Fellowship group was such a time of fellowship, praise and worship and learning this time again.  Brian and Sheri Falls and family were able to join us from Chonburi so I enjoyed seeing them and learning more of their story.

Then, our team surprised us by blessing us with a couple days off during our last week here (Tues. afternoon until Thurs. afternoon, April 7-9).  They gave us money to go to Phi Phi Island, a place we planned to go to but didn`t know how or when.  They have the schedule planned so that just Jason and I can go and the kids will be taken care of.  They have a plan for the kids to go to school, play at the Ouellette`s in the afternoons, have a sleepover at Ouellette`s one night and then have Amber come to our house for a sleepover with our kids here one night.  The kids are so excited and Jason and I will so love some time just the two of us.  I haven`t been able to do nearly as much snorkelling as Jason so I`m looking forward to time with Jason doing that.  I will also enjoy a bit of time away from the kids to just have fun, pray, talk with Jason.  It will be a bit of time to process what happened here in Thailand and see what God will say to us as we consider our future.  The team members will also talk with the kids about their time here and about going back to Canada.  They are so thoughtful to think of us all.
 
Then Jason and I will be back for lunch and some time with Rob and Judy on Thurs. and then go to Klassen`s for fellowship group late afternoon.  There the team will bless us and pray for us as we go back to Canada.  Then on Fri. and Sat. we will pack up, move some stuff, tie up some loose ends, and as Greg said, "Knowing Jason, take one more trip to Nai Yang for some beach time and snorkelling." 

Our last feat to accomplish will be to get to the airport dry.  We leave on April 13, which is the official start of Songkran, the old Thai New Year and time of water purification.  They pour water over their hands and heads and backs to cleanse themselves of sin in the past.  They pour water on the Buddha statues for cleansing, etc. etc.  It has turned into a big nationwide water fight.  The number of deaths and injuries during those 3-7 days is just staggering.  But, they say Phuket is nearly deserted on the 12th already because so many people here come from Isaan and return there for those few days.  So, maybe we`ll get to the airport dry after all.
 
So our last day of teaching is April 7 morning, only 7 more teaching days!  That`s unreal and has gone entirely too fast for me.  I so wish I could stay here and I know I will leave a piece of my heart here.  Or maybe it`s that I`ll take a piece of Thailand home with me.  I absolutely love missions and feel so fulfilled doing God`s work.  Now I wonder what God will do in me or through me when I get home.  Where will he have me serve once back home?  How can I apply what I`ve learned to life back home?  How can I accept being home and not constantly wish I were back in Thailand?  Please pray for me on those issues.  The last one in particular is tough for me at this time.  I am now looking forward to going home but I so wish that I could turn around and come back.  I think it is still hard for me to say goodbye to Thailand, the people, and the team here. 
 
I know God will be with me in Manitoba as well as here but it`s still tough for me.  The focus is different back home.  I don`t want to become lukewarm in my faith back home.  I want to keep growing.  I will miss the team, the worship times, the prayer times, the accountability, the challenges to my faith and constant learning.  I guess I`ll have to trust God to speak to me.  It just seems harder for me to hear God on my own.  But, perhaps I`m stronger than I think and ready to start hearing God on my own rather than relying on others.  Or, maybe there is a group of people back home that will share what they are learning and therefore, also speak into my life and challenge me to think about other things as well.  

During Thursday`s fellowship group, Kevin shared some things he`d been learning and challenged me to think about things as well.  He said he had read "The Shack" and while he didn`t agree with everything, there was one line that caught his attention.  The Holy Spirit said, "Contrary to what you may believe, I love the unknown."  Kevin went on to share that we/I may want answers but without all the answers, it causes me to live in faith.  In heaven, we won`t live by faith anymore because we will be living by sight.  We will see God and we will be able to get answers to our questions.  So, this is the only chance I have to live by faith and God enjoys faith.  So, that has got me thinking and helps me be a bit to be more quiet in my spirit as I just wait and see what God will bring into my life.  I pray that I will see it and obey.  But, the challenge, as Kevin shared, is to get to the point of saying to God, "Show me if you must but otherwise, I`d like to wait and live by faith."  I think I still want to know but I`m trying to wait on God. 

Now, today, we had a sermon on the Resurrection Power, which also ties into living by faith.  Our text was from John 20:26-27.  I particularly liked verse 27 as I felt God was saying to me, "Reach out your hand and put it in Mine.  Stop doubting and believe."  Stop doubting and worrying what things will be like when you go back to Canada.  Quit doubting that you won`t be able to hear Me or have someone to share what you are learning in faith and learn from them as well.  Stop doubting that you`ll have times for worship.  It will be there, even though it is different and you don`t play guitar.  Stop doubting that your life will be different and you`ll slip back into the old way of life.  Know that I will walk with you and help you apply what you have learned and even more. 

But, back to the message...Thomas was not there when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.  He was frustrated over that and said he would not believe until he put his hands in Jesus hands and side.  Have you ever been frustrated that you`ve missed out on something?

So here we see Jesus appearing to the disciples and what is the first thing He does?  He administers peace.  Jesus died for Thomas, rose from the dead for Thomas and loves Thomas (and the same can be said for us).  So first Jesus gives his peace and then he deals with the problem.  The God of the universe has time for a personal problem.  Jesus is busy getting a church established and he takes time for a personal problem.

What is that problem?  Doubt, or in other words, lack of faith.  That is pretty serious because Thomas`s doubt is causing him to risk losing his eternal life and his doubt could lead to death.  You see, he was doubting the resurrection power.  He doubted that Jesus rose from the dead.  To doubt the resurrection means to doubt the salvation plan.  Everything in the kingdom of God takes faith and nothing happens without faith.  To doubt is to not have faith.

John 10:10 says that Jesus has come to give us life and to give us life to the full.  Is that the condition of our life?  Do we live life to the full?  Knowing that Jesus is alive changes our perspective on life.  God is powerful in every situation.  We can know and have life to the full because the power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive and active today-in us!  That is amazing to think that power is in us!  Are we claiming it?  Do we live like it?

John 11:25-26 says that Jesus is the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will never die.  Do we believe that?  Do we have faith?  Jesus questioned Mary about this very thing when Lazurus died before Jesus brought him back to life.  Jesus questioned Mary`s faith and Thomas` faith. 

Faith is born out of hearing the Word of God.  The truth will set us free.  We need to take our faith and act on it.  Take that step of faith or we`ll never see the truth in God`s word and his promises.  We`ll never see that resurrection power at work.  Philippians 4:13 says that all things are possible through Christ.

So what is our biggest personal problem?  Is it the bank balance or our relationships with friends or family or neighbors?  No, it is that one day we will die.  No one can contest that or deny that.  We all must die and only Jesus gives us the insurance that we need to get to heaven.  Only Jesus conquered death.  Sure, others were raised from the dead but they, too, died.  Jesus is the only one to have victory over death.  So, we need to have faith in Christ.  We serve a risen Savior! 

Getting back to Thomas, Jesus tells him in John 20:29, that Thomas beieves because he saw but blessed are those who have not seen Jesus and still believe.  Jesus has blessed us.  Bless the people around you and show them love.  Do you believe that Jesus is alive and His risen life has an impact on you and that He is here today?  Will you settle for anything less than the full life that Jesus offers us? 

This causes me to think about going back home and trusting God with the next step.  I don`t know what God will call me to next.  So, I go back to what I last knew-home and the farm.  From there I trust that God will direct my path and bring people and opportunities to me and I pray that I can see them and be faithful to what he teaches me and calls me to do.  I pray the same for all of you.