As we prepare to leave early Tuesday morning.. just have a couple of prayer requests..

• Pray for good bonding times with Josh. I’m really lookin fwd to exclusive father-son times. Josh has a voracious appetite in reading, and is curious about many things. I’m hoping to impart more life lessons to him even as he follows me around for ministry times.

• I’ll be speaking/sharing at 2 church services at my former church in Orange County. Pray for fruitful times of encouragement and fellowship as I re-connect with some of the church people. I desire to be a blessing in whatever way the Lord may choose.

Thanks for praying! =)

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I’m headed off again.. this time to the U.S.
this is a rather unique trip for several reasons.

1stly, Joshua is coming with me. Yep, I’m taking my first-born to Los Angeles.. and I’m planning on a trip to Disneyland with him. Yeah! double-yeah for him! =)

2ndly, this trip is specifically for me to connect and catch up face-to-face with a few of my faithful supporters, many of whom have been part of our ministry team since we began serving the Lord 7years ago.

The last time I saw some of them was in year 2001!

I’m thankful for God’s provision of some cheap tickets, and I’m really looking forward to what God is going to do through our time there.

Today, I met a friend who told me that she’s been reading my blog…
And she added that she was inspired by some of the stories I’ve been sharing.

Wow, that sure took me by surprise.. a pleasant surprise I might add. =)
So I thot to myself… I’ve gotta keep it up. I’ve had many many things I wanted to share and blog.. but have just not gotten myself to to write or type it out.

Anyway, you can look forward to more stories on the way.

Thanks friend.. for your simple but timely encouragement!

Today we had our very 1st STINT Touchpoint!

God has so amazingly added to our numbers in our team in ForeRunner!
There are actually now 4 STINTers (1-year commitment interns) in training with us!
Each of them has a unique and story on how God called and led them to this decision to give one year of their life to serve Him.

I’ll share (and feature) each of them at a later time.. so that you might be blessed and encouraged too! =)

Frankly… it’s been tough 2 weeks.. back to the drudgery of life.

It’s especially difficult coming from a ‘high’ experience of a missions trip etc.

Time and again.. I guess I had to remind myself what I shared with the team at end of our trip… The very thing I ‘preached’ I’m now struggling to practice. =(

Yet again I’m reminded from Oswald Chambers (in ‘My utmost for His highest’) that… “We are not meant to be seen as God’s perfect, bright-shing examples, but to be seen as the everyday essence of ordinary life exhibiting the miracle of His grace” He goes on to say, “Drudgery is the test of genuine character. The greatest hindrance in our spiritual life is that we will look for big things to do. Yet, “Jesus… took a towel and …. began to wash the disciples’ feet… (John 13:3-5)”

“The routine of life is actually God’s way of saving us between our times of great inspiration which comes from Him. Don’t always expect God to give you His thrilling moments, but learn to live in those common times of drudgery of life by the power of God.”

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Before I left for Thailand last month (for The Ultimate Road Trip tour) I had only raised $300!
When I returned.. all the $1500 that I needed to raise for the trip had come in… and some more.

Our God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills has (once again!) so graciously given a few of those ‘cattle’ to meet my needs.

Thank you Jesus for your gracious provisions, and thank you Jesus especially for our friends and relatives who gave so generously toward your work. =)

Greetings fr Phuket!

Today (June 13th)we performed at the canteen of Prince of
Songkhla University, Phuket. It was a rather transient crowd,
cos’ most people were having their lunch. (I personally was
thinkin’ I seriously doubt if anyone would respond at all)

In spite of it all, God knew in His perfect plan that He wanted
to draw 8 students to Himself. another 17 were interested to
know more about Christ.

We’re had about 6 concerts so far… and have recorded 480
decisions for Christ. There must be great rejoicing in heaven
right now! =)

The most amazing one must have been last Thursday’s concert at
a high schoool in Nakhon Si Thammarat, where 324 kids responded
to the gospel out of the 600 plus who attended our full
evangelistic concert! What made it particularly amazing was
that musically & vocally it was one of our ‘poorest’. Our lead
vocalist, Sharon, practically had no voice (we actually had
someone singing backstage to back her up!) Praise God! God
magnified Himself through us in spite of…

God is working in us and through us cos’ you prayed. Thank you.

Life change is also happening in the the team as practically
everyone is experiencing God in a real & personal way. Several
of the people in our team have said that this has been a
life-changing 6 weeks in their lives. Praise God again!

I’m personally so thankful to be able to participate in whole
project & this trip. I’ve been so blessed to witness once again
my God who always exceeds our expectations. I feel my faith
growing to see his power so clearly demonstated in me and my
team.

Ephesians 3:20 comes to my mind… ‘Now to Him who is able to
do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine to Him be the
glory….’

Indeed, all glory to Him, and Him alone!

thanks again for your partnership in this work,
Simon

p.s. I return on June 17th, please do continue to pray for Lil
& the kids who are very much part of this trip by their support
& prayers! =)

Thank you sooo much for many of you who prayed…
And for all your concern for Joshua’s ear.

The last visit to the doctor was somewhat inconclusive..
Basically, he’s not ready to do the surgery as yet. So he said to wait and observe (while continuing on the nasal spray medication) for another month. Then to do another hearing test next month.

And if things don’t seem to improve then he may need to go ahead with the surgery. =(

You can pray that his ears will ‘unclog’ often, and that it doesn’t get infected easily.

We’re 1 1/2 weeks into the Ultimate Road Trip. It’s been nothing but exciting.. in every sense of the word. In the midst of challenges and busyness, I’m glad to have the opportunity to connect with some of the students.

Each of them has been expressing how God has already been working in their lives, bringing about change etc.

And I personally have been experiencing Him too. Someone once said, “The branch that feels the pruning knife is the branch that is growing.” So in this sense, I’m thankful… Though the process can be painful, and often uncomfortable.

His grace is sufficient for me; for His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Yep! after months and months of prayer and preparations, our 6 Thais friends are finally here! The 6 of them make up Koinonia, the music ministry of Thailand Campus Crusade for Christ. And it’s a marvelous privilege for us in ForeRunner to be able to help equip & train them as a ministry.

“God is sooo good!” That was the repeated phrase of tonight, as we gather for simple welcome party for them. Just a day before they flew over, a supporter called them over to her house.. and offered a ‘small’ gift to them. She said she felt God had led her to give, and she needed to obey. She handed over 150,000 Baht (abt S$6k) That literally covered about a third of what the team needed to raise to come here.

Over on our end, God provided a house.. yes, a house.. and very large one! for only $1000 for their whole time here! It’s amazing. On top of that, many people gave generously both in kind and in cash to help the Thais settle down here. God is sooo good!