wrapping up

I first wanted to start out by saying thanks for all of the prayers and contacts while wwe have been in Thailand.  I wish that there was more time for updates to the blog, there have been plenty of stories to tell, but due to the many great stories, we have also been really busy.  Also, to be really honest, my main priorities have been being with the people who we have met, and also prayer and of course family.  I have often thought of blogging but then would see an opportunity for one of the other three things above, and chose them.  I can not wait to see everyone to talk about how great our time has been. 

We have learned many things about ministry and Thailand.  There are many needs, ands we are deeply in prayers and discussion as a family about what it all means for us.  As we start packing for our trip home, we ask that you continue to pray for us that we will find Gods will for us in this season.  We have met many great people and have Been able to make many small contributions while we have been here.  

We are scheduled to arrive home at 3:30 Monday afternoon, someone light a fire or something, I hear it is 80 degrees colder there!

Phang Nya

We had a great time last week in a place just outside of Phuket called Phang Nga,  where we visited another orphanage and had a great time with our friends the Ford family (we talk more about their ministry I other posts).  When we were planning our trip to Thailand, we wanted to have some time with the Fords to just spend time together, since we have had little time like that with them in our friendship.  So we offered to take them somewhere on a vacation, but what they planned was really awesome.

When we walked about getting away somewhere, Jesse and Uab said that there was an orphanage that they would like to visit, and we would stay in a guest house at a church, and that we could get a a chance to go to The beach while there.  That was all true, but again, like often happens when i try to go out of my way to do something nice to bless someone else, it all seems to bless me.

We had an excellent place to stay, it was built by volunteers for the church, but is as nice as any place I have ever stayed.  Not too much roughing it there.

The orphanage that we visited gave us several opportunities to spend time with the kids, and that just leaves you feeling good.  Although there are many needs,  to just simply spend time with one of them and seem them smile lets you know how much the ministry is doing for the kids there.

We also had our time at the beach, some just as families and some with the kids.  A couple of things stood out about our beach time, one was that in that heavily populated tourist area, where we were sent to the beach, we were mostly alone, on one of the most beautiful beaches  I have ever seen (I guess missionaries are really good travel agents).  But the other thing, was that the beaches were in Muslim fishing villages,  which would make many people not want to be there, but the people who live there were very kind and even went out of their way to make sure we stayed safe o n a day that there was a strong current.

We left Phang Nga very worn out, and I (Troy) am a little beaten up from a rib injury while on a body board, but what a great time we had, trying to Take care of others!