Thursday, August 22, 2013

It's raining, It's pouring

Hello from Thailand! Sorry I have been delayed in an update, but the weather here has been raining non-stop and I have been unable to get much internet access. But we've got a break today so here I'm going to take advantage!
Thank you all for your prayers as I traveled, all went smoothly! The only problem was when I went through immigration in Bangkok and found out my visa was shorter than what I paid for, but hopefully we can work that out.
One big surprise when I arrived was to find that my Karen adopted father had built me and my friend Ashley (who will return in January) a new hut! This was a blessing to have my own space and place to put the surprising amount of stuff that I've acquired, but also a big expense that I had not planned for.
Like I said, it's been raining alot which makes travel difficult, so most days have been spent organizing and cleaning the house, as well as working on improving Chapoe's English as I try to improve my Karen. Pray that I have the determination and patience to finally learn how to read and write!
I am excited to say that I now have PO Box so if people are interested in sending letters of encouragement or supplies or anything it is now possible to do so. The address is:
Kelsey Elizabeth Erickson
PO Box 27
Tha Song Yang
Tak Province, Thailand
63150

Thank you so much to those who have responded to my plea for help on behalf of my friend Saw Arthur, president of the LMTC (Leadership College) in Mae La Refugee Camp! There is still a need for more supporters so if you would like to help please contact: lmtc_maela@hotmail.com

The Karen Women's Organization has recently talked to me about helping support an elementary Karen school in Burma. There are 60 children mainly under the age of 12 supervised by two Christian teachers, whom I have met. They currently have very little support but are excited for the opportunity to teach Karen and the Bible in Karen state. I will keep you posted as I have more information, but I am excited to meet the students and help in anyway I can!

I'm afraid my time is up but I will try to have more information for you soon! I ask you to continue to pray for me and the Karen! There is much to do and a lot of hope for the future. Pray that I can be a light of hope in the darkness as changes are forming in Burma.

God bless you my brothers and sisters,
Kelsey


Friday, August 2, 2013

Finally!!


Matthew 25:35-40 says:
'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

God has called us to give and to give generously, of not only our money, but our time and our love. I thank you for giving all this to me and more—not just this past year in Thailand, but for my entire life. You have encouraged me and disciplined me and been examples to me in faith and love and I can see how that training was part of God’s sovereign plan for me and for you to teach faith and love to the Karen people of Burma.

From the beginning, I have been asking God to give me a church that could really step up and stand beside me in this mission He brought me. A church that would stay updated and show interest as well as send support and be faithful in prayer; my prayer has been answered by you here in Lustre. I am constantly overwhelmed by the support you all have given me and I truly cannot thank you enough. May God forever bless you as you have blessed me and the Karen.
There are few things more exciting to me than talking to a Karen person who is hurting or in need and being able to tell them there are hundreds of people in America praying for them. It is so awesome for them to see that they are not in fact unknown, and their struggle is not forgotten. Isn’t it tremendous how we can unite as a family—even from across the world—when we pray?! As I sit and pray with a family in Thailand, as you sit with your family and pray in America, we come before God as one body and one family. We are all his children seeking his will and guidance. I hope that you will continue to uphold me and the Karen in prayer. Believe me when I say that it is impossible for me to go back without knowing there are warriors lifting us up in prayer on a regular basis.

The eight months I’ve spent on the Thai/Burma border have been fantastic. I told you last time I spoke here, how God had opened my heart from falling in love with the children’s home to falling in love with the whole people group. God has definitely been moving and creating opportunity for me to show love to people outside of the Children’s home.

I have always known that I cannot help everyone, but I have prayed and prayed that God would bring the people that he wants me to help to me. He has done all that and more. Whether it is single mothers who need a friend to talk to or food for their babies, or a family that needs prayer, or a child who needs a trip to the hospital, or a man who needs funds to visit his family, or an leader who needs meat to feed his men, God has allowed us to show his love to all of these. I now have a network of Karen leaders who know me and the heart God has given me for the Karen people. I am so blessed to have these people as my friends that are comfortable enough to ask for help when they need it. I have had meetings with leaders of youth organizations and with the president of the Christian leadership college in the refugee camp. We are looking forward to working together to raise young people to be leaders in faith, character and community.

One opportunity that I am really excited about is the planning of opening Karen schools in Karen state in Burma. Since 1965 when the military took over the government, it has been against the law for schools to teach any language other than Burmese and a poor amount of English. Furthermore, hill-tribe people have to pay a lot of money for their children to attend the Burmese school—more than most can afford. Because of this, many Karen people cannot read or write in their own language. Parents that saw the value of education and the value knowing your own language often sent one or two of their children to Thailand in hopes they would get accepted into a school across the border. It is difficult though. At just our children’s home alone, we would have to turn away dozens each year because of a lack of space and staff. I have already heard plans for three schools in Karen state ranging in age from kindergarten through college. Not only will this provide accessible, cheap and better education for Karen students, it will provide jobs for Karen people and opportunities for those who apply themselves. If valid school paperwork can be acquired by these schools, the students could be eligible for Burmese ID and then be able to go to a university in cities in Burma, find a job, or even apply for a passport. There is election in 2014 that will determine if these schools will be possible. Please keep them in your prayers and contact me if you are interested in helping fund them. 

The President of the Leadership College in Mae La Refugee camp has approached me asking for help with funds for this school year. Young people are realizing the importance of education and they have been able to accept 31 more students into their school. He has asked me to come before you and ask for your help for funds for food for the new students.
It costs about 17 USD to feed one student for a month; so about 517 USD a month to feed all 31 and 6200 USD to feed all the new students for the year. If you are interested in helping monthly or a one-time gift, please talk to me and I can give you information on how to send the money.
 
Being one of the few white people in the area has it's advantages in that everyone wants to be known by you. Because of this, I have gotten to know a lot of children in the area. Most of them are very poor and almost all come from Buddhist families. These children are desperate for love and I would have many frequent visitors to my house in the evenings after dinner time. Many of their parents have approached me about teaching English to their children. While teaching is not one of my strongest gifts, I am interested in going to these villages to teach English through the Bible and Bible songs. With the help of my boyfriend as a translator I think this could be a successful route of teaching the gospel to Karen children. 

As most of you know, yes, I have a boyfriend. Yes, he is Karen and yes, he can speak English. Another twist this return will have that's different from the rest is that I  will have to travel to Burma a few times to work on Visa stuff for him so he can come to America and we can get married. He is a wonderful man and I am honored to know him. I think that the love I feel for him helps me I understand God's love better and how God wants us to love him. I hope I can convey that to the Karen as Chapoe and I work together. He has spent this summer in Burma with his family as well as teaching English to the children in his village. Please keep us in your prayers as we deal with immigration and visa paperwork. Also, that his family, who are all Buddhist, open their hearts and minds to the truth of the gospel and Jesus Christ. I pray we will be able to visit them often and be an example of God's love to them. 

One of the most exciting things I look forward to returning to is to the young people of the area. Many of you who have read my blog have heard and prayed for students from NohBo Academy school. God has been showing up and doing work with students at this school. He has been touching the hearts of the youth to not only claim to be Christians, but to earnestly seek him and to dedicate their lives to serving Him. I am so excited to be able to visit them and talk to them and encouragement and sometimes explain things that they don't understand. They are getting a hunger for the Bible and I ask you please to keep these young people in your prayers that they can be a light in a dark place. I truly believe that the most effective way for the Karen to accept Jesus Christ is through another Karen person telling it to them. I can share the gospel and they will listen. But truth goes to a deeper level when it is coming from one of their own. Please pray that I will be able to share what Bible knowledge I have been blessed to know with these young Christians so they are ready and confidant enough to stand before their families and friends and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Leave a comment or email me at: erickson.kelsey@gmail.com

I am flying out of SeaTac on Monday morning so prayers would be much appreciated as I travel across the world alone! I will try to have an update soon after I arrive.

May God's stunning glory shine through me-- in my weakness.
God bless,
Kelsey