Although I have been busy with packing and paperwork for my relocation to Bangkok, I'm making time to enjoy the Holidays and my friends and the chilly weather! Bangkok only has two seasons- Hot and Humid and.... Hotter and MORE Humid. These are a few of the simple things that will be missed while celebrating Christmas in Asia next year.
Snuggly, cozy flannel jammies and a cup of hot cocoa
Singing Christmas songs (as loud as I like) in my car while stuck in Holiday traffic.
On my face, on the floor, or dancing around the house worshiping, celebrating and praising my Savior! For unto us a Savior is born, Christ the Lord!
Playing "Holiday" dress-up in fancy department stores with my crazy friends!
Driving around town at night to enjoy all the Christmas Lights
Making Christmas cookies with my "roomie" and laughing a LOT.
For those of you who have been asking me for some updated pictures pictures of my youngest son...here you go! Unlike my daughter, and her crew, my sons are pretty camera shy, so I'm was lucky to get ANY pictures of them. Here is a fairly recent picture of my youngest son David with his grandmother out on the pier in San Diego. His 6'5'' frame makes my mom look pretty small! The picture below was from our trip to Mexico to visit a friend.
Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. Victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor. Victims can be very young children, teenagers, women or men!
After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today.
Sex Trafficking: the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act , in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person forced to perform such an act.
Labor Trafficking: the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, debt bondage or slavery.
Trafficking Victims Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 victims annually are trafficked across international borders worldwide, according to the U.S. Department of State. Victims are generally trafficked into the U.S. from Asia, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe. Many victims trafficked into the United States do not speak or understand English and are therefore isolated, unable to communicate with service providers, law enforcement and others who might be able to help them.
How Victims Are Trafficked Victims can be exploited for purposes of commercial sex, including prostitution, stripping, pornography and live-sex shows. However, trafficking also takes place as labor exploitation, such as domestic servitude, sweatshop factories, or migrant agricultural work. Traffickers use force, fraud and coercion to compel women, men and children to engage in these activities.
Force involves the use of rape, beatings and confinement to control victims. Forceful violence is used especially during the early stages of victimization, known as the ‘seasoning process’, which is used to break victim’s resistance to make them easier to control.
Fraud often involves false offers that induce people into trafficking situations. For example, women and children will reply to advertisements promising jobs as waitresses, maids and dancers in other countries and are then trafficked for purposes of prostitution once they arrive at their destinations.
Coercion involves threats of serious harm to, or physical restraint of, any person; any scheme, plan or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.
Victims of trafficking are often subjected to debt-bondage, usually in the context of paying off transportation fees into the destination countries. Traffickers often threaten victims with injury or death, or the safety of the victims’ family back home. Traffickers commonly take away the victims’ travel documents and isolate them to make escape more difficult.
In many cases, the victims are trapped into a cycle of debt because they have to pay for all living expenses in addition to the initial transportation expenses. Not meeting daily quotas of service or “bad” behavior alsoincreases their debt. Many victims do not realize that it is illegal and blame themselves. Even if the victims sense that debt-bondage is unjust, it is difficult for them to find help because of language, fear, shame and physical barriers that keep them from obtaining help.
Help for Victims of Trafficking
If you think you have come in contact with a victim of human trafficking, call 1.888.3737.888. Victims of human trafficking who are not U.S. citizens are eligible for a special visa and can receive benefits and services through the TVPA to the same extent as refugees.
Couldn't find a definition that made sense to me, so came up with my own...
The idea behind a BLOG (web-log-journal)is to follow along "little by little" through life's adventures....somewhat like a lunch date with your good friend- more time spent and more info shared. FACEBOOK, on the other hand, is like grabbing an expresso at the coffee bar together! They are both good, but different ways to "catch up" on communications. TWITTER...well, I haven't figured that one out yet. Maybe it's more like WAVING out your windows as your cars ZOOM past each other?
Freezer Burn- this is what can happen if we store things for too long in the freezer! According to the articles I’ve read, apparently freezer burn can’t kill you. It does however render your food tasteless and unappealing!
An interesting metaphor stirs in my mind as I dig through the layers of ice and unrecognizable clumps of gray, frosted foods. At one time “this thing” was a delicious, flavorful item!
Just like the job of defrosting a freezer, from time to time it's good to ask, "What have I been storing for too long…that has now become gray, flavorless or unappealing to the world around me?" People are hungry for a fresh, flavorful revelation of God’s love, goodness and power. I am obligated to seek ways to “serve it fresh” daily.
Too often I have failed to be generous with what I have been given at the moment, not willing to trust that my Father in Heaven will provide me “fresh bread” for tomorrow's needs. I think this is one of the keys to being an extravagantly generous person. We can be generous people in all ways, because our God does not have limited resources!
Father, we could never thank our military men and women enough for their courageous service and sacrifice to our country and its people. Yet today we lift up our voices to express gratefulness and honor to these military troops both from the past and present. Show us ways in our communities, churches, and families to thank and love them better. Keep and protect these heroes and their families, in the powerful name of Jesus
Fort Hood November 10, 2009
On November 10, 2009, through many tears... I watched the live broadcast of the memorial service for those recently murdered at at Fort Hood. I can't even imagine the pain their loved ones are experiencing right now.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Psalm 33:20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
One of my favorite treats when I was in Thailand was sticky rice and mangos, but my Thai friends preferred DONUTS. It was always a special treat to buy donuts, especially around the Holidays. Oh my gosh- those look so delicious. I am totally craving chocolate donuts right now. So I figures I would post some on my blog instead of posting them on my thighs! Yummy- those look so good. Okay, everybody enjoy!
I have always had a passion for the arts. Recently, I have been meeting with a few of my friends (there they are) to do something called prophetic art. This is an idea I was introduced to about two years ago at Bethel Church in Redding California. I guess some are curious why it is referred to as prophetic? It's not very complicated, we meet together to worship God by using our artwork. Prophetic art is just another form of communion with the Creator of all things! We use art not only as a means of worship, but also intercession. We simply capture on paper, with images and colors, what others are more comfortable recording with words. Sometimes our paintings are specific declarations, such as a hope of healing for our community. Other times the art takes on an abstract, impressionistic look.
We try to gather for a few hours every other week, always preparing our spirit with prayer and sometimes singing. Then we begin. We come to our easels and ask God, "What is on your heart?" Since God is real and not some distant figment of our imagination. we fully expect to hear from Him. God desires relationship with His people!
The Spirit of God reveals much to those who are willing to listen. I'm always in need of practicing my listening skill! I find the arts to be a powerful and intimate way to express what God is stirring inside of me. Sometimes there are no words to express what we sense in our spirit. Prophetic art is not about drawing the perfect masterpiece; it about having the freedom to express yourself to the Most High God.
"Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring...who gives breath to all the people...I am the Lord, that is My name....I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to a graven images"
It's a full moon tonight! Am I the only one that gets really excited about such beauty? I hope not. Tonight there is an absolutely, unbelievably, beautiful, giant, amazing full moon! Bundle up, go outside and see for yourself. WOW- WOW - WOW. What an awesome God we have. Yea God!
I randomly pulled four days worth of the Ukiah Daily Journal (my local newspaper) A Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday copy are lined-up across my coach for you to see. Do you notice anything? The newspaper looks more like a farmers almanac on "How to Promote Marijuana as a Cottage Industry."
To say I live in an unusual or unique Town, is an understatement. Mendocino County is know nationally for many bizarre reasons, but perhaps the one thing most are talking about now... is the Marijuana Industry.
Right now it is harvest time in my community. Usually when people think of harvesting, they are thinking- vegetables and fruit, or perhaps grapes from the near by vineyards...but that is not what "harvest time" means in Mendocino County!
This is an interesting choice for the county emblem- don't you think? Notice the large pot leaf on the left. The crazy thing to me is how many people are involved in this industry! It is believed that roughly 2/3 of our local economy is directly impacted by the substance. It certainly seems possible!
The article below is a great example of how perfectly acceptable (and yet corrupt) the whole topic has become in my community. On this page we can read how a businessman in town had tried to avoided the whole cannabis industry because he didn't want the "risk". But surprisingly, the reigning Mendocino County District Attorney at that time said to him, "Anyone not growing 25 plants is an idiot." This businessman goes on to say, "When your District Attorney says this, I thought I must be an idiot."
Since our local newspaper has decide to direct most of it's attention towards the issue of marijuana.....hey, you can turn to just about any page in the Journal and find a helpful hint. Here are a few pages committed to showing you how to grow, trim, store and market the stuff. Am I the only one who thinks this is insane?
I'm pretty sure when Jesus said that "the harvest was plentiful..." this was not what He had in mind.
This is my grandson. I think he is adorable! My oldest son and his wife came down from Washington for a visit recently. I am truly blessed whenever we can spend time together. Time with the family always means a lot of good food, good talks and plenty of good hugs! I thought I would be back to Southeast Asia by now, but it's times like these that make me grateful for God's delays. His timing is perfect.
One of the best and also one of the most difficult courses I have ever been through, was a recent TESOL Course. The BEST part of my adventure will be the focus of this short entry.
Living on campus with hundreds of other followers of Jesus was so inspiring. Students and adults from all over the world were there to be discipled and equipped for ministry to the nations. While I lived there, multple teams were sent out to do short term missions all over the world. I met people there whom I hope will remain friends forever.
The YWAM base in Tyler Texas is a tremendous location if you are considering training. There are many schools, evangelism, media training and missions are only a few. I's a huge sending base located on hundreds of open acres that are dotted with lakes and trees. At one time this land was home to David Wilkerson ministries (Author of The Cross and the Switch Blade) Other near by ministry centers include Teen Mania and Mercy Ships.
The culture of the YWAM community is that of worship and servanthood. It is an obvious value of all who serve there. From the time I was picked up at the airport until when I was dropped off, generosity and kindness prevailed. It was an honor to meet so any passionate young people, who plan to serve where ever God should lead them. What a great experience to be part of the community for those few months.
July 4th we had a little fireworks of our own here at the Walter household! Heidi went into labor late that night. By early morning (July 5th) the C-Section was complete and two healthy babies had entered the world. At the bottom of the screen is Amelia (Mia) who was the first to be delivered. Amelia weights about 5lbs 9 oz. Her brother, Cooper was the next to arrive. He weighed a whopping 6lbs and 13 oz. Both babies are healthy and doing great! Heidi had more side effects from the anesthesia than we expected and spent the first 5 hours after labor very ill. She is improving with every hour, so thank you for all your kind prayer!
Proud daddy holding his newborn son, "Cooper"
Dainty little "Amelia" being admired by her mommy! It looks like all her little finger and toes are accounted for.
Although not the best angle, this was as close as I could get to the twins right after their birth (Hospital Policies..... you know......) This short video was taken about one hour after the babies were born....mostly for the benefit of the Grandmas/Grandpas, Great Grandmothers, Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, Brothers and Sisters who live out of state, but wished they could get a quick glimpse of the twins! ENJOY
Today, Heidi and Wade met with their Doctor again. It looks like Sunday July 5th will be the date set for a C-section. This is very good news as my daughter has been able to do little more than waddle to her bed, the recliner or to the bathroom for a month. The average gestation for twins is about 37 weeks. Many women deliver their babies before that time but have to leave their babies in a prenatal care unit for days. Hopefully that won't be Heidi's problem. She has made it 38 weeks with no sign of toxemia or other medical complications. That is a HUGE praise and answer to prayer!
My temporary mission field for the last month has been in Tennessee serving my family. I can't think of a more fruitful way to spend my time. What a great blessing to be available for these few months before I head overseas.
My role here for the past month has been... maid, cook, nanny, playmate, gardener and chauffeur. Taking on these tasks has given Wade the freedom to earn a little extra money before the babies arrive. Taking care of a wife and three children (all three under two years of age) is a big responsibility, especially on a single income. He is a very devoted father and husband, so I am glad to be here to help.
Thank you for your concern and prayers for my family. Please continue praying for:
• No complications with the umbilical cords, placenta's position and postpartum bleeding
• Healthy babies and mommy
• Peaceful transitions and adjustments when they arrive home from the hospital (Heidi, Wade, Codie Rae and babies)
Okay... Not me, my daughter is pregnant with twins. We are expecting a little BOY and a GIRL any day. As you can imagine, Heidi is hopeful that they will come sooner rather than later!
Big sister (almost 2 years old) is looking forward to these two new family members... Hello, anybody in there?
Mischief Maker x2
There is plenty to do before the twins arrive, including trying to potty-train their "almost" 2yr old "big" sister.
How do you keep a 2 year old's attention while reviewing the finer skills of potty-training etiquette? Why you do ANYTHING of course, including bribing them with m&m's and playing silly games with grandma's glasses!
