MOVING ELEPHANTS!!

MOVING ELEPHANTS!!

 

   While  these elephants are an unwelcome sight , they remain  impressive  all the same. 

 

The image is blurred, as this  rogue   had just appeared as we were driving back to the Village, and we  hesitated momentarily to click off a few images. 

Very intimidating and unpredictable, as these are neither wild nor tame,  simply tolerate  the Villagers from afar.  People have been killed by these huge animals which can easily destroy a car.

These elephants are an unwelcome sight in Karen country.   

The   KAREN, A Religious Christian Community,Distinctive's    intact  in Community Life, Traditions Of Faith, Native Houses of Split Bamboo, Clothing And Diet. Akin To the Amish / Mennonites 

I am teaching a youth study here  which developed into a lively discussion in  simple English and then we played  games. 

Jim has taught in this particular Village/Bible School for  15 years and he is deeply respected. His Seminars have been assimilated well into the community of believers and  we. Return yearly for continued training of which these Christians are most thankful. 

I taught a unique and specialised form of communication in the Marriage Seminar, and  from that class , the lessons were duplicated twice. 

Below he is sharing a message with the graduates  here in a Refugee Camp. We have been here now several times . 

This is a very special occasion as you can imagine as these young people have  studied hard and shown themselves  earnest. 

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This spider was crawling on our wall last  night next to our bed.  

It  can spring off the  wall,  and jump far, thus  becoming  the quintessential   fear for the . 

Aracnophobics. 

As to size, it  measures  the span of my palm. 

 Jim and i, dared each other  laughing as we crept near to  photograph it for this  image.

  For sure, another unsavoury presence among this village. 

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Prayer with a Moslem, In A Coffee Cafe

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Prayer  WITH COFFEE, AND ETERNITY IN THE BALANCE 

An improbable   opportunity  of sharing   Jesus in a very public setting  with a young andhighly educated   Moslem would be unlikely, but it played itself  out  like a symphony. 

While in Manila, our  last  evening in the Philippines we strolled into the Mall, had dinner then went into a few shops.  In the last one, Jim  struck up a  conversation  with a young Arab man. 

This young man, put at ease by our   interest, invited us to have coffee with  him. 

Y    While  we  visited around the small table,  hosting 3 hot coffees , this young man leaned into the conversation many times, only to  lean back , a bit more assertively ,  aware of Moslems near him.  

He remained warm and engaging in our conversation and questions circulated  between the 3of us freely. 

Continuing   interest in Christ and the gospel was palpable.  .

Our visit  came to a natural end with the coffee and he asked to be photographed with us. 

 Jim ask  him  if we could all pray together and he said yes, all in Jesus name.

As we parted company he hugged Jim,  and smiled saying, thank you  for your visit and friendship and turned to hug me as  well. . 

 As we parted , I turned back to see, a young Arab Moslem, a n International Law student, earning his Masters degree, enjoying the brief and perhaps lasting, testimony of  two American Missionaries. 

LONG HOURS OF WORK IN PROGRESS

I  have been working many long hours  this trip on my book, ,  "  Lessons from life and faith, Primary Principles ". While managing various ideas and working  themes, , reoccurring the most obvious  was faith. The object of ones faith, the pursuit of faith ,  objections  raised against Faith and It's Disciplines, and lastly the preservation of faith. 

Biblical Faith ,  based on the testimony of the inerrant Word of God, as in 2  Timothy  3:16" " All Scripture  given  by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."; is therefore presented as the criteria of  the Christian Faith and Doctrine. 

Hebrews  11:6 states " Faith pleases God ". Singularly, faith in God, and His Will, according to Biblical inferences pleases  Him. 

Political Correctness   diminish   to Gods pleasure.  " He honors  all  those who honor Him ".

Allow me however  to begin this journey of faith , in the beginning. 

  By the age of 11 I had been to Sunday school enough times to know  how most bible stories  ended  and learn  several hymns by heart.   Faith had been planted in a rich soil , a child's. heart.   

It was easy for me to memorise passages of Scripture if it were in contest form, which normally  happened in VBS, with a classroom full of my peers. 

    Through some interesting circumstances I became   persuaded and drawn   to this  personal  love of God for me .  

. There was no argument presented or placed into my way as a child. Thus loving God  and embracing Embracing Gods  Love was pure. 

Naturally  this  captured , my thoughts an heart.

 This  journey of faith I began as that young child , and   wa   nurtured,   protected and invested  in .

 As  I   walked by  faith   into maturity, there   was dialog and ready Counselling of   wisdom  from 2 Timothy 3:16. 

 A  few special people  invested    in my life with instruction, candid humour    and candourr with grace. 

Today's youth face a palpable  difference in the expression of their faith and its disciplines. They do not seek to follow a cleverly designed  philosophy of man, Secularism, but a life that honours their Faith and Their God. 

In this regard I contend for them and will demonstrate through Scripture  some of the sanitising  techniques that political correctness  creates. 

As Christian youth  mature  in the  Word  and  relevance in the application as their criteria they bring a formidable energy, grace  and  a hiegthened   sense of moral and ethical responsibility  to  their  world. Be  this strength  in the sciences, ,judicial, civil and humanities,.  A dynamic of faith, rationale and reliance upon God as He makes Himself known in the Bible  lays that    solid foundation for sound thinking. 

Equipped with  such education, youth will enjoy greater scope, greater comprehension and  of   Critical, logical and rationale thinking without the immoral ethics of expediency. I feel this criticism of christian values has become a  western phenomenon. 

Significant Eruption Started at Indonesia's Kelut

Wired - 2 days ago

The eruption at Kelud in Indonesia on February 14, 2014, with volcaniclightning being generated in the ash plume. Image: @hilmi_dzi / Twitter ...

The 200,000 residents living in close proximity to Mount Kelud had been urged to evacuate.

Two people died when their homes near the volcano collapsed after the eruption, the disaster agency said.

Ash up to an inch (2.5 centimeters) deep covered Surabaya, the country's second-largest city.

The 1,731-meter high peak (5,680 feet) lies roughly 730 kilometers southeast of the capital city Jakarta.

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Mount Kelud erupted on Thursday, spewing volcanic ash into the air of East Java province. Residents in the east coast city of Surabaya, some 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the volcano reportedly heard the powerful explosion.

The initial blasts sent millions of cubic 

Thailand crisis explained - in 60 seconds

6 February 2014 Last updated at 17:04 GMT

Anti-government activists want Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down and the political system to be reformed.

Thailand's main opposition party has petitioned the Constitutional Court to annul the results of 2 February's general election, saying it violated the constitution as it was not completed in one day.

The government blames opposition polling station blockades for the delays.

Here is the background to the crisis - in 60 seconds.

Video produced by Michael Hirst

 

 Today is Sunday, Februart 16 and we are in flight to Bangkok ,  Thailand . The above post seems to indicate to me that the unrest is  present. 

We plan on being out of Bangkok in  2 days and driven to  the Karen Village   6hours by van out of the Capitol city near the Thai Mynmar Border.

Tommorow is my beloved s birthday  and I will celebrate his faithful and passionate life  with great panach. We know how to have fun. As his wife and best friend for 43 years I am apportioned from the Lordd an abundant life, and certainly a life beyond my dreams and scope as a poor , but adventurous girl. Jim  has kept his striking resemblance to the actor, Mel Gibson, which is fun in Asia. 

I continue to miss celebrating events such as birthdays with our beautiful family when we are away. They are always with me in mind and heart , and pray for the greatest healing to take place . 

 

 

This is  an ancesterol  Worship Shrine 

Completing  the first  PTA  Seminar in PALAU Thailand 

Today's date is feb. 21 and we have finished the Marriage and Family Seminar with the Karen., photo below. They are so colourful in their ethnic clothes which they weave. 

Darker images are taken in a Karen Village 30 minutes away. Jim gave a message for the believers who gathered, many work a 16 hour day as Pineapple farmers. 

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PSALMS 91 REVISITED

It has been suggested that " A good photo is worth a thousand words."
Words alone just fail to show the sad and dis-heartening, conditions these KAREN Refugees live under. This is a community of young family's, singles and the elderly. Many hold fast to their Faith, as in the book of Jude, " once delivered to the saints" and do find shelter in The God of Living Hope.

On break time I took these pictures. Jim taught the Inductive Seminar.
I celebrated my 59 th birthday there and Jim woke me in the morning tickling me, and brought me a 5 a.m. Cup of coffee, kisses and cards with sweet gifts.

The students attending Jim's class, graduated after long arduous study, having completed all assignments. We all were very thankful for work well done.

village Life

Morning coffee with the social gathering at the long table is tradition and elemental to village life.
Technology seems out of place here with the encroaching jungle overgrowth just barely minding its boundaries, and the ever present threat of the wild elephants crashing through the trees and plantations of pineapple to forage and destroy.
Apparently I was the only one who wanted to see such wildlife. Of my prayers to see such were unappreciated.
Village life is about the people and their traditions. While having a keen eye for the "ill tempered sun" as I call it, they think in terms of crop health, as to the drought.
Global warming does not enter in to conversation here, but global love for Jesus Christ does.
Life is slow, with a rhythm ever cognizant of its past, and anxious of its future,
These are a traditional people posed on the precipice of change. Their question seems to be, " How to remain as purists to their culture, and theirs Faith as they progress.?

I believe that the strong ever present love they maintain for the Bible, and their subsequent adherence to It's Directives saves them on any and all concerns. After Jim taught the Evangelism Seminar and had them share their personal testimonies, these students realize
the power and influence of Gods Word.
Not a "new thing " but a revisit to an old tradition.
Jim is holding a water purifying system, given to the Bible School.

PAINTING, Tribal Mother and Child

New work
3x3
This painting depicts the anxiety that refugees live with. As with any mother, the well being and safety of her child is ever present in her expression and on her mind.
This KAREN woman is wearing a dress of woven materials with beadwork.

February 25th we will be in a KAREN VILLAGE where we will be working.

"Leave well enough, Alone"

Frequently I had heard this phrase through my childhood,, Leave well enough alone.
Later I understood it in terms of limitations.
In other words, impose self limitations if you cannot improve your status quo.
It was so carelessly used that it begged to be challenged.

Change can bring incredible depth of character and joy into our lives, but we must disturb and challenge the doldrums of " LEAVE WELL ENOUGH! ALONE"

On my canvasses for example, when I finish a painting , but am not
pleased with it I put it aside to return to it later.
I know I will work further on it. I have painted some of my best works , under revision, or change.
Discontent drives us to improvement. This remains true in our spiritual life.

And what of our walk of Faith and spiritual disciplines?

Hebrews 12 :1 "
... I lay aside...




At present, , I am devouring books downloaded to my IPAD such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer's
books' A Biography , The Man and The Martyr and THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP.
The latter address our tendencies to lax into spiritual lethargy or Cheap Grace, as I understand .
I desire to challenge the "Well Enough's " in my spiritual disciplines to make a greater difference for Christ in the lives of those He Loves.