This week can be best described, I think, with the words "return to normalcy". It's been a very long while, it seems, that the six of us were all in the same house, sharing meals and so on.
Last Thursday marked the return of my mom and dad from their trip to China. It was also the day on which Ethan and I were picked up from the OMF dorm, and the day Eric and Eli were picked up from the Feniak's house. My parents were gone from Chiang Mai from Sunday, the 13th, to Thursday, the 17th. On Sunday we were each driven to our respective homes for that week and my parents left that evening for their trip.
To say the least, I enjoyed dorm life. It was a very interesting experience since I had never lived in a dorm before, not even for a few days. It was really encouraging for one thing, seeing how all of the dorm kids lived in relative harmony with one another. They had homework times and chore sheets and everything. I was even drafted onto the after-meal duties. It really made me feel like I belonged.
Please pray for blessings on the Feniaks, as they had only just moved before my parents left. They moved only just down their street, and did not have too much trouble transporting their furniture and things. We are all very grateful to them for taking in Eric and Eli despite their minor inconveniences. Pray for the dorm also, I could tell they tried their best to acommodate Ethan and myself.
We thank God that we are all safely back at home with each other.
ps- This is also my first post back from what you could call an 'extended hiatus'. It's nice to be back posting again.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Silent Retreat?
Usually, I would get through my once a month 1-day silent retreat without even a glance from anyone. If I do happen to be eating a meal in the dining room and another retreatant walks in, we just avert each other's eyes and concentrate our attention on our food. It's been an unwritten rule; no one talks in this Catholic retreat place. I often go there for an independent 24 hour period where I sleep, read my Bible, pray, be still, listen to the Lord, and finally, take communion. I simply love and treasure my time there.
Imagine my surprise when a knock on my bedroom door (a first!) distracted me from my silent musings. It was followed by a voice inviting me to eat (another first!) supper. I told her I wouldn't eat but she asked again. At this point, I opened the door and was truly shocked to see a Catholic Nun (habit and all) standing behind it. She asked another question and soon found out I was from the Philippines. As it turns out, so was she! She was an English teacher in another province and was just finishing a six-day silent retreat. Having been quiet that long, she was really ready to talk.
I asked to pray for her and she was soon in my bedroom pouring out her problems and concerns. It occurred to me as I listened to her that it was like being in a counseling session. Duh?!! It was a counseling session! Only, this one was obviously ordained by the Lord. Later, she kept saying it was providence and I had to agree with her.
When she left after over an hour, I had to marvel at how the Lord orchestrates situations. Although I thought I was quietly tucked away somewhere, I obviously wasn't. He still managed to send someone to me. I was actually pleased to be used this way. I just knew she had to be heard and knew the prayers had to be said. As Graham Cooke likes to say, the Lord is always up to something. This time, it was great to be able to see what He was up to and take part in it.
Imagine my surprise when a knock on my bedroom door (a first!) distracted me from my silent musings. It was followed by a voice inviting me to eat (another first!) supper. I told her I wouldn't eat but she asked again. At this point, I opened the door and was truly shocked to see a Catholic Nun (habit and all) standing behind it. She asked another question and soon found out I was from the Philippines. As it turns out, so was she! She was an English teacher in another province and was just finishing a six-day silent retreat. Having been quiet that long, she was really ready to talk.
I asked to pray for her and she was soon in my bedroom pouring out her problems and concerns. It occurred to me as I listened to her that it was like being in a counseling session. Duh?!! It was a counseling session! Only, this one was obviously ordained by the Lord. Later, she kept saying it was providence and I had to agree with her.
When she left after over an hour, I had to marvel at how the Lord orchestrates situations. Although I thought I was quietly tucked away somewhere, I obviously wasn't. He still managed to send someone to me. I was actually pleased to be used this way. I just knew she had to be heard and knew the prayers had to be said. As Graham Cooke likes to say, the Lord is always up to something. This time, it was great to be able to see what He was up to and take part in it.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Prayer Counseling
Last week, I (Linda) was able to once again participate in the Prayer Counseling Seminar (PCS) offered to our organization's workers right after Reunion. This is the 3rd year that I've been involved in it. My roles have ranged from Dish Washer, Logistics Coordinator of Snacks and Lunches, Worship Leader, Teacher, Secondary Counselor, to Lead Counselor. It gets to be very tiring when it's all over but worth every effort for me just to see the Lord moving in the lives of those who attend.
At Reunion, one of those counseled last year shared that he was at wit's end and wanted to not just leave the field, but end his life! He signed up to attend the PCS as a last resort and with a lot of resignation. In his mind he was thinking that it was for weak people and was truly quite surprised when he was ministered to enormously. His wife said he came back a 'changed man' after the seminar last year.
Each seminar starts with 2 days of intensive teaching followed by 2-3 hours of Prayer Sessions for each attendee. It's such a wonderful process especially since as 2 of the attendees are counseled, the rest are simultaneously praying for the sessions. What a remarkable experience when people in the counseling sessions are prayed for in specific ways (or receive a word) while the rest of the attendees praying in a separate room are praying for the exact same things. Then, it becomes too apparently obvious that the Holy Spirit's moving and it's so awesome to witness. I am grateful and shall always take great delight in being a part of PCS no matter what role I play.
At Reunion, one of those counseled last year shared that he was at wit's end and wanted to not just leave the field, but end his life! He signed up to attend the PCS as a last resort and with a lot of resignation. In his mind he was thinking that it was for weak people and was truly quite surprised when he was ministered to enormously. His wife said he came back a 'changed man' after the seminar last year.
Each seminar starts with 2 days of intensive teaching followed by 2-3 hours of Prayer Sessions for each attendee. It's such a wonderful process especially since as 2 of the attendees are counseled, the rest are simultaneously praying for the sessions. What a remarkable experience when people in the counseling sessions are prayed for in specific ways (or receive a word) while the rest of the attendees praying in a separate room are praying for the exact same things. Then, it becomes too apparently obvious that the Holy Spirit's moving and it's so awesome to witness. I am grateful and shall always take great delight in being a part of PCS no matter what role I play.
Tai Longs and Tai Maos
There are 4 million people in this unreached people group. They live in Myanmar, China, and Thailand. Thankfully, there are workers reaching out to them but for such a big population, not one is saved! How can this be possible? Let's please pray for them in the next two weeks, that folks like you would be convicted to pray for them regularly to know our Lord. Secondly, let's pray that workers will be burdened to go and effectively minister to them. If even just 1% of them turn to the Lord, there would be 40,000 of them. Now wouldn’t that be awesome?
Monday, April 23, 2007
Omkoi Miracle
Pastor Sydney, a Thai pastor very much involved in the work happening at Omkoi wrote the email below (with some of my revisions for clarity) just this morning.
"I came back early this morning (2 AM) from Soblan, Omkoi. We had a wonderful healing meeting in the village. We prayed for a girl whose foot got caught in a motorcycle's spoke. When I saw it, I felt sorry for her. They might have needed to amputate it because she had no feeling in it, it was swollen, and it looked hopeless. The wound was still open after a month. A doctor tried with 22 stitches to put it together but could not get her skin to heal. We prayed for over 5 and a half hours but it was worth the long prayer when we saw the healing process happen right before our eyes. Her foot became normal and all the feeling came back. Her wound was completely healed! She still skipped around with one leg but after a few more short prayers, she started walking normally. The whole village went wild!"
And I believe we all would have, had we been there. Let's praise the Lord for this wonderful miracle that is sure to transform more so the people in Omkoi. Let's pray that the Lord will move in a more powerful and greater way setting off the unprecedented hunger for God all over Thailand. Thank you.
"I came back early this morning (2 AM) from Soblan, Omkoi. We had a wonderful healing meeting in the village. We prayed for a girl whose foot got caught in a motorcycle's spoke. When I saw it, I felt sorry for her. They might have needed to amputate it because she had no feeling in it, it was swollen, and it looked hopeless. The wound was still open after a month. A doctor tried with 22 stitches to put it together but could not get her skin to heal. We prayed for over 5 and a half hours but it was worth the long prayer when we saw the healing process happen right before our eyes. Her foot became normal and all the feeling came back. Her wound was completely healed! She still skipped around with one leg but after a few more short prayers, she started walking normally. The whole village went wild!"
And I believe we all would have, had we been there. Let's praise the Lord for this wonderful miracle that is sure to transform more so the people in Omkoi. Let's pray that the Lord will move in a more powerful and greater way setting off the unprecedented hunger for God all over Thailand. Thank you.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Reunion
Starting tomorrow until Sunday, our group’s workers here and from its neighbouring countries will gather for a time of worship, teaching, and praying together. For some, it’ll be the first time in a long time that they will be in a gathering that can freely express their faith in Jesus. Consequently, this week’s gathering is looked forward to by many of its attendees. It’s the time to receive from the Lord and be refreshed spiritually, physically, and mentally.
If we could be closer to the Lord as a result of having gathered together, we would be more effective workers in whatever we’re doing. If we would love Him first and foremost as the first commandment states, it would do us so well. As Bob Sorge said, the Lord is turning us into lovers who work rather than workers who love.
Please join us in praying that this week will be an exceptionally powerful time for all of us as a fellowship. Please pray that we’ll go back to the work that we do as people very much in love, serving Him. Amen. Thank you.
If we could be closer to the Lord as a result of having gathered together, we would be more effective workers in whatever we’re doing. If we would love Him first and foremost as the first commandment states, it would do us so well. As Bob Sorge said, the Lord is turning us into lovers who work rather than workers who love.
Please join us in praying that this week will be an exceptionally powerful time for all of us as a fellowship. Please pray that we’ll go back to the work that we do as people very much in love, serving Him. Amen. Thank you.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Overheated
As stated in last week's posting, our 15+ year old car overheated on the way to Omkoi. This being a first time for me, again, I had no clue as to what to do. Thankfully, a friend who was traveling with us knew what had to be done. She pointed out the radiator (busily steaming at this point), that it had to be uncapped (but not yet!), and that lots of water had to be poured into it. I was relieved; at least someone knew what had to be done.
However, 10 minutes had already passed but the water she kept pouring on the still capped radiator just kept evaporating. How long was it going to take to cool it down? And will our 4 bottles of drinking water be enough to fill the radiator once we got it cooled down to open it?
As I thought of our predicament on the side of an uphill, deserted road, in between towns, I started to earnestly pray. And sure enough, two men in a motorcycle pulled over and offered to help us. My friend (who was also fluent in Thai!) easily translated to me what they were saying. One of the men used Ethan's spare shorts to open the cap of the still hissing radiator. He emptied his own drinking water and some of ours in it. Soon, he got our car going and we were profusely thanking him.
Just before he left, he explained that he was a Christian and didn't feel right about not stopping to help two women (our four sons were in the car asleep) that looked in trouble in the middle of nowhere. Later, as we prayed for those men who cared to stop, we had to marvel at the Lord's mighty hand. In Thailand, which has a population of 64.8 million with 95% of those being Buddhist, the Lord still managed to get one of His own (Christians being a mere .5% of the Thais) to be there to help us.
What a Lord! In the midst of my shortcomings, again He proved Himself faithful. Please join us as we praise and give Him the glory. Surely, He alone deserves it.
However, 10 minutes had already passed but the water she kept pouring on the still capped radiator just kept evaporating. How long was it going to take to cool it down? And will our 4 bottles of drinking water be enough to fill the radiator once we got it cooled down to open it?
As I thought of our predicament on the side of an uphill, deserted road, in between towns, I started to earnestly pray. And sure enough, two men in a motorcycle pulled over and offered to help us. My friend (who was also fluent in Thai!) easily translated to me what they were saying. One of the men used Ethan's spare shorts to open the cap of the still hissing radiator. He emptied his own drinking water and some of ours in it. Soon, he got our car going and we were profusely thanking him.
Just before he left, he explained that he was a Christian and didn't feel right about not stopping to help two women (our four sons were in the car asleep) that looked in trouble in the middle of nowhere. Later, as we prayed for those men who cared to stop, we had to marvel at the Lord's mighty hand. In Thailand, which has a population of 64.8 million with 95% of those being Buddhist, the Lord still managed to get one of His own (Christians being a mere .5% of the Thais) to be there to help us.
What a Lord! In the midst of my shortcomings, again He proved Himself faithful. Please join us as we praise and give Him the glory. Surely, He alone deserves it.
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