adoration

INSPIRATIONAL!!!!

2010-03-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

To hear this man's incredible testimony, please pause my playlist at the bottom of this screen!

thanks. now get ready to be inspired!

He Reigns! Glory in the Highest!

2010-01-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

Life has been busy! We have all of our forms in to the agency and have been waiting ~~patiently~~ for the next step to become Foster Parents!!! I just can't wait to have some more little ones running around here!

Speaking of little ones, tonight I have been moved to tears over the news of little ones in my friends' lives! Just to share a couple brief things with you that our wonderful FATHER has been doing:

1) My friend had a sweet baby girl a couple weeks ago. Saraiah had several complications (see below) groups from our church prayed over her. She is just over 2 wks old and is defying all odds. She went from having hours to live to holding up her head, being more alert & gained a half a pound. She is truly a living miracle. This is a post from my friends sister:

We’ve all received chain emails that tell us to forward it on to 10
other people, promising some kind of reward. Participating in this
chain email could save a life.
On January 4, Saraiah Hamlet was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to
Jeremiah and Veronica (Holwerda) Hamlet. She was born weighing 5
pounds with Down Syndrome and numerous heart defects. The
prognosis was very bad and she was taken to the University of
Michigan so some of the top surgeons in the country could evaluate
her. A dozen doctors surrounded her bed looking at multiple
echocardiograms, and it was determined that the defects in her
heart were too great. The best option was to take her back home
for the remaining short time. All life support was removed on
January 9 and we were told she could live 4 hours or a week, nobody
knew.
Prayers from family, friends, acquaintances, and people we don't
even know have kept her alive for over a week now. 600 people in
Africa attended a special prayer meeting for her, some of them
walking miles to be there. Several churches in various parts of
India are praying for her as well as people in Egypt. Churches
and prayer groups all over have been lifting prayers on her
behalf and her vital signs continue to be strong and are even
improving. Because we believe so strongly in the power of
prayer we ask you to pray for Saraiah’s life. God is listening
and we need more voices. We want to see this email spread
around the globe and lead to a testimony of miraculous healing.

2)Our friends from church have been on a LONG journey to bring home a sweet baby boy, Grady, from Haiti. Grady will be flying into US this week yet. A local private plane will take our friends to meet him and bring him home finally! A blessing out of this tragedy that has struck Haiti. Can't wait to meet the precious boy! I think he may get a bit spoiled by a few Crossroads members :)

3) One of my dear friends gave birth to healthy twin boys :Jaxton & Grayson. Another friend gave birth to her beautiful Isabelle (Izzy). Praising God for the miracle of birth & for these precious additions to my friends' lives.

4) We have several friends who are foster parents without any kids to parent, until recently! So excited that our FATHER has brought busy little blessings in these friends lives after such long waits!

AND...............

We have had the privilege to be a part of an incredible group at our Church! We are called Abba's Answer.

Abba's Answer to the Children's Cry.
Based on Exodus 22:22-24
"You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.
If you afflict him at all,
and if he does cry out to Me,
I will surely hear his cry..."

Abba's Answer to the Children's Cry is first and foremost a prayer team. A group of people dedicated to be warriors on behalf of the orphan. Through prayer, awareness and whatever else is asked of us from our Heavenly Father.
This is through 3 different venues...
1. Orphan care- overseas and local orphans in orphanages. Mission Trips, etc. All to care for the orphan.

2. Adoption- Local and International adoption. Taking one of these precious ones as our own.

3. Foster Care- helping to care, rehabilitate and love on children in the midst of where they are in the system.

Loving them all with the love of Abba

My God is MY Father!
My God is SO faithful!
My God is SO loving!
My God is THE healer!
My God is Provider!
My God STILL does Miracles!
My God IS Holy!
MY GOD REIGNS!!!!!!!!!!!

I love my God more than I could ever put into any words. Thank you Father for so much undeserved love.

Cha cha cha changes.....

2009-11-09T13:04:00.000-08:00

School's in full force! Soccer season is over, football starts tomorrow night. Swimming lessons & AWANA Programs started a few weeks ago for both Eddie and Henry. I work in Eddie's class every Monday morning for about an hour. It's nice to see the kids in the classroom setting and do more one on one with them. I do have to say, I'm not a morning person & Monday's are not my most pleasant! What on earth was I thinking when I signed up for this?? Well, I must not be too much of a grump because the teacher hasn't talked to me yet!

Dave and I are in the process of becoming FOSTER PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!! We have one more class and then the home study. we have always talked about adopting "someday". We decided this is something we can do as a family until we are ready to adopt. We can be the loving stable home for the kids who need it. We didn't have a particular age in mind but a few social workers suggested keeping our kids' birth orders. Eddie says he's ok with someone older, but I think he might change his mind after a few weeks. (If not sooner!) So, now we are thinking ages 6 & under. We thought about keeping the birth order & saying 3 & under but that will close the door on so many. We will just trust our Father to entrust us with a child that we can be the most influential with. He knows what we will be able to handle better than we do. I have been adding touches to the bedroom of our soon to be kiddos. I want it to be perfect but it's hard to decide what to do for a boy or girl who could be 6 or could be a few weeks old. I think it will be fun if they are old enough to give me some input too. Eddie thinks it's too girly b/c it's so many bright colors (too many colors he thinks-like a rainbow.) There are no rainbows-except the one on the picture Eddie painted. I had each of the boys pain a canvas to hang in the room that we will let the kids keep when they move on to their "forever home" I figure we'll do it each time we have a new child come into the home.

We are involved in a group at our church that is an orphan prayer group. This is in the works of just getting started & I can't wait to see what it will evolve into. There are couples who are adopting either domestic or international, there are foster parents, there are a couple of people who go to Africa each year to work with the orphans & they are going to bridge the gap from Grand Rapids to Zambia. We also want others to get involved as prayer partners, babysitters, mentors. The couple who started the group presented their dream to the board and our board not only backed us all but set up a fund (we're not sure yet what we will need the fund for but it's there!) Our Father is so incredible! As we are in the beginning stages of reaching out to the children and bringing them into light, we are all getting attacked from satan. Our husbands have felt it from work. we've all felt it in finances. The mothers have felt it in battles with the kids. One of the girls in our group said "we have not laughed in our home for the longest time" satan is trying to bring us down, but this is something he can't defeat! We are standing firm in our faith. We are bringing love and hope to the most vulnerable. Dave and I pray that through the children that come into our home we can build a bond with their mothers and get involved in their communities. We can't wait for our children to be a part of this. We want them to realize how important to be Jesus to everyone we meet. This will start by the people we bring into our home.

Father thank you for this opportunity and for all the wonderful support we have!

Heavy heart

2009-10-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

Now that summer is over :( I'm back in more of a routine :) I have been hosting W.A.R. home parties over the summer. I have sold about 14 or 15 goats in the last 3 months! I get so very excited about the goats. I am just happy people open their homes to hear about human trafficking and get involved even if they weren't to purchase anything (which has never happened!)

Today I volunteered with a friend from The Hope Project. http://www.missionhopeproject.org/ This is a safe house opening in West Michigan that will house girls ages 12-17 who have been rescued from sex trafficking right here. So, today Amanda & I passed out almost 600 fliers in downtown Grand Rapids (this is the 4th day they've been down there-all together passed out 2,000 fliers) We hit up alot of the visitors for Artprize http://www.artprize.org/home I would say about 90% of the people we talked with were interested (or at least pretended to be) in what we were talking about. We weren't selling anything or asking for any money-just bringing awareness. Out of that 90%, 25% wanted more info to get involved or were already involved in anti trafficking, and another 25% had to be told repeatedly that this IS happening right here in Grand Rapids. It's not just a "big city" problem.

However, I had a FEW people that were down right rude. Sure, they probably thought I wanted money, or was selling something obnoxious, but they seemed upset I had even taken 15 seconds of their day. Here were some of the responses "Not interested", "Doesn't effect me", "there's more important things", "yeah right, like people really sell girls around here", "trafficking happens b/c of all those religious people" (I don't even think that last one makes sense-maybe they didn't know what trafficking even was) But I think the looks people gave were most disturbing. I know a few out of almost 600 for the day shouldn't bother me, but for some reason they do. AND I tend to let it fester to the point of bitterness toward these "ignorant people" That is SO not the way my heart/attitude should be responding. I just need to be praising my Father for the people who have a heart for this and needed the info they received. I need to be praising HIM for the safe house for the victims. I need to be praising HIM for the freedom to even go out and pass out this info and bring awareness that maybe could help someone.

Bitterness is something I have always struggled with. As far back as I can remember, if there were something said about me or someone who just didn't like me, I could never just let it go. I would agonize over what could I have done to deserve the rumors/dislike from someone? And if I didn't think someone had a good reason for not wanting to become friends, I grew bitter towards them. If someone hurts me, I hold a grudge even IF they've asked for forgiveness. That grudge turns into bitterness. When I have bitterness in my heart there's just a little less room for the Love of Jesus I am supposed to be portraying throughout my life everyday. It is flat out SIN. I can blame it on insecurities, I can blame it on just being human. But I just need to step up and take the blame. No one is causing me to become bitter. I am responsible for my own heart and my own bitterness issues. I need to let go. I need to surrender all to HIM. I need fall on my face. Honestly who am I? When bitterness creeps into my heart who am I? Certainly NOT who my Father wants me to be. Certainly NOT a loving sister. I am too busy focusing on "whose done me wrong" to worry about anyone else. I become so selfish. My bitterness turns me into a selfish pity party. That is NOT who I want to be at all.

Father, forgive me. Take my heart that is full of my selfishness, bitterness, my filthy SIN. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness and renewal, but I know you are a gracious, healer. Heal me LORD. Wash my filthiness in the blood of the cross. Purify me. I want people to see YOU when I look into their eyes. I want people to see YOU in my day to day routine. I praise you for being so faithful when I am not. Lord, it IS my desire to follow YOU and I get so discouraged when I take the focus off you and put it where it doesn't belong. Carry me back to the foot of the cross. I am too stubborn sometimes to follow you there. Just carry me Father.

And, Father, hold these precious girls. Protect them form the preditors. Let someone show these girls their true worth & they have value in you. Protect the volunteers and residents of The Hope Project. Thank you Lord for new beginings every day. Thank you for your promises and protection, your provision and HOPE.

I'm learning so much......

2009-07-24T05:34:00.000-07:00

The more I learn about trafficking, the more my heart breaks. My mom and I attended W.A.R's day of prayer on July 11. There were about 200 people at the event in a banquet room of a beautiful golf course. We were able to hear from W.A.R. staff and a lady from homeland security. Here are just a few statistics I learned from homeland security:

In 2009 a man was arrested for selling 89 children in Detroit Michigan.

Atlanta, Georgia has 300 children for sale each month.

Los Angeles, California has 3000 children for sale a month!

Florida residents sold a 14 year old at a sleepover for $300,000 on craig's list.

Middle class neighborhood girls start recruiting other young girls for prostitution.

"Oral Sex is the New Goodnight Kiss": Leigha, 15 says:'The youngest girl I recruited was 10. I didn't care. I'd just bring in all these stupid little girls.'

The sex industry has grown so much in the US that MSNBC started hosting" Sex Slavery in the Suburbs"

The average age of entering prostitution in the US is 12 years old!

There are about 100,000 prostitutes in the US between the ages of 9 & 19.

The face of USA trafficking is underage...beginning in the cradle. Even here in my home state of Michigan!

Live feeds are the hottest trend for pedophiles. This includes infant bondage. Horrors beyond what anyone could even dream up!

A man in California posted a live feed of a rape of a 6 month old baby.

This is an outcry! This is in the land of the free. Why are we letting our children fall into this? We have become immune to the sex abuse here. How many times do we turn on the news to hear of a parent beating or molesting their own children? Or teachers? Why on earth was the case of Mary Kay Letournea glamorized? This was a teacher who had a baby with her 13 year old student and after being released from jail they later married. This is awful! Why do we allow predators to marry their victims and go on with a "normal life".

When I first got involved with W.A.R. my heart was so heavy for the young girls in Asia. It still is. But now it is also breaking for our children who suffer in silence. Even when we hear about abuse in the media, it's so common we almost just shake our heads & say "what a shame" For now all I can do is get on my knees and pray. I know prayer is so powerful and I beg you to join whenever & wherever you can. Pray for the precious helpless children suffering all over the world. Not only are their lives at risk of being trafficked, but they will be likely to repeat the cycle when they grow up.

Thank you Lord for precious children. Hold them safely in your arms...........

2009-06-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

Here's to the good times and the hard times......

Had another jewelry party at my sister's house. We raised over $1900! Thank you for women who love to shop & not only do they walk away with something beautiful, they also support the rescued girl who made the precious piece they bought. My heart was so heavy the day of the party. I had just gotten an email re: a precious friend who is being persecuted for her faith and ministry. I felt so distracted I was sure it was going to be a flop. God is so faithful though and the girls weren't there to hear me, but to support a great cause. We were also able to sell a few more goats!

Saturday I was able to catch up with a precious consultant who also went on the circle tour this past February. It was great. Even though it was just for like 45 minutes in the mall parking lot, it was so good to see her and be encouraged by her. She has such a heart for wounded women. She also does photography & donates a portion of her earnings to Women At Risk. I just get so excited to hear different stories of women all over using creative ways to support W.A.R.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I was able to go to an open house for a girl who went on the Circle Tour. There were several girls from the trip there and 2 ladies from Bangkok! I was so thankful to see them again and spend a few precious moments catching up with these beautiful ladies! But my heart is still heavy. I had a bit to catch up with Becky (she is the founder & president of Women @ Risk & also lead our circle tour) She was encouraging when it came to our dear friend. Our friend is strong & she is not afraid. Becky said going into missions is like a Cop choosing to be a Cop. There is a known risk involved but the passion is greater than the fear of that risk. Of course I have heard stories about persecuted and threatened missionaries, but have never had a friend face these same threats. I know God is in control. I also know there may come a day when we all may have to face persecution for our beliefs. I love my sister and know she is safer in Gods hands than anywhere else. It's still hard.

Dave and I are taking the first few steps in the next chapter of our life. I found out in the 45 minutes spent in the mall parking lot that my friend is starting the same chapter!! We spent sever giddy minutes laughing about this and about our friend's reactions! We are ready though. We are excited and ready.

So here's to the good time. The hard times and the times to come. And we place them all in our Father's loving hands.

Jewelry Consultant

2009-06-03T05:40:00.000-07:00

I am now a Volunteer Jewelry Consultant for Women At Risk. I officially went through our "training day" last week. I have done a party for my Grandma's church, assisted Becky McDonald at a home party and just hosted my own home party on Monday night. I had a great turn out! We were crammed in my little house. We had a great time! We cried tears of pain for the victims. We were filled with Hope that only comes from our Father! And we shared in LOTS of Laughter over some of the silly things from the W.A.R. chest and the goat project! I sold 8 goats that night!! We now have goats out there named hope, love, joy, gammy, yaya, otis, papa, & dad. The girls had just as much fun naming the goats as we had pigging out over all the food! I am so thankful for this ministry. I am thankful for the bond I share with my sisters in this ministry! I am thankful for the opportunity this ministry brings to give hope to the wounded & lost & to share Christ with everyone. I do NOT like public speaking, but somehow this has come with such ease & comfort. It's such an incredible cause that so many long to learn more about & do what they can to help. I am excited for my next party next week! What girl doesn't love girl time, food, fellowship, jewelry, supporting a great cause?? I absolutely LOVE what I am doing! It doesn't feel like volunteer work (although lifting these huge heavy tubes is more of a workout than I have ever done!!) It just feels great to love what I am doing and know it is something with a great meaning! Thank you Father for giving me this opportunity!

The POWER of PRAYER

2009-05-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

I have been learning different ways to pray. I just the love the fact that I can come to my Father so intimately. Depending on my mood & request I come to Him in different ways.

Praying the names of God:
El Elyon: The God most High
El Roi: The God who sees
El Shaddai: The All Sufficient One
Yahweh (Adonai): The LORD
Jehovah-Jireh: The LORD will provide
Jehovah-Rapha: The LORD who heals
Jehovah Mekoddishkem: the LORD who sanctifies you
Jehovah-shalom: The LORD is peace
Jehovah Shammah: The LORD is There
......Of course there are so many names & you can google different ways to pray (I only have 30 of them & their meanings)........

Biblical Virtues to Pray for your Kids
Salvation, Growth in Grace, Love, Honesty & Integrity,Self-control, Love for God's Word, Justice, Mercy, Respect (for self & others & authority), Biblical Self-esteem, Faithfulness, Courage, Purity, Kindness, Generosity, Peace-loving, Joy, Perseverance, Humility, Compassion, responsibility, Faith, Contentment, a Servants heart, Hope, Prayerfulness.........

Alphabet Prayers:
A. He is All-sufficient, Almighty, Awesome
B. He is Beautiful,
C. He is Comfort, Counsellor, Creator........
......
Z.

Praying the Attributes of God:
Holy, Sovereign, Loving, Gracious, Alpha & Omega, King of Kings, The Bread of Life, Merciful, Faithful, Wise, Lamb of God......................

Praying the Armor of God & Warfare prayers.

Praying Scripture

(thank you Becky McDonald who gave me the guides to prayer on our women's' retreat October 2007. Also, The Power of a Praying Parent & Power of a Praying Wife (by Stormie Omartian) are great books & I just finished Becoming a Women of Prayer by Cynthia Heald)

So, I wrote this post because I have been agonizing for a while over the chicken farm in Cambodia. This is a village in Cambodia that is basically one big brothel. I'd seen a special on Dateline & heard Oprah talk about it over a year ago or so. It's called the chicken farm b/c you can pluck a child like you could pluck a chicken there. No consequences. There are girls you can buy time with as young as 5 years old. This is a big attraction for pedophiles from all over the world to come visit.

On Saturday, July 11 Women At Risk is holding a day of prayer specifically for the Chicken farm. For those of you who would like to go, call W.A.R's office & reserve a spot. If you can not make it, please join in prayer from where ever you are.

These are little clips of the children who are caught in this tragedy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/4037134#4037134
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azBVHFGzHkU&feature=related

Unfortunately when I was looking for pics & videos to show I stumbled across a horrific site. This was disgusting & vulgar. It was a how to guide for picking up kids in Cambodia. He told the best & worst places to go & even rated the girls on looks & performance. It was all I could do to not throw my computer out the window. I was so sick to my stomach that I have this ache in my heart even more than ever for these precious victims! I feel like I can't get low enough on my face before God as I cry out for help for these victims all over the world! How can we allow this to happen to our children??? This is a plea to pray! I am begging you to get on your knees & pray for traffic victims all over the world-even here in America! There are so many children being forced into sex slavery every day here! I believe in the Power of Prayer! We need to be an army of prayer warriors!

this past month

2009-05-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

this has been a VERY crazy month! my oldest graduated from his young fives, my youngest turned 3. he has officially been potty trained through the night now for almost a month!!he still thinks it's hilarious to pull his pants down, get on the coffee table & "sprinkle" our living room. (yes he gets spanked, yes i have since rented a rug dr to thoroughly clean the carpet) he has also become a dirt eater. this is very recent so for his 3 yr check up his dr ran a full lab on his blood b/c eating dirt is a sign of anemia or lead poisoning. his iron was a little low, not enough that he ought to eat dirt as a supplement. i think he's just a bit crazy & driving me there with him! but the trick that about pushed me over the edge was when he painted himself & our walls with lipstick then tried to clean his hands on the carpet. i was outside planting & he had to stay inside (punishment for eating sand out of the sandbox) i was only out for about 15 minutes & he made a disaster of a mess!

soccer season is quickly coming to an end for eddie. then it's golf lessons! he is very excited about this! he went to avalanche bay with friends over the weekend (an indoor water park) and learned how to surf! he is excited for summer for sure!

i finished training today to be a jewelry consultant for women at risk. i have worked one party and assisted becky at another party. i will be hosting my first party next week and consulting another the following. it was a great day. we learned so much more about the ministry background and a breakdown of the money that the jewelry brings in. here is something i learned today:

90% of the profits made on the jewelry goes directly to the girls. the other 10% is for handling & administration costs. of that 90% here is how it works: the girls get paid for working 8 hrs a day. they earn as much working on the jewelry as a male college graduate earns. they get paid to work for 8 hrs a day however they only work for 4 hours a day. the other 4 hours are spent in counselling, praise & worship, education, on the job training. the safehouses provide healthcare for the girls & their children, education for the girls & their children, food for them. this is just an incredible program! so, if you love jewelry you should think about hosting a party! it's fun & the products are beautiful! OR if jewelry is not your thing, you can purchase a GOAT! yes, you can buy a goat for $50 for someone in africa or nepal. this gives the women a bigger status and helps provide for her family. you will be able to name the goat & get a certificate about your goat. this is a great project for families-save your change & buy a goat & name it after your family!!

there will be a day

2009-04-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing….

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face There will be a day, He’ll wipe away the stains, He’ll wipe away the tears, He’ll wipe away the tears…..there will be a day.

(from there will be a day by jeremy camp)

last friday my friend lost her mom. she was out for her daily walk and was hit by a car. i did not know her but i know she was an incredible woman just by her legacy.

i went to visitation sunday and was about 15 minutes early and the home was already packed! christina was doing well. she is so precious! her concerns were not for herself or her family. she said we'll be fine. we know my mom is fine. she was worried about the lady who hit her mom. that's where all of her concern was focused. no bitterness, just love for this woman.

Lord, we don't know how much time we have here, but thank you for every precious minute we have with our loved ones. I pray to leave a legacy like jan. Comfort both families involved in this tragedy. use it to bring glory to you alone. thank you for HOPE!

God's faithfulness

2009-04-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! (Psalm 103:16-18)

Our God is so good. He is so faithful! This has been a wonderful weekend. We celebrated Good Friday-the ultimate sacrifice that our precious Jesus gave-HIS OWN LIFE FOR OURS!!!

We were going over this again Saturday in preparation for RESURRECTION Sunday with our precious boys. Eddison (will be 6 in July) and Henry (will be 3 next month). Dave was finished talking and after a moment of silence Eddison said "Dad, I have been ready for like 600 years to ask Jesus to come in my heart and thank Him for taking my sins and mom keeps putting me off." A LITTLE exaggerated to say the least. He HAS asked me several times if he can ask Jesus in his heart. This started around Christmas. We were in the car and he said he was ready. I was so excited and said "Let's talk about this with Dad. He would LOVE to be a part of this special decision with us!" So, Dave got home from work and asked Eddison about it and he said he wasn't ready. For a minute I was disappointed and then relieved that I didn't rush him through this right away when he first asked. I figured, when he is REALLY ready, he will be ready when Dave is around too. I didn't want it to be a now or never moment. Several other times would come up-in the grocery store, at a restaurant, during craft time......but a few hours later when Dave would get home Eddison decided he didn't want to talk about it after all. We have been praying though and our Father is so faithful. Eddison took this precious step on Saturday night. We told him we were happier that night than when he was even born!

Understand therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Our boy made the life changing decision to lay his life down and give it up to our Father to be his Lord & Savior. He said he wants to do what Jesus commands and he wants to make Jesus happy. I knew God would bring our boys to Him in His time. They are, after all, HIS children He has entrusted to us while we are here on earth. What an honor. Thank you Lord!

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:7-10)

We told Eddison we were so proud of him! Henry kept hugging him saying he was proud & he was ready to have Jesus in his heart too (yes, I think he is too young so we just told him in a while when he gets bigger he can give his life to Jesus) He hugged his big brother and said "I hear your heart beat. I can hear Jesus talking in there. "

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. (Deuteronomy 5:10)

We are reaping the rewards of God's promises! Thank you Father for sending your Son! Thank you Jesus for loving us so much you suffered and died in our place. Thank you for NEW LIFE!!!!

the waiting game....

2009-03-31T09:59:00.000-07:00

My lesson from (Beth Moore's) Esther this week is on waiting. When is it the right time? When is it time to wait? When is it the time right for me or someone else?? It's a great study and this is a great lesson for me. I CANNOT wait for anything-ever. I can NEVER wait for presents. Dave has never surprised me with a gift b/c I bug him so bad he caves in so I'll leave him alone. I'm not good at waiting on answers, appointments....anything. I have NO patience and struggle with the "wait and see" game.

When Dave and I were just married we were landlords of a real cute (and OLD) duplex. we had the kitchen remodeled. when we tore down the walls we found old treasures! Someone in the house must have had a drinking problem and tried to hide the whiskey bottles behind the kitchen cabinets. We found bottles from 1930 (one of them had mouse bones in it so we left that in the wall) we found a program from Grandville prom in the 50's and old cards. most of the stuff had been chewed a bit by mice (??) we kept one whiskey bottle & put the rest in a box with some of our own little memories for the next person who tears down the wall. These treasures were so fun to discover b/c they were from so long ago. If we had torn into a wall that was only a year old, we would not have found anything too unique. It would not have been the right time.

There is something I have been struggling with for a while now and God (and Dave) keep telling me to wait. BUT I DON'T WANT TO WAIT!! I'm too used to living in a world of fast food, my internet compatible cell phone, instant messaging, express lanes. Who waits for anything anymore? Lord, I need patience. I need to focus on God's timing b/c He has the best plan for me in store. It's obvious He is telling me to wait-for who or what? I'm not sure. I'm also not good with subtle so I will need the answer on a neon billboard saying "IT'S TIME!"

Ok, Lord. I'm putting this struggle in Your hands for you to open and prepare for me when we are ALL ready! I won't put it behind a wall, just in my open hand for you to take (and take care of my heart.....)

Beautiful ONE I adore, my soul belongs to YOU!

2009-03-30T04:57:00.000-07:00

Oh Abba Father! You are so beautiful! You are the GOD who sees, the GOD who hears, the GOD who provides!! I have no words right now. I am in awe. Thank you for my beautiful family. They bring me so much love and happiness! Thank you for the beautiful sunshine! I am looking forward to going to work and playing with the beautiful flowers you create! (and the delicious tomatoes!) Right now I am here praising you for answered prayer! Thank you for answering our prayers above and beyond what we even asked for!!

My dearest friend (we have been best friends for 25 years-since the first day of kindergarten!) is a wonderful mom. She has a darling 2 1/2 year old daughter (who we have betrothed to my 2 1/2 yr old son) We have been praying for another sibling for Presley. Not only did God answer with a big o' YES-but TWINS!!!!! I am so excited for her! I can't wait to be an aunt to TWINS!! My Tuesday prayer group prayed for her for just 2 weeks before we heard the good news that she was expecting. Then another 2 weeks we prayed that the baby would look good for the ultra sound & that's when we heard this exciting news! All I can say is thank you Father! thank you for my dear friend! I love her. and thank you for these precious babes you have blessed her with! I have always believed in the power of prayer. I was amazed at how fast & abundantly our prayers were answered!

Beautiful Bangkok

2009-03-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

Bimala and I

Bimala runs Higher Ground Cafe in Nepal. Her husband is a pastor. They hire women who are at risk to work in the bakery. When the government decides to shut off the power, the women make beautiful jewelry. She fiercely fights for the Nepali women, and she has such a big tender heart. I love her!

Jane, Ruth & I

Jane is a nurse. Ruth runs Divine Inspiration. She teaches cake decorating. She went to Nepal to teach Bimala's women how to decorate cakes before moving to Cambodia to start her ministry. Both women are form Australia and are moving to Cambodia. Ruth will teach girls how to bake & decorate cakes and Jane will teach them health issues and run a clinic for a while for at risk and rescued girls. They are both wild and sweet. I love these girls as well!

Here is Ruth giving a brief on her ministry while we were in Bangkok

Here we are praying over Bimala, Ruth & Jane before sending them to Nepal & Cambodia. This was an incredible, emotional and powerful time spent together.

Here is our group!

Dani & Liz

Liz is Dani's cousin who lives in Bangkok with her family. They work with trafficked & at risk girls. Becky says she hopes Liz will take over W.A.R. someday. She would be great at it! She is so sincere and an absolute riot! This was before the banquet we threw for the rescued women! These are such beautiful girls (who will probably break many hearts when they go to college!) I love them too!

Here I am decorating the tables for the banquet. The theme was you Are the Bride of Christ. We decorated like a wedding reception. It was absolutely beautiful!

Here was the cake & Ice Sculptures (which were melting so fast!) The cake was pretty tasty-especially after eating jelly fish & chicken feet soup & whatever else we were eating!

The decorated tables

a precious girl playing music in the market

in the market

i wanted to taste these yummy looking treats so bad but we were told we probably better not eat anything from the market

we called this the Hobby Lobby corner. It was full of craft supplies

Some TukTuks lined up down an alley

the streets of Bangkok

Holy water at the Buddhist center

This man was releasing birds-this is how their prayers are sent up to the spirits

so many elephants at the Buddhist center

here was the Buddha/Hindu god. It's kind of a mix between the two

dancers at the buddhist center and a man praying with them

This is a statue of the king on one of the sidewalks. There were pictures of the King all over the place. There is also Buddha shrines all over too where people leave flowers & food & drinks & offerings for the gods

a river boat

so many masks all over. they were so ornate but odd looking

yard workers

more of the city

here is the night market of PatPong. everything was so vulgar. The left side of the picture was the "night market" that appeals to so many tourists. This is set up in the middle of the road. On the sidewalks are the bars & brothels.

Some more of PatPong and the night market again. The yellow "menus" the girls are holding in their hands are price lists of what you would like to do with the bar girls. There are pictures and descriptions and prices on these "menus" and they shove them in your face as you walk by wanting you to buy a service or a girl

creepy lucifer "disco" it really felt like we were in hell on these streets. it was so hot, we could hardly breath b/c of the heat, the horrors we saw & the evil oppression we felt.

again the night market on the streets of PatPong.

a street vendor

a beautiful dancer on our dinner cruise

my dinner on the cruise

some beautiful buildings we saw on the dinner cruise

Beautiful Bangkok

i loved the hot pink taxis!

one of the malls

a tuk tuk

this was a god house. they hoped the spirits would live in these godhouses & hopefully not in the hotels and homes

they beleived the pointy things on the roof would poke the evil spirit's in the butt so they could not sit on their roofs very long

a little garden at our hotel

bangkok

even Ronald McDonald was proper in his bowing. my receipt from McDonalds said "McThai"

Jeannie is one of the jewlery designers for W.A.R. here she is working in the store witht he girls who own this bead store

Open Arms for Asia

2009-03-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

This is an incredible ministry. Tom, an incredible guy from our church (http://www.crossroads-bible.org/) is running this program with his family in India. On Tuesday we are going to see Slum Dog Millionaire @ Knapps corner (tickets are $15/each.- that is the cost of the movie ticket, a bucket of popcorn & pop) all proceeds will go to Open Arms for Asia http://www.openarmsforasia.org/

"There is no one like our God! Greater things are still to come, greater things will still be done in this city....."

God is the God of Grand Rapids, Bangkok, and INDIA!!

God answered prayer

2009-03-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

my neighborhood prayer group has been praying very specifically for the last 2 weeks and God has answered our prayers!!! We are VERY excited and thankful for this blessing.

i have been a little busier than i usually am this time of year. on top of working in the greenhouses, i have my neighborhood prayer tuesday mornings, my Esther Bible study tuesday nights, my neighborhood Bible study every other wednesday morning & on the opposite weeks i babysit at mars hill for the moms inc., i have my parenting study wednesday nights, i'm on the committee for women's retreat (which is going down this weekend!) and now i am volunteering at w.a.r.! i am excited about this b/c i can't shop or donate much right now with dave's job up in the air, but any thing i can do to help i am exited about! hopefully this summer when my schedule slows down more i can put in more hours :) this weekend was my first volunteering opportunity (stuffing 500 envelopes) and i even had eddison help-he thought it was real fun! he has such a heart for these women already & he is not even 6. his eyes always get all teary & he asks "why do people hurt these women? tell them you have a son who is 5 and he loves them." he is such a tender heart and i absolutely love him! thank you Lord for my precious boy (i pray henry will mellow out a bit too????)

thank you Father for the beautiful sunshine today, answered prayer & the heart of my 5 year old!

HOOKERS FOR JESUS

2009-03-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

So i couldn't sleep last night & was flipping through the channels & heard "blah blah blah "hookers for Jesus". I stopped & it was some Nightline story on a former prostitute in Las Vegas. Her name is Annie. She had been convicted by the Holy Spirit, turned her life around-BUT COULD NOT FIND A CHURCH WHO WOULD ACCEPT HER! Oh how sad!

I just kept thinking about what Becky asked us in Bangkok "How would we feel if a night girl came into our church & sat in our pews? Would we accept them? How would we feel having them around our husbands?"

Annie started a "hookers for Jesus" program to reach out to girls on the strip in Vegas, invite them to church & turn their lives around. Here is a link to the story (it's kind of lengthy-sorry) but it moved me & it was so excited seeing the girls pray before outreach! What touched me most was her last comment:

For Lobert, bringing these women of the night off the street and into church is her life's calling. "They are still daughters. They are still sisters. They are human. They are real. They are not some rejected tramp or some rejected leper that can't be loved."

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Story?id=7061434&page=1

We can still be Jesus' eyes here to all the people we see. They ALL need LOVE!!

Again-the story is kind of a long one, but it broke my heart to hear of the struggle Annie had to go through just to be loved and accepted.

this might make your stomach turn...

2009-03-09T20:42:00.000-07:00

here is a bit of what we experienced in PatPong. This is wikipedia's description of the red light district http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patpong. This link talks more about the sex trafficking. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Thailand. Note how it grew in popularity (visiting US soldiers) and how much $USD Thai brings in from this industry. We are as much of a problem "supporting" these businesses as the traffickers are by "selling" the girls. The description IS graphic....

2009-03-07T06:38:00.000-08:00

It was Dave's birthady this week (love you babe) I just can't even tell anyone how much I love him. I used to be so insecure, even a little down-ok sometimes I was VERY down and no one could get me out of that funk. Then Dave came along. We have been friends my whole life (just a littel added bonus!) He makes me feel so beautiful, loved, special, needed, strong, confident. He is my best friend. I could not have come up with a better husband on my own. He is totally a gift from God. Thank you Father, for allowing my to spend my life with my best friend. He is more than I could have ever hoped for! Not only is he great, but he makes me want to be a better person & he makes me feel like a better person. Thank you!

I love this song by Newsong & Natalie Grant (when God made you)

It’s always been a mystery to me

How two hearts can come together

And love can last forever

But now that I have found you, I believe

That a miracle has come

When God sends the perfect one

Now gone are all my questions about why

And I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life

Chorus:

I wonder what God was thinking

When He created you I wonder if

He knew everything I would need

Because He made all my dreams come true

When God made you

He must have been thinking about me

I promise that wherever you may go

Wherever life may lead you

With all my heart

I’ll be there too

From this moment on

I want you to know

I’ll let nothing come between us

And I will love the ones you love

Bridge:

He made the sun He made the moon

To harmonize in perfect tune

One Can’t move without the other

They just have to be together

And that is why I know it’s true

You’re for me and I’m for you

‘Cause my world just Can’t be right

Without you in my life

Tag chorus:

He must have heard every prayer I’ve been praying

Yes He knew everything I would need

When God made you When dreams come true

When God made you He must have been thinking about me

I love you Dave!

so random..........

2009-03-06T06:35:00.001-08:00

so i realized my header was WAY too long. i started thinking of a single word or little phrase to "name" this blog (which was ONLY going to be about my trip...but apparently i am kind of liking the bloggy word thingy for now-until summer. then we'll see...)

so i tried to come up with something cutesy & that rhymed. i could be the stoner corner (only b/c of the last name) but that just didn't seem very appropriate. then i liked the word kaleidoscope (more for the meaning) "continually changing patterns, shapes & colors". i feel that's a pretty accurate description of myself. how else do you describe sinner saved by grace, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend.......? who i am usually depends on who i am with. if i'm with my family, i tend to lean on them & be the "daughter"-usually in need of some reassuring words (especially when it comes to dave's job lately-will he have one or won't he??? ever changing) when i'm with my boys i'm mother, supporter, teacher, nurse, chauffeur, housekeeper, etc...... so, i feel like a kaleidoscope :) but then i settled on adoration. not because i think i am good at it, but it's something i hope to accomplish (but usually fail) daily. "act of paying honor as to God, worship, fervent & devoted love". i'd love to say i bring glory to God in all i do. i'd love to say you can see His love through me in the smallest of things, but you probably won't when you look at me. i fail daily. i usually know a "better way" than God's way. i'm so thankful for His grace! i don't follow Him like i should. instead of leaving me face down in the dust or saying "told you so" He picks me up and carries me. so, i don't follow Him daily, He carries me daily. so adoration is something i would love to accomplish daily

on another note..i have mentioned before that i have been following a blog bring the rain (http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/) i have not read it since i have been home so was quick catching up on her posts last night. this is an incredible woman who has gone through an unimaginable tragedy. she has so many followers and so many leave comments (so many that i don't read them but i am sure they are very nice) it seems that someone was tearing her down with their comments. here is a grieving mother who started this blog that has touched so many and someone is kicking her while she is down. it was so heartbreaking. why do we do that? why do we spit out such hurtful words, and often to people who are already hurting? we had friends go through a serious accident several years ago, and while people are maybe trying to say something kind, they'd say something hurtful or stupid. i just love chuck swindoll and have had this in my Bible since i was a sr in high school:

"The longer I live, the more I
realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to
me, is more important than facts. It is more
important than the past, than education, than
money, than circumstances, than failures, than
successes, than what other people say or think or
do. It is more important than appearance,
giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a
company, a church, or home. The remarkable
thing is that we have a choice every day regarding
the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot
change our past. Nor can we change the fact that
people will act a certain way. We also cannot
change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is
play on the one string we have, and that is our
attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent
what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to
it. And so it is with you - we are in charge of our
attitudes." (From Improving Your Serve)

our true attitudes are reflected in our speech. what spills out of our mouths is what's really in our hearts. so we tend to say hurtful bitter things b/c there must be pain & bitterness somewhere in our hearts (i don't know how to relate this to saying stupid things-i often say really dumb things too) Matt 12:34 Jesus says "for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" we can look at peter. he said some really stupid things, and even denied Jesus. yet, Jesus forgave and loved him unconditionally. it still hurts when we hear cruel things.

crafts...........

2009-03-05T08:11:00.001-08:00

i LOVE taking junk & turning it into my little treasures. actually i just love doing my own little crafts. i have a couple obsessions: glue & paint. you can make anything new with these :)

while we were in thailand, we were talking about sanctuaries. how we are sanctuaries and we need our own sanctuaries. i had taken our spare room & turned it into my own little retreat this past summer. of course it had to be the girliest room in the house since it was "mine". so i picked out a soothing color of blue (inspired by a tiffany box) and my favorite crate & barrel quilt & came up with my own little retreat. i had an old little dresser that used to be my parents and painted it a pale yellow (i really like the shabby chic looks...) plus threw in a desk we found on the side of the road for free (to hold all my craft supplies!) so, i thought i'd post a few pics of my fav crafts lately involving glue, paint & my craft/sanctuary room :)

these are my magnet boards. they're made from old cookie sheets. i screwed an empty soup can to the one board for a pen holder

my "cork board" made from a cookie sheet & wine corks

here is my mom's old dresser repainted a pale yellow

this is the desk we found on the side of the road for free. it works great to store my craft supplies and i put some of my favorite art projects from eddie under the glass top (i'd like to repaint this a fun color this summer.....maybe an orangey color??)

below is my "blessing box" it's covered w/pics of the boys & inside are index cards with verses on them (by category) that i pray over my boys.

below is my recipe box. i found this plain box @ target a few years ago and once i got into my glue phase, glued pics of the boys all over it (ones of them & food of course!) and gotta love the rub on letters!

and below i have my hand stamped charms. i was busy with these around christmas. i had alot of people order them for friends and family (these are just 2 pictures, but i also have star charms that i put initials on & copper charms & all different shapes & sizes in silver & copper) i've kinda burned myself out on these though and haven't been making as much. i enjoy it once in a while, but usually i get too gung ho into a craft & do it so much i get sick of it (unless it involves glue!!)

so....these are my fun things i like to do in my little sanctuary & a few pics of my sanctuary :) i know, these have nothing to do with my trip or anything, but thought i'd share anyway (plus i've had crafts on my mind since i am in charge for our women's retreat coming up....)

hope everyone is enjoying the gorgeous SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-28T19:41:00.000-08:00

Here I am with some Traditionally dressed Thai women:

This girl was praying on her knees the whole time we were at the Buddhist center.

At the Buddhist center

Here is HALF of our group!

Out of respect and for the safety of the rescued girls, I won't be posting their pictures. Just picture some of the beautiful women in the world & there they are: our sisters!

Hope

2009-02-25T14:53:00.000-08:00

So many people have asked how our trip was. How do I put 10 days of an emotional roller coaster into just a few words? It was amazing, inspiring, beautiful, heartbreaking just to say in a few words.

Hope: A girl in one of the safehouses sat sewing beads on the jewelry bags. The girls all get to design their own bags. This sweet girl sat sewing quietly with such a peaceful smile. She had scars up and down both of her arms. She was a cutter. She said there were times she didn't even feel human or alive until she saw the blood. She wasn't a believer, but all of the bags she was designing said God is love, Lamb of God, I love Jesus. God is working on her heart.

One safehouse has a waiting list. This is too bad for the girls who need to get in, but it's good they are reaching out to so many that there is a waiting list.

A girl at the another safehouse gave her testimony. Through her salvation, her husband came to Christ and they were finishing up counselling then taking the gospel back to their home village. And the fire spreads a little more.

The girls testimonies of slavery and freedom were such a smack in the face representation of each and every one of us. We are all born into the bondage of sin. We are separated from our Father. Until we accept His sacrifice.

Ezra 9: 8-9 "But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in His sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our God has not deserted us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness..."

Psalm 103:1-6 "Praise the Lord o my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not His benefits-who forgives all your sins, and heals all your disease, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed."

I had thought I praised Him with all my inmost being, but I hadn't. There are things I'd hold back, I just didn't give Him my all. Our Thai sisters give Him their all. They don't have much, but they give it all and put me to shame. I am totally inspired and hopefully will do better. I am stubborn. I don't follow Him like I should. Many times I think I know a better path to take. I am so in love with Him and thankful He never gave up on me. He carries me-daily. I fail daily and instead of giving up or letting me wonder too far, He carries me.

Broken Nation

2009-02-24T14:41:00.000-08:00

Leviticus 19:29
"Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness."

Habakkuk 1:2-5
"How long, O Lord must I call for help? But you do not listen! "violence" I cry but you do not come to save. Must I forever see this sin and misery all around me? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. the law has become paralyzed and useless, and there is no justice given int he courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous and justice is perverted with bribes and trickery. The lord replied "look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it."

There is HOPE.............

El Roi (The God who sees) "the eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching evil and good" (Prov 15:3)
Adonai/Yahweh (the LORD) "Thou art my Lord; I have no good besides Thee" (psalm 16:2)
Jehovah-jireh (The LORD will provide) "Who provides food for the raven when it's your cry out?" (Job 38:41)
Jehovah-rapha (the LORD who heals) "Heal me o Lord, and I will be healed, save me and I will be saved for thou art my praise." (Jer. 17:14)

and so many other names of course...There is hope in the LORD and His promises and love endures forever! I was so amazed by the testimonies of the precious women we met. They each said they felt redeemed and loved. Some said they were restored and happier without money then when they had plenty of money because they were daughters of the King! They were all such an inspiration and I will never forget their testimonies and examples of praise!

Trip home

2009-02-23T14:11:00.000-08:00

So, we started off waiting on the runway for 2 1/2 hours in Bangkok at about 5 am. We made it to Tokyo (& they held the plane in Tokyo for us) then into Detroit with just under an hour to get to our flight from Detroit to gr but had to go through customs. 5 of us were just getting to the gate to see them close the doors. They said we weren't there in time (even though we still had almost 10 minutes before departure....) One lady said, let me see if there is room for you all...came back & said not with our carryons. WHAT!?!? so we sat there & watched our plane take off after being up for about 26 hours and just 2 hours from home. We got on a flight 2 hours later and arrived into GR about 6:30 last night. Our families had been waiting for us since 4:00 since we had no way of getting ahold of them to tell them we missed our plane. It ended up fine-just a little more exhausting!!

Today has been a little off-I'm messed up from the time change big time & so emotional. Trying to catch up with family & friends and enjoying hugging my boys like crazy!

I have made friendships that will last a lifetime and memories as well! One of my friends on the trip is friends with Angie Smith (her husband is Todd from Selah & I follow Angie's blog for about a year now-if you click the "I am a Sunday" icon on my page you can read her incredible story!) So I told Tammy that Angie is my Oprah & Tammy is Gayle. One of the girls that I got to know is from Nepal & I would LOVE to visit her there. And I became friends with girls from Australia & Denmark & Canada, Colorado, Tennessee & Ohio as well as local girls! We had life changing experiences, laughed, cried and got sick together ;) It was worth it though. I MIGHT post pics later of some of our girls but not the safe house girls-for their protection & we were asked not to post them. We'll see, right now I am so tired I can't even think about the pictures. I am so glad to be home and so thankful for the opportunity I had to go. Thanks for all your support, encouraging notes, calls & posts!

the last few days spent in Bangkok.....

2009-02-23T11:52:00.000-08:00

I did not have a chance to blog our last few days in Thailand. We are home now :) I'll throw out what went down the last few days there:

Thursday: We had a meeting in our Girl Headquarters (our living room in the suite where our more private meetings were held) We packed gift bags for the girls for Thursday night's banquet. We went to a jewelry emporium & had a chance to see the process that sapphires & rubies go through from rock form to finish & "shop". I felt like Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama when she has all of Tiffany's to herself. There was this huge gorgeous jewelry store with people working behind each counter waiting to help us. It was a fun little retreat.

Then we went back to the hotel and got ready for the banquet. The theme of the banquet was "You Are The Bride Of Christ" so we decorated like a wedding reception. There were gorgeous flowers, a HUGE wedding cake, ice sculptures, decorations everywhere! And of course our professional photographer (she came on the trip to document it & took pics of the banquet & all the girls) There were about 130 safe house girls. They were so excited. We gave them gift bags full of makeup, perfume, dolls, lotions, bath wash, stationary, etc..... they were so excited!!! It was fun to serve them! We had 2 of our girls @ each table with 8 Thai girls. I was amazed at how well we could communicate. Almost all the girls @ my table spoke a little English-enough that we could carry a conversation.

Dinner started with a cold cuts platter that had all sorts of weird colored & textured things-all I understood was jellyfish & ginger. Then we had shark fin soup followed by a whole pig. The pig's skin was crispy & cut in strips, I thought it looked like bacon. It did NOT taste like bacon. I guess we were suppose to eat the skin then the servers take the pig away to finish cooking it. A girl ripped the ears off for me & the other girls @ my table to eat. I choked them down dreaming of the pizza party we were going to have later that night. I don't know what came out after that...fish & prawns & such....I was busy helping with games on stage. We kind of did a giant bridal shower. We had pinatas, pin the accessories on the bride, and make a wedding dress out of rolls of toilet paper & then we had a fashion show. The girls loved it!! Some of them never had a childhood so playing games was something new for them. We were laughing so hard we were crying! We then got to eat the YUMMY cake and Becky gave a short message. I looked around the room & all the wait staff from the hotel was sitting listening to her message. When we all got up and held hands singing praises the hotel staff joined hands & singing with us. It was so moving and maybe one of them will receive the message given. After tearful goodbyes, we headed up to girl headquarters for a pizza party-yummy food!!

Friday: We heard presentations from Bimala & Ruth on their ministries in Nepal & Cambodia working with trafficked girls and girls at risk of being trafficked. We then did a prayer walk to the Buddhist center. This was on some corner of the street where people from all over the world come to pray to the mix of a Buddha/Hindu god. There were traditional Thai dancers, music, incense, holy water, kneeling benches, etc....there. People were even buying little cages of birds and would pray over the birds then release them so they'd carry the prayers tot he spirits. It was so sad to see them praying so hard to an idol. One of the girls just prayed, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do-so true!! There was a girl who kneeled the whole time we were there on the pavement in her skirt praying.

Some girls from the safehouses came to the hotel friday & we got more of a chance to visit with them. Anyone who went to the Gala heard Thom & Kay speak. They are so sweet & incredible and I was so blessed to be able to spend some time talking with them. Then it was tearful goodbyes again. This time it really was goodbye. We wouldn't be seeing them again this trip.

We spent Friday night Covering Bimala & Ruth in prayer before they go out to their ministries. This was a powerful emotional time. It was so wonderful to spend time with my sisters in such intimate prayer time.

update

2009-02-18T04:40:00.000-08:00

BLESSED-This is the first thing that comes to mind in explaining my experience for yesterday. We had the privelidge of visiting one of the Safe houses. Seeing such beautiful women- my sisters in Christ-in total worship today. My absolute favorite was singing "God is so good." Seeing these precious women with bigger smiles and more beautiful voices than imaginable was inspirational. They sang in Thai as we sang in English. They sang , "Now I am free, now I am free, He's set me free, He's so good to me." What a blessing! These women have been set free in every sense of the word and are praising the Lord in joy, sincerity, peace, and such passion. If I could have stopped time at any moment in my life, it would have been then. I closed my eyes and had to soak it all in as I memorized their faces and voices and praises. All I can say is I'm so blessed to have such a loving redeeming Father who allows me to share such an intimate worship time with my sisters.

Thank you all for your prayers! Last night was an eye opener for us all. Part of the group went to Nana District and went into the brothels. One group met with a bar owner who loved to read christian pamplets when he felt down and would like to do something other than the bars. One group met a Mamason (the female traffickers) who is going to the safehouse in 2 months. (that's probably how long it will take her to finish paying her debt) This is a HUGE need of prayer right now! the safe house actually has a waiting list to get in. There are about 15 girls waiting to get into the safehouse & the business there.

I was in the group who did a prayer walk down Patpong. Right away we saw this beautiful girl (MAYBE 4 years old @ the oldest) she was holding some official documents & we were smiling & laughing with her & I wanted to take her picture. As soon as I took it, a couple ladies came over & said to Becky, she has no mother or father, you take her. That easy. Firts thing we saw in a horrible area was a tiny girl for sale. God gave me the strength to not break down and sob right there, but my heart broke into so many pieces I thought it could never be made whole again. We went straight upstairs to the safehouse. We then went on our prayer walk. I was amazed at how many and how young the girls were. There were people pawing at us trying to get us into the bars but that was not our mission for the night. We were to PRAY for Patpong & for Nana & for the girls (and the bar owners and traffickers) When I'd get mad b/c there were SO many Mamasons & bar owners all over I'd have to pray "It is not my prayer that you take them out of the worl but that you protect them from the evil one" How amazing would it be to see transformation??? There were so many couples all over. To everyone here, this was a game. This was a little Vegas to all the tourists. My heart wanted to break when I'd see a young teen girl wal down the road with 3 grown men who will most likely do hirrible things to this girl. We saw a man who had to be in his 80's with a young girl. We saw a man go into a bar with an I love Jesus shirt on! I could not believe how many "normal" looking guys would go into the bars. Becky told us that 80 percent of tourist men come here for bar girls but that only makes up 10 percent of the customers (so the other 90 percent is Thai guys) THOUSANDS of men here from all over the world. This is way more huge than I imagined (even though I have heard it, but to see it blows my mind away!) 85 percent of thai boys at age 15 -16 have been with a bar girl. (one their own father took them to to pass on the tradition or what have you) I just had to cover every girl in prayer! When we got ready to leave, a mamason (sao) followed us around. BEcky was teasing me b/c I kept fanning her & trying to talk to her. I just kept thinking, The longer I talk to her, the less people she can pull into her bar) I had the most horrible feeling I have ever experienced. I can honestly saw before last night I have never felt a dark opression from satan. I could hardly breathe. I felt nauseaus, my stomach and chest were being constricted. I felt like a weight had been on my shoulders to the point I could not stand up straight. I'ver had "heavy shoulders" before, but this was difefrent. I felt like I had been carrying around my 5 year old on my shoulders, with my belly full of something yuck in 125 degree weather. That's the best picture I can give. God carried us all through it though. I didn't break down until we got back to our "Girl Headquarters" (Becky's suit where we have all of our meetings) It felt good to get together and share all of our experiences though.

Today was our pick me up day after spending 2 days preparing for last night & after such an emotionally, physically & spiritually exhausting night. We had incredible meeting & worshpi time here this morning. This afternoon we went to the rosegarden where we saw a Thai culture show (a "wedding, dances, boxing match & then the finale was all the girls with flags from around the world singing it's a small world. It was cute!) We saw an "elephant show" where the elephants danced. We rode the elephants & got our pictures taken sitting on the elephants knees. (The boys will love that) many girls got their pictures taken with a huge snake-not me. It was all I could do to take a picture for one of the girls-a big step for me!)

Tomorrow is more confrence time and prep for the banquet (we are throwing a banquet for the girls from thesafehouses in honor of them.) They are all so excited it is so cute! We have to get the favors ready & set up b/c the theme is "bride of Christ" so we have to set up a wedding. I'm excited to give the girls a night they will not forget and shower them with love! The are so giddy. I feel like a jr high leader with them b/c they act like such excited little girls. They are not all believers so pray for them.

Here is just s little list of prayer requests:

1>the safehouse needs to raise $2,000,000 for new property so they can house all the girls & not have to have a waiting list.
2>Sao (a mamason who followed us around last night) pray for transformation
3>Tong (the bar owner who wants to "get out")
4> the mamason who wants to go to the safehouse in 2 months
5>the sweet girl for sale last night. Father, carry her safely to someone who will love her. Protect her!!

REFRESHED

2009-02-16T00:49:00.000-08:00

So I can't get pics from my camera to computer and will do it when I get home. Right now we are on a little bit of a high. Here's a blurb of the things we are experiencing : It's GORGEOUS here! The people are beautiful. The architecture is beautiful. The taxis are hot pink, bright aqua, yellow & green & orange & red-all sparkly & brand new looking. All the cars here are perfect & shiny (I'm sure cute is not the right word to describe cabs, but they are!) They look like Chiclets! I have yet to see a beater. We see houses/shacks stacked on top of each other with satellite dishes on the "roofs" & shiny cars parked in front. There are vendors everywhere (some with whole chickens in their carts-dead ones...yuck!) There are beautiful buddha shrines all over (with gold & incense & sparkles-again with the sparkly) This morning the special for breakfast was fish and some kind of rice. Thank goodness for the "omelet man" and the fresh fruit! The coffee here is like drinking a cup of espresso-SO STRONG!! But we have gotten used to it! We have this wonderful cafe in our hotel where you can buy delicious lemongrass tea (and the description is to help with flatulence) and some sweet tea (the description is laxative)....

Yesterday was amazing! We went to the Christian Fellowship (International Bible church) and had a worship service that could have lasted forever & someday it will. There were people there from China, Australia, Nigeria, Canada, America, Russia, Afghanistan....all worshiping our Father. It was so beautiful!! It moved us to tears. A few of us were able to work with the kids. Any of you who have heard the story of Becky's adopted niece Ellyana (Ellie) was in our nursery and I wanted to bring her home. She is so precious and cuddly. She LOVES attention! If you don't know her story, she was sold into slavery @ 2 weeks old & rescued @ 4 weeks & in just the 2 weeks she was trafficked had given up hope. They said she never cried when they first got her b/c she knew no one would answer her cries anyway. She has found her voice as Becky says. She is a treasure for sure!

Today was inspirational! We went to the safehouse. We had the privilege of worshiping with the rescued & restored women. We sang many praise songs in English all together & then some in English while they sang in Thai. I sat & soaked it all in while we lifted our voices to our Redeemer. All of us ladies with on guitar from all over worshiping was more beautiful than I can put into words. (speaking of which, these are not well thought out blogs b/c coming up with the time, money & making sure i don't go over my time limit that was paid for on top of all the culture shock is hard to really write anything eloquently.....) We heard some touching testimonies from the girls today. I sat next to a girl who has been @ the safehouse for 3 weeks and after she gave her testimony she took the bracelet off her wrist & put it on mine. I was so moved & wanted to return the gesture-but didn't (it's against policy to give gifts unless you have enough for ALL the girls there!) Then we got to have small group time with the girls. Some of them had their kids there. That was so wonderful to see. SO many of the girls take their new found faith back to their families & home villages and spread the gospel. It's amazing to see the light shine brighter over here with each story.

I am BEGGING for you all to be on your knees starting NOW!! In the morning we will be going to another safehouse and will spend time with those girls in praise & worship & testimony & prep for tomorrow night. Then tomorrow night we go into the Red Light Districts. We are 12 hours ahead, but we will definitely need our prayer warriors back home praying for us. We are divided in groups one group (about 6 girls) will be with the safehouse outreach team in the brothels. (the area they go to is known as NANA & there are about 40,000 trafficked girls in that area) They will be lifting their sisters in prayer while The safehouse team reaches out to these girls. I am in the group who will be walking PatPong (about 10,000 trafficked girls) and we will be doing a prayer walk & be visiting Rahab ministries. This is going to be our darkest hours here as we will be battling satan on the front lines. Becky told us that when we see signs that say "pretty girls & ugly ones too" means the customer can do what he wants with the "ugly girl" even kill her-they are so replaceable. So these girls may have only one night left on earth.

There is so much I'd love to share and b/c of time & the fact that some I am just not ready to share yet, I will wait. Thank you for your continued prayer though & I will post again in a couple days.

We're here

2009-02-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

So far this has been a whirlwind! WE got in @ about 2 am today (2:oo Friday afternoon Michigan time!) We are all doing well. Some are a little tired, but overall we are on a high! (only by the grace of GOD!!) It's absolutely beautiful here. We are all getting along great! We had an incredible worship time this morning and spoke alot about Esther (how she was a traffick victim) which is awesome b/c I am doing the Beth Moore Esther Bible study @ church and have my book with me and am learning so much! We have also been focusing tons on prayer! Our church lives & breaths prayer so I am feeling right at home :)

This morning a friend and I were exploring the hotel and got on an elevator with an old man & a young girl-most likely a victim. We did as we were told and tried to make eye contact w/her but she would not even look up at us. We are not to talk to the to get their attention but if they "see"us we can communicate w/them & love on them. Next time I will try harder.

We had dinner tonight with traditional Thai dancers (absolutely GORGEOUS!!) and a table right across the room had 5 old men & 5 teenage girls. It was such an unpleasant experience. How on earth are we supposed to sit & pretend to enjoy this evening when inside I am screaming!! I did go to Becky and pour it out to her during the dance. I feel literally sick. I feel guilty. I feel broken. I feel so much pain for these girls. I feel nervous for these girls. All I can say right now is it is by the GRACE of GOD alone that I have been blessed to have been given the life I have. These girls are no different from me. They like pretty sparkly things, they like makeup, they like to dance and have fun. But they are in such a dark place. Please continue to pray for our group and these girls. pray that we will have the eyes of Christ and find comfort and peace just be Jesus to these women! We need to cover them with love and hope.

I apologize if this is not making sense (I am living on 5 hours of sleep since Thursday morning & it's Saturday night....I feel fine, just shaky! plus I am in a hurry b/c we pay for internet time & it can add up fast!) I will try to update when we go to the internet cafe on free time one of these days b/c it's about a quarter of the price!

P.S. GIRLFRIENDS....I have your souvenirs & I think you will like them :)

LOVE YOU ALL!! KEEP COVERING US IN PRAYER :)

2009-02-11T19:27:00.000-08:00

We have been praying Ephesians 6:10-18 over the past couple months. Today I received such an incredible gift from the most wonderful sister int he world! She gave me my own little soldier in armor to put under my pillow and set as a reminder to put on the Armor of God. Here is a little bit of her note (sorry, Amy, hope you don't mind...):

"Just as a soldier would never go into battle without his helmet or his sword or his shield...you too, need to daily put on the armor of God. You are going into battle and Satan is not about to easily back down so be prepared! Your little soldier is your reminder...so when you see him you will remember to check yourself and make sure you are ready for battle. Remember this battle, too, belongs to the Lord. There is NO better King to fight for! Your belt of truth is to protect you from satan's lies. Your breastplate of righteousness is your brand new clean heart that Jesus cleansed for us-He took away our stained old one! Your shoes of Good News of Peace is the good news you will be sharing with these women. Remember, He will give you the right words...Your shield of faith is knowing that even when things are bad, God is still there with you and He cares. Your helmet of salvation is once Christ is in your heart you can trust in His promises and no one can take that away! Your sword of the spirit is for when satan is trying to get you to do something wrong, you can stop & think about what the Bible says...."

I am so blessed to have so many wonderful family and friends supporting us on this trip! Thank you so much! my little soldier......

Our group just started their own blog that will be updated regularly while we are in Bangkok. I have the link posted by the my blog list. It's called Thru the eyes. This will probably be a better site to follow since someone is set to updated daily (but I will still try to updated here as well!)

We leave in 2 days!!!

2009-02-10T05:10:00.001-08:00

Our group needs prayer! Please pray for healing for our team! I have been sick for almost a week now with nasty cough and all the sinus pain that goes right along with that. I thought I was turning the corner yesterday but was up all night sick with the flu. Yes, literally one sickness after another over here and I leave in 2 days!!!! I cannot possible step onto a plane feeling the way I do, I can hardly stand up straight & the nausea kicks in. I have gotten emails about other team members feeling ill as well. Satan is trying to wear us down! Please pray we will all kick this fast!! Thanks!

He is holding me in His hands

2009-02-04T19:05:00.000-08:00

I had to go before church Saturday & Sunday so they could send me out in prayer. I was so nervous and emotional, yet as our church covered me in prayer I felt such a peace and felt so blessed to belong to such an incredible family. I just love our church - we are truly a gathering of brothers and sisters in Christ. We are a family: we laugh, learn, cry, hope, love and grow with each other and in our Father. Sunday morning after the second service I felt this family supporting me even more than I expected. A man introduced himself to me & told me how he works for the government. He has friends & coworkers in the US Embassy in Bangkok. He wanted all my trip info & gave me all of his contact info. He was going to give his friends an extra heads up about our trip. He wanted to be sure I would be taken care of (If I lost my passport, go sick or anything-he has given them a heads up and said they'd "watch out for us") I wasn't even worried about any of these issues before, and I feel such a peace knowing if anything did happen, I am already taken care of here & there by our government. I just love how even before a worry or problem arises, my Father is holding me in His hand, providing hope & answers.
We leave a week from tomorrow and I am so excited! I have so many wonderful friends and family members praying for our trip. I am overwhelmed by how many of my precious girlfriends have offered to help w/my boys even though they all have kids of their own! (I am sure the boys would love play dates, but they are excited to go to both grandparent's houses during the week & have daddy time on the weekends!) Dave and I have been doing "Love Dare" and falling in love with each other all over again and I am going to have an extremely hard time leaving him as well. He is such a great supporter, husband and friend. He just gets me and all my crazy moodiness and my emotional roller coaster rides. He is wonderful. HOWEVER, anyone who sees him w/the boys while I am gone...try NOT to pay attention to what they are wearing. He tends to let them pick out their own clothes (even if it's 1 size too small tshirt OVER a 1 size too big sweatshirt, or crocs in the winter.....crazy 2 & 5 yr old outfits-but they love it!!) So, if any of you do see crazy clowns with him snap a picture for me b/c as embarrassing as those moments are, I am going to truly miss them :)

Thanks so much for your continued prayer!

2009-01-27T11:05:00.000-08:00

We sang this song in church on Sunday and i just can't get it out of my head!

"Holy fire burn away
My desire for anything
That is not of YOU
And is of me
I want more of YOU
And less of me

empty me, empty me
fill, won't you fill me
with YOU"

2009-01-25T16:06:00.000-08:00

The more I am trying to prepare myself for this upcoming trip, the more my heart breaks. It breaks for the fact that such horrible abuse and slavery happens to so many. (although human trafficking was recorded in Genesis - Joseph's own brothers sold him into slavery because of jealousy.....) I am so thankful there are organizations trying to help these victims. I feel overwhelmed though. There are SO many victims and only so much these organizations can do. I find my mind going to that place : "where is God when the babies are crying for their mothers after being taken by traffickers? Why isn't God sending help to the little girls who wonder why these men hurt them in so many ways? Why doesn't God just put an end to this vicious cycle??" Mostly it's the "where's God & why God?" And then I read this:

INCAPABLE OF COMPREHENDING
by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Job 42:1--11

God's plans are beyond our understanding and too deep to explain. Perhaps God doesn't explain Himself because knowing and understanding His way may not help us all that much. Stop and ask yourself: Does knowing why really help? Is the pain removed by knowing the cause? Ours is a world filled with devastating catastrophes, random shootings by hidden snipers, jets crashing into tall buildings, deliberate poisoning of elderly people at rest homes, serial rapists and murderers, mothers who kill all of their own children, droughts and famines, wives in automobiles who run over their husbands, preachers who are fraudulent and phony, CEOs who take unfair advantage of their employees. The list doesn't end. How could God permit such things? Would it really help to know why? In a fallen world full of depraved people who act out their worst thoughts, would it change the wrong?
I'll go a step further. Maybe God doesn't explain Himself because we're incapable of comprehending His answers. Since He lives in an existence that is completely unlike ours and in a realm far beyond our comprehension, ours being tactile and limited by space and time, within the rigid boundaries of all the physical laws, how could we possibly understand? None of our limitations apply to Him, so what would enable us to grasp His plan?What bothers us is that He doesn't act as we think He ought to act. He doesn't do what our earthly dads would have done in similar circumstances. While I'm at it, where was He when His own Son was crucified? To the surprise of many, He was there all the time working out His divine plan for our salvation. As the process was running its course, Jesus' own disciples didn't get it---they were the most disillusioned people on the planet. Do you remember what they were thinking? They were wondering how in the world they could have believed in a hoax. From their perspective, their Master's death didn't make any sense.
Do you know what Job finally sees? Job sees God, and that is enough. He doesn't see answers. He is to the place where he doesn't need answers. He has gotten a glimpse of the Almighty, and that is sufficient. Have you had glimpses of His glory?

2009-01-08T19:07:00.000-08:00

This is something I have been praying every day and ask for you to join me.....

Warfare Prayer
by Victor Matthews
Blythefield Hills Baptist Church

Heavenly Father, I bow in worship and praise before You. I cover myself with the blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ as my protection. I surrender myself completely and unreservedly in every area of my life
to You. I take a stand against all the workings of Satan that would hinder me in my prayer life. I
address myself only to the True and Living God and refuse any involvement of Satan in my prayer.
Satan, I command you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to leave my presence with all your
demons. I bring the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ between us.
Heavenly Father, I worship You and give You praise. I recognize that You are worthy to receive all
glory and honor and praise. I renew my allegiance to You and pray that the blessed Holy Spirit would
enable me in this time of prayer. I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that You have loved me from eternity
past and that You sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to die as my substitute. I am thankful that
the Lord Jesus Christ came as my representative and that through Him You have completely forgiven
me; You have adopted me into Your family; You have assumed all responsibility for me; You have
given me eternal life; You have given me the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ so I am
now justified. I am thankful that in Him, You have made me complete, and that You have offered
Yourself to me to be my daily help and strength.
Heavenly Father, open my eyes that I might see how great You are and how complete Your provision
is for this day. I am thankful that the victory the Lord Jesus Christ won for me on the Cross and in His
resurrection has been given to me and that I am seated with the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenlies.
I take my place with Him in the heavenlies and recognize by faith that all wicked spirits and Satan
himself are under my feet. I declare, therefore, that Satan and his wicked spirits are subject to me in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am thankful for the Armor You have provided. I put on the Girdle of Truth, the Breastplate of
Righteousness, the Sandals of Peace and the Helmet of Salvation. I lift up the Shield of Faith against
all the fiery darts of the enemy; and I take in my hand the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. I
choose to use Your Word against all the forces of evil in my life. I put on this Armor and live and pray
in complete dependence upon You, blessed Holy Spirit.
I am grateful, Heavenly Father, that the Lord Jesus Christ spoiled all principalities and powers and
made a show of them openly and triumphed over them in Himself. I claim all that victory for my life
today. I reject all the insinuations, and accusations, and the temptations of Satan. I affirm that the
Word of God is true and I choose to live today in the light of God's Word. I choose, Heavenly Father,
to live in obedience to You and in fellowship with Yourself. Open my eyes and show me the areas of
my life that do not please You. Work in me to cleanse me from all ground that would give Satan a
foothold against me. In every way, I stand into all that it means to be Your adopted child and I
welcome all the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
By faith and in dependence upon You, I put off the fleshly works of the old man and stand into all the
victory of the crucifixion where the Lord Jesus Christ provided cleansing from the old nature. I put on
the new man and stand into all the victory of the resurrection and the provision He has made for me to
live above sin.
Therefore, today I put off all forms of selfishness and put on the new nature with its love. I put off all
forms of fear and put on the new nature with its courage. I put off all forms of weakness and put on
the new nature with its strength. I put off all forms of lust and put on the new nature with its
righteousness, purity, and honesty. I am trusting You to show me how to make this practical in my
daily life.
In every way I stand into the victory of the ascension and glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ,
whereby all the principalities and powers were made subject to Him. I claim my place in Christ as
victorious with Him over all the enemies of my soul. Blessed Holy Spirit, I pray that You would fill me.
Come into my life, break down every idol and cast out every foe.
I am thankful, Heavenly Father, for the expression of Your will for my daily life as You have shown me
in Your Word. I, therefore, claim all the will of God for today. I am thankful that You have blessed me
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I am thankful that You have begotten me
unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I am thankful that You have
made a provision so that today I can live filled with the Spirit of God with love and joy and peace, with
long-suffering, gentleness and goodness, with meekness, faithfulness and self-control in my life. I
recognize that this is Your will for me and I therefore reject and resist all the endeavors of Satan and
his wicked spirits to rob me of the will of God. I refuse in this day to believe my feelings and I hold up
the Shield of Faith against all the accusations and distortions and insinuations that Satan would put
into my mind. I claim the fullness of the will of God for my life today.
In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I completely surrender myself to You, Heavenly Father, as a
living sacrifice. I choose not to be conformed to this world. I choose to be transformed by the renewing
of my mind, and I pray that You would show me Your will and enable me to walk in all the fullness of
Your will today.
I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through
God to the pulling down of strongholds, to the casting down of imaginations and every high thing that
exalts itself against the knowledge God, and to bring every thought into obedience to the Lord Jesus
Christ. Therefore, in my own life today I tear down the strongholds of Satan and smash the plans of
Satan that have been formed against me. I tear down the strongholds of Satan against my mind, and I
surrender my mind to You, blessed Holy Spirit. I affirm, Heavenly Father, that You have not given me
the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind. I break and smash the strongholds of
Satan formed against my emotions today and I give my emotions to you. I smash the strongholds of
Satan formed against my will today; I give my will to You and choose to make the right decisions of
faith. I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my body today, I give my body to You
recognizing that I am Your temple. I rejoice in Your mercy and goodness.
Heavenly Father, I pray that now and through this day You would strengthen and enlighten me. Show
me the way Satan is hindering and tempting and lying and distorting the truth in my life. Enable me to
be the kind of person that would please You. Enable me to be aggressive in prayer and faith. Enable
me to be aggressive mentally, to think about and practice Your Word, and to give You Your rightful
place in my life.
Again, I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and pray that You, blessed Holy Spirit,
would bring all the work of the crucifixion, all the work of the resurrection, all the work of the
glorification, and all the work of Pentecost into my life today. I surrender myself to You. I refuse to be
discouraged. You are the God of all hope. You have proven Your power by resurrecting Jesus Christ
from the dead, and I claim in every way this victory over all the satanic forces in my life. I pray in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving. Amen.

Let's Get it Started!

2009-01-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

I am starting this blog to keep family and friends up to date with my upcoming Thailand trip with Women At Risk (http://www.warinternational.org/) February 12-22, 2009.

We are going to a VERY dark place. A place where women and children are sold into sexual slavery. The women who work in brothels are numbered. As they work "customers" "order" the women they want by their number as if they are casually placing an order for the day's lunch special at a restaurant. It's unbelievably cruel and sick. We will be able to go to the brothels and try to "recruit" these women to work in jewelry shops. If they choose to come with us they will be able to live in a safe house, get an education and earn a living by learning a new trade (sewing, baking, jewelry making, etc....) They get paid as much doing these trades as a college graduate earns which is very appealing to them since many of them do not even have a G.E.D. Most importantly they will be presented with the word of God. They will learn how they can become spiritually freed from the slave of sin just as they were freed from their earthly life of slavery. It is my prayer that we can show them how beautiful they are!

"In one of her moments of greatest weakness God chose to reveal Himself through her. The Holy Spirit whispered, "Speak what you see."
I see beauty.
She leans against her Savior, and she finds grace. Knowing that only GOD can sustain her, she stands in the face of fear and resolves not to give up. She recognizes that the things of God are the only things that matter. Seeking after the things of Christ, she lives a life of integrity. She is a fighter, a survivor, a women of strength.
She is beauty!" (Regina Franklin)

I am blessed beyond words to even be able to go on this trip. There are several proposes of this trip:
1. For my heart to be broken by our precious Father and put back together by Him in only a way He can put it back together. By this I pray Christ will shine through even more! I want to be in His will.
2. I will be getting exposure to the plight of women/programs in hopes of bringing more women & women ministries to us.
3. I will be able to meet national women and experience a whole new world! I pray I can be a part of making a difference in these women's lives but I know they will impact me more than I can even prepare myself for.
4. I will meet a new circle of protection and like minded women.
5. I will become a Prayer Warrior. And I pray that I will be able to keep the passion long after coming home.

I am not a "blogger" so this is solely for the purpose of the trip. I will be limited to Internet access so I will update when I can. (Probably more in the next few weeks before the trip & MAYBE a couple times after the trip.)

Isaiah 61:1-3 "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim the year of the LORD'S favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor."

Our team will need your constant prayer . Several team members have already felt Satan's attack. He will continue to attack us as we are going into his territory. We are crossing the line into total darkness in hopes of bringing a blinding LIGHT!

Please feel free to leave comments/questions and I will be updating with more specific details of the trip later.