Finishing Strong

By the grace of God and through your prayers, this has been an exceptional week of goodbyes. Sunday was my last time at Shalom, the Thai Campus Crusade church I have been attending. It was a hilarious but meaningful service as I played with the little boy beside me and his balloon and listened to a convicting sermon about Jesus being the Bread of Life. All that I need. Eating lunch afterwards was fun and I found myself instead of being awkwardly anxious to leave, actually wanting to stay and chat! I am leaving Thailand much more comfortable with cross-cultural situations and enjoying the fun of piecing together different languages in order to communicate.

Sunday afternoon I hung out with the Nesbitt kids and watched "Easter Eggs" on DVDs for fun. That evening was my last time at team worship with a sermon to remind that believers never die.

Monday morning I whipped up some tortillas (ok, 54! including those Debbie made) for a birthday gift for Doni, a housewarming gift for the Offutts who were  moving that same day, and for Debbie, my hostess this past week and a half. Then I joined the mainly Thai group of the Offutts friends to help them move. It was a hilarious time and while I didn't help much, I did enjoy the American pizza and laughing with Thai friends.

Tuesday I spent the afternoon with P Gai. We ate lunch, talked, ate ice cream, prayed, and witnessed to a girl named Palmie. It was some of the most precious few hours I have ever experienced. P Gai is a dear sister in Christ who I value so highly. She has been invaluable to me as I have taught English club and hung out with Campus Crusade. I am so thankful that God placed her here in Khon Kaen so we could be friends. God has been immensely good to me through her. I am so thankful that we got to spend that 4 hours together.

P Gai and I

Tuesday evening my language teacher, Kruu Auy, came over to the Nesbitts for supper so I could interview her for college credit. Kruu Auy is a lot of fun, understands Americans well, and has been an instrumental language teacher and helper to almost everyone on the team. However, she is not a Christian. Through some of the interview questions I was able to learn more fully what she does believe and it seems her heart is not soft to the gospel yet. I pray with the rest of the team that one day her heart will soften and she will be our sister in Christ.

Kruu Auy and I at the Nesbitt's

Today, Wednesday, I spent with Debbie and the kids getting a makeover and having fun. Then tonight was team meeting...my last team meeting. It was wonderful to debrief some and to reflect on how God has been leading the team in incredible ways. God is obviously answering prayers! Tonight we especially reflected on how He is answering the request to use the team to encourage believers and love non-believers while they are in language school.

Tomorrow is my last day in Thailand. I'll tie up loose ends, pack up, eat dinner with the team, and fly to Bangkok at 8pm (9 am Thursday, EST). I'll spend the night at the Beuggert's home again and then fly back to the states at 6 am (7 pm Thursday, EST). I'll be back in Columbus, Ohio at 9pm on Friday.

Please pray with me for...

• P Gai to continue to find joy and strength in the Lord. Ask God to bless her for all she has done for me!
• Palmie (the girl P Gai and I witnessed to on Tuesday) to have a soft heart, to want a relationship with Jesus, and to choose to follow Christ.
• Kruu Auy's heart to be softened.
• More good goodbyes with the team tomorrow.
• Safe and smooth travels. That God will use me on the flight if He wills.
• Words to communicate what I have learned and to glorify God as I return to America.

Praise the Lord for His excellent greatness! He is holy and worthy of glory and honor and power!