Doing Well!

Just a quick update...

We went to a temple this morning that overlooks the city. We got to prayer walk through the temple and then right outside we took communion together and prayed. We got to pray for a muslim man from Dubai who had pain in his leg. After we finished he was shocked that the pain had left and the Buddhist Thai lady with him kept saying "impossible impossible"! We shared God's love with him and gave the Thai lady a tract. Also, an English man named Paul approached us when we were praying and asked what we were doing. He was agnostic but SUPER HUNGRY for the gospel. I shared with him and prayed for him to feel God's presence. He said he felt all dizzy and different and kept asking me questions. He had to go, but please pray for him to know Jesus, he is very close!

Tonight the girls will be ministering in the bars to prostitutes and the boys will be going to Hannah House to hang out with the girls and pack goody bags for the camps. Please pray for God to meet us and that people would encounter him!

Tomorrow we will be leaving for the 2 refugee camps and a prison trip. We will be gone for five days and will be literally right next door to Burma. Please pray for health and safety for the team (the roads have been very hard to pass through because of the rain). Please pray that we would be a blessing to these camps and that many would experience God's love and come into his kingdom. Not sure if we will have internet, but will try to update as we can. Thanks for all your prayers and covering. The team is doing GREAT and have been huge troopers through many adventures. :) God is moving here and we are honored to be a part of it!

Becca & Josh

Village account: Kelly Dunn

After spending the night in a woman’s home, we woke up to many, many roosters. We divided into four teams, and the team I was on went from home to home. We followed a woman into her home who was very excited to see us. She first shared with us that during our time with the villagers the night before, the pain in her knees went completely away after our team prayed for her. Praise Jesus! We asked her what else we could pray with her for. She shared that someone had died in her house before she moved in, and she felt like her home was somewhat  “haunted” and just didn’t feel right, and that her grandchildren would always cry while in her home.

Our team led her in a prayer in which she prayed over her home. We taught her that because she had Jesus inside of her, she had authority to cast out all evil spirits from her home. She prayed and asked the light of Jesus to cast out all darkness, especially the spirit of death. Afterward, she had a huge smile on her face.

One of our team members shared with the woman that when we walked into her home, our team member got a headache. After praying for the woman, our team member’s headache was gone, which affirmed to us that the Spirit of God had indeed brought freedom into her home! We believe the woman was empowered to take authority in her home and tasted the goodness of God by being healed and feeling peace in her home.

One of the children on our team also prayed for the woman’s grandson, and we finished our visit by encouraging her and telling her we thought God was calling her to be a peacemaker in the village.

This was one of the many stories from our time in the village. Praise God for his gospel of love that transcends all cultures and languages. Praise Him, for His kingdom is not a matter of talk but of power! Amen!

The adventure continues: Two days in a village

Wow! Where do we even begin to describe the last 24 hours? We returned to Chiang Mai Wednesday night after quite the adventure. We have story after story that we can’t wait to share in person!

On Tuesday morning, we set off for a Lesu village in the mountains of Thailand. Because we are in the midst of rainy season, our driver dropped us and we trekked about two hours until we came to the village. As you might imagine, not many foreigners visit  them, and many eyes were upon us as we carried our packs on the paths through the village.

Believers in this village are by far in the minority, and the majority of the village families are animistic. We felt the heaviness of this oppression upon entering and paused just outside of the village to pray and declare God’s majesty and authority.

On Tuesday night, we held an event at the local church building. God is so good and so faithful, that even when we faced obstacles, He battled for us… and as we know, the Living God is always victorious ! Many people came forward to receive more of God’s love and power, and for prayers for healing. Several team members shared things that God had impressed upon their hearts and minds, and at the end of the night, we were able to stop and reflect on the incredible ways that God moved through the service.

Our team spent the night together in the home of a believing family, sleeping lined up on the concrete floor and having a blast together. This team has remained so unified and is truly living out a culture of honor.

On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to break into teams for various ministry opportunities. Two teams visited homes within the village to pray with families, one team met with the village pastor to encourage him and help him cast vision, and the fourth team gathered the children of the village, doting on them and teaching them about being a member of God’s family.

Two of the Hannah House girls are from this village, and their families took such great care of us. Their hospitality went above and beyond what we could have ever asked for! 

As we head into the second half of the week, we ask for prayer for:

-The Lesu believers, as many of them are new believers. Please pray that the Truth of God falls on fertile soil and that His strength and grace are continually poured out on them in abundance. Several families have been ostracized because of their faith. We pray that the Acts 2 church comes alive there and that the community of believers is knit together to change the course of their village.

-For the health and energy of our team today as we prayer walk at a Buddhist temple and as the women spend time ministering to and praying for prostitutes in the city.

-That our team continues to step out in boldness in sharing the good news of Jesus and that God will continue to bring people of peace, that the city of Chiang Mai and surrounding villages will be transformed.

First days in Thailand

It’s hard to believe that we’ve only been here for two full days because so much has happened. On Monday, our group divided into two teams to visit two different prisons in the area. One team drove about an hour out of the city to a men’s prison and shared testimonies and the message of salvation with more than 100 prisoners there. We were amazed by the number of men who came forward for prayer. After our team prayed over the men, we watched with joy as they began praying for one another, laying hands on the shoulders of each other. It was powerful!

One prisoner, whose story resembled the prodigal son of the Bible, shared with the entire room of men that He experienced the presence of God and was committed to obeying Jesus. We rejoiced with him and know that heaven was doing the same thing! Other prisoners reported healing of pain in their bodies, feeling the presence of God in a personal way, and experiencing a new peace and a new joy.

The second team visited a juvenile prison in Chiang Mai. They spent time praying for and talking with a younger population, sharing testimonies as well as the message of salvation. The team then watched as several of the youth stood up in front of their peers and committed to following Jesus. The team prayed with the boys, many of whom experienced physical and emotional healing. Praise God!

Both teams left the prisons completely in awe of God’s presence! 

Today (Tuesday), we go as one team to a village several hours outside of the city. Two of the women from Hannah House, who are from this village, will accompany us and act as our translators. The vast majority of people there are non-believers, but we go with the expectation that God is going to move in mighty ways. We ask you to join us in prayer, that the entire village would be transformed by encountering the Living God, the Most High God, who loves them and who is drawing their hearts to His.

It’s safe to say that Thailand has captured our hearts. We can’t wait to see what He has in store for the coming days!

Here's a snapshot of some of the Team Thailand adventure - just one of the many methods of transporting a group across the city!

We have arrived!!!

Hey everyone!
Just a quick note to let you all know that Team Thailand landed safely this morning in Chiang Mai after 30 plus hours of travel (and with every piece of luggage!). All the flights went well and besides lack of sleep, the team is doing great! We hit the ground running today and after dropping off our stuff at the hotel went to a Thai church, preached, and even shared an impromptu "special song". :) It rained all night here and all morning but we knew the rain would affect our ministry, so we prayed and it stopped! Praise Jesus! Please continue praying that the rain would stop or it may be very difficult to travel to the various villages and refugee camps we are visiting.

Thanks for all your prayers. We are very excited to be here and the team has been huge troopers (even the kids) with the lack of sleep. Tonight we are going to Walking Street, a huge bizarre that happens on Sunday night to pray for the sick with the Hannah House girls. Pray for God to move in power and that we would all adjust quickly to being 12 hours ahead. Also, tomorrow the team will be splitting into two teams and visiting two prisons to share the gospel and minister and hand out gifts. Thanks for covering us, we are loving Thailand and are expectant for all God has.

Becca

Update from Craig Conaway - June 25

Hello from Thailand!  Well it is Saturday in Thailand and I [Craig Conaway] have been here a week already. It has been so incredible. As I write this the rest of our team (including my family) is in air on their way.  I can not wait for them to get here.

I wanted to give you a quick update and share something that God is doing in me (I am typing on my iPhone so please give me grace for any typos!).  As a pastor, I love teaching God's word. I also love to prepare and spend lots of time studying the truths of God to present them to others. However, I knew my opportunities to teach in Thailand would be different in that I would not always have time to prepare what to say. God's Spirit had been preparing for this by impressing on my heart the principle of Matthew 10:19-20, " . . . do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." A few nights ago we visited a boy's home outside Chiang Mai.  While we where there I was asked to share with them.  Without any notice and preparation, I began to share God's word with them as the Holy Spirit lead me. God was so good and faithful.

Yesterday, God gave me an opportunity to teach at a small bible school here in Chiang Mai. It was amazing. God had laid a few passages on my heart but I went in completely trusting in God's promise to give me His words.

Before I was to teach we spent time worshipping together. Even though I had no idea what they were singing to God, God's manifest presence could be clearly experienced. As they worshipped God in Thai, I joined my brothers and sisters and praised our awesome God in English.  It was an another incredible experience worshipping with others here in Thailand.  As we worshipped, God spoke to me something that He had never spoken to me to do in a corporate setting. He placed on my heart to pray and prophesy over them at the very end of my teaching!  I immediately thought, "But God I have never done anything like that before!"  So I was a bit nervous, but I knew God was leading and I must walk by faith and obedience in what He speaks to us.

Let me quickly say that the reason I want to share this story with you to encourage you and for your own faith to be stirred. This is not about me or to try to impress you with Craig Conaway  it is all about God and His glory.  God wants to ever one of us mightily for His glory and Kingdom. We must be willing to leave our comfort zones and step out in faith and take a risk at times.  I believe that the only thing between us and walking in the promises of God and His power is sometimes a simple act of courage - to obey God in whatever He ask us to do!

As I taught them, God guided my words and lead me what to say and preach to them (just like He promised to do!). There was also a tremendous "grace" that God also gave to me with the translator. Everything went so smooth in communicating to them. The teaching time was so powerful as the Holy Spirit engaged their hearts. I concluding my time with them by sharing words of encouragement and identity to each of them. I was completely amazed at the faithfulness and steadfast love of God. As I spoke and prayed over them individually, you could see the Holy Spirit ministering to them and pouring out His love in them. Tears flowed from women and even a few of the men. It was powerful. God was engaging His children. They were encountering their Father.

Later that day, one of the missionaries came by the Hannsh House where I am staying. He shared with me how several people were so overwhelmed by what God had spoken to them.  They had commented about me to the missionary, "He does not know me, but he knew me.  The words he spoke to me where exactly true about me and exactly what I needed to hear." I told the missionary to remind them that God knows them!

It is so awesome to see God pour out His power. Again, there is nothing special or unique about me. Jesus gives us a powerful promise in John 14:12, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."  I am simply one of the "whoever believes" in Jesus people just like you. 

Thanks for praying for Team Thailand!

Craig Conaway

Prayer Points

Please join us in praying for Thailand and for our upcoming trip.  Here are a few prayer points to begin with.

1) Salvation: John 4:35 "Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest."

Pray that we would reap a harvest among the people of Thailand.  Pray that many people would understand the message of the gospel and find salvation in Jesus.  Pray for supernatural revelation of the gospel.  

2) Team Unity: John 13:35 "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Pray that our team would be unified, encouraging and love one another.  Pray that our love for each other would be a witness to the every person we interact with.   

3) Power: 1 Cortinthians 4:20 "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power."

Pray that our team and trip would be lead by the Holy Spirit.  Pray that we would see God move supernaturally through divine appointments, healings, miracles and that the gospel would supernaturally be implanted in peoples hearts.  Pray that we would not minister out of our strength but out of the Holy Spirit's power.

Also, pray that we would both proclaim and demonstrate the message of the kingdom.  Join us in praying these passages from scripture:


The prayer of the early church is found in Acts 4:29-31
" . . . grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." 

John 14:12-14, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because Iam going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.". 


Luke 4:18-19, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."  

May God open up the doors of Heaven and His power go forth to bring those held captive by Satan to freedom and into the Kingdom of Jesus!

Equip in Thailand!

Here we are! Team Thailand! There's a few of us missing in this picture, but you get the idea. We are super stoked about being on the ground in just 15 days! Please be praying with us as we get everything prepared to go. First official update will be when we're on the ground!