Saturday with Burmese Friends

A few Saturdays ago, we were able to spend most of the day with some of our Burmese friends. Our normal English class had been cancelled and Lulu asked if we would join her, Mun, and Jacienda in going to visit 'the sick and the lost.' We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into, but it was such a great time!
We started the morning at Lulu's house. She, Mun, and Jacienda live together in an apartment. You haven't heard much of Jacienda (because we just now finally learned her name!) but she also lives with Lulu and Mun. She has only been in America for a few months so she cannot speak much English yet, but we are able to communicate with her through the others and through laughter. She has the sweetest smile. So we went to their apartment for a couple of hours. It was such a sweet time. We sat on the floor and on the couch and hung out just like we would with any of our best friends. We talked about what all had been going on with each other since we were last together and encouraged one another with struggles we were facing. We also shared with the ladies about discipleship and encouraged them to pray for God to lead them to someone in their own circle of influence to personally disciple. I was able to share about girls who have invested in me and also to share Biblical references of Paul discipling Timothy and Joshua following Moses. Join us in prayer for these Burmese ladies to have the wisdom and courage as they begin to invest the life of another believer. Also, if you are not discipling someone yourself, pray that the Lord will lead you to someone spiritually younger than you are. See where the Holy Spirit is already at work and pour into them. It is biblically clear that we are to disciple, and the reward is immeasurable. Before we left our friends' home, we spent time together in prayer and they also shared some jalebi (a famous Indian dessert) with us.

Jalebi 

Jacienda, Mun, and Lulu praying together

We then left their apartment to go visit a small family of four. They had been in America for about 3 months. Their youngest child had been in the hospital for a few days (hence 'the sick') so we went to visit them and pray for him and the family. The children and mother are pictured below. Lulu shared with us that she remembered her first few months in America and the loneliness she endured, so she tried to visit as many new refugees as she could to share the love of Christ with them. My heart was so blessed by her compassion.

Jacienda, Mun, and Monica on our way to visit the family

Our last stop was to visit a couple of men who had been at the birthday party we we went to back in December. They had not been able to come to English class but wanted to have us over for lunch. We learned that they were Buddhist (hence 'the lost') and were able to share a meal with them and pray with them. These men were so kind. They shared about their families back home and even showed us some photos. They were so gracious and fed us a HUGE lunch of Mayanmar food. Please pray for their salvation.

Lunch of rice, tilapia, chicken, fried eggs, greens, fish paste, oranges, and juice 

Praise God for these sweet sisters in Christ. We loved spending the day with them. Please continue or begin to pray for them as they reach their own people group in Nashville.

As I promised in my newsletter..

The picture of our family is a couple of posts below.
We have finally learned their names! With the help of their case worker :)

Named left to right, front to back is:
Eh Poh Shee (7), Ker Pre Paw (9), Sar Eh Poe (4), and Eddy Noh (8)
Cha Eh Pwo (15-son), Chit (grandfather), Paw Nee Le Wae and baby (daughter), Jon (son), and Hella (grandmother)

Their family situation is complex. The four young children are Chit and Hella's grandchildren. We are not sure what exactly happened to their parents- whether or not they are still in Myanmar or have passed away. Cha Eh Pwo, Paw Nee Le Wae, and Jon are Chit and Hella's children. Paw Nee Le Wae and Jon have been in America for about a year and a half and they both speak broken English. We are so thankful for this. Jon has come over to interpret each time we have gone to visit the family.

We have been warned that our family has a low expectancy rate to survive, much less thrive, in America. Burmese refugees struggle in general with assimilating into American culture. But, with Chit and Hella being older and uneducated and the children being so young, they have a very rough road ahead of them. This could be very disheartening. But, we know and believe that God is sovereign. We are here to love them, encourage them, teach them, and most importantly point them to Jesus. He is Provider.

For those of you interested in learning more about the refugee system and about Myanmar/Burma, I have attached a few links:
http://worldrelief.org/Page.aspx?pid=1154
http://www.unhcr.og/refworld/country....THA.4562d8cf2.4aa0d386.0.html
http://www.refugeesinternational.org/where-we-work/asia/burma

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

God's hand has been so present since we got back to Trek-X in January. First Priority at Overton High is really taking off. The students are eager to learn about the Lord. And we have staff who are eager to help out as well. We are just awaiting approval to meet on campus and the club will officially begin! Pray for favor at Overton. We've also been planning lessons with our Burmese friends and getting to share Christ with them. We are teaching them both spiritual disciplines and practical life skills. Pray for these sweet friends, especially Lulu and Mun. They have such a burden and a love for the people of their culture. Also pray for Myra. She is an older Burmese lady who came to our last Saturday meeting. She is Buddhist and certainly does not see her need for a Savior. Pray for the eyes of her heart to be opened. This video was taken one Saturday after we had finished sharing with about 20 people. We stayed to hang out with a few of them while they practiced worship songs for their church. Excuse the video quality :)

The Lord has opened another door for us in the Burmese community. We were able to "adopt" a refugee family. They have been in America now for almost 2 weeks. As we are still getting to know them (and working through language barriers), we are praying for God to give us opportunities to love on them in hopes that we will build relationships and eventually get to share the Good News of Jesus with them! Please pray for this family as they assimilate into American culture. We already love them and can't wait to see what the Lord does in their lives.

Meet our family...

MAY THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONTROL US

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has had a blessed start to the new year. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for 2011. I just wanted to write and let everyone know that Trek-X picks back up on Monday, Jan. 10th. We are heading back to Nashville tomorrow afternoon (snow allowing!) I am asking that you pray for us as we begin this new semester.

• Pray for protection from the enemy as he will be attacking while we try to get back into the swing of things. (1Peter 5:8) 
• Pray for our school work. (This is my New Year's Goal) Pray for a positive attitude and thankful heart toward it. May God be glorified through my college! (Colossians 3:17) 
• Pray for favor as well as wisdom and discernment concerning our different ministries in Nashville (Lulu and the Burmese community, World Relief, and First Priority in our high schools). 
• Lulu and the Burmese have been meeting while we have been home and we are looking forward to getting back together. (Hebrews 10:24-25) 
• We will be deciding wether or not we want to adopt a family from World Relief or put all of our focus into the Burmese community- please pray for direction. (Proverbs 3:5-6) 
• And lastly, (I have exciting news!) a teacher from Overton High School called my partner Josh and asked to set up a meeting when we get back in to town. She wants to hear more about First Priority and sort things out to hopefully start a club on campus! Praise the Lord! This is such an answered prayer. A teacher sponsor was the only things stopping us from meeting on campus. Pray the Lord will continue to open doors and lead us through them. (Philippians 4:6-7)  

Though I have LOVED being home with my family for the holidays and will miss them, I am excited about getting back to Nashville. Be looking for updates on how the first month or so goes. Let me know of ways I can be praying for you!! 

Happy New Year! 

Jeremiah 29:11

Merry Christmas!!

O come all ye faithful;

Joyful and Triumphant. 

O come ye, O come ye 

to Bethlehem. 

Come and behold Him; 

Born the King of Angels. 

O, Come let us adore Him, 

O, Come let us adore Him, 

O, Come let us adore Him, 

Christ the Lord. 

Merry Christmas everyone!! May we adore Jesus this Christmas. I love you all!

Happy Birthday Augestino!

Last Wednesday evening our Burmese friends invited us to a birthday party. They invited us to come celebrate and asked Josh to preach :) When we arrived, we were welcomed into their small apartment and asked to wait as they brought more people. This was a big event for them! There were about 20-30 of us packed in this small apartment, when Lulu asked us to lead their party- they wanted an American party. We went from being guests to a little boy's birthday party to being the hosts in a second! They love to play games so we played Simon says and the hokey pokey (trying to explain that "hokey pokey" doesn't even mean anything in english was hilarious!) Then they asked to sing Christmas songs. We sang Away in a Manger as Lulu interpreted, then we all sang Joy to the World together in both English and Myanmar. Their anticipation for Christmas really put me in the spirit.

Then we finally got to meet the birthday boy. His name is Augetsino and he was turning 2! They brought out his cake and asked us to place the candles. They wanted us to spell Augestino but we decided to just go with an 'A' :) However, Lulu insisted we use all 24 candles to make it. The cake was so hot! Then we all sang Happy Birthday together and laughed and clapped. Their excitement about the smallest things is so fun to be around.

Before we left, Josh shared God's Word with them. We shared Matthew 28:18-20 and he spoke to them about how God has all authority and we find our comfort in that He is always in control and always with us. Some of the Burmese people desire God's Word so strongly. Their hunger for the Truth is such an encouragement to us. They thanked Josh again and again for being bold and sharing with them. And thanked us for coming. If they only understood that we are just as blessed by being with them.

God is expanding the love in my heart for the Burmese community in Nashville. Please continue with me in prayer for them. Many of them need jobs and really need to learn English to operate in America. But more than that, many of them need Jesus. And praise the Lord, He has raised up believers within their own community. Who better to reach the Burmese than another Burmese? The way some of them love life and desire to know God more excites me! It reminds me that I have a great purpose on this earth. We all do. And I pray that we fulfill it. Hope you enjoy the pictures and video!

His Grace is Enough

Well, it's been over a month since I've written. A lot has happened in a month! But, school ruled most of my time the past few weeks. But praise God, I finished Monday!! I believe that the Lord really used my school work to test me and stretch me this semester. And I believe Satan took complete advantage of every opportunity to attack me concerning school. But God's grace alone got me through it. Jesus was my sanity during those last few weeks of the semester. So...to update you on what all has gone on other than college...

We've continued going through Acts, reading The Pursuit of God, and doing our in-depth analysis of the New Testament.
In the past month and a half we were blessed to meet some really special people. Peter Abungu, our contact in Kenya, came to visit. He shared about the ministry the Lord has given him in Kenya and challenged us spiritually. I was so encouraged by Peter's testimony and how strongly I felt the presence of God every time we were around him. (I also fell in love with all things Africa :)
We also met Heather Mercer, who some of you may remember. Heather was imprisoned in Afghanistan in 2001 for sharing her faith. The Lord has given her a heart for Afghan and Iraqi people and has blessed her ministry with them greatly since 2001. We were able to spend time with Heather and her newly wed husband Mohaned, hearing about their lives and praying with them. To hear how God is at work globally is energizing!
We also had a new door open for ministry. World Relief is an organization that empowers the local church to stand for the vulnerable. (worldrelief.org explains in it detail- it's an amazing organization) World Relief helps new refugees assimilate into American culture and become self-sustaining individuals. However, because they receive government funds they are limited as to what the can do for the refugees eternally. But this is where volunteers like us come in! Volunteers help set up apartments for new families and help them move in. They can also "adopt" a family, befriend them, and hopefully be able to share the Gospel with them. We will not be able to adopt our own family until January, but we have been setting up apartments, meeting neighbors of the new families, and praying for them for a few weeks now and the blessing that comes from it is overwhelming. It is such a perfect opportunity to show someone the Love of Jesus Christ.
As for the things we have been involved with for a while..Lulu and our Burmese friends are great! God is truly at work among the Burmese community in Nashville. They hunger and thirst for His righteousness. The connection we have with them is no doubt the supernatural work of God. And First Priority is also going well. I have moved to Overton High School. Brentwood Middle already has a Christian club and was really not showing much interest in another. So, after time in prayer, I moved to Overton with Josh to help start a club there. I see now that God moved me at just the right time- all of our students so far are females so it's good for me as a female to be there. But God has answered our prayer in giving us some believers at Overton who have a strong desire to make Him known on their campus. We cannot meet on campus until it is approved by the principal and we have a teacher sponsor, but we have been meeting at a church and discipling these girls and preparing them to lead the club. God gave us some warriors! They are so excited about being a part of Kingdom work and have even been praying with their teachers. I cannot wait to see what the Lord does at Overton in the next two years.

Josh, Peter, Mohaned, Heather, me, Monica, and Chris 

Please continue to pray for Trek-X and what all is going on here. Prayer is the force behind our work as Christ followers. Thank you and God bless you!