He has done great things!

It has only been six months into the new year, and God has done many GREAT things! Things beyond what we could even think possible. Here are a few...

January:

The WORDS! God had been speaking to us about moving. We didn’t know where or what that meant or looked like, but we were willing to be obedient. These word became more frequent, specific and weighty beginning about October. About the breaking point, a friend, in prayer accurately discerned, "Time to reset. Seek Him for clarity. January 20th is a significant day”. January 17th, we stepped out in faith, and agreed to sign a one year lease on a property in Mae Chan, Thailand (since it checked every box of miraculous provision against the reasons Misty had given God that moving would necessitate). The signing wouldn’t happen until January 29th; but January 20th, God sent the money needed to make that possible to happen.

February:

We started moving from Faith Village into our new home and property for the school on the 1st and finished on the 4th, cats and all. Lots of grounds work to be done, but beautiful, just the same. After a few calls to the plumber, we seem to have all the plumbing issues taken care of for the house. Most of this month was spent getting our house in order, and then the rooms/buildings ready for the school. This place was well beyond our means! And HE has been faithful to provide every month for the rent. (This is the short-hand version. For the longer version, visit with us sometime soon.)

We had multiple words during this time about needing to adjust or God would be tweaking our chronology of events. To us, this has meant the school happening much sooner than we planned. So…duh, duh, duh-duuuhhh…our first School session on the new property was scheduled to begin in April - in the heart of the smokey hot season.

 April 5th: First day of Asaph’s Journal School at new location.  (So from February 1st until now, you can imagine we had a lot of preparations to make and not as much time to do it in.) This is the youngest set of students we've ever accepted so - a house full of teenagers means we change the way we spend our freetime. At no time can anyone be completely gone or alone. We accepted three 15 year olds, two 16 year olds, two 17 year olds, one is 19, one is 20, and one is 28ish. We also accepted some part time students this term, which has been an added blessing and challenge! Tim is also giving lessons to a couple of younger kids (future students?) They are so full of questions and energy.

April 28th: Stepped in as new Praise and Worship Leaders at New Life Church. (This also has a backstory.) Many new and exciting adventures are to come on this part of our journey.

From April through May, God has done so many wonders on our behalf. The students began to surrender and seek the Lord in worship, choosing forgiveness over fear, and letting go of all the religious dogma that keeps a creative heart from freely representing its Creator Maker. As Jesus became the main event, two were delivered from unclean spirits and others healed from significant trauma - and they came alive. We traveled back to Faith Village the first Sunday of each month to preach and lead worship at Victory Church there with the students, led worship once a month in Mae Sai, once a month at The Seed, at an Akha church near Baan Tham Pla, and at New Life Church Chiang Rai. They are getting plenty of opportunity to serve.

Timmy also finished high school! We are so proud of all of his hard work. We are currently undergoing the tedious and pricey process of obtaining an "Authenticated" copy of his transcripts and diploma so that he can present it in Thailand. This service used to be provided by our US embassy - but things changed in the last couple of years and now it is a 4 - 6 month process in the United States. We are using the down time to enjoy him, and pray with him over decisions concerning his future. (He passed his US driving test - online - but we are not Stateside to take him in for photos and ID. So, for now he can only be satisfied that he passed. He may get his Thai drivers license before his US one.)

May 27th-June 3rd: Mid-term week and four day weekend break. Travel for our 90-day visa visit went smoothly, and a couple days alone as a family were nice. (But we all 3 noticed the students not being here at the house…for the good and the bad! LOL) Just before this, we acquired a chicken. We don't know where she came from - she just adopted us and roams around the property helping with the bug and food waste.

June 13th: We were invited to special meetings in Mae Sai. Prophecy and worship! We were the only ones in attendance (God is so attentive to us), and our students had His undivided attention. We had five baptised in the Holy Spirit. Good job to Mae Fon, our interpreter friend. She interpreted for a prophet with a very thick Lousiana accent...so, unscripted and not the usual accent and did very well. She says the Lord told her that morning, "be ready to flow".

June 14th: We led worship at a local house of prayer and worship and our students led the prayer / ministry time giving scriptures, pictures and words of knowledge to those needing ministry. We spent about 30 minutes just crying out to the Lord the Tehillah new songs from our hearts and dancing in His presence. The sounds of their songs, unscripted and raw, was deafening and powerful.

June 15th: Our first Sound Training for New Life Worship, with a couple of professional Sound guys. Our students were all able to attend this training, which just supplemented their learning here. (again, no striving, just willing to say, "yes" to the opportunities He throws at us)

June 18th: Misty’s Work Permit! (This was a bit nerve racking, as it wasn’t due until July 2nd/4th…BUT GOD, I’m sure of it, moved us up for HIS purposes!) It was approved!!! Which means, when our Visa renewal is due, we can stay when the Visa is approved, and start another term of school, which has been the long term goal!

And we received two ducks in the mail. We call them Boba and Bao. They are slowly exploring the property (including the day they came into the kitchen and demanded breakfast) and have not yet crossed paths with the chicken. They seem a little freaked out about the big fish we have in the pond, but stick around to steal their food.

June 23rd: Misty got to speak at New Life! She Preached/Taught excellently on worship and what the WORD says about how to worship! Then, 6 of our 10 students, led worship that evening at another church we have been going to. (1 on bass, who is nervous to play in front of people…she did well! 1 on guitar, he normally plays piano, but stepped out on guitar and did well, also. 1 on cajon, who is learning the drums…she’s great at whatever she sets her mind to. And 2 more led with the singing, and brought the presence of God with them! And 1, who 3 months ago had such severe social anxiety, he wouldn’t speak in front people, interpreted for the Pastor's sermon.) If you think it was perfect, it was not…but my FATHER was pleased!

What can God do with and through You in 6 months, if you say YES! We ask our students, and their parents/guardians/pastors, the same question in giving God 4 months with us for the school. It’s not because we’re the greatest…HE is though, and HE asked us to facilitate HIS presence and teach what we know to others. So that’s what we’ve done. It’s been difficult, challenging, and all sorts of problems (especially plumbing), to deal with, on top of emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical issues…most recently, wasp stings to 3 students. But it has also been very rewarding to see God do something in each of our students, our two translators, our three temp students, us, and Timothy3 as well.

ALL of this is due to YOU and GOD! There is absolutely, with ZERO doubt in our minds, NO WAY any of this could’ve happened otherwise. We remain humble, grateful, and Thankful for all we get to be a part of. And WE just want to say to you, THANK YOU so very much!

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(For more frequent updates, follow along on facebook; big updates will still be posted here.)

 Prayer points:

Pray with us, that we finish this class well (graduation is set for July 27th), that our Visa renewal process is funded and approved, and for the new class of incoming students for the term we hope to begin the end of August. We have a few construction projects we need to undertake in the month of August (a girl's dorm shower and roof repair, etc.), .... those cost time, money and patience. Our current urgent needs are an additional $1,000 to finish paying for the visas to remain here, and approximately another $1,000 to enclose the classroom (it is 3 walls of screen overlooking the pond - it's beautiful, but reaches over 100 degrees on some days making it difficult to focus on teaching or learning). We would like to enclose it with windows that can provide airflow during the colder months, but then also be able to use airconditioner during the hot season.