Chiang Maii Life

Well this is the cover of a magazine that Tracy and I ran into the first month we we're here.  We really have grown accustomed to the humor that is demonstrated in this magazine and thus in this City.  Tracy and I are growing more accustomed to the way of life here in Thailand and we certainly are growing to love it more everyday.

Cecil

Close brothers

So I checked up on the boys before I laid down and this is what I found.  I have been encouraging the boys to look to each other for courage and strength.  I so desire my boys to look after one another as they grow up and face the world.   I am so grateful for the fact that they have each other.  I imagine them doing battle together, advancing the Kingdom of God side by side.  But for now...they're my boys...I suppose they will always be my boys. I have been reading through the epistle of James...Jesus' younger brother.  I imagine James and Jesus being very close.  As Jesus took care his family I pray He continues to take care if mine.

Cecil

Long Days

So just a few days ago Tracy and I took our bikes to pick up the boys from school, which is about 3 kilometers, then we ride our bikes to one of the main roads, then we took public transportation to Judah's appointment at the clinic. Afterward we walked about 2 kilometers in the hottest day thus far.  After arriving home Tracy and I felt as if we were over-heating.  Before we arrived we picked ourselves up some food from 7-11 and some sticky rice from a little food stand on the corner.  I felt honored and grateful to have had that experience, even if we were dead tired at the end.  I look forward to see the future adventures The Lord will take us on.

Cecil

Sacred moments

So I was having a conversation with a friend of mine about the boys beds and I let him know we decided to get him some cool fire-truck beds as oppose to regular beds and he encouraged me in that it was a good investment.

You know for most all of our marriage Tracy and I have either purchased used furniture or have used what others have given us.  So when we were purchasing beds for the boys we were torn between getting them some beds they could perhaps use for about 10-15 years or something they would really love even if they grow out of it in 5-7 years.  I was encouraged that at this stage in the game the moments of laying down with the boys are "sacred moments."  He mentioned that as the boys get older those "sacred moments" would probably look different.  It could become conversations over the dinner table, taking a jog, long bike ride, or some talks over a smoothie and cappuccino. Either way I was reminded that Tracy and I have a wonderful privilege to take advantage of this stage as we have nice talks with the boys as we read books to them, tell them Bible stories and pray over them.  Everyday The Lord allows my boys to be alive is a gift...Jesus has the right to take my boys home whenever He chooses.  While they are under my care I choose to thank and praise Jesus for them, whenever He decides to take them home--if it's before me--I pray that I would still praise and thank Him.

Cecil

Visiting Thai Churches

Ok...I'm going to count to 3 1...2....ok, when I count to 3 I want you to look to me...1.......this is the biggest decision of your life......2.......you may never have this opportunity again...ok let me start over again.....

Sorry, I couldn't resist....inside joke here.  Tracy and I have been so thankful for the opportunity to worship in different settings.  

1. The River--This worship service was a wonderful experience.  I was able to truly enjoy the worship service and I appreciated the fact that Thais were the ones leading worship and preaching.  I love the fact that they took this piece of land that was used for sin and wickedness and redeemed it for the glory of God.  I had a wonderful conversation with the missionary wife.
2. Acts Church--This was the first church that we worshipped with on Sunday.  We had a great time with the wonderful worship service.  It was very powerful.  One thing that I really liked about it was that they offered headsets so that you could hear the English translation simultaneously.  We had the opportunity to enjoy some lunch afterward which was nice.
3. Thai Baptist--The most recent Thai church that we went to was one that was fairly small with a very small worship team but a nice group of believers.  After the service the family and I enjoyed some delicious Thai food as we attempted to use our broke Thai to communicate with those sitting around us.  I was surprised to know how much English they actually had...it truly was a great blessing to know about their lives.  I think the most important and encouraging aspect was that the Thai were the ones that we're running the whole service.

Leading with a Limp

I recently finished reading this book entitled Leading with a Limp and I must say it was one of those books where I had a difficult time putting it down.  The book begins talking about the cost of leadership.  Crisis is something every leader--if not every human being, will certainly face; the question is rather, how will the leader deal with the crisis and how will the leader lead others through it.  The factor of complexity in the life of a leader as well.  With every decision there are terabytes of complex ramifications that follow.  Betrayal is also part of the package of being a leader, and I can attest I have experienced this first hand.  Investing and pouring out your life for others only to be rewarded with the person dropping out of your life without a "thank you" or even flat out betraying your loyalty all together.  Loneliness is something many leaders are, unfortunately, well acquainted with; however, the truth is it doesn't have to be that way.  Dr. Allender goes onto speak of complexity and the response of leaders.  The issue with leaders who are controlling and too dogmatic is that they respond to complexity with rigidity, thus they stifle the creativity of their organization for the sake of simplicity and conformity.  Dr Allender goes on to retort that the leader must be, in a sense, foolish.  He must be foolish enough to live on and above the edge.  He must become a fool, as the Apostle Paul became a fool for Christ and for the Gospel.

In Chapter 8 Escaping Solitary Confinement--The Truth That Sets a Lonely Leader Free, has been very eye-opening.  It talked of how it was difficult for people who weren't in a position of leadership to really understand, or sympathize, with what the leader was facing or going through.  Another aspect is most people really don't want to understand.  There is this one story of the author trying to be vulnerable with his Bible study about his struggles and one of the men publically stated that he refused to believe this leader would struggle in such a way regarding his ministry.  At that moment he realized many people don't want to understand the true struggle that leaders face.

Finally, the concept of Prophet, Priest and King was presented.  Most leaders are usually strong in one of these areas.  Prophet I the sense of speaking truth, fighting and contending for truth.  These are the guys and gals who call people, or an orginization, to repentance and shows them their sin.

Priest is the one who has a shepherd's heart.  She's the one who loved being around people, talking counseling and praying for those in her care.  She is the one who cares for the flock, and brings people back to The Lord.  The King is the one  loves spreadsheets and loves logistics.  He is the one who deals with administration and is able to be a visionary to the people he leads.  I am grateful for this book and I certainly encourage others to read it as well.

Pray with me...

Exodus chapter 2, verses 23-25 popped into my heart the other day when I was quiet before the Lord, asking him where he'd want us to church plant in Thailand in the future.  
I love asking him a question.  Because he always answers!

I asked, "Where?" and he answered with these verses.  

"Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died.  Then the children of Israel ground because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.  So god heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them."

I feel like God suggested to my heart that I am to pray that he sends us to a people who have been groaning because of their bondage, and have been crying out to God.  

I love God's answers.  They're most always like this.  

My dear friend, Kidron Miller, and fellow church planter to Berlin, once said, "maybe its not so much about the 'Where' as it is about 'Surrender' ".  

Please join me in praying that God would move us to where ever people have been crying out for his deliverance from their present bondage.

~Trace

Breakfast with Vigilante Andy

So for about 8 years I have been meeting with men on Friday morning.  It started at Denny's in Bakersfield CA with two guys and myself.  It grew to around 8 guys, then it multiplied to two groups, one at 4:30 a.m and the other at 6:15.  I truly loved seeing those guys each week.  Then when I moved to Vancouver there were a group of us who met at Denny's on Friday mornings again.  Now living in Chiang Mai the Friday mornings are with Andy Owen.  It's not at a Denny's but nonetheless it's very life-giving.  I was at the coffee shop last week and I was chatting with another missionary there who is really struggling.  I asked him if he had life-giving community...he told me not really.  Then he asked me if I had any.  I was filled with gratefulness, because I do.  I am very thankful to The Lord that I have a brother in The Lord I can trust and go to war with.  My question is do you?  Do you have someone, or a community of people you can connect with and talk to...life giving community?  I pray that you either do or will...we were never meant to go at this alone.

--Cecil

Perm and Buddha.

So….  I know I haven't written much since we've been here in Thailand.  Seems like so many other things are priority…. but I promised to blog real fast before I squeeze in a tiny nap. :)

2 days ago I made an appointment with the hair stylist nearby.  For a PERM!
Yes… I  DID just say that!  hahaha

I need to leave my hair down everyday here, 'cause I have to wear my bike helmet everyday (and up-dos just won't do).  So I thought it'd be fun and easy to have a little curl.

Anyway….
As you can imagine, my Thai is pretty limited (to say the least).  But I showed up today at 8am… and we started in on the process of a perm.
I'll spare you all the details of our "broken-communication/hair dresser never brushed wet fine hair before- drama", but toward the end……  it was amazing!  And I knew why the Lord had me go THERE of all places.

I'm always praying Exodus 2 for our future….. that where ever the people are crying out to the Lord for deliverance….. there He would send us!  And today…. I didn't expect that my hair lady would be one of those crying out!

I took many risks in my interaction with her.  I mentioned things in Thai that may not be appropriate to normally talk about.  And she received the questions, and also mentioned some taboo things as conversation pieces.  For instance… she brought up politics…. and so I dared to ask how the king might feel about all the unrest.  Its taboo for her to talk about the politics, and its taboo for us to talk about the king.  But she allowed the question, and answered with respect.  I felt really honoured that she felt like I was a safe person to talk to about these things.  You see, where we are…  its just really not appropriate to mention these things.  And for safety reasons, I will not explain why.

I pointed to a picture of a boy in a monk's robe on her desk and asked who he was.  She said her son.  So we chatted about that for a while.  Then there was silence.
And she pointed to a christmas track that my teammate had given her a month ago…and asked if I was one of those (those people).
 I told her in Thai, "yes, Jesus. I like Jesus."

She continued to tell me that he is good and she likes him too.  But she said that Buddha is good, and Islam too.
I sat in silence just listening for the Lord.  And she casually said, "they're all good, right?" as she put the track back on the shelf.  And I indicated that I understood what she said.  And she said again, "they're all good right?" and again I indicated that I understood, then she turned around and looked in my eyes and for the first time, I realized she was ASKING ME.
She said again, "they're all good, right?"
And I prayed… oh Jesus…. here it is.  What to say???
I responded…  in my very broken communication……  "I think Buddha and Islam have parts that are good.  But Jesus said he is the only correct way.  And I think that is right."

She looked at me long and hard as to wrap her mind around what I said.

Then she said, "my daughter doesn't want Buddha anymore.  She wants Jesus."  Then she said, "Buddha just says 'give me, I want more and more and more, give me more, give me more', but Jesus, he says, 'let me give you.  I want to give you'."
WOW!
Isn't that beautiful!!!?????????????
Jesus meeting her right where she is!!!??????????
The gospel is speaking truth into a life full of giving sacrifice after sacrifice to an unappeasable Buddha!

The Holy Spirit is doing a work in her heart!

Isn't it just like him to reveal a sweet truth that Jesus GIVES not TAKES.
Beautiful!
That was the end of our conversation, but I can't believe how open she is!
Please pray for her!  Maybe she is one of the first he will call to himself during our new journey here!!!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE to see the Holy Spirit moving in such a dark place.
~Tracy

American Sign Language vs. Thai Sign Language

So a few days ago I was at the mall and I saw two foreigners--a husband and wife--talking with two Deaf high school girls.  I wanted to go up to them and ask about the signs they were using.   You see I have been praying about having some sort of ministry amongst the Deaf community in Thailand…but I didn't know how.  I actually have done some research and found that a good chunk of Thai Sign Language is the same to American sign language.  I realized that even though I didn't have enough courage to approach the family at the mall Tracy and I saw the wife walking around our neighbourhood…we were in a rush to an appointment so we didn't stop to talk to her, then tonight at the carnival I saw the family and asked about it.  I found out that her husband teaches at the Deaf school…I am looking forward to introduce myself at this school and try and pick up the Sign Language of this country.

Cecil

May the best years be our last...

So the Owen's invited Tracy and our family to Grace school for their annual carnival.  It was amazing!  The kids had so much fun…it actually was like being back in the states.  Most people there are either from North America, Europe or other English speaking countries…so it was truly like being at a carnival back at home.  One of our highlights was when we sat down to have some food.  There was a table of two older ladies--they looked very much like the women in this picture--and there were about four extra chairs so Tracy asked if we could join and they were very much obliged.  We had an incredible conversation with two women probably in their late 60's if not their early 70's who have been living in Thailand for the past 10 years.  Teaching, assisting at the school, encouraging elementary to high school students, and reaching out to their Thai neighbours.  Tracy and I left the carnival talking about these two courageous women of the faith…we were so incredibly encouraged!  These are not like many of their counterparts back in the states, simply playing Bingo, complaining about the church music, or out at "prayer" meetings just to have a forum to gossip.  These women are allowing Jesus to have the last years of their lives for the Kingdom of Heaven…and like these amazing gems, may OUR last years be our best years.  Amen!

Cecil