Friends in Small Places

I almost half died from having a heartattack after seeing this little creature skid accross the wall in my room. I was opening the curtains when I saw him...he hurried across the wall to bury himself in the darkness. At first I thought there was a big Cocroach (spelling?) making himself comfortable in my room :0( Thankfully, I found the siluette of the little thing peering through the curtain, I could rest assured it was only a little lizard; the cutest one by far. I was stupid enough to think I could catch him :0) They are incredibly quick. I told Beaw and Wor (my two Thai roomates) I saw hime and they told me, "We have many friends in this house." I saw another little one in my closet today....it still took my breath away before I realized what he was. :0) So for all those who are praying about loneliness...ha rest assured I have more company than I want sometimes :0) ------summer camp starts tonight... please pray...Opal, our team leader, was a little disappointed that not many were attending. Pray for her heart to be lifted by the "little" that come and that God would do a work in those few.

A New Home

Some of you know about a "discipleship home" I mentioned in previous letters. Well, I was able to make my home there. I have two Thai roomates, Beaw and Wor, who are great. I also have a large room to myself. I settled right in. I'm really glad this place opened up again, because I'd been really hoping for this living arrangement. The greatest thing is that it's litterally across the street from the Centre.

My Arrival here from the start has only been exciting. I'm loving it so much. Aside from the heat and the city smells...I'm so glad I'm in this place and that God has me here. I've only been here for a couple of days, but I feel at home already. The team at the Centre is incredible and I'm anxious to begin teaching. I start next week. It's very layed back and there is nothing to fret about. The people are very forgiving here.

My day starts at 12:00 or 1:00 and ends sometime in the evening depending on the nights. I've only been getting about 5 hrs of sleep since I've been here. I'm a morning person so it's been hard. Hopefully I'll adjust to the noises of the animals and city streets and be able to sleep right through it :0) I've already been lost after a "song tum" (public transport) dropped off me and a couple others in the center of Chiang Mai University...which is huge! It's like 4 blocks or something, it's crazy. I've eaten Thai food and ordered in Thai. (Sorry Beth...I haven't eaten a spider...nor will I :0) ) I've opened a bank account here and bought a mobile phone and...well a bunch of stuff. It's so hot here. It's like 'insta' sweat :0) I'm adjusting better than I thought I would though. Even the Thai are complaining about the heat, so it's not just a westerner thing :0). Be praying about a Thai tutor. I have a friend here that says it's helped her. Since I have Thai roomates I thought of asking help from them first, but I like the idea of a Thai tutor too. I'm going to wait a couple of months probably to see if I can afford it. My friend pays about 200 Baht per 1hr session; it would be about 100 dollars a month. I would probably look at doing it for about 4 months. I'm praying about it for now :0). Be praying for English camp this Friday... the staff and some students will be going about 30 min. away to spend the weekend teaching and learning english and giving their personal testimonies. Many of those coming are not believers. Pray we could build great relationships and that many could come. One young girl came last year and was saved shortly after. I thank God that I have this opportunity to "break me in" and allow me to get to know the students before I start to teach. I'll write again soon...

This pic is for you Roger...just so you know I'm well taken care of :0)

This was at night Bazaar...like a huge outside market/mall.

goodbyes

6:oo flights are never a fun thing. I'm a morning person but nothing could have prepared me for what was coming. 3:30 I woke up Sat. to make it to the airport in plenty of time to catch my flight. However, the only flight that was cancelled had to be mine. I had to fly a domestic flight from Portland to New York before connecting to my international flight to Bangkok. After two long hours of discussing impossible options with the Delta personel all they could provide me with was, "techniquely, we are only responsible for getting you to New York; regardless if you miss your connecting flight...." (which was at 11:35, and the next flight delta had to offer was 11:30). Ummm...what do you say to that??? :0) I was ready to cry. Had I known that information two hours before it would have been great to buy a ticket for a different 6:00 flight. I called Thai Airways to see what could be done but, of course, they were not open on the weekends. All possibilities seemed to be lost. We tried Jet Blue to see if they had any earlier flights to New York, but we weren't so fortunate. However, the nice Lady at the desk escorted us to United Airways which had a room on a flight leaving at 6:45. After that point I really don't remember all that transpired, except for running to security. It was closing in on 6:45 so the nice Lady at United Airways told me to run and leave my bags with my parents to pass them through. So I'm franticly going through security when I remember, "I haven't been able to give my parents a proper goodbye...(not even a hug)." I look back as I'm going through and they're both standing their crying...and then all the crying came. I feel bad for the security guy who was the one to receive it all. There is something about men with women crying...it's so humorous as I look back. Poor guy didn't know what to say or if he said to much to make me cry. If any of you know me...I hate to talk when I cry and so as he's asking me questions, I can't form the words and I just give up trying all together, and walk away...(oh please smile at this, because I laugh now). Anyway, so at this point I'm sobbing and I'm normally a silent cryer, but I make it to the gate so tempted to turn around and go back..."it's so unfair," I thought. Litteraly 5 min later they started boarding. I was actually flying into Laguardia (spelling??) Airport and needed to get to JFK, but the nice Lady from United Airways prepared me with everything I needed to know and I got there in no time. While I was in the plane...still sobbing :0)...I looked out the window (partially to escape from all the stairs and concerned faces in the plane), and as we lifted above the clouds I was expressing to the Lord all my frustrations, but also thanks to his provisions, and then I saw the sun; faithful as ever. We don't always see it because the clouds are in the way, but it was there in that plane. I thought..."wow Lord, now that's peace. There were so many clouds this morning, and yet You were there...ever faithful!" It was a really BAD morning....but I still serve a great God!" "Peace which passeth all understanding" is how it's put right? I remembered the team I had praying for me. Thanks team...you know who you are....thank you for praying worriors. I was able to call my Mom and Dad once I was through ticketing through Thai Air... I had a 17 hr flight to Bangkok (flew up to the arctic east over russia and down again). Then from Bangkok to Chaing Mai...it all seemed like a dream, but I was happy to be there.

"send off prayer"

OH where to begin! Greeting from the southeast, My trip was quite stressful starting out, but let me tell you one blessing along the way. I was able to spend time at Camp Good News three days before coming to Thailand. I thought for sure I'd be crying all the time their, but God gave me an incredible peace. On Friday (Jun. 20) , they gave a "send off prayer time." It just so happened that almost every area of my life was represented there. My dad prayed first (representing my homelife), then the president of NBBI, Barry Beebe (from my years in bible college), Pastor Trent Boyd ( represented the churches I'm affiliated with and is part of my support team), Natausha Daigle (my accountability partner and best friend represented all my friends and girls we've discipled together), and lastly the Director of CEF, Mr. John Romano (representing my years with CEF). Yeah, I thought for sure I'd cry... I thank God for all the influences he's given me over the years. When I think of being in Thailand, I never think of being alone. This prayer time reminded me that I have a great team of christians back home who are praying and involved in every part of this trip as I am. This is my attempt to keep you all involved. Please read when you can. I've been blessed every day I've been here. I hope you enjoy the Entries from Thailand.

Acts 20:24"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

Wait, I say on the Lord

Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Dear prayer warriors and financial supporters,

I want to thank the Lord for all of you right now. If it were not for you all and your faithfulness in prayer and support my faith in God's plan for missions would be wavering more than it has been today. I wish I could tell you that I was leaving in a week and tell you all about anxieties that come with leaving. Instead, I'll share about how hard it's been to receive news that I must wait even more.

As most of you know I was not able to leave for Kenya due to the extreme unrest the country has faced. Also, you've heard I was in the process of looking for another placement elsewhere. God gave me the wonderful opportunity to travel with my sister and her boys as far as South Carolina, and while there I had the opportunity to stop by the SIM headquarters and go over some placements with my short-term cordinator. We decided on one in Thailand which involved much of the same work I'd have been doing in Kibera, Kenya. However, when we corresponded with the field there, we found out that position was already in the process of being filled. I do praise the Lord that the need there was filled.

Still, that left us a little disappointed. Thailand was not out of the picture though. When the Thailand cordinator responded back she also left us with another ministry that was in need. The details are attached, but I'll give a brief explanation:

In Chiang Mai, Thailand there are approx. 35,000 university students that attend the local universities each year. "The Centre" is a ministry that will aid Thai students in learning conversational english for a fraction of the cost they'd pay at a regular university. However, while they are taught english, they are taught the truth of Jesus Christ through the Bible as a textbook; most are from Buddist backgrounds and have never heard the name of Jesus. Also, they are invited to Bible studies at the Centre along with special nights such as cooking nights (where the students learn to cook western food and interact with the staff) and friday party nights (where there will be singing, skits and teaching from the Word of God). I would be involved in all of the above.

I've thought and prayed about this placement a lot. I also asked my closest friends to give their imput on what they thought. After some time I told my cordinator, Bob Hay, that I was willing to pursue this exciting yet very new idea. I must admit I was very unsure about myself in this position and insecure about some aspects of myself in the ministry. One good friend reminded me that my reason for not going should not be out of my lack of faith in what the Lord can do in and through me. I found that all my reasons for not going were selfish and simply insecurities I wasn't placing into the Lord's hands. I want to be willing for this as different as it might be or what I'd been expecting originally.

I ask prayer for the waiting that comes with this placement. I received word today that the cordinator in Thailand is out of the country untill the end of March and so we have to wait for specifics for possibly another month; then I'll have to wait for some time after that to finalize everything (i.e. travel). The Lord is stretching me more than I'd like to be stretched sometimes. Regardless, I know it's for my good and for His ultimate glory. I've just finished reading the book, Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper and what I've received most from reading it is that God's love is not so that he can ultimately make much of me, but so that we may make much of Him. Whatever preperation I need, I want so that I can make much of HIm.

By way of encouragement to you all, I want to share this: "Many of you must stay (where you are). Your staying is crucial for God's purposes where you are, and it is crucial for his purposeses where you are not, but where others may go." -John Piper I have always considered this a partnership. When I'm down and discouraged/ disappointed or doubting His plan, I remember all those praying; I remember all those who are giving and have given making it possible to continue. I remember that we are co-labourers and that God is using us both where we are. I remember to "thank God on every remembrance of you." As I wait on the Lord, please wait with me.

Together to make much of Him,

Michelle Bourgoin

prayers: That I would not become Idle with the extra unexpected time;

That the Lord would guide and give continual assurance of His call, desire for His word.

For opportunities to minister in the mean time.

For the Lord to prepare the hearts of the students in Thailand whom I will have the opportunity to reach.

In the waiting

Unfortunately I do not write to you from the country of Kenya quite yet. I was supposed to arrive there on the 19th of January, but because of much unrest in Kenya in this last month my departure was postponed to the 9th of Feb. I'm hoping and praying that my flight would not be postponed again as

I'm very ready and excited to be there now. I will patiently be waiting on the Lord though :0)

My last post only gave little of what I'll be doing in Kenya. I'll be living in the big city of Nairobi, but traveling everyday to Kibera...a slum on the outskirts of the city; said to be the largest slum in all of africa. I added some videos from youtube.com that may give you an idea of what Kibera is like. Forgive me if any are offensive in language or anything else, I wasn't able to pick which videos were to show on the blog...it automatically posts all the videos dealing with Kibera. However, I would call your attention to one with a small boy's face that you can see on the blog. This video was put out by Adventures in Mission and was very informative and in the same breath inspirational. It opened my eyes as to what to expect when I arrive in the slum. However, I still can't really see the faces of hate or sorrow; or smell the sewage infested streets. I've only witnessed this place from a screen, but soon I will witness all of it in it's truest sight. I will be teaching in a school there. The school is for those in Kibera who cannot aford schooling. I will be teaching English Composition. I'm not an english major, but I'm hoping that I will be helpful to these children, nonetheless.

I'll be living in Nairobi with other missionaries like myself. I hope you enjoy this blog as it will serve as insight to much of what I'll be experiencing in Kenya. I pray it is a Joy for you and others. All take care, and when you think of me, please pray for God's work in Kenya.

All for Him, Michelle