Today I cried.

I wasn't brave enough to share this, nearly 6 years ago, when I wrote it. We were in the process of moving to Thailand, having sold our home in Georgia, we were living in Michigan with my parents and the kids were 1, 4, and 8.  I was grieving.  Many of you are feeling loss, facing uncertainty, and find yourselves looking back at what was.  Maybe you're struggling to look forward at what will be, because it will be different and uncomfortable.  I hope my story helps you to not feel alone, and more importantly, I pray that God's truth pulls you forward as it did me. 

Max, age 1, got his passport! (He'll be 7 in a few months).

August 2014
Today I found myself focusing on all that I am stepping away from in a few weeks: familiarity and comfort.  We have spent the past 9 months with my family and many adjustments came with that.

It was the longest, coldest winter ever in Michigan and I cried when our van got stuck in the snowy driveway for the third time.  I missed my friends and my church, our grocery stores and the ease of knowing where I could take my kids for fun and educational outings...BUT, our little Mungle family experienced something we've never had before: family living nearby. (The closest our kids have ever lived to family was an 11 hour drive). For the past 9 months we've lived with my parents, 20 minutes from my sister's family, my aunt, uncle, and cousins, and a few hours from my brother and his wife.  For the first time, since we were teenagesrs, my sister could just drop in and visit!

Today we spent most of the day with my sister's family.  She was pregnant when we moved here and now we both have little boys, 8 months apart.  She's watched Max learn to do pretty much everything from grabbing a toy, to crawling, and now walking.  Likewise, every milestone in her son's life happened with us nearby.  So, after a day of swimming and laughing, dinner, and brownies, and pushing our babies in stroller's through the neighborhood, I am sad...knowing that we only have a few more weeks of this until I fly to the other side of the world.

I want to move to Thailand.  I want to love the Lord whole-heartedly and be his hands to serve and love the people there and point them to Christ, the source of love and hope.  I know the promise of Matthew 19:29, but I am sad to leave.

As the kids got ready for bed today, Jack said, "I am a little sad about moving to Thailand."  "Me too," I told him.  He continued, "but I am more excited than sad...I'll probably make friends pretty easily... and get to climb a waterfall."  He made me smile.  We've told the kids that there are adventures in Thailand that you can't have in America.  We've also shared the truth: it won't always be fun, and it will be hard.  We will give up things (sacrifice) in order to serve the Lord there.  Ken and I try to speak the brevity of life into our children and recently we had a big reminder of it.

The day we got the affirmation to move to Thailand, just a few weeks ago, our future co-worker's daughter died.  They had only been in Chiang Mai about 9 weeks when their 6 year old daughter caught a virus.  It was a common virus that occurs all over the world, but in extremely rare cases, it goes to the heart.  (The Lord is using her life to bring others to Christ and the family is suffering with hope and being a light to everyone around them, despite their grief).

Life is a vapor.

God has called us to Thailand and we have been waiting to get there! Before we say hello to fellow workers, church family, and neighbors, we have to say "see ya later" here.  Yes, we will be home to visit, and we will skype and email and text and call, but it isn't the same as snuggling my nephew while laughing with family, or making crafts with my niece and watching the cousins play together...I am just being honest. 

So, where do I go from here?  The Lord keeps bringing this to mind:

• Goodbyes are a result of the fall. 
• Missions is necessary because of the fall.  
• Death is a result of the fall. 

I think it's ok to feel sad about leaving...because this world isn't the way it should be.  One day, missions will no longer be needed because we will be with our Savior! We have eternity awaiting us and one day there will be no more goodbyes or death, PRAISE THE LORD!  But, until then, missions is necessary, and goodbyes are inevitable.

The Lord gave me this verse when I moved to Michigan:

 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, 

for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast

 all the more gladly about my weaknesses, 

so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

What joy!  I hope that verse encourages you like it continues to challenge and uplift me. 


**Update 2020
His grace is still sufficient.  Life here has changed drastically and often daily as the country faces Covid-19.  So as our weaknesses are exposed, our idols made known, I am praying that the Lord uses this time to change us for His glory.  We are praying for you and America as a whole.  Our weakness is an opportunity, and invitation for Christ's power to rest on us.  In a time or sleep deprevation and anxiety, I can think of no better kind of rest.  

The ordinary and not so ordinary

 I thought I'd give you a glimpse into some of the everyday things of life, as well 

as the not so ordinary. This picture sums up Hudson's new favorite thing: climbing, then getting stuck and needing help to get down.

 This was SO unexpected.  A sweet, humble woman from church and Bible

 study surprised me with a gift: this Karen shirt.  In Thai culture you don't open

  gifts in front of each other, so I had to wait until everyone left.  I couldn't smile

 right either, because I had minor dental surgery that left me with a half-smile. ;)

 We had to say goodbye to friend's who have been here 

8 years.  Their son is one of Jack's best friends, and Jack's 

first big goodbye to someone moving. We're so thankful for their

example and impact.

 Ken has a new coffee supplier: this Christian man 

started a rehab facility for convicts to learn to farm and

roast coffee, to live an honorable life.

 Max is using a hand grinder with the coffee beans.

 Oh  look, guess who can crawl on chairs now.

 Max celebrated 100 days of school!

 This was a sick day, (except for Hudson) but they don't look so sick.  This was

day 2 with no fevers.  They probably should have gone to 

school, but I liked having them home. 

 Oh look, he can  climb onto tables too.

Valentines Day!  We ate heart-shaped waffles by candlelight, even though the sun

was still up.  Ken showed off his syrup pouring skills, and I was so excited to find that 

fabric at the market to make a bunting and tablecloth! 

 Hmmm, someone was caught eating the pumpkin I just 

roasted and had cooling on the counter.  Yes, he 

can  reach onto the counters too.

 Produce Aisle!  This isn't a common sight; usually

fruit and vegetable carts are smaller or on motorbikes.  

 It was  such a joy to visit this little church.  The woman in 

the picture below attends church with us.  She also came to Bible study and 

then returned to her village and led many of her family members to Christ!

They now have a church that meets in a field, under this sala. Max is playing

rock, paper, scissors with the boys.

Hudson loves Thai people and this  makes

my heart happy. 

The city we drove through to get to the village is known

for ceramics, so we stopped in to tour the factory. 

 Going to church!

 This was just before we arrived at the church.

Max had an "Insect Museum."  He loves bugs and did 

a great job presenting.   

 He has to rest after all that climbing!  Sweetest moment:

he grabbed his blanket, crawled behind and the curtain and just

stared outside until he fell asleep.

 Somtimes he goes over to his crib just to 

snuggle with his blanket and suck his thumb.  Melts my heart!

 He's 1!  Happy First Birthday.  We played in the 

sprinklers.

 A cake all to himself.

And this kid is 14!! He celebrated with a group of

friends at an airsoft field. 

 Birthday pics with mom.

 When the air is clean enough, Hudson and I walk around

our neighborhood. I was taking the picture below when the owner of the house, said, "Do you want some of the flowers? It startled me!  He's very nice, and his wife attended our Christmas outreach.  I like to walk and pray for our community and hope to meet more people and build relationships...this takes a looong time, but I'm not quitting!

 Our church met at this location one Sunday, and the kids

loved playing on the rocks in the stream.

 Until this day, I have NEVER EVER seen Captain Crunch here!  This

is always the first cereal I eat when I visit the USA.  (and then  I realize I'm not 10 and I can't handle the sugar like I used to.)  I didn't buy it, ($10 a box) but it made me smile.

Look at that, he climbs inside cabinets too.

Happy New Year!

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Oh, this is an exciting event to share with you!  Long story short: Over a year ago, God put the idea in my heart to create a "walk-through the Gospel story" in a way the Thai people could easily understand. 

We asked our small church family to help, and invited our neighborhood, knowing there was the possibilility that no one would come. BUT, the Lord brought neighbors from 5 different homes to come!

When they entered our yard they were greeted and handed an MP3 player with earbuds.  They chose English or Thai language and were guided to station 1, and began listening.

Station 1: 

 They heard about everything having a beginning,except God, and how they are part of the story.  Each person was asked add a brushstroke to the canvas to symbolize their place in God's creation.

 Station 2 is such a contrast, just look at the colors!  It shows death,work, and struggle. They learned how sin entered the world, and the hope that a Redeemer would come.  The people were asked to pick up a rock and carry it the rest of journey to represent the weight of their sin.

 Station 3: God pursues His people.

 Here they heard how God gave them laws to guide them and protect them, how He 

parted the Red Sea, and how he chose unlikely people to accomplish His plan.

 Station 4: Man rejects God.

This wooden chest reminds them of the law being stored away and

forgotten.  The scrolls remind them that God sent prophets to pursue and warn His people, but ultimately they too would reject Him.

 Station 5: The promise fulfilled!

Jesus is born to an unlikely woman, in an impossible way,

proclaimed to unimportant people.  God did what

we wouldn't expect!

 Station 6: Jesus' ministry

Jesus had the ability to heal the sick and perform miracles.

He showed the love of God but also spoke the truth of

who He was: God in flesh.  This angered many.

 Station 7:  The cross

Jesus was killed to pay for our sin.  He was

the bridge between a holy God and sinful people.

Station 8: Burial and Resurrection

The people walked inside the tomb and listened about Jesus

 conquering sin and death!

 Inside the tomb: burial clothes. 

 The people were asked to leave the rock they had been carrying at the tomb, because their sin had been paid through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  

 Station 9: Free resources! There were people abvailable to answer questions and to invite them back to church the next day.

 I'd like to share the pictures of an hour after we began. There is

something sobering about darkness that creates a beautiful background

to walk through and contemplate the truths spoken.

 Many people added to the canvas.

 The darkness drew you in closer to really see

what was happening.

 The children said that going into the tomb was their 

favorite part.  I loved seeing all the rocks left there

 The next day we had church at our house.  Most everyone

asked to walk through the stations again!

 All of these children, yet silence as they listened.

 This mother and daughter made a special trip just to walk through. 

 They attend Bible study at our home.

Thank you for journeying with us, friends.  We ask for your

continued prayers as we seek God in 2020.  May more people

know freedom in Jesus, may husbands join their wives in the joy

of salvation!  Please pray that our family desires Christ above

all, as it is a daily battle.  Finally, please pray for our financial support to increase. This has been a very difficult year financially and we have felt it in ways that cause us to question how much longer we can stay.  

 

 Happy New Year!  May we all have the joy of this kid on a good day. :)

Thank you for loving us.  Our hearts miss you even more at this time of year.