Hello pals:)
Here's what we're up to:
Construction!
-> We've been mostly painting on primer, digging to secure an island, and cementing. Yes, it DOES sound like a bunch of random things put together, but its all to help in preparation for a new building for the organization we're partnering with. I have recently been realizing even more how much joy I get from manual labor and construction. It allows for us to work in unity and glorify God. He has made our bodies able! By putting those bodies to work, we are praising Him with what He has given us– just like singing is glorifying God with our voices!
Mosaic Tiles
->We've been able to make beautiful tiles for the SHE House-to decorate the building where women will learn english, baking, jewelry-making, and hotel-working 🙂 It has allowed for us to be creative and make beautiful things in this beautiful place.
Finally, the bar ministry
->After a week of prayer, all of our groups have gone out a few times to Bangla Road. Its amazing to follow God there and a blessing to listen for His voice and follow it. At home, one day I heard God telling me to give someone my Bible at Starbucks, and didn’t because I wasn’t completely sure that it was Him. Also, I didn’t want to, so that may have been why I doubted. But two nights ago when we were praying at the lake/dam, God told me to go closer to the water. There were some Thai fishermen down there, so I went back up to the stairs…and literally 3 feet from where I ended up standing, a Thai woman (one of the 5 Thai people anywhere close to us worshipping) started crying and God told me to put my hand on her her shoulder. Much to my amazement, I simply took a few steps and did it, and said that I would pray for her. I’m not sure what came from that, but who knows- that could have been why God sent me here. I have no idea of what kind of impact that had, but God has His reasons. The same sort of thing happened last night. When we were on Banglo Road, we were listening to what God was telling us, and because we followed where He led, we ended up having some great encounters with people: not only bar girls, but a drunk man as well (telling him that God loves Him).
Although it has definitely been such a blessing to be used in the bars, there are some challenges: especially in just feeling the darkness that is there. Some images have just stuck in my head. We’ve seen men asking “how much for the night?” or grabbing girls in inappropriate places. We’ve seen lust in full form, with girls dancing an inch away from men. The looks on the men’s faces are sticking with me more than anything- there was undeniable fascination in their eyes and it wasn’t bashful…it was just pure lust.
In this, please be praying that
1) Our hearts are broken for what breaks Jesus’s
2) We don’t carry the burdens of that sin…its not ours to carry
3) We see God everywhere! Last night, walking the streets, there were Jagermeister signs at every turn -and in some points- at every bar. There is a huge cross on that sign and it just reminded me that Christ already won this battle on that cross and that He paid it for all sins. What a Blessing! Also the beauty and the adventure that Christ has given us just shows that He is so giving! He has given us gifts in beach-going and bungee-jumping and star-gazing! Be praying that we never lose sight of those blessings.
Love you all
<3 Janie
