Transition, Sacrifice, and God's GOODNESS!

So this last couple of weeks has been a time of serious transition! Sue and Htoo have moved to Bo Thong, and Mary has moved into the Bang Sai church! With Mary came a wonderful woman named Moe, who recently got inspired to leave her job and dive into the life of a ministry intern with her whole heart! 

They are seriously awesome, and Adrienne has connected with them a lot! Both of them have been Christians for under 2 years, and now God is using and guiding them as they help lead a church plant!!! 

As I see the committment of the believers here, it makes me think of the idea of sacrifice. My camp director from back home, Ryan Wiesner, always says that sacrifice isn't sacrifice unless it costs you something - and these people understand that! Sue and Htoo, faced with moving to a new town, uprooting their family from their home of 2 years, and moving with a new baby to a small town and a new church simply smiled and said "We are moving to Bo Thong". No questions asked, totally trusting God's goodness to see them through! Mary moved to a church she has never been a part of, and Moe gave up her work and moved from B*rma here to work with the ministry! Sacrifice. These amazing people understand the importance of sacrifice. Louise has said to us that as we give what God has given to us, as we give it up and bless people around us, God will just keep giving us more and more and more until we have much more than we started with! 

I think it's a question of treasure - where are we storing up treasures for ourselves? On this earth, in houses and cars and toys and bank accounts? Or are we storing up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves don't break in and steal, and where our actions and words in this life contribute to a crown of RIGHTIOUSNESS, and the great words: "Well done, my good and faithful servant!".

As we sacrifice things, and give of ourselves, and palce God's plans higher than our own, we see His Kingdom coming on this earth! If all the pastors and interns here were all about comfort and living easy lives, you can bet that not a single one of them would be serving the Lord with reckless abandon like they are doing right now! It's inspiring.

The result of transition is often sacrifice... and this sacrifice is already being covered by God's goodness! In Bo Thong, Sue and Htoo have gotten a place just a few doors down from the church, and the church is growing! Instead of only being open on Sunday morning or when one of the pastors can make the long drive out to hold a bible study, they have a capable and passionate couple living right there! Bible studies all the time, hospitality, and a church building that is really taking shape! We were out there last week, just as the believers were finishing building a stage for it, and we got to help hang the new cross! Everyone was so pumped - The church in Bo Thong is growing! (And it even has a drum set now!!!!!!)

In Bang Sai, Mary and Moe have become the perfect fit. Even though Sue and Htoo are gone, and we miss them greatly, people are still getting saved in Bang Sai! There are bible studies almost every night, music practices, church services, and the believers gathering just to hang out and fellowship. After long hours of work, the believers sacrifice the only free time they have to come to the church faithfully every day, to hear from the word, to grow in their faith, and to just be together as the church. These fishermen and labourers are the richest people that we know - they are committed wholeheartedly to Jesus Christ. 

As we learn more of the language, we get glimpses into the deep truth that they are learning every day - their understanding and wisdom in the Lord is growing! Every time we meet everyone shares testimonies of what God is doing in their lives and what he is teaching them. It's amazing to see guys who have been saved 2 months speaking deep words and realizing that they need to sacrifice things in their lives that don't bring them closer to God. 

When we give of ourselves, out of our own strength, we get tired, and we crash. Not only that, but we get cranky, and we feel entitled to feeling sorry for ourselves, to complaining, and to reminding people how much we do for Jesus. But, when we give out of the limitless strength of Christ, there is no end to what can be accomplished! When we realize that HE is the one with all the power, that HIS kingdom is what we are building, not our own kingdoms, and that HIS name is the one that people need to know about, everything changes. Serving here is amazing... it opens our eyes every day to how great God is, and how good He is, and how little we could ever hope to accomplish on our own. God is good!

I hope that you guys enjoy reading what we write! Let us know if there's anything you want to hear about, or are curious about, or want to hear more of! I hope that you are just getting pumped up to serve God where you are, in your daily routine! I hope that sacrifice goes from being a scary word in our vocabularies to one that reminds of of God's plan, and His goodness to us. 

We love you all! Thank you so much for your prayers!