Tuesday, June 23: Living in America

So it has been a while and a lot has happened. We are in the states and are as settled as we can be right now. We live with my grandmother in her basement and house sit for friends fairly often. We settled into the church that my parents go to and where I grew up and are happy there. I have a lot of old friends there and they have a lot babies which makes Bum happy. We have been to Florida to see Bob and Jackie (Bum's Farong Parents) and their family and will be going back down to see them and Burt and Teresa (some of our good friends) in a few weeks. There should also be a missionary house coming in about a month so that we can feel a little more at home.

While we have been here our plans have changed a little again. Instead of starting at an extension of a seminary and taking four years to finish we will both work for a year and then move to live on campus at which ever school I finally decide to go to. This will still give us a lot of family time and allow me to finish my schooling in half the time we thought. Right now I am looking at Southern and New Orleans (both southern baptist seminaries) but want to go and look at the campuses and talk to the professors before deciding.

Bum is still working on and waiting for her green card stuff to come through. We have received the notice from the government that they got our first batch of paper work and we are waiting for instructions on what to do next. Pray that this process will be done in a timely manner and we are not just left waiting around forever.

I will try to post some pictures soon so that you can see what all is going on. And I am going to get back onto a regular posting schedule.

Until next time. God bless

April 25, The Last Time Until Next Time

I was going to do this the other day at home before Bum and I left Chiang Rai but the internet was not working right. So now I am in the room of one of Bum's friends without any of the pictures I was going to include in this post. I guess I will go ahead and make this really short because we are about to go out to eat and then hang out with some of her childhood friends. We are leaving Thailand on May 8th at 5:30 in the AM. We will arrive in ATL on the 8th at about 2:30 I think. This will be the last time that I will have access to the internet and so I will let you all know how the journey went when we are in states and fully rested. Please be praying for Bum and I during our last two weeks here in Thailand and that God would be glorified in our lives. Thank you all for your love and support.
Grace,peace and love form God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

April 6, The Rush Begins

So this morning I woke up and to Bell yelling for me in front of the house. Turns out that every time her or Ben opens the gate Cookie, our spasmatic crack addict puppy dog, takes off down the street. I don't know when or why this has started happening but I am the only one she will come back for. So I walk out onto the front porch in my boxers and nearly disintegrated Grapico tee shirt and yell down the street. Cookie comes flying back into the gate onto the tiled porch and crashes into shins with all the force a twitchy little puppy can muster. She then lays on her back and shakes as though her body was not her own but was being controlled by some drunken brain parasite. She does this until I pet her, smack her, or go back inside, in which case she wines until I go back outside and do one of the first two options. Makes me wonder why she loves me so much. I am the only one who beats her. I usually do this a few times a day because she is chewing on or eating everything, or she digs random holes of varying depths and widths all over the yard. I don't think I love God with half the passion that my puppy loves me. He disciplines me far less than I deserve and loves me much more that I am worth. Thanks for the example Cookie.

Any way after that I got dressed and drove my motorcycle up to the mountain where I buy my tea. I bought 2 kilos for while I am in the states and as gifts for relatives that Bum and I are about to visit. I drink a lot of tea and it is a lot cheaper here than in the states. I payed about $30 for the tea I got today verses about $100 for the same type and quality in the states. I was going to have some pictures of the mountains and views (this is one of my favorite places in all of the North of Thailand) but it is the end of burning season and visibility is next to nothing and a gray haze covered most of the scenery. The drive was still very enjoyable however.

After I got home I spent the next several hours packing and sorting and thinking and sorting and packing some more. This is probably all I will do while I am at home for the next few weeks. I will not be home that much though. We leave on the 9th to go to Bum's parent's house (8 hour drive) to take the first load of our stuff down plus stuff from the house that they wanted that we will not sell. we are also taking some stuff from Bell's dorm while she is on summer break. Bum's dad will drive his truck and Bum and I will be in our tiny Dihatsu Mira. Then we will go down to see her grandmother, aunts, and uncles in the south (13 hour drive). They live on the far side of a 10,000 square rai (a rai about the size of an acre) palm grove on the Thai-Burma border. After that we drive to Phuket (pronounced with a P) to see another aunt on the way back to Bum's parent's house (with the detour I am guessing about 16 hours of driving). Then Bum and I will use her dad's truck to come back to Chiang Rai and get the rest of the stuff that we need to take down to her parents before we leave (another 16 hours round trip). During all of this we will be home for about 5 or 6 days starting the 7th. Please be praying that we get done all we need to do before we leave.

We are going to be very busy but I will try to post one more time before we leave. We will not have internet access at her parent's house so it will be on the 20-23rd. Thanks for reading and please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Thai fun fact (this is more of an observation than a fact): The average speed on the highway in Thailand is between 50-60mph (85-100kph) for most cars and trucks. Bum's dad tends to drive a little slower than average and I drive a little faster, so between the two of us we get where we are going the same time as everyone else.
Motorcycles (most of which are 100-125cc) average about 40mph (60kph). I tend to drive about 50mph (85kph) on my little 100cc Honda Dream. I am going to miss my hog.

April 4, Done and Done

Everything at the university is as finished as it can possibly be. My internship was a success. I gave my presentation, turned in all the reports and forms, and received a pass from the internship department of MFLU. I think I will have to go back one more time to request transcripts but that should not be a problem (he says with doubt tucked snuggly behind the words).

Bum, Ben (her youngest sister), and I all went to Chiang Mai a few days ago so that Bum could interview for a new visa. The interview went great (THANK YOU GOD) and Bum got a one year visa to come to the states. We have bought the tickets and will be arriving in ATL on May 8th. Before we leave we will be traveling a lot to see Bum’s family in the south and moving some of our stuff down to her parent’s house so they can use it while we are gone.

To those of you who have told me that if there is ever anything you can do to help just let you know, I am letting you know. I will be applying for seminary while we are in the states and will need a lot of financial assistance. I will work as much as I can but will not take out any loans at all. The reason for this is that if I am accepted I will move back to Thailand as soon as I finish with school. My plan is to move back and start a house church in the area where Bum went to high school. The city there is several times larger than Chiang Rai but with almost no Christian presence. This is a direct contrast to where we are now where there are many denominations represented each having several missionaries and several active and growing churches. I want to preach where Christ is not yet being preached. I do not feel I am ready to do this and so will be pursuing a seminary degree. Also my visa here will depend on me working. The government in currently working on passing legislature that will make it to where all teachers, foreign and native, will have to have a masters degree in order to teach. Teaching is what I love to do (that is still amazing to me) and will afford me ability to support my family and church if need be. However; in order for this all to happen I will need your help in the near future. If you would like to help financially please write me and let me know so that I can start to budget and plan for what I will have and what I will need. You can email me at life_nchrist@yahoo.com or at lifenchrist@gmail.com.

I would like to mention here that if it had not been for the support of a small handful of financial supporters and a large number of prayer supporters the ministry, work , and witness that I have been able to do among my friends and neighbors here in Thailand would have been very unlikely. So to those of you who have supported and prayed for me over the past 4 years. I ask that you would continue with me in this next chapter of my life and beyond to what ever it is that God is and will call me to do.

Also, Bum and I would love to come and talk to your Sunday school classes, small groups, or churches as a whole. If you would like for us to come and share with you let me know and we can set a date.

Grace, peace, and love

February 23, Nearly Finished

I have about three more weeks and then I am totally finished with all of my internship and the university. I am not real sure how I should feel. I know some people get emotional when they come to the end of a chapter in their life such as this. I guess I am just not an overly emotional person. I am ready to get on with what is next to worry about drawing out what is finished. I am trying to finish strong and keep the momentum going as Bum and I start the next leg of out journey. I am not going to go into what that will be right now but I will update you next week.

As for things that have been going on these past two weeks, we went to the Universities graduation ceremony. Actually we went to take pictures with friends before the ceremony because no one is allowed in the auditorium except students, professors, staff, and special guests. The student body has outgrown the auditorium where the graduation takes place so no one gets in that does not have to be there. It was as much fun as a guy who dislikes taking posed pictures in front of hundreds of people can have doing just that. I am very proud of my friend Naamwaan though, who received first honors and the gold coin for being top in her class. Here is a picture of us just before the ceremony started.

This is Bum, Ngor (Pronounced Ng and then /a/ as in call), Naamwaan, and me. This is at about 7:30 in the AM and is not one of the posed pictures I was complaining about. I may put one of them up at a later date when I am feeling like embarrassing myself.

In other news. We went to the hospital to visit Fah's (one of the girls Bum is dicipling) mother. She is there waiting for her third chemo treatment. I am pretty sure that we were some of the only visitors outside of family that went to see here and I think the visit meant a lot to her and to Fah. Me, Bum, Pbet, and Aew (Pbet is the music minister at our church and Aew is his wife) all went to see her and took her some milk. She said the smell of anything else makes her sick. We also had time to pray for her while we were there. As far as i know this is the first time that Fah's mother has had anyone pray for her while she was there.

That is about all for now. If you would please be prating as Bum and I are making some pretty big decisions right now and want to know that what we are doing is what we need to be doing. I am a firm believer in doing something and then letting God show you as you are going where exactly you should go, or even if you should stop and turn around. So we are walking and praying for guidance and for doors to be shut or opened as God directs out steps. Thank you all for your support.

Fun Fact: For the most part in Thailand the police work a nine to five schedule. So most days after five o'clock there are only one or two police in the station and everyone else is at home. At least this is how it works in Chiang Rai. I am sure that in larger cities they are more of a presence.

Fun Picture

I love Ice cream!!

February 7, 09: Worm Free is the Way to Be

So my stomach has been acting a little funnier that usual for past few months. I couldn't figure out why this was. Surely it had nothing to do with the market and her food that was left out uncovered and at ambient temperatures from morning until whenever the sellers decided to close shop. Neither could it have been due to the fact that washing the dishes sometimes means (at least I have seen this as several small shops) dipping the plates, cups, utensils, and bowls into one big bucket of water wiping them off with your hand or the rag that has been soaking in the bucket and then shaking the excess water off; job done. Needless to say I was pretty sure that there was something that had taken up residence in my guts. So, Bum recently went to the pharmacy and bought some worm medicine for the two of us. I have heard that doctors recommend taking worm medicine 2-3 times a year. This was my first time and Bum said it has been maybe 10 years. You can all rest easily knowing that this medicine killed whatever was in my stomach. I know this because about 2 hours after taking the pills serious nausea and stomach bubbles erupted from deep withing my bowels. (THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS POTTY TALK IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED PLEASE SKIP AHEAD) I am guessing that whatever it was did not like what was going on and wanted to get out before it died. It did not. Everything stayed down and the following morning came out (almost before I was ready). Bum made it to the bathroom first and I paced back and forth in the den waiting and thanking God for killing the vile gut demons and asking him to extend his grace until I could make it to the designated drop off point. (POTTY TALK OVER) So now all is normal in my innards and I think I am the only crated thing using my body. Here are some pictures of the stuff I took.

February 3, 09: Becoming nothing for the sake of others

Happy Birthday Jordan. It is Jordan's (my little brother) birthday today and just I just wanted to take the time to say happy birthday. I have been thinking a lot lately about relationships and my interactions with people. I think the main thing that has popped out at me as I have been thinking and meditating on this topic is that they all depend on me. The Bible never puts the emphasis on the second party with regards to the health or well being of the relationship (unless I have missed something). It all comes down to us and how much we are willing to put into the relationship and take out of our selves. If we look at Philippians 2:1-8 we can see that we are to be radically other centered. Two weeks ago I was sharing on this passage in a small group and I was saying that we are called to count others as more important than ourselves, to put others before us, and consider ourselves as less for the sake of others. An objection was raised to this on the grounds that in a book this person was reading (I am guessing by a Christian author) it said that we are all equal. They seemed to be getting upset because I said that they need to think of themselves as less important and of others as more. I did not really understand how this person could read what we were reading and question the fact that Paul is telling us to let go of the equal standing we have with others and become their servants. Paul tells us verses 3-4 and then grounds this with verse 5 and expounds 5 with 6-8 how can you say "I deserve to be treated the same as others and should not think that anyone is more important than me but that we are all equal and deserve the same." Christ gave up his glorious equality with God and "made himself nothing(vs 7)" and then once he was nothing (i.e. a servant in the form of man) "he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."(vs 8) Here we see dual humility by becoming nothing and then becoming an accursed nothing (cursed is any man who hangs on a tree). How can anyone say that we deserve to think of ourselves as equals when Paul gives this example of how we are to think of ourselves as Christ thought of himself. We must be willing to let go of our "rights" and our "entitlements". Once this is done and we are no longer holding to anything that we feel we deserve we will be free to love as Christ loved. Only if we become nothing will we be able to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. I say let us become nothing with Him. Let us become the servants of all. As the writer of Hebrews said "let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured."(vs 13:13)

Sorry for that rant but I am growing weary of people being so seeker sensitive that they candy coat the Bible to the point that you can't get to the meat of scripture for thick candy shell of worldly wisdom and man centered application. (In with the good air... out with the bad.)

Bum and I are doing well and thank you for your prayers. I went and discussed the terms of my upcoming position at NES Language School. God has provided this position for me to meet the financial needs that Bum and I will have. She will be leaving her position at the church at the end of March which will make me the sole bread winner of the house. My financial support has gone from a small group of people and a small church to two people and a small church (I thank God for your steadfast devotion and support for what I am doing and your willingness to give, even when you did not really have it to give.). This new job will give us more money than our previous incomes combined. God is so good to us. I will be teaching 20 hours a week to children and adults. Odds are that all of the studnets I will come in contact with will be unsaved, unchurched, and unenterested. Pray that my life will be witness and example of Gods love and that doors will be opened for me to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. I already have good relationships with most of the staff at the school and have been able to talk in depth about what I believe with one of the ladies (her name is Nid) in the office. She has told me several times that if she had the time she would like to come to church with Bum and I. I hope to be able to start studying the Bible with her after I start working there.

Please continue to pray for us and the work we are doing. I will finish my internship on Feb. 27th and will start working at NES on either the 9th or the 16th. Bum will be oficially unemployed at the end of March and has about 100 different things she has been thinking about doing. Pray for guidence for us both as we are starting new chapters in our lives.

As soon as I remember to hook up the camera I will have some pictures of the last few weeks for you. Maybe this will happen later in the week.

He must increase, but we must decrease.
Glynn and Bum

P.S. Sorry for spelling and grammar mistakes that I am sure are all through this post. The spell check is not working and we all know I am not a speller.