extreme makeover: sisaket 2009

about a month ago, we first had the idea to gather people together to fix jin and pawn's parents' house upcountry (in sisaket). though we're planning to build a permanent, stable house in october 2010, we're getting a group of volunteers together this year as emergency relief so that in this coming year, they'll be safe and housed.

can i tell you, this has been one of the most exciting things that has been happening. it is amazing to see the amount of support and unity this is bringing to our slum church as well as from organizations and the wider church in bangkok.
our poor slum church members are eagerly donating their time, their construction know-how, their tools, their cooking abilities, their dry wall, a door here and there, it's been amazing to see how a church we've been hoping to see unified is coming together to help out the family of some of its members.
other orgs and churches are supporting via volunteers, capital, and publicity.

but i think my favorite thing has been seeing how people are growing as leaders. as strange as it may seem, this actually is adding to the excitement and momentum of our service and work in our own slum community in bangkok rather than pulling peoples' attention away. and it's been surprising to see how god is giving us the same heart in this. on thursday, our team met to discuss how this house building project could be a blessing to the sisaket community and to help grow our leaders and that later that night, pawn, unbeknownst to that conversation, said to us, "you know, i'm not even thinking about the house really. i want this to be a mission project to our village and how we can bless the people there. how can we do that?" and to think, pawn had just told me in july that she was feeling listless and wanted to take on less leadership and responsibilities.

go. love. build.
oct 7-14.