In Thailand... Finally

Got into Thailand yesterday. Kristen said she was going to tackle me but she didn't get the chance. Here are some prayer requests for us and for me.

1. This is my main request. Please be praying about this. I have some BIG decisions coming up with respect to what extracurricular stuff I will be doing. I would LOVE to make the school soccer team (which is a VERY good team) but that would be a very big time commitment. I would travel to Taiwan for fall break and probably to Bangkok and other places as well. I would also LOVE to help lead worship at our school. That's not as big a time commitment, but soccer and worship will probably conflict time wise. I am also going to be doing a Bible study for a younger grade of students. There's so many other opportunities as well, and I want to do them all!!! Please pray that God would give me guidance and that I would be satisfied with whatever He puts before me.

2. Be praying for material needs that we have. Our big van is broken, we have a leak in our sink, two of our laptops are having power/battery issues, and other stuff like that. That stuff can be a pain sometimes. Please pray that these issues will get resolved.

Thanks for praying. 

Almost through with India.

Update from India: So many things going through my head right now. Let me sort through them.

1. Had a great time in India with Don Helton, Jessica Ashley, Valerie Tori, Debra Bartemus, Holly Johnson, Meredith Branks, Joe Bennett, and DeForest Williamson. Got to know all 8 really well. I especially had a good time with Joe, as we roomed together and lots of good moments. It was a great way to end my time with College Park Church friends.

2. Even though I had gone to India before, this trip offered a lot of new aspects and challenges. I had trouble not being with my family, and felt like that was Satan's way of trying to attack me before I landed in Thailand. I learned a new level of dependence in God there. My prayer life also took a big boost. I'm so thankful to God for everything right now.

3. It was fun to visit several schools in India as well as taking a trip to the foothills of the Himalayas. I spend a total of 55 hours in the last two weeks being transported to different places. The Taj Mahal was awesome. I will post pictures soon.

4. Right now I am staying with friends of ours from Thailand who live in India. I will be flying with them to Thailand on Monday. Pray that I can use this time of rest well.

5. "Jesus, You have me completely. Every breath that I breathe, I am absolutely in love. Jesus, I am yours forever. All of me surrenders. I am absolutely in love with YOU." - Starfield "Absolutely

2 WEEKS

TWO WEEKS LEFT. AAHHHH!!!!

Thoughts with 2 and a half weeks to go

So I've only got a 2.5 weeks left before I leave for India and on to Thailand. :(

Here are some thoughts about what God is teaching me and what I am feeling emotionally:

- I keep telling people that while I'm in America, I want to be in America. But once it's time to go to Thailand, I'll be ready. God has given me a peace about the whole thing. I think that God will get my heart ready by the time I leave.

- 2.5 weeks is NOT enough time to spend with my friends. I wish I had more time, but I'm ok. Pray that I can use the time for God's glory and maximize it.

- Pray for my sister as it is the hardest for her to leave.

God's not done with my soccer team

I thought that my soccer ministry was basically done. APPARENTLY, GOD ISN'T JUST DONE YET. Chris sent a message to the entire team saying that he is suddenly really into Chris Tomlin music and wants to have the guys join him to worship God at a Tomlin concert in November. I WAS SO EXCITED. Although I won't be here for it, I told him that I was so glad that he wants to do this. Also, I was able to recommend some other good Christian music for him to listen to.

Pray that I can maybe have lunch with him or hang out and talk about Christ with him.

An Awesome week downtown

Sorry it's been so long since I posted.

I had an amazing God-filled week this week on a mission trip with my youth group, the grOve. Me and 17 other students helped lead VBS/summer school at two different locations on the downtown eastside. It was an awesome week filled with fun moments, great kids, worship, laughter, and spiritual growth. I'll post pics later.

I was able to reach into the lives of a couple black boys who were really quiet all week. On Friday, I was able to play catch and do some board games with them, and they completely opened up. It was so cool to see them smile a ton on the last day.

I definitely felt like I had a lot of really good bonding time with my godly friends on the trip. Everyone was spiritually minded and we all got really close throughout the week. It was a great experience considering I have less than three weeks left now.

It's Over!

Well, what a great soccer season I had. This last weekend was probably the best tournament I've ever had. We won our first two games and went into our third needing a win to advance. The team we were playing was supposedly a lot better than us since they are two divisions higher than we are, but we ended up tying 0-0. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for us to advance, but our coach said that it was our best game of the season. Here are some notes:

- I was able to pray with the team before our final game, at halftime of our final game, and after our final game, since they all encouraged me to do it.

- We had a party after our last game, and that was my opportunity to say goodbye to the guys. They all signed a card that was given to me, and they all wanted hugs.

- Chris really wanted to stay in touch with me somehow while I'm in Thailand. Of all the people on my team, I felt like he changed the most during the season as far as his interest in spiritual things. Praise God!!!!

- Hopefully I will be able to play with these guys again next year when I get back in June, so hopefully I can play at least one tourney with them.

Please pray that I can keep in touch with these guys!

Last practice of the season this week

Had a great practice today and looking forward to the final practice of the year in a couple days.

- I showed up late and Liam said, "Oh, I was getting worried. I thought you had already left for Thailand and I didn't even get to say goodbye."

Final soccer games in 9 days

So we've got one tournament left, and that's next weekend. Pray that God does a mighty work in our practices and in that tourney.

PLEASE READ. GOD IS WORKING IN SOCCER!

The soccer tournament this weekend was AMAZING. Where to start????

- We lost all three games (and I scored a goal)

Now for the important stuff:

- Before our first game all the guys were talking about the Rapture as God was supposedly supposed to come back that night. I got to share with the guys later at dinner about what the Bible says about it, including that He will come back like a thief in the night, that no one will know when He will return, and that we need to be READY. One guy, Bryce, said that he doesn't go to church but reads the Bible on his own, so he knew some verses from the Bible at the Second Coming, which was really encouraging. Liam also seemed very interested in our conversation.

- When we ate as a team at Olive Garden, 13 of the players (including me) were all sitting at one table. When we got our salad and bread sticks, I stood up and prayed for dinner. Then, when the main dishes came, they all asked me to PRAY AGAIN for dinner.

- That night I was talking with Almamy (who was rooming with my dad and I) and Nick. Somehow the conversation switched to dating etc. I said, "Hey, guess what my goal is? I'm not going to kiss a girl until I get married." They looked at my like I was going mad. They said "You're crazy! Why not?" I explained to them what the Bible says about sexual purity and about how every time you kiss a girl or do something like that, you are giving a part of your away, leaving less for you to give to your wife when you get married. I also explained that it's like having a hundred dollars, and every time you kiss, hold hands, hug, you are giving your money away. How much are you going to have left on your wedding day to give to that special someone? Then the conversation switched to homeschool... (Please read the end of this AMAZING STORY at http://give-god-glory.blogspot.com/p/amazing-soccer-post.html)

Soccer Tourney near Chicago

I will be with my team this weekend in Lowell, IN for a tournament. Be praying, because I will have a lot of time with the guys, including Almamy, who will be rooming with my dad and I. I am bringing my guitar and we will be hosting a church service for the team and family. Please Pray!!!

Another Cool Soccer story

So one of my teammates hosted a party for my soccer team on Friday, and although I wanted to go, I wondered  how I would fit in, since all the other guys were mostly non-Christians. My family has strict rules on movies, so I wasn't sure whether I would be able to watch what they had to offer. Thankfully, the party was very fun and I was still able to show my faith. One funny moment was when there was a GIGANTIC bee in our screen room and I wanted to kill it really bad. My teammate Will said, "Whoa, look at Evan. He wants to kill that thing really bad. Hey Evan, aren't you a Christian and not supposed to kill other animals?" We all laughed. Will said all of that in a really friendly way, so he wasn't trying to make fun of me.

When it was movie time, they picked a movie that I hadn't heard of before, so I called my mom and asked if I could watch it. She immediately recognized the movie and said I couldn't watch it for any reason. So I called my dad and had him come pick me up. I told the guys that I had to leave, and when they asked, I told them why. None of them made fun of me, but they all said they were sorry I couldn't watch. When it was time to leave, four or five of the guys wanted to give me a hug.

In short, my teammates know that I don't compromise in my Christian walk, and they respect it. God is working in their hearts!!!!

Keep Prayin'

Continue to pray for my soccer team. We are really bonding as teammates, and it is getting easier to talk to them. Pray that God would open a door!

Happy Mothers Day

Moms are awesome... a gift from God.

The Gospel on a soccer ball!!!!!!!!!

This is Awesome. http://www.frontlineint.org/home.htm

Be Praying...

For my soccer team and their salvation.

By the Way....

This blog will be my main way of communicating with people while I am in Thailand. You all will get updates of how things are going (more frequently than now) and what God is doing.

I want to make sure and stay connected with you all, so make sure you check often when I am in Thailand.

Keep praying for us!!!

Pray for my Soccer Team

Pray for my witness to my soccer team. I am trying to reach out to them with the love of Christ in my last season before leaving. My coach is a Christian and lets me pray with the team before games and practices. Out of 18 players, there is only one other player who is a christian. PLEASE BE IN PRAYER! I can't do this on my own, but with God, all things are possible.

Check this out

How to have a HORRIBLE short term missions experience.
http://give-god-glory.blogspot.com/p/random-and-awesome-stuff.html

God is working through the internet

Global Media Outreach is an organization that helps people surfing the internet to find answers about God, Jesus, heaven, death, etc. Everyday, tens of thousands of people visit their sites, and many people accept Christ through the internet.

My dad and I are involved in discipling people who become Christians and ask for follow-up. We have now helped 500 people over the span of a year and a half. 
On Good Friday and Easter, over 1 million people visited GMO's sites each day and over 100,000 accepted Christ as their savior.


WOW! God is working.