A sort of summary of our 2013 trip to Thailand.

Luke here,
Wow, so Thailand was a pretty crazy experience again.
God taught me a ton through it. He taught me about sacrifice, trust, deeper faith, joy and humility.

First of all, ministering in Thailand is WAY over my head! That being the case, it is awesome, and humbling to see God at work. That He chooses to work through me, He doesn’t need me but He chooses me. God’s grace is truly something to be in awe about.

Cheyenne asked me what the high point of our 2013 trip was. There were highs and lows as God continues His work in Nahong Thailand.  The high point for me this year, was seeing how you can build a relationship with a friend, just by loving. Through a love that only God gives and breathes. So much of the time I can’t communicate or I can’t understand. But the love God has given me for the people there has created so many awesome relationships. This year my highlight was going way deeper in those relationships, being able to pray with people in Nahong (!!!) and taking the opportunities the Lord put before me to make him known.
Jesus is so relational! Teaching English with the kids was a blast too! 🙂

Chey here,
Our 2013 trip was one word… “Success.”
Through what? The constant sickness we fought? The Pain of Urt’s Family sending him to become a Monk? The people we prayed with? Talking with the old man whose daughter died after giving her life to Christ? The tears and laughter I shared with LaMode? The helpless feeling of being alone in a village on the other side of the globe? The time able to share the love of Christ with Teachers in the lounge? Telling my “kids” from the 4th grade class why I came back every year? Seeing those kids grow up into teens who stand out from the rest of the village? Watching LaMode’s Buddhist Mom pray to YAWEH while I was sick in bed?
There were no Baptisms. There was no massive influx into our Bible Study.
There was good, hard Discipleship.
What is “success”? Seeing a Thai teenager become confident in her faith, regardless of her friends and circumstances. Seeing that Family watch us suffer and still praise the LORD. Connecting Nahong with a group of Christian Thai’s (Lord willing, pray with us, please).
Having God speak clearly to Luke & I that we need to come back and Disciple Lamode and the others for a longer period of time? The Church of Nahong has been PLANTED. Now let’s go water it.

On a logistical note: The English teaching was phenomenal, the Children are learning and loving it. The Villagers are grateful, and now treat us as one of their own. Praise God.

Thank you all for praying with us! It’s is quite literally what got us through.
Love to you all! May peace reign in your homes.
Blessings,

Cheyenne & Lucas Neraasen.
Youth With A Mission Northwoods.