Monday, January 16, 2012

52 Days and Counting

Oh how the days are flying by!  Somedays I feel it would be so much easier to have a video blog where I could just sit and talk about everything that happens everyday.  Maybe one day I'll get that sophisticated! Until then, you'll have to read about it.

Our 2011 ended on a really strong note.  We were blessed to have Daddy come home for 10 glorious days!  Christmas was the first "holiday celebration" Mike has been able to be home for all year. So we made the most of it! We fed 115 homeless and people in need on Christmas morning, had Christmas at home just the 4 of us, which was marvellous, then we celebrated Heidi Jo's birthday on the 30th with friends, and New Year's Eve with friends, too.  Having this longer stretch of time together (compared to 5-6 days) made us realize that we only spent about 60 days together as a family last year. Definitely not enough!

Praise God that is all changing.  In April Mike will be attending Redland Community College in El Reno, Oklahoma to complete a 5 week course in Drilling Fluid Technology.  The employment rate out of this class is currently 94%.  The good news is that Mike would work 2 weeks away then be home for 2 weeks! He would earn more income and be home more. Yay God!

Our mission trip to Thailand is quickly approaching.  We will be leaving March 9th, only 52 days away!  We have a tentative schedule of our daily outreaches, and the anticipation is growing in my heart. I cannot wait to see what God is going to do!  If you have plans to partner with me please consider having any support submitted to myself or First United Methodist Church by mid-February so that we can pay all the deposits we need to.  Very great thanks to those who have already sent in their support because I was able to purchase my airline ticket last week!!

For those of you partnering with me financially and in prayer I want to provide you with our tentative itinerary so you can pray for our specific outreach each day:

March 9th
arrive in pm

March 10th
Orientation at The Bridge Children's Center
prayer walking the city

March 11th
Serve @ True Friends Church
host party for disabled children

March 12th
Team outing day / street ministry

March 13th
hospital outreach
treasure hunting pm

March 14th
Parent teaching
Beach time with Bridge Kids

March 15th
free time
worship with Pattaya House of Prayer

March 16th
prep time
royal sleepover with True Friends church (older girls)
teaching about purity, identity, etc

March 17th
royal sleepover (younger girls)

March 18th
help True Friends church
kick off Supernatural VBS

**The VBS is so exciting for the children because they don't have children's church, no crafts, lessons etc for kids. This is anticipated to be the highlight of the trip for the children we will encounter!
Children from the Pattaya Slums Ministry will be joining us as well!

March 19th
VBS

March 20th
VBS

March 21st
VBS ending

March 22nd
processing and goodbye dinner
then 24 hours of travel to get home to Abilene

I will have the opportunity to teach, preach, minister deliverance and just love on so many people.  I am so excited and grateful for everyone who has come along side to partner with me! My heart cries thank you!!  The Kingdom of heaven is at hand!