Newly pregnant

During the last few days of my pregnancy, we went to the hospital for a checkup.  There is one lady who works in the restaurant at the hospital and every time I would go to the hospital she would tell me about how much her and her husband want to have a baby but it never happened.  On that day she was sharing again and I wondered, why does she keep telling me this?

I went to sit down and in that moment God spoke to me and said, “Go and pray for her that she will have a baby.”  I was hesitant and afraid to go pray for her because I didn’t want people thinking I’m weird and staring at me or something.  I also wasn’t sure if she would be open to receive prayer because she is not a Christian.  So I decided not to go back to her but God spoke to me again and said “This is not for you, this is for her.”

I realized I was being selfish and more concerned about what other people would think of me, and I was actually stopping the blessing that God wanted to give to her.

I made the decision to go back to her and ask her if I could pray for her.  I didn’t know if she would be willing and open, but I just wanted to go for it.  When I asked her if I could pray for her, her co-workers were staring, but she said “Yes, that would fine.”

I held her hands right there in the restaurant and told her she could close her eyes or keep them open – whatever she wanted to do.  I prayed quickly for God to open her womb and bless her with a baby, and as I finished I told her that God loves her.

One month later we went to the hospital for Kayla’s one-month checkup and this lady came running over with a big smile and told us that she was pregnant.  Yay God!  Every month we go to the hospital for Kayla’s checkups and she continues to update us on her pregnancy.  She was very excited to let us know that she is having a boy.

God is so awesome!  I learned from this experience that I should be open for God to use me in any way and in any time.  Even when it is outside my comfort zone.  I should not be so concerned with what other people think.

Our new little girl was born yesterday, December 29th.  As with Lalita, Pook had a c-section and seems to be recovering nicely.  I was present for the surgery and the doctors all seemed to do a wonderful job.  It seems crazy that after surgery starts it is only about 5 minutes before the baby is out and crying.

Kayla is doing great and has been an easy baby so far which we are very thankful for!  She weighed 3.4 kg (about 7.5 pounds).  Lalita enjoys looking at her and saying “baby”.

We will be here at the hospital until Saturday.  Thanks for everyone’s prayers and thoughts!

Phil, Pook, and Kayla

All snuggled up

So cute!

Getting checked out in the neonatal ward

I told Pook to watch it as I went around the house to get a long pole to hit it with.  As I was getting the pole the snake went across our driveway and under a big piece of wood we had sitting in our garden.  While I was trying to figure out where the snake was hiding some people who regularly clean our yard were cleaning the yard next door.  They asked if it was a snake and the lady had her husband come over to help kill it.

We sprayed bug spray all over the wood to try to get the snake to come out, but we didn’t see it.  They turned over the wood but we still didn’t see it and we were starting to wonder if the snake had already left.

We told them to go ahead and push the wood out to the street and while they were doing that he spotted it inside of a hole in the middle of the wood.  He poked it until it dropped out onto the driveway and then it raised its head and opened its hood – definitely a cobra.  A few hits later and it was dead.

We’re not sure if the snake lived in that hole or if it was just using it as a place to rest and digest its recent food.  Lalita often plays in the dirt right next to that piece of wood.  We’re thanking God that we safely spotted the snake and that it wasn’t Lalita or our dog who found it.

This is the third cobra we have found in our yard (in addition to 4 or so other snakes).  We’re doing our best to get rid of any possible hiding spots around our house.  I didn’t know that piece of wood had holes in the middle of it – it will not be returning to our garden!

Also be sure to check out our updated photo gallery with pictures from our first church retreat.

Previous newsletters are available on our website at: http://pandp.in.th/letters.php

Previous newsletters are available on our website at: http://pandp.in.th/letters.php

Today she also got her chicken pox vaccine.  She handles vaccines pretty well – cries a bit but as soon as it’s done she’s fine.

Previous newsletters are available on our website at: http://pandp.in.th/letters.php

Ministry in Thailand

Life in Thailand

We have been back for a week – cleaning, fixing, and taking care of things.  Thankfully we adjusted quickly to the jet lag (even Lalita).  We hope to have some videos and pictures online in the near future.  Stay tuned.

Waiting in Bangkok airport

We spent the weekend of Nov 6-8 visiting my sister in Las Vegas.  She is doing a school of ministry with the International Church of Las Vegas.  During the weekend we did a marriage seminar through ICLV and enjoyed their Sunday services.  As it was our first time in Vegas we also checked out the strip one evening.

In front of the Eiffel Tower

Waiting for the fountain show at the Bellagio

This week we are in San Luis Obispo visiting our home church, Mountainbrook, and visiting with friends.