This is Joel's Old Blog

The exciting story today was

The exciting story today was that our car ran out of gas coming back from lunch. We all went to a pastor's house to eat and had a wonderful time - I always dig eating with my fingers as all Nepalis do. As we were coming home I looked down and noticed we ran out of gas the car died. We were lucky and stopped right in front of a gas pump! I got out and pushed the car (all by myself mind you - I was feeling pretty strong) to the pump. After filling it we were stalled --- We could have waited it out but it started to rain and zayd was crying- We all jumped into a taxi and went home! THe joys of travel in the developing world -- be flexible and adjust as you move.

Pray for peace in Nepal. The gov't is in current talks of peace with oppostion groups and if the peace talks fail -- there could be trouble. I learned today that over 50% of Nepal's gov't budget comes from outise of Nepal. IT is one of the poorest nations on earth where only 15% of the country has electricity. God is in control!

We all got into a

We all got into a tiny taxi this past Sunday to go to Church. We were eager to worship and meet new people. We rode about 25 minutes to the other side of Kathmandu and went to the 1 protestant english speaking chuch in the city. There were a lot kids and we met some new friends. Zayd even sat on the floor by himself and was so good. We met a doctor from New Zealand who does surgery among a lepor hospital - I am eager to go see his work. He has been down to Bihar where we have helped a Catholic Lepor home for several years.

Our electricity was out last night ..so no fans..it was more humid as the rain came in and rained very hard. Our neighborhood is beginning to know that Americans are around.. We have a few children that come play on our swing set and play with Zayd- Elise loves them to come over.

Elise and I prayed together

Elise and I prayed together as our plane landed in Kathmandu last thursday. Having a 1 way ticket, keys to a house, a family...things seemed a bit different than the dozens of other times I have come to this nation. We prayed that God would give us the land, as Joshua prayed, of the very land we walked upon! Not for our glory or name but for God's Kingdom and Glory!

We have gotten into our home and getting set up. We have taken many trips to the market for things and have already cooked several meals at our home. Rain comes most nights and cools things up and the days are pretty hot -- boy, do those fans help! All the Nepalis love baby Zayd and call him 'Babu" the Nepali name for baby boy. WE have adopted this name and have started saying babu a lot. Internet access is hard for now. more soon.

Zayd layed on my chest

Zayd layed on my chest for 45 minutes as we drove through Bangkok... He was amazed at the view out our taxi. I sang to him and he was so content..he even sang along with me with his little "coos"...It is as though he knows this place and feels content on being in this different land and culture. Traveling with Zayd is such a joy and delight. It for sure changes things and slows down the pace a bit, but it is welcomed. Our week in Thailand was such a good thing. We all feel over jet lag and rested and ready for Nepal. We fly to Kathmandu tomorrow . The flight is about 2.5 hours and hopefully we can see Everest out the window!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are being met by a Nepali pastor is going to help us with our baggs and getting to our new home.

the word beauty is in

the word beauty is in your mind in southern thailand. the colors, the smells, the tastes of the food, the sights of the greenery and lush vegatatino, the smiles of the people --- we have been in awe ever since we have arrived and overwhelmed with welcome, hospitality, and friendliness. I have often thought how so many churches i walked into/spoken at and never had this sense of welcome or peace at. the people were not friendly, nothing beautiful in the asthetics of the gathering room, etc., etc. elise and i have talked a lot of our taste of heaven one day and how this will not even compare. tbe BEAUTY of the glory will have no words to explain the reality of such a place.

we are going to explore some caves in the ocean today. you can only kayak in when the tide is low. sounds interesting. huge large granite islands covered with white sandy beaches and lush green vegetation! more soon!

i have been many cultures

i have been many cultures and lands as a single man. I have been in about a dozen cultures with my wife. But this is the first time to have a child with me and it is amazing. We are in southern Thailand and i thought that zayd would draw so much attention and interest --- but even from the young guy who came into our room to bring us a baby crib? it is amazing how children are looked at in this land. i suppose it has something to do that they do not see a blue eye / blonde hair baby every day --- but it is a great delight how it creates doors of conversation and greeting to people-

i took zayd in the pool this morning at 7 am and then walked him to teh ocean. he was amazed at the sounds of the ocean.
He loves the water. We are still jet lagged and tired but hopeful and content to be together and be in a beautiful land and culture --- Sawadeeka!

Last year I was in

Last year I was in the market in Beijing and looked up and ran into jerome smith and a group of student's from tallowood church in houston. we shared dinner together and had a great time -- it seems God uses these random acts of encounter with folks around the world in my life a ltot-- i think i should write a book about it. We were flying out of houston yesterday and saw bill brian from amarillo, tx. (servlife's attorney) he was coming back from brazil and we shared a brief conversation with him. He did all of our legal work many years ago to get our organization going as a 501.C.3 non profit. On the plane I got talking to a Japanese lady holding a small baby boy as I was holding Zayd. it's amazing how conversations can start so easily with babies.. nathan was just 5 days older than zayd. they live and work with an NGO in Bhurma - her husband is american and works with a Swiss organization. In the immigration line we began talking again and I asked if they knew our friend, Bill Greiser, a doctor from colorago that I met in sweden a few years back. bill is serving in Bhurma and a great man of God... THey smiled and said YES! they had met in a church in Yangoon! (the capital)

God encourages us in great ways! There is no accident to these encounters! WE really felt blessed to have these encounters and it was a great reminder that we are NOT alone in service to the King, no matter how far we travel..!!!!!

OUR PLANE RIDE WENT SWELL! Zayd did great. thakns for your prayers. WE are in Bangkok and Elise is sleeping. i hired a babysitter for $1 / hour at the hotel we are stayhing with so i could check email and have some solitude time ---
more later. We fly down to south thailand today.

Several folks have asked me

Several folks have asked me how we are going to get our belongings over to asia. well -- if even if i had an extra $10,000 -- i don't think i would ship my couch or coffee table-- just getting our allowed checked baggage on the plane this morning in houston was a challenge -- they weigh the bags and are prettty tight with the allowed weight limits. Zayd did great on our flight from Houston to Minneapolis. Now the big one is upon us! All for now -- I will write again from thailand!

Today was restful and nice

Today was restful and nice here in Houston. We had lunch with a new friend who sells goods from fogotten women around the world and sending their proceeds back to the communities. A lot from Kosovo - we connected with chris and lisa seay and their 3 kids and talked for a bit.
My good friend, Ty Denney, from waco drove 3 hours from waco,tx last night (ty is a friend from baylor days and works at a church and mission organizatin in waco) we were in each others weddings. it is amazing how a friend of many years, and 2 years go by and you just pick up where you left off --- like no time has really passed or has it???

i have been thinking about and meditating about the issue of really living for God's pleasure and Glory or the approval and notice of others --- If I could really loose all the care and worry of what other thought and perceived....to what degree would it liberate and free me?
How this must be a constant battle within everyone to a certain degree --- I read psalms 1 today and happened to look out the window and see a large tree rooted strongly in the ground -- i thought of the 2nd 'LORD OF THE RINGS" film and the walking trees that were so freed and focused --- If we do not walk, sit, or stand around evil and meditate on God's truth, law, and being --- We can be free, rooted as a tree, and able to not care what others think, feel, or say about us ----what good news.