Happy Chinese New Year to you all reading this!  I arrived back in Macau the day before yesturday (chinese new year eve) and made it just in time to enjoy the firecrackers going off at midnight.  I had the lovely opportunity yesturday to enjoy some yummy hotpot & dumplings  with a chinese family my parents know here.  They went the extra measure to make special soup for us with delicacies such as shark fin & sea cucumber (YIKES!).  It's during those moment where I wish I was a vegetarian so I could say that i can't eat those meat delicacies.   Later that afternoon my mom took me to a famous buddhist temple down the street from their apartment to watch the chaotic burning of incence and paper money to receive good luck for the new year.  Then later that night my parents and i walked through this area called Fisherman's wharf where there are all these fancy shops and places for kids to enjoy while their parents are gambling in the nearby casinos.  It was cool!  They've replicated the Roman colosseum as well as the house of the Dalai Lama (among other places).   In celebration of the new year there was a lion dance as well as a dragon dance.  Pretty exciting times here in chilly macau. 

As a quick recap of my time in Thailand...God was so faithful!  He answered so many prayers during the conference!  God used me in leading worship to bring those at the conference to His throne in worship.  The Lord bonded me really well with the kids and we had a good time together.  I was also able to get to know those at the conference a little bit better & hear what their work with minority groups is like.  He preserved my health throughout the time.  I felt drawn closer to Him because of the time.  In addition I've had quite a few opportunities to spend time with my parents which I was hoping for.  Thank you for praying for me!  I needed it!   Enjoy the pictures!

Sunset in Krabi, Thailand

Taking a longboat to go snorkeling - my parents senior director is fearlessly sitting in the front of the boat.  (he grew up in the Indonesian jungle where his parents were reaching out to a tribe of canibals)

The kids I looked after - Ethan and Abie (they're growing up in Beijing)

Eating yummy hotpot and dumplings!

Well I arrived in Krabi, Thailand last night & am definitely enjoying the beautiful tropical paradise I'm in!  Here is a picture from the balcony of the room I stayed in last night-serving the Lord is tough!   Also just to give a quick update on my last few days in Macau.  I was able to see some of the familiar places of Macau as well as all the changes it has experienced in the recent years - we now have the Sands, MGM, and Venetian casinos here.  I also had the opportunity to go with one of my parent's coworkers to a dormitory of a couple women in their fellowship to teach them a little guitar.  It was fun chatting with them in my very broken Chinese.  Just a quick update. I appreciate your prayers as I continue prepping for the various times of worship - that I'll keep my eyes on the Lord, not on man.  Blessings!

St. Paul's Ruin - old facade of Jesuit church      Me by St. Paul's with Chinese lanterns

Temple by an old part of Macau's city wall

Grandma burning incense at a shrine to the earth god

Street vendor roasting chestnuts - delicious!

Eating dimsum with my parents coworkers (L: Pranee; R: Mary)

The Start of my trip to Asia!!

 Hey everyone!  I made it to Macau in one piece!  My parents picked me up in Hong Kong and now I'm sitting in what used to be my old bedroom back in the day...good times!  I'm so excited to be back in Asia.  It's great to be with my parents.  Thanks for all your prayer!  Enjoy the pics!  Love to you all, and will check in later!   I'm praying for you guys!

Mom and Dad picking me up             View of Hong Kong from the ferry to Macau

View from the 18th floor of my parents house