2 Hours at Sunshine Orchard

We were finally at Sunshine Orchard Children's Home and Learning Center! And as it is typically, it was not at all like any of us had pictured it in our minds. It is quite steep from Adam's home down to the lime orchard where the school is located.  We took a tour down to the school and where we will be living. The trail from Adams house down to the school besides being quite steep and also runs with water, we are told, in the rainy season.  Our bamboo hut is the first building you come to as you head down this trail.  There are teachers houses on both sides of ours and the girls dorm past the teacher's house on our left.  The outhouses are directly behind our hut next to a kick ball pit.  Just from seeing it briefly I can imagine we will be in a busy area with the dorm and bathrooms nearby.  It is on past our hut that you find more homes, the learning center and then the garden area.  We did not get to the chapel or walk to the cafeteria.  Laren was anxious and excited to see the garden areas so we headed straight to them.

Let me describe as best I can, our home for the time we will be here. It is much larger than I had pictured in my mind.  It is about 14' x16' divided into 2 rooms. The back room is a bedroom roughly 4' x 8' with a platform made of wood for the bed.  There is a small 2' x 3' lowered section in the main part of the hut that Maria told me was the kitchen where you cook Thai style. The main part will be where the kids sleep and our "living room".  That's it. Pretty simple. We were told that our hut is the only hut that has ever had to anyones knowledge, a very poisonous snake in it.  It was when Micah Habercam was living in it. Apparently he had decided to tidy up his bedroom and as he was moving things on his bed he found the snake all curled up.  If he hadn't been impressed to clean his hut he would have gone to bed with this deadly snake whose bite kills in mere seconds.  Wow! Psalm 34:7 is a great promise!  Now we don't have to worry about another snake, right? Since there was already one in our hut.  Nothing to fear when God is leading!

Right after we first arrived at Sunshine Orchard, Lena met us in front of their house, announcing that there was no more propane, they had just run out in the house as she was fixing breakfast.  So everyone from her household was going to head into the village to eat at their landlords restaurant.  The children at the school eat at the school where a cook prepares all of their food.  Adams prefer not eating there giving the children all the food that is fixed and as much nourishment as possible. So after our tour, we headed into the village.  Met Lena there as she had gone ahead while we were on our tour of the school, with all her babies, Jason, Will, Maria with Jabez, Josiah and our group to make a total of 15 people.  We ordered and ate delicious, large portioned rice or noodle dishes along with fresh coconuts. All this food for $15 US dollars.  Pretty amazing.

After we ate, we headed up for a quick tour of the new piece of property where the down payment has been paid. This property cannot be used by the school or orphanage until at least half of the price has been paid.  It seriously needs to be paid off so the school can use it for the needed vocational training school the government is requiring.  Please keep this in your prayers as the school is crowded and cannot transition as needed until a move can be made onto this new space.  What a beautiful location and lay of the land this new property is right on the river across from Burma.  We got to see buildings, ponds, fruit trees and more on this perfectly placed piece of property that God prepared for the work of these precious Karen children.  Again please pray for donations to come in so this property can be paid for and then the school can begin to use it as needed.

We were not able to explore all of the 100 acres like we wanted to, because we needed to get going as we headed on to Chiang Mai with Mike and Marilee. We had some medical issues that needed taking care of and M & M were headed there to attend some meetings.  We decided to take the mountainous road from Maesolit instead of back tracking to Mae Sot and on up to Chiang Mai that way which is longer in distance but shorter in time.  It was a steep, curvy, narrow road, but Mike was a good driver over all the various road conditions and safely maneuvered around all the other drivers.  Marilee promoted ginger to us all in hopes of preventing car sickness.  We added 2 new riders on this leg of the journey with Maria and Jabez heading to Chiang Mai for potential surgery for Jabez on his hernia.  It was the day before that Miles began to feel ill.  So he spent most of the trip to Chiang Mai sleeping.  The rest of us were hoping that he was keeping his germs to himself. You will find out later if he succeeded.

We arrived in Chiang Mai before the sun set so were able to see as we made our way to the S.K. House where we had made reservations for a family room. We would be staying in the old part of the city inside the mote where there are many places to stay and lots of vegetarian restaurants and markets all within walking distance.  Which is what we needed being without transportation.  Unfortunately when Marilee called to confirm our reservation, we were told there was a problem and we would have to have 2 rooms instead of the one room we had reserved.  When we went to check in sure enough the family rooms were not available so they gave us 2 rooms next to each other for the same price.  Another blessing of many!

We unloaded our stuff from M & M's car and started to settle in.  Not completely on our own, as we could call M & M or Maria or the Adams as needed, but we weren't around any of them now.  What an adventure! To bad Miles was still not feeling well.  But at least we had a place for him to sleep comfortably.  We had only 2 days to get everything done on our list of things to do before we headed back to Sunshine Orchard with M & M on Thursday morning.  We would have to learn how to get around with public transportation and how to communicate in a productive way.  How very reassuring to know we may not have human beings with us now, but we certainly had a ever present and loving heavenly Father leading, guiding and caring for us every step of the way.  We are so thankful!

Heading North

Sunday was the day we headed north, going up to where the Adams and the school are and drop off some items before heading on up to Chiang Mai to take care of some medical issues that need to be done for us and some meetings for Mike & Marilee. It gave us a couple more days to more completely recover from jet lag before we are full time at the school, plus more time with M & M to learn more words, customs and culture of our new home.

We loaded the car, had worship, ate breakfast and headed out. Several stops needed to be made by M & M, but by 9:30am we were headed north on the Asiatic Hwy, destination: Sunshine Orchard. How interesting it was to see the Central Valley of Thailand with all of its agriculture. We passed by all stages of the rice farming process: watching the field be prepped for planting to watching the seeds being broadcasted for another crop of rice,  we saw the harvest to processing the harvest and storage. The bright green planted fields are so pretty to see at all stages of growth. We also saw fields of corn, tomatoes, tobacco, cassava, pumpkin (which we would call winter squash), luffa sponge or bitter gourd, mountain rice and greens of some kind, not all in the Central Valley necessarily. All along the hwy were periodic groups of little bamboo shelters where a family would be selling mainly one item such as: roasted corn, jicama, baskets, sugar cane, mangoes, pineapple, guava, bananas, ant larva (anyone hungry?), hammocks, big steel bowls, etc. The interesting thing is that if you find a shelter selling roasted corn, for instances, all the roasted corn will be found in that same short section of hwy. All lumped together. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of one to show.  

We stopped at several little shelters on our way up to get lunch items: roasted corn, jicama, jack fruit and sugar cane, yum! Because of our various stops it took us longer than anticipated to go from Ayutthaya to Sunshine Orchard Children's Home and Learning Center. Instead of the 7 hours we had been told we managed to lengthen it to 10 1/2 hours. We stopped to eat our lunch at a pleasant little rest area, which is quite unusual, with grass, flowers, a bathroom with western toilets and toilet paper, which added to our travel time! Toilet paper is a rare commodity in this part of the world so is greatly prized and appreciated when found with a toilet. Typically, you must carry toilet paper or tissues with you if you want to have them to use.

As we neared our destination we came to what appeared to be a village snuggled between the road we were traveling on to the mountains which ran parallel to our road about 500 yards West.  But "this little village", went on and on and on. Mike pointed out that this was probably one of the refugee camps. Sure enough, it all made sense now. A VERY large refugee camp.  Amazingly sad.  

It was dark by now but we finally arrived at Maesolit, the little village not far from the orphanage and school.  Marilee was the only one in our group who had been there before so she was on high alert to help direct us to the correct place. As she was watching, looking, she looked over in a parking area and saw a truck, she thought was the schools truck!  Mike called the Adams and got Paul's phone and guess what, it was his truck! It all seemed amazing to me.  Soon there was Paul, giving us instructions on best places to stay (there is no guest accommodations at the school and the hut our family will be living in is being "remodeled", (they are adding a door and not sure what else. The Karen people do not have doors on their huts giving an "open door" way of living).  

We finally found a guest house where we all settled into for the night.  We found out in the morning that this guest house was owned and run by some Christian Thai's.  We were happy to support others working for the harvest of souls.  In the morning we would get our first glimpse of our new home! We could hardly wait!

Our First Complete Day

How could it get any better than to have the first full 24 hour day in our new country be Sabbath?! After a good, very sweet night of rest, (it is so wonderful to have bedtime and rest, horizontally after over 24 hours in mostly a sitting position!  Even Davis, the one who states, "I'm not tired", most of the time, responded to the question during worship of "something that we were thankful for", said, "For rest")!   After personal worships, family worship and a breakfast with Rose Apples, papaya, fresh pineapple and mangosteens, we headed for church about 30 minutes away.

The church here in Ayutthaya, is located on an island, in a business section.  The sanctuary is upstairs and the area where they have fellowship meals is downstairs in the Buddist Study Center office.  It is small but cozy with air-conditioning! Scott Griswold translating during Sabbath School and one of the young pastors translated during the sermon time.  For the sermon we along with the Knecht family were asked to share in about 15 minutes each, "How God has Lead to Bring Us to Thailand".  Afterwards they gave baptismal certificates to the two women that were baptized on Christmas.  The team was so excited to see this fruit of their labors and God's tender wooing.  There were many tears.

I counted how many people were present: 15 Asians (Thai, Filippinos, and East Indians), and 18 Farongs or Americans. One of the Pastor wives who was SS Superintendent, while welcoming said (per translating), they were excited to have all the foreigners so they could have foreigner food during the fellowship meal!  That was a different thought for my mind!

We ate a very fun, a bit spicy, delicious vegetarian meal. Visiting with the various people while we ate.  After lunch Scott was taking anyone who wanted to go to pass out tracts. So our children along with all the children and various adults headed out, but before they left, Scott came back in to make an announcement.  Unknown to us, the church group had taken up a collection of money to give to us to send us off on our mission.  How amazing, here in the mission field where money is tight, they took up a collection for us to help with the mission work we were going to be doing.  Several times during this preparing time, we have been given money from missionaries.  They are the ones that truly understand the need for more laborers in the field to help with the harvest. Tears were present as all this went through my mind on their sweet and generous gift!

My ankles have been having a hard time with the long time sitting with them dependent (hanging down) and not being able to walk as I need to, they have been swelling.  So M & M, along with Miew, Laren and myself took our tracts and headed to a beautiful park where we could walk and pass our tracts out.  It was so pleasant!  What beautiful trees, flowers, birds and bridges.  It was near old temple ruins, large ruins. We saw elephants giving people rides (for a fee of course), small ponies pulling people in carriages, several medium - small Water Monitor lizards and one larger one and people we could share our tracts with. Laren and Marilee were enjoying everything that reminded them of Africa and reminiscing. What fun it was to see them together enjoying their sibling relationship.

After both groups finished we made a plan to met at the elephant corrals.  There were lots of babies and the two smallest were 2 and 3 months old!  So cute!  One ran all around us, rubbing up against us to be petted, checking us out with his trunk, exploring everything around him.  It made you want to just be able to take him home!!  We got to go down to the river and watch several elephants taking their baths, obeying very well their trainers commands!  We would like to go again sometime on a weekday so we could ride one.  Don't know if that will happen since we head north Sunday a.m.  There was a couple there with their baby boy, around 9 months, taking pictures, riding the elephant, enjoying it all.  Scott began a conversation with them and found out the Thai man's father was a Christian and lives in Ayutthaya.  So Scott wanted to met him.  Thai Christians are rare with their culture so intwined with Buddism.  We found out later that the young Thai mans wife, who was American was Mormon.  She and her husband live in Utah.  Her brother who is also Mormon and lives in Utah had some health issues and ended up going to Weimar for the Life Style program. He is now very interested in the health message and what Seventh-day Adventists believe. What a Divine appointment! All while watching and enjoying God's large creatures, the elephants!

M & M had a Bible study to go to after the elephant corral and then a funeral.  So we transferred over with the Griswolds and Knechts and headed to the Griswolds for an evening of games and fellowships which had been planned on Friday. After worship we began the various activities the Griswold children (and parents), and planned for us.  What a fun time we had as families being together, enjoying our children's joy and all of our deepening friendships.  We played, we ate, we visited, we laughed, we grew closer, but the time came when we needed to leave as we still are working on the jet lag issue and it was time to go to bed. Now it was time to say good-bye as we would leave early Sunday morning.  What a special Sabbath and day in every way!  Wouldn't you say is was a great day for an anniversary?  Laren and I  met on an island as student missionaries and here we were 22 years later, celebrating again on an island, in the mission field.  A very special first 24 hour day!

Thailand!

After we landed in Bangkok, being nearer to the front on this flight than any of the others, we were able to get out quite quickly and headed to immigration, luggage pick-up and finally customs. Made it through all the check points at the airport after picking up our mass of luggage. Did you notice that small word - all? What a blessing it was that it all arrived with us, not one piece missing, we were so thankful. So we headed down with 4 carts of luggage and started watching for Mike & Marilee, (Laren's sister and her husband who have been living and working here for 4 1/2 years now, but in a different part of Thailand than which we will be working in).  We were all lined up following Laren as he lead the way. Then up ahead there was Mike waving his hand above the many people's heads.  What a thrill went through our tired bodies to see someone we had been anxious to see, someone we loved, family.  Then all of a sudden both Miles and I (we were pushing the last 2 carts), didn't know where Mike, Laren or Lexi went.  It was as if they just disappeared.  Then we spotted Mike again coming back towards us from a door that lead outside.  All at once we were all together, Mike, Marilee and our family out in front of the airport in the 86 degree F, humid air.  We gathered around and had a thanksgiving prayer of our safe arrival. The car was loaded with our many pieces of luggage, and 7 bodies and prayed again that God would give us a safe 1 1/2 hour journey by car to M & M's home in Ayutthaya.  We visited and shared all the way home as we watched out the windows at our new and fascinating home, Thailand.

What fun it was on Friday, to go with M & M to various places such as the local stores to pick up a few items we needed. Driving on the "wrong" side of the road, seeing the beautiful different birds and rice fields, the people, the way the people live, the various smells, etc, etc.  The only thing that could have made it better would have been not being in the middle of our bodies time zone switch over! But keeping busy and interested in our surroundings and fellowship definitely helped.

For lunch on Friday it was fellowship meal to meet the Griswolds, Knechts and Lundquists.  Miew stayed home (she is part of the Buddist Study Center Team who lives with M & M and has been a huge blessing to them in every way imaginable.  A delightful person that radiates Jesus in everything she does.), in the morning while we went to town to make all kinds of delicious food which was taken for lunch. Instead of eating right away, everyone was so busy talking, getting reacquainted or acquainted for the first time that it took awhile to start the meal.  Laren and Marilee while youth had gone to the same church with Greg and Sue Lundquist, in Tacoma, Washington. In fact, they reminded Laren that he painted their house one summer while he was earning money for college.  After eating, the eight children, ranging from 7 - 18 years began playing games and soon several fathers along with Miew was involved.  No one wanted to quit, but it was Friday afternoon with baths and things to get done, besides wanting to get to bed on time for us and the Knechts as we had both just arrived Friday Morning and jet lag without question was present!

The sense of connectedness, closeness and same purpose was very present in that initial meeting among the missionary families.  It was such so special to our family.  Everyone of our children had a age appropriate friend who they felt bonded to almost immediately.  Lexi had 3 girls besides herself who were instant friends.  Now of course we will not be near any of these people while we are up north, but we will be near them in all prayer and a common purpose.  This was such a powerful way to start our time here in Thailand. It made our hearts sing.  Another gift from our loving, caring heavenly Father.

How good it was to fall asleep that night not only because of our very tired bodies, but because we were finally here in Thailand, we were among family; both literally and spiritually. Our hearts were comforted and at peace.  Our time here will fly by, we know.  Everything experienced is precious in the whole skeim of things, in our mission trip experience.  Their will be a lot of adjustments, especially when we get to the school/orphanage, but we will adjust in God's strength and continue to trust Him to lead.

Extreme Journey

Every time I get to travel to other countries my heart rejoices with the excitement of the adventure, the learning and experiencing all the "new" that goes along with it.  This trip was no exception, if anything it was intensified as this was not just a week or two long trip for the joy of travel, but a several month long trip with the opportunity to be of service and make a difference for others!  We continually thank God for this gift. The gift of serving.

So back to the next part of our journey.  We were awakened by the ringing of the alarm 3:45am PST starting our very l-o-n-g day.  On our way down the elevator to get on the shuttle provided by the hotel; Fellow Traveler #1: a young man got on from floor 2, and we began to talk.  We found out he was from MN on his way to FL.  Then he asked us where we were headed.  Laren told him Los Angels, as that was our next lay over.  But as the conversation continued, Laren shared our destination was Thailand and shared we were going to work in an orphanage/school there.  Wow, he was excited!  He started sharing all about the ministry he was involved in in Brazil, what they did, etc, etc.  Then he would ask more questions about our ministry, our calling, more details.  We were hoping to take the shuttle together as that was why he was headed down also, but we had so much luggage that only one other group of three besides ourselves were on that first shuttle of airport directed people.  He didn't look like us, with his bandaned head, 2 large studded ears, etc., but he was on fire for doing God's work. What do we look like to people? Wonder what people think of us when they see us?

After standing in a very SLOW moving line, we finally got all our checked luggage on its way, all 10 pieces, and without a single one being over weight!  What an answer to prayer!   Now moving swiftly to the security check line, long line, but moving.  Off came our sandals (we left all our enclosed shoes home knowing we would not need them, wearing only usable shoes/clothes that we would wear while gone), jackets, carry-ons on the table, pocket items out and through the metal detector we each went.  Whoops, we hadn't taken out our little zip locked bags of toiletry items or computer out and laid them out where they could be easily seen.  So 2 TSA workers went through 2 of our bags with Miles and I as observers while they pulled out what they needed to see and ran it through the scanner again.  We were gently scolded and made to promise we would never do that again and we gathered up all our items and raced to our gate.  One of the last ones on the plane, but PTL we made it.

We had to complete this same process at the next 2 lay overs but those times we did them properly without any problems. Not one of us was asked to be scanned or patted down (which is what we would have requested if asked to be checked) during our whole trip!! We had been praying very specifically about this very thing, and God heard our prayers.  We were very grateful!

From Seattle to LAX Laren sat in between 2 fellow fliers that were not family; Fellow Traveler #2; the women sitting on the isle to Laren's right was a friendly person.  Again all the general information shared; where we each were from, going to where, why, etc. Laren shared about Rev 13, and the times we are living in, etc.  It was good, she was listening and open.  We only wish we had brought material with us to share, to give them a way to easily contact someone or ourselves for that matter.  But we hadn't thought that far ahead and were found unprepared.  How sad!

Fellow Traveler #3; was a very friendly very sweet Chinese man on his way to Hong Kong where he works part of the time, between there and Los Angeles.  Laren visited with him for quite awhile.  Not as long as the other man wanted, but Laren doesn't want to pry and has not trained himself to ask questions and be interested in others on a deeper level.  He tries and I'm sure he will improve as he listens to God lead in a deeper way.  There was an insident that happened on that part of our trip where an older woman LOUDLY accused a young father that he elbowed her in the eye while they were standing at the bathroom.  It was ongoing situation the rest of the way to seoul, with a steward and what appeared to be a captain talking with both parties, giving the old lady medicine for her eye, and finally taking both parties and their husband and family for talking.  This lady shouted how old she was (78 y/o) and how she had never flown Korean Air before and how she neer would again, and besides that she was going to sue if things weren't made right.  Wanting her rights. Did it even happen?  If it did was it on purpose or an accident?  We don't know.  The older lady sat in the row in front of us so we heard everything that went on, after the "supposed or actual" incident happened.  The man next to us, along with all of us watched.  It was rather sad whether true or not.  Many hurting people in this old world.

While we were on our lay over in Seoul, we were getting pretty tired.  Davis, our 10 year old was so excited about flying and the whole traveling experience, as were Lexi and Miles, but Davis was more verbal about it.  But by the time we got to Seoul, Davis had decided that he didn't like flying so much now. The 13 hour flight from LAX to Seoul had cured him of that.  We knew that all he needed was some sleep and the world, including flying would look a lot better.  We all slept some on the last leg of the journey.  Although, airline seats are not the most conducive to good rest.  But it sure was a lot easier and safer than taking a boat like so many faithful missionaries of many faiths had done years ago.  We have much to be thankful for!

While we were on the long flight from LAX to Seoul, we were being watched quite closely by a woman; Fellow Traveler #4: who was sitting behind and across from me.  As our flight was nearing it's end, she got my attention and started asking questions.  Where were we going?  What were we going to be doing?  How long were we staying?  We were Christians weren't we?  Was this a mission trip?  What denomination were we?  I told her we were Seventh-day Adventists.  "I thought so, I thought so, I could tell when you were vegetarians and wouldn't eat meat."  She and her husband, both oriental, along with a team were on their way to a Myanmar to hold a crusade.  They were from LA.

Extremes, all kinds were part of our trip.  Cold (-5 degrees C in Korea) with heat, (to 89 degrees F in Bangkok); kind people to harsh ones, excitement to discouragement, energy to exhaustion, being clean to feeling grimy, and many more. We know we ourselves will experience many extremes.  Like Elijah, who had a mountain top experience and then feel into deep despair, we need to hold tight to God and let him bring us to the letting go of self so he can create new creatures in Him and have our characters ready for His soon return.  Lord, please change our hearts, and while doing that in us, keep us safe under your wing!

We did safely arrive in Thailand and have seen and experienced a lot already.  But more on that in my next blog.

Second Leg of the Journey

Everything fit together like a puzzle: enough suitcases, (after going to Yakima yesterday and getting another large one to put in all the last of the odds and ends of ours, Adams and Kiers), all the suitcases are under #50, we have extra food for the meals on the domestic flight during which we won't have food served to us, surprises for the orphans that various people have donated, all 5 of us are healthy and now we are in Seattle waiting for our flight early in the a.m.  We originally were not going to come over the night before to save money, but; 1) It is supposed to snow on the pass tonight, 2) Dad Stafford has 4 new evaluations to do tomorrow plus his 5th visits, (making a long day for him at work) and 3) Now we will get more sleep before we start our long travel time.  Laren's parents helped us unload, had final pictures and we all got on our knees around the bed and prayed.  It is such a wonderful way to start a trip, in prayer with loved ones.  Then they left taking our truck back home with them.  This gives them a better nights sleep also, (although as I type this they are still on their way home).  So it will be better for everyone this way.

It is so exciting to see all the planning and preparing coming to the actuality of going.  I know the trip is not over yet, but I can't help but think about all the various things we will be able to be part of.  What ways  will we be able to make a difference?  Wondering all the lessons that God will teach us and we will learn. Will we learn them gratefully or kicking and screaming?  What difference will we make at Sunshine Orchard?  How will it change us?  How will it change our future?  Questions, wonderings and much, much prayer!

None of our children remember flying on commercial airplanes, although all of them have at one time or another. It will be lots of fun doing this as a family and watching the wonder of our children's faces as they experience each and every step of this adventure together.  We are praying that God will instill a desire to serve in each of our children's hearts whether overseas or at home.  Thank you for praying that with us.

A New Year To Live

What a wonderful privilege to live to see another year begin! Thank you, Lord, for all your bountiful blessings and safety as you lead us day by day!

We had a blessed Sabbath day.  We were with family, got to see and hug many friends from our former "Ellensburg days", which was so much fun.  The sermon we were part of was so powerful and such a blessing. I wish everyone could have had an opportunity to hear it.  It was on the story of Mary Magdalene and was titled, "The Once Were But Are No More". The bottom line, (after a lot of thought provoking teaching), was: "The church that doesn't love creates in droves "The Once Were But Are No More".  But, the church that loves can bring them back.   Just as Jesus loved.  As Christians that is what we are to do.  Love as Jesus loved, not "anything goes", kind of love.  But love with a passion to draw them to Jesus and salvation.  Are you doing that?  Am I doing that?  We have to move past our fears, our hurts, our self to reach those who need love, those who need friends.  I have often needed to know I was loved, wanted, accepted just as I was with my imperfect self but felt very alone just as you probably have experienced sometime in your life. Have you ever felt unwanted, not good enough, not part of the group?  I have and it hurts, a lot.  I know there have been those in my world that were lonely, but I did not reach out to them.  What were my reasons?  What have yours been?  "Family Time" seems to be  an acceptable response, (reminds me of the Priest and Levite who passed the Samaritan in Jesus' parable): "to tired", "long week", "company", "already had plans", "house is untidy", "already invited others", "didn't prepare food", "getting together with friends", "they don't love the Lord like I do", etc.  Are you guilty of any of these? I'm not saying that there is no such thing as "Enoch Time" as that is very important.  I am not talking of the occasional time.  But what is our character in this matter?  So much to contemplate on.  A very good sermon.  Now how do I apply it and all the Bible verses into my life and now these next few months?

Will each one of us in my family love the people we are going to serve?  What about the ones that don't smell good, are dirty, are angry, we can't communicate with, laugh at our curly hair (they think curly hair is strange, I think mine is too), let their babies relive themselves anywhere without diapers, are spitting where ever they happen to be at the moment including in our house(!), have head lice, or how about the people the very ones who are trying to hurt the people group we are going to be working with, etc, etc, etc.  Jesus loves them all, everyone of them.  He even loves me when others do not.  He loves you ever so much even if you have been unkind to someone or not included them into your life or done terrible things! He loves every person he has ever created. He died for everyone of us so we could live with Him forever.

What will this New Year hold for each one of us?  We do not know.  All we can do is walk faithfully into it, reaching out to all those around us, loving them, hugging them, including them and trusting God to change our hearts as he needs to do so we can do the work He has given us to do to finish the work as he has instructed us in Matthew 28:18 - 20, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel, ...".  Even into our own churches with the people that are right there, OR the ones that are not coming anymore OR do not feel welcome or wanted OR that we do not like (is that possible as a Christian?).  This is also part of the "world", part of the commission we have been given.  An excellent sermon!