over due update

Hello friends!!!! 

(written on Dec 31)

I am happy to announce the sickness has passed, midpoint debrief back together with the squad has come and gone, and team Selah is rested and ready to dive into our new ministry in Chang Dao, Thailand!!! We are teaching english at a school in a village!!!! Supposedly surrounded by strawberry fields AND MORE MOUNTAINS!!! Wifi will be limited but reach you if you have questions 🙂

onto the old update, hope it gives u insight on our home in the mystery country in south east asia!!! (take a guess, it borders thailand) 

“I realize I have not been blogging a ton as of late and I wanted to post a quick update. Myself along with 15 other girls from my squad are in the mountains of southeast asia (we are not allowed to disclose where 🙂 This place is the most beautiful I have ever had the privileged of laying my eyes on. It’s a colorful little town surrounded by huge towering mountains in every direction. The people of this town reflect the beauty all the same. You can see the colorful smiles in every direction as well, helpful old women with traditional clay makeup on, children waving shyly, even the very creation we are surrounded by seems to scream “the glory of the Lord is here!!!” This country is 90% buddhist, so as we drove through the capital city, 24 hours away, I couldn’t help but picture something completely different than this 95% christian place. This place is a clear testament of the Lord reaching every nation and tongue; taking over people groups and bringing them back to himself. Only 2 buddhist temples stand in this place as opposed to the hundreds on every corner in other cities. GLORY is tangible here. Our ministry was scheduled to be teaching english at an international school, but unfortunately we were here 3 days before winter break. Those three days getting to teach 6th graders english were pure gold. I’ll never forget the beauty and eagerness and kindness of those 11 year olds. In the remaining time here, my group has had the privilege of doing ATL ministry; that is “Ask the Lord”. Every morning we gather to worship and pray, to seek what Jesus has for each day. Whether that be a place or a certain person or a certain type of ministry (worship on the street, evangelism, house visits, etc.) We know the a lord has us here for a reason!!! This month personally, I have experienced a lot of growth. Being intentional about seeking the Lord on everything, even where to eat, has been a challenge but so rewarding. 

Christmas here was a HUGE blessing since there was holiday cheer all over the town!!! Christmas decorations made this holiday away from home just a little big easier! We had an awesome time, as all 16 of us crammed into a room to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We even made a christmas tree out of a green towel and a coat hanger! 

On the flip side of this, Christmas day is when a lot of us fell ill. 14/16 of us over the course of the past week have been in and out of clinics and hospitals to try and regain our strength and recover. Please keep us in your prayers as we are on the up and up, but still are pretty weak. Even this “bump in the road” brought me personally closer to the Lord. There is nothing quite like a IV hanging from your ceiling to bring you to the foot of Jesus. Dependency has been sweet on the father as this wave has passed over us. Thank you for your continued prayers! 

Some things sickness taught (in shortish):

• Worship is a weapon. I saw in these past days how my sisters fought for each other. Worshipping on each other’s behalf. Sick people worshipping laying down when they couldn’t stand. Praying for each other constantly. A beautiful picture of the Church. 
• He’s waiting with open hands. Between the experience of throwing up (ew) every few minutes and being extremely weak (in the heat of it) traditional “quiet time wasn’t an option”. It would be dishonest to say I gave myself all the grace in the world. He brought me to the passages that criticize religion, in light of not following the messiah. He said “you don’t follow a religion, you follow me, and I am a father who wants you to rest.” It was in those moments, actually meeting with the Lord, that I felt the closest and gained the most. 
• Stake your claim in contentment. He brought me to Phil 4:11-13 the very famous “I can do all things through Christ” passage. Reading through the chapter, Paul’s words hit me hard. He says,
• “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
• The more I reflected on these words, the more I felt them solidify. Yes, sickness isn’t fun. Yes, circumstance isn’t always favorable. Yes, it was the day of Christmas when I had to take 2 of my friends to the hospital. BUT, I get to live this life seeking the Lord. I get to experience his people and different cultures in this beautiful season. I get to have community that surround me when I am down. I get to be Jesus to people and I get to be content because Jesus bought me contentment when he bought me salvation. 

We leave this month in the mountains in around 4 days. Pray for us as we have a few days trek back to thailand, complete with a 2 mile walk with all our stuff across the border. 

Thank you for the continued support and love!!! (A little late) Merry Christmas and a happy new year !!!! 

With love, 

Carissa