For us it seems like a lifetime. Well, it actually kind of has been; the preparation for us stepping out in faith to bring the gospel to the ends of earth has been God taking us through things that have happened in our lives. The moment we said “yes” to God, or “send me, I’ll go”, actually happened around this time two years ago. It feels like each step has been laid before us, and, following God, we have accomplished each milestone to get us to the mission field. Somehow those two years have seemed like an eternity, yet have passed quickly before our very eyes. We are just a few short months from our estimated date of departure, and we feel the pangs of excitement to actually go and nervousness because we still have quite a few loose ends to tie up.
It has been quite a busy season starting in April when my dad passed away unexpectedly and somehow it hasn’t slowed down! Chris had surgery on his shoulder from an old injury in mid October, so he’s in recovery mode (read “his every need is being catered to”). Really though, we are praising God for little to no pain post surgery and anticipate with expectation for a quick recovery! Chris’s surgery was quite a wrench in our plans, but as long as the recovery goes as anticipated, we are planning to move to Thailand in early February.
We are beginning to sell/give away our things, which has been freeing but challenging as well. Surprisingly some of the most silly, trivial things have been the most difficult. We have been blown away by the amount of support we have had, from commitments to pray, encouraging words and financial partnerships. God is so amazing in the way that He operates in His perfect timing. He is so faithful, and we’ve seen that proven over and over in our lives, especially as we are taking this big step out of our comfort zone.
We have several needs. We covet your prayers; we need people standing and believing with us and for us. It’s going to be a huge transition for us and our three little girls to be moving to a culture so different from our own. Communicating will be difficult, and life will be full of challenges, from going to the grocery store to assimilating to a new way of life. We know that with God all things are possible. We are trusting Him to supply our every need, physically and spiritually, to give us the grace we need for this new season we are embarking on.
Currently, we are 20% funded…we need to get that to 100% so we can get to Thailand and stay long enough to be effective. We want to see the lives of the Isaan people changed in the way God has so radically changed us! We want to bring the love, hope, salvation, and freedom that God offers to those who have never heard! Financial stability gives us the foundation we can stand on to really focus on our mission. There are so many areas you can give: airfare, start-up costs, passports/visas, ministry costs, language, or transportation, just to name a few!
Grateful can’t even begin to express how we feel! We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our brothers and sisters in Christ! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for loving God, for loving us, for believing in our call, supporting us, and for sewing into the Kingdom for the Thais!
Blessings
The Crazy Lawson Tribe 