Less than 2 weeks to go!

In less than 2 weeks we will be in Thailand!  In 2 weeks, the Springbrook Team will have been in Thailand for 36 hours.  We will have been with the full team for 12 hours, and checked in to our guest house.    By this time, we will most likely have seen the ministry area in Bangkok for the first time. To say I don't know what to expect is an understatement.  I keep thinking of all I have to do, but then I think about what we will be doing there instead. We had a team conference call the other night.  We got our first real glimpses into the personalities of the 28 women going on this trip.  We also got a better idea of what our days will look like. So, what does our schedule look like? Well, the Springbrook team takes off from O'Hare at 1PM on Thursday, May 23rd. After a LONG flight and a layover in Tokyo, we land in Bangkok at 11:15 Pm on Friday the 24th.  We will be 12 hours ahead of our families in Central Time.

On Saturday we will have some time with just the 5 members of the Springbrook Team.  We are hoping to deliver some "Girls Around the World" dresses, but are having a hard time coordinating that. Late Saturday afternoon (5 ish) we will head back to the airport and meet up with the rest of the AIM team to start the main part of the trip. Since we will be "working nights", our mornings (once we wake up) are free.  I suspect that this is when we will touch base with home due to the time difference. We will get together with the team before lunch to talk plans and then minister in the afternoons.  The ministry afternoons will look different every day and I am not really sure what all will be included.

 In the evenings we will worship together and then go to the red light districts.  Since we have a large group we may be split up more than previous trips.  We will all spend time in prayer in the area.  Some will continue to pray during the evening.  Others will work and minister to the children that are left to wait for their parents and some will go imto the bars to speak with the women their.  They will purchase Cokes for the women to give them a 15 minute break and make a connection. Not everyone will go into the bars,andmost of us will only go in for one or two nights.  Regardless of our individual roles, we will all be working for the same purpose.  To share love and hope. We will have one "free" day during the week to do some site seeing. Our last "night" will be Saturday, June 1st.  The team starts heading home on Sunday the 1st.  Our group does not have a flight out until late Sunday night, so we will, in essence, have another free day.  We will put our feet back on US Soil on Monday morning, June 3rd at 8AM.  As we get closer, our to do lists shrink and our anxiety and excitement grow.  Please continue to pray for us and for our families.  It can't be easy on them as they plan to take over our roles and will undoubtedly be thinking about our safety. I can't wait to share what happens!   

Love,