An eventful month.

We are wishing you all a belated Merry Christmas! We are so thankful for a time of the year set-aside for reflection on the birth of Christ, and what it insinuates for all those who are His. What a gift.

This month was very eventful for our family! It held a huge learning curve for us as we got our feet wet selling at a local market with our food truck. This included some stressful moments as we learned what doesn't work the hard way at times. But we also had many encouraging days and feel like we can move forward with some kinks worked out and a lot more confidence! There is so much for us to praise the Father for as we reflect on this past month of selling. He has provided amazing employees for us, orchestrated opportunities for spiritual conversations and relationship building at the market, and given grace when we feel our weakness and need for sanctification the most. We know that the learning curve will be steep for a while, but are so thankful to be where we are at!

This is a local wholesale market where we source some of our ingredients.

A picture from one of our first nights selling!

One night this month, as Ryan was closing up the truck for the night, a glass container of hot oil burst and  left him with some burns and a cut that required stitches on his foot. It meant a very stressful evening as he was taken to the ER by ambulance while Nova and I went back to the market to finish closing up the truck and we weren't sure how severe his injuries would be. God was so kind through the experience though, providing sweet Thai vendors who bent over backwards to help us where we needed it. His burns ended up not being too severe and after staying off of his feet for a few days, he was back to selling and now has made almost a complete recovery. Yet another situation that felt overwhelming and stressful at the time, but we can see God's nearness and faithfulness woven through it so clearly! 

This picture was taken at our Sauced & Tossed Christmas dinner this month! We could not ask for a better team and look forward to where these relationships will lead. One employee is a Christian, one is a Buddhist, and one just surrendered his life to the Lord within the past few months! We have been so thankful for how naturally gospel conversations have happened as time is spent together on the truck.

And by far the most special part of this month has been having my parents here! This has been their first time to Thailand, and their first time meeting Nova. Although we are thankful for phone calls and video calls, there is no real substitute for time spent together in person, and we are treasuring getting to share life with them here for a few weeks. 

Also, Christmas week brought with it some of the coldest weather we have ever experienced in Thailand, so it felt fun and festive to get to wear some winter clothes for a few days. :)

 

PRAISES & PRAYER REQUESTS:

- praise God for His leading over the past month and all that it entailed, as well as physical protection and healing for Ryan's injuries! 

- praise God for the gift of family and the privilege of getting to have my parents here.

- pray for our employees and contacts in the marketplace, that God would use our time together to save those who are lost, and to encourage those who already know Him.

- pray for wisdom and grace to manage Sauced & Tossed well for the glory of God. 

- pray for the Spirit's work in hearts here that eyes would be opened to the beauty and necessity of the cross of Christ.

"Our high and privileged calling is to do the will of God in the power of God for the glory of God." (J.I. Packer)