Were you praying?

         We have sensed the prayers of you, our partners as we traveled safely to Thailand Wednesday and Thursday. Were you praying-

• for protection, safety, and smooth connections? God answered you! On our flight from LA to Japan, we were not able to reserve seats online, but  God provided a gracious woman behind the counter who saw to it that we had front row seats for the longest leg of our trip.
• for quick adjustment to the 12 hour time difference? We've been sleeping well and spent a very active day yesterday getting oriented to our neighborhood.
• that God would bring many students to the new English school where we'll be working? In only its second month, we reached an enrollment of 50 students for this month's classes, which start on Tuesday.
• for unity among the staff? We had our first lunch together with the other staff yesterday. Pat, a multi-talented Thai woman and the visionary and driving force behind the opening of the school, shared with us about her family. She has a son Philip's age who was actually born just 11 days after Philip. He's also a drummer and is studying at IHOPU in Kansas City. Philip is working at TCJHOP, a house of prayer closely modeled on IHOP.  Pat and her husband also have a daughter one year younger than Christina, who's also an art major! She'll be studying at an art institute in Chicago beginning this year. 

        Here are Pat and the other staff members we met:

• Jessie, half Hungarian and half Thai, grew up at an International school, so she's a great choice to teach  Pre-English class.
• Kate, our school director, is from NE Wisconsin.  She's been such a gracious hostess and rented a comfortable, clean room for us just a five minute walk from the school. She'll move into it when we leave, since she lives an hour commute away right now.
• Nam is a very capable and dedicated secretary who's at the school whenever it's open.
• Boom is a sweet young Thai woman dedicated to helping all of us overcome any language barriers.  She wears many hats, including leader of the church plant.  She's an excellent Bible teacher.
• Cathy, my good friend from campus ministry at the U back in the 80's. We're so glad she invited us here!