Redeemed

     I don't even know where to start. This week has been amazing, crazy, stressful, and most of all, God filled. Several times though the week God moved and blessed me so much. He is amazing, and I'm so thankful to call Him Father!!!!!
     It is already time for ministry trips. Time simply must go faster on this side of the world, because it does not seem like first term should be over already. End of term of course means many tests, which
means Bree is very stressed, which means, lots and lots and lots of coffee, and restless nights. He is faithful, and they are all done! Now its time to catch up on sleep....only there is not a lot of time for that. :)
     When living with someone, you get to know them very well, and soon you become like a family. That is truly happening here. I'm so thankful for the friends I am making. They have all blessed me so much! Going though this journey would not be possible without others walking beside me, and holding me up. I pray I can be the same for them. We need each other, or we would not make it. Each of us makes up the body and we need every part!

So these are the 26 people who are becoming my family on the other side of the world. They have all touched my life in many ways. 

We matched very unintentionally and needed a photo. I love these ladies! 

This girl is amazing. Polly, I'm so thankful for you! P.S. I like you.... 

LaRonda is the women's dean. She is our mama away from the states and she has been such an inspiration to me! God has used her to speak so much truth and love into my life and to say I'm thankful for her would be a huge understatement. Ron-Ron, you bless me!!! 

So in a nut shell, we serve a Father who loves us unconditionally, and is there for us whenever we are willing to make the change and call out to Him. For a long time I have been saying my life word was surrender, I just have to say that word has changed to redeemed!! I'm so happy for the work Jesus is doing in my life. I did not know how much coming here would change me. However, if I went back to the states today, I have no doubt in my mind that I would be a different person. Praise be to the Father for His care, guidance, love, grace, and gentle calling of His children! 

Caught In The Rain

     While life is very full of classes and homework, we still find time to have crazy fun. Last Wednesday five of us girls headed to the pool. Our plan was to spend a few hours at the pool, and order supper by the poolside. Only, we lost track of time, and the weather conditions. Suddenly, out of no where a storm popped up. We all scramble out of the water and rushed to get changed...hoping to get ready and on the road home before it really started to poor. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately :) :) it was a soaker and we were left with a choice....start biking home...or try waiting it out. Many times rain will last maybe 20 minutes and then be done. This shower ended up lasting quite a bit longer. So, we started the mile ride home. It was freezing!!!!!!! And....SOO.....MUCH....FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

When we arrived home we decided we needed some photos. 

I just have to say that God is amazing. He has sent me some of the most amazing ladies to be friends with.

(Judith, Me, Janelle, Polly, Abby)

When we got back everyone was headed out for ice-cream. We decided we were too wet to go :). We stayed back and broken into the food from supper. It was an amazing night and gave me the energy to make it through the rest of the week. 

Beauty From Ashes

*Disclaimer...not for kiddos...  
     Beauty in brokenness. Beauty despite the sin, shame, exhaustion, stress, overwhelming odds against life. A huge desire for love, peace, healing, livelihood, prosperity. This is what my eyes notice as I walk through the red-light district of Chiang Mai, Thailand. One thing I don't see, a yearning to leave the lifestyle.
     God has placed a dream in my heart. A dream of healing and safe-haven for women and children who have been abused, trafficked, or worked the streets. When I found out IGo had a bar ministry program I knew that is what I wanted to be involved in. However, there were many reasons I would not be blessed with that ministry. Many of the girls who come to IGo want to be involved, and the administration has to make a very hard choice about who goes where. When I filled out the ministry night paperwork I prayed that God would place me where I would be most used, and grow the most. In my heart I did not think I would be placed with Ransom. Truly, I just wanted to be used by God, and I wanted His will to reign in my life.
     My Father is so faithful in my life. The desires He places on our hearts, he fulfills. I was placed with Ransom and already my heart for these beautiful ladies has grown. My friends and family, I plead with you, please lift us in prayer. Every night we go out the enemy tries his best to drag us down. We need extra coverage in prayer on Monday and Friday nights. For those of you in the states, this would be Monday and Friday mornings. We are fighting on the front lines, a battle we are so ill-equipped for. Only by the grace of God can we continue. So again I ask, please, please lift us before the Father.
     Imagine not knowing how to provide for your family so you resorted to selling yourself. The thing is, it was only going to be for a time. Just until things turned around and money was not so tight. However, you started to like feeling beautiful and desirable to men. It validated who you were as a women. Until the emotions you had been pushing down started to rise to the surface. Now you start to feel shame and guilt. You know something is missing but what is it? Maybe you just need to make more money. So you raise your price. Thats better, now you are not only providing for you family, you are prospering. In fact, a new car is just in reach, and maybe even a new home. Still, that does not take the feelings away, but at this point the money is too good, and nothing, nothing would make you leave that behind. This is all too real here in the city. In spite of that, I love these women, my heart brakes because they are in such bondage, and most don't even know it. What they need is Jesus!!!
     So, we walk, pray, sing, bless the streets we walk. We proclaim Jesus over buildings, individuals, and nights. The Holy Spirit is asked to move, convict, and breath in the lives of these women and men. Sadly, its easy to grow angry at the men. They need Jesus just as much as the ladies. Pray that we would see them as broken people who are looking for love.
     Also, my last ministry trip I will be going to southern Thailand. In this area women line up on the streets waiting for men. Its one of the biggest red light districts in this part of the world...if not in the whole world. Pray that God would prepare my heart for that trip.
    This next week starts exams and finishing up projects. Pray for sleep to be increased as I take late nights to study and cram. After that is when we leave for ministry trips. Please pray the Father prepares each students heart for what is ahead. Also for strength, courage, excitement, health, protection from the enemy, and open eyes, hearts, mind to the things Jesus wants to teach.
In AMAZEMENT of Him,
Bree
P.S. If you want to commit to praying specifically for us on Monday and Fridays please shoot me a comment or email. I will send you the list of all us girls going out and specific requests if they come up.

A Day In The Life...

     Praise God! After feeling horrid for the last two days I'm healed. All the Glory is God's alone!!! Thank you all who were lifting me up before the Father. He truly is the great physician!
     The days here are packed very full. When we aren't in class our noses are in our books and our minds are working. It's so amazing to spend day after day doing nothing but learning more about Jesus and His heart for missions.
     There are two semesters in a year, and in each semester 3, three week terms. At the end of each term there is a 10-12 day ministry trip. Each term has different classes. Basically this means we are learning completely different subjects every 5ish weeks.
     On my first ministry trip I will be going to Laos (north, east of Thailand). On my second trip I will be going right out side of Tibet, China (I think...north, west of Thailand). We will not be able to go right into Tibet because it is a very restricted part of China. The third term trips have not been planned yet. It seems there were some problems that came up. We should know soon. Sadly, it does not look like Pakistan is going to happen this year. Because of relationship with them and the states it is very hard to get into their country as an American citizen. Its also very unsafe at this time. I keep praying it will happen at the end of the year. :)
     Mondays and Fridays are ministry nights. There are six different ones to choose from. A few of them are: Ransom Ministries (Praying for women who are working in the bars, only for the ladies), monk ministry (Only for the men...I know they do a lot of chatting about religion), teaching english to children,  university outreach, and street witnessing. We all had to put down where we wanted to spend those evenings. I, of course, put down Ransom. I knew many of the girls were hoping to spend their ministry time there, and I did not really think I would get it. Each time I would think about it I would just pray for God to place me where I would be used most. Yesterday I found out that by God's grace I was placed with Ransom. I'm very excited to see what this journey is going to look like! Please pray that God would use the team I'm on to bring glory and honor to Him.
     Tuesday and Thursday nights are recreation nights. Typically this consists of volley-ball and or basket ball. We had to write down goals for our time at IGo, and one of mine was to learn to play volley-ball. Ask me how its going in a few weeks :).

     Each day looks something like this

~ 6:15 Rising Bell (Most girls are up by 5:45)

~ 7:00 Breakfast

~ 7:30 Life Of Christ (This class is an overview of Jesus and His ministry, starting with Him being to total and final sacrifice. It has been so interesting to study the sacrifices...it give me such a better understanding of why Jesus is the sacrifice.)

~ 8:30 Five Minute Brake 

~ 8:35 Chapel (Singing, speakers, worship, and on Fridays the Student Council plans what happens)
~ 9:20 Study Period
~ 10:15 Growth In Christ 1
~ 11:15 Five Minute Brake
~ 11:25 Cultural Anthropology
~ 12:25 Lunch
~ 1:10 (Tuesdays & Thursdays ONLY Thai Cultural Class)
~ 2:00 TESOL 1
~ 3:00 STUDY PERIOD (This lasts until recreation or ministry nights start...that ranges from 5 - 6:30)
~ 10:30 Lights Out (Except Weekends)

Now you have a feel for what a week looks like here at IGo. :) I have already been so blessed by the Father in my classes.

Purpose

One thing that has been stressed over and over is that each student would know WHY they are at IGo. When we write down why, it helps keep us from distractions.  Dear friend, please pray God’s protection over distractions in my life. I’m here because of Him, and for Him. This week has already been crazy!! God is already doing an amazing work in my heart and in my life. Praise Him!!!

Purpose For Being At IGo

  

1.     Because God called me

2.     To grow in Jesus

3.     To be stretched

4.     To seek the face of the Father

5.     To build lasting friendships

6.     To learn more about the heart of God

7.     To remove self and give it all to Him…a change of heart

8.     To serve each person I’m around

9.     To love all people

10. To care about hearts

11. COMPLETE SURRENDER

  

Dear Father, protect me from distractions that will hold me back from these purposes. I’m here for You and because of  You. Praise you for being so faithful in providing this far! You are worthy of all my praise! Thank you Jesus for caring about my heart. I am your vessel, your slave. Use me in whatever way you want. I am YOURS. Allow me to grow and change in you. Reveal Your heart to me and teach me how to seek You in everything. I completely surrender to You…every area of my life…heart, mind, body, soul…Jesus, they are yours. 

A New Beginning

     It's quickly becoming apparent, that time alone with Father is going to be hard to find. I'm going to have to consciously make the effort to make time for Him. With so many adjustments, and all the new faces, I am needy of Jesus. Of this I will remain thankful. All of this is teaching me how long I have been reliant on things other then God to take care of my needs. Friends, this IS idolatry in my life... and any form of idolatry is sin.

     Today in my time with Jesus I was taught to pray that I will see things from His perspective. This has been my prayer as each day new girls arrive. I want to see these beautiful women of God from His eyes. Each of them have needs, hurts, scars, and seeping wounds. Just like me, they need Jesus in every area of their lives. Truly it has been a struggle not to judge by what I have seen the first few days. Oh Jesus, I want to be totally un-judgemental and a safe haven for each of them. Pray dear friends and family that God would use me in ways I never saw coming. I am HIS slave!!!!

    Today is Sunday. We have church and then hopefully some of us are going to hit the pool again. One of the girls and I walked today and figured how far the pool is. It is a mile one way. Its great exercise to walk and then swim and then walk home! I think it is going to quickly become a favorite place! 

Prayer Points

1. Strong mind for the classes ahead

2. Total adjustment to the time 

3. Endurance for the heat

4. Courage to be more involved with the students

5. Willing ears and heart for others

6. Neediness of Jesus

7. All idolatry would be removed from my life

8. The friendships that have been made would be strengthened.

9. Compassion for each person here

10. To see the world through His eyes and from His perspective

11. Gods guidance would be clear

12. Physical endurance for every day ahead

13. Excitement to learn

I love you all, thank you for praying and caring about my life!

His slave, 

Bree

Classes Come Soon!

     The last few days have been wonderful. I feel like I'm starting to get adjusted to the time difference and  very very slowly the heat. Of course, its easy to say that as I sit on my bed with many fans blowing on me :).
     Yesterday I got to see Martin, Rachel and family. It was a blessing to be at their home again. Before that all the students went out for lunch. It was american food, and tasted wonderful. :) Monday is when we really start eating Thai everyday. :) Before lunch, (Don't you just love how I'm telling the events backward? ) :) the girls went fabric shopping. I was able to find two pieces. Hoping to get them sewn up before too long.
     This morning I got up and 4 of us girls went for a walk. It felt so wonderful to be out moving about. Seems like we have not done a lot more then get settled and sit trying to cool down. This afternoon we are planning to go swimming and that sounds AMAZING!!!!!!
     All of this to say...I'm SOOO ready for Monday to come. We are all getting a bit stir crazy and will be grand to get classes underway. I'm sure by tuesday I will be wondering what I have gotten myself into so please pray for all of us students. :)
     Thank you all for the prayers!! I feel them, so please keep them up! God has been so faithful and I know He will continue to be!