The Crazy Lawson Tribe

Guys….

Is this all really possible? Have I really been out of the military for 4 months already? Are we really in Thailand? This morning I woke up feeling slightly overwhelmed because I wanted so much to go surprise my pregnant wife with some Chick-N-Mini’s from Chick-fil-a, but it’s impossible here! We’ve eaten all the Thai food that we can stand right now, and we only know a couple of people that we can actually have an english conversation with.

In the midst of all these emotions, we have to remind ourselves that our joy, fulfillment and purpose isn’t found in our food. God’s love for us is so intimate. He is concerned with even the small details of our life that we allow to impact us. I woke up to an email from a pastor saying that they want to come behind us and support us, and as I began typing I just started crying because I was so overwhelmed by the love of our Daddy in heaven and his church.

This would all be impossible without you! If it wasn’t for you guys, then our faithfulness to answer God’s call would look so much different. Because of your generosity, we are able to have a nice house with running water, electricity, internet, and safety. Because of your generosity, we are able to purchase a nice van that our entire family can fit into. Because of your generosity, our family is well fed, and we can eat three meals a day without worrying about whether or not we’ll have enough for the next meal. Because of your love, we are on the other side of the world, yet we don’t feel alone. We hear your prayers, and the presence of God is so tangible in everything that we do and everywhere that we go. You are all with us everywhere that we go in the memories that we share together, and the things we’ve been through that have knit our lives together. We feel so privileged to be the sent ones, and we just want to make it clear to you that what we are doing here in Thailand is no more special or impressive than what you guys are doing back in America. We are so honored and excited to take part in the fulfillment of the Great Commission with the church all over the world. We know that many of you are giving sacrificially in order for us to be here. We can’t say thank you enough, and we love you guys. You are storing up for yourselves treasures in heaven far greater than anything this world could ever offer you. I want to share a story that you guys have made possible by sending and keeping us here.

When we arrived in Thailand, we had no vehicle for the first month, so every day I would walk to the grocery store and get as many groceries as I could stand to carry back with me to the house. In our neighborhood, there is a guard who stands at the gate. Each day I would see the same guard. I noticed that he could actually say some basic English phrases like, “Hello” and “How are you?”, so I every time I came through I would practice my basic Thai and he would practice his basic English. One day, when it was 107 degrees out, I thought he might like an iced tea, so I picked him one up from the store and brought it to him. He was so blessed, and it reminded me of the hot days that I stood on the gate at the base in Pensacola. The next week I came through and I brought him some fresh fruit. I continued to do this at least once a week to bless him. Our conversations started to lengthen, and he became very interested in why I would be so kind to him. One night I came through, and I decided to share my testimony with him as well as I could in Thai. He was so touched by it that he began to cry. He told me that this was a good thing, and that we were now friends. He wanted to hear more stories like this! I memorized the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery and then went back to tell him the story the next week. He wanted to hear more! I then shared my own personal stories and included more biblical stories such as Jesus raising the young boy from the dead. After sharing these testimonies with him, I got a word of knowledge from the Lord that his back was in pain and that God wanted to heal him. I prayed for him, and God totally healed his back! Jesus is amazing! The guard said that he wanted to hear more of these stories and learn more.  This last week I brought him a Bible to read. In the next few days I plan on teaching him more stories.

This is only 1 of about 50 stories I want to share with you guys! God is at work all over the world, and He is longing that we would just encounter the people right in front of and all around us for His glory.

We love you!