Three weeks in four paragraphs.

Week three of outreach. A lot has happened. And I'm loving it.

Our time in Chiang mai. 

A warm busy city with lovely people. I'm amazed by the hospitality and generosity. The people we work with reach out to the Shan people, a persecuted and rejected people group from Burma. So a lot of the ministry we do is with them. 

In this time we've had delicious korean barbeque and fellowship, preached in the church, done dramas and skits, shared testimonies, fed an elephant, I cut a mullet on Arno, taught thai children english, sticky rice, sticky skin, mosquito bites, shared about Jesus, taught the alphabet, spiritual warfare, spontaneous bible study, helped out with homework, midnight snacks, shared life stories, slept siesta, artificial drinks, jammed with thai guys, lead worship and met a lot of amazing and friendly thai and Shan people.

Our time in the mountains. 

A five hour trip into the mountains, away from electricity and running water, into a forest that felt more like a jungle. A peaceful and adventurous time, a definite highlight for me. Away from distractions of a city, at first I almost felt lonely. But it was a time that drew me to God, and I felt so much peace. 

Wooden houses, dirt roads, the sounds of pigs, dogs and ducks surrounding us. A small village where 6-7 families are Christians and the rest of the village catholic, mixing their believes with Buddhism and witchcraft. Unfortunately the Christians are rejected and persecuted. We came to encourage the Christians, every evening meeting under candle light on mats in wooden houses sharing about the word of God and our own stories.

We've also worked on a rice-field, i got to know my team better (what an amazing team), ate frog, went frog-hunting, mixed cement, done construction work at the church, rode on an elephant, went fishing from a bamboo raft, ate fish brains, ate wood, ate some amazing foods, played soccer with 15 "ninjas" (shirtless, tattooed guys with six-pack and skills to kick, it was scary at first), taught English in elementary school and made new friends. I will always remember that place. 

Now we have moved to another town up on the mountains. Unlike the other village there's running water, electricity and wifi in the building. We will do construction work, teach English in schools and in the evenings meet and share with the Shan people. 

I feel so blessed. All the things we've gone through, things I'm learning and revelations I got. Oh and the foods. Amazing tasty and spicy food. But to be honest some foods more difficult to eat. Like the chicken blood that we had today :)

Oh the beauty of living life. With God. For God. 

Our beautiful team.

Our crazy team.

I love them.