Ezra and his buddy driving the Tuk Tuk

Gawley and Pontip's Wedding! (that is one handsome couple!)

Big sisters!

Greetings from Thailand!

We have been jealous of all the pictures of beautiful fall colors, yes, even snow.  In Thailand, we are entering cold season too.

But cold season in Thailand means temps less than 85 degrees.  It is funny to realize that coats, gloves, and hats which are essential equipment in Colorado or Ohio, are not even part of our wardrobe here.

Holidays can be hard too.

We had a nice Thanksgiving here with friends, but we certainly missed family and friends in America.

Christmas too just isn't the same in a culture that doesn't celebrate it.

But it is a lot of fun to introduce some of our Thai friends to our traditions and learn to enjoy theirs.

Loi Gratong was in November, and you may have seen pictures of all the beautiful lanterns being released into the sky at night.  It is an amazing sight.

A great World Without Orphans Conference

Lots of great new friends! That finger sign is supposed to represent a heart. :)

Some quiet, cool mornings

One of the greatest and most difficult things about living in another culture is the constant process of adaptation that occurs and the uncertainty that comes with it.

It sort of sounds romantic at first---whatever change is, it is not boring.

And it really does make us better people (We know that).

But the process is not always pleasant.

We tend to admire certainty, rather than humility; people who seem to really know what they are doing and why, and have impressive resumes of accomplishments. 

But I am coming to think the opposite.

The people I really admire are often uncertain, and brave enough to admit it.
I am starting to realize in my own life that certainty is often a mask I wear to hide my fear. 

Even when I think I know best, I am not always eager to try my own solution.
Because if it doesn't work, then I not only have failure, but shame too.

This fear can often hinder us from working with others.  Not necessarily because we think we know it all, but because we are more afraid to fail with others watching.

We are so proud of our grads!

Bon fire together!

We love to laugh

In our work here, my head often feels full of thoughts.  And there is no lack of ideas for how to do what we do (caring for orphan children).  So advice is often plentiful too. 

I have lots of thoughts, but often feel so helpless and unsure to do all my heart longs to do.

But this may be the best way.

In the past, I have always sought to move towards certainty (this was especially harmful in my faith).

It seems a very human desire.  But most of the things I have done that I regret in life, came from too much certainty ("I know I am right").
 
We hurt others more when we are sure we are right.

But maybe we should be moving away from certainty towards uncertainty.

Maybe growth is not needing to be certain anymore, because now we have trust.
A marriage works like this and so does faith.

It would be a sad marriage where a man continually read his marriage certificate to assure himself his wife loved him.

"She promised, it says so right here. So I know for sure she loves me."

Yet, when it comes to our faith many of us do this very thing.

We cling to the certificate, because we lack the relationship.

We cling to certainty, because we lack the trust for uncertainty.  

We attended the funeral of our friend Yay's father in a Lahu village.

It was beautiful.

We rode in a Song Tao too.

Perhaps the agony of uncertainty is a good place from which to act.  We are unlikely to be harsh or inconsiderate to others, because lingering in our own minds is the reminder that we might do this wrong.  And if we do, we will want people to be gentle and gracious with us.

Maybe the agony of uncertainty is a good place to live.  

The need for certainty comes from fear, and the antidote to fear is courage to trust.

It takes courage to live in uncertainty.

Faith is not being sure of something, but of someone.  Not what will happen, but who will be there with you when it happens.

And even in our work and relationships, we need this healthy uncertainty.

Pretending confidence and closing our eyes to the negative consequences of our actions may allow us to continue to look impressive or feel good about ourselves, but it will not work much good in our world.

We offer our best offering humbly, not perfect offerings confidently.

Because a humble person can learn.  And a learner can grow.

If we do not think we need to learn, than we won't learn and if we won't learn, we won't grow.

Uncertainty says, "There is something I lack, something I don't have or have enough of yet.

And it goes looking for what it lacks.

Certainty says, "I have enough.  I am enough."

Kingdom of God retreat!

Really nice cabins!

And nice swings!

May we embrace the uncertainty of life humbly and gladly, for through it we can grow more into the people we were made to be.

May we no longer admire or trust in certainty, but in humble love.


Faithful Heart Update:

We are so thankful to those of you who have sponsored one of our children here!  We still need to find some new sponsors, but we are no longer in an emergency situation and that is a relief.

We have several kids graduating high school in March and we are beginning to meet with them to plan about their future (college, vocational school, etc.)

We really enjoy our monthly BBQ's and it is fun to see everyone getting to know each other better.

This year for Christmas, we are doing 3 events: Outreach (telling people about Jesus), Service (helping poor members of our community), and Celebration (having a party together). Our Thai staff have divided these up and are excited to plan some new things. So far it looks like we will be going to the local prison and camping in the mountains.  It should be a lot of fun.

We are trying to build some partnerships with other organizations here who do work similar to ours to see how we can better help each other.


 Family Update:

Can you believe Ezra is 3 and Sienna is 1?

We are often tired parents, but the joy they bring us everyday is inexpressible.  I usually come home singing silly songs about them while riding my motorbike, just out of excitement to see them again.

Audrey has joined a new ladies group each week and really enjoys getting to know them better and do life together.

Thank you for your love and support.  Have a wonderful holiday season!

Love,

Matt, Audrey, Ezra (aka Fuzzy), and Sienna (aka Squishy) Pound