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One of the great things about living in Thailand is that not many people speak English.  What?!  Does this make it harder for us to communicate? Most of the time.  Does it mean we have to study more to learn the language?  Definitely.  But so far, we have enjoyed the challenges of learning Thai- even those times when we thought we were ordering noodles and got white rice instead. Because English is valued but not always available, we find ourselves in a unique position to use teaching English as a tool to build relationships. Dave has built a relationship with a Buddhist man by meeting twice a week to practice English and Thai.  He has really grown to look forward to these days when he can sit and talk with his new friend.  Eric has also begun teaching English to several new believers from our church. Every Monday I go to the local bar area where I, and several other missionaries, meet with bargirls to practice English.  We are excited t...

Traditionally when a missionary family makes a transition from one country to another, they have a Stateside trip in between to prepare them for the new nation. After much prayer and consideration, we felt that we were to make the move to Thailand directly from the Philippines. With a joyful but also heavy heart, we said goodbye to our Filipino home and on April 15, 2014, we moved to Thailand. We did some serious downsizing, we were able to reduce our family belongings to just a few suitcases and boxes. At the Manila airport on the big moving day, about to get on our flight to Thailand. We have been in country for less than a month. During that time we started language learning, we bought a car and started to learn to drive on the left side of the road (it’s easier than you think), Gabriella started preschool at a Thai school, and we started doing ministry. Driving on the left side of the road will take some getting used to, but so far so good. Lunchtime ...

Recently I was blessed to travel with Go To Nations president Jerry Williamson (pictured below) and his team of pastors and ministers. He took them on a trip to Davao, Philippines for a pastors conference for church leaders who minister to the tribal people groups in Southern Philippines. Some readers may recall I have served this effort  before . On this trip we met Pastor Manuel (pictured below with his hands raised). He has an interesting history; he is a former cannibal. Now he leads a very different life as the pastor of his church among his tribe, and also as a missionary to other tribes in Southern Philippines. The tribes that were once his enemies, they are now his mission field. It is hard for me to fathom what his faith costs him. It is hard for me to fathom what sacrifices and dangers he must face as he ministers to warring tribes. Join me in prayer for Pastor Manuel, and join me by being inspired by his example.

I have often seen others doing relief work after a devastating storm and thought how awesome and exciting it must be to be in the front lines helping those who have just been through the tragedy. But Wednesday as I began helping with the relief work here in Iloilo, I realized- as I counted out matchboxes, sorted clothes, stuffed bags with food, folded tarps and cut hundreds of meters of twine- that relief work is tedious and laborious and desperately needed even without the excitement and glory that I so mistakenly thought it was like. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I realize now after traveling north and seeing the loss of infrastructure, the loss of houses and the loss of so much nature- a thousand words is really not even enough to express the loss so many have felt.   Each house that was lost during the storm represents a family. Before we headed north, it was hard to grasp how much damage one storm could do, but now I...

We are moving! We informed many of you when we visited the States this summer. In case our paths did not cross, we are announcing that we are moving to Thailand. Our target date is June 2014. We will be moving directly from the Philippines to Thailand. Our last few months here will be full, working with our missionary team, directing another Timothy Internship Program, and also one last Summer at Camp Sonshine Philippines. We are very excited about this next nation. In Thailand we will continue to work with the Go To Nations teams throughout the Asia-Pacific region. We will also be involved in teaching in Bible schools, and we will also help rescue individuals enslaved in human trafficking. We are confident Christ has called us to Thailand. This is the next nation for us to make history. Please keep our family in prayer.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke

begins with the first step. Once again we will be making the trip to the other side of the world.  The details: Wednesday September 11, 2013 Baltimore Washington International to Chicago O'Hare on United flight 1127 departing Baltimore, MD 10:10a arriving in Chicago, IL 11:12a. Chicago O'Hare to Hong Kong International on United flight 895 departing Chicago, IL 12:30p arriving Hong Kong, SAR 5:20p on Thursday September 12.  This flight is FIFTEEN HOURS AND FIFTY MINUTES!! Friday September 13 Hong Kong International to Iloilo International on Cebu Pacific flight 5J 243 departing Hong Kong, SAR 2:20a arriving in Iloilo City, Philippines 4:45a. We fly direct from Hong Kong into our city, Iloilo, bypassing the chaos of Manila, so much easier, no need to overnight in the capital city, no crowds, traffic, etc. Pray for safe and uneventful travels, and also pray for favor at immigration when we enter the Philippines.