This is Joel's Old Blog

Pre-Christian VS Post-Christian

A few thoughts in my head these days being back in a pre-Christian culture.  Western church conversations are about the relevance and need to unlock the dynamics of how the church fleshes out in a POST-christian culture and those who no longer hold to a Christian world-view, as in previous decades. I affirm this and believe it is a great need to do so. The values, the people think and process in a western society have and are continuing to change and much of mainline church bodies minister and function without embracing this reality.  However, in many cultures in the world there still exist a PRE-Christian reality --- How is the western church embracing this reality? Are we ignoring it?  The impact of the church among society is very small because the church is very small and non-existent in many towns. As governements and economies navigate through post-colonial conditions (However, Thailand was never colonized)  and desire to participate in a global economy -- masses live without engaging in the claims of Jesus or opportunities to even see what Christian community looks like.   How will we continue to engage the pre-chrisitan cultures of the world with love, humility, and grace?   We should NEVER forget or stop asking these questions...

communal mission

These past several years we have fleshed out communal mission cross-culturally, meaning our team and those we did community and mission with were all from other nations and languages.  2006 marks a strategic year for us in that we have managed to convince a few other Americans to join us and come do life together and expand our efforts in the entire region of Asia.  Here we last week enjoying breakfast together.   We are sad that one of our team members, Ellen Bender, is not with us but will be joining us in mid April -- hurry up and get over here, Ellen. Also, Shannon Taylor, a new friend, is making efforts to join our team in May --

Here is a photo of Ellen:

Women in Nepal: Potential or Peril?

Women and children are usually the victims of injust realities in most cultures. The quest for power, money, and control by a few impact the masses who have no voice. Women in Nepal are forced to fight for a cause they do not understand but merely want to raise their children, tend to the crops, and live life in peace.

One UN worker writes, "In the past few weeks, women have been beaten to death, shot at, blown up by landmines and abducted across the country,”

According to the WHO (World Health Organization) Nepal has one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with 6,000 women dying every year due to pregnancy-related complications --  With many husbands being gone for years in the civil conflict and many leaving their wives as widows, many more communities are in the power of women. From the home to the community... The strategic need to encourage and empower women in Nepal is great.

settling in Thailand & Spidermen underwear

As many of you have known and other of you have not, we were wrestling with the decision of residing in Thailand or Nepal and were waiting to arrive to the region to make the decision - There were several dynamics and issues with our decision:  Family needs, our team, strategic location, continued Nepal political crisis, and others.   After much prayer we have made a decision to settle in our place here in Phuket and travel to Nepal on a fairly regular basis. We have a good amount of groups coming out this way in the months ahead.  We are looking to start a 2nd children's home in Nepal and continue our post-Tsunami development efforts here in southern Thailand.  Also, we have completed a land purchase in north India where we hope to start construction this year.  I will be making several trip to north India with a few groups and friends coming out to see us.    Thank you all who joined us in prayer in this decision.  We have Zayd enrolled in a school here in Thailand and today was his first day. He carried 4 of his spidermen underwear in his hand!  (No, he is not potty trained...but we are working on it)  He was sure proud of those underwear, though,  and I was so proud of him, walking in with such confidence as youngest in his class and the only one in diapers.. He did convince the teacher he was ready for his underwear for his rest/nap time and did not make it to the toilet in time... Besides that... it was a successufl first day of school and he said he wants to go tomorrow!   

The Family enjoying Bangkok

Beijing to Bangkok

We have arrived THAILAND!  The land of smiles.  feels like home -- There is for sure a different dynamic with Zayd and all of his questions, "Going new house now?" and "People lookin at me?" "People laughing at me"-- His little blonde hair and blue eyes for sure get the attention of most Asians and lots of stairs and smiles and laughs -- As many of you have children, you know the interesting dynamic of not wanting your children to think you are laughing at them when they do something cute or adorable -- They get self-conscious.  We can already tell he is becoming pretty aware of this and do not know the exact way to handle our responses to him.. He seems to fester up some anger/frustration more than regular and thinks most people are laughing at him -- anyone have any experience in this? advice on how to deal with it or ways we should respond?  welcome any help...had the best lunch today: cocunut rice, baked snapper, mango and sticky rice..yum!

A window into China: Kevin

We decided to hire a car for the day and Kevin was our driver. Most Chinese have taken western first names who work for hotels and the travel industry.  Kevin was a window into understanding this vast land and peole filled with such beauty, mystery, and drive.    Kevin told us he did not want to have children because he wanted to make as much money as he could. He had been married for a few years. His goal in life was to own his own car, something his father never was able to do in the "old" China.  His father made only $4/month as an engineer and Kevin makes nearly $600/month now.   He works 12-15 hourdays. "What is the religion of China?" I asked. He looked puzzled and did not know how to respond.  When we explained his response was worshiping the previous dynasties and empowers of China.   He knew of Buddhism but when we asked about Christianity, a blank stare followed.   Elise was riding in the front seat while I entertained the kids in the back. She beautifully shared the hope we have in a God who speaks love and meaning find in his son.  Kevin's response later was, "I hope God loves us as Chinese".   Indeed,  he and hundreds of millions of other Kevins in this land need a friend that knows the LIVING ONE -

Images of the day in Beijing #2

A BIG thanks to Continental One Pass miles for getting my family to Asia this year! (sticking with one airline is worth it!!!) Continental  only flies to Hong Kong or Beijing and Beijing was the only route with seats available!  We are still getting over jet-lag for a few more days before getting down to Thailand and seeing as much as we can.   Day #2 here started about 3 am and we decided to get out and see as much as we could!   Drove out 1 hour to see the Great Wall of China, went to see forbidden city, and the famous 'Silk Market', now all inside a closed shopping complex- when i was here last (2002) it was all an old outside Asian style market, what an image of how China's economy is booming. The last time I was at the silk market I ran into a youth group from Houston, TX that I knew--   IMAGES FROM THE DAY:

Daya loving China or is it my camera?

Images of the day in Beijing #1

Zayd was awake our 1st night from 11 pm to 6:30 am and then just slept 4 hours this morning.  He took to the market and bargaining came natural and he found lots of spider man stuff!   Our hotel employees love the kids and come to our room just to get their photos with them!