19 days!

Sawatdee Kah!
I leave in 19 days for Bangkok, Thailand! As you all know, I am going to be joining with NightLight ministries (www.nightlightbangkok.com)--NightLight is an international faith-based organization committed to giving women and children an escape from sexual exploitation, to enable them to discover their dignity, and to provide a program of holistic transformation, empowering them to live and work in their community (thanks Charity for the eloquent description).

I am planning on being in Thailand for the next 6 months! I have raised support for the first 3 months so far and I have a visa for 3 months! Please pray that God will provide a way for me to stay and continue to help at NL! Funds are needed and visa finagling is required!

I fell in love with Thailand and the Thai people almost 5 years ago! The only way that I can describe why I went to Thailand the first time is simply is because God told me to. I knew beyond a doubt that I was supposed to go. I had never ever thought of Thailand before, I had to look it up on a map to even know where it was! I went with no expectations--needless to say, it changed my entire life! My worldview was changed forever; my heart and soul went under a crazy transformation. From the first day back on US soil, I knew I wanted to be back in Thailand. I lived with a Thai family, who are still very much a part of my life. I taught English at a Buddhist University to 4th year English student Monks, travelled the country, lived in remote villages, met amazing indigenous people, attended Chiang Mai University, strolled through markets, ate amazing food made by street vendors, hiked in the jungles, rode elephants, got my first tattoo, wore traditional Karen clothing, sat with 80 year old women on the floor of a bamboo hut and drank tea (made of sticks, leaves and dirt in water), went back into the jungle quarters of monks to spend a day in their life, visited temples and ruins, swam/played/sang/ate homemade coconut ice cream with orphaned karen children, took a train-then bus-then ferry to Ko Sumui island for a two week spring break in paradise....I could go on for days. In fact, many of you have endured my years of reminiscing and i love you for that. I fell in love and I have never been the same. I now have the amazing privilege to look back and realize that God was preparing me. He wanted me to have all of those amazing, unimaginable experiences with the Thai people and culture, so I could intimately understand them. So i could fall in love with them, value them and now desire their freedom!!!

I had no idea that 4 years later, Susan Omanson would introduce me the disgusting reality of human-trafficking. She told me of the existence of Modern-Day Slavery. I learned of the revolting injustice that exists for women and children today! I learned of the constant abuse endured, sexual exploitation, oppression and literal enslavement! Last January, I returned with Susan to Bangkok, Thailand. I met Annie and Jeff Dieselberg and visited NightLight. I was able to get an intimate glimpse into NightLight and immediately my heart was broken. I went on outreach in the streets of the redlight district---- no words can describe what I saw. All I knew, was that I was forever---forever---- committed to ending this epidemic! The sex industry in Thailand is a dark, evil, oppressed place---but in this place are thousands of beautiful, precious lives. Souls that are crying out in the darkness...begging to be free! Annie has worked for years in her ministry with the women and she lives a life worthy of her calling each and every day! I look up to her and knew that God was raising me up to join her and many others in the battle.

Patience does not come easily for me. I have waited a long time to be able to fullfill this dream of returning to Thailand. I can look back and see that God's time is perfect---I love that I can see that the days I spent in "wilderness" were preparing me. I love that I can see back into my childhood, teen and young adult years and realize that the way God made me---that I may have not appreciated at the time--that caused me to be "different" than others---the emotional, analytical, discerning me--- is a perfect me. A 'me' that I can thank God for making me. A 'me' that I am honored to be trusted to be. A 'me' that I am diving deeper into and conditioning. I praise God for my gifts now and I see how they need to be used! I am humbled that I've been entrusted with this life and I am committed to radiating the Holy Spirit and his love.

Friends and Family, please cover me in prayer. I'm headed to the frontlines and I covet your prayers. Thank you, thank you, thank you for supporting me in this journey! I love you, very much!