So much has happened in the last few weeks. Thanksgiving started out a little difficult for me. Carrie and I ate KFC with some friends. So I was really missing my family and quite honestly just feeling sorry for myself. Then a friend of ours from Chiang Mai invited us to go camping with them for the weekend. Well anyway we ended up getting up before dawn and packing seven people into the back of a truck and driving four hours to the top of a mountain. It was dark when we got there so we just built a fire and pitched our tents. My friends whole family ended up coming so there were like 20 people at our campsite. We had fun all night eating and lighting paper lanterns. (Oh and just so you know the top of this mountain was bitterly cold. Carrie and I were frozen all night. We were seriously waiting for it to start snowing. Who knew Thailand could be cold any where?) Anyway after spending a nearly sleepless night freezing we got up before dawn and watched the sun come up over the mountains. Carrie and I looked around and were amazed to discover that we were camping in the middle of a yellow ocean! As far as we could see in any direction the mountains were covered in brilliant canary colored flowers! It was beautiful.

Then we ate breakfast (grilled fish and bananas) with our fingers and went to the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen. It was breathtaking! Standing there in the midst of that loving and amazing family, taking in the splendor of God's creation; I realized that this was exactly where I was supposed to be. That God was providing everything I needed; even without me realizing I needed them. For the first time in a long time on Thanksgiving, my heart was truly thankful for the blessings of my God! He is truly good.

For something more recent. Last night a group from Australia came to visit our school. At first I was really excited about seeing some English speaking people, because Carrie has been in Bangkok all week. Any way, when they got here I spent most of the time translating and explaining things for my Thai and Chinese friends.
I actually had more fun hanging out with them than I did with the Australians. What was even more amazing was that when the Australians left most of the students didn't notice because we were all hanging out. That was such a blessing because it was still more proof that this is where I am supposed to be. I have been feeling a bit "out of place" and feeling like I wasn't really connecting to anyone, but this killed those thoughts.
I have really been missing my family (especially during this time of year) but God has surrounded me with people who love and care for me. I really am beginning to feel at home here and it is wonderful.

God has even given my task oriented side something amazing to do. I mentioned before that I was trying to raise money to buy some school supplies and toys for a poor school I work at; well the money is really coming in. I have gained $800.00 from just one source. I am so excited because the school is going to let me talk about the birth of Christ during an assembly due to the gifts. So be in prayer that the Spirit would move through me and God would open their hearts with understanding.

Till All Have Heard.

Kathy

Kathy Stienbarger

Wrote at 8:54am on November 13th, 2008

Well Gang,
Life is in the full swing here. Carrie and I are busy. We teach over 24 hours of classes a week, and have countless other extracurricular responsibilities. We are exhausted to say the least.
The children we are teaching literally have nothing. They go to our schools because their families cannot afford to buy clothes or even food. Not one has a pair of socks without holes or a shirt without patches and stains. Yet somehow they are the most joyous children I have ever met.
 This week Thailand celebrated Loi Gratong. It is a huge country wide festival where the people send giant paper lanterns into the sky and launch small boats covered in flowers and candles into the river. The people believe these acts take away the sins they have committed though out the past year. It truly is breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreakingly sad at the same time. As I stood and watched some of the lanterns come crashing back to the earth I was just overcome by the uselessness of it all.

If only they could see that only Christ can take away their sins, and that He does it once and for all. Every person has the desire to be set free from the burden they carry, but only Jesus can take it away. Please pray that I can be a good light to the true source of salvation and that these people would not be satisfied with paper lanterns and candles.

Till all have HEARD,

Kathy

Kathy Stienbarger

Wrote at 3:37am on October 31st, 2008

It was such an accurate picture of this Asian culture I find myself surrounded by. These people were willing to give up everything they had hoped and dreamed and strived for to do their duty, Yet none of them were satisfied. I guess that is just the American in me; wanting everyone to be happy by getting what they want. But isn't that what Jesus offers; yeah I know we make sacrifices to be with Him and to do what He wants, but in return He gives us the desires of our hearts and happiness and joy beyond measure. We do not follow our God out of duty or obligation but love and adoration. Please pray that I can accept this culture while at the same time effectively showing them the difference I have in Christ. It is so heartbreaking to see these people so sold out to something so… empty and unfulfilling. Pray that I would be a faithful example of one sold out because my heart is captured by the love of our Savior. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers.

Till all have heard,
Kathy