Bangkok!

I'm here!

The flights were good, had a nice layover in Addis. I was actually pretty nervous about coming to Bangkok by myself and going to a hotel. But Jon Wood sent me the address and a map of the place so I gave that to the taxi driver and got here just fine!

The rest of the group flew in at 1AM and got here at about 3. Right now Daniel is resting as well as the rest of the group.

But for me? Its CHRISTMAS! Daniel brought me all sorts of treasures! Macbook Air, Camera Lens... etc. I'm like a kid in a candy store! And Thanking God for His many blessings to me.

We will be here in Bangkok until next week some time and then go to Mae Sot, and visit Sunshine Orchard. (Its a school my parents went to for 3 weeks last year) And then we're going to visit the Jesus For Asia TV studio in Chiang Mai. At least thats the plan as I know it now.

Daniel using my new computer. Don't ask.

Asia for real!

I have tickets!

January 22nd, 2013... 6:25PM, I fly out of Nairobi. I arrive in Bangkok the next day at 1:20PM. (with a layover in Addis Ababa) I'll arrive about 12 hours before the rest of the group, because they get in at 1:15AM Thursday morning! Right now I'm planning on going to the guest house that Jon usually stays at. Bangkok is a city of over 13 million people, so I'm sure it will be interesting!

The trip will include three countries (Thailand, Cambodia, and India.) It will last just under two months and after that I'm planning on coming home, unless God leads otherwise! The trip will be pretty intense, not staying in one place for very long so we can see as many places as possible. But I'm really excited!

In continuation of my last post, God provided money for the lens, and a new computer for me as well! Pastor Frank doesn't have a Mac, so I decided to leave my computer with him because he really needs a mac to do his work effectively.

I need your prayers for this trip. We all need your prayers. (27 people going on the trip last I heard) I want to specifically ask that you pray for God to provide the resources for me personally. God has led very clearly and I know it is His will for me to go on this trip, so I know He will provide. But please pray that I will have peace about the whole situation.

I don't know how much I'll be able to access the Internet during the journey. But I'll try to update my blog when I have a chance.

God is Real!

I woke up to the noise of cars outside my window. It was 5:55 A.M...

I rolled over and then remembered that there was a good reason to look at my computer just then...

Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes I lifted the mosquito net and woke my computer up from sleep...

I scanned the emails that had come in since I went to sleep the night before.

And as I finished reading the email, a solitary tear trickled down my face, followed quickly by more.

Speechless...

Amazed...

Thankful...

All I could do was whisper... "Thank you, Lord"

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Ever since I was little I can remember asking my parents questions like, "When are we leaving?" "What are we doing tomorrow?" "What's the plan?".

You see, I'm one of those people that like to have all my ducks in a perfect row and have everything planned out ahead of time.

Now having said that, I'm not too bad at doing things on the fly either, but I certainly prefer to have it all planned.

So in the last few weeks I've been wondering, praying, and asking God to show me whether I am to go on the trip to Asia with Daniel and Jon Wood and several others.

I just had this sense of not knowing, and that can get stressful for me... But I kept asking God for a sign.

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Early in this week, for no particular reason I decided to look at Craigslist near my home for a camera lens. (I need a new camera lens with Image Stabilization for taking video.)

I found a particular lens that was half of the new price but still in great condition. (Canon 24-105mm L IS, for you camera geeks)

But, I don't have any money...

I lamented that fact, because it was such a great deal! And it is a much better lens than what I was expecting I would be able to get.

To make a long story short, without boring you with details.

God worked a miracle! He provided money, and saved that lens for me! (with a price like that it could have been gone in a very short period of time)

I went to bed Wednesday night not knowing whether it was going to work out to get the lens. And when I woke up Thursday morning is when I got the email that my mother had been able to get the lens. (with the help of another friend as well.)

I asked God for a sign, and he has certainly given me one! And since then God has been providing money for the trip! We serve a prayer hearing and a prayer answering God!!

God is good, ALL the time! And ALL the time, God is good!

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In moving forward with the plans for the trip, today I went to the Indian Embassy here in Nairobi, and applied for the visa. I go to pick it up next week.

Right now I'm planning on leaving here on January 21. I'll fly to Bangkok to meet up with the team and then I'll travel with them in Thailand, Cambodia, and India. After that I'll be flying back home to the US. (thats the plan at this point, but that can change!)

I just want to thank all of you who are following my blog and keeping updated on what I'm doing. And also to every one of you that have helped me, either through prayer, or with expenses. God Bless each of you!

Getting ready for Asia! (they wear flip-flops a lot)