DONNIE’S CORNER-2nd Great Commandment… Love your neighbor as yourself…Matt 22:39
God has given every believer a mission – to go into the world and share the Good News about Jesus. Why? Why should we care enough about the people around us to tell them about how to get to Heaven?
The Bible – in 2 Corinthians 5:14 – says: "For the love of Christ compels us." Our love for Jesus motivates us to fulfill our mission.
Everybody matters to God. God has never made a person that he didn’t love. God made some people that I don’t love, and God has made a lot of people that I don’t even like.
But God loves them. The most evil person you can imagine is still loved by God. And because God cares, we must care.
You don’t change people by protests. You change them by love. Society is changed one life at a time. God has put specific people in your life that he expects you to share the Good News with. You’re the only Christian some people know. If you don’t share the Good News with them, who will?
God will hold us responsible for the lives of the people he has put in our path to tell the Good News. Not just family, friends, and relatives, but all people.
“If you don’t speak out to warn the evil person to leave his evil way, he will die in his sin. But I’ll hold you responsible for his death.” Ezek. 3:18 (ICB)
Love always trumps fear. If you really love people you don’t care about the fear. You tell them. That’s called courage. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is doing the thing in spite of your fear. Courage is doing the thing you fear the most. Are you afraid to tell others about Christ? Do it anyway. Because you love them and you love God.
You don’t have to be a superstar for God to bless your life. You don’t have to be a superstar for God to use you. God uses very ordinary people.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Thailand Update Jan 9, 2011 Why go to the Nation's?
SHANNON’S CORNER
Ok, some of you may know we are not currently in Thailand, we have been in Texas since October and leave again for Thailand on January 19. What is our main purpose in being home?
• Shannon 6 month medical checkups (Praise God for great reports!!!)
• Stay connected with family, friends and church
• Help share with others about International Missions and the needs we have encountered in Thailand/ Burma
• We cannot get longer than a 6 month Visa
• Ok it’s true! For Donnie to be able to worship God in the outdoors (one of his new Year goals) thru hunting and help provide meat for our family and others less fortunate!!!
While we are here and before we left we have been asked many times, why do you have to go overseas to do what you’re doing, aren’t there plenty of people you can help right her?
So we thought we would address this in our update, this will be part one and the next update we will share our personal story and testimony of how God confirmed this for us individually.
It is our job to equip all believers to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We are commanded to do this by Jesus himself.
Matthew 28:18-20 The Great Commission
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!” Isa. 6:8 (NIV)
Ok, some of you may know we are not currently in Thailand, we have been in Texas since October and leave again for Thailand on January 19. What is our main purpose in being home?
• Shannon 6 month medical checkups (Praise God for great reports!!!)
• Stay connected with family, friends and church
• Help share with others about International Missions and the needs we have encountered in Thailand/ Burma
• We cannot get longer than a 6 month Visa
• Ok it’s true! For Donnie to be able to worship God in the outdoors (one of his new Year goals) thru hunting and help provide meat for our family and others less fortunate!!!
While we are here and before we left we have been asked many times, why do you have to go overseas to do what you’re doing, aren’t there plenty of people you can help right her?
So we thought we would address this in our update, this will be part one and the next update we will share our personal story and testimony of how God confirmed this for us individually.
It is our job to equip all believers to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We are commanded to do this by Jesus himself.
Matthew 28:18-20 The Great Commission
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!” Isa. 6:8 (NIV)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Marriage and the mission field
I know that being married on the mission field has its own issues. I really did not know we were dealing with any cross cultural stuff until our missionary friends back from Mexico gave us a book and woo, I thought we were fine until I read about so many things we were experiencing.
We had been dealing with them fine but never acknowledging them (relying on our own strength, not asking God). Now we want to ask God to help us deal with ALL things in our life thru him and remembering we are not SUPER people, asking him to bring to light EVERYTHING that we deal with and asking him for his guidance in acknowledging and dealing with it.
As well as the family dynamics of being home and everyone thinking we are "Crazy" we constantly have to ask God are we doing "it your way"?
Donnie and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary this year and one of our goals is to make this the best year of our marriage EVER.... I realize that to set goals you must have a plan (that involves God, not just us) and it takes work and making a constant effort.
So here are some resources I wanted to share with you about marriage.
http://www.marriagemissions.com/
In particular here is an article about marriage in another culture. I relate to this one alot since we work together, do ministry together 24/7 I sometimes feel more like Donnie's personal secretary or boss than a wife. I really have to work to get out of that mode. This has some good ways to work on those things.
For those not living cross cultural I think this may still apply and if not you will know ways to help encourage and pray for us.
http://www.marriagemissions.com/keeping-romance-alive-in-a-different-culture/
Here is a blog that is specially designed for women on the mission field in a cross cultural situation!! But I think it is great for all of us as it deals with our sometimes unrealistic expectations of ministry, how hard it can be, how we can get hurt, burned out, but yet when we deal with it how Great our God is who leads us thru it all.(LIFE)
http://peterswife.org/
Here is a quote from an article that you all will be able to relate to:
“I don’t like swimming in the ocean: there are living things lurking beneath the surface; the waves are unpredictable and splash my face; it’s cold and deep; there are undertows and pulls that frighten; it’s salty and sandy and alive. I do not like swimming in the ocean. I much prefer a swimming pool, a heated pool at that. The temperature is controlled. You can enter at your pleasure, either the deep end or the shallow end. You can go in as far as you like and then climb back out. Blow up a floating device and float on the top if you choose! The bottom is level and smooth. There are no surprises. Nothing lives in a swimming pool.
“And that’s the kind of God I would prefer as well: one that is controlled and moderate; a God I can measure and understand. I can enter His depths but only as far as I am comfortable. However that’s not the kind of God we have. Our God is an ocean of a God. He is alive and dangerous. There are forces at work below His surface. He alone controls the depths, the sprays, the splashes of His personhood. He woos us to the bottom where the water may appear murky and mysterious. Our God is wild and untamable. He is expansive and unpredictable. When we say he is holy, we mean he is strange and we do well to take our shoes off. The ground is holy and the water is deep.”
Be Blessed enjoy the ADVENTURE... I would not have it any other way!
""You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
We had been dealing with them fine but never acknowledging them (relying on our own strength, not asking God). Now we want to ask God to help us deal with ALL things in our life thru him and remembering we are not SUPER people, asking him to bring to light EVERYTHING that we deal with and asking him for his guidance in acknowledging and dealing with it.
As well as the family dynamics of being home and everyone thinking we are "Crazy" we constantly have to ask God are we doing "it your way"?
Donnie and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary this year and one of our goals is to make this the best year of our marriage EVER.... I realize that to set goals you must have a plan (that involves God, not just us) and it takes work and making a constant effort.
So here are some resources I wanted to share with you about marriage.
http://www.marriagemissions.com/
In particular here is an article about marriage in another culture. I relate to this one alot since we work together, do ministry together 24/7 I sometimes feel more like Donnie's personal secretary or boss than a wife. I really have to work to get out of that mode. This has some good ways to work on those things.
For those not living cross cultural I think this may still apply and if not you will know ways to help encourage and pray for us.
http://www.marriagemissions.com/keeping-romance-alive-in-a-different-culture/
Here is a blog that is specially designed for women on the mission field in a cross cultural situation!! But I think it is great for all of us as it deals with our sometimes unrealistic expectations of ministry, how hard it can be, how we can get hurt, burned out, but yet when we deal with it how Great our God is who leads us thru it all.(LIFE)
http://peterswife.org/
Here is a quote from an article that you all will be able to relate to:
“I don’t like swimming in the ocean: there are living things lurking beneath the surface; the waves are unpredictable and splash my face; it’s cold and deep; there are undertows and pulls that frighten; it’s salty and sandy and alive. I do not like swimming in the ocean. I much prefer a swimming pool, a heated pool at that. The temperature is controlled. You can enter at your pleasure, either the deep end or the shallow end. You can go in as far as you like and then climb back out. Blow up a floating device and float on the top if you choose! The bottom is level and smooth. There are no surprises. Nothing lives in a swimming pool.
“And that’s the kind of God I would prefer as well: one that is controlled and moderate; a God I can measure and understand. I can enter His depths but only as far as I am comfortable. However that’s not the kind of God we have. Our God is an ocean of a God. He is alive and dangerous. There are forces at work below His surface. He alone controls the depths, the sprays, the splashes of His personhood. He woos us to the bottom where the water may appear murky and mysterious. Our God is wild and untamable. He is expansive and unpredictable. When we say he is holy, we mean he is strange and we do well to take our shoes off. The ground is holy and the water is deep.”
Be Blessed enjoy the ADVENTURE... I would not have it any other way!
""You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Lots Going On
Well it has been a busy, exciting, great for us and not so great for others week.
For us personally, we had our first snake sighting. It was just a few feet outside our bedroom window about a 7 foot cobra!! They said don't worry it's not a King Cobra and it is not mating season so they won't chase you! Oh I feel so much better now!!
We are doing great, I am feeling really good and every day we are exercising at least 1 hour and doing lots of mountain hiking!
I have started training on taking over FBR accounting since their current person will be returning to Pakistan as a missionary.
Donnie is really enjoying logistical support.
We spent most of the weekend packing up emergency medical packs, food, GLC supplies, school supplies, and training supplies into rice bags that will be transported by hand porter 's across into Burma.
We waited expectantly to hear word of an attack on one of the bases inside Burma, it was under attack most of the weekend. As of the last word all the people made it out but the whole village and church was burned down. The people were afraid to come back and word was that over 30 landmines were left there and will make it very dangerous for them to return. As of early today they have decided to return anyway and rebuild their church first. This is very unusual since less than 2% of Burma is even Christan. It shows the powerful influence of God working thru FBR people who have been working with this village for years. See the FBR link for the latest news and see the picture of the church below.
God is good, no one was hurt so far, we will continue to pray for the villagers there. Prayer is the best and the fastest way that we can support each other. We trust in the Lord and we believe that He will be with His children every where.
For us personally, we had our first snake sighting. It was just a few feet outside our bedroom window about a 7 foot cobra!! They said don't worry it's not a King Cobra and it is not mating season so they won't chase you! Oh I feel so much better now!!
We are doing great, I am feeling really good and every day we are exercising at least 1 hour and doing lots of mountain hiking!
I have started training on taking over FBR accounting since their current person will be returning to Pakistan as a missionary.
Donnie is really enjoying logistical support.
We spent most of the weekend packing up emergency medical packs, food, GLC supplies, school supplies, and training supplies into rice bags that will be transported by hand porter 's across into Burma.
We waited expectantly to hear word of an attack on one of the bases inside Burma, it was under attack most of the weekend. As of the last word all the people made it out but the whole village and church was burned down. The people were afraid to come back and word was that over 30 landmines were left there and will make it very dangerous for them to return. As of early today they have decided to return anyway and rebuild their church first. This is very unusual since less than 2% of Burma is even Christan. It shows the powerful influence of God working thru FBR people who have been working with this village for years. See the FBR link for the latest news and see the picture of the church below.
God is good, no one was hurt so far, we will continue to pray for the villagers there. Prayer is the best and the fastest way that we can support each other. We trust in the Lord and we believe that He will be with His children every where.
Monday, July 19, 2010
The good things about Thailand
Thai massages for 120 baht which is less than $4, we will be getting lots more of those! Experienced my 1st Thai haircut at the expensive mall, did a great job and for less than $6.
No running water to the toilet, must pour in and flush, toilet was stopped up for a week, (cannot flush toilet paper evidently) but right outside are fresh mangos, bananas, coconuts, papayas daily. Awesome, I am quickly getting addicted to fresh mangos and sticky rice with coconut milk.
Fresh markets are everywhere and much cheaper. We are buying fresh fruit and vegetables there almost daily. However, for those “really healthy friends of ours” who want organic, I think most of you would be afraid to eat the stuff from this market, it is the real thing and gives a new meaning to the word and does not always look so healthy!! The smells, flies and heat are awful!
We are plugging in quickly, I am helping with administrative stuff and Donnie is really enjoying Thailand, already driving all over the place, learning the ropes of doing logistical support. They are purchasing a lot of supplies for the displaced people inside Burma like food, medicine etc.
Ate Korean food the other day and really enjoyed it, we had missed some of it!
We are meeting lots of people from all over the place; people from Burma, Pakistan, a nurse who was volunteering in Burma and fell in love with and married a man from Burma whose Dad was killed by the Burma Army stayed with us last week along with their new baby, A foreign Ambassador was here last week as well. There is a young intern here from University of Texas who is on loan from UT to help with documenting the human rights violations. Lots of people from all different countries and cultures as well as Thai people. They do not speak as much English so we need to learn language quickly-pray for us to be good students and learn quickly, great memory and pronunciation.
We are already learning so much about how to be more Christ like, people we have encountered here are so giving of everything (we have use of a vehicle and guest house, from people we don’t even know). Everyone is helping each other and giving to each other above themselves and their spirit is so gracious about it. I have a lot to learn and a lot to work on.
I do know that the more we have been willing to “give up” in our walk with the Lord the more we have been blessed. When we ask God, listen for his answer and follow him whole heartedly he has a much more abundant life planned for us than we could ever have imagined possible. We are living that life daily! Thank you Lord.
Note from Donnie,
Every day has been a new learning experience for me. As Shannon was saying earlier, the people we are working with are so generous and giving that it really humbles you and makes me realize how selfish we really are.
Thailand is a beautiful country, there are so many flowers of different color everywhere you look. The mountains are green and lush with a very tropical feel. The down side of the tropical feel is the humidity. It is hot and humid but no more so than Texas. We are truly blessed to be able to do what we are doing.
No running water to the toilet, must pour in and flush, toilet was stopped up for a week, (cannot flush toilet paper evidently) but right outside are fresh mangos, bananas, coconuts, papayas daily. Awesome, I am quickly getting addicted to fresh mangos and sticky rice with coconut milk.
Fresh markets are everywhere and much cheaper. We are buying fresh fruit and vegetables there almost daily. However, for those “really healthy friends of ours” who want organic, I think most of you would be afraid to eat the stuff from this market, it is the real thing and gives a new meaning to the word and does not always look so healthy!! The smells, flies and heat are awful!
We are plugging in quickly, I am helping with administrative stuff and Donnie is really enjoying Thailand, already driving all over the place, learning the ropes of doing logistical support. They are purchasing a lot of supplies for the displaced people inside Burma like food, medicine etc.
Ate Korean food the other day and really enjoyed it, we had missed some of it!
We are meeting lots of people from all over the place; people from Burma, Pakistan, a nurse who was volunteering in Burma and fell in love with and married a man from Burma whose Dad was killed by the Burma Army stayed with us last week along with their new baby, A foreign Ambassador was here last week as well. There is a young intern here from University of Texas who is on loan from UT to help with documenting the human rights violations. Lots of people from all different countries and cultures as well as Thai people. They do not speak as much English so we need to learn language quickly-pray for us to be good students and learn quickly, great memory and pronunciation.
We are already learning so much about how to be more Christ like, people we have encountered here are so giving of everything (we have use of a vehicle and guest house, from people we don’t even know). Everyone is helping each other and giving to each other above themselves and their spirit is so gracious about it. I have a lot to learn and a lot to work on.
I do know that the more we have been willing to “give up” in our walk with the Lord the more we have been blessed. When we ask God, listen for his answer and follow him whole heartedly he has a much more abundant life planned for us than we could ever have imagined possible. We are living that life daily! Thank you Lord.
Note from Donnie,
Every day has been a new learning experience for me. As Shannon was saying earlier, the people we are working with are so generous and giving that it really humbles you and makes me realize how selfish we really are.
Thailand is a beautiful country, there are so many flowers of different color everywhere you look. The mountains are green and lush with a very tropical feel. The down side of the tropical feel is the humidity. It is hot and humid but no more so than Texas. We are truly blessed to be able to do what we are doing.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Adjustments
Well, lots of big adjustments to living in Thailand.
We are doing well, sore from all the exercise; it is a little like basic training for us here. But, praise praise I made that mountain yesterday, out of breath and falling down or not I did it, thanks to God who is continuing to heal me daily and give me back the lost years. I can’t explain what it feels like to be able to go over that mountain when I thought I would never be able to do that again. 6 months ago I still could not even step up on my porch without holding onto something.
You have to learn a new language and ways to communicate, where to buy stuff and how to get what you want. What foods to order (most food is awesome, except yesterday when I almost threw up and later found out that next time I need to tell them to leave out the rotten fish juice)!
Directions! Driving on the left hand side! I took the big plunge and drove yesterday out of necessity since Donnie was gone. Yes I did it and made it back alive. Driving on the left hand side of the road in a place you don’t know, trying to look at the map at the same time, shifting gears with the opposite hand, turning on the windshield wipers instead of the blinkers. I know many of you must be praying because if you know me you know I can’t even drive on the right side of the road.
No air condition, no hot water for bathing or dishes, bringing drinking water into the house, trash out to the burn pile, bugs, bugs, bugs everywhere. But, many are our friend, like the Gecko that eats mosquitos except when it scared Donnie by climbing out his bible as he picked it up!!
Snakes, have not seen any yet, I was not too worried because I heard they had only killed one King Cobra on their property, until they said it had eaten another cobra and would chase you and that that did not mean there were not a lot of cobras, they were just not King and to be careful on the mountain trail!
Those of you who use face book I finally joined the face book world. Here is the link.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001325011696
We are doing well, sore from all the exercise; it is a little like basic training for us here. But, praise praise I made that mountain yesterday, out of breath and falling down or not I did it, thanks to God who is continuing to heal me daily and give me back the lost years. I can’t explain what it feels like to be able to go over that mountain when I thought I would never be able to do that again. 6 months ago I still could not even step up on my porch without holding onto something.
You have to learn a new language and ways to communicate, where to buy stuff and how to get what you want. What foods to order (most food is awesome, except yesterday when I almost threw up and later found out that next time I need to tell them to leave out the rotten fish juice)!
Directions! Driving on the left hand side! I took the big plunge and drove yesterday out of necessity since Donnie was gone. Yes I did it and made it back alive. Driving on the left hand side of the road in a place you don’t know, trying to look at the map at the same time, shifting gears with the opposite hand, turning on the windshield wipers instead of the blinkers. I know many of you must be praying because if you know me you know I can’t even drive on the right side of the road.
No air condition, no hot water for bathing or dishes, bringing drinking water into the house, trash out to the burn pile, bugs, bugs, bugs everywhere. But, many are our friend, like the Gecko that eats mosquitos except when it scared Donnie by climbing out his bible as he picked it up!!
Snakes, have not seen any yet, I was not too worried because I heard they had only killed one King Cobra on their property, until they said it had eaten another cobra and would chase you and that that did not mean there were not a lot of cobras, they were just not King and to be careful on the mountain trail!
Those of you who use face book I finally joined the face book world. Here is the link.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001325011696
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Ready to GO AGAIN!
Well a lot has happened since my last post. We had been feeling called to go to Thailand on a 6 month 6 month plan, but it was a huge decision. Donnie's job, retirement plan, health insurance, my health and our house are all also huge blessing's from God.
We needed solid confirmation. We prayed together, asked friends, pastors, trusted advisors! Wow watch out what you ask for! Within one week we got more than ample confirmation. We sold all our stuff in 1 day, leased our house, bought a motor home, got answers from Thailand, had my final MD Anderson appointments moved up and were moved out within the week!
Donnie made the comment the week before the one thing he really missed about our time in Korea was living his life totally dependent on God! Watch out what you say!
One thing we have learned is God can do what was impossible for us to do and when he does it helps confirm that it is him and not us. There is no way we could have done what he did in a weekend.
Not quite sure what all God has in store but we are looking forward to what is to come.
We will miss family and friends, but we will be back in October.
We are leaving Friday morning July 9, 2010 to go to Thailand, 7 YEARS to the day when we left for Korea!
As soon as we get settled we will update our facebook and blog with pictures and further updates.
Please keep us in your prayers as we embark on this new adventure.
We needed solid confirmation. We prayed together, asked friends, pastors, trusted advisors! Wow watch out what you ask for! Within one week we got more than ample confirmation. We sold all our stuff in 1 day, leased our house, bought a motor home, got answers from Thailand, had my final MD Anderson appointments moved up and were moved out within the week!
Donnie made the comment the week before the one thing he really missed about our time in Korea was living his life totally dependent on God! Watch out what you say!
One thing we have learned is God can do what was impossible for us to do and when he does it helps confirm that it is him and not us. There is no way we could have done what he did in a weekend.
Not quite sure what all God has in store but we are looking forward to what is to come.
We will miss family and friends, but we will be back in October.
We are leaving Friday morning July 9, 2010 to go to Thailand, 7 YEARS to the day when we left for Korea!
As soon as we get settled we will update our facebook and blog with pictures and further updates.
Please keep us in your prayers as we embark on this new adventure.
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