He Gives Power to the Faint

“My Strength  and My Song”

Beautiful you are beautiful your works

Touching my heart Moving in the earth

Drawing us close to you so we may see you

All that you are and all that you do.

We wait on you…

Yes we wait on you

We wait on you

Yes we wait on you

FOR you are my strength and my song

I trust in your heart, this is where I belong

I can see your hand but I don’t know your plans

What I cannot see, I will believe

I wait on you, Yes, I wait on you

For you shall renew, yes you shall renew

My strength and my song

My strength and my song

My strength and my song

My strength and my song

For you are my strength my song

I trust in your heart this is where I belong

I can see your hand but I don’t know your plans

What I cannot see I will believe, yes completely believe

(My faith and my reward

My treasure is in you Lord)

Every valley high, Every mountain low

The crooked made straight and the rough places plain

All flesh shall see your glory

All flesh shall see your glory

All flesh shall see your glory

All flesh shall see your glory

For the word of the Lord has spoken

What HE speaks HE will accomplish

So comfort my child in the darkness

Comfort my child in your weakness

Comfort my child for I am still here

Comfort my child come close, draw near

Yes just draw near, just draw near

- Isaiah 40

New Beginnings

Many months have gone by and many times I have wanted to write but wanted to wait for the right time. Coming back to America was hard but living in NYC is even harder. I didn't want to bore/burden you with my worry and troubles but I will sum it up for you now that the storm has calmed a bit. The transition was definitely a lot harder than expected and because of this I took the time to attend a debriefing in Palmer Lake, Colorado. The place that I went to is called Missions Training International and I cant express the enormous help that it provided me. What this place offered I recommend to everyone coming back from being away for a short or long amount of  time....it provided counseling, rest, the comfort of truth and fellowship with other missionaries, among much more between me and God :)
When I returned from this trip I felt better equipped to face the difficulties that did not change but were now expected and faced as normal. My heart was strengthened and given the encouragement needed to move forward and face the challenges that lay ahead. Since then I have moved twice and attended a certification program which will enable me to care for the elderly and those that need care at home...Home Health Aide :)
The agency I will be working for has already placed me in a home with an autistic child. I have no experience with this disability but am looking forward to learning and helping in any way I can.
This is just a quick update and not sure if anyone reads my blog any more because I haven't written in so long but wanted to say something about where I am at and also one more thank you for the enormous support in love, prayers and encouragement. God bless you all and may we continue to encourage one another to do good for the glory of God.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and may the peace of God rest in your hearts during such a busy time of year!

With Love,

Doris

Hosting Volunteers

For almost 8 months I have been going back and forth on facebook with this girl (Tisha) I have never met before regarding volunteer work. She claimed she knew me at a party but I knew I was not at that fellowship. She said I friended her on fb but I do not remember that so I came to the conclusion I did it by accident, considering we have a mutual friend. Finally after waiting for Gods perfect timing she ended up coming out to volunteer with a friend. When they first arrived I was sure I had never met her before and she was sure I did. After some puzzling contemplation we later realized that she had the wrong girl and had never met me before. It was quite funny to come to the conclusion we didnt know eachother but God had us meet for His service and glorify his name. What an incredible time of showing Gods love! This was my first time hosting volunteers and preparing a schedule for them. It was challenging at times for them as well as for me, having little experience hosting/setting up a missions trip. They were very flexible and open to the schedule and speed of service. Thank you Tisha and Rachel for coming and being a blessing. The children loved you and I was refreshed by your fellowship and company. Many blessings as you continue to follow the Lord's leading in your life. Much Love! Doris



Copy of My Animoto Video

Same Same But Different

  A couple of weeks ago I saw a cage full of bunnies. They were so cute I couldn’t help but to lean in and get a closer look. All the bunnies started pressing through the cage except one. I realized they were all hungry and were waiting to be fed. They were so eager that even the ones in the back were fidgeting around trying to find their way through the crowd. The one that wasn’t pressing through stuck out to me so much. He was just a bit behind the rest and sat there waiting patiently. It was pretty cool. I couldn’t help but to be amazed at how peaceful he looked compared to the rest. The bible says…. Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God.” I was also reminded of the scripture in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd….I shall not want.”

In times of uncertainty and not knowing when the things that we need will come through we can be assured that the Lord will not forsake us and that he knows our needs better than we do. He will provide.

The Lord does not allow these times of waiting so that we squirm and he can watch us one more time fretting. He allows times of waiting so that it can be an end of future worrying and fretting.  The rest and comfort that comes in his timing of provision reveals one more time that He is God and He will always provide for us, for HE is our Shepherd.. To show us we never need to fear or wonder IF…but know HE is God and HE will!

For the last couple of months my schedule has been the same…school and H2O orphanage. Although the educational system in Thailand needs a LOT of work we do see some progress with the students. When we arrive on the grounds they greet us in English and show an eagerness to learn. I think the amount of time that has been invested has given them a greater confidence in learning a new language. I have truly enjoyed my time at the Umphang Primary School and have seen the benefits gradually. This town is so small and as soon as we started working at the school we had the opportunity to get to know all the kids in town as well as figure out who their parents are. We have been a part of numerous functions that have allowed us to experience the ways of Thailand and build relationships with people we might have never seen. In the beginning I wasn’t sure how helpful I would be in teaching English but the little that has been done has on several occasions been recognized as a blessing from my God. The teachers are all Buddhist and know that I am Christian but they recognize my God and thank him for the help.

A couple of weeks ago I had to stop using my motorbike because of mechanical issues. I was asking around to find a rented automatic motorbike and this is not easy to do in this area. One of the teachers agreed to rent me out her bike for a small fee and I was so grateful to her. As I was saying thank you to her she replied to not thank her but to thank my God who was providing it for me! It astonishes me the subtle and few remarks that are made about our God. They may not know him but my prayer is that they have seen Him through us in our short time here.

Recently we hosted volunteers from NY. They came with supplies from donations made back in the states. The children were really blessed and we now have two big drawers full of craft supplies. Thank you Tisha and Rachel for your time and labor of love!

Regarding pictures: I am not sure why I can not post pictures on this blog. It loads but does not allow me to post the pics . I think the location and site just arent in harmony :) but if you would like to see pictures please feel free to visit my facebook page. Thank you to all who have been following and supporting along the way. Will post again soon.

PS. I know I wrote a lot...making up for lost time I guess:)

Loving Memories....

When I met Ron I was a bit taken back. He was so real and said what was on his mind and yet gentle. He would greet everyone personally. When he said God bless you it wasn’t just words to greet you with but it came from his heart. Ron was all heart! I really don’t remember how I started going with him to the shelters...he probably just asked me to go and I said yes. It was in going with Ron to different shelters and working with Raven truck every week that God really birthed in me a heart for the homeless. I was always cold to them with the wrong perception of who they were and how they got be where they are. In serving them and praying for them I was able to hear their stories and my heart softened to them...all a part of God's plan. Shortly after this I met my father after 9 years at the altar on Christmas Day. This was a real shock and at the time he was homeless and drug addicted for over 25 years. He was at church praying that God would reconcile him with his family. I was the first one God brought to him to be reconciled with. I had no idea how to help him but I wanted him to be in good hands…so I approached Ron that evening and asked him to help me. Ron spoke to him very firmly and told him about God being able to help him if he really wanted the help. Ron made some phone calls and brought him down to the Bowery mission. Ron would visit and check up on him. Although my father ended up leaving the mission Ron did everything he could to encourage not just my father but me as well in the process of having him back in my life again. Ron was someone I could depend on. I watched him with people and saw a love that was committed and willing to help anyone who wanted help. In continuing to go to the shelters with Ron I developed some good relationships with some of the women that he knew. He would just bring someone up to me and say pray for her.  I remember Angel being one of them. She was one of the worst cases I had ever seen. I thought many times talking to her what is the point Lord she has been around for a while is she really going to change? One Christmas evening Angel walked into the mission and when she saw Ron she just started weeping. He gave her such a warm and loving embrace while she wept in his arms for a long time…then Ron looked at me and said take her to the next room and pray for her. I was sad that Christmas myself …I thought how am I going to encourage her? I spoke to her about the love of God and I prayed for her...oddly enough I felt better after praying and we had dinner together afterwards. 2 months later Ron called me at the school I was attending, now called Summit International School of Ministry, and told me that Angel was finally ready and agreed to be put in a program and that she was in Teen Challenge getting better. I cried and praised God for the great news and was so thankful that Ron never gave up on God for her. He believed for everyone…he believed there was no one Jesus couldn’t touch, heal, make new and give new life to. This made such an impact in my own faith for God to not just help people but help me. It was in visiting the shelters that I became hungry to have my own sanctuary with God. To know him and his word…to have an intimate walk with him that would change me. Ron supported me every step of the way. He sent me care packages, birthday cards (always more than one…one wasn’t enough to tell me how much he loved me), phone calls and NEVER failed to tell me how special I was and encourage me to follow God all the way. Ron would have done anything for me and was always asking me if I needed money and if I was okay. Afterwards I went to visit Times Square Church and ran into Angel whom I did not recognize at all!!! She walked down the stairs and my mouth dropped! I said Angel is that you? She gave me a big hug and with the biggest smile said “I got filled with the Holy Ghost!!”  We were jumping up and down and praising God together. God bless Angel and watch over her. There is nothing God can’t do when we believe him. The word of God says if you only believe you shall see the glory of God. God I thank you for the faith that Ron had in you and the many people that know you because of how you used his life. I pray that I would give you the same devotion in your purposes for my life and never fail to tell the people around me that they are loved not just by you but by me too. I love you Ron!

A letter from Laurie… (Laurie was a friend of Ron’s that hung out at the mission. He always picked her up and brought her to church….she was too sad to go to the funeral so I asked her to write a letter that I would post….. We miss you Ron!!)

Dear Ron,

I have known Ron for 4 years. Ron helped me a whole lot. When I was on drugs Ron prayed for me and took me to Bible study (Times Square Church New Believers Class). He was my teacher. He helped a lot of homeless people come to church to get with the Lord and stop their mess and get there self together. He also would bring them to the altar and let them cry out to God.  He would pick me up and say “C’mon Miss lady let’s go to church, we got to go, got to go, got to go!!” I will always miss Ron because he was my best friend, the man! God bless him, he is in a better place, in God’s hands. PS. He never failed to take me home and make sure I was safe.

Love,
Laurie

Birthday Bash!

This month I turned 32. I thought to myself what am I going to do? I can get some friends together and go out to eat or just stay in and watch a movie...not very exciting huh? Then I thought about how some kids at H2O never celebrate their birthdays because they dont know when it is.  I thought why not throw a party for them...so the planning began. I bought gifts and candy, planned games,  made enough cakes for all the kids to blow out the candles together and my favorite.... face painting :) Friends joined together helping out one way or another....I was super blessed to have such a great birthday and to be able to bless them in a small way. Thank you to everyone who contributed and donated to help make this happen. The work here may not seem like a lot and at times we have more time on our hands than we would like but Im starting to see more and more that the consistent contributions in someones life everyday can make a big difference. It is not about the quantity(how much I do) but about the quality(do it with all my heart unto the glory of God) When we first came here it took a long time for the kids to warm up to us. Took them 3 months to address us and say our names but now as soon as they see us they say hello with smiles...something I think we taught them :) Little by little we are showing them love and consistency...this is Gods love. It's something we can depend on and rely on. Gods love will never let us down and will endure forever. As I have freely been given so shall I freely give. May my hands and heart be open to Gods leading in what he wants to do for the rest of our time here.

Flexible February....

My 41/2 month puppy “Happy” was so sad that I was not taking him for a walk. He was peaking his head through the pillars watching the world pass him by while he was stuck up on the balcony. That was his view. My view was, I know I haven’t taken you for a walk yet as I normally would have done by now but today is a special day and I have something better planned for you. You see Vinnie, Golden Retriever/his best friend/neighbor was having a b-day party and it didn’t start till 6:30, an hour in a half after his usual walk. I wanted to surprise him and the whole time Happy thought I was punishing him or neglecting him….maybe he thought I forgot about him. It’s so funny as I thought about this situation that I thought how many times I have had the same puppy dog eye face at God. Because of his timing he withheld something or because he had something better in mind he would not let me have what I thought was the best. I also thought how many times I thought God is not thinking about me or has forgotten me….how little faith Happy had in his owner…how little faith I have had in my Maker.

Happie and Vinnie

English Teachers and Friends (These women are so good to us!!)

Can you guess who that is on the poster? Heehee... Teachers never told us they were putting our pictures up there..lol!

Joy Selby(US Volunteer),Peter Willis(President of H20), Me (US Volunteer)

Pretty much healed by the time I thought to take a picture...lol!

and eyes and ears and mouth and nose....head shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes..:)
love these kids!

happie makes me happy:)...not so small anymore!

English Camp was great! Kids had fun and had an intensive course to prepare them for the O-Net test that is a required national test for all schools.

Just to give you an update on what is going on here…I got bit by a dog! Sounds bad and it did hurt but I am okay. It was at the school while I was going to class. This dog has tried to bite me 2 times before and the 3^rd time it succeeded. I went to the hospital immediately to get rabies shots. I am now on my 3^rd one (5 total). Unfortunately this is not the 1^st time the dog has done this at the school with little kids!!! It was a sad decision I had to make to not work there anymore especially because I know the kids love me and I love them..but for now it's the best.

So I was left again with another change…what am I going to do now? Thinking that something good was being taken away from me and leaving me at a place with not knowing what I was going to do. Kinda like happy…he thought he wasn’t going for a walk but something better was going to be given to himJ. Shortly after waiting on the Lord for direction and through prayer I spoke with Esther about not going back to the school. I brought up the kids that don’t go to school at the orphanage because of learning disabilities and sicknesses. I asked her if she would mind if I spent time teaching them what I taught at the school. She was thrilled at this idea and said that this would be better than teaching at the school because these kids need special attention and have less of an advantage. They have a strong desire to learn and feel neglected because all the kids go to school and they don’t. So I will start this week teaching the kids at the orphanage and would love your prayers on this. I am not experienced with teaching children with learning disabilities but I will try my best to get to know each one and the best way to help them learn. I thank you all for your support in this time of transition and also learning. Joy and I are the first long term volunteers at this organization. It has taken all of us time to learn what they need and how we can best help them. We have tried a few things… some with success and others need work J but all in all I think this time is ground breaking and preparing a road for more volunteers and giving H2O experience they need for the future. God Bless You All!!!