My degree in TESOL:  I turned in my final summative essay yesterday.   I will walk in commencement this Saturday and eat sushi to celebrate.  The discipline of study was a good one to learn to incorporate into my life.  I feel prepared to teach.

My preparations:  I have signed a rental agreement for a house that is in the same neighborhood as the other Zoe missionaries.  Friends and family have been generous and loving as they send me off with good words of blessing. 

More later...

So I guess it is my turn to submit an entry... It has been amazing what God has been doing. As a support person and with possible med-school in the horizon, I was very unsure about what my role was. I knew I was going to support the doctors any way that I could, but it has been good to see that all of us have been used for God's glory! Amen!

I am writing this to inform the presby member (Tina) about her dream. I heard the story from another person, so forgive me if it is not 100% accurate. So, Kenny was the team member that read the blog entry that tina submitted. The one that talked about her being woken up at 12:20a to pray for healing over the team and for a specific individual. Tina, amen! God is definitely sovereign and truly is the great physician... because in Thai time that was 3:20p (the time difference). Before 3:20p, all of a sudden Cindy had terrible stomach cramps.. so terrible that she was keeled over in the bathroom unable to move because it was too painful. She was hospitalized and was given a shot to aid in her stomach cramps. Curt and Tina stayed by to watch over her, but according to Curt, at 3:20p that was when Cindy's cramps went away!! The doctors felt that the cough medicine she was taking might have been a major contributor to her stomach cramps, others think it could have been what see drank or ate (diagnosis is still a little questionable). Nonetheless, the important part is is that Cindy is doing better and God truly is watching over this team, amen! When I personally heard this story, I just kept getting goosebumps! Man! God is SO GOOD!

I know for all of us individually, it has been so amazing what God has been doing in our hearts and as a team (as Curt mentioned). God has put us all in a position to relinquish and trust that God knows best. And as God has opened the eyes of each individual, as a team, it has been fun to see our team progress in greater unity instead of division or dissension which is very common with mission teams. Amen, Amen!

Although I don't know you all, I am SO grateful for your prayers and support. Without a doubt, we definitely all are. Without all your petitions lifted to God, we would have not made it! Thank you so very much for your hearts and faith in this team. Please continue to pray for everyone's health as our time here in Thailand is coming to a close. Cindy seems to still be having cramps here and there, Joan just got over a cold/allergy, and we have all been experiencing some sort of motion sickness. But that has never stopped our team from serving and loving on people!

It has been a blast to see a organization like Zoe who truly practices the gospel in everyday living, and it has been a blessing to be the hands and feet of God to just love and serve our brains out! I can't believe that it is almost time to go back home and I am praying that everyone will be blessed to have all their family members back, as they will be blown away by what God has done in each and every one of us!!!!

In Him, Jane Ko

Hello all –

This is my first attempt to post on any site so it may be lame.  But I felt compelled as my name is being mentioned too many times not to hear first hand. 

The trip has been a wonderful experience for me, as well as the rest of the group.  Unless of course, you ask Aaron, who was sadly assigned to be my roommate.  I snore a lot, and he’s a light sleeper.  So every morning, I ask him how the night was, and he says, “alright” in his very low voice.  I found my earplugs and he has them now. 

God has revealed Himself to me in the people and children of Thailand, and through the staff at Zoe.  It’s an amazing thing to hear how the Lord has blessed this ministry and provided for it.  Whenever Carol speaks, most of us are moved to tears.  I think it’s because many of us are parents, and we see the need for love for our children, and see that the children of Zoe may have never experienced that kind of love before.  Then to see them receive the Lord’s love, that transforms them into worshipping maniacs (a good term) – is a sight to behold. 

Just to bust one myth:  I am not into self medicating – I’m just not into motion sickness.  The ambien has been a life-saver (thanks Jessica) – unfortunately, if you don’t time the dose correctly, you’re in trouble.  Case in point:  on the way back from the village, I took half a pill – for me, about 2 hours of sleep, that put me out during the really bumpy part of the trip.  I woke up for the last two hours, which was the winding road.  I was in the car with Kenji and Chris, and our driver Nam – who transformed into Speed Racer on those windy roads.  I was doing ok, until I saw Chris’ lime green face, then figured I wasn’t feeling so well either.  Nam would like to try and pass the van in front of us on the curves and come as close as possible otherwise.  At one point, he slammed on his brakes, and Chris went sliding off his seat onto the ground.  It would have been funny if I wasn’t nauseated to death.   

I don’t think any of us have had any problems with the food and our GI systems, which is a huge blessing.  Huge blessing.  The Zoe folks take extra precautions with us – and we’re cared for to the point of pampering.  We don’t complain though.  That would be ungrateful.  J

Thank you for all of the prayer support – its working.  God has protected us and blessed this trip.   I love it here, but miss you all. 

-Brian