Here is a link to a slideshow of our time in Thailand, created by Taylor Forester. We are so thankful for her! Hope you enjoy it!
http://hollib.myshowit.com/thailand2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Malaria Healed!
We just heard back that the two of the boys we prayed for with malaria were sent back earlier than normal to get checked up. Their blood tests came back negative for malaria!!! What amazing confirmation the Lord gave us that these boys were in fact healed. One of the boys was asked how he felt and after replying that he felt good, smiled and said "Jesus." It is fun to note that the long term missionary who sees these kids come down with malaria often has never seen anything quite like this! Hallelujah!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Refugee Camp Testimony: Kelly Dunn
We are all home and recuperating from the long travel and jet lag. There are many stories left that we hope to share with all of you.
At the second refugee camp we split into two teams in the afternoon and visited two nearby camps/villages. Five of us went to minister to 25 kids nearby. When we got there we had to ask for the Pastor who shyly raised his hand. He led us over to the children. It looked like they were in the middle of a school lesson. These kids seemed to be living in the worst conditions yet and everyone was extremely dirty. The spiritual atmosphere seemed heavy and even a little hopeless. We started by singing some fun worship songs together. The kids were so cute as they sang at the top of their lungs. Afterward we broke up into groups and painted nails for the girls, painted faces, and also played with balloons. One of the team members then told the kids a story about hearing God's voice and how God wants to talk to them all the time and led them in some time to listen to the Lord. One woman shared how she had heard God told her how much he loves her. Afterward we crowned each child with these shiny paper crowns we had and explained how they are daughters and sons of the King, making them princes and princesses. The adults came up also to get crowned and seemed very encouraged with the message.
Then the team taught the children how when Jesus was on earth he healed the sick and also told us to do the same. So we first asked their pastor to come up. He had been limping badly so we asked him what was going on. He explained he has had chronic back pain for 8 years and also his leg hurt very badly. He had a wound on his leg. We showed the children how to lay hands on the sick and ask for healing. The Pastor said that all the pain had left and he showed us how he could walk without a limp! Next one of the teachers came up and asked for prayer for his finger which was hurting badly and also had a cut on it. The children prayed again and the teacher lit up as he said all the pain had left. The cut was still on his finger and we felt like he was suppose to go wash his hands as an act of faith that God would close the wound completely. Next we prayed for a younger girl. She said her eye had been injured and since then it has hurt off and on and her vision had been damaged. After the children prayed she said all the pain left and she could see clearly again! Hallelujah! A little girl who had pain in her leg was also healed. We prayed for two boys with malaria. One was in the infirmary and was super hot! After the children prayed he said his head ache had gone away and he followed us out and joined the other kids. We are believing God healed him and cleared him of malaria. We encouraged them that they could do all of this without us because Jesus lives inside of them and to continue to pray for each other.
As we left we felt the spiritual climate had changed and was full of life and hope again. The pastor had a smile on his face while he played his guitar knowing that the God who loved him was with him. Amen! We serve an amazing God whose depths are unfathomable and whose love is so great and mighty.
At the second refugee camp we split into two teams in the afternoon and visited two nearby camps/villages. Five of us went to minister to 25 kids nearby. When we got there we had to ask for the Pastor who shyly raised his hand. He led us over to the children. It looked like they were in the middle of a school lesson. These kids seemed to be living in the worst conditions yet and everyone was extremely dirty. The spiritual atmosphere seemed heavy and even a little hopeless. We started by singing some fun worship songs together. The kids were so cute as they sang at the top of their lungs. Afterward we broke up into groups and painted nails for the girls, painted faces, and also played with balloons. One of the team members then told the kids a story about hearing God's voice and how God wants to talk to them all the time and led them in some time to listen to the Lord. One woman shared how she had heard God told her how much he loves her. Afterward we crowned each child with these shiny paper crowns we had and explained how they are daughters and sons of the King, making them princes and princesses. The adults came up also to get crowned and seemed very encouraged with the message.
Then the team taught the children how when Jesus was on earth he healed the sick and also told us to do the same. So we first asked their pastor to come up. He had been limping badly so we asked him what was going on. He explained he has had chronic back pain for 8 years and also his leg hurt very badly. He had a wound on his leg. We showed the children how to lay hands on the sick and ask for healing. The Pastor said that all the pain had left and he showed us how he could walk without a limp! Next one of the teachers came up and asked for prayer for his finger which was hurting badly and also had a cut on it. The children prayed again and the teacher lit up as he said all the pain had left. The cut was still on his finger and we felt like he was suppose to go wash his hands as an act of faith that God would close the wound completely. Next we prayed for a younger girl. She said her eye had been injured and since then it has hurt off and on and her vision had been damaged. After the children prayed she said all the pain left and she could see clearly again! Hallelujah! A little girl who had pain in her leg was also healed. We prayed for two boys with malaria. One was in the infirmary and was super hot! After the children prayed he said his head ache had gone away and he followed us out and joined the other kids. We are believing God healed him and cleared him of malaria. We encouraged them that they could do all of this without us because Jesus lives inside of them and to continue to pray for each other.
As we left we felt the spiritual climate had changed and was full of life and hope again. The pastor had a smile on his face while he played his guitar knowing that the God who loved him was with him. Amen! We serve an amazing God whose depths are unfathomable and whose love is so great and mighty.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Heading Home!
Team Thailand officially flew out of Chiang Mai about 30 minutes ago to start the long trek home. They should be arriving on Friday (July 8th) at 4:30ish pm. Jonathan, Kyle, and I fly out tomorrow for California, Malaysia, and Cambodia. We had a GREAT last two days in Chiang Mai. On Wednesday we spent the morning debriefing as a team, encouraging each other, and prophesying over each other. In the afternoon we visited an Aids orphanage, got to play with the kids, pray over the staff, and pray over women who are very very sick with Aids. We ate dinner with the Hannah House girls and then joined them for worship and ministry time. It was powerful and a GREAT end to the trip.
Today we ended in style with an elephant show, ox-cart ride, elephant trek, and river raft. We got back to the hotel just in time to shower & get to the airport. We took advantage of every second here and I don't think any of us would have changed a thing.
We did a little calculating, and we ended up driving 38 hours in-country (not to mention through thousands of curves in the road :)), ministering in 13 locations and in 4 languages! We are still working through everything God did and has taught us, but we left in great spirits and with everyone very sad the trip was over. We are so thankful that God allowed us to partner with his heart for this region, even for a short time.
Over the coming days different people from the team will be posting testimonies from our time in Thailand, so be sure to check it out! Please continue to pray for this region of the world. We believe that God is beginning a great work in Thailand that will extend all over Southeast Asia. Come Lord Jesus!
Blessings,
Becca
Today we ended in style with an elephant show, ox-cart ride, elephant trek, and river raft. We got back to the hotel just in time to shower & get to the airport. We took advantage of every second here and I don't think any of us would have changed a thing.
We did a little calculating, and we ended up driving 38 hours in-country (not to mention through thousands of curves in the road :)), ministering in 13 locations and in 4 languages! We are still working through everything God did and has taught us, but we left in great spirits and with everyone very sad the trip was over. We are so thankful that God allowed us to partner with his heart for this region, even for a short time.
Over the coming days different people from the team will be posting testimonies from our time in Thailand, so be sure to check it out! Please continue to pray for this region of the world. We believe that God is beginning a great work in Thailand that will extend all over Southeast Asia. Come Lord Jesus!
Blessings,
Becca
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Back in Chiang Mai
Hello World!
Team Thailand (now affectionately called Team Intense) just arrived back in Chiang Mai this afternoon. We spent five days on a "tour" of Northeast Thailand. We got to minister to 4 different refugee camps and 1 prison. Our time was amazing and i think we were more blessed by being with them and worshipping with them than we blessed them.
At the second camp we went to we were literally across the river from Burma!
Also, on the way home today we stopped at a prison where we got to share the gospel with the entire prison (about 330 people). There was actually a statue of Buddha on the stage with us as we were preaching. We got to do the drama and then shared and at least 40 people received the Lord and there were several healings! There is so much that has happened over the last few days it is a little hard to process it all. Over the coming days we will try to put more testimonies on here from various team members.
The team is doing great and we are amazed at all the things the Lord has shown us and taught us. Truly the harvest is ripe but the laborers are few!! Tomorrow we will spend time debriefing as a team, minister at an aids orphanage and spend a night of worship with the Hannah House girls. Then Thursday we will be doing an elephant trek before boarding the plane to come home. Packing it all in--that's how we roll.
Thank you so much for your amazing support and prayers. They have truly made a way for us. Continue praying for us and that we finish strong and give it all!!
Love,
Team Thailand
Team Thailand (now affectionately called Team Intense) just arrived back in Chiang Mai this afternoon. We spent five days on a "tour" of Northeast Thailand. We got to minister to 4 different refugee camps and 1 prison. Our time was amazing and i think we were more blessed by being with them and worshipping with them than we blessed them.
At the second camp we went to we were literally across the river from Burma!
Also, on the way home today we stopped at a prison where we got to share the gospel with the entire prison (about 330 people). There was actually a statue of Buddha on the stage with us as we were preaching. We got to do the drama and then shared and at least 40 people received the Lord and there were several healings! There is so much that has happened over the last few days it is a little hard to process it all. Over the coming days we will try to put more testimonies on here from various team members.
The team is doing great and we are amazed at all the things the Lord has shown us and taught us. Truly the harvest is ripe but the laborers are few!! Tomorrow we will spend time debriefing as a team, minister at an aids orphanage and spend a night of worship with the Hannah House girls. Then Thursday we will be doing an elephant trek before boarding the plane to come home. Packing it all in--that's how we roll.
Thank you so much for your amazing support and prayers. They have truly made a way for us. Continue praying for us and that we finish strong and give it all!!
Love,
Team Thailand
Monday, July 4, 2011
Team update
A quick update from Team Thailand!
Ashley and Lauren have returned home, four days ahead of the team, to be back with their babies. While they are glad to be home, their hearts and prayers remain with the team back in Thailand.
Back in northern Thailand, the team is currently spending time at a second refugee camp and will return home later this week after stopping at a second prison to minister there. We would love to be posting tons of pictures, but with our schedule and with the speed/cost/availability of Internet, we haven't been able to as often as we'd like. The team can't wait to share stories and pictures after returning home!
A brief recap of our time at the first refugee camp:
After driving through a stretch of Thai road that boasts of 2,000 curves, we arrived at a village just outside of a refugee camp for the Karenni people of Burma. As foreigners are not allowed into the camp, the 71 children of all ages walked through the mountains for two hours just to be with us, putting themselves at risk.
These children are beautiful, both physically and in their hearts. When they sang to Jesus, they did so with their entire being, and it is no exaggeration to say that the sound was like the heavens parting and an angelic choir being among us. We had no doubt that their worship touches the heart of their Father in a special way. These children have nothing in the physical, but everything in Jesus, and they know it. They are the epitome of hope.
We spent our time there having relay races, painting faces and nails, blowing bubbles, singing in worship and praying over the children. After hearing stories of what these children have been through, it was wonderful to see them laugh and smile and play. Many of the children's parents have been killed by the Burmese army. The Karenni people are Christian, and the Burmese military has persecuted them to the point of genocide. Some of the children watched their parents and friends die in front of them, and for other children, the last memory they have of their family is of their parents telling them to run for the border, that they'll meet up again. They have waited for years to be reunited, not knowing if their families are still alive.
Through it all, they have community in each other and in the body of Christ. Missionaries supply their food, delivering it to the camp once per month. Teams like ours meet with them to encourage them, pray over them and teach them about their identity in Jesus. The children are gentle, sweet and love each other, and they love Jesus.
We also met with approximately 40 young adults, also Karenni, who are enrolled in Bible school in the village. We were able to talk about discipleship and pray over them, giving them words of encouragement and identity, and it was powerful to see God moving in those moments. We know that God has a special purpose for their lives, as many of these men and women desire to return to Burma to share the gospel, literally laying down their lives.
As the team continues on, please be in prayer for them:
- For strength and energy as their rigorous schedule takes them to many different places over the next few days. Pray for health as several on the team battle car sickness, and the roads they will travel on back to the city, compared with those in Colorado mountains, would be described as "same same, but different." (Right, Team Thailand?!)
- That God would use them to be a source of His hope and light to the children at the second refugee camp, to the people in the prison they'll visit, and to the children at the orphanage they will go to. Pray that they will connect with the children/adults and be obedient in the ways God is calling them to minister.
- We know that as it says in Eph 6:12 - "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness..." But we know that God is sovereign and good! So please pray that God's glory will be magnified through the actions of the team over their last few days, that He will give words and pictures, visions and dreams.
We are so honored that God would use us over the last week and a half and we know that He has more in store for the coming days!
Ashley and Lauren have returned home, four days ahead of the team, to be back with their babies. While they are glad to be home, their hearts and prayers remain with the team back in Thailand.
Back in northern Thailand, the team is currently spending time at a second refugee camp and will return home later this week after stopping at a second prison to minister there. We would love to be posting tons of pictures, but with our schedule and with the speed/cost/availability of Internet, we haven't been able to as often as we'd like. The team can't wait to share stories and pictures after returning home!
A brief recap of our time at the first refugee camp:
After driving through a stretch of Thai road that boasts of 2,000 curves, we arrived at a village just outside of a refugee camp for the Karenni people of Burma. As foreigners are not allowed into the camp, the 71 children of all ages walked through the mountains for two hours just to be with us, putting themselves at risk.
These children are beautiful, both physically and in their hearts. When they sang to Jesus, they did so with their entire being, and it is no exaggeration to say that the sound was like the heavens parting and an angelic choir being among us. We had no doubt that their worship touches the heart of their Father in a special way. These children have nothing in the physical, but everything in Jesus, and they know it. They are the epitome of hope.
We spent our time there having relay races, painting faces and nails, blowing bubbles, singing in worship and praying over the children. After hearing stories of what these children have been through, it was wonderful to see them laugh and smile and play. Many of the children's parents have been killed by the Burmese army. The Karenni people are Christian, and the Burmese military has persecuted them to the point of genocide. Some of the children watched their parents and friends die in front of them, and for other children, the last memory they have of their family is of their parents telling them to run for the border, that they'll meet up again. They have waited for years to be reunited, not knowing if their families are still alive.
Through it all, they have community in each other and in the body of Christ. Missionaries supply their food, delivering it to the camp once per month. Teams like ours meet with them to encourage them, pray over them and teach them about their identity in Jesus. The children are gentle, sweet and love each other, and they love Jesus.
We also met with approximately 40 young adults, also Karenni, who are enrolled in Bible school in the village. We were able to talk about discipleship and pray over them, giving them words of encouragement and identity, and it was powerful to see God moving in those moments. We know that God has a special purpose for their lives, as many of these men and women desire to return to Burma to share the gospel, literally laying down their lives.
As the team continues on, please be in prayer for them:
- For strength and energy as their rigorous schedule takes them to many different places over the next few days. Pray for health as several on the team battle car sickness, and the roads they will travel on back to the city, compared with those in Colorado mountains, would be described as "same same, but different." (Right, Team Thailand?!)
- That God would use them to be a source of His hope and light to the children at the second refugee camp, to the people in the prison they'll visit, and to the children at the orphanage they will go to. Pray that they will connect with the children/adults and be obedient in the ways God is calling them to minister.
- We know that as it says in Eph 6:12 - "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness..." But we know that God is sovereign and good! So please pray that God's glory will be magnified through the actions of the team over their last few days, that He will give words and pictures, visions and dreams.
We are so honored that God would use us over the last week and a half and we know that He has more in store for the coming days!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
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.
Monday, June 27, 2011
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!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
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
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
Friday, June 24, 2011
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
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
Saturday, June 18, 2011
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!
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!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Equip in Thailand!
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