I have travelled for just over 3 months this year. I believe I was born a shy person, but with God in my heart, giving me stories to tell, and putting words in my mouth, I have to be bold for Him, plus He has given me such love for all the people I meet! It is a rich experience to talk to them!
What has happened during those 3 months?
I did 49 presentations
I slept in 28 different beds
I flew in 24 different airplanes.
This is much less than the last 2 years when I was gone for 4 months. But I was happy to return to my work in Thailand September 30, instead of October 28!!
Mrs. White says:
If we abide in Christ, and His love abides in us, we will love those for whom Christ died. For He has commanded His followers to love one another as he has loved them. FE 50.2
Jesus prayed for us: That we all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us! John 17:21
When Jesus lives inside my heart, I really feel at home anywhere. Just so that I am with Him! Self rises up in me too often and I have to run and give myself to Jesus to take my natural, evil heart, and please abide in me! Oh the sweetness, consistency, and beauty of Jesus is indescribable!
Here's our American schedule:
There were 4 of us carrying out this grueling schedule
We promised ourselves we wouldn’t perform this killer schedule in this way again!!
When we stayed in one place for 2 or more days it was more restful, but all the one-day Faithcamps back-to-back had us driving all day, present that evening, sleep somewhere and begin driving again in the early morning! However we met wonderful people wanting to find out God's will for their lives, and catching the fever of reaching the lost before it's too late.
From Sandy Oregon through Bowman Hills, Hana Kai Nakagawa joined us. I met her back in March and we instantly bonded! What a sweetheart. She is now a new JFA Bible worker in her country of Japan. In Idaho she handed out Japanese Kimonos for the JFA workers to wear! Don't we look nice?
I had to change back into Karen clothes for my presentation or I would feel like a traitor!
Idaho is a really big Faithcamp because it has been running for about 18 years in that area. So many people are talking to me, so many beautiful children gather around me! It was 4 years ago I met Savannah.
She was 9 years old and really fell in love with me and my work. She made this card for me and told me emotionally that she would NEVER forget me. Since that time I heard from her mother that she had raised $2000 all by herself toward a new work truck that we needed to buy. I lost contact with her since then. But this year a man and wife entered the church just as I happened to walk through the lobby and they told me they came because they wanted to see me and their daughter really wanted to see me. Then I heard her mother say the name, "Savannah!" So I found her at last! During my last presentation, I showed our work truck and her picture from 4 years ago, I called her up! I told her that we named that truck Savannah! What a special moment that was! In 4 years, look how she's grown! May she also be a missionary!
After this long, busy, Faithcamp, Natalie and I were taken to the airport in Spokane because we would fly back to Tennessee together. We stopped to walk in a beautiful park. How relaxing and beautiful. We got to a dock jutting out into a big lake. I did not know it, but this venture was planned! A lovely couple who we knew from the Idaho Faithcamp, owned a parasailing business on that dock. The plan was that they would take me up for free. I was shocked that they were immediately pushing and persuading me to go up. I said "NO" because I know it's expensive and I couldn't imagine myself doing that. Plus I'm wearing a skirt - no less!! Well I am too short and don't weigh enough to go by myself, so Natalie went up with me, another shocker, because she is very afraid of heights! We went up so very high!
Natalie did really well, and I had a blast for free! Such lovely people! Thank you! I shall never forget!
I did have a chance to visit my 2 wonderful boys, Bradley with 5 year old Twyla, in Florida
and Micah with Greyson, 4 years old, in Montana,
(Sorry their wives are not in it), and my dear Sister, Lynn, who is my best supporter and dearest friend!
I always share my mission experiences with her son, Rusty and his family, who are so loving and eager to hear, before heading up to Canada!
I was not asked to speak in British Columbia this year, and so I was excited to just go there, relax and enjoy the people and the great inspiration of that Campmeeting. I have a dear friend, Myriam and her husband, who picked me up from the airport and let me sleep in their camper! When I entered that campmeeting, so many people greeted me, because I had spoken there the last 2 years. These lovely people couldn't believe I was not on the speaking schedule, and they suddenly railroaded me in! I was stunned and shocked! They put up picture posters, and announced it. They scheduled me for 5:20 to 6:20 pm every single afternoon at suppertime. You would think not many people would come then, but no, the meeting room was full.
Such beautiful people, so full of love and energy to find a closer walk with God! They all inspired me so much.
Next Natalie and I flew to Finland! I had been invited back to speak to the "Arise" students again this year. What a wonderful time with this class of 39 students. I know God placed me there for a purpose. Those who come here have a desire to connect with God and grow spiritually, therefore they are intensely interested in every faith story and spiritual insight that I speak about.
I found myself loving every one of them! There is a new group there each year and I have a standing invitation to keep returning.
Natalie and I next fly to Vienna, Austria, and rent a car. All our Faithcamps this year are in Austria and what a gorgeous place! We will pick up Hana at the airport the next afternoon. There's a little time to prayer-walk and prepare for our next Faithcamp which is at TGM lifestyle center. We've been there for the past 2 years and love it. What a state-of-the-art center where they teach medical missionary work, and take on patients.
For some reason, they have very few patients and not many students training to be staff. After this we had the privilege to present at a Seventh-Day Adventist grade school and academy. How I love these children!
Next we go to Bogenhofen where we meet Yvonne again. She's been trying to purchase Schloss Bogenhofen Castle in St. Peter am Hart, Austria for several years.
This is in upper Austria. Something is always happening, causing postponing and delays. We just help her pray! She would love to have it for a seminary class and for witnessing to the public because it is a great tourist attraction. God's will be done! We had a lovely opportunity to speak in her church at the seminary. What lovely young people. These dear girls seem so touched and inspired by my story. Some were crying.
So eager, so sincere, so young and valuable for God’s service. May they live for Jesus!
Now we meet two wonderful ladies who run a nursing home, Haus Stefanie, in Semmering, which is in lower Austria.
These ladies show such love to us. We stay there 2 nights and speak to all the staff and residents, On Friday they drive us 4-5 hours to Langau Austria where we stay for 2 nights and preach in their church.
I feel very cold in this place!
But the beauty is remarkable!
On September 28 I began my trip back to Thailand. This time I'm flying Qatar, stopping off in Doha. This is a new airline for me. I'm excited to get on this airplane, and see Doha, but even more ecstatic to be going back to Thailand! I breathe a prayer while sailing through the air at an altitude of 39,000 feet. Oh Lord, I'm closer to You way up here, but high or low,You're always in my heart and I am at home! Such peace and joy I have with You! Please take care of all the lovely people I've met in the last 3 months. Lead, guide, and teach them. I love them. May they allow You to live in them and always be at home with You also. BletJhaw greets me at the MaeSot airport! Sleep deprived, but so happy to see him!!!
In my next post I need to tell you about my shocking entrance into BYT. The struggles, near death experience, and sin-sick, pitiful people suffering from years of addictions.
Every precious moment of life is related to some duty which you owe to God or to your fellow-men, and yet you are idle! A great work of saving souls remains yet to be done. Every angel in glory is engaged in this work, while every demon of darkness is opposing it. Christ has demonstrated to us the great value of souls in that He came to the world with the hoarded love of eternity in His heart.
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