Friday, Sept. 14
To all you pray-ers and supporters out there:
It's been a stressful few weeks for Tom and I. We keep waking up in the morning with our stomachs all in knots! God has really been encouraging us though. Yesterday especially, I felt a lot of encouragement and comfort throughout the day that I knew for certain came from Him. After Tom freed the blog comments from the spam filter, I read your words of encouragement last night and it was really comforting to know that you are praying and that you care about our situation here. Never doubt that God is using you in our lives to be a tremendous blessing.
We'd really appreciate your prayers for Claire right now. She will be starting school on Monday. Today was very exciting for her as we all went to the school, met her teacher, observed her class and made arrangements for her to begin. She had fun playing with the other kids and her teacher seemed really nice and very flexible which we're so thankful for! She got her uniforms (for sports/activities, swimming, and her regular skirt outfit) and then we went shopping for the proper socks, shoes, hair clips, pencils, and all that. She is absolutely thrilled and excited and can't believe she has to wait TWO whole days before she starts. :) Despite all the excitement, we know the first days could be a challenge in a class of all Thai speakers, so pray that she will understand and have grace for when she doesn't! I asked Claire for her requests and she said, "Pray that I would have friends!"
She has been working on learning some more basic Thai phrases to use in school like "Arai, na?" (What?) "Mai kao jai (I don't understand). Kuhn Crew, ka (Teacher), Koh pbai hong naam (May I go to the bathroom).
Thanks again for all your prayers and your words of encouragement! For those interested, I promise to post pictures of Claire's first day, her school, and classmates.....
-Candice
Comments
I love you Claire, and I can't wait to see the pictures of you going to school! I'll be thinking about you. Love, Aunt Nita
Posted by: Anita | September 14, 2007 07:18 PM
Claire - Emma will be jealous that you get to go to school already. She has to wait another whole year and she's not happy about it!
T & C, God did not call you to Thailand only to have you get kicked out 2 yrs. early. He will provide! Be still and remember that the same God that created the universe, parted the sea, and saved sinners like us can take care of your visas.
Posted by: phil | September 14, 2007 07:56 PM
Thanks for the update. I'll definitely be in prayer, even during the TWO WHOLE DAYS prior!! :). Claire, I know that you'll have lots of friends. You're a really nice girl and I bet everybody at your school will like you a lot! (I'll write your name on my hand like I did for Dara so I keep praying for you when I see it and I don't forget you, ok.)
Love, Uncle Philip
Posted by: Philip | September 14, 2007 10:08 PM
Thanks Aunt Nita- we love you too! C and E were having a big discussion about you in bed this morning (I overheard "Aunt Anita" and "Israel")
Phil- Hallelujah and Amen!
Uncle Philip- we'll tell Claire about the writing on the hand- you'll have to send her a picture of that!
Posted by: Candice | September 14, 2007 11:17 PM
I can't tell you guys how much we appreciate you for your encouragement to us. Your steady faithfulness to what God has called you to encourages us to press on as well. Tell Claire we are praying for her and she can be praying for Acacia and Judah starting school too! How fun! We hope :-)
Posted by: Shanna Doughty | September 14, 2007 11:41 PM
You can tell Claire that her mommy's mysterious friend Carrie will be praying for her. How are you feeling about her going to school? Anxious? Excited? Sad? She is such a cutie-pie and I have no doubt that everyone will love her. I'm looking forward to hearing how that first day goes!
Posted by: Carrie | September 15, 2007 10:59 AM
Prayers of peace for all of you. I'm thinking of the song "It is Well With My Soul" as I write that. What was the author thinking when he penned "peace like a river" anyway? "Peace like a pond" seems to make more sense. But God's peace is found in the white water isn't it? He is a great river guide.
Gaby started school too and it has been an adjustment for us. She's not lucky enough to get cool uniforms though!
Posted by: Dion Peachey | September 16, 2007 09:32 AM
You guys have been in our thoughts and prayers! We'll be praying for you tommorrow, Claire! Evan is starting school tommorrow too, but at home, so he's excited, but not nervous.
We loved your article in the Caleb Report! We could relate so much with what you said. You did a great job on it! Blessings on your upcoming week!
Posted by: Wendy | September 17, 2007 01:52 AM
I will deftinately be praying for you, Claire ! You loook so grown up in that uniform! I know they will all love you.
Posted by: Grandma M | September 17, 2007 07:36 AM
Yes, we are continuing to keep ya'll in our thoughts and prayers. Be sure to tell Claire that we will be praing for her as she starts school. Hope it goes well. Doris
Posted by: Doris | September 17, 2007 08:55 AM
Claire, We're praying for you! Dara wants to talk to you about your first day and hers. We love you very much. Aunt Carmen
Posted by: C | September 17, 2007 05:02 PM