzzy carpet) with the rest of the family watching something on TV, and mom doing laundry. I'm going to guess there was popcorn involved. It was quite monumental for me, I remember.
Anyway, there are so many kids I've fallen in love with here.
--
I have a huge praise report -- remember a couple of weeks ago when I shared about the boy who was falling asleep in class and was taken to the hospital? He had surgery and HE IS BACK! He has made an outstanding recovery. He has visibly lost weight, and is breathing normally. He is much more focused and retentive AND active -- he's been running around with the kids and laughing. Praise God. This is overwhelming to me.
--
Please pray for us because we are going to Laos in a couple of weeks to renew our Visa's, but we will be staying longer with our friend Pat to share with those that we meet. We, really need your prayers in this.
--
I ... played frisbee last week :)
and then...I was sore for 7 days (still recovering)
my muscles are really out of shape --
it felt so good to run again.
--
We met a lady named Tuu who is from Laos and were invited back to have dinner in her dormitory with her and her friends! We will be going back each Saturday, she will be teaching us some Laos, and we will teach her English. None of them are Christians. Please pray that the Lord would provide opportunities for us to share with them.
--
Friday night prayer meetings have been somewhat postponed due to the holiday season, but hopefully they will start up again this Friday. Please continue to pray for this group!
--
A dear brother in Christ gave me two beautiful gifts.
The amber stone in my ring fell out several weeks ago, and he took it and fixed it for me. This ring is symbolic of many things in my life and my identity in Christ and I was so sad that it was broken.
He also gave me a new Bible (because I gave mine away). Now I have the word of God. How can I explain how wonderful of a gift this was?
I cannot explain to you the gratitude in my heart for these two things, so please excuse the emptiness in my words.
God, thank you for putting loving Christian friends in my path, and teach me more of you and your love so I may be a light and a blessing to those people who's paths you place me in.
--
I wish I had pictures to share with you but I haven't been taking my camera anywhere! I'll try to post some soon.
Love,
Amber
Sunday, April 15, 2012
I have so many things to share! I may need to split this into several updates for the sake of *post length* . Maybe I'll just mince some words.
A couple of days ago I made a new friend. We had a really in depth conversation about Judaism and Christianity.
He was the first practicing Jew I've ever met! I was so excited when he told me he was a Jew, because --I know the Jewish history according to the Old Testament, and feel a kinship toward them.
He was a very pleasant, intelligent man, and I hope to see him again, however, I was discouraged by his faith. While he is a practicing Jew and knows the Hebrew Bible (Talmud? Is that correct?) it seemed to me his beliefs were very universalist. I am saddened by this, mostly because Jews are people I have associated with a very deep faith and belief in the same God I serve.
This has become somewhat of a theme. Many people I speak with have had a similar mindset.
We spoke at length about the Messiah and who he thought the Messiah was (not Jesus, what a heart-wrenching sadness) and about the New Testament. He said that when he read the New Testament he was very very impressed, yet sad, because he had always heard about how Christians were hypocritical (he had never met a Christian) yet when he read the New Testament he saw what Christianity was supposed to be. And he said he felt sad because -- we are family, but our faiths took two separate paths.
Yesterday I met a Thai couple who spoke fluent English. We talked a bit and I told them I am a Christian and they asked me about that, so I was sharing the Gospel. I asked if they were Buddhist, and they said Yes. Then a little bit later he said, "I go to church!" and she said, "I studied at a monastery with the sisters for a little while!" (they were nodding as though what I was telling them was familiar) and I said, "but you are Buddhists?" and they both said, "Yes" at the same time.
I'm praying for these three.
**
I attended a worship/prayer time yesterday evening. It was good. I felt welcome and want to go back.
*
Today I will play my first frisbee game since breaking my leg! You have no idea how excited I am.
Gotta run (slowly, hehe), more later.
LOVE,
Amber
A couple of days ago I made a new friend. We had a really in depth conversation about Judaism and Christianity.
He was the first practicing Jew I've ever met! I was so excited when he told me he was a Jew, because --I know the Jewish history according to the Old Testament, and feel a kinship toward them.
He was a very pleasant, intelligent man, and I hope to see him again, however, I was discouraged by his faith. While he is a practicing Jew and knows the Hebrew Bible (Talmud? Is that correct?) it seemed to me his beliefs were very universalist. I am saddened by this, mostly because Jews are people I have associated with a very deep faith and belief in the same God I serve.
This has become somewhat of a theme. Many people I speak with have had a similar mindset.
We spoke at length about the Messiah and who he thought the Messiah was (not Jesus, what a heart-wrenching sadness) and about the New Testament. He said that when he read the New Testament he was very very impressed, yet sad, because he had always heard about how Christians were hypocritical (he had never met a Christian) yet when he read the New Testament he saw what Christianity was supposed to be. And he said he felt sad because -- we are family, but our faiths took two separate paths.
Yesterday I met a Thai couple who spoke fluent English. We talked a bit and I told them I am a Christian and they asked me about that, so I was sharing the Gospel. I asked if they were Buddhist, and they said Yes. Then a little bit later he said, "I go to church!" and she said, "I studied at a monastery with the sisters for a little while!" (they were nodding as though what I was telling them was familiar) and I said, "but you are Buddhists?" and they both said, "Yes" at the same time.
I'm praying for these three.
**
I attended a worship/prayer time yesterday evening. It was good. I felt welcome and want to go back.
*
Today I will play my first frisbee game since breaking my leg! You have no idea how excited I am.
Gotta run (slowly, hehe), more later.
LOVE,
Amber
Friday, April 13, 2012
Prayer Requests
Hi everyone!
You know, I have two friends from home who are very ill.
Leroy and Mark.
Please pray for them.
I have not asked for their permission to share, so I will only give you their names, but I really wish I could be with them both to encourage them -- but I cannot in person, only through prayer. Please join me in this.
Also, if I could ask, will you pray for my Grandma Konz too? Not because there is anything wrong, I just love her :)
You know, I have two friends from home who are very ill.
Leroy and Mark.
Please pray for them.
I have not asked for their permission to share, so I will only give you their names, but I really wish I could be with them both to encourage them -- but I cannot in person, only through prayer. Please join me in this.
Also, if I could ask, will you pray for my Grandma Konz too? Not because there is anything wrong, I just love her :)
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