I am sorry I haven't had time to update! It has been a whirlwind the last weeks! We have just had our first day back in Norway and I can't believe how time flies! 

Last Tuesday was our last day with the kids at the Shan school. My heart broke as I hugged them goodbye. The last few weeks I was excited to get home, to see my family. But now as I was hugging them and kissing their precious little heads, I felt like I should be staying at least another month.  It has been such a blessing and experience of growth to work with the children. They have brought so much joy into my life the past 5 weeks.  I am so grateful that I was able to build friendships so strong that it brought me to tears on our last day. Each one of them stole a piece of my heart! I am thankful that through my experience I learned to take advantage of every opportunity I had to laugh with them, play with them, sing with them, or even just eat lunch with them! I have no regrets about how I spent my time! I really pray that one day God will bring me back there and that I will be able to see some of the kids grown and matured and following the ways of The Lord! 

Not only was it hard to say goodbye to the kids but also to the staff. We had so many prayer meetings, good laughs trying to communicate, and we built some really great friendships. It was really hard leaving them, not knowing when we would be able to see them again! But I am so thankful for them and their hearts for The Lord and for the school! 

After that we were on our way to Myanmar for four days!! Some of the greatest days of outreach for sure! At first I was really tired and just felt not "in" it. But after giving my burdens over to Jesus He completely changed my attitude! I fell in love with this nation! I have never in my

entire life met a people as a whole who are so willing to serve you and so open to invite you into their home, even in the midst of the tragedy they have been through as a country. We worked on Friday in a children's home where 70% of the young woman are HIV positive, where families are hoping for a girl so that they can sell her into prostitution, a village so in need of intercession! The next day we split off into two groups, one went to a prayer meeting and the other group went back to the village to do house visits! I chose to go to the house visits! We were literally just walking around and would talk to random people who were outside their houses. We came to a house where they invited us in, brought us fresh honey comb still on the branch, and let us share the gospel for two hours!! There were three generations living there, and the grandmother excepted Jesus!! That made 10 Salvations for this outreach!! We were praying for double digits! 


We then headed to Chiang Mai for debrief where we were able to relax for three days, go swimming, go to the local markets, etc. Four children (from the church project in Chiang Mai we visited the first weeks during our outreach and now visited again excepted Jesus into their hearts! Making that fourteen salvations in all!! That was all fun and amazing, but the highlight for me was meeting 'G' again!  Our last night in Chiang Mai, which could possibly the best night of outreach, started when we went back to Thapah Gate to visit our friend 'G'.  I could right a whole novel about that night, so perhaps i'll save it for a later post. But for now! A few things to thank God for!  Every since we had talked to him last time he said every night he had been thinking about Jesus! Hallelujah!! Ria & I, while in fang, were praying for someone to go there and encourage him, a man came and gave him a bible and invited him to church! Prayer answered & testimony given of God's faithfulness! Ria & I were both able to share out testimonies of God's restoration & healing in our lives! He was so amazed that we were so open to share our stories, and the incredible ways God worked in us and through us!  We asked if we could pray for him, and after some sidetracking he said will you pray for me, for more joy and hope? So we prayed! And he said he felt so much better! He told us he wanted to get connected in a church! More praises to The Lord!! and he agreed that God must love him because He chose 'G' out of all the people in Chiang Mai for us to meet!! I then told him that Jesus was standing at the door knocking, and all he had to do was open it! He then said.... "I believe if God really wants me, He will show me, so I am going to go home & go to bed early, & if God knocks on my door tonight, then I will open my heart to him!" AHHH! Party in Heaven!!! Hallelujah!! Ria and I went away smiling & praising Jesus, & also both of us woke up during the middle of the night several times praying for him automatically!! So he definitely should have encountered more of the Holy Spirit by now! We believe God for great things in this mans life! Thank you so much for your prayers!! Never underestimate their power! You are part of a support system that is helping set this man free spiritually, physically, & mentally!!


I just want to say Thank you! Tusen Takk! To all of my supporters, friends, families, anyone & everyone who has supported me on this journey to Thailand! Your prayers, your encouragement, your financial support, has gone above and beyond my expectations and has truly made an impact for not only me and my team, but for the Shan people!  I could not be here without you guys.  You are now part of reaping the harvest in Thailand! You are a part of helping equip us to be vessels of the good news & lead 14 people & children to Christ! How incredible is that? You are part of the Great Commission for Thailand!  

May God Bless you & Keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you 
and be gracious to you
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace!

Herren velsigne deg og bevare deg,
herren la sitt ansikt lyse over deg
og være deg nådig.
Herren løfte sitt åsyn på deg
og gi deg fred.

Eliana

As outreach comes close to an end, I see how God is nowhere near done with us or the people of Thailand.  The past two weeks alone have been amazing.  Last Friday, We were able to share the Jesus film at an orange farm!!! There was about 10 people, and we were able not only to share the film, but a skit called "everything", two testimonies, and I was able to share the gospel! For me it was such a Holy Spirit moment because I was feeling really sick, and hadn't been able to prepare at all! I asked one of our team members is He would do it, but then as I was sitting there I felt like no, I needed to do this, and was reminded of the verse Jeremiah 1:6-10 'Then I said, "Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a Youth,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.  "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the Lord. Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, "Behold I have put my words in your mouth,".  From the moment I started talking the words just flowed out of my, God was using me to share the gospel to people who had never heard the name of Jesus!  I remember at one moment I was worried I was about to run out of things to say and then I prayed a quick prayer in my head and immediately I was filled with sentence after sentence of the clear Gospel!  I felt the Holy Spirits presence with me the entire time!  At that moment in time, I knew I never had to be afraid of speaking publicly, He would speak through me. What a comfort that is, that we have a God who is always there for us in every situation. Incredible!

Another incredible thing happened this week as well, On our last house visit of this outreach, we had another Shan man come to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior!! My prayer and expectation for outreach was to see salvation! And every salvation that happened I was there too witness! Five Shan people welcomed into the Kingdom of God!! It is such a special thing, and I feel so incredibly grateful and blessed that I had the privilege of being part of it! Let's continue to pray for these five new believers, that each day their faith would be strengthened!!

We finished our last day at the government school on Thursday, and spent Friday working practically at the Shan school, finishing up our Jungle Mural! :D and also building a fence! We have a big Sunday meeting tomorrow at the Outreach Center, and then Monday & Tuesday will be our last days at the Shan school!  I haven't even started to think about saying goodbye to the children yet, I love them all so much, and have just been so blessed by their hugs and smiles.  I'm hoping that God will lead me back here so that I will be able to see them again.  

13 more days of outreach people! It's getting close to the end! I am so ready to see what God has in store these last three days!! Please continue to pray for our team!! :)

• Safety!! Thailand has the highest rate of traffic accidents in the world, and we are mostly traveling by crowding in the bed of a truck.
• Health!! We are finally all healthy! I think? Please pray we finish outreach with strong mind and bodies! 
• Miracles! We still want to see God as healer on this outreach! We are continuing praying for Pao, the deaf girl from Chiang Mai, as well as Kamli, a deaf girl at the Shan school!
• That we will finish as strong as we started! With the Joy of the Lord radiating through us!

Thank you for being such a blessing in my life, and your continuous support on this journey! I am looking forward to seeing some of you in April! :)

-Eliana

So much has happened over the the last week! Birthdays, Water fights, and the work of our Heavenly Father!

I had my 19th birthday on Sunday the 23rd, so two days ago! This past week I was feeling really homesick, and missing my family a lot. I was excited for my birthday but at the same time, I knew that I would miss my family even more!  I had no idea what to expect when I woke up Sunday morning, but what awaited me that day was more than I could ask for! I woke up to see that my phone had been "stolen" and that I wasn't allowed to leave the room until one of the girls escorted me down to the main floor.  When it came time, I was lead down stairs to see all the DTS, and my mom and dad on facetime, singing me happy birthday! The whole dining area was decorated, and there was crepes and ice cream for breakfast! It was so special, and tears of joy were definitely shed! Everyone had dressed up, and it felt like being with my closest family!  We then went to church, which always is special, and then ate a local restaurant, where I swear I had one of the best meals since we have been in Thailand!  We then came home and I was able to relax for about 30 minutes, until I was ushered back down stairs for another surprise! We played some games, and then E-E, one of our contacts here, came in bearing a huge pot, that of course  wasn't allowed to look in! But much to my surprise, when the lid was lifted, I saw the most beautiful homemade strawberry cake! It was chocolate inside with strawberry slices and chocolate chips covering the out! It was amazing! After eating cake and talking for a while, playing more games, I then was told we were going to dinner, (I think I gained 5lbs. in one day if that is even possible! ;) ) We went to this grill your own BBQ place, it was all you can eat, and amazing! All for around $5! We then went to the night market and looked around, and at the end of the night we tried grilled octopus tentacles!  A perfect ending to a perfect day! I was so blessed, and so amazed at how much went into this day! Even though I wasn't with my immediate family, I got to spend it with my incredible Dts Family! I couldn't have been happier to welcome in the new year of 19, than to share it with these people!

Then today at the Ywam school, we had just such a wonderful day, teaching Bible stories and English, and just playing with the kids! Then after lunch we had a huge water fight! Everyone against everyone! It was definitely one of the highlights to see the kids so happy, constantly laughing and smiling! I just feel so blessed that I have this opportunity, to be in Dts, to be in Thailand, to meet these kids. They are all so special and I love them all so much! I can't even think of the day when we will leave for the last time!

This Friday, we are really trying to show the Jesus film in one of the orange farm compounds! The problem is we have to get permission from the owner, and one already has said no, so please please pray for open doors!! And a huge crowd to see it!  I still haven't been able to get anyone to visit G, and I have emailed 4 different people.  It is really frustrating and hard for me, because being 4 hours away I literally cannot do anything. Please pray for quick responses and that action would be taken to bring G into freedom and to Christ! 

It is all happening so fast! We only have 3.5 weeks left of outreach! It is really crazy how the whole Dts is flying by! But I am so glad I have the memories and pictures to hold on to! This has really been a life changing experience and I can't wait to finish the next weeks as strong as I started!! 

May God Bless you!

Eliana