God is Awesome!!!

Monday, June 11, 2001

Once again hello to each of you! If you are getting this email then you have played a very important role on my life!! There are so many things i want to tell you.

First, things here are great! Everyday our team builds relationships with the students! They are so drawn to us because of our skin. We have been hanging out with a lot of students. Today we went to a Wat (Buddhist temple) with the students and it was so sickening to watch them pray to their Buddha. They are praying to a person who is not even there and it breaks my heart!! These students here are thirsty for truth and they are searching. God says in His word that if we plant generously then we will reap generously! Please be praying for the students here in Khon Kaen. Also, today we went to a hospital here in town.

My heart hurt so badly when we went into the ward with the patients who had Leprosy. All I could think was these people have no hope. It was so sad to see these people suffering. In the bible it talks about how King Uzziah had leprosy and how painful the soars are. Men and women with no legs or fingers, with huge soars all over there body. They have no peace and one had a little Buddha next to his bed. We all wanted to tell them that if they would believe in Jesus then they didn't have to worry about the next life, that they would be in Jesus' arms soon! And I as I write this I am almost in tears for the people of those nation who are all so lost! Please don't not cease in praying for these people who are now becoming our friends!

Saturday we went to the mountains! God and His creation are so majestic! We hiked up this mountain and then Kenny and I continued to climb to the top of the rocks and what we saw just blew me away. As I looked down I saw about a thousand butterflies in these tress below us. As I looked across the mountains all I could do was thank God for His wonder creation. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. On the way there we went through many villages. The houses there in our eyes would not be houses, but shacks. These houses didn't even have 4 walls and these people live in these houses al their lives. I saw starving children and sick adults. Things out side of the USA are very different. God has humbled me like have never been humbled before. Remember to thank God everyday for that you have and what He has given you. Because it is not yours!! It's His and he can't take it away.

Now, on a lighter note let me tell you what i ate on Saturday morning!! My group and I were invited to a teacher's house to eat breakfast. Their concept of breakfast is very different then ours! Well let's just say during this meal I was quoting the missionaries prayer to myself over and over again." Lord I'll get it down if you keep it down!" We later found out what was in the soup. It was fish bladder, clotted fish blood, bamboo, and seaweed!!!! WOW!!! Can you believe it? Sunday morning was the first to go the church here. It was all in Thai!! But it was so awesome! As they sang in Thai and we sang in English a verse got stuck in my head.

"You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God, from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign the earth."

Isn't that awesome!! I got to see a glimpse of what heaven is going to be like! I was so joyous and I couldn't shake the spirit off me at that time if I wanted too!! My prayer for you is Philippians 1. As I read that this morning, I could help but think of you. I miss you all and I am praying for everyday. Thank you for your prayers. They are very much needed and felt.

In His Grip,

Jenn

Greetings From Khon Kaen,

Monday, June 25, 2001

I hope that the Lord is blessing you life as much He is blessing mine! Everyday we are reminded of how faithful He is! Many times we don't even have to walk out of our door, He brings the people to our house! Everyday we make new friends and become better friends with the ones we already have. Two weeks ago two of our Buddhist friends went to church with us!! Isn't God so awesome? I don't know how He dealt with them but I know He did. And I know it's not my job to know. This mission trip is very different then any one that I have ever been on. Not once have we shared the gospel! This is completely a life style mission trip! Our friends and students know that we are Christians but we cant just open up and witness like you normally would. If you invade these peoples personal space then you lose their respect and if you lose their respect then you lose them. They will do anything not to lose face. This is a very superficial country. You don't show your feelings! But this also makes us rely more on God! The most important time of our day is our prayer times at night and in the mornings.

Prayer is what is going to make the difference here. My team and I have been on our faces in prayer and pleading with God for the salvation of these people. That he would open doors and make them desire what we have. That they would see a difference in us and that our lives would a representation of Christ. Our prayer is that we would Christ in the flesh to these people. Thailand is so lost! So many people here have not even heard the name Jesus! That breaks my heart. Our prayers have been that He would bring a spiritual awakening to this place. To this place of lies, this place of idol worship and this place of golden statues. If you could only see how lost these people are. They put all their stock in statues! And when we walk by a Buddha and see students praying to him, it's all I can do not to stop right there and pull out my bible and share that gospel with them! But God has given our team a peace that we are doing the right thing. At first I was worried about that, but then God told me that our job is not to get people saved! That's His job! Our job is to plant seeds, and in this place we are still picking up the rocks on the field.

Our friend P-Toy has gone to church with us twice now and it is so evident that God is working in her life and she is doubting Buddhism! Our friend Bee is the other one that went to church with us 2 weeks ago. She still believes that Buddhism and Christianity are the same. I have grown to love her as a friend and last night she told us that we were her best friends! That broke my heart! And every time I see her, I have such a huge burden on my heart because I know that she is so lost. We pray every night that everyday that God will chip away more lies from her heart and that He would take the blinders off her eyes! That He would take the blinders off all these students lives! And we have a new roommate. Her name is A and she became a Christian last year. She moved in with us 2 days ago and we know that this will be so good for her. Because we are only going to be here for 6 more weeks and while we are here our prayer is that God would work through us to produce reproducers! To give the people of Thailand a passion for their own people and a boldness to share with others.

Two nights ago we had a worship service in our house for our team. It was so humbling for me because I finally saw that I cannot do anything to help these people. I can share the gospel as many times as I want but if it's not Gods timing or in Gods way then it won't do anything! 1 Corinthians 10:23 says, "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial." And that frustrates me that I cant tell people that Jesus loves them and that I cant read them scripture! But God completely humbled me and said that His timing is perfect and that He loves these people more then I ever will and in 2 Peter He says that He desires that none shall perish! All I can do is pray for these people make sure that my life is right with God so that I can be Christ in the flesh to them. And for the first time in my life I literally wept for the nations. I got on my face and poured my heart out to the Lord and pleaded for the salvation of Thailand. That's when this mission trip really began for me. Everyday I must lay down my life before the Lord and let Him use me in whatever way He can. I cannot do anything apart from Christ. Please continue to pray that God would open doors of ministry for us and that our lives would reflect only Christ. Please for our friends that God would take open their eyes and that they would ask questions so that we may share Him with our words too. I miss you all and love you. You are in my prayers.

In His Grip,

Jennifer

Prayer Requests

Wednesday, June 27, 2001

Next week we begin teaching in a village that has never heard the name if Jesus before! We are teaching in a garage in the middle of the village. These people have nothing, but please be praying that through our English class God will pour out His grace on His people.

Tonight we are giving a bible to our friend Bee. We are very excited and praying that she would be receptive. She has been asking more and more question and 2 nights ago she said Amen after we got through praying! God has really reminded me that He is in the small things! When he came to Elijah he came in a gentle whisper! Please pray for Bee.

God is working on P-Toy in a mighty way. She is recognizing now why we are so happy and why we are here. She is asking many questions and is talking about how she is so lonely and she said that she knows why we are not lonely, because Jesus is in our hearts! And she said she wanted to sit down and talk about God sometime! This Sunday Bee and P-Toy are going to church with us again! So be in prayer that the Spirit would continue to work in their lives!

If I could describe the situation here I would compare it to Sodom and Gomorrah. This city is so corrupted! A major problem they have here is pornography. Every Internet cafe has icons on it of sites! You would not believe how many transvestites we see a day and the homosexuality rate is huge. Last Friday night we had Freshy Night at the college and they had a skit were transvestites perform on stage! I was so disgusted by this! And it is very accepted and common! The students looked at us like we were weird because we were shocked! I can describe to you how deep in sin this city is. Please pray for my team and the people of Khon Kaen.

In His Grip,

Jenn

His Vision

Wednesday, July 4, 2001

How faithful is our Lord. Once again in my life He has proven himself so faithful. The Lord has shown our group that it is time to start using our mouths to proclaim the name of Jesus. He told us that we are to silent no longer. Just as the Lord took years to prepare Abraham for his great task, the Lord took time to prepare us for ours. He has given us a vision for our campus and for this town. In 3 weeks we are going to have a youth night. We are going to get a huge screen and a projector and show the Jesus Film. We are also going to have pizza and skits and all kinds of stuff. After the Jesus film the pastor from our church is going to speak and give the plan of salvation in Thai. We also want to make sure that every person leaves that place with a bible. That's 300 bible that we will have to buy. Please be in prayer for this night. Pray that we raise the money for 300 bibles and all the pizza. Our hearts desire is to see this campus changed for Christ. 1 Samuel 12:16 says, " Now then, stand up and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes." We know that God is so faithful and if 300 students leave there saved then awesome. But if none of them do then that's awesome too because we know that a seed was planted and His will was done. Please pray for our team. Pray that God would give us boldness and strength. Pray that He would give us countless opportunities to minister and share the gospel. Ever since God spoke to us we have been able to share the gospel many times.

This weekend our team is going to Ubon. We are going to a Buddhist festival with our boss and many friends. This is an huge open door that the Lord has given us. You see there will people there from all over Thailand and if we reach some one from south Thailand then they can go back and share the gospel were we could never share. We have over 500 tracks and our prayer is that we would not have one left. That people would come to worship Buddha, but leave worshiping Christ. That we would plant seeds of Christ, and seeds of doubt in their minds about Buddhism.

We feel that any day now our friend Bee will accept Christ. She is right on the edge and God is doing some awesome works in her life. She is going to Ubon with us this weekend. Her boyfriend Jour is from there and we are meeting him there also. On the way home last night she told us that she wanted us to give him a bible. Is that not so incredible??? I think so. We were so overjoyed when she asked us that. Tonight she is spending the night and we are reading John I9 and 20. We are also to watch the One Day video. Please pray that God would continue to work in her heart and in the heart of her family.

Two nights ago Jenn was able to share the gospel with P-Toy. Through that conversation God has brought up many questions of P-Toy's faith in Buddhism and she is really beginning to doubt what she believes. Jenn told her that Jesus loved her and P-Toy got this look on her face like " He loves me?" Jenn went on and on about how Jesus died on the cross for her and how he loves her. God is so incredible. P-Toy is also going to Ubon with us. You see how God works these things out.

We are so thankful that God has given us this vision and has unleashed our tongues. I have to tell you it was so frustrating sometimes when i wanted to just get on a table in the middle of the market and start reading scripture and sharing the gospel. But the Lord was preparing us for what is next. And He has showed us that we are no longer to be silent. I am so pumped and last night God completely renewed my spirit. Please pray for us and then pray some more. If I have learned one thing it is that prayer is what makes all the difference. In the lives of others and in your own life. I cannot wait to see how God is going to move in this place. My time is up so I must go. Please continue to prayer for our radio program. Thank you so much for all the prayers. They are very much felt. I love you all.

In His Grip,

Jenn

Your Sister and Brother in Christ

Thursday, July 12, 2001

Ok, now I am going to get real. I have told you all the good things and now I want to share with you about my weaknesses. I really need for you to pray for my flexibility. It seems like we never know what we are doing and when we think we know we are always wrong! Sometimes it can get really frustrating. Please pray that I would have a Christ Like attitude. That I would not let my flesh get in the way of what God wants to do here! For example, we just got through teaching for the third time today!! And my flesh really didn't want to go teach English! But since I did go, I was able to share Christ with more college students. They heard the name Jesus for the first time tonight! My flesh is so weak and I need you to pray for strength. I know that I can't do it on my own, I can't. I have to burn my flesh at God's altar and I have to do that every morning, every night, and many times throughout the day. God really is changing me and doing some very humbling things in my life, so Satan right now is all over me!

And since we are in a land of spirit houses and idol worship, demons have been welcomed here! And many times my team has felt very oppressed. Please continue to pray our team. I have emailed you many times about my strengths here in Thailand and I wanted you to know my weaknesses also. I want to be transparent for you and for the world. Thank you for your prayers! They are felt and needed.

In His Grip,

Jennifer

Prayer warriors

Thursday, July 19, 2001

Things here in Thailand are great. God is breaking down barriers and changing lives, including mine. The reason I am writing you today is to plead with you. Next Tuesday night we are having a youth rally at our college. My team and I have been praying that God would bring whoever He wanted to this rally and that His will would be done. Well, we talked to our supervisor (who is the only Christian on the campus) and she has arranged it to where every single student on that campus is required to come!!!! PRAISE JESUS!!! Our God is so faithful. Not only will the students be there so will the teachers and administrators! We are also inviting out friends from other colleges and from all around Khon Kaen. That night we are showing the Jesus Film, Jenn and I are singing, a Thai preacher is going to go over the plan of salvation (after the movie), and Thai Christians are giving their testimonies! I am pleading with you that you do not under estimate the power that night. I am asking that you will be on your faces in prayer for next Tuesday night and I ask that you pray along with us as the rally goes along. Here is a rough Schedule:-(Remember my pm is your am. Its starts at 5am for you.)

5:00-5:15 The Director of the school is speaking

5:15-6:00 We are eating pizza

6:00-6:15 Jenn and I are singing a couple songs

6:15-6:30 Preacher is speaking about relationships and introducing the movie

6:30-7:30 Jesus Film

7:30-8:00 Preacher is speaking again (giving the plain of salvation)

8:00-8:30 Testimonies from Thai Christians

That is just a rough schedule. You never can put a time limit in God or His power. So we are hoping it last till the morning! Please be praying along with us as it goes along. Please tell everyone you know to be praying also. If its one thing that I have learned its that pray is so powerful and if all us gather together and pray for this campus and for the people of Thailand then God promises He will hear our plea and answer our prayer!! Our God is so faithful! And I know that for some of you 5am is very early to get up and start praying but I am asking that you sacrifice your sleep this one day for the salvation of these people. This rally is so so eternally important. I praise the Lord for prayers already and for the prayers that you have said for me. Please forward this email on to others so they may join with us. Thank you so much.

In His Grip,

Jennifer

Praise Be to Our Father in Heaven

Wednesday, July 25, 2001

Let me just say that our God is so incredible! The rally went awesome! Everything went smoothly and above the name of Jesus was glorified! Out of 220 students 150 of them showed up and 130 stayed the whole time! Jenn and I sang, my team did the peppermint malt skit (and yes I drank it again!), we showed the Jesus film, we had Thai Christians give their testimonies and our preacher preached! It lasted from 5-9:30. The spirit of God was so evident in that room! During the film you could have heard a pin drop. Every eye was watching that screen and every ear was listening to the words being spoken! They were so opened and after it was over we gave out 130 bibles. We watched as the students opened them an began before they even got to the door. Our boss said that so many students came up to her afterwards and told her they wanted to know more and one guy said he wanted to become a Christian!! So now the word is out and the students know about Christ. So now we must begin to pray that their hearts would be open to God. Because they are not ignorant anymore. Pray that those bible would not just sit on the shelf, but that the students would read them and I know that if they read they will be saved! The bible is a two-edged sword living and active! And it will pierce the hearts of those who read it!! Can i get an Amen??

Please pray for our team. We have 2 weeks left, someone of us less then that. I am the last one to leave here. Pray that we would finish stronger then we began. That we would run the race that God has put before us here in Khon Kaen, Thailand. " Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run the race with endurance that is set before us." That is one of my prayers for this team. Let me just tell you that some amazing things are happening here in Thailand. Ellen and I talked with Bee 2 nights ago and she told us that when she reads her bible she feels something in her heart! And we just rejoiced and told her that God was speaking to her and that He heard her prayer!! Please continue to pray for her. God is breaking down walls and barriers here. Thursday night Jenn and I are going over to Khon Kaen University and watching to Jesus Film and Jour's room with him, Bee and our friends there. I am pumped about that because the seeds have already been planted there. One of our friends lived with a Christian family for 1 year in Brazil. That was no accident that God brought him into our lives! Our Father is faithful and I am filled with over whelming joy when I look back at all the things he has done this summer, and I know that he will continue to move even after we are gone!

Let me tell you what God has been doing in my life. 2 nights ago God took my worlds apart. I wept until 4 in the morning and I was weeping so hard I couldn't breathe. In those 6 hours God revealed Himself to me and spoke truth to my heart and broke every single part of me. " If you Lord should mark my iniquities, O Lord who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared. I wait in the Lord my soul does wait, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more then watchmen for the morning. For with Lord there is loving kindness and with Him there is redemption." How awesome is that, we have redemption through Him and we are not condemned! I wish you could read my thoughts and my heart! Praise be to the Lord, for He alone is good!!! I am praying for you all and I thank God for you.

In His Grip,

Jennifer

Can't Wait to Hear From All of You

Tuesday, July 31, 2001

I am have prayed for every one of you all summer. I have really been encouraged and uplifted by all the emails that I have received while in Thailand. I return home to the states in August 11. God has blessed my life some much this summer and changed my heart! I have seen so many awesome things happen here and Thailand and I can't wait to tell you all the stories. From eating fish bladder to binding Satan and evil spirits from our house.

I am so excited about next semester. I can't wait to hear from all of you and hear about your summer. God has given me some awesome ideas for dramas next year for Timeout. And I am so excited about sharing them with you. Well I must go. I hope to hear from all of you and I am on my knees in prayer for you.

Jennifer Jenkins