Pictures from Christina's Scrapbook

Christina was an honored participant in a Cambodian wedding ceremony.



Here she's holding gifts for the wedding guests.



This picture includes Christina with the team along with Roath and Michelle.



And this is the bride and groom.



Christina is carrying the bride's dress as they walked around the center piece about 5 times. She wrote, "I kept praying that I would not fall as I was wearing shoes that had a heel on them! It was one of the most difficult things I had to do."



Christina is standing with the other two bridesmaids. During a traditional wedding ceremony, the bridal party changes clothes many many times.



In January, Christina traveled to Myanmar for 2 weeks. She visited her close friend Eden. Christina wrote, "I asked Eden to order for me. She came back and gave me a dish with pig's heart, tongue, ears, intestines, and liver. It was a very interesting meal."



This picture was also taken in Myanmar. Christina was attending a Buddhist nun.



This is the whole team in Myanmar.



Christina wrote, "We asked the driver if he would mind stopping so I could take a picture. As I was standing on the wheel, I realized that this is not the smartest thing to do as I could get really hurt if the cows moved. Fortunately, they stayed real still for me. I thanked the driver and gave him a tip for being so kind. He was very happy and thanked me."



"This picture is me at Bagan. Bagan is a town in Myanmar that is famous for having 2,000 Buddhist temples that were built in 1100-1200 A.D. It is an absolutely incredible site to look out on the horizon and see so many temples. I have seen many temples throughout my travels but this time was different. I was in one temple looking at a Buddha god and watching the people bow down to it. I began to think of the people I know in Cambodia who are not Christians. I felt their bondage to this religion and I began to feel the evil powers at work. I know this is hard for some of you to imagine living in America but it is very real here. I had to get out of the temple immediately. Fortunately, I had my ipod with me and as I walked back to the van, I listened to some Christian music. As I sat in the van, I began to weep for the people. Please remember to pray for these people. It is so dark in this part of the world with very little light. Please pray for the light of Jesus Christ to grow."



Christina wrote, "This is our team with some Buddhist monks. It was the first time we had a medical clinic in a Buddhist monastery. This was in a village that was hit very hard by cyclone Nargis. There were still lots of human bones behind the monastery as they did not know what to do with them. The people had a look of shock still on their faces as many had lost several family members and friends. Please remember to pray for them."

February Update Letter

Dear fellow laborers of Christ,
Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps.” I have always believed in this verse and so I have had the mentality of holding my plans with an open palm. I may make very good, sound, solid plans but, in the end, God will direct my steps and those steps may lead me to a different plan. That is what has taken place in the past four months. I am still living in the city and will be staying here for at least another year. God has closed all doors for me in regards to living in the village at this time. It is not time for me to go. God has shown this clearly to me in several ways:
• I still have so much to learn about the Khmer language and culture
• He has provided me with ministries in the city (discipleship with Roath, teaching medical students, new job as short term team coordinator)
• Our team leader and his family are taking their year-long furlough starting in July of this year. Dale and Nancy Knutson and I will be the only team members remaining. As a team, we do not believe that it would be a wise decision for me to start a village ministry with my team leader in the states
As most of you know, I waited ten years to go on the mission field. It is His pattern with my life that I am to wait. I hope to be working in the village one day but it is not time right now.
The ministries God has given me are wonderful. Let me clarify this statement. There are many struggles in the ministry and I know I am not adequate enough to handle these responsibilities. However, the truth is that God is in control. It is not up to me to make these ministries grow. That is God’s job. I am only supposed to be willing to trust Him and let Him use me for His glory. That is why the ministries are wonderful. Roath is growing in the Lord. We have had many problems and God has been testing our faith. We have seen Him answer prayer after prayer. Roath said to me one day, “Since you have come into my life, you have made my confidence in the Lord grow.” God is using me in her life and it is all for His purpose and His glory. Praise be to God who uses broken jars of clay to pour out His goodness and mercy.
Beginning in July, I will take on the role of short term team coordinator. It will require me to coordinate and host short term teams that come to work with us. This new job will stretch me in many ways and I am excited to see how the Lord will grow me through all this. It is hopefully a temporary job until God brings someone to fill the role on a more permanent basis.
The bible study with the medical students and the mobile medical clinics are progressing very well. God is definitely working through these ministries. Our vision is to continue to show mercy to the people so they hopefully will see God through us and come to know Him personally. Our medical students work alongside the doctors and see what it is like to provide Christian medical care. Some are believers and some are not. Please pray for these ministries and all involved.
I cannot believe that my first year is almost finished and I will be returning to the states in a few months. If it is God’s will, I will spend two months in the states and then return to Cambodia for another year of service. God has blessed me with these ministry opportunities and I desire to continue serving Him here. I am looking forward to seeing all of you and telling of the wondrous works of our Savior. Continue to pray for us.

By His grace and mercy,

Christina Thomas