I try to follow the things that are happening in Burma. Being such a small country there isn't typically a lot in the news.

However that isn't the case as of the last couple of months. Burma seems to constantly have little blurbs in the news. The reason being is there are some changes happening. Over the last few months the Burmese government has been letting out some of their prisoners, many of them being political prisoners. There have also been lots of peace talks, with real movement towards signing of peace treaties between the military and 'rebels'. There have also been multiple delegates from other nations who have visited Burma, a rare thing.

All of these things are great individually... and collectively it's amazing!

The thing that has really stood out to me in the articles that I have been reading lately is the response of some of the political prisoners. These men and women have been imprisoned or in house arrest for years. I would have assumed that they would be fueled by anger towards their government in their passion to see change in their nation... but they aren't. Their passion is fueled by a love for their people. When making public speeches or talking with the press, they have yet to 'bash' their government or specific leaders. Their speeches are full of optimism and hope, even towards those who put them in prison. They are able to acknowledge the negative things that have happened, yet point no blame and speak only of the positive dreams they have for their nation.

I may not be in Thailand or working with the Burmese people yet. But I am continuing to learn from them. My prayer is that I would be more like these political voices of Burma and speak life and hope in all circumstances, even over those who have brought death, and that these would come from my heart and not just empty words.

Please be covering Burma in prayer! With so many drastic changes it is a sign of hope, may they not be tempted to turn to the ways of the past or react in anger but continue to strive toward the freedom that they desire.

For current and past news, check out The Irrawaddy news magazine, daily covering Burma and Southeast Asia. 

As I prepare to move to Thailand and begin working with Burmese refugees, I am convinced that creative arts (drawing, painting, photography, and perhaps 'recycled' art) will be key in counseling people. Over the last 10 years a large part of my missionary life has been to counsel and disciple people. I've had the privilege and difficult task of helping people find healing from incredibly painful events of their past. I want to use the creative arts to help people process their past and bring hope to their future. To be effective I hope build long-term relationships with the people that I teach to use the creative arts as art expressions.

My hope is to get people to donate funds to purchase art supplies in Thailand (I can't wait to see what these youth could do if they had real canvases to paint on!), have several digital cameras donated (several point and shoots of the same model and then even a couple of DSLR cameras), and then a laptop or two donated to upload their work to. The idea is to give each of the youth a word, for example 'light' or 'dark'. Then after they have finished creating their piece of art or taken the photo we would one-on-one discuss how their piece relates to the world and what it means to them. I honestly can't wait to be able to do this with the youth, to see how creative they can be, to watch them smile with pride at their artistic abilities, and to help them process their past while giving them hope for their future. 

Click here to view a video that friends made after our time visiting some youth inside of a Burmese Refugee Camp. All of the pieces of art that they did, and all of their answers to our questions about their art were given without any prodding or due to cues from us. . . imagine what these youth could do with a little direction, and imagine the healing they could get by counseling them about their artwork.

As you finish making Christmas preparations and look forward to the New Year, consider clicking on the support link on the left and support me so that I can make this dream of "art expression" in Thailand with Burmese refugees a reality.

When I visited a Burmese Refugee Camp during my visit to Thailand in March, we brought 'art supplies' and each person at the children's home received a sketch booklet and shared colored pencils and watercolors. None of them had ever seen watercolors before, but once they watched a short demonstration, it took only seconds for them to start creating their own pieces of art.

As they began to draw and experiment with the watercolors I noticed something... each one was drawing pictures of their homeland, Burma. There were no unicorns, aliens, robots, or even pictures of bunny rabbits. They were all working on landscapes.

The next day we talked to them about their art. First let me tell you that these youth are amazingly talented! They drew what they remembered, as one girl said, 'these are memories' - a beautiful sunset, fruit trees full of color and animals ('that soldiers cut down in hopes to starve us'), a village hiding in the mountains (hiding from the army that is trying to kill them). These beautiful pictures each have stories behind them... stories that belong to these youth. Stories that have forever changed their lives, but not stolen their hope.

A head of security for the Refugee Camp happened to be with us when we let the youth do art, so he received a sketch booklet as well. His first picture was of a rainbow and purple stick figures... his second was of a black heart that was pierced with an arrow... I wonder what led him to go from something so cheerful to so dark, and what the story is behind his bleeding heart. We didn't hear his stories, but his pictures began to tell them.

Stay tuned... the next blog is going to give you a better picture of what the creative arts has to do with my plans in Thailand.

Have you ever moved somewhere new? Have you ever started up something new? A new business or ministry?

Whether you are moving or starting up something new you have to start with a plan. It would be awesome if everything just fell into place and worked out perfectly, but that rarely happens. Over the next few blogs I am going to begin to unveil the 'plan' for my move to Mae Sot, Thailand. (I'm putting the word plan in quotes, because well, things can change... and knowing what it's like to live in a third world country it's almost a given that some things will change along the way.)

When we (the goal is to be part of a team, but currently it's just me) first arrive in Thailand the first two months will be spent in Chiang Mai. This will give us time to continue to bond together as a team, get adjusted to life in Thailand, and begin intense language studies (we know of an amazing Thai teacher who will come and give us one-on-one lessons).

Then the plan is to move to Mae Sot and rent a two or three story building. We will use the top floors for team housing and as office space. Then the bottom floor can be used as a Drop In Center.

Why a Drop In Center and what the heck is a Drop In Center? Opening a Drop In Center is an easy way to meet people and begin to build relationships in the community. It is also a great way to be able to bless those in the community that have nowhere to go during the day and nothing to do except get in trouble. We will open our doors two or three days a week to start. Anyone, any age, gender, race or religion will be welcomed into our doors. We will offer a safe place for people to spend the day, and have a hot meal. The hope is to hire a local Burmese woman to purchase all of the food locally and then cook for the Drop In Center, this blesses the local economy and makes sure that the food is nutritious and food the kids will recognize and enjoy. We will play games, do crafts, teach basic classes (math, English, etc), and as we grow there is the potential to add more classes (Thai, Burmese, and maybe even specialized classes like computer skills, accounting, or other skill based classes).

The idea of having a team move to Mae Sot is so that we can do a variety of different ministries, each finding something that we are passionate about and that gives us life as we serve. Opening the Drop In Center only a few days a week gives us an opportunity to serve the community on a consistent basis while we try to find the other ways that we would like to serve. My heart is that each team member will come in ready to work as a team, but with a dream and a passion of their own to follow while they are in Thailand.

Yes, there are a ton of ways that YOU can get involved and things that I need YOU to join me in prayer for... but you'll have to wait for an upcoming blog for details. For now I hope the excitement is building for what I'll be doing in Thailand. Stay tuned for more of my 'plan' for Mae Sot!

All the above pictures are were taken at a Drop In Center I visited in Northern Thailand.

It would be nearly impossible for me to give you a full understanding of what has been happening in Burma... and if I did it would be so devastating and gruesome you wouldn't want to finish reading it. Instead I will attempt to give you the basic ideas so you'll have an idea of what life is like in Burma.

Burma is located in Southeast Asia, near Bangladesh, Laos, China, and Thailand. If you are wondering why you've never heard of Burma it's probably because in 1989 the corrupt government changed its name to Myanmar. As a way to show support to the people and a silent way of taking a stand against the government many people still call it Burma.

The longest running civil war is still going on in Burma, all the way back to WWII. They are known by every human rights organization for being at the top of the list of offenders. It is estimated that Burma has more child soldiers than anyone else in the world. There are documented accounts of rape, torture, murder, forced labor (slavery), genocide (the eradication of entire villages through war and land mines), political prisoners, and so much more.

Due to the difficult and dangerous life inside of Burma the hill tribe people are forced to hide in the mountains moving constantly in fear of the soldiers or attempt to see asylum as a refugee. Unfortunately with thousands of people fleeing Burma to 'temporary' refugee camps, the camps are overflowing and have entire generations growing up in the camps (some camps have been around for almost 30 years).

Life in a refugee camp covers only your basic needs. Space is tight and since they are to be 'temporary' camps, homes are made of bamboo and leaves, which need to be replaced yearly. With the downward economy, funds for camps have dwindled as well, food rations continue to change and be cut. Refugees are restricted to the camp limiting their ability to work and earn extra income. Some refugees decide to move to another country, as wonderful as this sounds the transition to a first world country is difficult physically and emotionally. It is often the educated and those in leadership that leave the camp for opportunities in other countries, leaving voids in jobs that need their expertise.  

It seems like most of the dark and ugly things in the world can be found in Burma. Yet many of the people that have had to flee their homes desire to return. In the midst of it all they still have a hope that peace will return to Burma that they will be able to have the lives that they've only dreamed of. They are a people full of joy, laughter, hope and beauty.

I have this really bad habit of moving to places that I've never really spent a lot of time in. The good news is that I've been to Thailand several times, and I have driven through Mae Sot (I spent most of my time outside of the city, but did drive in to get a couple of meals).

Before I go into all the details of what I 'think' my life will look like when I move to Thailand I want to give you some background on Mae Sot. I want to help explain the question 'why' first.

Mae Sot is located in Western Thailand and boarders Burma (Myanmar). It's about a five-hour drive from Chiang Mai, and I'm guessing it is a little bit longer to get to Bangkok. Sadly Mae Sot is a stereotypical boarder town. This includes: black market, refugees and illegal immigrants, human trafficking, drug trafficking, sweat shops, etc.

It is a real city with electricity, water, internet, and a variety of restaurants. (I might be surrounded by mountains, but I'll be living in a city.) There are quite a few foreigners who have lived in Mae Sot for years and lots that come through to do volunteer work. I like to think of it almost like a place where original hippies and modern hippies come together ;)  This means that there are nice coffee shops and restaurants with live local music ranging from cultural to rock. I am hoping that part of my 'ministry' will be hanging out with the foreigners and helping them to connect with God and each other. I'm also excited because I am believing that having such a variety of people in Mae Sot will equal lots of great friendships.

Of all of the places that I've travelled through around the world, Mae Sot was different than anywhere else. I knew that this was a place that I wanted to invest my life into. I want to be there when heaven opens up, people are free to live the lives they were created to live, people are healed, and darkness has to flee because the light has taken over. In my heart and my gut I know that the Lord has Mae Sot in His sight, He has great plans for it, His heart is for them, and He has not forgotten them.

In order for you to fully understand the part of my reasoning of why I want to live in Mae Sot and work with Burmese Refugees, you must first get a glimpse at what is happening in Burma. Stay tuned as my next blog will highlight Burma.

In January I said goodbye to Adventures In Missions... and now I'm back with AIM!

No, I'm not working in the office or moving back to Gainesville, Georgia (sorry friends).

Adventures In Missions is starting up a long-term missions department and I get to be one of their missionaries on the field!

AIM will be sending me as a missionary... but I'll be working with Outpour Movement. I'll be helping Outpour start up a base in Mae Sot, Thailand.

Why will I be under the two organizations at the same time? AIM has had a relationship / partnership with Outpour since 2007, and my decision to go to Thailand is due to that partnership. My support will go through Adventures In Missions, they are an organization and people that I know and trust. AIM will continue to check in with me to make sure that I am on track with support raising, and that I am healthy spiritually, emotionally and physically. However when it comes to ministry I will be working under Outpour Movement. I will be working under the founders of Outpour to find ways to be a positive influence on a town that is known for human trafficking, black market, Burmese refugees, and the need for NGOs (non-government organizations).

My plan is to commit to Outpour for two years (with a possibility for longer). As soon as I raise my first year's support, I will pack up and move to Thailand.

I'm excited and ready to make this happen, and I hope that you will consider partnering with me by providing a prayer covering, financial supporter, or consider learning more about the ministry I will be part of.

I will be posting more information in my next blog and in an upcoming newsletter, but if you have any questions you'd like to ask now, feel free to comment below or send me an email.  

I took sometime to look through a few photos from the last five years. I have a tendency to undervalue things, especially my self and my achievements. Looking through those photos helped me put things in the right perspective again. The last five years I've experienced and accomplished enough to fill a lifetime. I've traveled to over twenty countries, lived overseas, helped start up a new ministry, helped a current ministry grow, baked and cooked for hundreds of people, learned the travel business, enjoyed going to the theatre, done some photography, and made relationships that will last forever.

In two weeks I'll be volunteering in the kitchen for a World Race and then a Real Life training camp.

In a month I'll be moving back to Seattle. God hasn't given me the go ahead on moving overseas yet (as I'd love to go back to Thailand!). Rather than sitting on my butt waiting for God to speak I've decided to be proactive. I'm going back to Seattle so I can get a job and save some more money for when the Lord does release me to full time missions again.

With the end of my time with AIM I've decided to start a different blog. Golden Glances will be a place where I'll be able to keep people updated on my life and share the photos I take.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the years! I hope that you'll continue to follow me on my new blog as I step into whatever it is that God has next for me.

https://goldenglances.wordpress.com/ 

Please note that I no longer have a support account with AIM. If you have questions about supporting me in the future please click 'contact me' on the left to send me an email.