(This is the street I live on and this a normal meal)

(My Thai friend, Nam Fon. She teaches us Thai and goes on Outreach with us)

I can't believe how fast time goes by in Thailand!! It has been over a month and a half since we've opened our house up to two women who were in need. The women that have been staying with us have horrific stories- from being sent to work at the age of 16, from being deceived, sold, and forced to leave their country to work. My dear friends stories are hard to hear but I see that God is in the midst of their lives. He has brought them to our home so that they can begin to heal. Their names are Leah and Monicah.*

Since Leah and Monicah have come to live in our home, so much has happened! I now have two close friends who have taught ME so much about hope and perseverance! These women have been through so much hardship, but through it all they both have sparkling brown eyes that choose to smile despite the pain of the past. Since they've come to live with us, they have just started the beginning stages of healing.

The first week in our home, Leah told me in her broken English and Asian accent, "Before I come here, I cry everyday! I cry in morning, I cry in night. But now, that I have a new home. No cry anymore!" My heart melted listening to her open up! How beautiful- after all these years of pain, she finally feels like she has a home! And Monicah tells me almost everyday, that we are her "new" family now!

As I think about Leah and Monicah, it is so humbling to be apart of these beginning stages of their healing. Getting the chance to point them to a God who is intimate, who understands and loves them just as they are, is such an honor. In these beginning stages, my prayer is that Leah and Monicah truly believe that they ARE known, that they do BELONG and that they are deeply LOVED!

Actually, about 6 months ago Monicah came a believer. She is beginning to see these truths and understand that she now, truly belongs because of Christ! It's actually an amazing story how she found Jesus. Jesus came to her in a dream!

She has told me her dream many times and I still listen in amazement each time. Monicah comes from a Hindu/Buddist background. Evil spirits and spiritual oppression is all she knew before. Monicah saw good and evil through the eyes of Hindism and Buddism, she therefore placed Jesus in the mix with all the other spirits and gods. However, one night as Monicah was going to bed she had a dream. In her dream she said, she saw a man dressed in all white, shining and full of beauty. He told her that he was her true Husband. He bent down to touched her hands and said whispered, "Follow me." Then he touched her cheek gently and said, "Don't look back, don't worry about your family. Just follow me!" She said, she felt overwhelmed with peace and love. She told me, when she woke up the next morning her fear was gone. She knew she was never going to be the same again. She said to me, "Bekah....I meet Jesus that night."

Since I have been here in Thailand, I have heard many stories like this, of people coming to know Jesus through dreams. It's beautiful, because Jesus speaks every language! I can be encouraged, that when I can't explain Him in their language, HE can explain HIMSELF!

As far as language goes, Leah and Monicah know a little bit of English so we are able to communicate. As an Intern, my responsibilities are providing home care for them. This includes shopping at the street markets, providing meals, going with them to refugee/hospital appointments, doing art therapy, and just having the ministry of presence in their lives.

Prayer requests:

Please be praying for Monicah and Leah when you think of them. Leah especially needs prayer. Leah is a precious women, with a strong, spunky heart! She does not realize how much Jesus loves her, so please pray that her eyes will be open to the King. Leah has had so much hurt in her life, fear is still in her eyes. Please pray that the Lord will heal her, set her free from fear, and that she will welcome His presence!

Also, please pray for our team. We are leaving for Cambodia March 20 - April 1 to renew our visas. We will also be serving the street kids and young women in a care center. Pray for safety and guidance as we serve. Pray for vision as we go to Cambodia. WMF is hoping to start a new field, this trip will hopefully give us vision for the Cambodian children and women!

( * names were changed to respect privacy)

Stories from India.....

“Ignorance is bliss." Just think about that statement for a moment…I know we have all heard this saying or even used it at some point. And on some level “ignorance IS bliss”…it’s relieving not having to face the reality of certain things in life...not having worries is such a relief! But I was thinking about this and how is applies to my life and the lives of other believers. As I was reflecting about this statement, it actually contradicts they way we are called to live.

Jesus calls us to be in the world, but not of the world. So, if we are called to be in the world then that would mean we can’t be ignorant to the worlds suffering, poverty, or pain. Actually, we should be sitting alongside those who are suffering and suffer with them. Just as Christ says, “mourn with those who mourn.” Since being in Thailand and now just getting back from India, I feel that the Lord is opening my eyes on a deeper level to human suffering. Being “ignorant” or unaware is no excuse. I don’t ever want to live in blissful ignorance of the world around me. This is my prayer for all of believers. I pray that we will live in reality, not in an imagery world free of suffering. God calls us to be involved not ignorant, and that is my prayer for all of us that we truly come alongside those who are suffering.

When I first saw India while flying over Mumbai, you can see the hardship in this country. It is so oppressively poor here. As we were getting closer to land the plane we were flying over the slums. Seeing the conditions of the slums you can just feel the struggles of the Indian lives. Once we landed we had a connecting flight to Chennai. Chennai, India is where the Word Made Flesh conference was being held. The WMF conference was for all the missionaries in the Asia Region. The countries consisted on India, Nepal and of course Thailand. It was a great experience for me. I was able to meet all the WMF staff from the different countries. Getting to hear the stories of how God called the staff was so encouraging! At the conference I was over the child care. It was a blast playing and learning Hindi from the missionary kids! After the conference in Chennai we spent several days in Kolkata.

When I arrived in Kolkata it was night and I could still tell it was one of the dirties places I have never been. It was so polluted! There are so many words to describe this place! At night when is it just getting dark, it looks as if you are in an old black and white movie. All of the buildings are old and run down, and because of all the dust that flies up and mixes with the street lights it gives an old vintage movie look. It’s strange…

Driving in Kolkata is quite the experience! There are bikes, motorcycles, tuk tuks’, taxis, tons of bus, and strangely- men pulling a carriage with people on it (instead of a horse). The streets are so busy with people and cars swarming around.

On the sidewalks you have people sleeping amongst the noisy traffic and horn honking, children begging for food, sellers of scarf’s, jewelry, and tea stands everywhere! As I was walking on the streets I realized there were hardly any women out. All I saw was Indian men! The ratio of women to men was 1 in 5! As women, we had to be very careful and be sure to dress modesty!

Life in India is very hard. One day, as we were walking down the street, a woman with a small baby and little daughter came up to us, begging. We were able to give the woman yogurt curd with bananas to feed the children. The woman gave a half smile, took the food, then handed it to her little daughter. The women continued to beg. I was watching the little daughter and had noticed she was trying to secretively throw the food away without us seeing. The little daughter didn’t know that I saw her. But seeing her throw the food away only meant one thing. They are controlled by pimp. They are only expected to bring the pimp money, not food.

It was so heart breaking knowing that so many people on the streets live their lives being controlled by someone. That night, it was hard for me to sleep. I kept thinking about all the suffering in this city and in Thailand.

The next morning we woke up at 6AM to work at the Mother Theresa Home for the Dying. At this home men and women who are dying on the streets are picked up and taken here. Their wounds are tended to, they are given medicine, and a comfortable bed. This is a place where they can have dignity and love before they pass- Again another heart breaking day in Kolkata. When I left India all I could do was pray and asks God, ‘what is my role?’ ‘How can I serve and help your people?’

Now that I am back in Thailand serving the women here, I continue to pray and ask God the same prayers, “what is my role and what else can I do?” “I am Yours, so use me how you will.”
Just recently we have taken in some women to stay in our home. Please pray for them! My primary responisbility will be to oversee and care for their needs. Please continue to pray for us in Thailand! Love you all!