December Newsletter

Here’s to the birthday boy who’s saved our lives it’s something we all try to ignore and put a wreath up on your door so here’s something you should know that is for sure Christmas must be something more. Taylor Swift (Christmas must be something more)

The months leading up to this Christmas have been very hectic. I have traveled to and fro to many different places for many different reasons. My research trip to Tai Yuan was fruitful. I now know a researcher who is doing active research and who is willing to teach me. I have talked to my team leaders and sketched a very general plan for 2012. I had a short vacation in Chiang Mai and had three cavities filled. I stayed with a teammate in Bangkok to support her while she was in the hospital and I have concluded my schooling until I return back to KM. I arrived in the United States in time for Thanksgiving and was able to celebrate with both sides of extended family. I have been busy but feel incredibly blessed. I have the pleasure of spending Christmas in the United States this year.

When I was in Chiang Mai I met a 33 year old man named Tariq. A muslim man seeking for Truth. Open to hearing but not convinced-not even in the faith he was raised in all his life until now. We talked frankly about many things but he was struck by the fact that Christ said that the way to heaven was narrow and that many would knock on the gates and would be told to go away for He never knew them. (Luke 13:24-30) This man sat in his flourishing shop and almost cried. He looked at me with troubled eyes and said, “that is so scary” I told him that I agree because we are taught our whole lives that we have to earn what we get. The grade on a test, the allowance, If we don’t deserve a good thing it is suspicious. Christ goes against our human nature. But when we believe in Christ we get to be heirs with Him in heaven.

Why do you celebrate Christmas? Because you have always done so, it is your family’s Tradition? It is your Safety Net just in case Christ really is the Messiah? Have you begun to ask questions? Fine ask your questions search out the Truth. For if you truly seek for it God will show it to you. Christmas nativities, singing silent night while holding candles, eating pie, and enjoying friends and family are all just small pieces of the bigger picture. Christmas is more that all those special moments. It is the powerful moment when God came down to earth to fix the broken relationship between Him and you. We don’t deserve this gift. But God wants to give it to us. Christ said in the same passage I read to Tariq that to follow Him one must count the cost. Christ requires All of you.(Luke 14:26-33) If you are only celebrating Christmas due to tradition or as a safety net in the end He will tell you to Go Away.

Please pray with me for Tariq that as he searches for Truth he may find it abundantly clear. I pray for each of you as you celebrate God’s desire for a relationship with Mankind. That you also would be seeking for and finding the Truth. And once Truth is found that you would be brave enough to give Him your ALL.

AS I spend the next few months meeting with you, talking more freely with you, and sharing with you about my last few years I hope that you will be encouraged. Not only in what you are each a part of but also to look for ways in your own lives to share the True Joy that you have with others.

November Newsletter

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. I know, I know I am always one for the obvious statements. My brother used to tease me about that. I think though that sometimes the obvious needs to be stated. For so often we let those most obvious truths be forgotten. They slip away or under or to the back of the pile because life gets in the way. Life pushes the simple truths away until they are forgotten.

So lets talk obvious. What are you thankful for? Have you been taking it for granted? How can you make sure that the obvious is not forgotten?

I am thankful for my family and my friends. Ben and Molly just had a healthy baby girl named Sydelle in September. Henry is growing fast and is so entertaining. My parents now live in South Dakota and are both keeping busy. Their constant support and skype calls keep me sane and connected. My friends both here in China and abroad brighten my days and give me reasons to press on.

I am thankful for my teachers. Each one of them gives me encouragement and empowers me to be better than I am. Their patiences and willingness to share their lives with me is humbling and impressive. I know that without them I would not be able to survive in this crazy upside down loop-di-loop world I trek around in. The laughter and enlightenment we share is special.

I am thankful for Father’s salvation, faithfulness and His Word. His ability to touch my heart with words written thousands of years ago is amazing and hard to understand but whether I understand Him or not the truth is that He does. Reading in Ezekiel last August there was a verse (24:15-16) that said that because Israel had forgotten Him, He was going to take away their most prized possession. It made me wonder what my most prized possession is? Are we willing to loose our most prized possession so that God will be important to us? Do I have to have my most prized possession taken from me before I will cling to Father? I hope not. I hope that This particular obvious statement will not fade away or be forgotten. Instead I hope that I cling to verses like Hebrews 10:23-24 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

Please join me in thanking the Lord for the blessings He has given us, the struggles He has sustained us through, and His patience and grace to us.

Lastly, I thank the Lord for you and your interest as well as your faithfulness to continue to ask for requests on my behalf. Thank you.

Tai Yuan

My trip to Tai Yuan was very exciting because I was able to see some projects that other people are working on. My Company has a couple who works up there. He works with a card making project for farming families to supplement their income. She is a occupational therapist and I was able to see the hospital where she does her treatments. I got to participate in a book mobile project and visited a school and then even suggested some books to some kids.










I also got to see their agricultural project.


The green tomatoes and eggplant growing in the green house were very beautiful.






The project I don't have any pictures of though is the one that most interests me. Their research project. They have done research in HIV, TB, Diabetes and are working on a metabolic syndrome research project.
At this point I have been in communication with the director of the research project and I have plans to discuss options with him when I return to China in March.

Thailand

So I loved Thailand. Well I was mostly just in Chiang Mai. So I guess technically I loved Chiang Mai. Not only do a lot of people speak English but there are tons of Western food places. Thai food is really delicious. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to try Thai food I recommend it. One warning though is that it can be spicy.

My reason for going was threefold. 1. I need to have my health evaluation every two years and the service in Thailand is more like a western medical setting but without the high cost. 2. My dear friends were having a baby and none of their family were able to come so I said I would come to help. 3. I needed a vacation.

The results were as follows: 1. I am just a little bit fat. (my bmi was 30 when it should have been 29) When I received that news all I could wonder was what my bmi would say after I have spent 3 months in America. Yikes!! My vision has not changed significantly so I do not need new glasses. But I did have three tiny cavities and so they were filled. 2. I was able to help my friends after their baby boy was born by doing dishes, laundry, and hold him while parents napped or ate. He was so very tiny. 3. I vacated with the best of them. I went on a night safari and rode an elephant!!! I shopped till my legs were tired. I also stayed up late and slept in late-I even ordered some room service. I read several books and ate delicious thai and western food every day.

Some interesting things about Thailand.
1. Every place of employment has an alter in it.
2. Every alter I saw had some sort of offering on it-from candles and incense to a can of coke.
3. The King owns all the elephants in Thailand.
4. Thailand orchids are grown in bottles before fully grown.
5. Thailand's King is the world's longest serving current head of state and the longest reigning monarch in Thai history. He is loved. It is a crime to insult him.
6. Chiang Mai doesn't have tall buildings and many of the homes have yards.
7. Thai people are very laid back.

So here are a modpodge arrangement of photos for you.

Me helping to give little Silas his second "real" bath. Needless to say he was not happy.

My first picture of Silas.
Me in the back of a Tuk Tuk.

another tuk tuk photo.

Lil' Guy slept right through his diaper change.

My first Thai meal. Some sort of noodle dish with chicken. Delicious!!

Attempt number 1 to have a picture with both of us in it.

Attempt number 2.

Since I couldn't get a good shot of both of us I could at least get a good one of him.


This is the reception area where I had my general physical.

This amazing looking cracker and cheese was just part of a huge cheese platter that was part of the holiday inn's breakfast. Weird but kinda AMAZING!!

The rest of the options at my breakfast.


The sock clothes line from a distance.

And up close.

This little guy lived in the bathroom

Temples or idol alters were on every block if they weren't on every corner and most shops had their very own inside.

We went to a orchid farm and here are some of my favorites.

The crowds at the beginning of the Saturday Night Bazaar

My favorite dish. Tom Kha Gai. A Chicken Mushroom soup with lemon grass and coconut milk

The next set of pictures are from the Night Safari.

This was hyenas but you cannot see them in the dark so I had to add my flash.

Pretty Exciting.

But the High point of my time in Thailand was the Elephant Camp. It was awesome. The trainers showed us all the different tricks the elephants can do such as play soccer, basketball, paint and work. We got to watch the trainers bathe them in the river and then I and my friend got to ride one. The other good thing was that we knew that these elephants were treated well because they were revered as gods as well as owned by the King himself.