Day of Rejoicing

Note: I am back in the US now. Praise the Lord for safe travels over the many miles! I'm sorry my posts have been a little sparse lately. The last few weeks before I left were filled to the brim with many different activities. 

Let me tell you about Moo Koh Paw. She's one of the 10th graders who had attached herself to me. She has become dear to me over the past few months. 

She had been struggling with somethings in her life for the past few weeks...   Something just wasn't quite right, even though she tried to cover it up with laughing and joking. I could tell that she was troubled about something and deep in thought. I think part of it was her unwillingness to surrender (at least not yet). 

The two of us usually would joke, laugh, and play with each other. She has a lot of spunk and she always kept me laughing. (We have so many inside jokes with each other now.) There were times though that I tried to turn the conversation to more weighty things. 

One evening my room-mates and I had prayed--really prayed--for our dear friend, Moo Koh Paw. We prayed that she would not be at rest until she had surrendered her life fully into the hands of her heavenly Father. 

The next afternoon I looked over at her swinging in my hammock. I really wanted her to have inner, lasting peace. I decided to try to bring up spiritual matters. 

"Moo Koh Paw, I have been praying for you. Is there anything in specific that you want me to pray for you about?" I wondered if she understood everything since I wasn't speaking in her native tongue. 

She cocked her head. "Huh, say that again, teacher." 

I reworded the question."What do you want me to pray about for you?" I wondered how she'd reply to that type of question. I didn't have to wonder long.  

After thinking for a moment, she spoke solemnly in her broken English, "Teacher, pray for my heart. I have a bad heart. I have a big problem in my heart."

I nodded and assured her, "Yes, yes, Moo Koh Paw, I will pray for your heart. I want you to be truly happy in your heart, not just smiling on the outside. Jesus is the only one who can fix your heart."

Days went by and it was getting closer to the time of the baptism. We wondered if MKP would make the decision. She did want to get baptized - but she still wasn't sure. She said she had some questions that needed to be answered. 

Then one afternoon when we were all up in the Stecks house after lunch, I heard some all too familiar footsteps behind me and the usual burst of energy that came along with them. She knew where to find me if I wasn't down at my hut. She had a ball in her hands and I knew what that meant. She most likely wanted us to come play volleyball with her. But, I was entering grades into the computer which was a very important, time-sensitive project because graduation was coming up very soon. So I told her I probably wouldn't be available to play that afternoon. 

She skipped around the room for a little bit and then disappeared all of a sudden. "Well, that's not unusual," I thought. 

But then a few moments later I did hear an unusual outburst from Hannah Steck, "I knew it! I knew it was her that Thara Ehganyaw said wanted to get baptized! She's the 20th person so far!"  

Haley and I both looked up with excitement. "What, really?! Who is it?!!" 

"Just maybe..." I thought. 

"Is it Moo Koh Paw?!" I blurted. 

Hannah nodded with a grin. "She just told Thara Joko (Mr. Steck) to add her name to the list!" 

Haley and I looked at each other... we both had a little extra water in our eyes. 

Hearing of her decision made our hearts sing.  Our specific prayer was answered right before our eyes. I don't think we were the only ones that were singing inside...

"... Likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth..." 

Luke 15:7

Haley and I felt like skipping on our walk instead of strolling that day. 

My friends, God does answer prayers. 

On the bright and sunny morning of the baptism, there were 23 precious souls who were buried in the water. Praise the Lord! 

As Moo Koh paw walked confidently into the river when it was her turn to be baptized - we all joined in singing a song. It was a special song to her because of the words. It talks about how we can be whiter than snow and her name is in the song (part of her name means "snow"). 

"Wah nay moo koh paw, wah nay moo koh paw..." 

It was a special, touching scene to behold. 

And just for your information- all the rest of that special day, Moo Koh Paw, was grinning from ear to ear. She could confidently say that she was happy in her heart now. I hope and pray that it will stay that way.

Please join me in especially praying for Moo Koh Paw and the other 22 people who were just baptized. They will be special targets of the enemy and they will need special strength from Jesus to overcome each and every day.  

Here are a few pictures from the special day:

Walking down to the riverside

The line-up of baptismal candidates

The newly baptized students with a few teachers

The five students of mine who got baptized 

I miss these sweet girls!

Don't they look so happy?

Me & Tharamu Supweh 

(She is a teacher now who graduated last year.)

All the baptized students from this year and previous years

"... Likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth..." 

Luke 15:7

Two Hearts United

About this time last week, a few of my fellow teachers and I were hurrying around trying to finish up last minute details... You see, there was to be a wedding early the next morning. 

It was the wedding of two volunteer teachers here at the school. They decided to have their wedding here so the students would be able to attend and since they will continue their ministry here together. It was a first for this school to have a wedding here.

It was a busy time - decorating the archway and aisle with bamboo, ribbon, bows, palm branches & flowers, taping letters to the purple curtain, blowing up balloons, ironing tablecloths & dresses, practicing music, typing out the wedding program and other such wedding preparations. 

The wedding morning was brought in with Hannah Steck's (the wedding coordinator :-) cheery voice, "Ladies, we probably better get over to the wedding site to finish things up."

"Ok," Haley and I drowsily responded from underneath our mosquito net. It was 4:45 am. We had to start early because the wedding was to start at 8:00. (Karen weddings are usually in the morning.)

In the darkness we did the finishing touches to our work the evening before. We arranged the fresh flowers on the green arch & the swinging bench to add bursts of purple, pink & white. 

The time passed quickly and before we knew it--it was time for the wedding to begin. 

At the beginning of the ceremony, the student choir sang as they brought the wedding party across the open field to where the wedding ceremony would take place. The students crowded around taking as many pictures and videos as they could of this special event. 

The wedding was short and sweet. After the pronouncement of the new couple and the recessional, everyone was invited to enjoy the good food that was prepared. 

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy...

Jonalyn (a Filipino) & Erick (an American) 

The guestbook table

The front - Karen style

Decorated bamboo sections lining the aisle

The archway with palm branches & flowers

Pictures after the wedding

The wedding party 

 The couple with Erick's parents

 It's very interesting that the groomsman and bridesmaid wear 

exactly the same clothes that the bride & groom wear in Karen weddings. 

 The little people - they did a very good job. :)

 The four decorators with the new couple

We pray that the Lord will richly bless your new marriage & ministry, Erick & Jonalyn. 

Day Picnics

January has been the month for picnics. All the grades have gone on day picnics as well as other groups (like the dorm staff or afternoon work groups). There is always a lot of excitement and anticipation in the air as the time gets closer to leave on a picnic. For the grade 9 & 10 picnic we left early in the morning and arrived at the riverside before breakfast. After breakfast and worship, we spent the rest of the day playing games and just having fun with each other. We ended the day with a nice campfire worship that everyone participated in. 

I will always treasure those moments... the moments of laughing together, chasing each other on the sand, enjoying special food together, laughing some more, taking a refreshing dip in the river, reading the Bible, singing together, and much more. 

These are two of my 10 graders - they love to have their picture taken. 

Saw Eh Shee has quite the look, don't you think? :)

Myint Htay is making a funny face in the background, 

which is not out of character for him at all. 

The beach was such a nice sandy place for our games. 

This game especially had us laughing. Mrs. Steck was right in the middle of the fun. 

I love their facial expressions in this one. 

Thara Di Yay enjoyed the games too! 

He helped a lot to translate my explanations of the games. 

A Karen Bible

I'm thankful the Karen characters don't just look like random lines and circles to me now. 

I can read most of the letters now (although I still don't know what it all means).

I think we were playing "Monkey in the Middle" here. 

Striped jackets seem to be popular here. :) 

I like it when they actually smile for pictures. 

Paw Wah Wah & Ma Shwe Win - two of my sweet 9th graders. 

I told you they like to take pictures. 

Than Than Aye & I

Please pray for her - She has a pretty bad family situation. 

The scenery was splendid! 

This was taken at the dorm monitor picnic. 

All the dorm staff - a lot of them are my students. 

Don't they look nice in purple? 

By the end of the day, we were all sweaty, sandy, & worn-out... but nonetheless happy. 

Please pray for the precious students here at Sunshine Orchards. Many of them have had really hard backgrounds. I want them to experience Jesus as a true Friend. They need to find comfort, security & peace in a saving relationship with Jesus. Even though friends may leave them and family may reject them, Jesus will always be by their side. Please pray that they will surrender their lives fully to Him - no matter what rejection they may face from their families. 

And for those of us, who come from supportive Christian homes (even though they are not perfect)

--we have so, so much to be thankful for!  Don't take your family for granted. 

136 Days in Counting

Happy New Year, everyone! It's hard to believe we've already passed the threshold of a brand new year. 

It's also hard to believe that I've been here in Thailand for 136 days already. These past few days have been wonderful, growth-filled days. I am truly an abundantly blessed girl.  

I've had great intentions to share more on this blog about my time here. But due to the busyness of my schedule here, I haven't had an abundance of time to write updates. Teaching four classes everyday, practicing songs for upcoming events, trying to work on finishing a college class, playing games with the students, being entertained by the four girls who come to our hut whenever they have free time (which is quite often), preparing to give worship or chapel talks, or teach the 9th & 10th grade Sabbath school class, going on runs with some of my fellow teachers and more... keeps me pretty busy. (Christmas was a busy time too. I'll have to write a post about that sometime soon.)

I'm thankful to have a purpose in life, like so many people don't have. I'm thankful to be a missionary working with such sweet people. 

Even though I don't have the time to put a lot of thought into writing a blog post, I thought I could share some pictures of my students and others with you. Pictures speak a thousand words, right? There's so much more to share, but this is a start. 

My 10th grade class - they all have very unique personalities. I wish you could meet them all!

 The 9th graders - They are all wearing their class shirts that I helped design for them (except for the two day students who didn't realize they were supposed to wear their class shirts that day).

 Some of my sweet 9th grade girls - One of them had to leave this term. :(

Teacher Raquel with some of her students before she left. 

 These students love to take pictures with us! 

 Moo Koh Paw is one of my 10th graders on the left.
She's one of the ones who is always visiting my hut. She keeps me laughing. 

 We went on a nice outing a few weeks ago - the views were breathtaking!

 Here's a cute little munchkin. He's almost like the school "mascot." 

His mom is the girl's dean here at the school. 

 These girls were happy to be moving into their new dorm. 

We had the dorm dedication & ribbon cutting at the beginning of this term. It has been a long time in coming - we're so thankful that the girls and boys have a nice new place to stay now. 

This is one of the two new girl's dorm buildings. 

 Mr. Adams (Papa Doh) with little Timothy cutting the ribbon at the dorm dedication.

Girls carrying their few belongings to their new dorm.

This little guy gets this contagious smile on his face when I come to visit him. 

Please pray for him though - he recently broke his leg again. His bones are so weak and brittle. 

Important note: If you are email subscribed to this blog and you've been seeing some weird posts - Don't worry, it's not me... Those email subscriptions were still connected with my old blog address - which I don't have anymore. My old blog hannahmariepowell.blogspot.com has a new owner now. So you should just unsubscribe to the old blog and then then try to subscribe to my new blog.
Sorry about that.