Thank You

Oh God, help me not to take for granted all the blessings You poor out to me every day. I have so much to be thankful for; The fifty smiling faces that meets me every morning, waiting to give me a big hug, and take some of my love. All the wonderful food, that will make me roll back to Norway. The beauty of digging and repairing toilets. Children shouting “thank you teacher” “yellow”. Catching fish by hand. Oranges, oranges and more oranges. Snakes. Clean drinking water. Cold showers to wake me up in the mornings. Good health. The ability to sing and play guitar. New friends. Many people receiving Jesus every day. Knew knowledge about food and practical work. Warm clothes. Norwegian melkesjokolade. Walking bare foot.

Thank you my Jesus

FISHING

Today (21.jan.09)I had one of the best days in my life. Pi Tom came to pick me up on his motorbike. We went to pi Pi’s house to eat lunch before meeting the rest of the boys at pi Gjå’s house. From there we went past villages, rice fields, palms, bamboo cabins, rivers, on a small road filled with red African soil, over bamboo bridges, past all kinds of animals, surrounded by beautiful nature, I felt like coming home. We stopped by the riverside and jumped into the water. We went down the stream, and tried to catch fishes with our hands. For maybe two hours I didn’t catch a single fish. But the boys were so excited that I wanted to join that it didn’t matter. They made me stick my arm into deep holes, and told me afterwards that there was either fish, snakes or crabs in the holes… They also picked all kinds of different things from the trees along the riverside, and gave me to eat. I told them to pray for me, that I would catch a fish, and suddenly I started to catch fishes every time I put my hands down in the brown water. I even managed to catch the long fish that was the hardest to catch. We were in the river all day long. I am just getting more and more amazed about God’s wonderful creation. What a creator! In the evening we went back to pi Gjå’s house to make dinner together. I had my first hot shower since I came to Thailand. We cocked, laughed, ate, sang together and told stories to each other. What a wonderful day. I have really got some good friends here in Fang, and it’s so sad we’re leaving to Chiang Mai on Saturday.

You have a Father that loves you

You’re smiling, playing around with the others

And I wonder, have you always been happy?

You see me, you run into my arms

And I wonder, have you ever felt love before?

Your face shines, but pain is in your eyes

And I wonder, what is your story?

You take my hand, and lead me to your mother

And I wonder, are you my brother?

What is your story, what is your name?

Show me your scars, your wounds, your pain

What have I done?

What didn’t I do?

Beautiful little one, you have a Father that loves you

You’re laughing, dancing in the sun

And I wonder, if your heart is cloudy

You’re scared, hiding your face in my lap

And I wonder, where does this fear come from?

You lift your head, you’re watching my face

And you wonder, does she really love me?

I’ m crying, you’re wiping my tears with your hand

And I wonder, will I ever understand?

What is your story, what is your name?

Show me your scars, your wounds, your pain

What have I done?

What didn’t I do?

Beautiful little one, you have a Father that loves you

Weeks have past. New adventures have taken place. Dogs have been eaten. Elephants have been rode. River boats have been taken. Wells have been digged. More chili have been swallowed. New life stories have been shared. New people have received Jesus. New revelations have been given. New steps have been taken. More love has been poured out in my heart.

I had to go to Thailand to understand that God is my everything. I need nothing or no one but Him, who is the only one who can please my deepest longings and inner needs. Thank You Father. I love You!

Fang!

Fang is a very small town with a lot of wonderful people. We are staying outside the town in a beautiful village with a big, green garden, and too many animals that are singing all night long. We have been here for almost two weeks now, and I thank God every day for sending me here. Every day we are at a Shan school where we are having devotion for the children and English teaching for the children and the staff at the school. We are also helping making food for the children, and of course playing with them, and just loving them. Most of the children are refugees from Burma, they all have a life story we can’t even imagine. All of them are poor. Some of the children don’t have parents, they were killed on their way to Thailand. Others have parents that drinks and beats their children. They are so filled with fear, and all they want is just someone that loves them.

As time goes by the more I realize how blessed I am in everything. I have so much to give, because I have received so much from God. And He is still taking me new steps every day, deeper in His love, making me understand more of who He is, and He is building trust in my heart. Almost every day I have to face situations that force me to either give up, or admit that I am weak, and put my trust in God. And God is really faithful.

In the evenings we are going to house meetings on orange farms or rice fields. There we meet people that loves God and people that doesn’t know Him. We share testimonies of what God has done in our lives, we read from the Bible, give word of encouragements, we worship and pray together and we lift His name on high in that place. Every time we see people receiving Jesus. It is powerful.

Thank you so much for prayers. That really makes a difference. I am now totally healthy (in spite of all bugs, crocodiles and frogs I have eaten), and God uses me so much, even when I am not aware of it. But there is always a battle going on, either, physical, mental or spiritual, there is always a fence to climb. But God gives me the strength I need to take one step at a time. He is everything, I am nothing, He knows me more than I even know myself, and still He loves me more than I can ever imagine, and He, the almighty God, He wants to live in my heart and let His kingdom come down on earth through me... That is the greatest of all things.

Today, I've seen...

...many tuck tucks
...a wonderful Philippino man who had teaching with us about Shan culture
...too many white men with Thai women
...a buddhist tample
...many buddhist munks
...an Englishman who stood outside our window all night long, singing "Iwill not go away"
...street dogs and cats
...a little boy looking like Christ Mena
...a PIANO (flygel..) and I played it... Happiness

Chiang Mai

After a 38hours long journey with fever and less of sleep, we finally reached Chiang Mai, where we are going to stay the first couple of days. But even though I was sick during the journey, it was a very nice journey. God gave me strenght, and Ive already experienced so much of Gods faithfulness! He promised to go with me, and He does!
Thailand is a beautiful country with new smells, new sounds, nice people, and yes, Pen Say the most wonderful food!! Wish you where here brother.
The first thing Kim did when we reached Bankok airport was to get on a thick layar of sun lotion, just in case, even though we where to spend the whole day inside the airport... It is actually not so hot here, I am freezing all the time (maybe that says more about me, and the fact that I am still sick, than about Thailand..)
On Friday we are going to Fang where we will stay the next six weeks. Im looking very much forward to that.
Please continue to pray for us as a team, and pray for me that God will heal me completely, so that I can be a part of all the exciting things He has prepared for me here in Thailand.
I just have to say Marte, it was amazing to talk to you when I was in Amsterdam, that was so good for both heart, soul and body! Thank you.
Love you mum and dad, and all you others that are reading this!
Blessings