Bright and early tomorrow morning I will embark on an adventure of a lifetime.  Together with twelve others from six different nations I will fly to Bangkok, Thailand.  The next eleven weeks of my life will be centered on reaching the people of Thailand as well as Cambodia with the love of Jesus in practical and intentional ways.

On a day to day basis I will be working with kids coming from a slum in the city of Pattaya as well as teaching English and reaching out to the girls who have been trafficked into the bars.  I will be able to be used as Jesus' hands and feet to share the gospel with these people, show them God's love, and be an ear that will listen to the stories they all have to share.  We will go up into the villages of NE Thailand to help with the prevention side of human trafficking, educating the families, working practically, and running programs for children.

In Cambodia we will be partnering with the Rock Foundation in Phnom Penh, where we will join forces to bring clean water to a village in the surrounding area.  We are hoping to raise the funds to build at least two water wells.  We will be visiting families from a village who were forcefully evicted from their homes, as well as a village which is located right next to a massive garbage dump.  We will also have the opportunity to work with Children at Risk,  running children programs, youth events, church services, and doing house visits.  We will also take part in a clinic to teach the children about health precautions like brushing teeth, washing your hands, and we will be helping to delouse the children's hair.

As a staff of the DTS, myself, together with my good friend and co-worker Maren will be the leaders of this team.  (If you remember from last year that I also was part of leading a team to Thailand.)  I am super excited, not because I get to go back to Asia, but it is so much more than that.  Every time I think of what I have, the gospel,  my heart is overflowed with joy as I am humbled by the fact that God is using me to bring the good news to the Thai and Khmer people.  I have something in my life that could change their eternity, Jesus Christ, and I am just blown away by the opportunity!  It really is amazing how God chooses to use some of the most normal and broken people to be the light in this world.

So I want to invite you to partner with me on this journey for the next three months!  This is something that I can not do alone, I need your support, prayers, & encouragement!

If I was home in the states right now, believe me, I would much rather take you out for a coffee, cook you a nice dinner, and really be able to have a conversation with you while sharing my heart for missions, but as I am in Norway I hope that you will hear my heart through this letter.

I would like to invite each one of you to take part in financially supporting the outreach to Thailand and Cambodia.  As a full time staff at Ywam, 1 of the 20,000+,  I am responsible for raising support for all living, travel, and ministry expenses.  God has been so faithful and I have such a wonderful family of one time and monthly supporters, but I want to be bold, lay my cards on the table and challenge you to ask God what amount He is calling you to give.

I am currently lacking $1,500 (13,000NOK) for the trip which includes all food, housing, and travel expenses while I am over there for the full eleven weeks.

I really pray that you will hear my heart and see that it is not about the money but about bringing the gospel to people who have never heard the name of Jesus.  It is about you joining into Gods great commission and taking part in expanding His Kingdom.

As the body of Christ, we are not all called to be the feet that go, we need the legs that propel the feet forward, if not we would be at a stand still.  So will you join together and be a part of equipping me in order to fulfill what God has called my team to do and bringing the opportunity of eternal life to those who have never heard?  If all of my friends and family who received this letter gave $20 (180NOK), then all expenses would be covered.  I want to challenge you not to give into the thought of "Oh, if I do not give, someone else probably will"  but look at this as an opportunity to give with a joyful heart and to be a part of something God is doing in Asia!

Let's do it together friends for the glory of God!
 

For U.S. citizens you can send tax-deductible donations to: 

 

Youth With A Mission

PO Box 3000

Garden Valley, Texas 75771

 

**Due to IRS regulations Please make the check out to YWAM TYLER TEXAS, with a separate note saying "For the account of Eliana Joy Jirucha." Do not put my name anywhere on the check**

Paypal:  eliana.j.jirucha@gmail.com
 

Norsk bank: 1822 54 23756
 

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?  As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Romans 10:14-15

My sincerest prayers and blessings to you all,

Eliana Joy Jirucha

Youth With A Mission, Norway

How can we compare the incomparable when He made us individuals? We need to keep the hating to a minimal and realize that the lies we are believing are turning our minds into a criminal.  We are robbing from ourselves and creating so much pain in our hearts, when we look into the mirror it feels just like a dart... bullseye.  We start to cry, sinking to ours knees, we plea.  "Why God did you make me this way?" we say it to ourselves until it becomes such a routine.  We can't break the habit but it's breaking the Fathers heart, shattering it to pieces, as He looks upon us with such a gaze,  if we knew the reality behind our words we would be so ashamed to be heard that we think His creation is a disgrace, that He made some kind of mistake... when He made us.  He would beg to differ, He made us from dust, though that's where beauty comes from is ashes.  We don't need to bat our eyeslashes, wear skinny jeans, or cake on all the makeup.  We just need to look up.   To allow the walls to be broken down, so the key of truth can set us free.  We don't all need to be alike,  because if there was two of me and none of you then world would be off kilter. It would be missing the sparkle in your eye, the way that you laugh, and on this earth we need people who love to do math.  So enjoy who you are, you are a glimpse of your creator.  He spent time to make you as you are, and nothing that the God I know does is average.  You are a rare diamond, a beautiful gem, and please don't think that beauty is based on the latest trend.  It's not. at all. So don't waste your time, playing the game of the mind, but let those lies die and realize the value that has already been placed inside of you from the beginning of time.

Every year no matter what stories I have to tell from it, the tears I cried, the countries I visited, or the obstacles I overcame, I count it as an undeserving wave of mercy that washes over me with every breath that I take.  When I look back, all I can think of is that God is so good. God is so faithful. God is so kind.  God is so real.  I lived in 2015 because God lives in me,  it is in Him we live and breathe and have our being.

Last January 1st, God spoke to me that it would be a year of surprise and sure enough it was.  I was pushed to my limits, I overcame in ways I did not think possible.  I surprised myself with what I wanted for my future and was surprised again when God changed my mind.  I was surprised that despite my mistakes, failures, and imperfections the people close to me didn't stop loving me.  I was surprised with the patience of Gods heart and the love that He gladly pours out over me each morning.  I am continually surprised how God cares about every tiny detail of our lives.  I am surprised by Jesus every day and the fact that He just wants to be my friend.  I am surprised by the beauty of the creation that we live in and the creativity of God it reflects.

As we enter 2016, I only have one thing on my mind, Intimacy with Jesus.  I want to wake up in the morning and ask "Jesus, what do you want me to do today?"  and do it, with peace, contentment, courage, compassion, knowing that I am fearfully walking in the will of the Heavenly Father.  All else will stem from it.  For me it is not about how many things I can change about myself and my life, but how can I discover more of who Jesus is?  How can I go deeper in prayer?  How can I ignite my passion for the Bible?  How can I be the hands and feet of Jesus?  How can I love others with a love like He loves me?  I just want more of Jesus in my life. every day, every minute, every second.  Because when you are overcome by the love of God, all else falls away.  Nothing else in the world matters, because you know you are a beloved child of God.  That is what I want for 2016.  I want to be captivated by the person of Jesus and I don't want to keep it for myself.

For so long I have lived in fear, fear of never being good enough, fear of failure, fear of rejection, but nothing of that matter whens you are overcome by the Glory of God the father and the love that He has for you.

So I will wake up and smile, knowing that I am loved the same today as yesterday, I am free to be myself, and I start my day with Jesus, knowing that He will lead and guide me in every direction, whether it is a mountain to climb, a hobby to start, or a habit to kick.  He will show me. He will not leave me or forsake me.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all else will be added to you" Matthew 6:33