Ewoo visits Philly! Yeah! Her and Rebecca the day we picked her up (and accidently made it to New Jersey, and ALL the bad parts of Philly) before we made it to this amazing Chocolate Cafe.
Mo Town Philly
Buddhist Temple visit
Ewoo visits Philly! Yeah! Her and Rebecca the day we picked her up (and accidently made it to New Jersey, and ALL the bad parts of Philly) before we made it to this amazing Chocolate Cafe.
Ewoo visits Philly! Yeah! Her and Rebecca the day we picked her up (and accidently made it to New Jersey, and ALL the bad parts of Philly) before we made it to this amazing Chocolate Cafe.
Small Group Weekend
Every year at IT we send the small groups away for a weekend with each other to really bond and have a fun break during the project. Being in Philly- we are only a few hours away from DC and a little over an hour away from New York City, which has been so fun for this weekend!
This summer I don't have a small group so that I can meet with each of our leaders once a week, so my very small group of just me-stayed here in Philly for the weekend, and it was so much fun!
I loved being able to explore the city and just do whatever sounded fun for the weekend. So aside from catching up on sleep (I slept for almost 12 hours Friday night- and it was glorious!) I had a picnic in the park to some Accordian music, saw City Hall all lit up with William Penn on top,
The Philly Museum of Art (and the Rocky Steps!) the 'LOVE' statue,
Independence Hall & some other historical buildings,
Carpenter's Hall, where the first Continental Congress met,
and even made it down to Penn's landing on the river for an Asian festival. It's too bad I had to experience it alone...so I took a little video for you all to enjoy.
I regret not volunteering myself for the dance contest, I feel like I could have given them all a little run for their money...maybe next time.
And to end the day, I had a plate of perfect Chinese dumplings in China town,
and then Bubble tea with my new friend Lin from Beijing!
(Hipps-made me think of you!) Then, I headed home on the train and cried again to P.S. I love you....that movie gets me every time.
What a great weekend!
This summer I don't have a small group so that I can meet with each of our leaders once a week, so my very small group of just me-stayed here in Philly for the weekend, and it was so much fun!
I loved being able to explore the city and just do whatever sounded fun for the weekend. So aside from catching up on sleep (I slept for almost 12 hours Friday night- and it was glorious!) I had a picnic in the park to some Accordian music, saw City Hall all lit up with William Penn on top,
The Philly Museum of Art (and the Rocky Steps!) the 'LOVE' statue,
Independence Hall & some other historical buildings,
Carpenter's Hall, where the first Continental Congress met,
and even made it down to Penn's landing on the river for an Asian festival. It's too bad I had to experience it alone...so I took a little video for you all to enjoy.
I regret not volunteering myself for the dance contest, I feel like I could have given them all a little run for their money...maybe next time.
And to end the day, I had a plate of perfect Chinese dumplings in China town,
and then Bubble tea with my new friend Lin from Beijing!
(Hipps-made me think of you!) Then, I headed home on the train and cried again to P.S. I love you....that movie gets me every time.
What a great weekend!
IT Philly Update
We can't believe time goes by so fast, but we've already been here in Philly for almost 3 weeks already! It has been an amazing project so far, we LOVE our students and are so thankful they are all here this summer!
IT Philly 2008!
A really fun picture
Our staff... pray for Bryan!
Staff night out to Buca di Beppo before the students arrived
Angela and I on the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ- I found my favorite Chai ever-Big Train! Sunshine, the beach, chai...does it get any better than that??
Community night- Rebecca and Angela's small groups and I out for Indian food in downtown Philly
The guys- literally, all of them! Bryan, Miguel, Jaron, ALex and Scott
Alex leading us in praise and worship at Project Night.
IT Philly 2008!
A really fun picture
Our staff... pray for Bryan!
Staff night out to Buca di Beppo before the students arrived
Angela and I on the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ- I found my favorite Chai ever-Big Train! Sunshine, the beach, chai...does it get any better than that??
Community night- Rebecca and Angela's small groups and I out for Indian food in downtown Philly
The guys- literally, all of them! Bryan, Miguel, Jaron, ALex and Scott
Alex leading us in praise and worship at Project Night.
2 Year Anniversary!
We are getting ready to celebrating 2 years of marriage on June 3rd this coming week! I can't believe it's gone by so fast- it's been an amazing two years- and we can't wait for more to come!
Bryan surprised me with plans for an Anniversary trip to NYC back in the spring for this week and it was so much fun!
We picnic-ed all the way up to NYC!
We spent most of one day in Central Park just enjoying the beautiful day and seeing the park. We found some local shops and got a great lunch to picnic in the park with, too.
Us in front of the famous Central Park fountain...literally. You can't see it.
Afternoon drink at The Boathouse Restaurant in Central Park
Us and a very tiny Lady Liberty
In Times Square right after seeing Prince Caspian
PLEASE blow this one up for your enjoyment!
Brooklyn Bridge
Really fun flower shop outside! I loved this!
Bryan found Zoltar and made a wish.....
And got BIG!!!!
Bryan surprised me with plans for an Anniversary trip to NYC back in the spring for this week and it was so much fun!
We picnic-ed all the way up to NYC!
We spent most of one day in Central Park just enjoying the beautiful day and seeing the park. We found some local shops and got a great lunch to picnic in the park with, too.
Us in front of the famous Central Park fountain...literally. You can't see it.
Afternoon drink at The Boathouse Restaurant in Central Park
Us and a very tiny Lady Liberty
In Times Square right after seeing Prince Caspian
PLEASE blow this one up for your enjoyment!
Brooklyn Bridge
Really fun flower shop outside! I loved this!
Bryan found Zoltar and made a wish.....
And got BIG!!!!
Fun at Home in May
Bryan's sister, Page, and Bryan and I at a Perspectives class Bryan taught in Dallas
My sister Betsy and I before she left for the Phillipines for the summer. I flew in to the airport 30 minutes before she flew out,
Betsy boarding the plane!
A visit to our office in Conway. I love all these girls!
so we got to hang out in the airport for a while and talk before she left.
And, finally....
Bryan- with a nice molestache!
He didn't shave while he was in Burma, and came back with a beard. He decided when he couldn't take the itch anymore, that he would shave it in stages...
Here's one more!
Betsy has termed this one the "pedosmile".
My sister Betsy and I before she left for the Phillipines for the summer. I flew in to the airport 30 minutes before she flew out,
Betsy boarding the plane!
A visit to our office in Conway. I love all these girls!
so we got to hang out in the airport for a while and talk before she left.
And, finally....
Bryan- with a nice molestache!
He didn't shave while he was in Burma, and came back with a beard. He decided when he couldn't take the itch anymore, that he would shave it in stages...
Here's one more!
Betsy has termed this one the "pedosmile".
Home from Burma
Well, I am back from Thailand/Burma. I got back yesterday morning and have basically been sleeping most of the time. We came back a week early for a couple of different reasons which I will share with you.
One of the main reasons is that we were not granted Visa's into the country, and probably wouldn't the whole time we were there. Our goal in going was to help with relief efforts, but the government is not asking for help only aid that they can distribute. This is obviously frustrating. The good news is that we were able to connect with some local Burmese believers who can take the supplies in and try to pass them out. This, too, is not a guarantee because the government has been confiscating supplies from Burmese who have been passing out food to others. No one but the government seems to be allowed to pass out food. Our hope is that the Burmese believers will be able to get in and pass out the goods. They have many connections in country, plus this will make them shine before their people and not some outsiders.
This is also another reason we came back. If we had stayed we would have been more in the way than we were a help. The group we worked with was working on making connections for long term work and they needed to be able to move freely. Having 5 others to worry about would have made things a little more difficult. Also, by coming home early the money we would have spent on housing, food and transportation is now being given to get more relief supplies to send in with the local Burmese. It was not easy to decide to come home, but the whole team felt this was the wisest decision for each of us and the long term effort.
My heart is still burdened and saddened for the people of Burma. I've noticed that on the news they are not getting much attention anymore, and it will only be a matter of time before they are again forgotten by the popular media. However, my hope is that believers all over the world will engage the Lord in prayer on behalf of these people. I am asking for whoever would like to join me to pray and fast for 3 days for the peoples of Burma. Starting Monday, May 19th I am going to be fasting and praying for three days for Burma.
I will be praying 3 things, 1) That God would move the hearts of government officials to allow others to come in and help with the immediate need of survival and rescue, 2) That God would crush the spirit of Buddhism that has also enslaved these people to darkness and fear and hopelessness, and 3) That God would pour out His Spirit on the peoples and that his kingdom would be advanced among all the people groups of Burma. I invite you to join me in this fast and raise a cry on behalf of those in Burma that have no voice. After being there for just a few days, my heart believes that our response at this time needs to be prayer and fasting. The government is not moved by the UN, the US or the EU. The hope of Burma is not found in political spheres, rather before the God of the universe. Please join me in approaching Him on behalf of the peoples of Burma.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouraging words. I was so great to be back in Burma after 7 years. I only wish we could have gone further into the country, but it was not meant to be at this time. The Lord's plans will not fail, and I look forward to what He is doing and what He will do among the peoples of Burma in the coming days, weeks, months and years. Remember these people in your prayers. Thanks again and I love you all!
News from Bryan in Burma
Here's the latest I have from Bryan from the past few days. Please keep praying for the people of Burma, and the government's decisions. Pray that aid will be welcomed, and that believers who are waiting all around the country would be able to get in and bring light and hope to a dark and hopeless place right now.
May 10th:
We are in Tak, Thailand currently at a "Notel" and Resort...or so the
sign says. Call it a hunch,but I think it's really a Hotel and
Resort. It's really nice and only 10 bucks for the night. Tomorrow
we drive to Mae Sot where we have been told we can a get a daypass
into Burma, and from what we have been told we might be able to get a
30 day Visa once we're in. The Thai officials told one of our members
in the area that people have gotten day passes and not come back.
That could mean they are illegals or they got 30 day Visa's. The Thai
officials seem to think they got 30 day Visa's. So we'll see. This
may be the last email I get out for sometime, but then again who
really knows but the Lord!
May 11:
We are in Mae Sot on the border of Thailand and Burma now.
We found a little free wireless coffee shop that is currently playing
Jack Johnson in the background while I am drinking my iced carmel
machiato. Not Starbucks either!
Anyway, we tried to get daypasses, but it was too late in the day when
we went. So we went down to the river and looked over into Burma and
prayed. I hope so badly that we can get in tomorrow.... They are going to try to bring 30 trash cans
full of goods, and if they get confiscated then we will try again the
next day only go a different route. ... I just heard that our bags
are in route to us and we will have them by midnight. That's good
news! Oh, today we bought tons of supplies to make 30 of these trash
cans. In them is food, stuff to make temporary shelters, a pot, some
cooking oil, mosquito netting, dish soap, bath soap, and a bunch of
other supplies to meet immediate needs. Pray with us that over the
next few days a couple of things will happen: 1) That we get 30 day
visa's, 2) that we can get all the supplies in without being
confiscated and 3) that we can actually make it to Yangon.
Today:
Well, the fact that you are getting this email means we did not make
it into the country on a 30 day tourist Visa. I am not too surprised
by this, as it is very rare to get a Visa at a border town. In almost
all countries, you have to get Visa's through the Embassy in a capitol
city. Anyway, we did get a day pass into Burma today. It was so
strange to be walking in Burma again. I tear up now, though not then,
just thinking about these people. I'm tired of reading all these
reports about those who STILL have nothing.
I will know more tomorrow about what we are doing next and will try to
let you know. Keep praying that we can get Visa's and at
least go among the people and offer comfort and pray for them and with
them.
May 10th:
We are in Tak, Thailand currently at a "Notel" and Resort...or so the
sign says. Call it a hunch,but I think it's really a Hotel and
Resort. It's really nice and only 10 bucks for the night. Tomorrow
we drive to Mae Sot where we have been told we can a get a daypass
into Burma, and from what we have been told we might be able to get a
30 day Visa once we're in. The Thai officials told one of our members
in the area that people have gotten day passes and not come back.
That could mean they are illegals or they got 30 day Visa's. The Thai
officials seem to think they got 30 day Visa's. So we'll see. This
may be the last email I get out for sometime, but then again who
really knows but the Lord!
May 11:
We are in Mae Sot on the border of Thailand and Burma now.
We found a little free wireless coffee shop that is currently playing
Jack Johnson in the background while I am drinking my iced carmel
machiato. Not Starbucks either!
Anyway, we tried to get daypasses, but it was too late in the day when
we went. So we went down to the river and looked over into Burma and
prayed. I hope so badly that we can get in tomorrow.... They are going to try to bring 30 trash cans
full of goods, and if they get confiscated then we will try again the
next day only go a different route. ... I just heard that our bags
are in route to us and we will have them by midnight. That's good
news! Oh, today we bought tons of supplies to make 30 of these trash
cans. In them is food, stuff to make temporary shelters, a pot, some
cooking oil, mosquito netting, dish soap, bath soap, and a bunch of
other supplies to meet immediate needs. Pray with us that over the
next few days a couple of things will happen: 1) That we get 30 day
visa's, 2) that we can get all the supplies in without being
confiscated and 3) that we can actually make it to Yangon.
Today:
Well, the fact that you are getting this email means we did not make
it into the country on a 30 day tourist Visa. I am not too surprised
by this, as it is very rare to get a Visa at a border town. In almost
all countries, you have to get Visa's through the Embassy in a capitol
city. Anyway, we did get a day pass into Burma today. It was so
strange to be walking in Burma again. I tear up now, though not then,
just thinking about these people. I'm tired of reading all these
reports about those who STILL have nothing.
I will know more tomorrow about what we are doing next and will try to
let you know. Keep praying that we can get Visa's and at
least go among the people and offer comfort and pray for them and with
them.
