Katherine Weston Katherine Weston - The World Race 2006

Hasta Luego, Mi Hermano Zacheo

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As posted on www.westonsonline.blogspot.com :

This past week I received the unfortunate news that a friend I met on the World Race has gone to be with the Lord.

I met Zacheo (on the left in the picture above) in February of 2006, when our World Race team was working in Guatemala. On our very first day of ministry, Pastor Antonio had led us to a woman's home and explained to us that she desired prayer for her son, Zacheo. He had gotten wrapped up in gangs and drugs, and she was worried sick. We prayed with her and did our best to comfort and encourage her and her younger son.

The following week, we were assisting members of the church on one of their work days. They had gotten a job removing rocks (remnants from the Hurricane Stan mudslides) to raise money for their church building. As it turns out, one of the young men on the work crew was this woman's son, Zacheo. When we had finished our work for the day, we found seats in the shade and chatted as we thirstily drank our bags of water. We talked to him about faith, forgiveness, and the power of God. We prayed with him, and he committed then and there to turn his life around and put his faith in Christ.

Later that same week, our missionary team was given the opportunity to sing on Pastor Antonio's weekly radio program. Afterwards, our new friend Zacheo approached us and related that he had heard us sing, and had felt so encouraged, as if we were angels praying for him. Zacheo came to our church services every night, and by the end of the month he had officially joined as a member. Over the next two years, he remained devoted and continued to grow deeper in his faith.

The night I returned home from our mission trip to New Orleans, I had a message from Pastor Antonio waiting for me. Zacheo had been swimming in the lake, had some sort of unfortunate mishap, and drowned. How exactly this could have happened, they're not sure.

Obviously, his mother and brother are devastated. The church is also heavily grieving the loss: Zacheo was the 'first son', the first convert of the new congregation, and his passing leaves a huge hole in their hearts. Not only must they endure sorrow, the humble community also faces the reality of how to provide for funeral expenses, an exorbitant cost in an impoverished area.

When I heard the news, my heart just broke. Gary and I have been planning our return visit to Guatemala for just three months from now, and I had so greatly anticipated seeing Zacheo's face again. I couldn't wait to hear about what God has been doing in his life these past two years, and to remind him what a blessing he's been to us. (Seeing God work in Zacheo's life so powerfully within those few short weeks had opened my eyes to the reality that God may be wanting to do more through me than 'just plant seeds'; that in some parts of the world, the harvest is truly plentiful, as Jesus talks about in Matthew 9.)

So, God willing, I'll still be stepping on a plane July 2, and on July 3 I will be climbing the hill to the familiar tiny home in the village of San Pablo on the shores of Lake Atitlan. Though I can't see Zacheo himself, I will visit his family. I will bring pictures, I will pray, I will cry, I will smile, and this time I can encourage them with the assurance that God's good work has been completed in Zacheo's life.

As I know that he is now with the Lord, surrounded by the glorious songs of real angels, I do not say 'adios' but 'hasta luego'. I look forward to seeing you again in heaven, mi hermano.

New Blog

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Hi guys, even though I've completed the World Race, there's still plenty I want to write about. I am now sharing a blog with my husband Gary; you can check us out at:

http://westonsonline.blogspot.com/

I may post back here occasionally with updates about ministries and people from our trip, but for the most part I"ll be hanging out over at the blogspot address. Thanks!

World Race Ministry Update

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Thanks to the internet, I have been blessed to keep up with many of the people we met on our trip around the world. As many of you have been partners in praying for the different ministries, I thought I would share some of the updates I've received.

Mexico

Juan Carlos was our translator and life-saver during the Red Team's problem-ridden drive through Mexico. His father is pastor of a church in a remote area of Veracruz, and helped him to plant a daughter church in the neighboring village. While we were there in Mirador, we evangelized door to door and helped lead nightly church services at the church plant. Though conditions were basic, we will always remember the incredible joy and devotion of the Mexican families!

Since then, the new church has celebrated their one year anniversary, members of the congregation have experienced healing, and Juan Carlos has gotten engaged! He will be married the 20^th of Jan. Please pray for the church and for Juan Carlos' transition to married life!

Guatemala

Our 2^nd church plant was in a tiny village on the shores of beautiful Lake Atitlan in Guatemala! We were blessed to live and work alongside Pastor Antonio and his family, and our lives will never be the same! When the church first began, it consisted of only 2 families.

Since then, God has blessed them richly and they have seen many people come to Christ! God has also provided them the resources to buy a plot of land, and they are preparing to build a permanent building to meet in.

Please pray that God would provide Bibles in their native language, Tzutujil. The Tzutujil New Testament was translated and printed 30 years ago, but at this time it is impossible to acquire a new copy. There is a huge need for the Tzutujil people to have the scriptures in their own language. (If you have any resources in this area, please contact me at stillsmallvoice99@yahoo.com)

China

God is moving in China, and as such we get frequent reports from our missionary contact there. We are especially delighted to hear that he and his wife are expecting adorable baby #2! Please pray for their ministry and their family in this exciting time. One way to support the ministry is to shop from http://www.plateauproducts.com/index.html - they produce and sell leather baby shoes, which gives them a legitimate visa to stay in China.

Egypt

In August, we spent 2 weeks in a Coptic Orthodox community in Egypt. We were blessed to live in the Bishop's home, and learned much through our conversations with him. Bishop Thomas is a very godly man with a great heart for the Lord.

Unfortunately, we've received word that he was recently in a serious car accident. Several of his friends were killed, and he was badly injured. Please pray that God would heal him completely, and provide comfort as he grieves the loss of his friends.

Kenya

Over 1 million people reside in the slum of Kibera, and many don't yet know the hope of Jesus Christ. Pastor Mike has just begun a brand new church plant, and was excited to report that 13 people attended the first service!

Pastor Jackson Maleya has also been pastoring a young church in Kibera, and during our time in Kenya we saw them move into their own church building. God provided an amazing location: the top of a hill, overlooking the slum area. We were thrilled to know that the sound of God's people singing in worship would float to the people below. A few short months later, they have already outgrown their space, and are praying for a bigger, sturdier building! Pastor Jackson is also preparing to start a Nursery School, a vital need where many don't have the income to send their children to public school.

Please pray that God would bless both of these churches to be lights in a community of great need. They are also praying that God would provide the resources for needs such as building, books, and musical instruments.

It's hard to believe these are only a few of the places we've encountered this year... God has done so much, and it's thrilling to see that the seeds we've planted are growing and producing great fruit! I hope you have been encouraged by the updates; if you would like to know more about anything or anyone specific, please e-mail me.

God Bless,

Katherine Weston, WR '06

Life of an ex - World Racer

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Well, the race has been over for about 6 weeks now, and I'm amazed about how quickly life has been flying by. It's been a whirlwind of travel, visits, and catching up with friends all over the country. It's been a time of readjustment to the self-importance of American news networks, the overwhelming choices available in American supermarkets, and trying to figure out how to keep my spiritual life active and relevant in more mundane' environments. In many ways, the transition has been much more smooth and easy than I had anticipated. In fact, I may feel more at home' here than I did before I left!

Coming home, though, I'm just starting to realize the impact that the world race has had on my life. Before the trip, I was focused on the purposes of the trip itself - I wanted to make an impact for God's kingdom wherever we were I wanted God to work through me, to bless the nations! Now that I'm home, I'm becoming aware of how meaningful that experience will be for the rest of my life!

Every time I go to Starbucks, I will think of Pastor Antonio who picks coffee in Guatemala every time I hear about Oprah's new school in South Africa, I will think of Zizipho, and Ramorra, and the many other students we met and prayed with in that nation. Any time someone will share a doubt about God and miracles, I will have to tell my China story.

The very fact that Gary and I sold our house, a car, furniture, quit jobs, to put our lives in God's hands will forever challenge those around us to respond to God's call. Already, we are seeing the beginning of the impact this past year has had. We pray in faith that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of God's work throughout our lives!

Memories of Swaziland

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

A couple of months ago, I got an e-mail from Seth Barnes about Swaziland, telling about some different ministry opportunities there. Initially, I didn't even think about it, but as time went on, God begin to really create a hunger in me to go to Swaziland, to meet the people and see the various ministries there. I was blessed to have the opportunity to go, when we ended up with a few extra days at the end of the world race debrief, before it was time to fly home.

I have to admit, once I stepped off the tiny propeller plane, I found my experience in Swaziland to not be anything like I expected. I know, I know, World Race motto: Don't have any expectations!

First of all, I had thought that Swaziland would be more of a wild Africa' experience: mud huts, women wrapped in colorful sheets, walking around with baskets on their heads, that sort of thing. Imagine my surprise to discover the tap water to be of better quality than back home in California! Next, I completely fell in love with the vivacious character of the people. So much of what I've heard about Swaziland has to do with the AIDS crisis, and the number of kids being orphaned. Around the world, desperate situations leave kids tired, hungry, and serious. But everywhere I went, I found laughing, friendly children, ready to jump into my arms and play. They are so affectionate! And I couldn't help but fall in love with all of them. I'm telling you, little black babies are the cutest in the whole world!

Our first day, we drove out to Bulembu, a formerly abandoned mining town that is slowly coming back to life. The sun shines down through gorgeous green tree-tops, and hydrangeas in full bloom line the road. God is opening up many doors for ministry in this area, located in such a beautiful valley. Orphans in Christian homes such as ABC Ministry are learning who their true Father is, poor children are being fed and educated at various care points, and soon there will be a Christian leadership development center (headed up by Gary Black). There are so many opportunities to get involved, and if you are feeling called to go, you are surely blessed!

Then, we went with Julie Anderson to her care point, where she runs a craft co-op discipleship group with a large group of women. Most of these women are grandmothers who have taken on the burden of caring for their orphaned grandchildren. Through the craft co-op, they have a chance to learn new skills and earn a small income. We got to see them working on beautiful hand-made purses and small grass baskets. Though the money they raise will definitely help provide for the needs of their families, the greatest thing they can gain is the salvation and hope that only comes from Christ Jesus. Please pray for these "Gogos", that they will grow deeper in their faith, and be able to teach and provide for their loved ones.

Our last full day, we went to a Christian youth rally in the capital city of Mbabane (pronounced: ma-bonn). Youth teams from America paired up with local Swazi youth groups to produce an amazing day of fun , sports, drama, dance, and worship. Hundreds came together to praise God, black, white, it didn't matter. The personal highlight for me was hanging out with the Real Life team members - young people age 19-24 serving in Swaziland for the summer. They were trying to grill us on our world race experience, while I was trying to hear about all of their Swazi stories of the summer! I was encouraged again about my commitment to disciple youth in America after the world race, to encourage teenagers in their faith and equip them to go wherever God may be calling them to. Praise God!

I am so thankful to God for bringing me to this amazing place, and for all the great people I met along the way. Thank you to Julie and Ellie for sharing your house with me. Thank you to Jumbo and Creek for all the rides to and fro. Thank you Jacci for your stories and your support, and thank you to Seth for believing that God had something to show us. Though I didn't receive a specific calling to missions while in Swazi, I was confirmed in so many other things: my passion to disciple youth, the need for Christians to reach out to their hurting brothers and sisters around the world, my desire for a life of obedience to God's will, a heart to pray for the innocent victims of AIDS. And, I am brought full circle by a reminder of something God pointed out to me in Guatemala, 10 months ago:

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. " James 2:15-17

Favorite Ministry of the Year!

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Between two consecutive weeks of running Beat the Drum, we had the privilege of running a weekend youth camp for grade 7s in a town called Ugie. We only had about 3 days to prepare for the camp, entirely from scratch, but everyone pulled together to put forward their best effort, and God blessed it phenomenally!

The weekend was designed around a theme called "Quest"; with kind of a Lord of the Rings', knights and warrior princesses' feel. We talked about the unseen spiritual battle between good and evil, and how each person plays a part, whether they know it or not. We taught about their identity in the Lord, and how valuable they are to Him. After each session, we met in small groups to talk with the students, answer QUESTions and to pray with them. This is the most valuable time in youth ministry, building the relationships and connecting one on one.

We also had fun, played some great games, bonded in our small groups, made up chants (go PINK team!), and built great memories. I was particularly impressed with my girls, who had CRAZY energy for the outside games, but were wonderfully attentive and respectful during our small group talks. A rare and blessed time with thirteen year olds, for sure!

Saturday evening, we split the guys and girls for a special time - with the girls we lit candles (to remind us that we are the light of the world!), and made bracelets (with special beads to remind us that we are princesses, because our Father is the King of Kings)!

The most exciting time of the camp, was at our Saturday night service, when Gary shared the gospel with the eighty seventh graders in attendance. He invited them to come forward if they wanted to accept Christ, and we were all amazed and overjoyed when every student jumped out of their seat and rushed to the front of the room! We were able to pray for them, and give each student their own New Testament, which the small group leaders signed and dedicated individually. We rejoice in the work that God was doing in each student that weekend, and we pray that they will continue to grow deeper in their faith.

Sunday morning, as our last activity together, we had one final ceremony - a time of initiation and confirmation. Each leader knighted' the students in their small group, and gave them a necklace with a handmade cross. I was blown away by how powerful it was to look each of my girls in the eye, call them by name, and dub them a warrior princess in the army of God.

Personally, this was one of my top favorite ministries of the year. I LOVE working with youth, they are at such a valuable stage in their life, when they are choosing what their lives will be about. There are so many pressures pushing them in the wrong direction, and I am honored to be someone willing to point them towards God. I also feel so confirmed about this life calling - working side by side with Gary to love and disciple teenagers. We are praying hard for the opportunity to do this full time back in the states, hopefully for years and years and years. Though we've volunteered in youth groups before, and loved it, being on the race this year has really confirmed this passion in our hearts, and we can't wait to get started!

PRAY FOR SWAZILAND

Mon, 6 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In the kingdom of Swaziland, at the northeast corner of South Africa, AIDS threatens the future of the whole country. In Swaziland,

-HIV/AIDS infection rates are at almost 50% of the population.

-90% of hospitals are filled with patients dying of AIDS.

-10% of families are headed by orphans.

-A 15 year old today has only a 10% chance of living until age 35.

-Average life expectancy is 33 years.

-Unless something changes, Swaziland will be extinct by the year 2050.

As a Christian, as a human being, I cannot idly stand by and do nothing while a hundred thousand orphans suffer, as their nation perishes. God calls us to be His hands and feet, to show His love and mercy by caring for the needy. In a nation where children can't even expect to be able to grow up, there is literally no hope without Jesus Christ.

In the next two weeks, I am headed to Swaziland, to meet the people, to pray with them, and to see what God is doing there. I feel that God has specifically called me to visit Swaziland, before coming home from the world race. What He can possibly accomplish through me I don't know, yet I know that I must do something.

I invite you to join me in a commitment to stand by those who are suffering: You can pray; take a short-term mission trip to Swaziland, or a longer-term commitment if God calls you; sponsor a child or a family. But please, don't do nothing. The life of a nation is at stake. Check out http://youngheroes.org.sz/

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'" The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Matt 25: 37-40

Walking the Wild Coast

Mon, 6 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

We were blessed to top off an intense month of ministry with a weekend at the wild coast - a beautiful, remote, unspoiled piece of Africa. Our leader Anna-Marie claims it as her favorite place in the world, and it's not hard to see why.

Rolling green hills, dotted with the occasional Xhosa hut (all painted turquoise, for some unknown reason). The wide expanse of sky, which dives into the brilliant blue Indian ocean. Wandering herds of sheep, galloping horses running free, whales breaching off the coast. It was the perfect place to meet God and thank Him for the great work He's done through us this month.

The highlight was a daylong hike from our camp to "Hole in the Wall", a natural formation. We hiked along the ocean cliffs, with spectacular views all around. We probably saw at least 8 different whales, blowing their spouts and slapping their tails into the water.

Many times, we would crest the next hill only to stop in wonder and absorb the beauty. What joy to think that the creator of this magnificent beauty, He is the one who designed us, cares for us, is preparing a place for us in heaven. The glory of His creation truly knows no bounds.

"May the glory of the Lord endure forever."

Leavin' J-Bay (for now)

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Hi friends - just a quick note to let y'all know that we are heading out of J-Bay.

We have about 3 more ministry projects to do, in South Africa, before the ministry part of world race is officially over. I'm excited that they're all working with youth - my peeps! Anyways, please be praying that we will finish out strong.

Also, I am praying about the chance to go to Swaziland before our flight home - really feel God calling me to go, but don't know yet if it will be some kind of ministry work, prayer, meeting people or what not.

Don't know what our internet access will look like, so just wanted to keep y'all in the loop.

Love you guys!

PS- USC football rules! 6-0, baby!!!!!!

J-Bay update!

Fri, 6 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Howdy!

So, yesterday was our final race leg of the year. I'm proud to say that Team Doulos arrived first among the American Teams! (read: third place overall!) Gary, Sarah, Ashley, and I had a great time cruising down from Pretoria to Jeffery's Bay in a red Ford Focus. Gary did a fantastic job handling the wheel and driving on the left side of the road!

After a looong stretch of ministry, debrief, and early mornings, we were blessed to be able to sleep in this morning, then wander off to the beach for coffee and quiet time. The next few days we will be preparing for "Beat the Drum" ministry: teaching abstinence and HIV prevention in schools. Please pray for the upcoming ministry time, that it would be very fruitful, and that we would be a time of focus on what God is doing.

God Bless! =)

Holy Kissin' in South Africa!

Mon, 2 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Greetings from South Africa! We arrived Friday evening, and have enjoyed a restful and reflective few days at Alabanza (sort of a retreat center, located right outside of Pretoria). It has been great fun to be welcomed by all our South African friends, and a blessing to be present for their own homecoming. The next few weeks will fly by, and we are all quite aware of the upcoming lasts last ministry leg, last race, last goodbyes. We are determined to make the most of them and to finish as strong as we can.

Yesterday was an enjoyable first Sunday in S.A. We were privileged to attend two very different church services. In the morning, we went to Rifilwe, where we worshipped with a small, predominantly black congregation. They were celebrating "Culture Sunday", and many of the women showed up in gorgeous colorful dresses, complete with elaborate coordinating headwraps and beaded jewelry. Our team was invited to spend time with the children, so we spent the morning performing our dramas, along with songs and games. At the end of the service, we rejoined the adults. We were amazed by their eagerness to welcome us as distinguished guests, and to pray over us for our next leg of ministry. They brought us to the front and washed all of our feet, and even treated us to a holy kiss' on the lips by Mama Lizzie! Though I couldn't understand the words of their language as they prayed, the presence of the Holy Spirit was sweet and unmistakable.

After a quick trip back to Alabanza for lunch, we hopped back in the vans to head to our next service. This time, we went to visit Liesl's (Yellow Team) home church. She is a member of a large church in Pretoria that has experienced rapid growth over the past few years. We were amazed as we walked into a brand new auditorium that probably seated at least 5,000 people. Our group was given the chance to participate in a youth worship service, to talk about our experiences in the world race, and invite those present to devote themselves to God's call in their lives. Dozens of students got out of their seats to kneel before a cross, and pray about a life of service to the Lord.

As racers, it's difficult to internalize what our participation means to those back home - we've just been doing our best to be obedient in living our day to day lives, as unusual as they may be. We are just now approaching the chapter of the trip in which we get to share with our friends and families face to face, where they will see us trying to live out our changes back in our home environment. For the South Africans, this chapter begins a few weeks earlier, but for the Americans, its not far off.

I can't help but think about sharing with my own church, and I have to admit, the idea is a bit overwhelming. This year has been so extraordinary, how can I possibly sum up' my experience in a short testimony? Is the world race experience something that can be boiled down' to a couple of bullet points? Goodness knows, it's been a challenge to even blog about!

So, I have a new prayer request: pray that God would help me to process the events of the past nine months. Pray that when I return to the states, I would know exactly when, how and what to talk about. Most especially, that the way I communicate what I've learned about God's goodness and glory won't even require words at all.

ps - I added a bunch more Kenya photos... click on "browse my photos" on the left!

Goodbye, Kenya

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

With great sadness, we bid farewell to our new friends here in Kenya. This has been an awesome month of ministry, personal growth and new friendships. The pastors we have partnered with jokingly told us that they 'told God' that we would be returning to visit them next year.... Curious to see how God responds to that!

In all seriousness, I would LOVE to come back to Kenya. There's just no place like it!

So, at 3:45 this afternoon we hop on a plane to South Africa, our last flight of the trip before the final trip home. Weird. I look forward to an amazing final two months and am praying to finish strong.

My prayer now is that I will have the opportunity to spend some extended time with the Lord before we set out on our last leg of ministry. I really want to pray and think through my experiences of the last nine months, and to seek an understanding of what God is doing, what I've learned, how I've changed, and how to prepare for the rapidly approaching return to the US. Please pray for me that despite the chaos of the world race schedule, I will have the chance to do this in a meaningful way.

God Bless-

New Photos

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Hi guys - check out my new pics by clicking on the 'Browse my Photos' section on the left!

Pray to the Lord of the Harvest

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

As our time in Kibera draws to a close, I find difficulty in believing that the days have passed so quickly. Our time in Kenya has been interesting, and rewarding, though very different from other places we've visited this year. Living in Africa has challenged us to rise to a new level of flexibility, to live at a state of readiness for ministry, to always try to do whatever we can whenever we can (and not be put off when things don't work out).

This kind of culture has resulted in a hodgepodge month of ministry, of which no two days have looked the same. Our group has done door-to-door evangelism, open-air events, drama, preaching, home visitation, visited schools and orphanages, and taught at the local bible college. I've loved the variety and intensity of these types of ministries, and am grateful for the ways I've learned and grown through them. Everywhere we've been, we've found the Kenyan people to be friendly, welcoming, and open to the hope of the gospel. I am often reminded of the words of Jesus in Matt. 9:

"When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

So, with our final few days of ministry before us, join us in praying that God would bring us to His harvest fields, that we would be filled with compassion for the needy, that He would give us the strength to finish strong in this place, and that He would bring more laborers to this harvest even after we leave.

ps - Sorry about the lack of photos, our internet connection isn't currently allowing for photo uploads.

"It's Already Better"

Fri, 8 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

"It's already better". The words painted on the back wall of the African church captured my sentiments perfectly. Over the past eight months, I've traveled a lot of miles, and taken a lot of pictures. It's been an amazing experience, for sure, but it's been such a long time since I've felt like I've really belonged in a certain place, since I've really known that God had brought me for a specific purpose.

Almost immediately upon arriving in Kenya, however, a certain peace settled over my heart, as if my soul felt right at home. We (myself, Gary, Ashley, Laura, Friske, Kinsley, and Paul) are spending the month in the Nairobi AIM base, along with a drama group from Canada. We are situated on the outskirts of the Kibera slum, home to 1.6 million people, many suffering from AIDS. God's love for these people is so tangible, that our whole group has been renewed with a fire for ministry.

Yesterday, we spent the morning indoors, out of the light rain. We moved furniture out of the way and worked on a new drama that Laura wrote. I was thrilled to put my old colorguard coach skills to work by helping choreograph and teach a dance sequence to go along with the drama. Just as we were finishing up, three of the local pastors arrived on our front steps to take us out into the community for door-to-door evangelism.

Now, let's get something straight. There are many aspects of missionary work, and door-to-door evangelism is one of those that I'm not really comfortable with yet (probably most of you understand this sentiment). However, if God wants to work through me this way, I don't want my fear to hold me back. So, our group set out, and I prayed hard that the Lord would guide my steps and give me His words to say.

We walked down a dirt road, dodging holes, rocks, puddles, trash, and fumes from the passing matatus. We passed fruit stands and shops selling used clothing. We waved to groups of schoolchildren, wearing their brand new uniforms and shouting "Howareyou! Howareyou! Howareyou!" And on I prayed.

After arriving at a local church, we prayed as a team then split into three groups. Gary and I headed down the hill with Pastor Jackson. At the first house we came to, we met three young people: Caroline, Caroline, and Stephen. They told us that they believed in the Lord but said they weren't saved. We spent an hour in their home, getting to know them and trading stories (thanks to Pastor Jackson's translation). We told them of God's love, how our faith in Jesus Christ has changed our lives, and extended an invitation to them to share in those same blessings. All three accepted Christ! Praise the Lord!

At the second house, we prayed with a young Christian mother (Sofie) for her sick child (Clinton). Both her parents are dead, her brother is in jail, and the doctors don't know what's wrong with her son. We prayed that God would heal Clinton, and provide her the strength she needs for her difficult situation.

At the third house, we met another young mother, Edie, and she also chose to accept Christ!

At the fourth house, we encouraged another Christian woman, and taught and prayed for the seven children living at and visiting her tiny home.

Through all this, God just confirmed in my heart that when He is ready to work, I can trust Him. I don't need to be overwhelmed with worry about what I'm going to say, or how I'm going to come across. I do need to be loving, yes, and I need to share truth, yes, but everything else is in His hands. I know that we know these things, but the moment they become real', you can't help but be transformed inside.

One week into Kenya, and indeed, I'm already better'.

"I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. Psalm 40:8-10

Jambo! It means Hello!

Sat, 2 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Hi friends!

I wanted to let you all know that we have all arrived safe and sound in Nairobi. Praise God!

Wish I could say the same for our luggage...

Unfortunately, most of the racer's checked luggage got left behind in Cairo. We are hoping it will arrive tomorrow morning. The lime and yellow team (plus Rinn & Sisson) had to get on a bus immediately to go to Tanzania... so for the next few weeks they will truly be embracing simplicity and community by living together off of the few people's items that actually made the trip. The blue team is waiting for a bag to come in, then they will be getting on a bus and heading to Uganda.

So, that leaves the bread team (brown + red = bread) to spend the next month at the AIM base here in Nairobi. We are SO excited to be here and really devote ourselves to ministering to the community and to each other. We will definitely have access to the internet, so keep posted for updates and pictures!

The Final Continent

Fri, 1 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In just a few short hours, we will be grabbing our bags, heading to the Cairo airport, and settling in to wait for our late late overnight flight from Cairo to Nairobi. It's amazing to realize how far we've come in this journey - we've gone most of the way around the world, and we're about to begin our descent into the heart of Africa for our last leg of ministry.

The past eight months have been emotional and stretching. We've experienced true joy, dependence on the Lord, and heartbreak as well. I often wonder if I had known ahead of time the true cost of this trip, would I still have chosen to come? As hard as it's been, I have to say 'yes'. I believe without a doubt that I was called by the Lord to participate, and that I have been stretched to grow in ways I never would have otherwise. Some people talk about leaping 'out of their comfort zones'. I say forget that, I say, 'expand my comfort zone and make it HUGE!' Let me be more comfortable loving the orphans than I am hanging out on my couch.

It's hard to know what to expect out of the last couple of months of the world race. At this point, we're all tired, distracted, and our heads are chock full of the experiences we've already seen. But, our hearts are to persevere and finish strong. I want to see, feel, and taste God's heart for Africa, and I want the final leg of this trip to blow everything else out of the water. But, I can't make this happen on my own.

Everything we do is a partnership: God, us (on the ground), and you (wherever you may be). We need you to pray. Let me say this again. We NEED NEED NEED you to pray. For us, for the people of Africa, for our finances, for our leadership, for our health and safety, for the success of our ministry, for protection against spiritual attack. Please know that you are no small part of the world race mission when you lift up the missionaries in prayer. It will be one of the greatest joys of my life to come home in November, look you in the eye, and tell you about all the ways God has been answering your prayers.

I want to end with a verse of encouragement:

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

(Galatians 6:9-10)

In the Footsteps of Paul: Corinth

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

After our itinerary was routed away from Israel, due to the current conflicts in that area, I was thrilled that we would get the opportunity to travel through Greece and visit some of the historical biblical sites.

Our first destination was Korinthos: the site of ancient Corinth. In the Bible (Acts 18), we read about the apostle Paul's journey to this site. Paul spent about a year and a half in this city, preaching the gospel to Jews and Gentiles. This is where Paul first met up with Priscilla & Aquila, fellow Christians that worked with Paul making tents, and who later accompanied him to Ephesus.

When we arrived in Greece, I was at first surprised by how much the Mediterranean landscape reminded me of my home in Southern California. As we journeyed through the country and into the region of ancient Corinth, I imagined Paul arriving for the first time, journeying overland from Athens. He would have seen the same sights: mountains on one side, the land descending toward the sea on the other. It would have been hot, dusty and dry, the shrubs and thin trees providing little relief from the heat. As I sweated and slapped at the biting flies, I understood that Paul wasn't just a legendary Christian hero: he was a human being that had to overcome the same discomforts we all do.

It's so tempting to look at the accomplishments of the apostle Paul and mentally distance ourselves from him. I know that for myself, I think, Paul was so driven and so successful that all the traveling and evangelizing must have been easier for him somehow. But, after walking a bit in his steps, I'm not so sure that that's true. I was amazed by this passage (Acts 18:9-11):

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Paul - afraid? Seriously tempted to throw in the towel and keep quiet? I'd never really thought about him that way before. The truth is, even the greatest Christian in history' wasn't without fear. The important part was, Paul faced his fears in obedience to the Lord. And the world has never been the same since.

Indeed, Paul was human and we need to remember that we can relate to him because we all are human - we all face temptations and trials. Those of us that are Christian also all have the same God on our side, working in us and through us. May we each (racers and non-racers alike) follow in Paul's footsteps, casting fear to the side and grasping hold of the victory laid out before us.

Doulos Prayer Request

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

H guys - Lfe on the world race has been really hectc lately. (You may have guessed by the lmted bloggng recently). Weve been dong and learnng a lot ... Id lke to put some thought nto those blogs so you have to wat on that for now...

For those of you mpatent for pctures and stores you should check out teammate Sarah Rnns blog "I fear you underestmate the sneakness sr!" (you can fnd her blog on the MY LINKS secton on the left).

Also Id lke to ask you to be specfcally prayng for our teammate Ashley. God brought her on ths world race trp wthout her knowng how the money would come n... lttle by lttle God has provded untl now she s down to her last 400 dollars. Due to our locaton and crcumstance t s the pont of no return... f Ashley should return home now on her last dollar or f she should book her flght to Egypt wth the rest of the team n fath and count on the money to show up later.

Ashley s an amazng young woman... an ntegral part of our team... her hearts true desre s to balance fath and stewardshp n a way that honors God. Please pray that God wll provde her ether wth the resources she needs to contnue or a clear drecton that t s Hs wll for her to go home at ths pont. Thank you for jonng me n prayng wth our team about ths. We love Ashley and desre her to have confdence n walkng out the wll of God whatever that may be. (As for myself Im not ready to say goodbye!)

Sweet Home Adriatic...

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Hey everyone - I'm happy to report that we all made it back to Mostar safe and sound. Camp in Croatia was a blast. But, rather than bore you with details, I'll give you some quick thoughts, then let you enjoy the pictures for yourself.

Camp in Review - The Best and Worst, According to Katherine:

Top 5:

1. Living on an island in the beautiful Adriatic Sea. (That was easy!)

2. Morning aerobic with Marko. (Why don't I have a picture of this?)

3. Teaching my dance class. (I can now count to eight in Croatian!)

4. Hanging out with new friends with names like Kiki, Dutch, Dado, Boba, and Dino.
(Everyone should have a friend named Dino.)

5. Loving the kids. (And better yet, them loving me back.)

Bottom 5:

1. Mysterious itchy rash we all developed. (Bug bites? Allergies? Who knows!)

2. Exhaustion (Didn't see this one coming).

3. Language barrier (Sometimes counting to eight just isn't enough).

4. Being forced to eat French fries and hot dogs without ketchup. (The other camp had ketchup. Dude, that's just wrong.)

5. The popularity and prevalence of Speedos in Europe. (No explanation necessary, I hope.)

Here are some of my fave camp photos:

Ashley's New Friend

The View from our Beach

Camp Boys

Camp Team Photo (Joined by Kim L for 2 weeks!)

Best Camp Volunteers... Kim & Sarah!!!

Rockin' Out at Dance class (Week One)

Dancer Performance from Week Two

Just Think... left, right, left left... =)

Our Young Buddy Daniel

Pingpong Fanatics - too Bad there's no Dino in this Pic!

Yes, this brand new sign really is as helpful as it appears, directing hopeful swimmers to the pool visible only fifty feet away.

Worship Time

Girls Football (Soccer) Game: Volunteers vs Kids

Sunset over the Adriatic

Volunteer Talent Show Winners... Gary & Katherine!

Never Underestimate the Power of an Eleven Year Old Girl with a Friend, a Mission, and a Water Weapon...

Ciao!

Croatia, here we come!

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Tomorrow morning we leave for Croatia!!!! Red team (plus Kim Lynch) will be working with a group called Mission without Borders to help run a camp for about 60 junior-high age students. The camp facility is on an island, off the coast of Croatia in the Adriatic Sea. We will be there for two one-week camps, then return to Mostar for a short time.

This camp is a great opportunity to show the love of Christ to many students, perhaps for the first time. Gary will be our main camp speaker, and we girls will be pitching in with our various areas of expertise such as sports, drama, dance, photography and music. We are super excited about this opportunity, but also welcome your prayers for energy and strength. Two weeks is a long time to be with 60 JHers! =)

So, we're packing up and getting ready to say goodbye to Mostar (at least temporarily). Our time here has been good, helping out the West side church with various projects, and getting to know the missionaries that work here long term.

So far, what we've been doing includes cleaning / organizing / moving stuff in & out of storage containers, helped with prep for the church camp, threw a surprise birthday party for a young burn victim at the local hospital (he and his aunt share the same birthday!) and performed our evangelistic drama at a humanitarian
clothing distribution day at the church.

God bless and thank you all for your prayers. I just wanted to leave you with a couple of pictures we took tonight after dinner
isn't it beautiful here?

Mo' Fun in Mostar

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

So, after a crazy month of traveling from Cairo, to Bahrain, to Malta, to England, to Ireland, to Germany, to Italy, through Croatia, we have finally (phew!) settled in to Mostar, Bosnia. It definitely feels good to unpack those bags.

We arrived last Saturday, and moved in to dormitories in a Bible college, on the Muslim side of Mostar. The red team will be living here, and working with a church situated on the other side of the river - the Croat side of town.

The bible college is a great place to stay: cute rooms, comfortable beds, great views out the windows, and free wireless!

On Sunday, we worshipped with the church we'll be partnering with while we're here. We were blessed to have our new friend Julianna translate the sermon for us, from Croatian into English. At the end of the service, there was an open time for testimonies. One woman shared that her sister, who had been resistant to Christianity, finally opened her heart to Jesus and is experiencing a newfound freedom from fear in her life.

The second woman nearly ran to the front of the room to share that she'd been struggling with intense back pain for quite a while. During the sermon, which was about the blood of Jesus, she prayed and prayed that Jesus would heal her back. While singing the last worship song, her back was completely healed and she was freed from pain! The joy was so radiant on this woman's face, she was so thankful and excited to share with us God's miraculous answer to her prayer! Praise the Lord!

After church, we decided the weather was too good not to have a reunion picnic with all the world racers, so we headed down to the river with our food, blankets and swimsuits (for the wilder at heart!). I was happy to be behind the camera while others tested their mettle in the freezing cold water.

The river water comes straight from the snow melt, and was described by the swimmers as "shockingly cold, painful, and invigorating." No thanks. The scenery is good enough for me!

The town is so pretty, the hills so reminiscent of where I grew up in Southern California, its hard for me to fathom that I'm actually in the middle of a former war zone. Since moving in, we have been learning little by little what tragedies this picturesque town experienced during the war. The evidence remains - destroyed shells of buildings, walls riddled with bullet holes. We all remind ourselves safety first' to not stray from the beaten path, as there are still live mines in the hillsides and abandoned buildings.

I am especially saddened by the fact that Croatian soldiers used the symbol of the Christian cross as a sign of their victory in war; to the many Muslims in Mostar, the cross now symbolizes hate, fear and death.

Please pray that God would really work through us during our time here- both in the city of Mostar, and during two weeks of camp outreaches that we will be doing in Croatia. God is doing some great things among His people here, but there is strong resistance in this community where Christianity is considered a cult.

Also please pray that we would continue to be strong and not lose heart in the face of our continued challenges. Pray that our time with the Lord would be fresh and renewing, that He would fill us up that we might pour out His love to others.

Drat.... foiled again!

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Hello friends!

I just spent an hour and a half putting together a really awesome blog, then I lost my connection and lost everything... argh! I need to get to bed now, but I at least wanted to let y'all know that we're safe and sound in Mostar, Bosnia, where we'll be doing ministry for the next couple of weeks.

I hope to get to do some actual blogging while I'm here, but until I get a chance to do that, you can check out all the new pics in the "Browse my photos" section.

And last but not least: hey, happy Father's day!

Refuge

Thu, 8 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

As I described in my last post, spending last Friday at the Hospitality House was such an amazing time for Gary and I. Hanging out with old friends, making new ones, and rejoicing with others about the wonders God has demonstrated over the past six months.

There was one perk that I didn't mention, however! Following our presentation, a young couple (Eric & Sonia) approached us and asked if we would be interested in speaking with their church's youth group the following Sunday morning. Of course, the only possible response could be, "Heck yes!".

So, Sundy morning we headed out, and after getting briefly lost (never assume you know what church you're supposed to be going to!), got back on track in time to meet with the junior high group just a few minutes before they dismissed. I would have loved to have spent more time with them, but at least we got to share our pics and a couple of stories.

The youth room is really cool, I have to admit. They've got a great area downstairs called "The Refuge", painted all red, with lava lamps and groovy couches to relax on.

There's a stage for the youth worship band, and a screen on which to project their videos. Definitely youth-only territory!

Following our junior high time, the high schoolers came in for their turn. Apparently, the senior prom had just been the night before, so more than a few students were pretty tired. We did our presentation, answered a few questions, and counted ourselves successful that nobody fell asleep. We were delighted when a few students approached us afterward to invite us to a BBQ lunch, then to join them at their Wednesday night youth group. Say it with me once more now... "Heck yes!"

So last night we headed out there, and had a great time having fun and worshipping God together with American teenagers in Germany. These students are blessed to have some really awesome leaders, it's clear that they are godly men and women who truly care about them. For me, its such a joy to be around young people who love the Lord. So, "thank you" to the students for inviting us to your group, we had a great time and will remember you as we continue on around the world!

God Bless!

Reformation in Germany

Tue, 6 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Hey everyone, sorry for the delay in updates. We've been a little busy!

We are currently in Germany, resting and visiting with our long-time friends Dave & Amber Hill.We haven't seen much of Dave & Amber since they moved to Germany two years ago for Dave'sassignment at the Air Force base, so its great to have the chance to catch up, get Chili's together on base (yum!), and see how much their adorable baby has grown.

We were honored with an invitation to speak at their Hospitality House bible study last Friday, so we quickly threw together a slide show presentation of pictures from our trip, and considered a few highlights to share. The presentation went very well, though our designated 15 minutes soon turned into a whole evening full of stories and questions. We thought it would be a cool chance to share what God is doing around the world, and hopefully encourage others to respond to what God is doing in their own lives. We were blessed to then talk one-on-one with several people, and hear about the passions God has placed on their hearts.

The surprise of the evening was how much Gary and I took away from the event. You see, we're five months into this trip, and much of the novelty of being a world race participant has worn off. We're tired, dirty, homesick, and struggling with disillusionment over certain aspects of the trip that haven't coincided with our expectations. We've tried to persevere and keep positive, but discouragement has been a difficult battle to fight. During these times, its hard to hold on to the good we've seen.

Friday night, we were honestly surprised by the overwhelming response of those we talked to. We felt able to see the hand of God fresh again, through the eyes of our new friends. We were reminded how extraordinary is this life that's become normal to us. We realized how blessed we truly are, and why we signed up for this crazy trip in the first place. After too long of feeling forgotten and ineffective, we got a taste of the potential impact of a trip of this nature. I'm grateful for our new friends, for their prayers and encouragement, and the half-time pep talk we so desperately needed.

Praise God for the encouragement of fellow believers, and please pray that we would be able to hold on to this as we go forward into the second half of this trip. May we continue to daily abandon ourown expectations, and remember to always seek God first and foremost with all that we are.

Like the Little Children

Wed, 24 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Hello friends... it's great to be back online again! During our time in India, I was able to check e-mail but unable to get any blogs up. So, when I found myself with four hours to kill in the Malta airport, I though't I'd try to fill you in on what life has been like this past month.

Our past month in India has been such an incredible time... my heart has been stolen by the wonderful kids at the orphanage, I have been challenged in my own spiritual life, and God just continues to stretch me in new ways. It's difficult to write about my experience in Delhi, mainly because words just cannot capture the essence of our time there.

I'm sure you all already know that our conditions were rough: extreme heat reaching 120 degrees F, dust storms that penetrated every room / bag / crevice (I'll be carrying pieces of Delhi with me for a while!), difficulty with communications back home. I also know you don't need me to tell you that the lives of our orphans aren't easy. Most of them have parents that are living, but have abandoned them; scabies, lice, and boils are a constant battle; there's never quite enough food to go around (when there's food at all).

What I most wish is that I could just bring you all here to the orphanage to see what I can never get across through a blog: the power of lives forever changed by real devotion to Jesus Christ. I'm talking about watching fourteen-year-old young men preaching and leading younger ones in their worship services, knowing that they've fasted and prayed more this year than I probably have in my entire life. Or the fact that every morning, eighty respectful and devoted children get out of bed for a six o'clock am church service. During three weeks, I didn't see a single child complain, cry, or act selfishly. Their adored leaders came to them for a Sunday morning church service, to teach and encourage, despite living on the run from persecution by angry Hindu leaders in the community.

How many Sunday school classes have you ever heard taught on martyrdom? Not as in, 'God bless those martyrs', but 'We will all taste death someday... I pray that you will die the blessed death of a martyr...' Whoa! This is a very different type of Christianity than I've ever seen in the United States. It's scary, it's humbling, but... it's real.

So, those kids didn't need me to teach them another Sunday school song. They already worship in three languages. What I could do, and what I did, was to love them, individually. Remind them that even when they feel betrayed by family, or feel lost in a sea of orphan faces, God brought them into this world for a purpose, and knows them by name.

And in return, God continued to break my heart for the poor, the helpless, and the orphans of our world. He showed me that when distractions are stripped away, pure devotion can thrive in a way never seen in America. If I can bring just a sliver of that home with me, perhaps I can be the world-changer I want to be. Perhaps together we can take our eyes off ourselves, and put them back where they belong: on our savior, our Father, our provider, our best friend.

Delight Yourself in the Lord...

Wed, 24 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Hard to believe that it was only a few days ago, that with great sadness we tore ourselves away from our beloved little ones at Emmanuel. Since then, Gary and I have traveled through five countries, and crossed a quarter of the globe. From India, to Bahrain, to Cairo, to Malta, to England... I still can hardly believe that this is my life!

Between our ministry times in India, and our upcoming trip to Bosnia, we World Racers had the opportunity to design our own schedules for a few weeks. Gary and I will be on our own, traveling through the British Isles, Germany, and Italy, studying and doing ministry along the way, before reuniting team Doulos in Split, Croatia.

We are most looking forward to our time in Ireland, for several reasons (in no particular order): First, Gary's heritage. While doing some genealogy research, we traced the Weston name back about five generations to a Jesse Weston that came to America from Ireland. Perhaps we'll bump into some long-lost cousins! Secondly, this is one of the countries we've always wanted to visit together, and now we'll be there just in time to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary!!!! Thirdly, Ireland was the location of my first ever mission trip, as a thirteen-year-old girl. As I've grown up, I've come to appreciate how pivotal that trip was to the reality of my faith and relationship to God. Returning to this country will be the fulfillment of fifteen years of hoping to someday go back. I never cease to be floored by God's ability and willingness to give us the desire of our hearts. =)

Destination: London, England

Wed, 24 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

More questions than answers...

After three long months of being immersed in cultures of idol worship and Buddhist and Hindu temples, it's been a joy to visit a few of the many different cathedrals in London. It's welcoming - a culture that I understand, and understands me (don't have to hide my cross necklace). It's exciting - finally, to see the true Lord upon the throne (no creepy elephant-gods). It's inspiring - a testament to the history of my faith (that doesn't yet exist in my newborn baby of a home country).

Our first day in England, Gary and I took a walk around the neighborhood by our hostel, and just happened to bump into a beautiful old cathedral (not a difficult feat in London!). We couldn't pass up the opportunity to explore, and soon found ourselves marveling at the phenomenal architecture and artistry.

Being me, though, its just not enough to look around, say a prayer, and snap a picture for the scrapbook. I can't just say 'wow'. I have to ask, 'what is it, exactly, that evokes this response within me? Am I responding to the presence of a Holy God, or is it just a human reaction to the candles, stained glass, and high ceilings?'

There's a huge part of me, that says 'Yes, this is amazing!', for our Lord is so worthy of the beauty and the effort that goes into the detail of such an amazing building. The Buddhists and Hindus do such an incredible job of serving, and honoring their 'gods'... how much more should we be honoring our true Lord? Shouldn't we be demonstrating a greater faith and devotion to our God, who has revealed Himself to us, and given Himself to us for our salvation?

But then, I look around at the statues and carvings gathering dust, and wonder, what if all the money that paid for the gold leaf on this ceiling had instead gone to feed the poor? I think of the faces of the orphans I held, just days ago, and I just know, deep within my soul that Jesus is more honored when we care for the needy than when we gaze adoringly at pretty mosaics.

The Bible says 'Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?' (1 Cor 3:16)

Yes, our Lord is indeed worthy of the finest temples in the world. But what if the lives of Christians were more awe-inspiring than Westminster Abbey, Notre Dame, and the Taj Mahal all combined? What if the lost and searching of the world didn't have to look for a place to find God, but could see Him all over us? This is my heart's desire... that my very life would be more beautiful, pleasing and honoring to the Lord, than any feat of architecture; that He would be worshipped indoors and out, and that He would love others through me.

Oh Lord, may You always be honored by my life. May others around me clearly see You in me. May my body be the temple that You deserve. Please continue to reveal Yourself in mighty ways, and draw me closer and closer to You. Amen.

Four down, Seven to go...

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

After a challenging, stretching month, we bid farewell to beatiful Thailand and boarded a plane to our next destination: Malaysia. This was our next leg: to race the other teams to the base of the tallest twin towers in the world, the Petronas Towers of Kuala Lumpur.

We arrived late afternoon, set our watches forward one hour, then jumped in a taxi with all our belongings stuffed into the trunk. Our taxi driver turned off the main thouroughfare to take us on a shortcut - a gamble that didn't pay off when we got stuck in rush hour traffic that could rival that of Los Angeles. At long last we made it to the towers, not far behind the other teams, but far behind enough to capture fourth place for the red team.

Once the heat of the race was over, we stopped to look around, take some pictures, and explore the mall at the base of the towers. It still suprises me how similar big cities all are - other than a few signs in different languages, most things are pretty much the same.

That evening we checked into a backpacker's inn: a budget hostel right in the middle of Chinatown, surrounded by fruit markets and vendors hawking watches and purses, as well as quirky members of the traveling community.

Unfortunately, the heat and traveling have taken a bit of a toll on our health. Dehydration is a constant battle, and last night Gary came down with a fever. He's hot, tired, and achy, and generally feeling under the weather. After moving to a better room, he's been able to rest more comfortably. If his fever continues however, or gets worse, we'll take him to the doctor to get checked out before our next leg of travel.

Please continue in prayer for our health, for spiritual wisdom and strength, and for our upcoming time of ministry in India. We have many challenges before us. As we begin our fifth month, we are finding that the world race honeymoon is coming to a close. We are being tested, pysically and spiritually, but want to perservere and succeed in the months ahead. I am holding on to the promise of James Chapter One, which says:

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those that love Him.

Youth group rocks!

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Hey all,

Just got back from YOUTH GROUP and wanted to share about what a great time we had! After church last Sunday, the prayer & worship service last night, and tonight's youth group, we are finally starting to feel connected to our brothers and sisters here in Phuket.

When we walked in the door tonight, our new friend Garn shared with us that her mother awoke this morning, healed from paralysis (an answer to prayers from the service last night!). Her mother now wants to move closer to her, to be able to attend church and learn about the Christian faith. Praise God!

We had a grand time getting to know one another, praising God in English & Thai (hand motions are totally cross-cultural!), and playing some fun camp games (led by Sarah, of course!). The group was very receptive to our drama presentation & discussion on alcohol and how Christ can set us free from our slavery to sin. The topic of alcohol was relevant to each person present, as drinking beer is easily one of the main leisure activities here in Thailand.

We were blessed with the opportunity to pray for one woman's husband (struggling with alcoholism, not a Christian), many family members who are not yet Christian, and one young woman who feels called to be a missionary to the Muslim people.

It's going to be hard to say 'good-bye', when I feel we only just got to say 'hello'. We are looking forward to our last church service tomorrow, to see our new friends one last time!

Love ya,

Katherine =)