Beauty for Ashes

So much has happened since I last wrote a few days ago. So much in our hearts and minds. I was talking with a few girls here, about the challenges and experiences we have had in the past four weeks. It surreal how fast this has gone by, and even more so, the things which we have seen.

Early Friday morning, our team headed to a youth center to meet up with Phuket Christian Center's youth pastors.  There we began with a devotion and a time to study scriptures. Then we went right into working to bless their Ministry called Pais. It is a year long internship here in Thailand, for students to come and learn about ministry, leadership, scripture studies, relationships...etc.

The youth pastors wanted us to paint, clean, and help them ready the intern house for the incoming students. So our students went to work, and the leaders met together to figure out some future scheduled things. In the afternoon we split the team into three groups. Two groups did sports with youth and one group went to an AIDS home, called Life Home Project.

Ted and I felt we should go to the Life Home Project house, so we left in the afternoon. Stopping along the at a monkey park, where monkeys were everywhere! It was kind of frightening because Sarah, the youth leader told us that we could be attacked by them...she had been before. I was like, oh wow!

When we first arrived at the home for Children living with AIDS. I wasn't at all sure what to expect. Our team of 6 waited for the children to come in, and when they did they were so very thrilled to see us! Most of the children would walk right up to you and hug you with much excitement and joy! 

Life Home Project was a facility envisioned and designed by a Latino man. He had a heart to do something for the children with AIDS. He was also against Christianity, very much so. So for the longest time the youth center was not allowed into the AIDS home. But now they offer to teach the children music and not to teach a Christian teaching ,but just ethics and morals. So God opened that door! The only thing is we could only spend ONE hour with them! 

As the children came in, we began with music teaching, and then children's games. We taught them "Duck, duck, goose" But called it "horse, horse, pig" or in Thai, "Mah, mah, moo". It was a blast! They loved it and we loved playing with them. We also played a few Thai games and then began balloon animals and children's crafts. 

Some of the children, you could see very clearly, they were sick. And some you could see, we very weak. One little girl that really took my heart the moment I saw her. Her name is Fern, and she looks to be about 5 or 6, I later found out that she was 11 years old. And for some reason the AIDS really stunted her growth. Many of the children had the same problem with growth. 

One little boy in particular, named Aaron. He looked to be about 2 years old, and he looked like he had a mental disability. I later asked Sarah to share with me the stories of the children, though I knew it would not be an easy thing to hear. She told me that all of the children we saw except for one, were born with HIV. She shared how Aaron when born he got ill with Mindinjitus which caused a downward spiral. He looks to be two years old in body and mind, yet he is 5 years old. 

Another beautiful girl had such an awful story. Her name was ironically Joy. Her mother was in prostitution where she contracted HIV which turned into full blown AIDS. Her mother gave birth to her and then passed away, leaving Joy HIV positive and orphaned. She was then found out and sent to this Life Home Project. She too looks to be about 5 or maybe six and she is actually 10. Her eyes were completely bloodshot, and she had sores all over her arms and her legs. Sarah told us that they have been working with this place for 9 months now, and Joy each time is worse and worse. 

She also told me that Children in Thailand born with HIV, 65% of the children die before they reach the young age of 12. I was shocked to think about this. That means most of the children in the room with us, would most likely die before their 12 birthday.

As I think about all of these things. And how overwhelming they are. I can't help but ask God what He thinks of these things. Young children who did nothing to deserve what was given to them, and will most likely die with the disease. They already have gone through more than any of us probably have in our 20 years or 50 years. It's unbelievable, and so very sad to think about. 

Ted and I really want to bring another team here, and specifically back into the bars and into the AIDS home. WE MUST COME BACK!

The moments when we walk upon the streets of the Red light district, my heart aches inside as I think of the hardship these women endure. These women, most of them, have not a choice!! The moments when I watch a man walk away with a women, knowing how much he must ache inside, to live the life he lives each day. The moments when we sit, holding a child, who you know will most likely die before the age of 12, my heart aches to think of the physical pain these innocent children will go through. 

Nothing could have prepared us for the things which we are seeing here. I can read, and even do an intense study on these very things, but to experience them firsthand is like nothing I personally have ever felt before. A ache inside, a longing to see freedom breathed throughout this beautiful country.

One night, our team sat on the beach worshipping and praying for Thailand, and I sat stunned, overwhelmed by the numbers and statistics of AIDS and prostitution in Thailand alone. Immediately God reminded me of His glory. He reminded me that in each of use living our lives for Him, here in Thailand, we are spreading His glory. Throughout the streets of the Red Light District, throughout the homes of the children living with AIDS, throuughout the home of abused and used children, throughout ALL of Thailand .

I was reminded of God's authority, and the authority we have in Christ. God is more powerful than that of Buddhism, than prostitution, and AIDS!

Okay, I could keep writing, but I would probably bore you! Thank you for your encouragement to Ted and I in this trip!

Love, 

Jami and Ted

"To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, the joy for mourning, the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, the He may be glorified. " Isaiah 61:3

The Beauty of who we are in Christ

Today began with a horrible stomach ache awakening me, and seconds later my wonderful Hubby walking in our room and kissing my head. For a second I felt a little better.

So this morning in ended up resting in bed, thinking a lot about our time so far in Thailand. I was somewhat saddened to remember we've been here 4 weeks already, and only 4 more to go! It's a bittersweet thing, for we miss our friends and family, but really wish we had more like 6 months here instead.

As I lay in bed, I realized again just how incredible God is. I remember when I first began to get a heart for Thailand was through an old friend. I remember he came back from a Thailand missions trip a few years back, and how he couldn't stop talking about it. I think at first I just wanted something to be passionate about, and then the more I learned the more I truly had a heart for Thailand.

I remember in my DTS when I traveled to Malaysia and Indonesia, and what an incredible experience that was for me. And how much God changed me and challenged me. I believe he is doing even more now!

Now, Ted and I are leading! It is hard to imagine that this would ever happen, and to know I am really not dreaming! It has been difficult leading to be honest. Ted and I both are learning a lot of "do's and don'ts" right now. And hearing even more of what not to do from others around us, which is to be expected.

This is Ted and I's first opportunity to work together in ministry outside of the Denver base, and I cannot even tell you how beautiful it has been. Don't get me wrong, there are most definetely the challenging moments or days, but the beauty of watching each other walking in who we are in Christ, and leading...it's incredible to say the least.

I am so, very proud of Ted and how he leads. How he does not get discouraged and back down. He has a true leader's heart, and he has really surprised me as he leads here. He's really challenged me to not shrink back, but to push forward, despite of the circumstances around me or despite what people think of me.

It has been challenging, personally. I have felt attacked from the moment I arrived until one week ago. I know the enemy would like nothing better than to make me feel like a failure and defeated, especially while I am where my heart has longed to come.

This morning as I thought of this, I realized just how much God has been working on in me in this season. When I look back at the growth that God's done and is doing in Ted and I, I am in awe. Of who God is, and who He is molding us to be!

Basically without God's grace, strength, and l o v e, it would be impossible to go through everything we are going through. One thing I hadn't experienced in leadership until now, was how much you are put under a microscope! It's intense!! You really need perserverance and God's strength to be a leader!

I have felt, (key word felt), like a failure a few times, to say the least. It seems easier to believe lies about myself sometimes, but when I do realize the truth I cling to that. In my moments of weakness, God holds me, and helps me through. Same with Ted. And that is what encourages us.

As we are walking in who we are in Christ, we are being Christ, and therefore we are not failures! And we are NOT of those who shrink back!!

Please pray for us to remember the truth of who we are, and most importantly, to walk in that truth. Please pray for our marriage, as the days are sometimes tiring, that we are still loving with each other. Please pray for guidance as we lead and for us to love our team.

I was thinking a lot this outreach about Tiff and Phil's lives. I've watched their videos countless times, mostly because most of the time it still seems like a bad nightmare to me and to Ted. We watch, sometimes cry with each other. But one thing that God has really pressed on my heart to remember, is who they were. The amazing legacy they left behind.

Tiff's life has helped me remember to be Christ to EVERYONE and to love, truly, genuinely LOVE everyone! And Phil's life has reminded me to serve God with my whole heart, despite everything going on around.

Well, im so sorry this is long. It is my rambling thoughts for the day.

We love you and miss you greatly!!

Jami Joann

Prayer Request

Hey again!

Well I (Jami) is sick right now. I actually have been since our bus ride here a week ago. I am starting to feel really week and tired now that it has been a week. 

The first few days I would just get sick every time I would eat. And now I just get sick. My stomach is really bad right now!

Anyways I know there are my sweet family and church family back there praying for us ,so I thought this would be a good thing to pray for.

Also, a few of our team got "sun poisoning" or at least that is what we think! So they are wiped out too!

Thanks!

Jami

Exploring the Land of Smiles

Thailand Continued...

From Bangkok we then rode a bus 12 hours south to the Island of Phuket. Here we are working with a ministry called S.H.E (Self Help and Empower), a ministry directly involved with the women in prostitution, providing them a way to get out of their lifestyle and into one of freedom. 

The ministry S.H.E. was birthed in Mark & Sharon Biddell's hearts while they served on the coasts of Africa. S.H.E. began in October of 2006, so a little over a year ago now. The ministry has really grown since then, and in June of 2007 they hired 6 former bar workers! And since we have been here in Phuket working with them, they have gotten two more girls!

Each week Mark and Sharon make their way to the Red light district where they have so many relationships with the women and with the managers of the bars. They pursue the women so hardily and faithfully until they choose to make the decision to come to S.H.E. and leave their broken lifestyle behind. 

Once the women decide to leave the red light district, they are able to begin working right away with S.H.E.  Each day from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm they work doing devotions, learning english, cooking, and mostly making jewelry to sell. 

Mark and Sharon then send the jewelry in bundles back to England where they are originally from. And people from their churches and friends and family buy the Jewelry to help support these women here. 

Right now I am sitting at a table where the girls are working hard making beautiful jewelry. They are taking their time, and making sure everything is perfect to be sold. 

(At the Well in Bangkok there were about 30-35 women working! I'm sure soon the S.H.E. will be filled as well! How awesome is that!! God is moving ALOT here and it's encouraging to see!)

When I walk the streets of the Red light district, knowing that there is more going on than that which meets the eye, I feel so burdened. There are so many women working in prostitution on one street alone, its almost unbelievable to think that there are 2 million women in Thailand working in this "industry". 

I walk the streets feeling overwhelmed, then I remember how impacting it can be to speak to just one or two women, just being there to listen as they share. The language can be a hinderance somedays but as I saw in Bangkok, God moved us past that and really impacted the girls' lives and ours. I can feel God's glory showing throughout all of this despite where we are. He is victorious still!! And THAT is what keeps me moving forward in pursuing these women.

They need love that is pure, unbroken, and true. They need the Redeemer, to know they are loved and free. He will pursue after them even when we are gone, and THAT encourages my heart. 

Please pray for movement in Thailand, and the surrounding nations that deal with this very thing. Please pray for truth to spread farther than the deciet. God is more powerful than anything, and even death which I learned this year. 

I'll write again soon with another update, and hopefully photos!!

The Land of Smiles - Thailand

Sawadee kah!! (The traditional Thai greeting)

Hello from Thailand!

We are now entering our fourth week of outreach this next Monday, which is hard to believe! How fast time here flies! 

We have had a busy schedule since we've arrived. Our first two weeks were spent in Bangkok, getting to know the culture, the religion, and how the people live. One of the first things that we did on arrival, was a temple tour. Which  I believe I shared in the last email update. But just in case you didn't get it, we went on a very long temple tour of four temples in Bangkok. One with the largest Buddha in the world, we were told. 

The tour really opened my eyes, and the eyes of many others on our team, of the grasp that Buddhism has on Thailand, and India. It is very sad. You can literally feel the oppression somedays, of how lost the people here are.  Please pray for us as we are here spreading God's glory throughout the areas we come to. 

A few nights after our arrival, we headed to the Red light district in bangkok. The red light district is a place where women of all ages sell themselves to customers. This is where is got rough on the eyes. To actually see what we have read about and learned about, was horrifying. How young some of the girls are who work in the bars, offering themselves for money that they need and do not have. 

The guys on our team mostly did a prayer walk, while the entire group of girls and myself, walked up to different bars to begin relationships with the girls. 

The women in those places all are longing for love, a true fulfilling love. Every women that I came in contact with, after a while of talking, would tell me how they are not happy. I heard some very disturbing stories of their lives while we were down there. And to know that it is their reality was very hard. 

One group of girls in particular in Bangkok, I really felt led to build relationship with. There were four of them, and three of us. The first night we met them, we went to their bar, ordered some waters (which is required in order for them to talk with us), and then started conversation with one girl. Her name was Jiip, and she was just 19, and very beautiful. She looked so young and innocent.

She didn't speak much english, so it was hard at first. She didn't understand why were were there.  She every 15 minutes would have to go back inside to work, and then she would come back out. She introduced us to two other girls as well. Elle 25 and Weet 23. Both who were completely outgoing and smiling in your face. We later met Faah who was 31. She was sent out to us by the manager to see why we were there chatting. Faah's story was so hard once she shared. She had been in the "industry" now for 11 years, and now at 31 years old she is trying to get out and raise enough money for her and her 10 year old daughter to get an apartment. 

We told the girls we would be back for the next 4 nights to hang out. And every night we did just that, each night it got a bit harder to communicate more, so we finally brought a translator with us. She was an amazing blessing. 

The third night there all of the girls showed their true emotion of what they were doing. EVERY girl told us they were not happy, they did not want to be doing what they were. They told us of how they need to get a certain amount of customers each day and night, and how they had to pretend to be happy in order to do just that. I ached when I saw Elle 25, cry to us as she shared how much she hated dancing and working there. She wanted out. 

The awesome thing about building relationship with them was letting them know there WAS  a way out. See, during the day our team would work with a place called the Well. Which was a place of refuge for the women who wanted out of prostitution. These women would be working at the Well, making handmade cards, and jewelry. And each of them made money to live off of while working. They also had the opportunity to learn english and have Bible studies and worship each morning. 

When the translator with us, shared to the girls about this opportunity, they all leaned in to hear what she had to say. So now that they know, we've given them the Well's cell number as well as taking their numbers to share with the Well and they will continually contact them until they decide to come!

The fourth night we visited them, and this time the manager kicked us out. We knew this was coming, and we were just happy to be able to be with them for three nights. So we said goodbye to the girls and prayed and blessed them. 

I have never experienced ANYthing like being with the four of them, learning about their lives, and aching for them to be free. It was a bittersweet thing. Please pray for Elle, Weet, Jiip, and Faah whenever you think of me over here. Because right now that is what is burdening me for prayer, more than anything else. 

Well, while in Bangkok we also did kid's ministries. We went to a slums area and did puppets, and dramas to get children to come out and watch, and SO many of them did from the surrounding areas. We ended the ministry time by face painting and balloon animals which they of course loved. 

We also did alot of random prayer walks, and random acts of kindness, as well as intercession times, and worship times. So far this outreach has shown itself to be incredible, and God once again has shown himself faithful.

Well we love you and will see you soon!

Love, Jami & Ted

The Beauty of Eagle Rock

Summer fading into fall.

Sunshine.

His magnificence shining throughout nature.

Beauty.

Thought you all might enjoy a little splendor of the Eagle Rock Campus!

Love, Jami

(photos: ours)