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Thanks and God bless

Thank you for your prayers and support! We got home Monday afternoon around 4 pm. Saturday at 6 pm we left Chiang Mai on the over night train. We arrived in Bangkok Sunday morning at 9 am. We took Carson and Kathy to a hotel for the night as they left for China on Monday morning. Stephanie and I joined Kathy and Dakota in their pool, then went to the airport to meet with our team (and Carol) who arrived around 4:30. (Even though it may have been culturally inappropriate, Carol gave me a big kiss!)

Our flight left Bangkok at 11 pm and arrived at Seoul, Korea Monday morning at 7. Carol, Leah and I opted to leave the airport, and visited with three of Carol’s ESL students, and then took the subway to downtown Seoul to have lunch with Misook, a volunteer at YWAM Salem from a year ago. We had a wonderful authentic Korean lunch, took a walk through the market, then caught a cab to the airport for our 6 pm departure. It was wonderful to see these friends again, and a great opportunity to see Seoul, not just the airport!

  Because of the International Dateline we got to have another Monday in Seattle, Portland and Salem!

This week is debriefing week. Howard Bruce, our school leader is meeting with all of the students, and Bruce Stefanic spoke on Tuesday encouraging the students to serve the local church and remain “missional” in their perspective.

Carol and I are processing our outreach, thinking of mistakes made and taking notes for next year. It was a difficult experience at times, but rewarding too! All in all very positive. Lives were changed, many were encouraged, and our students got a good taste of missionary life. Most will continue with YWAM in one capacity or another.

Please join Carol and I as we pray about our next season in YWAM. We don’t sense any big changes, but want to remain open to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Thank you again for your prayers and support! We cannot work in this capacity without you!

Grace to you!

Fred and Carol

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 On the train, Dakota riding piggy back

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  Downtown Seoul

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  Carol, Misook, Leah and Hyejin at lunch

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  Carol, Misook and I outside the restaurant

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 Stephanie, Kathy and Dakota on the train

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  From the train, Buddhist temple near Bangkok

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Ryan Young and Hyejin with Carol and I

We have had a good week here in Musakee, Northern Thailand. The camp had a rousing farewell, they sang a song that Siami wrote that welcomed us, and encourged us to return to Musakee. The children in the camp are all sponsored like “World Vision, or Compassion International.” They come from homes that can not afford to send them to school, or their villages don’t have schools. Siami has founded several “homes” in the region. This home has about 50 children. They live here but attend local schools.

On Thursday we attended a celebration honoring a former king of Thailand. It was like a “Memoria Day Parade” from my youth. The people were dressed in their traditional outfits, there was a marching band, and several groups or clubs which had a picture of the king who was being honored.

As a former member of a marching band, I was intrigued by the sound of this one. The main instrument sounded like a bagpipe, but was instead several mouth organs. One interesting thing I found was that the rythym of the drum corp and the rythym of the “organs” were distinctly different. Maybe they don’t practice together.

We also visited the future site of a cultural center – museum for the Karen. One of Siami’s visions is to create a renewed interest in the culture of the Karen. We viewed some future artifacts for the museum, monkey skulls, baskets for fishing, and trumpets made from ox horns. While we were praying over the future site, the heavens opened and dumped rain on us. We took refuge in the grove of bamboo until our driver fetched the truck. The rainy season is supposed to be coming to a close here, the rice is ready to harvest and the corn is in tassle, but it rained again last night. Please pray for these poor farmers that they would be able to harvest a healthy crop soon!

Friday we hiked to the top of the highest mountain in the region, and the 3^rd highest in the nation. Fortunately for us it was a relatively easy hike. The forested trail wound up the ridge line to a summit maybe 1,000 feet above the parking lot. There were many mushrooms, and flowers along the route, including orchids and a red flower that rose from the root of fern. It’s amazing to discover the creativity of our creator God! The purpose of the hike was to pray at the top of the mountain. The Buddhist and Christians have had a dispute over the use of this mountain, and we are praying for peace between these two groups.

Saturday we attended a wedding in a nearby village. It lasted over two hours, and was very beautiful. There was a tenor saxophonist, and guitar combo who played for close to an hour before it got started. I understood that they had toured the U.S. the previous spring. The opening of the wedding started with a “flower girl” procession which included a young man dancing and twirling machetes, a marching band of ox horns, and several flower girls casting their petals in rythym. Unlike Thursdays group, they were quite united in their rythym. It was awe inspiring.

Sunday we attended a church that was installing a new pastor. There were several churches represented from the region. The service included at least 6 special music numbers from visiting choirs. After the new pastor was prayed in, there was a feast for all attendees. We sat on mats on the floor of a banquet room with dishes of chicken, pork and a rice-pinto bean combination in serving bowls. All around the perimeter were banana leaf wraps of rice to serve as a base for the meat dishes. It was quite a feast.

We are now spread all over the region as Carol and her team are in Rangoon, Brian is in Bangkok getting a visa for Brazil, Carson, Kathy and Stephanie returned to Chiang Mai to work with the Home of Joy, and I am remaining in Musakee until Thursday. Pray that our light would be sufficient to penatrate the darkness wherever we are!

Today, Monday, the children of this base are supposed to be back in school, but because of heavy rain, several remained here this morning. I was asked to teach them some songs and English. We had a good time learning “Jeremiah 33:3, and Romans 16:19.” I’ve always been able to memorize scripture when it was set to music!

Saturday we take a train to Bangkok where we will meet up with the Rangoon team on Sunday to begin our marathon journey back home. We leave Bangkok Sunday evening, layover in Seoul, Korea for 10 hours, then fly across the pacific arriving on Tuesday afternoon I think! Just in time to file my vote for the nations presidential contest. May the man who will serve God’s purposes win!

We’ve not had internet here for three days now due to a lightning strike. I hope to get this out one way or another. Blessings to you! The next post may be from Bangkok, Seoul, or Salem!

Thank you again for your prayers, friendship and support!

Fred

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 Kids from the camp

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 Marching band (notice the keyboards!)

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Wedding knive dance with flower girls

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Saturday we traveled by pickup truck 5 hours to Musakee. It is not so much a village as an area that has some Karen villages in it. Siami, the woman whom we are working with is an Indian who has been working with the Karen for 20 plus years. The area is really beautiful. As well as the bamboo and banana trees there are also some pine trees that remind me of home! The elevation is 4,600 feet, which allows for cooler temperatures. We averaged 79-89 in Chiang Mai, but here it is 68-78. Eat your heart out Rangoon team! (Carol wrote that it was very, very, very hot there! )

Sunday we went to church, shared a song, and were treated to a dinner afterwards. We also got to pray with a family who has a 9 year old girl who I thought was maybe 5. She had a fever when she was younger and it has stunted her growth and caused brain damage. Siami helps the family with purchases of milk as well as prayer and encouragement.

Monday morning marked the beginning of a three day / two night camp here. Siami said we could expect 30-40 kids. I counted 58 this morning. They have a teaching time, games, worship and English training. Our team is handling the English.

We will have a few more days of camp, then do some trekking to a mountain village, as well as visiting a village that has no church.

Brian, one of our team went to Bangkok on Saturday in order to apply for a Brazilian visa. He heard from his family that his grandmother was very sick, and is trying to go home early. We would appreciate prayers for his family and his travel arrangements.

Thank you for your prayers!

Much love,

Fred

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  Breakfast by Nong

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  Home of Joy children

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   Paul, Gong and Luca riding Fred at the pool

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   Main intersection in Musakee

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   9 year old girl

http://www.aplacefortheheart.org/pages/home.html

This devotional was borrowed from a friend, Ken Helser. You can visit his website at the links above. Click on word of the week (the graphic is a man playing the trumpet.) It is especially timely with the financial problems the nation is encountering.

Grace to you,

Fred

October 8, 2008

When Sarah and Jonathan were very young, their favorite time of the day was when they would see me slipping on my jogging shoes…”Hey daddy, we want to come with you.  Take us with you.  Pleassssse!”  How could I turn them down.  So, I’d go and get our beloved garden cart and they’d jump in it and off we would go.

My heart is that when you continue reading, that you would conclude:  “Papa God, I want to get into your chariot and go riding with you.  I want to be with you, beside you, for I want to come to you for everything.  Carry me, O God!  Turn my fear with the present world crisis into the greatest time of faith and trust in You that I have ever experienced, for I want to COME TO YOU FOR EVERYTHING!”

The world and the world systems are failing.  We are able to see fully what is behind pride and greed.  We are able for once to disregard men who make false promises for our good, while all the while striving for money and power for themselves.  Ahhh, what a wonderful mess the world is in right now.  It is like what is written in Revelation when Babylon– the symbol of the world with all its glory and power–– is fallen:  “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her… and the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more.” Revelation 18:9 and 11

But then God’s admonition to us who do not love the world or anything in the world:

“IN ONE HOUR SHE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO RUIN.  Rejoice over her, O heaven!  Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets!  God has  judged her for the way she has treated you.” Revelation 18:19 and 20

Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter:  “Do I really rejoice that the world is under judgment right now?  Do I rejoice that all things as we have once known them can come to ruin?  Do I rejoice over the fact that this present world wide economic situation could be the worst ever?  Do I get excited that I have no security at all in the world?”

GET REAL.  OF COURSE NOT!  I am very concerned, and concerned for my family.  In fact, just this week, when my youngest daughter, Sarah, was going through a financial situation that could possibly cause her and her family to lose their house, was I excited about it.  NEVER!  In fact, all I could do was think “Lord, what can Linda and I do to bail them out?”  I was frantically working from a mind level as to how we could refinance our home and prevent them from losing everything.  That is before I stopped my silly worrying and went to God.

Suddenly, I remembered what the Lord has been dealing severely about for this whole past year:  “COME TO ME FOR EVERYTHING.  AB0UT EVERYTHING.  COME.  DO NOT TRUST OR LEAN TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.  COME TO ME FOR MY PERSPECTIVE ON EVERYTHING AND TO NOT TRUST ANYTHING OR ANYONE BUT ME.  SIMPLY COME…”

So, when I did “come” to the Lord, and prayed, this is what He said:

“Do not worry about Sarah, for I will give her favor.  Tell her to trust me completely and watch my hand at work.  What I am after is freeing her from worry and fear.  She still carries guilt from her past.  Do I carry that against her?  Never.  When she comes to me I see her as a pure, spotless bride, and will never do anything in way of punishment for her past.  Remember what the word says:

“There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”  I John 4:18

Amazing how fear has to do with the idea that the reason we are going through this crisis, or pain, or worry, is because God is punishing us for some past sin, or is upset with us about the way we are presently living.  I love the last line that says:  “The one who fears is NOT MADE PERFECT IN LOVE.”  Why do I love it?  Because that’s what we should all be doing right now, “Coming to God and praying, ‘Lord, make me perfect in love!  SHOW ME how you love me.  Show me how you delight over me in love.  Show me how excited you are over me that you sing over me and dance over me because you call me ‘YOUR BELOVED!’”

In your Spirit’s vision, see God as a loving Papa, who has just put on his jogging shoes, and run to Him and say, “Daddy, please let me go running with you.  Take me with you, Daddy, for you are the neatest Dad in the whole world!”

Much, much love from my “Daddy’s heart”, Ken Helser

Dear Friends and family,

Thank you for your prayers! We had a good visit with the two villages this past week. The first village has no pastor in the church, but many people who pitched in to make our visit memorable. We helped with a work project as a retaining wall* collapsed a few hours before our arrival. Like the previous two villages we have visited, the people live in a very humble way. Bamboo homes, little or no electricity. We were treated to a lesson in basket weaving*. The cook took bamboo that had been run through a table saw of sorts until it was almost paper thin. Then in about 12 minutes, she wove a laundry basket*. It was pretty amazing!

The church service was attended by about 20 locals, including a young man who had recently given his life to Christ. More and more we see our place as encouraging the local church as opposed to training them to be the church.

The second village was quite a bit hotter than the first. Physically and spiritually. The “village” consisted of a street of about 15 houses. 75 people in all, and most of them attended the local church. The pastor has begun to clear a large lot just above the village for a church that would seat 300 people. He is believing for surrounding villages to come and worship with them. On Wednesday evening there was a “revival” service at the existing church building. There were probably 70 or more there. We had a typical church service until about 9:30, then those who needed to leave, including the pastor, did. I looked around and found that most of the people stayed. There was an extended prayer time and a move of the Spirit. The people lined up to confess their sin publicly, and continued in worship until around 1 A.M. The amazing thing was how it was basically led by the youth group. It’s my understanding that they have this type of service each Wednesday evening, and have had for months.

There are several women who are praying 4 or more hours a day for their village. Alcoholic husbands have come to repentance, and begun to evangelize the neighboring villages. Many people have had prophetic words and visions from the Lord. Most of those words resulted in either repentance, or evangelism. 2 Chronicles 7:14 comes to mind.

One more brief story on this village. If I understand correctly, the revival began when the village decided to stop fishing on Sunday. When they did, the Lord increased their Saturday catch to several times the typical catch. By the way, we had fish for dinner, as well as local fruit and bamboo grubs.* They were a little hard to swallow psychologically, but actually tasted like a cross between french fries and crab. Thankfully they were cooked. All of our team ate some. I was proud of them!

Friday we visited the hospital again. There were even more children there this week. We took gift bags to pass out and left many smiling faces. Father, touch these lives!

Saturday we visited the children of a nearby orphanage, Home of Joy, and took them to the zoo. Six boys ages 4-8. Quite a handful! We got to feed the giraffe and the hippopotamus*. Amazing! Today after church we took the same children to a local pool for a swim. It was good to see them warm up to us, and accept the challenge to swim beyond their comfort level. The lady who runs the orphanage was pleased with their progress.

The Karen people group have a united church service here at City Gate Church, our host church. I was privileged to speak to this gathering last night. The Karen are unique in Thailand in that they are mostly Christian, as the Thai are mostly Buddhist. They understand their call to spread the gospel to the Thai. After the meeting we had a dinner together. The food was spicier than the Thai, but very good!

Rice, meat sauce, spinach (?) and watermelon.

We have one more week here, then our team will split up. Carol’s half will go to Yangon, Myanmar, and my half will go to Musiky. I don’t know about that spelling, but it’s my best guess.

Again, we covet your faithful prayers.

Blessings to you!

Fred and Carol

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Moving the mountain

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Our cook works on the side weaving baskets

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Carol adding some protein to her diet. Stir fried grubs! yum, yum!

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Into the jaws of the Hippo… yes, close enough to touch!

Wednesday we visited the local college for the English class. It was my first experience with English teaching. I was encouraged by Jill, our church’s representative who told me that I didn’t need to understand the specifics of “past continuous” tense. She said because we use it all the time, we know how to speak it correctly. About 8 of us took groups of 4-6 students each, and talked about, “what is the most exciting thing you like about Thailand?” My group’s favorite was the large array of animals.

(We haven’t met any tigers yet, but next week when we take the orphanage to the zoo, we may be able to pet some!) On Thursday after school, several of the students came to the coffee shop on the church property to continue their English lessons. It is a good opportunity to build relationships and answer the question “Why are you in Thailand?”

We got to visit the hospital on Friday. It was the second week in a row that the team was represented, but Carol’s and my first visit. It was a good visit! The nurses were especially glad to have us there. The children and their Mom’s were great too! We visited several rooms, sang some songs, passed out “heart mobiles,” (a string of colored hearts to hang from their ceilings,) gave out “stickers,” coloring pages, crayons, and prayed with them. One 5 year old boy* in particular got my attention. When he saw the guitar, he began to “dance” on his bed. The nurse said he wanted a fast song! We sang several, and he grinned and bounced for all of them. As he was in the Cardio unit, I don’t know how appropriate that was. Several of the children have been in the hospital long term. The mom’s are tired, depressed, and I was especially moved by their plight. Because the church has been visiting this hospital for a few years now, they are requested to visit different floors on a regular basis. Thank you Lord for favor, and thank you too for a faithful few who remember to visit those who are sick.

On Saturday morning we took a “prayer walk” around the neighborhood. There are several “one hour hotels” here. The prostitution is not highly visible, but the OHM’s are plenteous. We visited a nearby village in the afternoon, played games with the children*, then played more games with the emphasis on English learning. I visited a rice mill* across the street from the community center. It was a rather old fashioned unit I suspect, but managed to separate the hulls from the grain nonetheless. One motor, many belts (fire hoses) that drove many gears!

Sunday we provided the testimony and sermon at City Gate Church, as well as the children’s service. Our team has kept a great attitude, and has served well!

Tuesday morning we are going a few hours north again to two villages for two days and nights. Please pray for us that we would continue to operate in unity, and share in the power of the Holy Spirit.

I’ll check back in after our return on Thursday. Thank you for your prayers! God is on the move!

Grace and peace to you!

Fred and Carol

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English students at Lana Commercial College

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  Dancing boy at hospital

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Rice mill. One motor, many pulleys!

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   Separating the rice.

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   Finished product, broken (right) and whole (left)

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/FE15Ae02.html

Here are two links to articles that criticize evangelizing the “hill tribes” of Thailand.

If you read between the lines, you will see that the larger issue is a hatred of Christianity. An interesting fact is that Thailand has provided many solar panels to these same tribes so that the people will have electric lights and TV in their villages. Talk about destroying culture! I also noted that Thailand deported Matthew McDonald…. some perspectives are just not desired!

Killing two birds with one stone….

We had the opportunity to visit an “Elephant Camp” Tuesday. What a wonderful relaxing time!

We walked through the camp among many elephants carrying tourists, and heading for a bath in the river. They will attempt to pick your pocket…. especially if they think there may be a banana in there!

There was a “show” where the elephants kicked a soccer ball, dunked an basketball, lifted logs, painted, danced and twirled a hula hoop.

We took a 30 minute ride through the “jungle” on the elephant.

Rode on an oxcart.

Had a relaxing buffet meal

And took a raft trip down the river for 20 minutes or so. All for about $15 per person!

Thank you Father for allowing us to play along the way!

Blessings on you!

Fred and Carol 

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 Carol getting tickled.

 

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Taking a bath

 

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Reminds me of a Hatian car wash!

 

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If the driver is taking the picture…

 

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hula hoop. Note: He’s balancing on two legs!

 

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Raiding the cookie jar

 

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Painting

 

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The finished product.

 

Saturday morning we left Chiang Mai in two vehicles and drove 4 hours north to visit two villages, Bethlehem and Mai. We spent the afternoon playing with the children of Bethlehem, then had an evening service at the church. Sunday morning we had another church meeting, then drove down the road to Mai, where we played with the children of that village, and had an evening church service. We drove back to Chiang Mai Monday morning. These two villages, approximately 200 people, each had a small church planted by City Gate church here in Chiang Mai.

In our debriefing meeting, we asked the question what was your highlight on this weekend’s outreach to the villages, Bethlehem, and Mai? As best as I can remember here are the teams responses:

Being in the village, seeing the living conditions.

Working with, playing games with the children.

Visiting with the pastor, seeing the need for discipleship, hearing his vision for raising up the next generation of leaders.

Going house to house praying with the villagers.

Swimming with the boys.

Seeing the boys enter into worship. (Twelve boys ages 6-15 were focused in worship! It was amazing!)

Watching the team come together in ministry, find their niche, and being willing to be stretched.

There was no complaining about our rough conditions. Squatty potty, bucket shower, sleeping on the floor, no windows or fans the first night, no sleeping with your spouse.

Did you witness any miracles? Yes! The woman we prayed with who had a fever, was in church! The woman with the tingling in her arm after we prayed reported that it was better! When we asked the children who would like to pray to receive Jesus, all 25 replied in the affirmative.

We prayed for people’s healing after each of the three meetings we had. We usually had 10 to 12 respond for prayer.

Thank you for your prayers!

Blessings to you,

Fred and Carol

Prayer requests: 

That we would have our eyes opened to the battle around us.

That we would be careful to act in the strength of the Holy Spirit, and not in our own. 

That we would “see what the Father is doing”, and come along side.

That we would walk in Humility.

That we would boldly proclaim Christ’s love and provision for men, His Kingdom come!

That during October while Carol is in Myanmar leading half the team and I in Thailand with the other half, the she would know the Father’s provision for her.

Finally, that His will would be accomplished, and that we would bring Him glory in all that we do and say.

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 The cooks quarters. Note the woven bamboo siding!

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 Carol, Brian, Stephanie and Jill with the children showing off their evangelism bracelets. Sean Sanborn is the biggest child in the front row.

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