Another Milestone.

So last night I had my oral examinations from the Credentials Committee of the Mississippi Valley Presbytery. If you're not a Presbyterian, that last sentence probably makes very little sense to you...maybe you know some of the words but can't decipher any real meaning from the sentence as a whole. Well, in my denomination (the Presbyterian Church in America), the steps for ordination are internship, 6 written exams, and then an oral examination on English Bible (as opposed to Greek and Hebrew), Theology, Sacraments, Church Government, Views (aka, what I believe about certain issues that face the Church), and Church History. So last night I had my oral examination and was approved by the committee for ordination. This is a huge step in our getting to Thailand in September, and it is really nice to have it behind me.

Now, its time to focus on getting to 100% of our support and on moving to Bangkok!

Monumental.

First all Thai session meeting...maybe ever. Pray for our team. Dave Veldhorst just left (he should be in the US now, probably sleeping at this moment) and there is no PCA teaching elder until I arrive (assuming that I pass my oral exams on June 14), and this is the first time that an all Thai session has met in our church.

Thanks to our dear, sweet, godly, teammate Melanie, who is there without an American presence until we arrive. Pray for her.

Still Thailand

This pic proves that I will fit right in in Thailand. Just have to use the right tone do you don't end up cursing when you are trying to say my name.....

Maybe I should open a "KiKi" store. Any votes on what I should sell? knitting, photos, rice crispy treats (an American delicacy!)

Thai Scenes: Mahathai

One of our ministry areas at New City Fellowship in Bangkok is what some call 'Mercy'...specifically to a local slum community named Mahathai. Currently, our very awesome, wonderful, servant-hearted, godly, extremely fun, selfless, and beautiful teammates Melanie Currie and Kieow spend a lot of their time with the people of Mahathai, but our whole team has a presence there as well.

Through prayer, bible studies, and Joy Kids, we pray that the Lord would pour out His Spirit upon this place and draw these image-bearers (Gen. 1:26-27) to Himself and in the process, restore relationships between people, heal disease and addiction, and change the courses of some of the lives in this place. Pray with us...fight for these people on your knees!

18 more box adopters wanted...

Remaining Support Graphic

Living in Grace

We're off for a week-long Mission to the World conference called "Living in Grace". Its a mandatory getaway that MTW puts on for its missionaries that emphasizes the Gospel and how it plays out in one's life and relationships. This should be a good week for us to rest, spend time with each other, with new friends, and with Jesus. However, no blog updates til June. See you then.

Thai scenes

OK...seminary is finished, and I have one more written ordination exam left: English Bible. Pray for me as I finish that up.

But even with that exam looming tomorrow, I am pretty distracted by the fact that Kiki and I are about to move 12,000 miles from home. So, I've decided that I should start putting scenes from Thailand on the blog just to give all of you who read a regular taste of the sights that will be our daily life. We'd love for you to become so familiar with our work and life in Thailand that when you visit, you'll recognize places and people that are dear to us. I wish that I could also give you a 'smell of Thailand', but Blogger hasn't added the ability to post smells yet.

This is a shot from the local market one morning (I would always walk, pray, and grab breakfast in the mornings). I think that monks from the local temples get up early to walk around and receive their food and offerings from the people, and to chant a blessing in exchange for a donation.

Lost in Translation

This is hilarious. One of the interns currently in Bangkok took this a few days back.

Done.

About 30 minutes ago, I handed in my last final for my MDiv degree and am now officially finished here at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. What a great three years...seminary really has been a wonderful time for us, and although I am glad to be finished giving RTS my money, I am very thankful for what I have experienced here. Here's what my feelings are right now:

bitterSWEET

You should notice that the 'bitter' part of that compound word is as small as I can get it...I'll miss RTS, but it sure is 'sweet' to be done.

Weird.

A newsletter from one of our teammates (Melanie Currie) shocked me today. It's not like I don't already know this, but its still weird to see it in print. Here's the end of her letter:

Please pray for me. I will be here on my own through the summer (working alongside the Thai staff) until new MTW missionaries arrive in the Fall. Please pray for their final support to be raised and the prompt arrival of my new team leader, Trey Adams, his wife, Kiki, and two 2-yr interns Lisa and Noah.

Pray for her, pray for us, pray for our team.