Chiang Mai Blessing Home Orphanage

Ever since we’ve lived in Asia, I’ve had a heart for orphans and always enjoy visits where I can pour just a few minutes or hours into their lives. I think everyone’s “first” trip to an orphanage has a huge influence on them. I will never forget my first time to see what a lack of physical touch in a baby’s life will do to them when I went to an orphanage in the Philippines. Some of those babies were actually stiff when you picked them up, from not being held and it broke my heart.

Since then we have had the incredible joy of being involved in the fostering and eventual adoption of several Asian children into homes of our friends. Of course the dearest to us is our own “baby Fern” (Katy Lockard), but what a privilege it was to pick out little “Apple” (Molly) for the Henshels and be involved in several others… Anna Rutter, Amber Scivicque, baby Yim, and more. Thailand laws have made it a lot more difficult to adopt now. However, a trip to the orphanage to spend time playing and interacting with the kids is always a huge blessing. Instead of me ministering to them, they touch me in a much greater way, every time.

Today was no exception. I took 30 friends who were visiting, from California and Waterloo to visit Chiang Mai Blessing Home. As usual the kids were a true delight and had so much fun with all the candy and toys that we brought to them. They sang for us, the little girls gave us a dance performance, and then they prayed for us. I have the utmost respect for the wonderful Thai family who runs this orphanage and cares for these children. It is a true family atmosphere and they love each child individually. Their greatest desire is for each child to grow up to love and serve God with their lives. Have a look at their website- http://www.blessedhome.org/ or come visit them yourselves someday.

Coming home from school

They loved the bubble's- wish we would have taken more.

The hool-a-hoops were a big hit, too.
This is Eve, the little girl that stole my Dad's heart last year. Eve, with her older sister Ice. Thier parents both have a 40 year prison sentence, so that is why they are growing up here at the orphanage.

The little girls performing their dance for us.

Singing with lots of enthusiasm.
The Waterloo girls were great, too.

They could hardly hold their stash of snacks and treats.

Even the big guys were happy to get the treats.

Strawberries are in Season

Tourist For A Day!

Today I took some visitors from the USA to see the King of Thailand’s Summer Palace up on the mountain. There were so many flower gardens in full bloom and so colorful. They especially enjoyed seeing the abundance and beauty of orchids that grow here. Everyone was taking pictures, so I decided to join the fun and take photos of flowers too. They were amazed at how the poinsettia’s grow wild on the road sides. I didn’t get any pictures of them though, maybe next time.

Prayer Power

Little Prayer....Little Power.

More Prayer.........More Power.

Much Prayer.............Much Power.

This picture was taken at our first Chiang Mai Campus Crusade for Christ Alumni Party, Jan. 22! We are excited about this new ministry that is just getting started. Ever since we moved up here to the city of Chiang Mai in 1992 and opened the ministry, the students involved with us were becoming scattered after graduation. Our plan is to gather them together once a month to be an encouragement to each other by sharing about their involvement in the lives of their co-workers, churches, and other people that God has brought into their lives. Over 50 Alumni joined us for dinner and a program, including a time of prayer as we launch this new ministry.
This is that time of year in Thailand where we get a lot of visitors, and this year is breaking records. Many conferences for missionaries around Asia are held annually in Thailand, and it brings a lot of people into town. There are 25 here from Waterloo, Iowa leading a two week VBS program for 160 children. They have been incredible servants working morning till night everyday and the children love them and all that they are teaching them. Another group of 12 from a church in California will be here next week with us, along with another family of 9 from Iowa, and 7 men who will help Mike with some more rebuilding from the Tsunami in southern Thailand. The visitors keep us busy, and it thrills us to see their eyes opened to what God is doing here in Asia.
Mike is on a two week trip to southern Thailand right now. This week, he is traveling around to the different islands, visiting our projects and the people groups that we have rebuilt for. He is also preparing supplies for a group of 7 Americans and 10 Thai’s whose goal is to build one more home/hut and finish a community center next week in the village we’ve built on Elephant island. This week there was a half page article in the English nationwide newspaper about the new Christian village we have built including pictures. It was titled-“SEA GYPSIES ACCEPT GOD AND A NEW LIFE- Christianity has taken root in Phang Nga and Ranong, raising eyebrows”. Needless to say in a country that is 94% Buddhist, the media is communicating their skepticism, but the whole article alludes to the fact that Christians have helped these victims more than anyone else.
Please pray for:
- Safety for Mike and his team as they travel by boat to the islands and that the Tsunami victims who have become Christians will continue to grow in their faith in Jesus.
- Judy’s involvement with out Thai staff and students, and hospitality to the volunteers/visitors in Chiang Mai.
- Judy’s dad is on the road to recovery from his open heart surgery. Thanks for your continued prayers for him.

Back in Thailand

We've been back in Thailand now for two weeks and it feels so good to be home. Here's just a few snapshots of some favorites from our time back.
This is a favorite dish (Bethany's especially) called Pot Sii Yuut.
Fresh squeezed orange juice is in season and everywhere right now.

Our yellow lab, Samson, is so happy to have us home again.

Lots of handmade jewlery - one of a kind in any color you want!


Thai's are so patriotic. This is the Thailand flag and the king's flag, displayed everywhere.

Thailand- "Home-Sweet-Home"

We landed in Bangkok 4 days ago “on the run” and realized that we forgot to let you know that we made it here. Our return trip turned into quite the adventure with a 24 hour delay in Denver. The 45 hour trip that we had mentioned- turned into 69 hours- but we are happy to say that even through the 6 airport stops—our bags all made it and Chiang Mai never looked better. We are honestly so happy to be home and even surprise ourselves at how comfortable and “at home” we are feeling.

We’ve been having appointments with different ministry partners, just to get caught up and updated. We were especially encouraged today to have lunch with the Stint team, a group of 8 Americans here working with us for 1-2 years on campus. They seem to have adjusted well and are building relationships with Thai students. We plan to meet with each of them individually this week for encouragement and prayer on their campus.

Mike also plans to travel to southern Thailand to determine what his next projects of rebuilding will be with the Tsunami victims sometime real soon.

Thank you for your prayers—God has been gracious to us. We just wanted to let you know that we’ve arrived safely. More later…

Thanksgiving- 2007

Since we don't get together that often, and we all got to be together for Thanksgiving, the day after we decided to try a family photo. Thanks, Shirlee, for working us into your schedule and taking some snapshots for us. Mike was especially happy that we could all be in the snow for this one. It's pretty obvious, that we're all shivering- but it was fun!

Stranded in Denver

This morning at 4am as we drove from Waterloo to the Cedar Rapids airport, I was trying to soak in the Iowa scenery with fields, barns, farm lights, open spaces, etc. as much as possible. What a stark contrast to the landscape of Thailand that we'll be seeing in a few days. I am going to make an attempt to blog more often- now that we are returning to Thailand. Life is the USA has been so packed and crazy- that I really have alot of photos and thoughts that I've wanted to share-- but just haven't had the time. Possibly- I can go back and share them even though- they are a bit outdated.

Right now we are really feeling that expression... "when it rains, it pours." We are currently stranded in Denver for the night. The good-byes with the girls and grandkids - needless to say were difficult..... caring for Dad in his open heart surgery recovery was hard and telling him good-bye while he is still so weak was equally hard..... and now airplane delays.... we stood in lines waiting in Denver from 7:30am to 12:30am..... our 45 hour trip - just got another 24 hours added to it. But it really isn't all that bad, as we were blessed to be put up by United in a nice hotel with meal vouchers. We can use this time to crash and the first thing we did in the hotel room was to crawl in bed and take a mid-day nap to really relax in the midst of it all. After relaxing, we just recieved an e-mail that a friend in Thailand died unexpectedly last night and a phone call from Jenny that she is in a fallout shelter as there is a tornado warning in Branson. She's never been near a tornado and her voice sounded quite scared. Lots of stresses for us right now.

Yesterday morning during my quiet time, I told God I needed some encouragment from him to face everything ahead of me. My mind immediately started filling with ministry opportunities in Thailand--- so many that I was really feeling excitement to get back in our home again. Ministry opportunites are endless there.. getting back on campus, meeting with the staff women and listening to them as they share thier hearts and praying for them, visiting all our campus teams all over the country, Women's Bible Study groups, substitute teaching at the international school for MK's, orphange work, etc. God was motiviating me in a way that gave me a heart to really want to be back in Thailand. Thank you God for meeting my need!

Departure in Two Days

In two days, Monday morning at 6:00am we board our first plane on our return trip to Thailand. We are often asked how long the trip really is. If we count the hours from leaving our Iowa doorstep to arrival in our Thai home- it’s a total of 45 hours.

We said our good-byes to our girls last week, and have spent this past week living with Judy’s dad, helping him in the recovery from his open heart surgery. He still has a ways to go in his recovery, so it is difficult to leave him in this fragile state. We appreciate your prayers for him to continue regaining his strength and good health.

God’s Word has been such an encouragement to us, concerning leaving. One morning, during my quiet time, I was struggling and told God that I needed some perspective from Him. The next verse that I was led to in the book I just happened to be reading was from Mark 10:29-30. “I tell you the truth- no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or FATHER or CHILDREN or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age…. and in the age to come, eternal life. “ This will be our first time to return to Thailand with no children or grandchildren there living with us. God has truly blessed our lives in so many ways, and we thank Him for His faithfulness and trust Him for this new phase of our lives.

Psalm 96:3 also is a good reminder... “Declare His glory AMONG THE NATIONS, his marvelous deeds AMONG ALL PEOPLES”. This is the desire of our hearts. We want to declare his glory in Thailand and his marvelous deeds throughout all of Asia!
We appreciate your prayers for our adjustments back to our ministry, home, the tropical weather, etc. We’ll give you our next update from the other side of the globe!

In His Arms,