Hey everyone! Well, i'll try to make a long trip short. So we flew out of Montrose airport at around 4:30 PM on January 10th. We flew to L.A. had a few hours of layover there, then got on a 17-hour flight to Bangkok. We had a day in Bangkok, then got on a 12-hour bus ride to Chiang Rai. Needless to say (So why say it right?), i was a little weary of traveling at this point. So we stayed in Chiang Rai for a day and then drove up to Mae Sai. In Mae Sai, we stayed at a place called the Dr//op in Cen//ter. It's basically a safe place for Burmese beggars and street kids in Mae Sai to come and hang out. They feed them there, play games, teach a little English, etc. It's a really cool place. We got there thursday, and on saturday and sunday of that week we went into B/ur/ma. There, we went to church a few times, to a Bible School, and an orphanage. After the weekend we went back to the D/I/C and stayed there until the following saturday. We then drove to Chiang Rai, and worked with an organization called D/esti/ny Re/sc/ue. They rescue girls from the sex trade and are also a kind of orphanage and school for Hill-Tribe kids. We worked with them for about ten days digging in fish ponds and rebuilding fish ponds and generally working in the mud. Every boy's dream...Anyway, after D/esti/ny Re/sc/ue, we drove to Chiang Mai, and to the hill tribes. In the hill tribes, we went to three or four schools, and church, and kind of a church gathering they had because we were there. We were in the hill tribes for a little over a week. Then we got on another bus, rode to Bangkok, and had another free day. This next part will likely make you scratch your head. So i get up on sunday morning in Bangkok at 3:20 right? We drive to the airport, get on a plane, and fly out at around 6:40 AM. We have a 5-hour flight to Tokyo, about a 2 hour layover there, and then an 8-hour flight to L.A. About two hours after we get to L.A., i look at my watch. and i've only been up for about 7 hours. It's still Sunday morning! So yah, fun stuff. Ok, so that was Thailand.

..........................................Changing subjects.....................................

First just let me say that you guys were all amazing with how much support i received during and before my DTS. I couldn't have done it without you. Some of you know that i applied a while ago to the YWAM Aviation Flight Training Academy (YAFTA). Well i found out on sunday that i got accepted. So yah, i'll be starting that this April (As long as i pass my FAA physical). It's about a months of a DTS-Style lecture phase, 8 weeks of pilot training and then three months of flying in Afghanistan. Don't freak out. So yah, it's going to be amazing. The first three months of this school comes to a total of $3000. The outreach portion of the school is based on the number of hours that you are flying. Once again, i'm going to need help to pull this one off. I'm fairly certain that this is what God wants for me for this year. Let me give you a little glimpse into my spiritual life over the last 2 1/2 months or so. So i was in New Mexico on the Reservation, and God starts speaking something new into my life. Living in the moment. It might sound weird, but let me add something from Thailand to it. I was journaling my recording myself on my MP3 player, and all of the sudden, it's like God just gave me this incredible understanding of something. He pretty much told me that i don't need to know what's going to happen tomorrow. All i need to focus on is following Him. He knows where He wants to take me, and He's leading me there, if i'm following Him. If i'm trying to find the way on my own, it will not end pleasantly. So yah, before and during my DTS, i had no idea what i was going to do after DTS. I had a few ideas, but i wasn't sure which one was what God wanted. So we get to the end of outreach, and i still have no idea. We're on our plane journey home. We're in L.A. Airport. I call my mom. She tells me that i got accepted to YAFTA. Now is this a coincidence or was God doing what He always does? Waiting until the right time to let me in on His plan for me...So yah, i'll be sending out a letter sometime detailing more about my trip to Thailand, telling more about YAFTA, and requesting support. Again, you guys were all awesome throughout this DTS. I seriously couldn't have done it without you. Thank you all very much. God bless. Smile!

Hey everyone,

We just left the village Baan Din and had a wonderful time fellowshiping with the church there. It is the same body of believers that we helped with land clearing and building of the church. It's awesome to see the finished product.
We had a real amazing experience while we were there. IT RAINED!!!!! It's dry season here. It never rains. We were reminded of the story of a speaker we had during lecture about how she asked God for the "rain of salvation" during her travels. Earlier during our trip we had asked God for the same thing. It wasn't a down pour or for very long but our first night in the village it rained. We were extremely excited and are expecting great things from God. We specificlly prayed for a family and believe that it's their turn for them to accept God.

We had a wonderful time in the village and have one more place where we are heading before we get on a bus to head to Bangkok. It's crazy that we have less then a week left here. We are gearing up to finish well and put our all in the last few days!
Thank you as you have been consistant in your prayers for us. We appreciate the support you have shown us!

Charity & the Team

Hi Everyone,

Well, we have been pretty busy. The last few days have been spent "playing" in a nice mud pit. They tell us that it's suppose to be a really big fish pond but right now mud and lots of it. We have been taught the digging/hoeing tecnique with the traditional tool, the hoe. It has a fling technique that some of us have been able to get down but most of us are still working on it.... To much of the enjoyment of the kids watching us. :-)

This weekend we were treated to a relaxing day with our friends and spent the night at their house. Today. (Sunday for us) We had to make another trip to the border to get an extention on our visas since they only gave us 15 days the last time. So we took the opprtunity to prayer walk around the market in Burma. It was interesting as we were going through the border we heard a local congregation singing "Count Your Many Blessings." It's was pretty shocking that we could hear them. But it was very encouraging to hear. It's a nice change from the chants.

The team is doing well. We have had a few stomach issues here and there.

Thanks for the prayers!

Charity & the Team

Hi Everyone,Wow it has been a truely amazing time. We have really seen God do some awesome things this week. He has been really encouraging to us. We have spent the week hanging out at a place where kids on the streets can come during the day and have a safe place to be. They get a hot meal and can clean up if they want. We play games, teach them songs, smile and love on them.... In other words we get to play all day :-) We have also been able to go to the country next door, Burma. Where we were able to fellowship with other brothers and sisters. We were able to speak encouragement and challenge them. Sometimes speaking to groups from 10 -150. Each team member has had their times to shine! Sara has been doing amazing leading the kids in songs that they really enjoy. If you come back here you might hear "form banana, peel banana, go bananas!" Steven has been our stand up goof.... Every team needs one of these. Last night we went to a carnival and he jumped up on stage with the dancer and started dancing. He has also gone crazy for the kids and they love him. Luke did us all proud and spoke in front of 150 people and did extremely well! He spoke what God wanted to say. Megan has built relationships with a lot of the girls. One of the boys said that she really doesn't look like a "farang" (foriegner). Lindsey went down to the bridge where the kids hang out . A little boy went with them and told his friends " come see how much fun the white people are." They also think Lindsey is beautiful. :-)I have been loving being here. It has been a breath of fresh air being here. I'm super proud of my team. We have had some sickness going through the team. Some of us have had colds and are trying to get everyone better. Pray for health and that the team would continue to press in. Also for deepening of relationships. Thanks,Charity & the Team
Updated 12 minutes ago -

This is the latest e-mail from Luke: Things are going really good. I wasn't able to get online because we went across the border into Burma for the weekend. We went to an orphanage, a Bible school, and a church. At the Bible school and the church, i got up and spoke. Scary, but it turned out awesome! So yah, everything is going pretty good. We're at a place called the " " in " ". I can't actually say where we are. Strange. Anyway, i'll TTYL. God bless.

Hi Everyone,

It has been such an adventure getting to Thailand. We have had quite an intresting time getting here.

First our flight was delayed for 4 hours in Montrose due to mechanical issues on the plane, which ended up being a bigger deal than they thought. After canceling our flight and rerouting us. We finally flew out at 4:30pm straight to LA and then on the Bangkok which was a 17 hr flight.

Once arriving in Bangkok we weren't able to locate our contact at the airport. I still don't know how we missed him becuase we were all in the same place. So we eventually got taxis and gave them the address that we had. It gave the students a good taste of public transportation in a foreign culture. Asia driving... That pretty much speaks for its self. :-)
After arriving at the YWAM base we got cleaned up and went full speed. We had orientation and then the students went on a scavenger hunt around the area, looking for foods they haven't tried and talking to people, etc.... So they come back with a big bag of roasted crickets. We have now all tried the crickets. :-)

The next day we went on temple tours and were able to see the city and some of the biggest temples in Thailand. While there we could pray for the people and the stongholds over their lives. After a long day walking around we went back to the base and packed up our stuff and got on a bus for 12 hrs through the night.

We have just arrived in Chaing Rai and are waiting now to go to the place we will be staying here.

Thank you for your prayers. We are all doing very well and the team is awesome. They are doing amazing and really embracing the culture. Luke keeps talking about the food and the girls have been having fun going around shopping. Steven even tried his hand at ordering a pizza :-)

Thanks and blessings,
Charity

Another note from Luke.....

We got on a bus last night at 7:30 and got to Chiang Rai this morning at around 6 AM. We're going to be working with a local missionary couple named Ray and Candice. We'll be doing a lot of things with kids in orphanages and the like, and the last week and a half or so we'll be working with the Karen people up in the Hill Tribes. TTYL. God bless. Love you.

Luke