Getting Settled

This past month has been much about getting settled in. It has taken much longer than I wanted, but God has been teaching me more patience among other things. Since the fourth of January, my last post, I have:

• Finally been able to move into the house
• My last roommate moved in on the 2nd of Feb
• Been to Laos and got my 3 month Visa
• Submitted everything for my work permit (should have it this week or next)
• Begun training to catch up to my fellow workers and improve my language even more
• Started working with Ben to train a group of DTS students about church planting
• Begun prayer walking my neighborhood and meeting my neighbors

God continues to be incredibly faithful, providing every bit of money I have needed either before or right when I needed it. All of the processes so far have been incredibly smooth. And though I keep getting checked to wait on the Lord and not to rush things, I can see that God is doing some big things in my area. I'm looking forward to getting to know my neighbors and roommates and sharing with them the good news and praying that I find some more partners who live nearby.

One of the big ways I would like to do that is to throw a couple of housewarming parties, one for my friends who have been around for a while, and one for my neighbors. The separation because I really want to be able to focus and make comfortable my neighbors who come and build relationships with them, while continuing to go deeper in the relationships I already have.

There is also a video in Northern Thai that completely expresses the gospel in story format. I and my teammates are praying for an opportunity to show this in my village, and use it as a stepping stone to forming one or more bible study groups.

I am also gathering information on my village and the surrounding areas where I will be working to know the demographics, layouts, and locations of local churches that I may be able to partner with as my teammates and I work towards a rapidly reproducing church movement.

Prayer Needs:

1. Good community relationships
2. Wisdom and breakthroughs for myself, Ben, and John as we lead the DTS students
3. Funds and opportunities for the house warming parties
4. The doors opened and connections to be made to show the movie to the who village at one time
5. That I would continue to grow in my language (Thai and starting Northern Thai)

Financial Needs:

1. I have received the support I need to get through the first month of government paperwork, but if my calculations of continued support are correct, I am about $100 short of my basic needs per month. By basic needs, I mean bills, toiletries, gas, etc.
2. I will need to see an increase of monthly support so I can begin to have a ministry budget
3. I need to buy a few appliances for the house. Namely: a hot water machine for mine an my roommates' shower, and a refrigerator. 
4. Something is wrong with my computer, it isn't accepting charge at the moment. So no pictures in this update as I am using a public computer to update this month

I am right now waiting until the end of this month so I can have more exact numbers to put forth. I have the majority of the kinks worked out and will have a specific budget by March 1st.

Thank you again for your prayers and support. Together we are bringing the truth and freedom of Jesus Christ to my friends and neighbors who need to hear it. God bless you all!