NOT TAKING ANYMORE DONATIONS!

Hi, friends!

I just wanted to take some time to thank you all for your kindness and generosity for the time the Lord had me in Thailand the past two years. It was a very blessed time in which I learned many things about life, the Lord, ministry, people, and myself. However, I have successfully arrived back in the States since late Feb. and have since been settled in NC, my homestate, in mid-April.

This is a time where I will be preparing for future cross-cultural ministry work ahead in China. This process will take approximately two to three years, perhaps even more, depending on a few circumstances involving my education, finances, and preparation for missions (including fundraising, taking another year or two).

I cannot express my gratitude to those who have kept me close in your heart, praying for me as I sought to follow the Spirit's leading. However, I refuse to take any donations for the time being until I am ready to start fundraising again for China--for discipline in being a good steward of the financial resources the Lord has already provided, and to prevent the temptation of aimless spending that would not go towards the Kingdom of God. My apologies for not posting this notice sooner--I had thought I informed all my sponsors since my departure from Thailand.

I praise the Lord for the joy He has given all of us as we partner together for the sake of the Gospel and am confident that He will finish what He started (Phil. 1:3-6).

Thanks, again.

Blessings,
Mydur

Hope in the Midst of Tragedy: The Story of Nah

I was moved when I heard about Nah. She is a Hmong girl that I met when I visited my Thai tutor's church, P'Than and P'Anh of The River of Life Church, Chiang Mai. I was told that her family had all been poisoned after eating wild  mushrooms. She came home and found them dead.

Without hope, Nah did not know what to do. God opened up the way for her to meet Rachada, my tutor's mother-in-law, who then gave her shelter at their church. Since then, Nah came to personally know the Lord Christ as Savior, had been adopted into a new family [of faith], and played a vital part in serving them and the rest of the community well.

Not long ago, another tragedy struck. Her motorbike, the only prized possession that she has left, was stolen right outside her home! She heard them break the lock on her motorbike and rushed away with it. You can only imagine the devastation she felt. Fortunately, the Lord always shines His marvelous light on these dark situations. In this event, the church and a few friends came together and showered her with love by encouraging her, praying for her, and reassuring her of God's omnipresence and sovereignty. Sure enough, in a matter of weeks, she received enough to obtain another motorbike and had doubly been blessed with those that knew would stick up for her through thick and thin.

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Back in the States...for now ;)

With my awesome sister, Pearl, at a beautiful lake in SoCal

It's 6:16 AM right now and I am waking up in Orange County. It has almost a full month since my return from Thailand. Yet, I am still recovering from reverse culture shock for being there for about roughly 2 years.

First of all, at the airport when I was retrieving my luggage, I had two big ones to snatch and load on to my cart. Thinking that the culture was friendly and willing to help, I had secretly hoped that the gentlemen around me would kindly assist someone as petite as myself as they usually would in Thailand (although there, I'm not really considered petite). So, after being disappointed and grabbing them both from the rotating machine, I was in the process of loading up one of them on to the cart when I noticed the other was starting to lean forward. It seemed like slow-mo. While it was free-falling, I shouted, "Nooo, watch out for the..." and then it fell on the back of a tall man's legs. "Ouch...sorry about that," I profusely apologized. And what did he do? He slightly turned his head to see what was the object of obstruction, saw that it was my pitiful luggage, and stepped forward to get out of the way of its way. Gee, thanks...



Second, I had to translate a lot of my though processes so my conversations always ended with, "Is that how you translate it in English?" for a week. Now I realize that English uses so many idioms! I have to say "be direct" instead of "talk straight straight" as I would in Thai and Hmong. Other times, I'm finding random odds and ends in my sentences and wondering how I got there.

Btw, it also took me a week to get over jet-lag. I would sleep during the day and be wide awake at night. What do you expect for a 15-hour difference?

Third, my heart skipped an extra beat as my sister and her roommates turn at an intersection and get on the right lane.

And finally, while eating at a sushi restaurant, I wanted to speak Japanese to the server but the girls (and my sister, Pearl) advised me not to in case she would be offended. "What's wrong with trying to speak their language?" I asked. "They like it when you try." And Jay, one of the roommates, goes, "Not necessarily. Some get offended." Why? Because the server was most likely Korean, not Japanese like the restaurant. What's more, they may get upset if you don't say it correctly. *Sigh* Thanks, America. It's great to be back.

Cooking up a storm in kitchen with sister's roomie, Jackie--here, we're making Vietnamese pbun-sae-yo
(how I missed the diversity of American food!!)

I miss the folks from Thailand SO much and still hear from them quite often. The other day, I called a previous roommate of mine and, while talking to her, I forgot the word for "girl/woman" (phuu ying/ผู้หญิง) when describing that I was currently staying with a few of them. When you get the chance, please pray for the kids at CPS Dormitory--one of the leaders for the girls' dormitory is taking maternal leave, leaving only one staff member available to try and man it on her own. Also, I'm hearing news about the children's severe disobedience. Please pray for wisdom and discernment on the leaders' part, that they may have God's heart for the children and to be a light to them that the children may see God's love being reflected in their lives.

In the meantime, I have been taking care of some business with my university, doing research papers, talking to advisors, registrar, financial aid, and even admissions since I will actually be taking classes on-campus for the first time this Fall. I would also appreciate your prayers in this area as well--that I would have a smooth transition in this process of working some things out right now. My hope to have everything in order to graduate this December. Oh, and in case you're wondering what I'm doing my papers on, it's for a history and anthropology class: "The History of the Hmong Church in Southeast Asia" and "Gift-Giving in the Hmong Culture: Social ties and something or other about its significance" (FYI: not actually it's real title).

Grace and peace to you in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Until next time.

Life at Christian Paisansart Dormitory

My time at CPS dormitory has been so amazing for these past few months. In just a short time (though it seemed like forever at times), I feel like I really got to know the kids. Working in the girls' dormitory with staff members, Jong and Joy, has been a real blessing. The girls we work with are not always willing to listen and do according to what we tell them but we're always praying for them and gradually building relationships with them so that they can become individual thinkers and see the outcomes of their decisions. I mean, what can we say? There are a total of 34 girls, all ranging from first grade to ninth grade. Therefore, many of them (as I can imagine) are going through the ups and downs of puberty while struggling to make good decisions in the midst of peer pressure.

This adorable girl is Wanida. Since my arrival, she has stuck onto me like glue! Unfortunately, she is lacking a wonderful relationship from her parents. What's more, she is caught a few times breaking the rules at the dorm. I see her with many scars, bruises, and other skin incarcerations that she refuses to tell me about. She doesn't have many friends. Yet, she loves hugging me and being around me every chance she gets. This girl is so precious in the sight of God--I only pray that she will be able to see that, too. My heart breaks for her because I, too, was very restless and naughty as a young child. I don't know what much I can do to help her situation, but I am definitely praying that the Lord will give me insight and wisdom in helping her see herself as God sees her--having more value than a thousand rubies and a bright future if she puts her trust in Him (Jeremiah 29:11).

With Wanida, P'Beem (my roomie), and Sirirat

"Why do you have a bag on your head?!" you might ask. Well, I have to be honest--I got lice. Yes, I'm afraid it's inevitable when being around kids from villages. However, this is a part of doing Kingdom work--you can't hug the children and be around them all the time and NOT get it. I suppose it's just another form of denying ourselves and carrying the cross. Um...I have to be honest, it was a miserable experience. I mean, have YOU ever had lice before?! It's nonstop itchiness--day and night. I had to comb my hair a million times a day with a lice brush, trying to get every little bit out...and then the kids come at you again. :) Luckily, it's only for the  beginning of the semester since many of them haven't been de-liced yet. But what can I say? I am happy to have been considered worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:41). I mean, isn't this an amazing story I can take back home with me? ;)

Every night, the girls get together for worship and Bible reading

My lovely living room (thanks, Chris and Esther! :)) (I will definitely miss this place)

My lovely bedroom

Saturday English lessons

Roasting khao laam (ข้าวหลาม) with the kids

Loi Krathong festival in Chiang Rai (just like in "Tangled"!)

Sports Day

Christian Paisansart School--standing up for righteous causes

Sports Day--also filled with elaborate ceremonies, parades, and shows put on by the children

Celebrating birthdays outside w/songs, games, and goodies!

Surprisingly, the girls that are most attracted to me at the dormitory are those that are not Christians, making low grades, and have a difficult personal life with their families. Please pray that they will see the Lord in me, that I may have the wisdom needed to know what to say to them, how to minister to them, and opportunities to present them with the Word that they may be transformed by it.

Unfortunately, due to a number of various things I'm involved in, including meeting friends from afar, weddings and other important events of personal friends, village evangelism, and my homework for my M.A. program, it has been difficult finding time to stay at the dorm and spending as much time with the little ones as much as possible. Pray that I would make the most out of my time here with them, that they may see God in me and grow up in accordance to His ways as revealed to them through His Word.

God is Close to the Broken-Hearted

I am reminded of the time a few weeks ago when I went with pastor and missionary Doua Her to the Hmong village of Hwuay Haan to see a man about a problem he was having at a funeral. His mother-in-law had passed away and he wanted to kill her a cow according to Hmong tradition. However, because he was a believer, he did not want to offer the pieces of meat to the deceased ancestors of long ago. He simply wanted to do it in her honor (story to be continued).

While this man was still discussing the problem with Doua, Grandpa (as I like to call him) Nhia Tou Xiong (Nyiaj Tub Xyooj) and I were sitting outside his house just talking about ministry and a couple of other things. After having a few laughs about his experience in China with their bathrooms, he asked me why I came to Thailand. I then told him the whole story about my testimony—the suicide attempt, the vision, and the fellowship I had with God afterwards (full story on the tab above). And with that, he then presented me with a few more questions.

“How did you know it was God talking to you?” he asked.

“Well, I know now that it was God because all the words He gave me were straight from the Bible. But at first, I thought it was just me talking to myself,” I replied.

“I mean, it was a voice I heard from inside my heart," I continued. "So, I thought that maybe I was just thinking about it too much. But then I asked Him one day and said, 'God, how do I know that it’s really You talking to me? How do I know that You’re real?'”

And then I heard a voice that said, “Lift up your eyes and look at the grass of the field; the trees, the flowers, and all that is in this world…I am the One who created them all.”

And with that, I heard Grandpa sniffle. I tried to go on with my story but found myself crying, too, at the greatness of our God.

“Why…” Grandpa asked. “Why…such a girl like you…that He would even consider and spare your life from a dreadful fate…” A few minutes passed by as he went on. "And now, to set you aside for a special task; to dedicate your life, and take you from the comforts of your home in the States and back to the country of the origin of our people..."

We just sat there for about ten minutes in silence, marveling at the grace of God towards mankind. I was reminded of the Psalm 8:4, which says, "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" Certainly we couldn't do anything in our own power to make ourselves worthy before a Holy and Just God.

Just then, Grandpa suddenly inquired, “Why did He choose to speak specifically to you? Why do you get the pleasure of hearing His voice?”

“Well…” I started. “I honestly don’t know. I mean, I obviously didn’t do anything that would be worthy of His attention. I mean, I was trying to kill myself.” I admit that this was indeed a question that many people have asked me before. Yet, I don’t know why I have the honor of being comforted and consoled by Him personally. I knew without a doubt that it was certainly something I couldn't boast about. Yet, I didn't understand why God would choose to speak to me in such a miraculous way. Some time later, while I was pondering about this particular situation, a verse was gently pressed onto my heart:

Psalm 34:18

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”    

      

And there it is. This verse tells us that it is simply our heavenly Father's nature to be near to the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. At eight years old, I didn’t have anyone who would be able to help me the way I needed them to. The Lord and I also both knew that I was surely going to plunge the knife into my stomach. So, why would He save me in my distress? What could I have possibly meant to Him that He would divinely intervene to stop me from committing such a heinous act? Just this: that He loved me so much, He gave up His own life in exchange for mine.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son; that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life”

1 John 2:2 (ESV)

"He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world"

The Big Move to Chiang Rai

Good-bye Chiang Mai! I will miss you!

The end of full-time language study
I had been praying for quite some time to see where the Lord was leading me. I had originally planned to only study the language for the next 6 months or so (depending on how comfortable I would be in using it) when, to my surprise, God had answered my prayers and I had reached a level much higher than I had anticipated. Don’t get me wrong—I still have a loooooooooong way to go but I felt that perhaps, if it was the Lord’s will, for me to go ahead and get started in ministry work while being immersed in the language and learning it that way. There is only one problem—I don’t know really know royalty vocabulary (the language you use in speaking about God, Jesus, the Bible, kings, higher authority, etc.). Therefore, I can’t share much from God’s Word nor can I pray in this language because I had not previously had a biblical module in this language. I had tried to get started on it a bit in November last year but the schedule around Christmas is always busy and it has been difficult to keep it going. I have stopped language learning since and had only recently picked it back up last month (almost a year later) at Payap University. The pictures below are from a field trip that my class took in Chiang Mai:


I have suddenly become a professional Thai singer (นักร้อง) at the Museum Festival of Chiang Mai, 2010




Posing with my Thai language studies professor, Ajarn (teacher) Ray


God’s leading in ministry
Anyway, I was presented with a few options in the province of Chiang Rai but wasn’t sure which path to follow. After praying, fasting, and speaking with my prayer team, I felt the Lord leading me towards Christian Paisansart School (CPS) Dormitory where I now volunteer as a part of the staff. I took many things into consideration: the location, the experience I would receive, the responsibilities I would take on, the positives and negatives, the relationships I would have, and where I anticipate the Lord leading me next and how this could possibly affect it.

CPS Dormitory Staff at Mae Sa Long

I knew without a doubt, however, that I would have to leave my life in Chiang Mai behind no matter what. If I wasn’t pursuing language study full-time, I knew that I shouldn't be there any longer. (Don’t get me wrong—I loved staying there. I had the freedom to go where I want whenever I wanted, my own place to pray, study, or do whatever, visit friends, try out restaurants, worship with and encourage various believers in the Lord, tutor English, visit friends, and visit friends. I miss my friends in Chiang Mai terribly…nothing is more enjoyable for me than spending time with the Lord, whether it may be doing it alone or with a friend where we can pray for and encourage one another). I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to towards focusing on ministry work for the time being rather than furthering my language learning. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that there is "a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." We must always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading, discerning our gifts and calling in accordance with Scripture, and putting our priorities in order while looking asking God for clarity in the big picture of our lives.

My "work station" as I put in concentrated effort on homework and ministry planning



A piping-hot cup of mocha! Yum-O! :)


Saying good-bye without saying good-bye
Sadly, I had left on a last minute notice. I did not know exactly when I would travel to Chiang Rai, but I knew it was going to be somewhere at the end of October close to when the kids would be coming back to school for their second term. By the time I had found out, I felt that the Lord was saying, “Go ahead! Go for it!” The only thing I regret is not having proper closure with friends…and I feel completely terrible about it. If you guys are reading this, I just want to say that I REALLY REALLY MISS YOU...ALL OF YOU...AND I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK AND PROPERLY SAY GOOD-BYE. :***(

First of all, I had really begun enjoying Bible study and seeing other missionaries (mostly single adults) in the area. I had grown closer to the girls there these past few months and had not properly said good-bye to them. Not only that, but I missed out on my chance to worship with and visit my Hmong-Thai family in Sansai (Pastor Zaam Nug Yaj/Bunsoem), Doua Her, one of my mentors, and Hannah (Hmong name: Ncws), one of my best friends here. I had originally planned to go to Doi Inthanon with Hannah to celebrate her birthday, visit her family in her village, and go sight-seeing in what is considered the highest mountain point in all of Thailand where the weather is always cool and the flowers stay beautiful year-round (well, at least that’s what I’ve heard)…I just keep telling myself that there will be an opportunity soon for me to go back and visit. Plus, my heart was touched by a few kids at a hostel in Doi Saket called the House of Blessing (also on facebook) . I had wanted to go back and bless the children with snacks and games while teaching them a lesson or two from God’s Word. If it’s pleasing to the Lord, I would still like the opportunity to go back and bless them along with a number of others whom I had promised to see and visit before I left! :S


Scavenger hunt with the TLC Center at Kad Suan Kaew shopping plaza



Laughs at a pot luck day at Bible study from Chiang Mai Community Church (CMCC)



Just finished playing hop-scotch with some of the kids at the House of Blessing



You know you've been in Thailand too long when…

Random picture at Mae Salong, Chiang Rai

You know you've been in Thailand too long when...

1. You want to wai everyone you’re introduced to (a wai is a greeting where you place your hands together with your finger tips pointed in an upward position, sometimes touching your chin)

2. You automatically take off your shoes before entering a building

3. You think it’s mandatory to take at least two showers a day, one in the morning just after you wake up and one before you go to bed. Sometimes, on really hot days, 3 or 4 showers may be necessary.

4. You’re strongly offended by the smell of someone who hasn’t showered…or just stinks.

5. You wear long-sleeve jackets/sweaters on sunny days because you don’t want to get burned or your skin to get dark

6. You eat rice or noodles for every meal

7. You don’t own a dryer because you hang your clothes out in the sun

8. You think it’s ridiculous to pay more than $1.00 for a meal

9. You keep baby powder on-hand in case you start to sweat a lot

10. You keep toilet paper on hand at all times

11. You’re actually surprised to see Western-looking toilets, toilet paper, and liquid soap in a restroom

12. You have a difficult time expressing yourself because you have at least 2 languages (and two different thought processes) in your head

13. You wake up extra early to get housework done before the sun comes out and it gets scorching hot and unbearable (that is, if you don't have a maid who will do that for you)

14. You look four ways before crossing a one-way street

15. You aren’t surprised to see a family of five on a motorbike anymore

16. You think it’s a luxury to go to 7-11

17. You think it’s a luxury to go to McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, or have anything that resembles Western food in a non-Thai way

18. You’re startled and the first words that come out of your mouth are a-rai-ni-ah (lit: what this)!

19. You are always consciously aware of what you’re doing with your feet in case you offend someone

20. You praise God that speed limits are almost non-existent, that you can run a red light, go the wrong direction in a parking lot, and drive in the opposite direction on a one-way street—and no one will say anything!