That’s So Typical

I awoke Wednesday morning to this Scripture: “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy man to those who send him.” –Proverbs 10:26 (NKJV)

I immediately thought, “I hope God isn’t trying to tell me that our supporters think we are lazy!”

On that note, I decided it might be a good idea to share a bit of our daily schedule with each of you.

Typical day:

• 5:40 a.m. – Alarm goes off. Mom up.
• 6 a.m. – University of the Nations School of Biblical Studies. I am currently studying the Book of Luke.
• 7:30 a.m. – A little exercise (walking or yoga, usually).
• 8 a.m. – Girls up. Showers. Breakfast.
• 9 a.m. – Home school begins with a daily devotional, math, language, spelling, literature, art and music history, and social studies. I grade and record their daily work during this time, teach their lessons as they need help, and squeeze in some more of my School of Biblical Studies as time allows. The girls are finishing up the school year because they took some time off to attend last month’s conferences. They should finish this school year in three to four weeks, and then they will take a summer break.
• Noon – Mom to office (more on what I do there in a moment). Girls finish up studies, typically reading, geography, social studies – things they can study independently or together.
• 1 p.m. – Lunch. Hallelujah!
• 2 p.m. – Mom back in office. Girls work on extracurricular activities – Bible study, computer science (designing a Web page and blog), art, and photography.
• 5 p.m. and beyond – Mom, girls home (usually): Dinner, family time, more SBS study (when time), BED.

Throughout the week at different times we also participate in base worship (Monday mornings), morning chores (Tuesday and Thursday mornings), staff meeting (Wednesday afternoons), Thai lessons (Thursday afternoons), and base intercession and prayer (Friday mornings). I also am arranging and planning dinners for students who will join our Visual Arts for Missions training school beginning June 30.

I hope this schedule is not “as vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes” for those who send us! We definitely want to make good use of our time and provisions.

HOW I SPEND MY TIME IN THE OFFICE: GOD’S VISION FOR MY WORK HERE

God began speaking to me last month about how He would like me to integrate my love for journalism with my love for ministry here at Create International-Thailand. I have begun work to pioneer a monthly newsletter and online publication that will focus on telling God’s story as He reaches out to unreached people groups through Create International’s ministries and 20/20 Vision project. We have two teams going on outreach in the next four months. A film team will travel to Southern Thailand; an art team will travel to Nepal. I am praying about joining both these outreaches to find stories of hope and revelation to share with others. Writing is the talent with which God has equipped me, and He has spoken very clearly about how He would like me to use it.

God also gave me the vision to train others. It is my hope to bring the first School of Field Journalism to Create International to multiply journalists in the mission field. God’s presence is everywhere, and He has selected some to tell others about it! I am one of those people, and many others have been called to do the same.

IT’S A FAMILY MINISTRY

The girls and I will participate in a three-day youth/family outreach at the end of June. A team of 20 people from the U.S. will team up with our team from Thailand to serve Lisu and Thai churches in Northern Thailand. I’ll share more with you after the outreach!

PRAISES:

• Create International graduated nine young men and women Friday from our Discipleship Training School. What testimonies they shared! They saw a man walk and accept Jesus after being declared brain dead following a motorcycle accident. They baptized new believers in Myanmar and Thai villages. They served individuals who are risking their lives to share the love of Jesus.

• I received this update from Bona, our friend and a missionary from Cambodia who we support monthly: “Team: now we have world race team from US working with us. they only be here about 3 weeks then they go to India. I like working with them, they are funny and easy to work with. all of them are girls, it is so amazing to see how God is using girls in mission , powerfully , they can teach and preach, serve. they are adaptable. I think, this team is the best one. Youth Center: now we have more and more adult coming to our center which is very contrast to the beginning of the YDC, we had a lot of children. and now less children but more youth. Most of them are from the University. i could not believe that God bring a lot of them to us. and we don’t have enough so we can’t accept everyone. lately, we start our first youth Service on Friday. This week. we see that a lot of them came and really enjoy our program. Some them help to involve with the worship like singing and chare the testimonies. I love this service, we are going to do this every Friday. please pray for us to run this service very well. through this program, we can bring a lot of youth to the lord. it is the best way to reach out to youth. Staff: Now we have the same number of staff but soon we will have one more staff from the Battambong Base. He is Cambodian. and a mirage couple from Thailand. Please be praying for us with these staff. With me: i tried to apply for the SOW (School of Worship). but it did not work. so now i just wait and see what God has for me. Just trust in him. Support: thank you so much for your support and your prayer. Because you support me that why i could spend money on ministries. God is so faithful to me he brought you to me. i am really thankful. My nose is good after the operation, i can breath well and not sick like before.i can remember thing very well. i think God healed me completely. lastly: thank you for your prayer and support. May God bless you and your family, ministries. i will keep you update. Bona.”
• Justine’s back is feeling much better. I took her for a check-up and X-ray, and the doctor could not see any curvature to her spine or anything out of place. He thought maybe she strained some ligaments. Praise God.
• We were able to buy a motor scooter from some friends who relocated to Taiwan. It had a bargain price tag and is handy to putt around our neighborhood.

• Friends blessed Jaynee with a sewing machine this week! Jaynee has always been the crafty one in the family, and our friends saw this gift in her and want her to explore it more. What a blessing!
• Justine has been gifted with an eye for photography. On the same night Jaynee received the sewing machine, another friend offered to give Justine photography lessons once a week. God is good!

PRAYERS

• Upcoming outreaches to Southern Thailand and Nepal. I feel God is speaking clearly to me about going, but if you have a Word for me or anyone on our team regarding this, please e-mail me at okiepress@yahoo.com. With outreach also comes financial need, so please continue to pray for breakthrough in that area.
• We are just meeting our living expenses right now and are praying for fundraisers or monthly sponsors to cover mandatory expenses not being met. One of those expenses is insurance (about $231 a month) and Thai lessons ($25 per week). We are covering our insurance needs with funds raised prior to coming to Thailand, but those funds are almost out. Thai lessons are an extra expense that I did not budget. If you or your church feels led to host a fundraiser on our behalf, or support us through monthly or one-time contributions, we would be most blessed.

• Time schedule. Last year I had a vision that I would “juggle fire” for God. I feel the new missions publication, my SBS studies, and the girls’ homeschooling are the three “balls of fire” God is asking me to juggle right now. During this vision God gave me, He promised I would not grow tired of juggling and would always have joy in my heart about doing it. Please pray I can manage this juggling and maintain the joy about doing it. A tutor – or the funds to enroll the girls in international school – would be nice, too.

As always, thank you for your prayers and support – and for reading this EXTREMELY LONG update (my apologies).

Many blessings and much love to each of you,

Korina, Jaynee, Justine