No turkey, no apple pie?! You don't need that to be thankful.

Today you'd think would be a hard day... You would think that I miss eating a huge turkey dinner, sitting around being with my whole family. But being sad on a day like this would be so selfish. In India I've seen poverty, I've seen people live in houses smaller than my dorm at college. How can I be sad on a day when God has blessed me with so much?!
Today I am so THANKFUL...
1. for the blessing of being half way across the world serving Christ.
2.  to be working in Khen Tombing's amazing ministry
3. for being here long enough to see more of the depth of the needs here and in the surrounding places.
4. to have a family here. Teachers, drummers, hostel students, church. They will always be family now.
5.  to have a church that is always supporting of me back home.
6.  that Covenant is so mission minded, globally and locally.
7. to help the Covenant team reach medical needs last week and be challenged so much by that team.
8. to wake up and get to teach 200+ little 5th and 6th graders all day.
9. that God has showed me so much throw this trip things that I need to fix about myself and things that He wants me to help fix about His hurting people.
10. for a God that looks at me and doesn't see my mistakes but loves me because of His own grace.
11. for a family that soooooooooooo radical, awesome, gnarly, sweet, cool, (insert every good adjective). They have been the ones letting me do this and loving me along the way. I love you.
12. for YOU my supporters and friends. I am thankful for being there along the way with me in this journey. My blog is at 4,000 views! How cool is that? You guys are awesome.

So to my family in Kentucky, my family and friends in Florida, and my new family in India, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! And thank you to all of you for being the reasons I can be so thankful.

Dedicating a church last week with the Covenant team.

One of my seven classes. Love 6B.

Find out how God is good and how I have fallen more in love with Lamka this week.

God was good this week and I would just like to tell you why.

God was good even during this crazy week
As you know I asked for prayer for the Covenant team that was coming to visit this week. They came as a vision trip to see how Covenant can help more in India, but also as a time to bring nurses to run a health camps in different villages. I’ll just summarize it.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the team did health camps in the villages. Thursday and Friday I tagged along to help out wherever, but Saturday I was too busy preparing for some drum stuff and exams next week for my students. Anyways, the days I did get to go the villages were incredible! Okay.. minus the 6 hours of driving on a bumpy road in the back of a car. But when we finally got to the villages they were beautiful. They were just past the village Tuivel I stayed in last month for a couple days, so they were very cool. The ladies did the program teaching about health and wellness, while us men got to tour the villages and talk to the other men from the village.


God was good because the unexpected He expected
The amazing thing is as we did these camps the people didn’t really seem to be there for the medicine or the speeches or the skits, these people wanted love. You might be thinking well…. Love doesn’t heal you from a sickness if they had one?! Well that’s where you are wrong; Jesus love is what these people needed. It could heal them from their broken identities and struggles they had. The team from Covenant wasn’t just trying to help the physical needs the villagers had, but the most important thing I think the team helped with was they DAILY shared Jesus love to people that needed that more than anyone. The Covenant women showed Jesus’ love by listening to the womens and childrens hurts and pains, while giving meaningful support. And the Covenant men gave Jesus’ love by talking to the village men and trying to find out what needs they had and why. God was doing much more than just meeting physical needs by this trip, He was meeting a need of love, that us from Covenant were more than happy to give since Christ has loved us so much! God knew what these people needed, He knew the unexpected. I am so glad I got to be there and be a part of it.

God was good because He blessed us this Sabbath
Today on Sunday was a day full of worship, worship, worship. Which is really how every Sabbath should be spent! We went to three church services throughout the day. The FIRST was Bethel church which is a church Covenant helped plant last year so it was nice to visit there and see how they had tripled in numbers! So awesome. SECOND we got to a Hindu area an hour from Lamka where Covenant just helped plant a church. We got to wear those awesome skirt outfits (Maite tribe cultural dress in the picture) which was really fun and an experience I’ll never forget! Christians couldn’t even go here a couple years ago and today we got to sit there and open a church right in the middle of this area. God is moving. THIRD we got to take the team back to Rayburn and they got to visit Khen’s main church. It was a great time of worship and sermons.

God is good because He gives us people that are blessings
This Sunday night at Rayburn was especially special for me though tonight. I got to do a little drum show for the Covenant team and Rayburn church (It’ll be on facebook soon!). The hostel boys and I all showed off our talents in a little drum medley which was one of the main highlights of the WHOLE TRIP! It wasn’t just special because the drum students played good, it’s because I got to see them enjoy themselves and finally get to play in front of people and really have fun together. It is so cool to know that I and they together worked hard and now they can call themselves “Drummers”. It is something I think they will be proud of for the rest of their lives. The smiles on their faces as the crowd roared with excitement took my breath away. Those boys are special kids.

God is good because He breaks barriers
This Sunday was such a special day I’ll never forget as long as I live. Not because I had to wear a skirt to church or a pink vest… but because I got to share my whole day worshiping the Lord morning till night. I got to pray and sing and play drums and praise with my brothers and sisters half way across the world! I was born in Florida in the USA so how does it make any sense that I can sit here in India and enjoy my day more than ever before?! Its only because I have a God that can give me the best most exciting, tiring, challenging, and crazy awesome week… and end it with a Sunday that is just beyond words. My God is good.

God is good because He gives us things to be thankful for
I want to thank those people that made this week so amazing.
1.Thank you Covenant team for letting me tag along and challenging me so much this week! You guys have been such a blessing to be around. You guys have really seen some things here that make me excited for Manipur's future and  solidified how much I love this place. You have really opened my eyes to some needs here but also agreed with lots of the reasons I love Lamka! God bless yall.
2. Thank you Indian brothers and sisters in Christ that may never read this but thank you for letting me take part in your worshiping today and for being so welcoming and loving.
3. Most importantly thank you to the big man… thank you God for giving me a day that I can worship with American and Indian brothers and sisters in three services. I thank you for a God that no matter the cultural or language barriers, you reign forever and are more powerful than anything. Thank you God.

God is good because He gave me YOU
You don’t know but everyone that is reading this has been such a blessing to me. The support and prayers are so very appreciated. You guys are rad.

God is good because He gave us photography
One other highlight of this week was getting to love on some kids in Suangdoh village. I was goofy with them and took like 1000000000 pictures.. Here are a few below.

Doing check ups

This girl was so precious.

That it the church we helped dedicate behind me. I am definitely starting this fashion trend in Florida.

Hey look its Jesus!

This kid was a model.

Everyone got a toothbrush and soap.

Goof balls.

Cutie. Her laugh was so cuteeeeeeeeee.

This kid told me he was so happy and started to tear up when he got his soap.

Lots of laughs with the kids.

Basically my day all day Friday. Goofing around with the kids.

Watching the doctors.

The dudes.

Rayburn praying over their safe trip back.

Some of my drum students and performers.

Sometimes it is bottom of the 9th with 2 outs and GOD hits a home run.

I’ve been here in New Lamka almost 4 months now and yet today I still experienced countless new things.

Unfortunately a girl that was in preschool at Rayburn passed away this morning, so school was cancelled and all the Rayburn teachers attended the funeral. This was not what I was expecting to do this morning. I am in no way glad anyone, especially a young girl, passed away but it was non the less an experience that I will never forget. They played the Rayburn School Anthem as all the Rayburn teachers walked up and placed a flower on her casket. A sad time, but a special time that us as her teachers could comfort her family. (IMPORTANT SIDENOTE: I went to Bethel church, a church that Covenant Presbyterian helped plant, here in Lamka. I went to Bethel just yesterday to hear Khen speak and helped to prepare for the team coming next week. Little did I know that today I would going to this funeral and guess where the family and the girl goes to church… Bethel. Out of all the dozens and dozens of churches in Lamka God knew I would meet these members at church yesterday and get to comfort them today. God is good in the end.)

After the funeral the guy teachers and I were talking and they mentioned the “Mission Compound”. I asked where it was and they said it’s “There”, as they all pointed to the top of the mountain to the West. Of course I’m always up for a good adventure and so I said LETS DO IT! 

Minutes later we had a couple pellet guns and motorcycles and we were ready to roll. We spent the day exploring rice fields, riding motorcycles on top the mountains, shooting bottles, climbing waterfalls, and enjoying beautiful views! (I don’t even think beautiful describes the views though…. I’ve hiked the Appalachian Trail and stared down Grand Canyon and looked over Zion National Park, but ladies and gentlemen this view was one of the BEST! From the top of the mountain you can see Lamka where 200,000+ people live. You can see the soccer fields, the houses, the churches, but beyond that you can see the rice fields that aren’t settled yet, but beyond that you can see the other mountain on the other side of the valley, but beyond that you can see the mountains in the next state and beyond that…. Okay you get the point.  I’m not exaggerating when I say it was SPECTACULAR!)

But let me not leave out the best part… I got a HISTORY LESSON today. You see the “Mission Compound” in my pictures isn’t just any village or any church on top of the mountain looking over New Lamka. It is “THE FIRST CHURCH”. It was built in 1906 before any other Presbyterian or Baptist missionaries ever came here. It was built by no denomination, just a simple missionary that brought the gospel to the people of Lamka. The church and the surrounding village are the place where everyone used to live. Everyone lived in their tribes on this mountain and that’s why the mission compound is there. It’s not until the past 20 years that the all the tribal people moved down into the valley and urbanized Lamka bringing in Hindu Indians and other Central Indians to own stores and such. The population now has boomed to the hundreds of thousands, but the mission compound still sits at the top of the mountain and looks down on New Lamka. The Mission Compound I got to visit today is the FIRST VILLAGE and CHURCH and SCHOOL in this now huge Lamka area. That was such a cool experience to visit a place rich of history, and see the place that started religion and education here. 

When I woke up this morning, and rubbed the Monday morning droll from my eyes, I NEVER EVER would have guessed that God would bless me with such awesome times with friends and such amazing experiences.  When it’s the last weeks here, when it’s bottom of the ninth with two outs GOD HITS A HOMERUN of a day. God is good, that’s for sure.

PRAY REQUESTS: 
PRAYER WARRIORS UNITE. I NEED YOU NOW!
1. It’s now or never. Bottom of the 9^th with 2 outs. Pray for me in these last two weeks to be able to be bold. Pray for me to embrace the Gospel and share it more passionately than ever. Pray that God will give me the courage and strength to face these last days as I will be as busy as ever. Pray that I give everyone I meet this good news of the gospel like it is my last days on this earth.
2. A team from Covenant is coming to run Medical Camps in some villages in Manipur here. Pray for them physically as the jet lag and busy days will wear them ou. Pray for guidance in any medical decisions they have to make. Pray for guidance on how I can help them while they are here (It’s weird I’ve been here so long I feel like I’m hosting them cause I know the place so well now.). Pray definitely for travel safety. Pray for the team to be blessed by the trip more than they ever thought possible.

DON’T SKIP MY PHOTOGRAPHY BELOW!!!!! Some of my favorite pictures I’ve taken here. 

This is why I love what I do. In the middle of a village with kids running towards me. (One of my favorites)

Exploring rice fields.

Rice fields during harvest season.

Got to go shootin.

These Rayburn teachers and their friends actually found this waterfall in the middle of the woods when they were kids and now it is part of a big tourist attraction.

Riding through the mountains.    (One of my favorites)

The oldest church in Lamka

25th and 75th and 100th anniversary markers.

Hundred year old church bell.

Some more mountain top riding.

I feel like this should be in a motorcycle magazine. (One of my favorites)

Prayer Point overlooking the town.

Enjoying the view.

The picture doesn't even do it justice. Just amazing.     (Definitely one of my favorites)

Simple, pleasant surprises lay around every corner.

Simple pleasant surprises lay around every corner.

The plan for this past weekend was to go to another village. I was really excited to go because I really enjoyed the village life last month. But God had other plans.  Remember rule #463 of the missionary life is ALWAYS STAY FLEXIBLE.   Some unforeseen circumstances came up and so Khen was not able to take me to the village. So I was prepared for another weekend at home.

I decided though not just take this weekend as a break before the busy school week ahead. With three weeks left here I knew I needed to slow down this weekend and enjoy the time here with my Manipur Family.

There is no surprise that God knew I’d never go to the village. And there is no surprise that He knew He wanted me here enjoying time with the kids. For example I didn’t know that Siam Boi, one of the kids I’m closest with, had a birthday this past Sunday. If I would’ve gone to the village I would have missed celebrating and getting to pray over him and the years he has left in his life. That is an example of a night I will never forget and I hope he doesn’t either. And also an example of a reason God knew exactly where He wanted me, even if it wasn’t the plans I had in mind.

Sometimes when we slow down and are thankful for everything and everyone around us we realize that the LITTLE MOMENTS God has given us are sometimes the most important.

So I took my camera wherever I went and captured all the little things from the past couple of days. Below are a few of my favorites.

Lydia- Khen's daughter's best friend

Kim Kim- Khen's Daughter
They always climb on me and wrestle whenever I am at Khen's house. Reminds me of Mikayla so much.

The birthday "boi", Siam Boi.

American football on his birthday.

A foggy 5:30 AM football match. 

Manta.
Notice how the field is literally cut out of the side of the hill. Clay walls on all sides.

Such a cutie.
PM's (vice principal) daughter- Get to goof around with her all the time at the hostel. Reminds me of Cierra.

She had never been pushed so high on a swing apparently.

Those eyebrows.

"Aww cute picture guys..... Photo bomb!!!!"

All Sir Pm's daughters. The twins are my students.

Just a normal day. Khen has 150 people on his driveway.

Who saved the human population and was the original artist of "I'm on a Boat"? My favorite superhero...

IMPORTANT STUFF FIRST, than an update on how life in Manipur has been.

This is a tad long and wordy, but I promise it’s worth the read.

I’ve been reading before bed, a Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, I highly recommend it! And God has been showing me a lot lately. But specifically that He wants my life to be like “Noah and His Ark”.

 You see, Noah lived in a time when the world was morally corrupt and the world displeased God. Before the flood there was only one person that was worth saving, only one man who God was pleased with. That was Noah. Noah was a Godly man that followed the will of God and enjoyed having a close relationship with God says Genesis 6:9. Noah was a man that strived to make his life a life that made God pleased.

But God telling Noah to build a huge ship in the middle of the desert for 120 years without even every seeing rain before! That had to throw Noah off his game a little right? He couldn't possibly do everything God wanted than right? Nope Noah did it. Without asking when the rain would come, or how he would get the animals together, or without making excuses to God, Noah built it. I’m almost positive everyone was taking about the “crazy dude building the boat”, but Noah always trusted in God and ignored the people around him. Noah took the exact specifications that God gave him and perfectly did it. And thank goodness Noah did because… well none of us would be here if He did.
God chose one man for the job, a man that made God smile, a man that would save the world. That sounds like the definition of a superhero to me. That is why NOAH IS MY FAVORITE SUPEROHERO.

 Noah, the best superhero ever, has some qualities I think we all should strive for:
1. He followed God’s will and enjoyed being close to God.
2. He trusted in God completely even when things seemed crazy impossible, without doubting.
3. He did everything God commanded him. (Even when it meant building for 120 years)
4. He didn’t conform to the pattern of the world around him.  

For some of us the story of Noah’s Ark is a Bible story and we’ve heard it many times, but for some of you it’s new. The story of Noah should be compelling to all of us none the less. Its about a common man that God called to do amazing things to say the least.
Sometimes we have to do these God calls us to do even when they look weird to some people. God may call some people to give extra money to the church…. God may call some people to give their time to help the homeless… God may call some people to stop college to go to a poor country for a semester! Some people question why I’d give up the comforts of my college life to come here. It’s because this is a piece of my Noah’s Ark (Mark’s Ark, sounds catchy). God has called me to do it and I couldn’t resist. I am nooooooooooooooooooooooowhere close to Noah’s status here which is exactly why I said a “piece” of my Ark. I day by day struggle with answering God’s call when He says “talk to this person” Or “Give them that” or “speak in front of them”. Every time I trust in God and do what is uncomfortable at times I, like Noah, built my Ark day by day by day. Doing what God calls us to do is not a short and easy thing, it’s a 120 year thing, it’s a lifetime thing!

 SO I CHALLENGE YOU… stop doing the comfortable thing all the time. Do the crazy thing that no one else will understand! Do it because God has asked you to, not because it makes any sense to us. Newsflash God is a lot smarter than we will ever be as humans, so when He tells you to do something put all your little worldy, human desires and worries aside and DO IT. Build your Ark. Be the person that makes God smile! Because when it’s all said and done we want to hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

 I challenge you with a couple questions that I have been asking myself…
1. What is the Ark God has asked you to build?
2. Do you see yourself displaying the qualities of Noah?
3. How can you make God smile today?
4. Are you fully trusting and obeying God or just doing some of the stuff he asks? (Half obedience is not obeying at all.)
5. Am I willing to risking everything to be exactly who God wants me to be? (Even if it’s a ship builder in the middle of a desert.)

Some of yall may be wondering where the posts have been?! Sorry for the couple of weeks without one. Everything has been totally normal here, and by “normal” I mean crazy busy and a slightly tiring. But it has been a great couple weeks.
I have been TEACHING, getting to teach my students idioms (which are basically American sayings) and their meanings. That is a lot of fun and I’m enjoying that. I am now taking grades, giving homework, and giving my own tests just like any other teacher!
I have been playing in the Manipur FOOTBALL (soccer) Tournament for the past three weeks. I am on the Rayburn High team and we are up against 66 more teams from the area. We aren’t the best team out there but we sure do have fun! Apparentely the Tombings also saw me playing on the TV thanks to the local news station. Which means about 200,000 people could see it on their TV! They said they knew it was me because well I was “the only white guy in the tournament”. Also I’m told I’m the first American to every play in the tournament which is exciting as well. Rayburn keeps telling people they recruited me from an international team. Haha.
Other than those two fun things, everything else is fantastic as well. Drums and the Hostel is blast every day. I love the boys and girls that I get to make music with and worship with daily.

 God has blessed me here in India beyond my wildest beliefs. The people, my job, the worship, the football, the cold weather, the drums, the village, the mountain view, it reminds me every day that I am blessed. 5 years ago I never would’ve guessed I’d be here experiencing this but God knows what I want better than me. And for that and all these blessing I praise God and am thankful!

In humble appreciation of the amazing things God can do that we don’t understand…. I’ll keep building my Ark day by day. Even though I’m uncomfortable and may look crazy to people, my God knows what He is doing, and that’s enough for me.
I’m gonna keep building my Ark, will you?

Rayburn High Football Club.

The best field around.

Unfortunately do to my size advantage every nudge from me puts someone on the ground.

Not a bad view while writing this.