The Journy of Paul

Four summers ago, during our trip to Chengdu, Sichuan Province PRC, we meet this wonderful young lady named Mia. Four years prior to our arriving, another group had been there. Mia's teacher had shared the words to Amazing Grace with her. Mia waited for four years to find more Westerners that could tell her the meaning to the song. We shared the meaning with her and she thought it was the greatest thing. She seemed so happy, and joyous. One night a storm came up. A really big storm rolled in knocking out the power. So we sat in candlelight passing the time, when Mia came into the room and wanted to know more about Jesus, and so we told her. That night in the radiance of the candlelight, she accepted Jesus. As she was being prayed for she burst out in prayer, praying for those who were supposed to be praying for her. She laughed and hopped all around and shouted joyously all the way back to her dorm room where she continued to shout, "The Father loves me," from her window....

Step outside tonight and look up; that is, if the skies are clear; and wonder about the vastness of space. When you ask the typical Chinese or Vietnamese what they believe in, the majority will say, evolution. They have come to the point where they have made money and material their god. However, think about the following. According to the big-bang theory, the eternally infinite empty space we call the universe was just that, completely empty and completely infinite. Well, not quite empty. Somewhere there existed a tiny kernel packed full of hydrogen and helium atoms. Three questions must be asked here. One, where did these two atoms come from? Two, why were billions/trillions/zillions of these two atoms packed into this tiny little kernel? What a leap of faith to believe that from nowhere came a tiny ball of two atoms that just sat there for who knows how long. And three, one day, for no reason it just simply exploded. These two atoms screamed through the vast emptiness of sp...

August 29Th, a dear friend of mine, the girl that I met in China seven years ago, went to the US Embassy in Beijing China. The waiting hall was crowded with Chinese waiting for their interview. During her wait, my friend became ill, seeking a place to sit down she wondered out into a hallway where she indeed found some empty seating. Unfortunately some Chinese who worked for the embassy wouldn't let her sit down, and ridiculed her for seeking comfort. My friend finally found seating, where she could get a bit of relief, the women's restroom. Finally she was called for her interview. The officer asked her why she wanted to go to the US, she answered, "To visit my friend Paul." The officer began asking a series of questions concerning her relationship with me. His last question was, "Do you have a job?" Being a fresh graduate from college she answered, "No." With that, the officer typed a few things into the computer and stated, "Denied." M...

I could walk this earth for 1000 years and still not be able to see what the Lord wants me to do, or where he wants me to go. Isn't it wonderful? Did you ever just look at the night sky at all of the stars and just wonder about this universe? What a magnificent place. Did you know that our solar system is in one of the farthest spiral arms in the Milky way Galaxy ? Our Galaxy is one of thousands, each filled with uncountable stars and planets. I look up into the darkness of space and see God. Don't you? I look at the snow capped mountain and see God. I hear the songs of the birds or the whisper of the wind through the tree tops and I hear His voice. No, I am not worshiping His creation, but rather seeing Him in his creation. What a joy to be able to sit on the shore of some river and listen to its waters pass by. What a wonder to sit and watch a humming bird hoover and drink the nectar of a flower, or even feel the warmth of a star some 93 million miles away. God, spans th...

As we march out into the world to share the message we must remember one thing. A person’s relationship with God isn't up to us. That is a hard thing to get a hold of. So many Christians make it their business to save people, forgetting that they do not have the power or authority to do so. We can only deliver the message, after that it is between that person and God. That is if we truly believe in God and fully understand that He is in control. Severn years ago, I met a young lady as I have stated in this blog in the past. On my first visit to China, she came to me crying. Since then she has visited me and my wife in each city we have visitedt in China. One day in Chengdu she brought to me a piece of paper. On the paper was the worse news I've received in China. Her aunt and mom practice Fulan Gong. This piece of paper was enough to get her, her mother and aunt thrown in prison and deportation for me. After seven years, she finally had an in depth conversation with m...

Today is Sunday, and its late at night and I am growing tired. It was an interesting day though. Slept late, but still made it to church. Church is part of what made it an interesting day. The pastor has just started a new serious called "No perfect people allowed.' The gist of the series so far can be quantified in one statement as far as Christians go, "Who cleans their fish before they catch em?" What a wonderfully enlightening statement. I for one can get on board with this statement. What he is trying to say is that according to traditional Christian belief we are all sinners and through the grace of God we are saved, cleansed of that sin. So did God clean us before he caught us, or after? I don't know about you, but I was a dirty person before I knew Jesus. I sinned up a storm, I was what is called a secured sinner, meaning I know I sinned, but didn't care. When God caught me I was still a terrible sinner. In fact today, I am still a sinner, but now I ...

What a struggle this has been. My heart, as I stated before, is crying out to minister to people in Asia. Every ounce of my being wants to be in Asia teaching English during the day, and hosting a bible study for new believers in the evening, helping them to become disciples. Opportunities abound, but does that mean I should avail myself to these opportunities? I now have two opportunities to work in Vietnam. Both would supply me with round trip airfare, room and board, medical insurance and yes, even $200 a month, standard teacher pay. Joshua had opportunities too, as a dear friend of mine painfully reminded me the other day. He reminded me that the Lord had given them the green light to take a city, after words in their zeal; they had an opportunity to take another city. They did not wait for God’s blessing; instead they went on their own and were defeated. I cannot go without God’s blessings, and right now, I have not received a definitive “GO.” For seven years, since the first day ...

I would like to welcome you to my blog again . You'll notice that on the left side there are now links to some of my favorite places, such as china advocate. Yes, I have stolen his sites name and turned into my own, Asia Advocate. I took the name Asia instead of Vietnam advocate because in the long run I don't know where I will be ministering , Vietnam or China. The main reason I am keeping this blog is for you. So that you can keep up with my daily life when I am abroad. It has since extended beyond being aboard because of the offer to work in Vietnam as well as my desire for you to see how I handle my day to day life. What areas do I give to God? What areas do I hold on to and struggle with? How do I deal with things as they occur ? This is being a witness, and it is often as simple as letting people see you walk out your Christian life. After all, atheist, Buddhist , Hindus , and Muslims all have similar life struggles as Christians, so how do we handle them? If they see...

Just picture yourself sitting on the deck of a ship, sipping on a cool beverage, watching the horizon bob up and down, and listening to the bow cut through the waters. Ah yeah no. Instead picture yourself standing on the deck of a rolling ship, waves crashing over the bow, salt water spraying your face. The horizon is rising and falling rapidly, your stomach feels like a churn, and you are gripping the railing with a death grip. If you can imagine that, you can imagine my life at the moment. My heart cries out to be ministering in Asia. It screams to be setting in an apartment in either China or Vietnam leading a bible study with new believers. In contrast, while I understand that I have a purpose here, namely my wife, and children; I nonetheless fell purposely, adrift without a rudder in a vast and endless ocean. Hence a congruency is occurring . I need to be here, but want to be there, both cannot exist at the same time. If you have been reading this blog, you know that an offer has ...

Greetings, brothers and sisters. Each and everyday, and almost every minute of the day, I think about the Lord in some fashion or another. I am either praying, considering, or wondering what HE would do, or think, and at times, such as the other day, arguing with Him. There are several stories in the bible where people argue with God, and in some cases even get mad at Him. It is as my Pastor said on Sunday, "God is big enough to take it." I agree. I however, am not strong enough nor big enough, often failing to withstand the pitfalls, and occasional beatings life deals out. I had one such moment the other day. I got mad at the Lord, wanting answers, like some spoiled little kid who has been given to much. I find myself in an odd place. A local college has hired me part time, that's 6-8 hours a week for teachers. Another employer is considering me, again for a part time teaching position , 9 hours a week, and for those familiar with it, Educational Testing Center, wants m...

Three weeks are now gone since leaving Hanoi. Not much has happened, well that's not true. This last week Hoa , our exchange student, left for Goshen College in Indiana to finish her degree. Four years ago, SARS struck China, which routed us to Viet Nam. I spent three years studying the Chinese language, and culture, I did not want to go to Viet Nam. While there, I closed my heart to the country and the people. Three of us, including myself contracted dysentery , and suffered badly. I couldn't wait to get home and get this trip in the books. Little did I know that God's will was being acted out. We met Hoa , she was one of our students, then only 15 years old. About nine months later, she contacted me to inform me that she had the chance to come to America and attend a high school exchange program, to which I responded that she was welcomed in our home. More than anything a common courtesy . She accepted and of course we opened our home to her. What a bless...

Just the latest news, I've been in contact with the Vietnamese school officials, and things are on the move. We are putting together a contract, and they have requested my resume, a copy of my passport and diplomas . This is the next step in working in Viet Nam. After that, if they are so inclined, they will write me a formal letter of invitation which I Will use together with the contract to get a visa for working in Viet nam . Thirteen years ago, I went to Mexico on a mission trip to build houses. That one trip tore my heart right out of my chest and put in place a heart of a servant . A desire to minister to other people. Little would I know that after three trips to Mexico, I would end up in China, where once again God reached into my heart and put love for China and her people into it. Well, here I am today, and once again, God has grabbed my heart and put love for Viet Nam and her people into it. All I want to do is serve in China or Viet Nam, all I want to do is...

Greeting fellow travelers, We are all on journeys, some of us are on a journey together, others, most others, are on a journey alone. While we cannot always go on the same journey, we can share our journeys. We can share them by listening to stories from other travelers, by praying for other travelers, and in other cases, by financially supporting travelers. What’s your current journey? Over this summer, I’ve learned that my fellow teammates and I were all on our own personal journeys, each being relevant to our personal relationship with God. While in we could not walk the same path with them each step of the way, there were moments were we could come along side of one another and offer support. My journey was falling in love with Viet Nam and her people. My journey was through a dark place in my heart where I had to face certain facts, facts that I had denied existed. Another area that needed further correction was control. I cannot exercises control over another person. What I mean ...

The walk in faith grows harder, and the story of Job continues, but for now I cannot disclose it, just be assured that it added stress to our life. We request your continued prayer support for God's provision. I've prayed a great deal, asking the Lord to fling doors open and slam others shut, so that it will be so evident as to what I should do that I cannot mistake it. We have went four months now without an income, and the clock is ticking. When I get depressed about it I merely look to what Paul said, listing all that he gave up to follow Jesus, going from church to church relying on their generosity to support him. I use to believe that only certain people were called for certain things, but now I know that was wrong. We, you, and I, all of us, are called into service. When we don't love our neighbors as we love ourselves we are not following His command. When we do not share the gospel message, we are not following Matthew 28:19-20 , "Therefore go and make discipl...

I've been home two days now, and to tell you the truth, I am not sure what to do. I know that I enjoy getting up in the morning, walking down the three stories to the little canteen and eating breakfast with my team, having and a sense of purpose for the day. I also enjoyed walking to the school, to the store and to the little WiFi cafe. Today I spent a great deal of time driving and getting less accomplished. I am also not looking forward to restarting my job search. I spent 2.5 months sending out many resumes to no avail. I think it is a shame that having received a Masters Degree, that I might be forced to seek work overseas. Having said that, I have stated that the high school in Ha Noi is trying to secure me a position, may be starting in October. I look at this as being a full time ministry and if the Lord wills it, I will go into the field full time . If He calls me into the field, I will need your full support. I and Coy live in the US and thus we have monthly exp...

Greetings from Oregon City, Oregon. What a journey it has been. I am sorry that I have not been able to update the blog over the last few days, but it has been hectic. Wednesday we had our closing ceremony and Thursday we were taken to Ha Long Bay for two days. Saturday, I was whisked away for lunch and dinner with the Vietnamese teachers we had been working with. I've been offered a job opportunity in Hanoi. I am waiting to receive a written contract and letter of invitation. According to the school officials it has been approved. If this happens, I may be leaving for Hanoi in October. Again, if this happens, I will be be working with a high school of talented and gifted students, and I will be working with to establish a new private English center. I of course view this as a ministry opportunity. So if I am blessed to go back that soon, I will need your financial help in this ministry. Over the course of the summer, we got to share the message with at least 50 students. Seeds hav...

What another beautiful day in Hanoi. Today was our last day of formal teaching in classrooms. Tomorrow is our closing ceremony, Thursday; we will head off to Ha Long bay for two days. Saturday, is our packing day, and Sunday, we will pack and move into a hotel, where we will spend the day debriefing. Monday, we fly home. We won’t have much more time to interact with the students, so we have to leave with the faith the God is working in the hearts of these students, and at His own pace. We’ve done our job teaching English, and this last Monday, was our Christmas and Easter culture nights where we shared the story of Christmas and Easter with them. Sharing of the Easter story was direct, not a play or skit but sharing of the message with them. This was the first time I’ve done it this way, and I found it most rewarding. Seeds where scattered, where the fell, be it on hard ground, in creaks, amongst weeds, or in fertile ground is in God’s hands. The students have fallen in love w...

It is a Monday night, one week exactly from when I will be home. It is a bittersweet feeling. Part of me wants to stay, and part of me desperately wants to go home. Saturday, I spent half of the day with three young ladies. They were three of Coy’s students from four years ago. We went to lunch, and then to a museum. The museum was about the Viet Nams ethnic peoples group. One of the outside displays was a mock up of an old Vietnamese village. We climb up into one of the huts and sat in the center of the hut and talked for almost an hour. What a blessing He has given us to make such good friends from this nation. I so wanted to be able to bring them home with me. They are such sweet girls, and wonderful young ladies. They have grown up and are now living life as adults. That same day, I met Hoa. Her and her mother took me out and about looking for silk. Later we went to dinner with her whole family. At dinner her father said, “There use to be four Buddhist in my family, n...

Greetings once again from Ha Noi. The Lord has been good to us in many ways, blessing us with cooler weather, breezes, and rain. We have also been blessed with better health, since we are all recovering from a cold. It is such a blessing to be able to stand on my 3rd floor landing and to pray for this country, to walk into pagoda and pray for light to enter into the darkness. Our exchange student, who lives with us, has spoken to her brother giving him the message. He told her that he wanted to be baptized. Today we went to a park and climbed a mountain, yes in 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity we climbed, during this climb I had the opportunity to also share the message with another person, we call him Tex. This is the second occasion, and in the next few days, we will have another opportunity to further the discussion. Please pray for them. Our time is drawing to a close, next Wednesday, we will hold our closing ceremony having been moved up because the officials want to ta...

Well, this is a blessing, I get to blog twice in one day! I am sitting in a WiFi cafe across the street from the university that I am working at. The endless stream of motor bikes pour by, along with the constant beeping of horns. It is night time now, and the air is cool, and enjoyable. My friend Jason and I have just finished eating ice cream, and are now relaxing. God has been good to us these so many weeks. Not to longer ago I didn't even think I would raise the funds to go. Three weeks ago I felt that I had the worse team and couldn't figure out how it was going to work. Two weeks ago I thought I was going to die from food poisoning, and this week I have a cold. I was left wondering why I was here, and then why are we here? What is the purpose, I wasn't seeing any. It has all be made clear by His mercy and grace. We are on individual personal walks, our own journeys. But we will accomplish a team task, pouring the foundation for future teams. Yes, we are fo...

Greetings, I know it has been a long time since I last posted, but I am in Viet Nam, and the Internet is not always available. We are on the down hill slide now. We have three teaching days left, and then the school is taking us on a short trip. Things have smoothed out. The team has become a team, the school loves us and wants us back next year. We have been successful in building a foundation. We have had a few conversations but that is to be expected. The school my be offering me a full time job next week, I'll have to wait and see and of course pray about it. Many things to think about. I have a cold as does most of my team, but we have made it through bad illnesses, team issues and the heat here, so God has blessed us. And we do thank you for your prayers.

Greeting, I must tell you that I've been very sick. I figure I ate some bad food. Nonetheless, the work goes one. This country is a very spiritually dark country, where people sacrifice to trees and rocks, and seek out fortunetellers. My team isn't a team, there are three girls that have formed their own team. There's not much I can do about it. I am sure that He has sent us here to pure a foundation for future teams. I don't question Him. He has a plan, and maybe it is beyond me. There is a spiritual battle being waged here, and in all battles there are casualties. Please be praying for my health, and my teams health. Everyone has come to my rescue, I have more fruit than I can eat. Hoa will be brining over even more since her mother is concerned about me. They are brining me bread. The days are hot here, even more so now that I am sick. We consume a ton of water each day. I must wear two shirts a day which means I must clean my clothes more, which I am...

Greetings, I must tell you that it is amazing what God does. This school has and continues to provide everything we need. Yes, my team is experiencing internal turmoil, but who am I to judge what God is or isn’t doing? I was asking God everyday, “Why am I hear?” That has change to, “Why are we here?” What I know and am sure of is that the Lord wants to do and is doing work here. I believe that despite our selfish internal problems that we are building a foundation for future teams. Each day, new student’s arrive at our doorsteps, word having traveled throughout the city that we are here. We are loving on these students and His love is shining through. That is what is most important. We must look beyond today, and understand that His plan spans a much greater portion of time that we can conceive. Today we held a birthday celebration, one of several planned to slowly introduce our culture and of course our personal belief. Birthday, Valentines day, a wedding all speak of love,...

We have completed our first week, and it is now in the books. We are pioneering a new school, laying the ground work for future teams. That is our primary purpose. As a team, we must make a good impression if the school is to invite another team next summer. As well, we are laying the ground work for year long teachers. It is a privilege to work in this field. This week has, as far as classroom and afternoon activities are concerned, gone well. Yesterday, a team member popped the cork that she didn’t feel that we were coming together as a team. I must concur. But I also realize that it isn’t about us, it is about God, and what He may be doing in each one of us, and it is about the students as well as the adults we are meeting. What is He doing in them? We may do our job well, we may each be challenged and thus changed, and we may share the good news, but we may not fully come together as a team. This is a fact that I’ve been aware of since day one when I first met the team....

I want you to know that spell check is not working, and it is hot here in the Internet Cafe, so you get what you get, misspelled word and all. When I get the call placed on my heart to go to Asia, I never know the exact why. Here I sit, three weeks into this program and I have to ask, why am I here? The bottom line is His will, not mine. Sure, it would be easy to say, "To share His word," but is that so? May be I am building a foundation for others in the future? I don't know. What I do know is that He will show me when it is time. His will. As I sat this morning drinking my Cafe su da, I marveled at how He works. I quitely prayed for the people as I watched them buzzing around doing their early morning chores. Why am I here? Is it for the students, the teachers we are meeting or am I discipling the North American college students on my team, or all of the above? I could ponder that for a long time, or I can leave the answer in the capable hands of the Father. ...

July 9, 2007 Greetings from Hanoi. I do not know if these posts are making it or not. For some reason teh blog is blocked from my view. I am writing the post, and hitting the post button, but I cannot view the blog to see if they are posted. I met our exchange daughters father and mother yesterday. They took us out to dinner and should us about town. It was nice to finally meet them. I am not sure what they thought of me though. Sunday, I attending our weekly meeting at Hanoi International Fellowship. It was great, worship was great too. I couldn't help feeling a bit worried that our friend, exchange student wouldn't get a visa back into the US. I think I may have mentioned this. Her brother is now attending our classes to, he is just as smart as she is. We've started our classes, and are slowly getting to know the students. They seem to be a great bunch of kids. So far everything has come together as it always does when He is in charge. That means I am not in...

Safely here. We are at our school now. The weather is as expected, hot, with the forecast of hotter. Tomorrow we begin class. I don't know what the next weeks have in store from us, but I look foreward to seeing what He provides us with. It has been a bit sad for me becuase I am walking around places that Coy and I walked together. I am reminded how much I love her, and how greatful to the Father I am for putting us together. Saturday, we meet up with our exchange student and her parents. We had a wonderful lunch together. She so badly wants to go to our meeting on Sunday but I've had to say no! I am trying to make a connection for her so she can attend the local meetings. Please be lifting up in your thoughts, that she will get her visa, that our sick counselor will get well, and that He will keep us cool. As well as opening up hearts as we begin to meet the students.

My dearest Friend and mentor Bob, has a phrase, peeling an onion. He is referring to being refined as one matures in their walk with God. Each time I come to Asia, I have another layer peeled off. And as you can guess, each time a layer is removed, it hurts. As I sat in the commissioning ceremony the other day, I cried, and thanked Him for making me who I am, and for guiding me, and growing me. I realized that it isn't my direct job to bring the message necessarily, but rather disciplining the counselors. That was an awesome realization, or I should say Revelation . As I write this, I am sitting in the Hong Kong airport, hours away from entering Viet Nam. I've reflected on many things. I would like to take this time to publicly say, Jen, I am proud and honored to call you my friend, and I am thankful that God permitted us to meet. I also want to share that I began this journey $1500 sort, which included my expenses, but through the blessings of the Lord, some on...

I have to admit that this trip so far has been a challenge in more ways than one. My team is very different that I've every had. I've had to seek out counseling from a dear friend. We both concur that perhaps these people are on my team for a specific reason. With all of the hardships that have taken place leading up to this trip, I cannot help but suspect that the Evil one is attempting to hinder this team. That leads me to believe there is a very good reason for us to hit the ground running. I am afraid, I don't mind admitting that. This causes me to get on my knees and pray that much more. In less than 30 hours we will be on a flight heading for Hanoi. By Friday July 6 th we will be there. What lies ahead? I do not know. How is Coy going to make it through the summer, I am not sure. What I do know, is that we will be praying every step of the way. Only through His love, mercy and tender care will we make it. Please keep us in your prayers, each and ever...

Greetings fellow travellers, Yesterday again was very normal, since I've been through this training five times. However, today I had a pang of home sickness, wishing Coy could be here with me. I am not sure if that is true love, or do I want her to be in Hanoi to take care of me when I am suffering. Just a joke, I wish we could do this together. Things are going along fine. Today, Saturday, I will be meeting my team in just a short while. This is a time of excitement and stress. Excitement because I know that this is almost at the point of no return and the journey is beginning. Stress because I don't know what they are going to be like and how they are going to receive me. Bad News. We did get some bad news today. Two Asian countries are creaking down on certain religious types. We are being told to tone down our speech in Asia, at least during certain times. However, everything else remains the same. Keep us in your thoughts, and keep raising up our requests ...

Greetings, June 28. I am now in our third day of training. One more day of training and I will meet my team. Training is very important for several reasons. One, we have a new curriculum to use. Secondly, to build team work, and the list can go on, and on. I am filled with apprehension as to what this summer will hold. Talking to some of the other team leaders, I liken this as being in a special ops unit, about to jump into the unknown. The only information is military intel and we all know that is an oxymoron. This analogy means we have no idea what we are getting into until we get there. Which is good, this forces one to run on faith an prayer. Today, we lost one team leader. Apparently this team leader was sending up red flags and wasn't gelling with the group. Even though we have only been together for a few days, losing someone creates a ripple through the group. Each day that ticks off is filled with information, it feels like a week so far. Soon the days will...

Greetings, This is a brand new blog where I will be attempting to post stories about our journies in Asia. It is now 6:19 am Tuesday June 26. Coy will be taking me to the airport shortly. I am worried, so many things left to take care of at home, and no family income coming in. This summer is going to be a faith walk for us. I am excited to see what He is doing in Vietnam, to touch the lives of the people that He will be putting in front of us, and to see if Hoa will be able to share the message with her parents. I am equally excited to return and see what He has in store for us, since we seem to be on a new leg of our life journey. Keep us in your thoughts.