Centuries of History

This week has been slow on the MFI scene. I have not been able to do much work with Microfin and Loan Performer because Timmy has been writing a paper for his university. One of the volunteers from Step Ahead Khao Lak came into Bangkok Monday to see the difference between life in the city and the south. I took him around town for dinner Monday and Tuesday night and went with him, Carter, and Coleman, Wednesday, to see some historical parts of Bangkok. We went to the Temple of the Dawn which was the royal temple 1-2 centuries ago, the grand palace which was the last king's palace and know houses the emerald Buddha, and the temple of the reclining Buddha. That's right. The significant historical artifacts in Thai culture all have something to do with Buddha or the king. The Thai flag is red, white, and blue. Each color represents king, country, or religion (Buddhism). I'm not sure which color represents which. In Thailand to become a Christian truly means to give up mother and father, wife and children, and even king, country, and history.

I put some pictures from the Temple of the Dawn and the Grand palace on my flickr. The Temple of the Dawn was really old and looked it. It was the first pyramid I have climbed, though. Pretty cool. The Grand Palace is absolutely spectacular. Just the temple of the emerald Buddha has to be valued at billions of dollars. There is so much gold, jewels, and intricate paintings on everything. The most amazing part, to me, was the continues mural that stretched across the inside of the wall surrounding the palace. The wall is 1900 meters long, and the mural painted on it tells the story of an ancient Thai myth. It is painted with beautiful colors and is very intricate. It even has a lot of things painted in gold! So beautiful. If you haven't been to the Grand Palace (which I assume everyone reading this hasn't) you should (as if it is that easy). I truely am blessed by God.

Tonight, I am going to a party for a friend who is leaving Thailand. Please be praying for him and his family in this time of transition. Pray God would protect him and draw him close to God.

Tomorrow, I will be leading kids club again. Please continue praying for the kids. Pray that God will save them and send His Spirit as a seal on them. It breaks my heart to think of these kids without God.

Please be praying for me. I am struggling with feeling useful. I want so bad to be able to talk with my neighbors and to share with them the good news of Christ, yet when I speak they do not understand what I am saying, because I am not speaking their language. Please pray God uses me. That He will show me how I can be useful and direct my paths to invest in what I can do. To God be the glory. He works amazing miracles daily in my life. Please pray He does the same for those around me.