Callahan Home

Friday, August 8, 2008
Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Home of David and Shirley Callahan and Faithful Heart Foundation

We arrived Chiang Mai around 10:00pm on Thursday and Shirley and Dave were at the airport to greet us. What a welcome sight to see familiar faces in a far away country. The Callahans are from our home church, First Baptist Church of Gaffney. They moved to Thailand over three years ago to be full time missionaries here in Chiang Mai.

The six of us talked excitedly the whole way home…what fun to share and hear stories with old friends. Another bonus is I have my own bedroom!
Please pray that we can be a blessing to the Callahans and the boys at their three orphanages.

Shirley and David Callahan (back row) and children from one of the three orphanages they oversee.

We had pizza night at the house with the kids and played.

Faithful Heart Ministry House

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Faithful Heart Ministry House
David and Shirley Callahan

We arrived late last night in Chiang Mai.

Harrison had an opportunity to witness to his airplane seatmates from Italy. They were Christian and had a fun visit with Harrison.

I met two delightful ladies who work for Empower Foundation http://www.empowerfoundation.org/ This is an organization who trains the women who are in the sex trade of Thailand. They were somewhat reluctant to tell me about their work. I gave them tracts in Thai and shared the Gospel.

One of the women read the tract in great detail and I felt God was touching her heart. They asked about why we were in Thailand and seemed moved by our mission. I prayed for them and assured them I would continue to pray for them. Please pray for these precious women that God will open their eyes and heal their hearts. Pray for all the women in Thailand who are a part of the sex trade industry here. Pray this country will come to recognize the need to protect their women and children.

It almost feels like being home here in the Callahan’s home. What a joy to be with them and share about our time while also hearing about their time of ministry here. I find we have had similar struggles and I knew early on our arrival that this stop would be good for us and good for them as well.

This lovely Friday we did laundry (everything we owned needed heavy duty washing)….how wonderful to have clean smelling clothes again!

God bless the Callahans!!

In The Fire...

Wednesday, August 7, 2008
Holiday Inn Parkview
Singapore

I remember hearing a speaker once tell about a book (wish I could remember the name to give the author credit) that explains how God sometimes takes us and puts us in the heat of the fire, He then hammers and molds us. It isn’t an easy place to be but when God gets finished, we are made more like Him and are often more ready for our life’s purpose.

The four of us in the Singapore Flyer.




As I recall the speaker explaining, there are two piles, the “before” pile and the “after” pile. He finished with the question, “Which pile are you in?”

I thought a lot about that question after the speech.

About 24 hours later it occurred to me that what I wanted to be was “the hammer”….always near the heat and yet always in the Master’s hand. I loved the idea of being used by God to help mold others. As the hammer, you get nicked and pounded too, (the molding of the hammer may not be as obvious but it is molded just the same) As the hammer, you are always working but what better place to be than in the hands of God?

Reid gets a new look in Singapore. Hatcher got one too.

This week I have wondered about my desire to stay next to the fire and thought I might change that position now. This has been a week of molding for me. I don’t know that I can tell you exactly how God has molded me, but I’ve been molded nonetheless. I can recognize the metamorphous because it is so uncomfortable. I don’t like the process, but I’ve found I always like the outcome (eventually).


If you haven’t been molded by God lately, maybe it is time to get in the fire. Yes, it is hot and sometimes painful, but God has a way of removing the bad and bringing forth the good. Guess that is why He is God.


Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

"Captain" Gaurdian Angel

Saturday, August 2, 2008
En-route to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Captain Guardian Angel

It has been a quiet, resting week yet I am still tired and not yet fully revived. We took the bus from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Singapore. It was a five hour trip. I knew there was a problem from the beginning when our bus was almost an hour late. It was hot and we sat near running buses inhaling the fumes during most of that time. I started to get a headache.

In the bus the boys seemed more active than normal and I seemed more tired than normal. We stopped for a break, got a snack and then back on the road. The driver made a quick roadside stop before the border and several young men almost snuck off the bus. I wondered why they didn’t go to the border. The bus stopped again and some people began getting off. I wasn’t sure where we were and waited to see if everyone got off. The driver began yelling, “passports, passports!” By his yelling, I assumed we were at the border and suddenly realized I had not gotten my passports out of the suitcases before we left. I explained to the driver I needed access to the suitcase. He was not happy about that. We exited Malaysia customs and got back on the bus. A few minutes later we stopped again.

Again, I wasn’t quite sure what was going on and hesitated. Again the bus driver started yelling. As we got off the bus a man was standing near the luggage compartment of the bus. He looked at me and said, “Lady, I can help you with your luggage.” I was grateful for the help. He explained we had to go through customs at the border of Singapore and the bus would pick us up on the other side. He was from Singapore and had to leave us to go through another line. It was crowded at customs. I had to fill out the normal four forms and we were stopped and several bags were opened and inspected.

As we completed inspections we turned to walk towards the bus and there again was the kind man who had helped us with the luggage. He again took one of our bags and walked with us. He forewarned us that the bus may have left us.

We walked down the line of buses and none looked like ours. I turned and looked at the man. “I was afraid this may happen. They only wait 30 minutes. It is only fair to the other riders.” He seemed very understanding of the situation.

I can’t say I felt the same way. I looked at my watch. It was 9:30 at night and very dark outside. My mother instinct kicked in. I could not believe this bus driver left us and felt he had done it on purpose. The kind man had gone to look for other options for us. He returned with another bus driver who offered to take us into town for $20. I started to fuss. I was irritated and started making demands. “Lady, that won’t help get you where you want to go,” the kind man said gently. I looked at him and realized what he said was of great wisdom. I responded, “Ok, tell me what to do”. I shut my mouth and let him take care of everything. We all five got in the new bus and headed to town. The kind man asked which hotel we were going to and I realized the information was on my computer and the boys had just used up all the battery power on the computer. I did remember it was a Holiday Inn.

He didn’t seem the least bit surprised that I did not know which hotel it was. We got off at the bus station. While on the bus he had called his son to get phone numbers for all the Holiday Inns. Our first call was our hotel so we now had our destination address. Our hero walked us to a cab and made sure the cab driver knew where we were going. He then turned to me and asked, “Do you have any Singapore money?”

At this point I think I blushed. In all the confusion of the day, I had forgotten to get Singapore dollars. I thought to myself, “How in the world have you made it this far around the world?” He reached in his pocket and handed me a $50 Singapore bill. I graciously and gratefully accepted it. I gave him my business card and he gave me his. I looked at his card and saw he was a Captain for Singapore airlines. Harrison handed him a website bracelet. The boys and I thanked him for all his help; we hopped in the cab and were off. We safely arrived at our hotel in minutes.

I have searched high and low for the man’s business card and as of this writing cannot find it. There is a part of me that wonders if he was real or was he our guardian angel of the day who came to make sure we made it safely to our location? Either way, I am grateful that someone was watching after us. Actually, God has been watching after us this entire trip. He sometimes calls on others to help us when He knows we need the help.

Please join us in asking God to pour out His blessings on this man who so kindly blessed us. Pray for all those who go out of their way to help the alien in their land.

The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, ... Psalm 146:9
Our two dear friends from the Holiday Inn who so wonderfully took care of us in Singapore.
The Holiday Inn Parkview was a special treat for us. I highly recommend it!

KL ~ Tracts On The Street

August 2, 2008
Bus Station
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Handing out Tracts

Our last day in Kuala Lumpur and we still have lots of Malaysian tracts left. We are taking the bus to Singapore and have a little bit of a wait in the bus station, so we decided to hand out tracts at the station. We worked in shifts so two of us could keep an eye on the luggage. Reid and I went first. We tried giving them out to people as they walked past us but found that few would take one. We then walked around to those sitting and waiting. It is obvious when you are handing a tract to a Hindu or a Muslim here. I was thrilled each time someone who was obviously not Christian would accept the tract. I found this to be a great place to give out tracts. These folks have time on their hands and nothing to do but wait, so they read our tracts! As we finished, Reid and I prayed for those who had received that God would plant seeds in their hearts to come to know Him.

Hatcher and Harrison went next. I kept an eye on them and an eye on Reid and the luggage as they went. It was interesting to watch the people watch my children as they moved around the station. Hatcher later told me that one of the men asked if he was selling the tract. When Hatcher said no, the man began reading the tract.

Please pray for those who accepted and read the tracts, that God will touch their hearts.

KL: Man In The Street

Man in the Street
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We have had two days of rest in the hotel. The boys have been able to play on the hotel’s internet and watch TV. I’ve had some quiet time and have gobbled up a couple of the books Barbie brought me. We decided today we would venture out into the city. Our cab driver had told us that Times Square was the place to go (shopping, movies and even an indoor roller coaster) and it was within walking distance of our hotel so we headed that way.

I must share that spiritually I am drained. I have come to learn the signs of my own spiritual drought and when I recognize those signs I know it is time to replenish for I have nothing left inside….I need a refilling of the Spirit.

The city was interesting and busy. As we walked, we suddenly passed a beggar. He legs were maimed and I didn’t have it in me to even look at him. We passed him and then Hatcher stopped. He didn’t have to say anything, because I knew too we had to give the man something. We dug into our pockets and pulled out a couple of remigetts (Malaysian currency). I also dug for a Malaysian tract. Hatcher walked back and gave the items to the man. “Mom, I think he was happy to get the tract.” Hatcher said. I was relieved we hadn’t passed him by. Soon we saw another and again gave.

As we walked the last block to Times Square, the number of people walking with us grew. I looked ahead and saw something in the street. My heart lurched and my soul started to cry out to the Lord, “God, please don’t let that be a person.” I kept repeating that in my head, but God was not answering my plea.

In my life I have seen many hurt and wounded people. I have hugged children laden with lice, kissed the hand of a man who was covered in scabs and held and prayed for a woman with leprosy. Yet, this sight before me now was one I could not handle. I don’t know that words can begin to give you a picture of how it felt in my heart. This was a man who was lying on the side of the street. His leg was displaced from his hip and stuck out to the side, he had a large open wound on his leg and many wounds in various stages of healing. He was very thin and barely clothed. His arms and legs were all wounded and frozen in certain positions. Most disturbing of all, he was lying face down. His mouth was pressed against the road. My insides were panicking….I wondered if he had fallen and no one had stopped to help him. I walked towards him to check on him. Inside I wanted to run in the opposite direction. He was conscious and then I saw the cup in his hand. He could not move his body but he could bang the cup against the road. Inside the cup were a variety of bills. I reached in my pocket and gave him everything that was in it, then walked away.

The boys followed close behind. We walked up a short set of stairs to the entryway of Times Square. I immediately saw large advertisements for beautiful clothes and name brand watches. The advertisements and the vast materialism that lay before me made me want to vomit and I wondered if I could walk through this building. I had to stop and lean against the wall. The boys gathered around me and I grabbed the first one I could and began to weep.

I wept for the man. I wept for this country. I wept for the people who walked by him. I wept for the family member who must take him there regularly in order to get financial help to care for him. Then I wept for me, that I couldn’t touch him, speak to him, pray for him or even look at him. I felt I had let the Lord down. I had allowed my own fear, hurt, pain, whatever it was to stop me from showing the love of God to him.
I will not be the same since this event. I will forever wonder if I was his chance for healing or salvation and I missed the opportunity. The image of this man will forever be etched on my mind. I cry now as I write this.
Later I prayed and asked God why I couldn’t reach out to this man. I don’t know the answer and don’t feel like God has given me one, but I do know that I was not “prayed up”. I know by the Word that in our weakness God is made strong (2 Corinthians 12:9)….I wonder if I had reached out in faith (in the weakened state I was in) if God would have moved with great strength. I’ve seen God do it before, yet I didn’t give Him a chance this time. I see in hindsight I was more focused on my needs than his, yet how much greater his needs were than mine.

I have prayed for this man and I have repented to the Lord for my weakness. I have prayed that God will send another who is stronger.
Please pray for him too…God knows his name.

New friends we met in Malaysia…please pray that God will speak to their hearts.

Kuala Lumpur

July 28, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This country and city are so very different than what I expected. The official religion here is Islam. It is a very diverse group of people and several natives have said the country prides itself on welcoming all religions.

Kuala Lumpur has the largest buildings in the world…the Petronas Twin Towers. They are striking and I remember seeing them on TV for the 2000 New Year Celebration.

One of these building houses an opera house and a huge mall. We visited the children's museum inside the building and it was terrific.

Friends we met in the museum…everybody wants a pic with us. :-)

Our taxi driver from the airport to our hotel was a delight and gave us the history of Malaysia as well as many other parts of the world…he was like an encyclopedia and we thoroughly enjoyed our ride with him.

We made friends at the Starbucks in town. These guys were very friendly and we were able to share the Gospel with them.

Two of them said they were Christians and a third was Buddhist.

Please pray for them.

God touches hearts

Monday, July 7, 2008
Another small village in India

God touches hearts
By: Gloria Gault Geary

I don’t believe in coincidences anymore. I believe that everything is a part of God’s plan. I also am beginning to understand that when God uses us to bless others He also blesses us in some way.

Today is the 7th anniversary of the death of my husband. I don’t dread this date like I used to. I accept it as a day to thank God for the time I had with my husband and also to thank Him that I know my husband is in Heaven. This year it was also a time to see how far God has brought my family. I awoke early in the morning and realized the date. I spent time with the Lord and feel back asleep, I did not think about the anniversary again until I was in the middle of my talk to a group of widows.


As I began talking God prompted me to tell them the story of how He spoke to me that morning Bill died. As I began to share the story I remembered it was the anniversary and shared that with them too. After we shared the Gospel with them we prayed over them. There was a woman who requested prayer whose husband had died within the last year. She has two girls and her mother has leprosy and she is also sick. The minute she and I touched hands she broke down crying. One of our team members was praying aloud over her. The widow cried and began praying aloud too. Of course we could not understand what she was saying, but I knew she was pouring out her heart to God. I also knew that was exactly what she needed to do and I knew God was reaching down into her heart to give her healing. It touched my heart that God would use my story to touch these women half a world away and I began crying too. We cried and prayed together. Soon the team stopped praying out loud and just let her cry and pray as we quietly prayed around her. It was a precious time for all of us.

It was interesting to me that on the morning of Bill’s death, God would have me speaking to a group of very young (early to mid-teens) widows here in India. I felt blessed to be with these young women whose struggles are more than I have ever imagined having. It is very possible that is the reason God put me with these women today. If I would ever think to fall into self pity about the fact that my husband has died I need only to think of these young women. They are more on their own than I have ever been. My church, my family and my friends gathered around me to support me enormously after Bill died. These women have few to none who have surrounded them. I have the peace of knowing my husband is in Heaven and one day I will see him again. They often do not.

There were 10 students and 3 past students there for the meeting, Eight of them accepted Christ after we spoke. God was there with us and He was speaking to hearts. We gave them Bibles and they were truly thrilled to receive one.

Please pray for these precious young widows. Pray for God to draw them near to Him and use them to be a witness to others. Pray for provision for them and this ministry.

The Medical Clinic

Chilakallu Village, India

This year the ministry has opened a medical clinic for the local citizens.

The cost to the community is minimal (approximately 2 rupees for 2-4 visits) and has proven a great way to minister and share the love of Jesus.

We visited the facility which is right outside the compound.

They see about 30-40 patients a day.

There is one doctor (thanks to a Canadian mission team who raised the funds to pay his salary for one year) and several nurses and nurse helpers. Because it is a small community the women will often make visits to homes to encourage those who need to come in to the clinic.

The clinic is bright and cheery and very clean looking. We heard a little about their ministry and how they have seen what a blessing it is to the community.

We laid hands on each of them and prayed for God to pour out His healing touch on each of them.

Visiting The Children of India

Tuesday July 1, 2008
Chilakallu Village, India

Today we are finally getting on track with the time change. The first big event this morning was that Harrison got invited to go see the local monkey. There are many different animals and bugs here that the boys are enjoying seeing. Wild monkeys are all over the place and suddenly show up in trees above us.

We spent time with the boys from the orphanage in the morning and shared the Gospel with them using the salvation bracelets and soccer ball. They were quick learners. My boys stayed there and played with the soccer ball and match box cars with the local boys. I rarely saw them the rest of the day.