I'm Thirsty

It's Good Friday. I love passion week. I love thinking about Jesus. Lent season this year has me contemplating how the story of my Master's sacrifice shapes me. So today I am reading to the kids at the breakfast table the last 7 statements of Jesus before His death. All these statements are beautiful and challenging. Amidst statements like "Woman, here is your son," "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" and "It is finished," the phrase "I'm Thirsty" in John 19:27 perhaps lags behind in significance. Of course he was thirsty. I have never been crucified, but I have a feeling it gives one cotton mouth at least as much as running a few miles. Yet this morning this phrase "I'm thirsty" would not keep quiet. "I'm thirsty." It's still ringing in my ears.

Suddenly, Jesus' previous statements of thirst came to me. John 4:13 (to the Samaritan woman at the well) "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again; But anyone who drinks the water that I give will never thirst-- not ever. The water I give will be a spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." John 6:33 "Jesus answered: 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst. John 7:37 "On the final and climactic day of the Feast, Jesus took His stand. He cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me in this way."

And finally John 19:28, "Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, 'I'm thirsty.'"

The one who is the spring of life for the dry empty cistern of every man and woman became a dry well. He who created every source of water for our physical existence as humans became parched. The Answer to all our water rationing, water conservation programs, global warming, irrigation needs became thirsty.

Today we humbly celebrate what Martin Luther called "the great exchange." My sin (thirst) for His life (water). I am so thankful.

I Can See Their Faces

Today 3 of my nieces, 3 of my nephews, my sister-in-law, and my brother will climb aboard a China Airlines airplane at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to fly to Japan or Tawian, I am not really sure, and then go to Los Angeles and on to Amarillo, Texas. In Amarillo, their grandparents will probably pick them up and take them to their home. They will unpack their bags and then they will rest. Rest. Rest after a month of packing up everything they own in 25 or so bags and giving away the remainder of the “stuff.” Rest after closing down the accounts. Rest after handing off the responsibilities. But it is more than that. What they truly will be resting from is the unpleasant task of saying goodbye to everyone and everything that has been home for the past 16 plus years.

I can see each one of their faces as they climb on board the plane. You see there is something rather dramatic about getting on a plane like this. You will understand this if you have ever packed up all your things and boarded a plane with a one-way ticket. The responsibilities of packing and the requirements of getting to the place where you can actually take that taxi ride to the airport keep many feelings at bay. But then you hand off the bags to the agent and there is little left to do but walk down the concourse, enter the cabin, find your seat, and fasten your seatbelt (I know, I know this is not really true for people with 6 kids or for those of us traveling with children under 6).

These faces boarding the plane are treasures to me, and Jesus has given me something beautiful as I watch them climb aboard.

I see Tracy first. My beautiful sister-in-law. In her face I see so many moments of almost hating Thailand. Times of missing home and family so much you could taste it. I see times of almost buying this ticket for the return trip before it was time. Yet now that this trip has come, stepping on to this plane and leaving a place and people you have truly loved and learned to love is perhaps the hardest thing she has ever done.

Next I see Brently. The oldest. I see one who has so much of Thailand in her. It will take her many years to understand everything about who she is because she ran around those concrete floors as a two year old. Now at fourteen (I hope she is not fifteen yet cause then I will feel really old) she plays her guitar in front of large Thai audiences and knows how they will react. There is knowledge of Thailand deep within her that a visitor to Thailand like me will never comprehend.

Then I see Asher. Quite the opposite of Brently. Two years old. Barring some return to Thailand in the future (which I am not opposed to), he may have no memories of Thailand. Yet, some place deep inside of him will be forever Thai.

I see Jake. Jake will miss Thailand deeply because it is “home” more so than because it is Thailand. This thought brings quite a few tears and would overwhelm me if I were not confident that the things that made Thailand home to Jake are getting on the airplane with him. Yet Jake will know more deeply, at least more than we who medicate our empty feelings with bits and pieces of our cultures, that his home is truly somewhere else. Why is it that I can so easily picture Jake at the end of everything climbing on to Jesus’ lap and sighing deeply? Home! I also wonder if it will be Jake that the Thais miss the most. Why? Innocence. The innocence that is lacking in this country makes Jakes presence that much more desirable. Thailand will miss Jake. Thailand will miss all of ‘em.

I see Braid. I see her walk confidently on the plane. Surrounded by brothers and sisters. If she trips as she enters the cabin door, she will have seven people scurrying to help her up. In Braid, I see the future of this family. I see that whatever is ahead will be faced together. In the challenge of this return trip, no one is alone. Especially not Braid.

I see Josiah with his frizzy afro. A few passengers behind him will have to ask him to flatten his hair out so they can watch the movie. Si is my nephew who can catch a pass like a pro-bowl receiver at age ten. In passing I would teach him a new football skill, and he would go home and practice until he had it perfect and could show me the goods. Passion. That is one thing this child is not lacking in is passion. He may have some bumps in the road missing things the way they were. At times he will probably have some difficulty communicating all that he feels and some of the pain that goes with saying goodbye to Thailand. Yet, passion will drive him to become and enjoy the days ahead. The passion he takes from Thailand may drive him back here some day, or maybe somewhere else. One thing is for sure, he will keep at it with great passion until he gets it right.

And of course I see Breck. Two or three Thais will comment on her beautiful and unique curly hair as she gets on the plane. Someone may even pat her hair or stroke her arm in an effort to experience with their hands this Western white skin and curly blond hair. This will not be uncommon. Each of these kids has had their hair and faces and arms stroked by strangers more times than any of them want to count. What onlookers will not, no cannot understand is the depth and complexity of this wonderful child. Of course she is beautiful. God chose for some reason to make all of Russ and Tracy’s kids beautiful (we who are, shall we say, less beautiful understand this full well). Most people will never see all the parts of this girl who can speak two languages like a native speaker, understand peoples of various cultures, exist in living situations at times much less than convenient, and dance like a ballerina. There is more. That is the point. For both Brently and Breck, most of us will only get to see the tip of the iceberg that below the surface goes for hundreds of miles deep. And as she gets on that plane, some of these unique parts of her will be going under the surface, at least for a little while. Hmmm. I believe God will bless the people who get the chance to know the depth of these two ladies. Perhaps Jesus is preparing two men for this great adventure. I am confident these will be no ordinary men.

Oh yeah, Russ will get on the plane too. How can I write this? I can’t even see the screen. Maybe I need to head in another direction.

Yesterday Brett Farve decided to retire. I love Brett Farve. One of ESPN’s sports writers commented on why he was going to miss Brett:
“I'll miss the picks (that refers to Brett’s throws that ended up as interceptions for you non-football slang people). I'll miss them even more than the touchdowns, though he holds the all-time records for both. For it was in failure that we saw how much Favre wanted to win. He wanted to win so badly he was willing to lose. Not just lose. He was willing to be the goat for a shot at being the hero. So many quarterbacks are poor timid souls who've known neither victory nor defeat. Game managers. Not our man. He knew defeat 288 times. There is something poetic about his last pass as a professional ending up in an interception.
Brett Farve has the record for most touchdowns and the record for most interceptions. That kills me. There is something in me that shrieks “noooo” to this statistic. My lazy, mediocre, sit on the couch self resists this statistic. This statistic screams that I will never get anywhere without the pain of failure. I will never get anywhere without taking the leap.

Russ knows the pain of failure. Whole families have been baptized only to leave their newfound freedom. Disciples have been trained only to return to their brokenness. Months spent helping drunks dry out have been wiped out by a bottle of whisky. Orphans given the chance at new life and a “family” that cares for them have chosen rebellion and loneliness over dealing with their “stuff.” Word after word and testimony after testimony have fallen upon deaf ear after deaf ear. I could go on, but it probably would not bless him or me. Oh, and here I have mainly mentioned the “noble” failures where he was trying to do something good for others. Truthfully, I could make a long list of his more ignoble failures and the times when the only cause for failure was stupidity, pride, or brokenness. Yet, can anyone say, “Man, Russ and Tracy…Why didn’t you take some risks while you were in Thailand? Why didn’t you get off the couch and try something”

It still amazes me that 16 years ago Russ got on a plane and came to Thailand. I am sure he would tell you that boarding that first plane had a lot more to do with youthful naivety than bravery. Yet I have walked the streets of Bangkok with this guy as he tried and tried again to tell people about Jesus. I have never seen anyone with greater passion about sharing the beauty of Christ in such darkness. Through his willingness to get off the couch, to quit playing video games, to get on the plane, what has Jesus done?

· A church of Thai people who love Jesus and deeply understand that “it is not by works as if any man should boast” but by grace that we are saved in Jesus Christ.
· Handed out free tickets for Thais to see the “Passion of the Christ” when it was showing in the movie theaters of Thailand (did I mention he was dressed up as Jesus when he handed out the tickets) and then preached in the movie theaters after the movie was over and then again when “The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe” came to town.
· Worshipped all over Thailand. In every part of the country praise songs in Thai with Thai people singing praises and adoration have honored King Jesus.
· Witnessed of the kindness of Jesus in all parts of Thailand to literally ten thousands of peoples.
· Lived out the beauty of family and of a loving husband and wife relationship in a place where these ideals are quite unknown.
· Pulled orphans off the streets and helped them find families.

And for the last 6 months…
· Trips to Pattaya over and over again to worship in the bars and reach out to the prostitutes. The church going along with them made up of ex-prostitutes, former drunks and previous drug users
· They started a Bible study in the last six months (when most people are finishing their Bible studies) with a small group including a couple who have now said, “yes” to Jesus after having said, “no” to Him years before as students in the outreach to college students.

And the last day in their neighborhood…
· Two people in their neighborhood say yes to Jesus as Russ has parting conversations with them. Tracy says, “We had to leave so these guys we have been praying for forever would get saved.”

They never quit! Many times they wanted to, but they never to the very last day quit. Julie is fond of saying that Jesus never gets on to anyone for believing too much or trying too hard in the face of insurmountable obstacles. But there were those who walked away and preferred “game management" over risk.

I have got to stop and I think you get my point. I know this family is hardly done. Not done in America and definitely not done in Thailand. But I see their faces getting on the plane, and I honestly don’t know what else to do but write and pray. It helps with my pain. Just a little. I am about to go call him one last time before they get on the plane. They are about to board. I see their faces. Beautiful.

When they got on the plane that first time I listened to Rich Mullins’ song “The Other Side of the World.” I think I will go listen to it again:

Well the other side of the world
Is not so far away as I thought that it was
As I thought that it was so far away
But the other side of the world
Is not so far away
And the distance just dissolves into the love
Into the love

And the New Jerusalem won't be as easy to build
As I hoped it would be
As I hoped it would be easy to build
But the New Jerusalem won't be so easy to build
There's many bellies to fill and many hearts to free
Got to set them free

But I see a people who've learned to walk in faith
With mercy in their hearts
And glory on their faces
And I can see the people
And I pray it won't be long
Until Your kingdom comes

And I know that the gates of hell
Are not prone to prevail
As I thought that they were
As I once thought they were prone to prevail

But I know that the gates of Hell
They have been destined to fail
I see Satan impaled on the sword of the Word
On the sword of the Word

And I see the people who have learned to walk in faith
With mercy in their hearts
And glory on their faces
And I can see the people
And I pray it won't be long
Until Your kingdom comes

And I can see the people who have learned to walk in faith
With mercy in their hearts
And glory on their faces
And I can see the people
And I pray it won't be long
Until Your kingdom comes
The other side of the world

Please Pray For Thailand and Burma and China

Read This First!

Hi everyone. Lots of pics below and two blog entries. "Julie's Input" was written by none other than the beauty queen herself. There is a fan club out there always yearning to hear more from her. After this, read "Passed.." and be encouraged by our our good news on many fronts. There are many pics after these blogs as well. Don't miss any of it. Return often. Linger at will. We love you. Thanks for caring about us so deeply!

Peace of Jesus,
Brent, Julie, Ben, Kate and Jak

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Julie had great fun directing all these little ones. The singing was great, and Jesus and his birth story was honored.

Mom and Dad Visit

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Mom and Dad came to meet Jak and help Russ's family do some packing up. Russ and Tracy leave after 16 years in Thailand.

Julie's Input

Everybody wants to hear from Julie...so here ya go:

There’s not a day that goes by here that I don’t feel foolish and weak. And my flesh hates this. I want to say it correctly, love my friends well understanding the deep cultural nuances that seem to always be barriers here, please the parents of my students, be an insightful mother, encourage my husband and the list goes on and on. I fail miserably in my own strengths, but it is so beautiful when it is the Lord flowing through us.
And Jesus keeps whispering in my ears 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

As January rolled around and we celebrated four years in Thailand, Brent and I began crying out for fresh faith that we would see Thais coming to know Jesus in a transformational way. It gets a bit discouraging at times here the daily things that confront us that I know the Lord detests and have been a stench in His nostrils for centuries: idolatry, sexual perversion, drunkenness, merit-making, broken families. I realize more daily that I come from such a “microwave” culture and want instant results instead of the Lord’s perfect timing. I think of the years of missionaries in Thailand and yet still less than 1% of Thais follow Jesus. So Brent and I prayed desperately for the Lord to send encouragement and remind us of our calling here, for fresh insights and honestly something specific to spur us on. And isn’t it always beautiful and humbling how our faithful Lord answers prayers?
We have a regular visitor at our home. His nickname is Wallace as his given name means something derogatory. He is a simple man, maybe in his late thirties. He didn’t go to school as he has some type of condition that makes him socially awkward and makes it difficult for him to learn. But Wallace keeps us informed of neighborhood events, often invites us along on his outings and has become a friend to our family. His mother beat him after she found out he had been at our house when we were having a party for some of Brent’s students as she felt embarrassed by him imposing on the “white people.” We hadn’t seen him for a few weeks and when he showed up and told me what had happened to him. His first question was “Do you care?” My heart broke. So we regularly pray over Wallace as he drops in and share with him about how much God loves him. He has begun to ask us for prayer and wanting to know more about this Jesus we pray to.

Recently, after a rather long week, Wallace was hanging out in our kitchen on a Friday evening. He started to ask Brent to tell him more about Jesus (while Jak is snacking on whatever he can find as he finds Brent engaged and me finishing up some school work so I could be “done” for the weekend). Then Brent simply asks Wallace, “Do you want to ask Jesus to come into your heart and be Lord of your life?” Wallace’s eyes light up and we have such a holy moment there in our kitchen. You know what I am talking about? Moments, when you are living in the midst of answered prayers. And then I looked around at the four of us. Jak, considered a discard of Thai society; Brent, who speaks Thai at a sixth grade level; me, the one who feels daily overwhelmed and completely desperate for Jesus as I struggle to take every thought captive so as to not go bananas with all that swirls around in my mind; and Wallace, this man from the neighborhood that people only tolerate and then make fun of when he’s not around I Corinthians 1:27-31 quickly came to mind:
27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."[a]
God’s ways are not our ways, but much higher and mightier. It’s the upside down gospel of Jesus going to the weak, poor, outcasts. These are the hungry. Wallace then eyed the plate of cookies Kate and I had made that afternoon and asked if we could celebrate by eating cookies. We all enjoyed chocolate milk and cookies as we thanked God for His faithfulness.

Beth Moore rings in my ears, “It’s a scandal that God would use any of us!” And He does. The weak, broken vessels that we are and He transforms us into prophets, priests, and kings. Ambassadors even. That’s either insane or a miraculous God. Aren’t God’s ways mysterious? So we press on here believing God that one day every knee will bow and worship the King of Kings.

Passed...First Down and Ten..Ninety to go???

Let’s start with the good news. I know everybody has been wondering how I did on the 6th grade Thai proficiency test I took a while ago. Up until this week, I was wondering the same thing.

The test was quite a challenge. They herded about 300 Asians (mainly Koreans and Japanese) and another 50 or so westerners into a room and prompted us to write (in Thai), read and answer questions, write an essay using 10 Thai words they drew out of a hat, and read a paragraph out loud and talk about it with the nice lady behind the desk who had lots of questions. After studying so many hours to attain the skills needed to pass this test, the test became my little superbowl. I don’t know what Eli Manning felt when he was shedding those defensive linemen before he threw that clutch pass that led to the superbowl victory last week (surely an empty metaphor for all of you who do not care about football or hate it that the Giant’s won last week…oh, and yes we can watch the superbowl here, 5:30 a.m.), but the test room felt mostly like the venue for some sports competition. I was kinda jazzed before the test, to the point that I had trouble controlling my shaking hand as I started writing my essay. After 6 hours of mental and verbal first downs, I left the room feeling like I threw the touchdown pass on the game winning drive. Then, the game went into 5 overtimes. They said we would have to wait a few weeks for the results. It is nice to know that government organizations worldwide have the same arrival/departure schedule for correspondence.

Well, after checking the mailbox for the millionth time, I am glad to tell you that Dean and I both passed the test. Coach says, “Everyone breathe a sigh of relief, and now let’s get out there and knock ‘em out.” Hmmm…Now I am realizing that this was just the first quarter. The game continues.

Quite honestly, it was often frustrating how much time was necessary for preparing for this exam where the writing and spelling components required a enormous amount of book study. The hours of writing spelling words and dictated paragraphs over and over now become hours of actually using the Thai language with Thai students and teachers on the Rajaphat campus. This is my preferred method of language study.

Right now we are quite aware that Jesus must, to continue the football metaphor, give us the signals for the next play. My own signal calling gets me into 4th down and long and desperate. I have experienced this as true so many times in my life, and yet I hesitate to write these words because I do not like my team, my friends, my family knowing that I am desperate. But I am absolutely desperate for Jesus to move our hearts and in the hearts of the people here. I must have Jesus’ guidance for the next play. Honestly, this is a great freedom and joy in dependence on His next move when in every corner you turn there is overwhelming brokenness in families, in orphans, in drunks, in lost people. As we are obedient to listen and do the next thing that God asks us to do, we recognize that we get to be a small part of a move of God in Southeast Asia.

What does this look like? One morning I am praying to Jesus and quite frankly telling him I need to see what he is doing around here. I turn and see an Asian man, of course I thought he was Thai, standing behind me. Signals like this even I cannot miss. Assuming he is a Thai man who teaches here, I approach him and speak to him in Thai. He responds in broken Thai and I find out quickly that he is Chinese. We switch to English and in this conversation and over the next few weeks, we discover that there are about 80 Chinese students studying Thai here in a department close to me (it is amazing what you discover when your nose is out of a book). They all speak varying levels of Thai and English (and of course Chinese, but we will have to take that language on, maybe next year). Presently we are teaching an English course for Chinese students and developing relationships. My new friend Suthep is a leader of this group and will study here for another year or more to receive a master’s degree in Thai studies. Possibly my vision has been too small. We pray now that God would plant a church in southern China with these students that study here and return to their country. Sounds like a huge task. It is and I am desperate. I am asking Jesus to go after this man with saving grace and regenerate his life that he might become so enamored by the beauty of Jesus that he takes Him back to his people. Pray for these students here who are extremely open to relationship and to my words about Jesus.

What does this look like in Julie? Julie coordinates the elementary program at the kids’ school while raising Jak (who just turned 3), training Kate, interacting with Ben, taking care of me and loving the people around us. Any one of these is a full time job. Recently I have enjoyed watching Jesus’ response to her following His lead at the school. She must have His guidance in this place where she goes from pouring her life into teaching 3rd and 5th graders from all over the world, directs an elementary Christmas presentation, masterminds a poetry party (with kids spouting out English poems with cute French, Thai, Dutch and Chinese accents), and oversees a band of sometimes ragamuffin volunteer teachers. Quite honestly, if she was not listening to Jesus for the signals she would be overwhelmed. Instead I see in her what Mark Driscol recently called empowering grace, which is grace that empowers you to work hard and do more than you could ever possibly do on your own. She is great and works hard, but further than that she just plain gets results that are beyond her. She cries out desperately on behalf of some of the orphan kids at the school and Jesus responds through pouring out love into them through the teachers. She cries out desperately for quality teachers to teach the kids and Jesus sends a retired elementary teacher with 30+ years of experience and a lively teacher with experience as mascots for the NFL and NBA. The result of Julie’s dependence is a quality education for our kids, other missionary kids, Thai and international kids and much honor for Jesus.

It would be much more comfortable for us if we knew how and when everything was coming. Yet, Julie is crying out for teachers for next year school year. I am crying out for ideas of how and when to share Jesus with hungry Thai students in a deeper way. Just a couple things that we don’t know how and where the ideas and resources are going to come. Desperate. And yet it would be so much worse living the life where the thought doesn’t even pass your mind that you might need him that day.


Please pray these five things:

1. Pray that God would provide for our family needs. Pray that he would give us joy in our family relationships. Pray that Jak’s U.S. adoption details would be finalized (the Thai side of the adoption is done, so in Thailand Jak is ours 100%) and pray that the planning of details of our trip to U.S. this summer to visit family, friends and our church would go well.

2. Pray that God would increase and strengthen our relationships with Chinese students and pray that their hearts would be opened to Jesus. Pray that Suthep would desire to know more about Jesus.

3. Pray that we would know how to love the people of Burma and share Jesus with them.

4. Pray that we would have excellent volunteer teachers for our kids’ school next year.

5. Pray for my students for this February – May quarter. These are students that I have taught previously and many have been in our home several times. Pray specifically for Meow, Sun, Chris, Sa.

The Statue of Kids

The Statue of Kids
Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Grinch Legs

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Kissin' Cousins

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Our Friend Wallace

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Barbaric Yaaawwp

Barbaric Yaaawwp
Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

My Birthday Family

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Jak Cracks Us Up

Jak Cracks Us Up
Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

It is hard to get serious with Jak around.

Pennington Fam December 2007

Pennington Fam December 2007
Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Nice Family Shot

They Make Me Look Good

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

The students who have enjoyed my class soooo much this term. Please pray for breakthrough with these students and a leader for Jesus to come from among them.

Read This First!

Hey everyone. I have pasted a few pics below and three new posts. The great thing about my blog is that you can choose what you want to read about. For those of you who want to know what we did this summer, please read the newsy "What Went on this Summer Post." For those of you who want some ponderings on theology and Thailand, please read the "He is Pleased With You" post. For those of you really interested in adventure and excitement, please read the "Biking Stories" post. For those of you who are avoiding the work you need to do, please read all the posts and read some of the old ones again. Really, you don't need to think too hard...you can just read all the new posts 'cus you like us. Feel free to skim and/or come back when you have more time. This is a guilt free blog maintained and operated with the goal of keeping the ones who love and support us so well up to date. We love you all and really miss family and friends right now! One more thing, Ben and Kate started back to school and Julie is teaching again. Jak started Thai preschool. He is learning not to wack his friends too much (they just don't quite understand his "love language").

Four things to pray for now:
1.) Language helps for Brent's huge 6th grade equivalency exam coming in December.
2.) Jak's adoption to get finished (still we wait).
3.) Julie, Ben, Kate and Jak to be light and have peace and joy in their various school positions. They are all on mission to be light here!
4.) Saturday nights...an important night for us connecting with our Thai friends.
Love ya,
Brent and Julie

Mrs. Wonderful

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Julie's gonna hate me for uploading this to the blog, but I can't resist. Isn't she great? She took this pic herself. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the most courageous and talented woman I know. She is also a bit narrow minded, so if you are looking at this, you are one of the lucky few before she made me take it off...

Encouragement From Afar

SLNI visit...Our pastor Jamey with veteran missionaries Yancy and Lanette

Flickr: Thai'ed Together Photos

Click here or go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/thaiedtogether/ if you just like to look at photos. There are many more pictures on the Flickr sight.

Who was that masked man???

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

...carrying that buckin bronco in camo?

Good Books

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Mama Ann and Papa Jack were here. We all benefit when that happens.

Julie's Class

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

This is the language arts class Julie teaches in the afternoons.

Family Learning Center

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Back to school!

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Cute Jak having fun at the waterfall.

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Originally uploaded by Thai'ed Together.

Ben's birthday fun

What Went on This Summer (Actually Rainy Season)

A lot has happened over the past couple months. Here are some of quick highlights. Brent has been working more at Rajaphat University and overall that has been good for developing relationships but a little harder on family life. Now that we have figured out some of the expectations and needs at the university, family life is balancing. The university provides a visa, which is crucial for our living in country as well as our strong value of entering the community in a way that Thais respect. Next semester I will be doing final preparations for the 6th grade equivalency exam for Thai language, so I will cut back a bit on teaching hours to do some of the final learning for the test. You can pray that Dean and I do well on this test. Because the test covers speaking, listening, reading and writing at a 6th grade level (any of you who have a sixth grader in the house recognize that they have lots of words!!), our brains always need a little more refining. We are getting there, but we need some final prayers and three months of cramming.

Mama Ann and Papa Jack came to visit for three weeks. Can you believe it? We couldn’t either. They were so kind to bless us with their time. You should see the changes in Jak. He received so much loving during that time and his words and character grew as a result. Ben and Kate also were loved on well. Recently, Kate was talking with me about her friend, Oh (that is her name…not an exclamation). She said, “Dad, why is it that Oh’s grandmother (who lives with her) never does anything fun with her? Mama Ann and Nana come here to do fun stuff with us!” I think Kate has a clear understanding about what grandmothering is all about. Those who know Papa Jack are now wondering what he did the whole time with us (Papa Jack has a…a…a…let’s say a high value for work). Through the blessing of internet he was able to keep going with some of his business affairs while working on our lawn and loving on his kids and grandkids. I am truly amazed at how much he gets done.

Mama Ann and Papa Jack flew into Chiang Mai, so we picked them up there and had a few days enjoying Chiang Mai city. Chiang Mai is the largest city in the north and some conveniences that are many years away for our growing Chiang Rai (like Burger King and Starbucks). We also hiked to a waterfall which was so beautiful that in a few weeks Mama Ann probably won’t even remember the pain caused by her sprained ankle. This is one of the three toughest grandmothers I know, the other two being my mom who still takes her daily walks regardless of snowstorms or below zero temps and that grandmother on Columbia sportswear ads (but who knows if she is really that tuff???)

While we were in Chiang Mai, one of our friends who is also one of Papa Jack’s business partners, Steve Mack, happened to be bringing a youth group from his church to work with Robert Reagan at the Payap Student Center Church in Chiang Mai. It was quite a unique opportunity for all of us to meet up and attend this church thousands of miles from their homes in Abilene and Boerne, Texas. I can’t really explain how fun it is to connect with people over here that have been so kind to us over there. It is really kinda weird to be sitting at a dumpy little Thai restaurant eating incredible Thai food for nothing while Steve Mack and Papa Jack explain to Ben the way to “sort through” girls at ACU (our alma mater) in order to find the right one (Ben had a little trouble recognizing the terminology “sort through” as it applies to looking for girls, so it took some explaining). Great things are happening at Payap Student center with Robert and his team.

On the day Mama Ann and Papa Jack were flying out, our pastor, Jamey Miller and another couple, Yancy and Lanette Smith, came as a visiting team from our home church. So we got a little check-up. Mainly they came to encourage us and pray. It was also very helpful to have someone on the outside come in and give us some critical insights. We had a week of this blessing and came out even more affirmed in our present efforts. One specific evening of prayer left each one of us with thankful hearts and high expectations for what God has done over the past year and will do in this coming year.

The best reminder from the trip was their challenge to continue building relationship one by one. When the teaching or team building or Thai language gets busy, it is critical to remember that we came here to build relationships and share Christ. Don’t we all have this same temptation? Sometimes the structures we create to develop relationships are the exact things that keeps us from the relationships. While my teaching is critical to our being here and developing relationships, at the end of the day it is the relationships that come from teaching that will be the thing Jesus uses to share His life and change this city. Considering this, we are thankful for some recent opportunities for deeper connection with students.

He is Pleased With You

During our pastoral visit, Yancy and Jamey prayed for Jesus to give me a greater clarity of God the Father’s heart for me and for the fatherless of Thailand. One need look no further than our dinner table to recognize the significance of this prayer. By God’s sovereign providence Jak sits (at least, sitting is the goal) at a table where he is loved, included and supported by a mother, two siblings and a father. Explicating just cause concerning the merits of our family and our rightful enjoyment of this tan ball of energy is futile. Efforts at logic detailing Jak’s fortunate grafting in to our family tree come up empty. By grace Jak was providentially and sovereignly placed into our family. There is no other good explanation. How else might I say it? God’s sovereign desire was that Jak would have a father who would reflect the heart of his true Father in Heaven. I am almost embarrassed to say it. When Jak is loved, with great joy, by his earthly father, this is exactly what God the Eternally Great Father meant for Jak. And that is God’s desire for each Thai person who has never experienced a father who loves him or her.

But you say, “What about the Jaks out there who remain orphans? What about the Jaks out there with a father who will not or cannot show concern or affection toward their sons or daughters? What about the Jaks who only receive abuse from their fathers?” Just as I do not understand the grace that provided Jak with a physical manifestation of the Father God’s heart, I, painfully at times, do not understand the brokenness that causes so many to experience the lack of a loving father in their home. But this I call to mind… the Father runs to greet the wayward younger son. He also goes out to talk patiently with the indignant older brother. The Father is “always working,” and He comes down to make it clear to the crowd that His son is beloved and a pleasure to his Father. And yes, the Father turns His face from His beloved “first born” so that all His children might experience His merciful, affectionate heart. When Jesus reveals to me His Father, I become overwhelmingly confident in the Father’s plan that all His children might receive His love. And not just through redemption as children of God, but also through the warmth in a home from a physical father.

I often ask kids in the neighborhood about their dads. Some are in Bangkok working, many are dead, and some have just left their families permanently. Probably about 1 in 4 has a Dad that they live with. At first I was just staggered by this statistic. I mean what can you do about this besides weep? Now I am looking at Jak and taking great faith and confidence in the heart of his Father. I am believing that God is graciously working on behalf of these kids and all people in Thailand who feel empty when they think of their father or lack of father. I believe that He is going to use a physical person to come into their lives and show them their Heavenly Father by loving them like their father couldn’t. This is the scariest part…I believe that physical person is going to look a lot like you and maybe something like me! This is plan A; there is no plan B.

Jesus came into a Roman dominated world where major population groups were taken from their homes and divided up into Roman homes as slaves. Children born in these homes were not children but slaves. As slaves, they were treated as property and sent wherever necessary. For this and other reasons, a great portion of the populace in Jesus’ time was fatherless. Enter Jesus. He won’t shut up about His father. Stranger still, he is saying His father is their father too. He makes the audacious statement, get this, “If you have seen me you have seen your Father,” and then reaches out, with a “human flesh” hand, and touches them. He touched them! He reaches out with the Father’s love, and they were never the same. Who could help but sharing the love of their Father?

So I look at Jak, and I see our mandate. Whoever you are and whomever you are with, Jesus wants to use you to be the hand of the loving Father in this fatherless world. “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”

Biking Stories (not for grandmothers)

So Reg Cox requested some biking stories on the blog. If you could care less about these harrowing bike adventures, I will understand if you skip this section. For those of you who read my blog each time and are left wondering why I did not give an update on new bike routes I have tamed, this section is for you. Note that the bland language of other sections of my blog must be traded in for an “edgier” tone demanded by the relaying of bike stories.

Biking Chiang Rai’s mountains is truly a transformational experience after two years of biking the Bangkok streets and heat. Last week we got away with the fam for a long weekend and I took the bikes. We stayed at a hotel in the hills of Chiang Mai, and I spent every morning draggin me and Jak up 20 switchbacks through a ride that a biking brochure in Chiang Mai labeled as one of the best scenic rides in Thailand. The brochure sadly understated the beauty of the ride. Jak was sure to have me up at 6a.m. each morning, so what better did I have to do than put him in a bike seat and add an extra twenty pounds to my Chiang Mai mountainy ascent. (Aside..I picked up this sweet child’s bike seat 10 years ago with Ben and it is continuing to pay dividends. It is kinda sleak as far as bike seats go, and it pops in and out of the rack, which is nice for riding without the boy). Of course after the 15th switchback, I have some choice words for Jak and myself questioning my reasoning about getting on this bike in the first place, but when we reach the peak “we” had to have more. “We” went down the backside for another 5+ kilos (and then, of course, back up steeper than before). Jak can usually handle about an hour and a half without screaming as long as I take some change to buy him a yogurt drink or juice box somewhere along the way. Actually, Jak loves the bike. It has been a year since we picked him up at the orphanage in the south, and I think the first 8 months we probably averaged biking about 4-5 times a week. Jak likes getting out and it has been a great way to corral this child who we regularly catch on top of the pantry (5 feet up). Without these biking outings, I am checked in to the funny farm fer sure. Besides, I do my share of the kid watching on a bike. This would be a good time for some of you to admit how many episodes of Barney you have been watching.

Now I know what you are thinking…biking with a kid equals slow. (I think this would be a good point for my Mom and Mama Ann and aunts and other people to stop reading). To that I respond come on over and ride with us and then after an hour and a half we will talk about slow (this may be bordering on braggin but I am just wanting to ease concern from fellow bikers out there worrying about important stuff like speed).

On Sundays, I am riding (sans Jak) with a Canadian guy, Tim, who moved down the street a few months after we came here. It was weird, no farangs (westerners) anywhere in the neighborhood and then all the sudden they move in about 5 minutes from us (weird). And he bikes (weird). In fact, he is one of those guys we hate. He spent most of his 20s working on his body so now in his 30s he can go a week without biking and still be draggin me along. We generally ride a route that has been affectionately named the “Napa Valley” ride. Dude, you should see it. About a 30 kilo loop of hills roaming through this fruit farming area (pineapple, lynchee, oranges), a lake, and some Thai villages on the outskirts of Chiang Rai. One Buddhist temple that we pass is surrounded by a small reproduction of the Great Wall of China; this is the point that the ride turns a bit surreal. If the hills have been hard on you that day, you might, at this point of the ride, start questioning where this route has taken you…Italy? China? At the end of the hills, where I spent most of the time just trying to salvage my manhood, Tim chimes in with the standard “lets really open it up on these last 10 kilos!” In the hills you are hoping that he is more of a hill guy than a sprinter, and then you find out that was wrong. So, I spend most of the last 10 kilos drafting (staying on his back tire to gain the aerodynamic benefits) him and taking the lead to give him a breather like once so I don’t have to say I drafted him the whole time. Oh, did I mention he rides in flip flops. I mean they are good quality flip flops, but…

I also do a lot of riding just to get around. Julie gets first dibs on the car so I usually bike it to work and to language etc. Most people think I am weird because I end up looking like Reg saying his wedding vows (think sweat big time) by the time I get where I am going, but I consider it my sacrifice for the Al Gore for president campaign. My companions for these rides come along through the aid of earphones and MP3 technology. For the ride to school, I may invite any of the following with me: Mark Driscol (Mars Hill Church Seattle), Tim Keller (Redeemer Presbyterian), Jamey Miller (Christ Fellowship and our pastor), John Piper (Desiring God), Jimmy Seibert (Antioch in Waco), N.T. Wright (Jesus scholar), Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac, Peter Seller and Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, (NPR news game show and this is probably KR’s fault) NPR 5 minute news summary, This American Life, NPR Story of the Day (I am kinda an NPR junkie and thanks to iTunes I can keep up my habit) and Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing (not to be missed for English Teachers). None of this may interest you, but there is that one person out there who wants to know more about my days.

Only once has a motorcycle hit me… so far. Motorcycles are Chiang Rai’s mode of mass transportation. I have a conspiracy theory here. I believe that the motorcycles in this area cause teenage and 20 something guys to ride with unusual boldness and stupidity. I am theorizing that there is some kind of lead paint issue or something ‘cus once a guy around here gets on a motorcycle, they just tend to get dumber and dumber. One of my Thai friends explained with great “compassion” that motorcycles were Chiang Rai’s method of lowering the population of stupid people. Yikes. Anyway, a motorcycle clipped my handlebars and the bike was quickly knocked over. I somehow ended up hoping the handlebars and running down the street. Kinda looked cool actually. I probably needed to be a little more careful on this certain corner, and now I am. So pray for safety…Mom and Mama Ann.

Everybody Smile Big

Erin and Jackson Visit 027
Originally uploaded by fingersgone.

We had a great time at the beach when Uncle Jackson and Aunt Erin came to visit. They were so encouraging and fun. Just what we needed.

Krabi

Erin and Jackson Visit 010
Originally uploaded by fingersgone.

Jackson and Erin came to visit and we went to a small town in the south called Krabi. Kind of an adventure and lots of beautiful beaches.

Beauties