It's been a long time since I've filled you all in on life here in Thailand, so I will try to summarize well. The kids' camp that I mentioned at the end of my last post went very well! We had about 50 children in attendance, along with many adults and pastors from the area. It was a good time of fun and games, songs and worship, and good Bible teaching times! I even got to do a little bit of speaking about the Bible, which was good and intimidating at the same time. It is amazing to see how God can give just the right words to say at just the right time. He is a wonderful provider.
After the kids' camp, we all went to (and helped with) a three-day seminar called the Kingdom Family Retreat. The two main speakers who came for this were from the United States, so it was nice to hear all the preaching in English! They spoke a lot about the power of God and how the Holy Spirit works in us and through us. It is quite amazing to hear their stories about how God is truly a living God and works miracles---especially when the men speaking about these stories heal sick people right in front of you! Oftentimes I think the American church discusses miracles and prophecies as if they are things of the past--as if God doesn't give visions or heal people anymore. But it really does happen. We just have to be willing to be a part of what God is doing and let Him use us and speak to us.
Phimpha may be the greatest example I have ever seen of someone willing to follow God like that, and who hears God clearly. Last week, she and I went to Cambodia because God told her to go. When we left, all Phimpha knew was that we were supposed to go to Siam Reap, one of the larger cities about two hours from the border with Thailand. We weren't really sure what we were going to do there or exactly how long we would stay. A Cambodian lady who used to help out at the Timothy House came with us, which was great since neither Phimpha or I speak Cambodian! We arrived in Siam Reap in the evening on Thursday, still not knowing what we were supposed to do. So Phimpha and Sow (her Cambodian friend) went to bed in our hotel room while I had a fun time checking out the night market. The next morning over breakfast, Phimpha told me that God had given her two visions. They were both of the same tiny little village nearby. One showed an old wooden house, while the other was a picture of a bunch of little tin huts. Phimpha has never been to Siam Reap before, and she had no idea where this little village could be. However, when Sow heard about the village she immediately recognized what Phimpha was describing; the wooden house was where her Grandmother lived when Sow was a young girl! She did not recognize Phimpha's description of the tin houses, but knew that the village was where her Grandmother used to live, and where her brother still lived now. We spent the morning driving around the city and taking a short boat tour to see a floating village while Sow tried to contact her brother. Finally she got through and we were able to find our way to the little village that Phimpha had seen in her village. When we arrived, Phimpha said it was exactly how she had seen in the picture with the tin houses! God had given her two pictures of this village. He had given her the picture with the wooden house so that Sow would recognize it and be able to get us to the right place. Then He gave her the picture of how the village looks today! He is certainly amazing.
In other news, I only have a week left here in Thailand. I'm treasuring the last days I have to spend with these precious kids and I know I'll miss them when I go. I'm also getting very very excited to arrive home though! Please pray for a good last week, safe travels, and a smooth transition for me back home. Also continue to pray for the Timothy House! It seems like things just keep getting busier and busier, and I don't think that will stop! Pray for helpers for them, especially after I leave, and that God will continue to provide everything that they need.
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