Simple answer: We still don't have a clear direction.
What we do know is this:
We love the people we get to talk with every day. We love the almost daily Sung tao rides where we get to experience the thriving life of Bangkok. We love sitting down, slurping up our favorite Thai dishes on the side of the street. We love making our neighbors smile and laugh as we attempt to communicate in Thaiglish to them and others. We love being known as the farong (white) couple that will talk to you, and pray for you, even if you don't understand. We love holding the multiple babies we are given to hold. We love singing, and listening to Thais sing to Jesus. We love discussing Jesus with strangers, or new found friends.
We also miss our family and friends we had in the US. We miss the families that we got to pour Jesus into daily. We miss having a community of people that encourages us to grow. We miss the teenagers who would come ring our door bell just to hang out. We miss not being able to simply share God to the women who wants us to pray for her injured legs because we don't know Thai.
Why do I share this? Well as you probably know, decisions are never easy. Especially since we feel God could do anything with us (we are open to Him)! We took some time at the beginning of this month to fast and pray for God to keep directing us this year. And though there were no clear answers He was and still is faithful to continue our path of learning and growing.
So pray!
- For those we interact with. Whether we have years or months with them, that they will see Jesus and continue to grow towards him.
- For The Well that we can continue being of service to help their ministry grow towards the future.
- For us, that God will show and direct or way daily, and that we will have peace in what He says about where to take our life. I think at this point it will be a joyously sad decision to make either way!!!
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| Making cupcakes for a friends wedding |
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| Jam teaching his class |
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| Our apartment building (Jarlen Mansion) |
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| Hanging out with some friends at the wedding |
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| On our way in a Sung Tao |
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| Some of the (few) boys! |
I think I'll just stay in denial for a while. (about the halfway mark...)
ReplyDeleteWe love you guys. You have been and are a huge encouragement to what we do here. Thank Jesus.
We'll be praying for you J & J. I got to spend time with a freshman at Moody this past week who started doing her PCM at Safeplace this semester. She has such a heart for the moms in Edgewater and God has laid a certain family of 3 kids & mom you also passionately served here heavy on her heart. So many of her comments reminded me of your passion (jess) and compassion. It was encouraging to hear her speak and it also reminded me a lot of you. Thanks for teaching so many of us what tangible love looks like lived out. Your love for Christ and people is contageous, life-changing, and very memorable/unique. I'm sure no matter where God will place you this fall He will put you where people are longing to be loved and encouraged. I pray that you find rest, love, and encouragement as well as you serve others. God's blessings on you both!
ReplyDelete~Joge