Bible teaching in Akha village

I apologize again for not updating my blog. The past two weeks have been very full. Besides having no time to sit down and write, I haven't had time to process it all.
So for this post, I will just share about today I think.

Faa asked me a week ago if I would be willing to teach a women's Bible study in her Akha village. At the time I was beginning to loose my voice due to a sore throat. I said yes though.  All week long I have been fighting a terrible cough and lack of voice. The passage Faa told me I was to speak on was Phil 4:13. Wow, did I need that verse myself.   I was so busy though that I didn't have time to really prepare until the night before. I sat in front of a blank piece of paper for what seemed like forever, just praying that God would give me something, anything. An hour later I had 10 pages.
Funny thing is, when we arrived at Faa's village, I discovered that this day was a special day where women from all over the region gathered together twice a year for the event, The men even prepared the meal to give the women a day off.  I was their guest speaker, I'm glad I didn't know how special this teaching opportunity was before I went. When I got up to speak and announced the passage, there was a great stir in the audience.  They pointed to the printed poster behind us. It read Phil 3:13-14.  LOL, I had prepared for the wrong passage.  I told them it was no mistake though because I needed Phil 4:13 because I still didn't have much of a voice.  I needed God to help me! I also said that I believed there might be others in the audience who also needed to hear what I had prepared.
It was such an honor, I can't really explain it. To be there with these women who some can't even read their Bible because they can't read, and to teach and encourage them through God's word, was such a blessing to me. I pray that the words I said, or at least the words Faa translated, touched the hearts of many and changed lives. And I guess I didn't do too badly because I was invited back and to stay and teach longer.

After speaking, we headed to see Pastor Pat in Doi Chang again. He had the coffee ready for me to bring back to the US. I also am bringing back raw green beans to roasters that I was able to connect with last month.  While there, Pat shared with me a message from Tim Boal with Grounds4Good, a ministry that purchases directly from coffee growers at a real fair price and sells it in the US (soon to be available at their and our websites. It said he had roasted some of his coffee and sent it out to test markets and everyone loved his coffee!! And he will be ordering from Pat soon. I am very excited about this.  This opportunity will not only help Pat help his people in his Akha village, but also GROW as a portion of all sales will go to GROW and church planting efforts. I couldn't be happier about all the people that stand to benefit with this.  By the way, his coffee is rated in the top categories of coffee.

Tonight I enjoyed an evening with the GROW kids. Tomorrow I will catch up with the team and spend more time with our Grace Place kids. Sorry I don't have pictures to post right now. You can check out my Face Book page though for pictures.

Wiang Pa Pao

I apologize for not posting. It's difficult when we get up early, are gone all day and get in late to have the mental energy to even think about what to write. I will try to catch you up today. You can also go to my friend's blog at briannaRwasson.com She's doing slightly better at posting.

We headed up north into the mountains on Thursday.We stopped at GROW to drop off some of our things before being picked up by Pastor Pat to head on up to Doi Chang. I wrote about Pat's story last year, so please see that post from my last trip to learn more. Becasue I already wrote about his coffee ministry, I will not repeat it here. Pat is the Akha pastor I have been trying to connect with more roasters in the US. I m so excited about our connection to Grounds4Good.  They will be offering Abonzo coffee in connection with helping the GROW ministry. G4G purchases the raw beans from farmers directly at a fair wage, roasts it and sells it in the US giving a portion of the proceeds to ministries. Therefore, G4G will buy Pat's coffee, sell it, give part of the money to GROW, part to church planting, and then also give some back to the coffee coop to continue to build that ministry. I will let everyone know when we that is ready to purchase online.

After spending a couple of amazing days at 4000ft above sea level and learning more about the coffee process, we drove to Chiang Rai to meet Pat's sister who has a ministry to Akha women who are very poor.  She started Siamtique. The women made beautiful handmade bags and she sells them.  I bought several from her to support that ministry and will resell them in the US.  All profit we make will go to support GROW.

Last night we arrived back in Wiang Pa Pao to spend the evening with the GROW children. We had such a wonderful evening playing and worshiping with them. I had the opportunity to share from the Bible with them as our intern Maria translated. I shared Ps 27 along with other passages emphasizing how God is our rear guard, we are to seek Him, but He also seeks us. I rounded it up by talking about Phil 4:8 and how we are to think and what peace that produces in us.

After a time of prayer, Bria and I shared how kids in the US celebrate Valentine's Day.  We gave them funny Valentines that they could punch out. The girls received animal glasses, and the boys received silly faces. We of course had candy and stickers.  Then we presented them with snow from Ohio.  I found these cans of white powder that turn to "snow" when you add water.  So I made some for them and they had a blast playing in it with their hands!

We gave each one a punching balloon.  These were a huge hit.  We didn't even make it to the other games we brought because we were having way too much fun.  I started kickboxing a year ago and had asked my instructor to teach me Thai boxing because I knew our boys at GROW were learning it.  I brought gloves for all the boys. I put on my gloves with them and we sparred (kickboxing with each other). This was so much fun, but the girls were saying, "what about us? we like to do it too." So, I contacted my husband and asked him to buy some to send with the team who is coming next week. SO I hope to be able to present the girls with gloves as well.

Today we are headed for a hike and picnic with the kids, so I need to sign off for now.

 The beans need to dry like this for 7-10 days bring turned 3 times a day.

 Pastor Pat overseeing the end of the day when farmers bring their harvest to be weighed.

 Dinner Akha style.

 GROW property.

 Pastor Pat standing on his new land where he plans to build his ministry. Bria and I had the blessing of praying over this land and dedicating it to the Lord.

 High mountain coffee in the high mountains.

Abonzo Coffee!

All pictures by Bria Wasson

Well, Bria and I are getting ready for our second day in Thailand. Yesterday all worked out.  Our transportation for Tuesday kept changing and becoming unavailable. I really just put it into the Lord's hands because we were on our way before we knew the final plans. Just the way God likes it sometimes. When we were ready to leave on Tuesday for our day, we actually had two forms of transportation. God does have a sense of humor. He was telling us, "No worries, I've got this. And just to prove I am able, I am sending you double your needs."

SO we went into town and met up with the Millers. It was great their whole family came shopping with us and for lunch.  Becca and Brenden are missionaries with Partners here in Thailand.  Brenden grew up in our church. They have been here less than a year. It was fun to catch up with them on this side of the planet and spend a little time with them.
We shopped at one of my favorite places, the Hmong Market. I find a lot of beautiful bags and backpacks made in the traditional Hmong Hill Trade fashion.  They are beautiful. I will have them for sale when I return.  All profit goes to G.R.O.W. to rescue more kids!
After lunch, the Millers had to leave, so Tutu's son, Daniel, met up with us to take us to Baan Tawaii, another market. This is where I like to buy some of the wooden things.

When Bria and were back at Daniel and Nan's house, we began sorting and organizing what we purchased. We spent hours trying to match up items with the receipt that is in Thai. Needless to say, we weren't completely successful at this and decided to sleep on it. Maybe Faa can help us when she arrives.

Daniel and Nan took us to a great place to eat where everything is organic and actually grown right there at the restaurant. We finished our amazing meal with coconut cream pie. If you've never had the opportunity to have a fresh coconut from the tree, you have no idea what I am talking about.  This was the most amazing pie! there was a layer of fresh coconut meat  that just completed the dessert! Bria and I savored every morsel!

Today we head out with Faa to do more shopping. I am trying to make breakfast for us.  I bought unsliced bacon by mistake on the way from the airport. do you have any idea how difficult it is to slice bacon? Well, I just tasked Bria with frying the eggs for me this morning!

Anyway, It's been fun to have Bria along and see her first time eyes. It's easy to forget that fresh perspective. She's been great.

Well, Tim is waiting to Skpye, so I will go for now.

SE Asia Trip 2016 Begins

Well, friends, I am heading to Thailand and Cambodia again on Sunday. My dear friend, Bria, will be traveling with me for the first two weeks. Our second week, we will be meeting up with the team from our church. Bria will come home, and I will travel on with the team a third week.
Please pray for our trip. Pray for the final details to come together and of course safety and health. Pray as I seek to make connections for GROW with others who are seeking to help the people of Thailand. I'm excited about what's ahead.
Thanks for connecting with us here.  I will post as often as I can and have internet.
Jeana