#Thailand Tuesday: The Cost and Reward of Obedience, Pt. 1

I have been reflecting a lot over the last few months about all the steps it has taken to get to this point in my life. There are several times when I was making a choice to go one way or another and I would pray to ask God for direction. I would sense Him say one thing, not sure where it would ultimately lead me. 

This week I'm blogging about that journey into youth ministry and where that has taken me. Exactly 5 years ago I was sitting in church, wondering what God had in store for me that summer. I had been trying to make arrangements to spend the summer in Kenya, but that fell through. I was really disappointed and wondering how I would make use of that time. That Sunday in church, our pastor was making announcements about opportunities to serve in the summer and being a youth lifegroup leader was one of them. I thought, Oh that would be fun for the summer! I put my name down and later that week I got an email from our junior high youth pastor (who would later become a dear friend and mentor). 

I soon realized that jumping into youth ministry was ideally committing for at least a year, not just a summer. I was stuck. I was about to enter my last year at Baylor and knew my schedule was already overloaded. I began to pray and felt like God said He would take care of my schedule. 

Then I learned that moving into youth ministry meant leaving my college lifegroup. This was hard news because I had just started really getting connected to the college ministry and was being discipled by one of our college lifegroup leaders. This was my family and I was just getting used to it. I didn't want to give it up. I prayed for about a month about this decision and asked others to pray with me. In the end we all felt like what I needed to do was leave the college ministry to jump in with the junior high ministry. I had no idea what was in store. 

My first Junior High girls lifegroup. Here they are 7th graders and they are now juniors in High School!

It has now been 5 years since then. Doing youth ministry has been both challenging and rewarding. I've been challenged in my leadership and in how I relate to others. I had to grow in my security as a leader and fight through thoughts like, "I'm not the favorite leader" or "They are more gifted than I am" or "People like them more." I would also say that I have grown in my enjoyment of this age group. I used to do it because I wanted to invest and make a difference, now I also do it because I really enjoy being with students and consider them my friends.

Silly Picture on our Mission Trip this Past March

At the time, I felt like it was a heavy cost to leave the college ministry. God had been doing so many cool things and I didn't know what community would be like in the youth ministry. But because of that step of faith and obedience, I can now say that I have the richest community I have ever known. I have friends who will be friends forever. Because of being in youth ministry I have gotten to know so many more families in our church and it actually made me feel more connected to our church than if I had probably stayed in the college ministry. 

What does this have to do with Thailand? Well, everything. See, I probably would not have gone to Thailand the first time to work with the kids and youth if I hadn't been working with the youth ministry and kids already at church. It was through that first trip to Thailand that I met the 2 families that I will be working with in Chiang Rai. My 5 years of youth experience is also going to benefit many in Thailand as well. We are already talking about how I can invest in the youth group there and disciple students. I now also have tons of awesome games to take with me as well! I know I will still have a lot to learn when I go to Thailand, but I can't help but be thankful that I made that decision 5 years ago to step out in faith and leave something behind, not sure of what I would be taking hold of except a promise from God to be with me.

#ThailandTuesday: Do you have a heart for adoption?

What does this picture do to your heart?

What about this?

These are pictures of children I have met around the world. It seems that our American culture likes to see pictures of children and poverty because we like to feel empathetic. We get stirred up and think, oh my, how sad. People often show sad pictures or videos to get people to feel a certain way so that they will respond. But then after it's over, people go back to their normal lives.

It is no secret that issues such as poverty are very complicated. Poverty cannot be fixed by giving people money. Similarly, orphans would not cease to exist just because people all of a sudden decide to adopt them all. There are complicated problems that contribute to these issues. Well, that's discouraging... so what can be done?

Well, even though these issues are complicated, adoption can be a beautiful way to help children and need. I should know because I was adopted myself.

However, international adoption is extremely complicated. It takes years to go through the process and is extremely expensive. It takes a special person to be able to stick it out through that process. And then things don't get easier once the child is with the family. There is often trauma and attachment issues the child might have. Sometimes parents can't handle the stress of that and try to get rid of the child they just adopted (which is so sad). And then to add to all of that, public policy can make the adoption process tough as well and many parents get "stuck" in the adoption process (see the video below).

 

So why am I spending the time writing about all of this? Well, social work is one of the professions that helps parents through the adoption process and I am graduating in a month with my Masters in Social Work (MSW)! Social workers help by educating the community and parents about adoption, conducting home visits, and providing all the services required by law to adopt. As I get ready to move to Thailand, I have heard that there is a need to help some foreign families who live in Thailand who are trying to adopt Thai children. One of the ways I could help is by conducting the required home studies and help educate the families on the adoption process and what they can expect. This is a practical step that would hopefully speed up the process for these families and help them get "unstuck". 

So, guess what?! You have the opportunity to invest in that process through prayer and financial giving. I can't conduct home studies if I'm not there and I can't go unless I have the financial means. While this is not the primary reason that I am going to Thailand, I do think it is an amazing opportunity to see God place the lonely into families!! Let me know if you want to be a part of that as well!

Here's another beautiful video about adoption :)

#ThailandTuesday: The Beauty of Thailand

One thing that I am looking forward to as I move to Thailand is how BEAUTIFUL it is- from mountains to beautiful beaches to rainforests and jungles. Beaches and the color green are some of my love languages. Just take a look at some of the beauty. And anyone is welcome to come visit any time :)

Picture I took in January 2014

Thai Beach- Picture taken from the internet :)

Picture I took in Thailand

Picture I took in Thailand

Mountains in Thailand- Taken from the Internet :)

#Thailand Tuesday: New Community

"Wow, it must be hard leaving everyone behind to move so far away..."

Transition has its pros and cons. A lot of times you are letting go of something while you are grabbing hold of something else.

Saying "yes" to moving to Thailand is letting go of a lot. I am going to be leaving behind the community I have so grown to love over the last several years. My church family and lifegroup has meant so much to me. My Baylor community has been amazing. My students and their families have been so great. And my family has been so supportive. I am going to miss them a lot.

To help with this transition, God has started to provide me with an awesome community in Thailand. I already knew two of the families connected to our church that live in Thailand because of going to Thailand last year. But what has been fun has been getting to know others connected to CRICS (the school) through Facebook. I feel like I already have so many friends there, even though I have never met many of them face to face. I am so thankful that God is providing such a gift as I move halfway around the world. I can't wait to get to know this new family more and learn from them- such a wealth of diversity and experiences.

For those of you I'm saying goodbye to- know that I appreciate and love you so much. And guess what? We have so many ways to stay connected while I'm gone- newsletters, prayer updates, and social media.

I also want to say that while I need community support, I also need financial support. I am currently at 5% of my monthly support for moving to Thailand. I need to be at 80% before I can buy a plane ticket. Every little bit helps. Would you consider/pray about partnering with me in this way? It not only benefits me, but it will benefit multiple students and families in Thailand as I go to teach and serve. You can head over to the giving page for more instructions or you can send me an email if you would like more information.

For those of you already in Thailand- know that I am so thankful for you as well and look forward to being together soon!

Blessings to all!

#ThailandTuesday: Thai Alphabet

Today's blog post is brought to you by...
The Thai Alphabet!

In all my spare time I'm trying to work on learning the Thai alphabet. And how am I doing this by myself? Well, thanks to modern technology I'm doing it all through my iPad and YouTube! I found a great app that allows you to trace the alphabet. Once I got the hang of it, I started to put it down on paper. They are really tricky!

I also enjoy watching YouTube videos like the one below:

#ThailandTuesday

I am going to be doing a thing called #ThailandTuesday where I will be posting things about my journey to move to Thailand as well as things that I am looking forward to/thankful for.

Here is a little update-
1. I move to Thailand in 5 months!!! (August 2015)
2. I am currently at 5% support which is awesome since I just started raising support to go. I need to be at 80% funded to be able to buy a plane ticket. Want to learn more about joining the team? Click on the "Instructions on How to Give/Join the Team" link!! Every little bit helps.

What is something I am looking forward to as I move to Thailand? I am looking forward to...

       Thai Food!!!!

         
What else am I doing right now? Well, I am finishing up my Masters in Social Work right now at Baylor and will graduate in May!! I am also continuing to teach private lessons and lead in the junior high ministry.

Some other news... I am moving in a month! I am moving in with my parents to help save money. Please be praying for this transition just because moving and packing can be stressful at any time, but right now I am right at the end of finishing my masters and so there is a lot to do!

I have also begun looking at housing options in my new city and connecting with people on Facebook who will be a part of my new community!

Thankful for each of you!!

Welcome to My Blog!!

Hey everyone! Thanks for stopping by. On this blog you will hopefully find out about my journey to move to Thailand and how you can be a part!

I will be posting regular updates as I prepare to go in August and then continue to provide updates while I'm there!

Right now I am beginning the support raising process. I am currently 5% funded and need to be at 80% before I can buy a plane ticket. That is about $1,900/month. For perspective- if 190 people gave at least $10 a month, I would be fully funded!  Every little bit counts! Would you start thinking about supporting me in this way?

What would you be investing in?
-Students and families at Chiang Rai International Christian School where I will be teaching.
-Unreached people in Thailand and surrounding countries
-Other  missionaries in Thailand
-Me being able to do what I feel God has called me to do.

Hope you enjoy learning more about this exciting opportunity! Contact me or comment if you have any questions!