Praises-
1. Finished TESOL and have my certificate! That was one heavy duty course, but it was worth it. This little piece of paper made all the difference in praise 2.
2. I have a one year contract at North Chiang Mai University. While this doesn't completely bring my month to month up to the level where I can live and do ministry, it's a huge help. It is where I will be able to plant seeds in abundance and praying will reap a harvest as well
3. I may even have found a house I can stay in for a multi-year lease, so no more hopping about from place to place.
4. Got to go on that men's retreat and it was awesome.
5. This past weekend got to go with some friends to help put on a Resurrection celebration the likes of which hadn't ever been done before. It was really cool to see how they live and how they keep smiling in all circumstances.
Events -
1. Last Friday finished my TESOL certification. Had lunch at a great buffet. That's an event.
2. The Easter celebration this past weekend was really cool. We were able to encourage a 26 year young pastor who stepped up to care for his church after the previous pastor passed away. We were also able to walk around the village to pray over many of the members houses, and visited on member who was ill to pray with him.
Events this month:
1. Will be moving again. Need a house with a bit more privacy and working facilities than the one I am in now. Like I said above, I think I found one, just have to go over all the details to make sure we are on the same page. Also will need to come up with the deposit.
2. Will have to travel to Laos on my own dime. The School will pay for all the fees and such related to my visa and work permit, but the travel expenses are on me. I will also during that time find a place to hole up for a few days to take a mental and spiritual break from things, so praying for some extra support for that.
3. Songkhran. This is the Northern Thai New Year celebration. It's a time of great fun, but also a time of spiritual worship and darkness. I'm hoping to join up with a ministry that will take DVDs of a gospel movie that was filmed in Northern Thai and performed by Northern Thai actors out into the middle of the party as gifts. Will also hopefully get to see several former students and maybe spend some time with a few of my future students.
4. Will be using my other free time this month to start planning Anne's and my wedding. Yup. Getting married at the beginning of June. Looking at June 8th. So this month we need to find the space and start really getting going on that.
Other News -
Quick info on the culture I am marrying into. First is, there is supposed to be dowry that I am supposed to pay. Which I don't have. This doesn't so much bother Anne and her mom, but it could cause them to lose some honor from the rest of the family and from the community. This is actually quite a big deal in the culture. Anne and I have prayed and feel it is time for us move forward in marriage so that we can move forward together in our lives and our ministries supporting each other. But I would like to be able to pay that if it is possible.
The other thing is that Anne is the oldest daughter, and she is the highest educated, so it falls to her and as her husband to me to provide for her mother a monthly living expense, and for her to pay for her younger brother to go to school. I could be an American and say they are grown and capable of caring for themselves, but this is not my culture I am marrying into. For us to disregard this responsibility would be tantamount to throwing away her family. And since her family are not believers, it would be another wall between them and the love of Christ.
With my salary and my current support. I can just barely cover this. But anything extra, like another vehicle for Anne so she can pursue the plans God has for her, or appliances for the house, insurance, and my bills from back home, I am still short on. So I am going to need to raise another $500 dollars a month in order to be where I need to be.
In the past I have been shy about asking for more. For more partners, and more support. But God has shown me that when I do that, I am not trusting in Him to provide. He is the one who is going to bring it together, not me. So I am putting my needs out there for all of you to see, and then trusting that the Father will do all that I can not.
Long Term View: This is where I am going by God's grace and direction. I am going to get a 5 year lease for this house. This will keep my rent down, and my base stable. I will continue working at NCU for as long as God tells me to. Which would mean I will be starting my masters next year in order to keep my job, but the school has some scholarships that I can apply for that should mostly, if not completely cover that (PTL). I will be saving my income in order to purchase some land and a house for my family so that after 5 years we will be able to move into said home. Simultaneously, I am looking at starting a center in a province South of Chiang Mai. This will serve as a place of practical learning (English, vocational, and life skills), as well as a base of operations to be able to bring in teams and do community development. My dream is also purchase a large plot of land, where I can build a retreat and camp. A place with a ropes course, pool, living and meeting facilities and such things where churches, schools and businesses can come to take breaks, learn teamwork and more holistic living.
This is where God has me headed. This is what I am committing to. This is what I am praying that more and more people will join with me in making this vision a reality.
Prayer Requests -
- I learned and didn't work last month, I won't be able to work this month. I need help.
- $500 for my first month's rent plus two month's deposit
- $300 for my trip to Laos for my visa
- $200 to be able to stay in Laos and take a break
- A dowry I can offer my fiances parents and family (I'm not sure what that amount would be... no one gives me a straight answer)
- New partners to bring our monthly support up by $500
- More opportunities to share and spend time with my students
- The Holy Spirit going before me preparing the hearts of my students to receive the truth of Christ
- Fruit in planting a church among my students
- Fruit in raising up leaders who after graduation will go out and share the gospel as they go
- Sanity as I prepare new courses and for a wedding.
- Grace to reach Anne's family with the love of Christ through all of the wedding process
- That my family will be able to make it here in time for the wedding.
I'm sure that there will be many mini updates coming over the next few weeks. Thank you all for your support. Love you all
zac
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