Hey, I'm finally posting again!  Apparently it takes a few bombs aimed my direction to get a response.  My intention was to actually post some beautiful pictures of the places I've been here in Israel and tell of the fun and joyful times up until now.  Unfortunately, most of my friends out there would probably rather hear the more exciting war news at the moment.  So pictures another time.  (If you want war pictures and lots of details of the excitement over here, visit www.jpost.com)

As my day was just beginning this morning, I heard some all-too-expected sounds that tend to make drastic changes in daily plans.  We in Israel are at war.  The "bombs bursting in air" (or on the ground rather) are kind of an unusual morning wake-up sound.  I guess I'll think of an "alarm" clock differently from now on--never have alarms been quite so, well, alarming.  Really, though, my family wasn't too afraid for our own safety as we huddled in the south side of our apartment and watched a funny "Mr. Bean" video.  Our prayers were more directed towards the many people who truly were frightened across our city and country.

As this unusual day wore on, the sound of the siren followed by the booms of explosions became nearly routine.  We eventually packed our bags and headed to a bomb shelter.  After one siren, we huddled in the fancifully painted steel room belonging to our congregation.  There was a cacophony of sound as we shared the space with Americans, English, Israelis and some Lebanese Christians who were driven to northern Israel by Hizbullah a long time ago and are once again fleeing south from the violence of their countrymen.  The children were playing with toys, as the shelter is usually used for children's meetings.  Everyone was playing and talking almost as though it was normal to be thrown into a small room in the middle of the day with a bunch of other people and nothing to do.

It's not normal, though.  I wouldn't want to ever think it is.  This is a dark time for this part of the world.  Everyone suffers: the beautiful Arab children who are raised on hate and lies and used practically as shields for the dark plans of their parents; the young Israeli teenagers who must all dedicate their youth and possibly their lives for the protection of a country surrounded by enemies; the people who are not terrorists, but live in terror as family members throw their lives and the lives of others away with bombs strapped to their bodies; God's chosen people who pray for peace and search for their God but don't know their Prince of Peace; God as he watches all of the people that he loves face eternity without Him; and those whose minds are so filled with hate and darkness that they would commit their souls to the destruction of a people group and nation.  The effects of sin are pretty gruesomely illustrated around me now.

Please pray.  God has brought His people back to Israel for a reason, and I know that He will fulfill His purpose.  Hearts are being turned toward Him and opened to Hope.  God can take even war and use it to bring repentance and restoration.  Death and war, though, are not beautiful things.  Please pray also for the innocent people in Lebanon, Gaza, and the other neighboring nations who are pushed into the middle of war by the choices of a frenzied few.  Many have died as their leaders set up their war machines in the middle of their homes and neighborhoods.

I'm not really afraid of bombs or death for me.  They are not normal, but neither is this life--I'm looking for my final home.  Death has lost its victory over my family, but that can't be said of everyone who is dying.  Once again, pray...

A Tribute to Thailand

So, I have left Siam/Thailand/the "Land of the Free"/"Land of Smiles" for now.  Perhaps one day I can view those smiling faces, hazy mountains, picturesque villages, sparkling waterfalls and lumbering elephants again.  Until then, here is my tribute to the beautiful land that welcomed me for more than a year:

Long-tailed Boat Ride

A Village Church

The Flower of Thailand

"Elephant Mountain" (Can you see it?)

My First Village Visit

Inside the House

Bird Flu?

Skill and Diligence

Place of Rest

What Can I Say?

Build a Bridge

"The Road Less Traveled"

Breathtaking

Also Breathtaking

Thailand Visit = Elephant Rides

After the Hail Storm

Now I'm overjoyed to be in Israel!  (Pictures will  be forthcoming.)  But this post has been long enough already.

"However, as it is written: 
   'No eye has seen,
      no ear has heard,
   no mind has conceived
   what God has prepared for those who love him'[b]— 10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit."--1 Corinthians 2:9

Each day, I stand in greater wonder at what God has prepared for me.  And that's just in the things He has for me on this earth.  A few days ago, in my Bible reading, I saw something that I had written next to a verse, "I never could have imagined the places I've been, and this is only the beginning!  Lord, help me to be anointed to minister for Your wherever.--July '02"  That was only during the second of three summer tours!  I've been so many places since then!

So here's the latest:  Last weekend I got to help build a church in a mountain village.  (I know, God builds the church, I just got to help with the house.)  Several of the leaders of the Akha Christian Youth and I went far, far up into the mountains on little dirt roads until we came to this very special new village.  You see, a few families in the old village became Christians through a drug rehabilitation program.  This terribly upset the "Akha Way," not to mention the village leaders.  This handful of families was therefore kicked out and forced to establish their own village on the next hill.  That sounds easy to you, right?  So, you try moving your family, bamboo hut and all, to a new location; starting new crops; trying to establish a new sort of government for your leaderless town, based on a new set of beliefs; studying these beliefs when you don't know how to read or have a regular teacher...okay, I think you've got the picture somewhat.  (Kind of reminds me of the Children of Israel and the first pilgrims to America.)  These people are taking a HUGE step of faith.  We, on the other hand, only had to come and mix cement to lay the floor of the church building.  That was a lot of exercise, but not nearly as difficult as the task ahead of them.  We also walked the streets of the new village and the old one praying for the people.  We did Bible studies with the children of the Christian village and prayed with the adults.

I didn't sleep much in my first weekend in a village, but I certainly had some wonderful prayer times.  (Actually, I probably woke up the whole village for my first "morning prayer" when I left the hut at 4:00 a.m., thinking it was nearly morning because of the moonlight shining through the bamboo walls.  I started the village dogs in a dog chorus to join the already busy rooster chorus.  Crazy American!)  And God was good and didn't let us have stomach problems that would send us to the outhouse for long trips until the last morning.

So, the church building is nearly finished, but what can we do?  Please pray with me for these people, that God will bless their fields and animals, glorifying His name in front of the surrounding villages.  Pray that they will find leaders for the village and a pastor for the church, and that someone will learn to read so that they can read the Bible.  Pray that they will be a true "city on a hill" shining for Him, and that the people in the old village who want to serve God will be bold.

And maybe I'll post pictures soon.

Hi Friends,

Since last post, I've been spending my last couple of months with my little sisters at House of Grace.  We've had fun times and studied together just a little bit more.  On Valentine's Day,  I decided to throw a party for the seventh grade through college-age girls.  The girls were excited as they entered the room of roses, candles, and tables covered with snacks.  "Oh, romantic!" was the common exclamation. The forty or so of us ate, played games, and sang worship songs,  then I had an opportunity to talk to them about purity and patience.  We wrapped up the evening praying for each other, then watching a movie.

Valentine's Party

Of course, the rest of the girls were quite jealous, so I threw a flurry of parties for them.  The sixth graders had a slumber party in my room, complete with dressing up in my "fancy" clothes and taking pictures.  The third through fifth graders made their own pizza at their party, and the preschoolers through second grade had a "princess tea party."  Whew!

 Slumber Party

But life isn't only fun and games and parties.  The girls have been studying hard as finals approached.  Now, nearly everyone's term has ended.  The mass exodus has begun, as the girls go home to family members in the village for the hot summer.  Soon, House of Grace will be nearly empty except for staff.  Goodbyes are sometimes difficult for me, as I don't know when I'll see these girls again.  I, also, will be going home--to my family's new home in Israel.  Another American will come to take my place a few days before I leave, and I'll spend a little time showing him around.

As the end of my time at House of Grace approaches, I have been praying a lot about what's next.  Recently, I heard of a wonderful company.  They make great little machines for illiterate people groups to listen to the word of God (www.megavoice.com).  I was excited to hear about them, but even more excited when the door opened for me to volunteer with them in Israel.  At the end of this month, I'll fly to Israel to stay for at least three months.  I will live near my family, so I can go home on the weekends.  Family time is extra special as the Hansons spread all over the globe fulfilling the Great Commission.  I also plan to study Hebrew and a few Bible classes that I lack to be an Assemblies of God minister.

And here are a couple of random pictures:

My Favorite Place to Bike to

Same Place

Currently Reading Live Life on Purpose By Claude Hickman see related

Hey friends, it’s about time I posted.  Since last post I’ve been around the world and back, celebrating!

First, there was Christmas at House of Grace.  It was early so that the American friends could come and enjoy it, too.  Like all celebrations at House of Grace, Christmas was spectacular.  For a whole weekend, we enjoyed music, dramas, games, sports, a parade, delicious food and gifts.  I’m posting just a small sample of the pictures that are in my memory from that amazing time.  Everyone threw themselves into the joy of celebrating, from buying little gifts for their “secret angel/lamb” to practicing dramas, dances and songs for hours.  Saturday saw the most beautiful Christmas parade ever, complete with “musicians” banging on their garbage drums; followed by many sports that you’ll never see in the Olympics.  On the final night, we had our last series of performances under a canopy outside, followed by a bonfire and delicious edibles of all kinds.

Parade

Noramon's Having Fun!

Thai Dance

Akha Outfits (The only thing in my size is a vest.)

Just a few days after the other Americans left, this American went to my new home in Israel.  Although our family holidays were not nearly as spectacular and didn’t include a parade, it was wonderful to see my brothers and sister and parents.  I had a lot of fun meeting all of our new friends and seeing all of the new sights that I’d heard so much about.  I always know that God takes care of my family however far apart we may be, but it’s great to see how well He is taking care of them with my own eyes.

My Family :)

Party at Our House

And, to top it all off, I celebrated the New Year in yet another country.  I was very excited to go back to America for a few days for a wonderful, life-changing Summit.  There, over 3000 college students and young adults from all over America gathered to hear about what they could do for God all over the world.  It was a sensory feast, as we took in the sights, sounds, smells and especially needs of the nations of the world.  I cried on the last morning as 661 students laid down cards promising to give a year somewhere and pray about a lifetime.  They each took their turn at the microphone and shouted out the nation to which they were headed.  In all of the beautiful celebrations that I experienced during these last couple of months, I think that was the best!

And now I’m back at House of Grace for another two or three months.  I’m especially working with a few girls as they prepare for a difficult English exam.  Another main focus of my time is finally realizing my dream of a discipleship/ministry team of the girls.  Pray for us as we work and study and for me as I look ahead to whatever God has next.

Oh, and by the way, I’ve been working hard on my blog,, so if you haven’t dropped by lately, don’t wait for the altar call--come visit!