Since birthdays only come around once a year, it pays to make them special and make the celebration last as long as possible, right? I think that's what I did this year. I got to celebrate 3 or 4 times with various groups of people. Lots of lunches and dinners out with friends from work and church comprising many nationalities--American, Thai, Filipino and Chinese. Every year I am reminded of God's goodness in my life. I live far away from my biological family, but I always feel like I have a family here. I am thankful for the many people God has put in my life.
I share my birth month with my school, but I'm much younger. My school turned 158 this year and the celebration was big. Instead of learning and performing a Thai dance, my department put together a showcase of American music through the decades, starting from the 1950s to the present. I got to be a '50s doo-wop back up singer, a cowgirl, a member of the Village People, sing a Frank Sinatra/Celine Dion duet, and a member of Sister Slege, singing We Are Family. Needless to say, it was lots of fun to practice and perform.
I haven't written much about the ministries at my church, but they're a big part of my life. Along with Thai leaders, I get to serve with a couple from Latin America. They are a major blessing to the people in our church and the surrounding community. We have children's church every Sunday with about 20 children from unchurched families. A Thai seminary student teaches the Bible lesson and I teach a related craft every other Sunday. We had vacation Bible school in April and we're planning another one for October, which is the midyear break for schools here. We try to provide different activities for the kids because they will spend time with us at the church any time the doors are open. Sometimes the boys play soccer after the service on Sundays with the missionary from Honduras. We bought a ping pong table last week and so far it's been a big hit with the kids. Our goal is to show them the love of Christ in as many ways as possible.
We have a cell group every Wednesday. It's still very small, but we have one young woman who has not received the Lord as her Savior yet, but she is very open to the Lord and asks many questions. I believe the Lord is drawing her to Himself. We also have an English class for a small group of middle school students that meets twice a week. We have a team of teachers taking turns teaching them.
I have included pictures of some of the people I performed with for the school anniversary, the children at my church and the English class we teach at my church.
