Renew a right spirit

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. (Psalm 51:10-13 ESV)

So Tracy was gone and this morning I was listening to this Psalm from the Daily Audio Bible.  Tracy and I have been facing some challenges recently...the details aren't appropriate for this blog; however, the phrase, "restore to me the joy of your salvation" has stuck out.  At this point in time I, Cecil, truly desire for The Lord to pour and restore His salvation.   Every passing day I realize how desperately I need The Lord.

Cecil

Face plant...then walking in the rain

So I was on my bike and I didn't realize I had a flat tire till I started peddling fast and ended like the guy in the first picture.  I realized hence tgat my front tire was completely flat but I still needed to go to language school so I ended up riding my bike on the sidewalk leaning on my back tire.  Later that afternoon I decided to walk my bike a few kilometers to have the tire repaired when it started pouring down rain.  I realized that as I was walking I dreamed of the Holy Spirit falling on Thailand and washing away the sins of Thailand.  May the Holy Spirit come.

Cecil

Norsworthy Blessing

So to be perfectly honest with you I'm not exactly sure where to start...but start we must.  I suppose I'll start from the "proverbial" beginning of the story.  Jesus got a hold of my life in a drastic way on June of 2002.  Shortly thereafter several college students who attended Laurelglen Bible Church would encourage me to attend the college Bible study that was offered at LBC.  I eventually showed up and was truly "blown away" by the dynamic and in-depth teaching of God's Word.  I found myself at that Bible study every Thursday and Saturday evening.  Galen Norsworthy was that teacher.  Since that first day my admiration and respect for this man has only increased.  Throughout the years we have continued to be in touch, though the Lord has taken our paths and ministry in different directions.  About 6-7 years ago Josh Armstrong and myself started a Bible study at Denny's on Buck Owens in Bakersfield CA, and several months into we thought we would invite Galen to join.  Since then there has been many different men come and go, but Galen has been faithful to come throughout the years.  Eventually Steve Hernandez--old friend from my Freshman year at Foothill High School--popped back into my life and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Jesus had become His LORD as well.  Steve mentioned how he worked in the oil fields and how many of the guys would love to come to a Friday morning Bible study but they work early in the morning.  As the Lord would have it Galen was available and willing to get to Denny's at 4:30 a.m. to help lead a group of men, basically completely from the oil fields, in a study of God's Word every Friday morning for several years!  Like any friendship of two people with strong opinions and wills Galen and I have bumped heads and have had some intense theological discussions over scrambled eggs and biscuits.  But there are truly very few men whom I love, admire and respect as much as he.  To this day--even living in Thailand--when I am in a difficult situation and need some godly advice from men who have, by the grace of God, walked faithfully with Jesus for many years...you better believe that Galen is at the top of my list.  I am truly blessed beyond words for a man that has a very biblically balanced life.  I see much of Jesus in the life of Galen.  I see Jesus as not being weak, passive or scared but rather being bold, courageous and fearless...I have seen that strength in Galen.  I have also seen the compassion, grace and mercy in his life that is inspired by Jesus Himself.  So today I am grateful to my LORD for my good friend and fellow brother...Galen Norsworthy.

Cecil

'Ta bom...

After 2 months of intense studying and module exam, we brought the family here, to a resort just outside of Chiang Mai.  We've been here for 4 hours.  We've unpacked, swam, ate and played hours and hours of legos.  (yes we brought our lego men).  And.... I ordered some room service.  I dialed, waited, and when he answered, I said in Thai, "hello, do you speak a little English?" and he said, "yes a little"... and so I ordered our meal in mostly Thai.  By the end of the conversation, I was speaking so much Thai... and it was starting to go so quickly.... that I sort of panicked.  It started to feel like I was running really fast and then started to trip and tumble downward.  So, to risk not embarrassing myself and say something really stupid, or start tripping up over my words, I ended quickly with a "Thank you, goodbye" in English and hung up.
I turned around to Cecil and said, "wow... I was speaking so much Thai, but then I panicked and got off quickly because I started thinking I was going to speak Portuguese!!!!" (sometimes when learning a new language, you resort to speaking some words in a previously learned language).
And Cecil chuckled and responded...  "Actually, I heard you say some things in Portuguese".  I was cracking up... and asked what I said.  And then I remembered I that he was saying, "yes m'am, yes m'am" and I was responding in Portuguese with "thats good, thats good". Our convo ended with,
him-"khrap bom, khrap bom"
me-" 'ta bom, 'ta bom"
Cecil and I were CRACKING UP!!!!!!
Good times so far.
:)
~Trace

Thai Test Straight Ahead

So Tracy and I are coming up on our first Language test.  These are some pictures of our teacher Khruu Pai(Khruu means teacher).  So we have been here for over 3 months and been studying language for about 2 months, and after every module there is a test before starting the new module.  Part of me, Cecil, wished I was further along in language than I am right now.  However, there is another aspect and it's that I recognize that we need to show ourselves a little grace...I mean we've only been here for 3 freaken months...and only been studying for the last two for crying out loud.  I know that we certainly could be further along, but I also know we are further along than those who have been here longer than us.  Truth is Tracy and I do realize that we understand so much more than we did at first, and we are able to express ourselves so much more than when we first arrived.  I remember getting home from a date with Tracy on a Tuk-Tuk and putting my cell phone to my ear as I tried to learn the phrases for "turn left, then right, go straight, stop here please."  The. Just last week after the movies I was able to communicate those directions without looking at the Thai-English dictionary once...so I do realize that we are improving even though it doesn't always feel like it.  So by the time most of you read this Tracy and I will either be taking the test or have already taken it.  Afterward we are planning on doing some special family adventurous stuff around Chiang Mai...such as watch The Lego Movie, go swimming...and get some R & R.  Thank you for reading our updates and being part of our lives.  Tracy and I recognize that the people who actually take the time to read these blogs truly want to know what we are facing and what's going on in our hearts...so thank you so much...you mean the world to us....thank you for your support!!!

Rami

Full Sail Ahead!

So Tracy and I had the pleasure and privilege of having one last meal with Jill Ludlow and her team before they left.  Jill is the founder of Full Sail ministries that are based out of Visalia but travel around the United States, and around the world, singing, blessing, equipping and discipling children and especially women.  They went to the men's juvenile facility and I was able to see first hand the strength and courage of these women!  Had the privelage of getting to know her team with Tracy by my side and by the end of the night we felt extremely blessed that they were part of our lives even for a short time.  Please get to know their ministry and see how you could be encouraged and inspired as well.

Cecil

Lost...like me...

So today was a very intense and special day for me.  I have never done ministry in a Juvenile facility before let alone one in Thailand.  But I had the privilege of being part of this event thanks to Jill Ludlow--from Full Sail Ministries--and her team of courageous women who have a great heart and voice for The Lord.  At the facility we honestly didn't know exactly what we were going to do until minutes before we got on stage.  Andy Owen did a phenomenal job at leading the program, connecting with the 500 plus young men who were there, and leading worship as well as translating the testimonies.  I felt like The Lord wanted me to sign the songs minutes before we got on stage...I asked the team if it'll be ok if I signed one of the songs they would sing and I just ended up signing all of them.  I then had the great privilege of sharing my testimony with the young men.  Afterward I took the opportunity to introduce myself to a few of them.  I was so honored to be part of this event.  What an incredible blessing.

Cecil

Mini Mart/ Language Learning

So Tracy and I have been getting into a routine to have two hours of language in the morning, then riding our bikes home for lunch; afterward we have been hanging out at the mini-mart  with our friends P'Boat and P'Tan.  Today we had an amazing time of laughing and learning.  They are teaching us Thai and simultaneously we are teaching them English.  Today we had a great laugh as I accidentally said I was talking on the "pineapple" as oppose to talking on the "cell phone." Tracy and I are so grateful for their friendship...we look forward to being able to share more of our heart with them.  Please pray that they would see the life and joy of Jesus within us.

Cecil