Meet Candice Christensen

Candice is the newest member of ABWE's Thailand Team. She is here short-term for 5 months (March thru July). She is spending the first 2 months in Bangkok visiting the different ministries here. After that she is moving with Lesa Morgan to Chiang Rai for the remainder of her time to work at the Akha Orphange and English center.

Candice is 19 years old and from a small town just outside of Boise, Idaho. She comes from a loving and supportive Christian family. Her father is a police officer and her mother is a pre-school teacher. Candice is the second of 4 sisters. Her older sister is married, but still lives close to home. Her younger sisters are 14 and 9 years of age.

Candice has had a burden towards missions for as long as she can remember. In fact, when she was a little girl, she said she would go anywhere in the world except for Cambodia. Lo and behold, God placed her right next door to it here in Thailand. She came here to get some "hands on" missions experience, and to see where she feels God might lead her in the future.

Things have been going very well. My parents came and spent some time with me here. I just said good-bye to them 2 weeks ago. After which, I had visiting missionaries from India come for another week.
Coming up next is a week long English camp put on by the Filipino missionaries here. There are 25 classes ranging from 1st grade through adults. They are expecting about 150 people attending besides staff. I will be teaching Anna and Drew while we are there, but Diane and Dave will be teaching and leading games.

God has been so faithful these past few months as He has led me through all the changes that have been going on. He IS the eye in the storm, the calm resting place, and that still small voice that is always there when I am ready to listen. He has showed me over and over again how He cares about even the smallest details that somehow seem to worry me the most. Thank you all for your prayers for me. I have certainly felt them, and they are much appreciated.

In His Name,
Bethany

Urgent Prayer

Dave and Diane Ford, the family I am now working with, just took their daughter Alyssa to college this summer. She is a freshman at Johnson Bible College near Knoxville, TN. After Soccer practice this past Friday, Alyssa, another female student, and two male students went to get something to eat when they were involved in an accident that caused the car to flip. Alyssa was in the back seat with her seatbelt on as was the other girl who is currently in a drug-induced coma. The driver of the car had cuts and bruises while the other fellow broke both wrists. Both Holly and Josh Ford (big sister and brother) are with Alyssa. Alyssa is in the ICU of the University of Tennessee Memorial Center. The doctor says she has lacerations to the spleen and it is bleeding. They are monitoring her very closely in the event that surgery is needed. Her lungs are bruised and might have a small hole letting air out. She has shoulder fractures and 2 fractures to her pelvis. She also has a very large head bruise but no brain damage. The doctor has assured the Fords that Alyssa will heal but will be very sore for a while. They will be keeping her in the hospital for at least 5 days (barring surgery being necessary) with full recovery taking about 6 weeks.

Please pray not only for Alyssa, but also her family here Bangkok. At this point they are not planning on returning home, as they have several family members already there taking care of her. However, in the event that she does need surgery, her mom will head back to the states to be with her. It has been extremely hard for the family having to watch/hear from a distance, but they are trusting in God for what is best for them and their daughter.

My New Home!!

Thank you all for you prayers and emails of support. I have finally moved into my new apartment! I was able to find a partially furnished apartment for much less than I had anticipated. I finished ordering furniture today. Hopefully it will arrive at least close to when it is supposed to. For those of you that are wondering - Here is my new mailing and residence address.

The Parkland 10/508
1211/92 Moo 12 Bangna-Trad K.M, 4.5 Rd.,
Bangna, Bangna, Bangkok, 10260 Thailand

Yes, you do need both of the "Bangna's " in there at the end. One is the sub-district and one is the district. They just happen to be the same in my area.

Thanks again for all of your prayers!!

In His Love and by His Grace,
Bethany

Prayer Request

I have had something very unexpected come up. The new family I will be working with (Dave and Diane Ford) live on the other side of Bangkok. The travel time is not that bad, but I added up some figures the other day and the travel costs are WAY too expensive. So I have to move. Because of the new location, I will no longer have a room mate. I looked for apartments for the first time today. The last place I looked - God opened a door. I have found a single bedroom, partially furnished apartment a motorcycle taxi away from the Ford's home. The rent is cheap and the apartment is in a huge complex that is not only cheap, but has a small store, food, and laundry facilities. I am going back tomorrow to measure and hopefully sign papers.

Please pray that all the details work out smoothly. I do need an odd lease (7 months). Hopefully they will be willing to work with me. I also was, unfortunately, unable to find a fully furnished apartment. Please pray that I am able to find everything I need for a reasonable price, and that all the unexpected costs of this move will come together.

Thank you all for your prayers.

Good Morning, Vietnam!!

Vietnam was certainly an adventure for me. I really managed to cram a lot of experiences into 6 short days. Several of them I hadn't even planned on. I arrived into Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) late Sunday night. Monday I spent 8 hrs on a bus traveling out to one of the provinces. 5 hrs into the bus ride I got sick - not fun - do not try this at home! Needless to say I crashed that night and most of the next day. The rest of the week I spent mostly in the province. I had a chance to spend a day at a remote fishing village and have some great Vietnamese dishes with fresh caught seafood.

Thursday night I took a night train back to Ho Chi Minh City. I spent the day shopping at markets before heading home that night. It was a fabulous trip and an amazing experience. God really used that time to refresh my Spirit and to draw me closer to Him.

Going to Prison

Once a week I have started visiting a women's prison in Bangkok. I go with a group of people made up of Fillipino missionaries, retired Americans, Singaporeans, and there missionaries from the States. Diane Ford goes with me as well. The prisoners that I meet with are from all over the world. The women in this prison are mostly there due to various drug charges. I meet with some of the English speaking girls. So far I have had a chance to speak with women from South Africa, Taiwan, Nepal, Nigeria, and the Philippines (to name a few). Most of the women I talk to are already Christians. All have them have either been saved or turned their lives around in prison. We go and talk with them for an hour a week to encourage them, find out what their physical needs are, contact friends and family, do Bible studies, and counseling. One week we could be talking about what the Bible says on sexual immorality, and the next week we talk about our favourite foods. Many of these women have been in the prison for several years already, and they have an indefinite span of time left. They have family and children back in their home country. Some of the women had children after arriving in the prison and have had to send their kids home. Their faith, however, is stronger then of anyone I have ever met. My purpose in going is to try and be of some encouragement to them, but I always leave there feeling encouraged.

Please pray for these women when you think of them. That their faith would remain strong and that they would continue to trust in the Lord.

Thank You, Bethany