WESTTALK

Matthew's Opportunity to Minister in the Inner City

2012-02-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

Just a quick hello from our family to yours! Matthew has an opportunity to go on an urban missions trip to Indiana this May. He will be accompanying the Hughes family (PHOTO ABOVE) along with about 40 other students and families from his school. This is Matthew's first missions trip without his immediate family with him. We deeply appreciate your prayers for him and the entire school group ministering in the inner city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. I will post the prayerletter he wrote about this opportunity as well. Thank you for praying!

FAMILY UPDATE - FEBRUARY 2012 WESTTALK

2012-01-30T08:23:00.000-08:00

FEBRUARY 2012 WESTTALK UPDATE:

Hi All! This is just a brief update, but we wanted to touch base. First of all, thank you all so much for your prayers and support gifts that have helped and blessed us tremendously. We entered 2012 with a few surprises, but have had such a strong sense of the Lord's presence, purpose and blessing through it all...

My father (Lori's), passed away 3 weeks ago. It was unexpected, so our whole family flew out to Nevada and were blessed to have made it in time before he passed. My Dad had been struggling with dementia/alzheimer's for several years and took a turn for the worse. He was 81 years old. This note, of course, will not be able to express fully the emotions of that event, but my heart hangs onto the good memories and the several conversations I had with my Dad that assured me of his salvation before he became sick.

It has been incredibly humbling and has brought such blessing to see how many friends have supported us through providing meals and keeping us in prayer during this time. We are very thankful and blessed beyond words!

Simultaneously, we had a pipe break in our new house which flooded about 1/3 of our home. Thankfully we were home and had an incredible local Fire Department come to our rescue which helped there to be less damage. I am thankful for the Lord's extra grace that the water that was pouring out of our fixtures missed the 15 years of scrapbooks and the 10 years of photos/photo cds that I had out in the general area at the time of the flood.

So, we are still in midst of re-construction and have been blessed with a wonderful Christian man helping get our home back together. In the meantime, all of us are "camping" in the master bedroom together, so it is giving us some special "bonding" memories for sure! :-)

We simply wanted to give an update. No complaints, just the latest. Speaking of the latest.... Graham is actually starting to turn a corner with his health! We are SO grateful! The turning point seems to have coincided with our beginning to juice. I bought him a juicer for Christmas (I know, very romantic), and since adding that to our daily routine, we have noticed dramatic improvements in his overall health. Please continue to lift him up in prayer, especially for energy and better sleeping. We are thankful for how the Lord has used the last 6 months of his illness to draw us closer to Him in all areas. God is faithful to use everything for His good and His glory.

When we write again, I will include more ministry updates and photos as usual, but really just wanted to connect with each of you so you know what has been happening.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support and encouragement.

We love you and thank God for each of you!

Love, Lori, Graham, Matthew & Kelsey

PS -- We have a tradition of posting notes all around the house on each of the kids' birthdays that speak into their hearts, share Truth and encouraging words and Scripture. Well, this is a LEAP YEAR and our LEAP YEAR BABY is going to be 16 years old!!!! This is a huge birthday for Matthew since it is actually ON the calendar! :-) I wondered if you felt led to, if you would want to send me an email with a note for Matthew??? We will post it around the house so when he wakes up, he will be bombarded with encouragement from family, friends and his brothers and sisters in Christ. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WRITE A SHORT NOTE TO MATTHEW FOR HIS 16TH BIRTHDAY, PLEASE JUST EMAIL ME AT: lori.west@sim.org or west talk@juno.com by February 27th. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

God bless you! :-)

Tax-deductible donations for the Wests may be sent to:

Missionary Athletes International
Post Office Box 1889
La Mirada, CA 90637

Merry Christmas from the Wests!

2011-12-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS WESTTALK 2011
Hello and Merry Christmas from the States... It's very nice to be home, but we really miss our friends and co-workers on the other side of the world and the beautiful country of Thailand.  

During our three years overseas, we saw God's hand in all we experienced. One of the practical goals of our term was to help establish a SIM/Sports Friends sports ministry office in Southeast Asia that trained and equipped leaders to intentionally and strategically share Christ in that region of the world through sports. It was so evident that the Lord was at work in that area and that He prepared the way for His sports ministry plan to unfold. What a joy and privilege to join Him! It was also exciting to realize that God used the several years that MAI sent teams before this office was created, to contribute toward the groundwork needed through relationships formed during those tours since 2003. What a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ to see MAI and Sports Friends work together for the unified goal of spreading the Gospel through the environment of sports... Praise Him!

The Lord continues to bless and grow the Sports Friends ministry office in Thailand. When we left a few months ago, there were already 10 staff people, and half of them were Thai nationals! What a privilege to be a part of training these wonderful leaders. This is such an encouragement to see the Lord raise up Asian leaders to reach other Asians in their own unique culture and context. Obviously, the intent was not to plant a “western” office, with western leaders with a western way of doing things. So, we are so thankful for God’s work and your partnership in developing this unique and effective sports ministry model serving Thailand and surrounding countries. To God be the glory!

We are now in transition back to the States, still serving full-time with MAI/Charlotte Eagles and staying connected with the ongoing work in Southeast Asia and the ministry initiatives of the MAI/Sports Friends partnership. Graham’s current roles are not yet fully defined, but they will become more concentrated on Sports Ministry curriculum development, training, coaching and mentoring. Foremost, our greatest roles are that of husband/wife and parents to our wonderful teenagers!

Matthew will be 16 on Feb. 29th (It’s a Leap Year so he will finally have a “real” birthday!) and Kelsey is 13 years old! Besides just the challenges of being a teen, their transition back has had it's bumps along the road, which is to be expected. We appreciate your prayers for them as they find their way back into school, friends and activities. They are both involved with music and are enjoying that very much. Matthew is still a natural on the guitar and is writing songs. He is involved in a music ministry and takes guitar lessons. Kelsey still loves to sing and takes part in voice and piano lessons periodically. They are both very creative, fun and awesome “kids”. Their energy seems boundless at times, similar to our recently adopted Border Collie mix from a local shelter! Our new puppy is named “Chester” (Named after the soccer team, Manchester United… of course.)

As some of you know, upon returning to the States a few months ago, we were faced with some unexpected health concerns. No complaints, it was just not what we expected, but we know it came as no surprise to the Lord who is sovereign and making good out of it all. I (Lori) found out within a couple weeks of returning home that I needed to have my tonsils removed and had a deviated septum causing problems. During my recovery (a great recovery by the way), Graham fell ill with intestinal complications and has not yet fully recovered. Long story very short, after many different doctors and specialists and several tests, scans, scopes, cultures and blood work, many serious concerns were ruled out, praise the Lord! Although we don’t really have a “diagnosis”, we are so thankful that Graham has recently been increasing in stamina and health. Maybe all those years of eating from food stalls on the street in other countries finally caught up with him!?! Anyway, thank you so much for your continued prayers for him and for the mound of doctor and surgery/hospital bills we have incurred as a result.

God is so good and gracious and we are thankful for this time to "be still" to reflect on His faithfulness and to listen to His still, small voice...  As we reflect on our current lives, our three years in Thailand and our 19 years with MAI, we are truly overwhelmed by the Lord's goodness and His presence through it all. He has never left us nor forsaken us, He has always provided for our needs over and above, and has met us right where we were at, proving over and over again that He is the great “I AM”…

How incredibly humbling and amazing that our Creator chooses to pour out His love on us all, desiring to fill us, pursue us, and guide us to take part in what He is doing here and around the world. We are so grateful for Him and for each of you who have stood with our family over these many years, blessing us beyond measure through your prayers, gifts, friendship and encouragement. Thank you!!!   

We pray that during this holiday season you will know the depth of God's love for you and will daily be aware of His presence. May your heart truly experience perfect peace, no matter the circumstances, from the Prince of Peace Himself this Christmas and always.

Have a blessed Christmas and New Year!
Love, Graham, Lori, Matthew & Kelsey

Thank you for supporting our family through your faithful prayers! We are so blessed and encouraged through your partnership. If the Lord also leads you to consider supporting us through a year end donation, please note that it will be considered a tax deduction for this year if the check is made to “MAI” and postmarked by 12-31-11. Thank you so much!

Missionary Athletes International - Post Office Box 1889 - La Mirada, CA 90637

2010-12-27T21:05:00.000-08:00

Hello! It won't be easy to summarize the last 8 months in this blog post, so I think I will just focus on the present! I keep up with Facebook more than our blog, so sorry for the long delay...

We're in our third year in Thailand and enjoying the ride! We continue to grow in many ways and treasure the opportunity of working and experiencing life in a different culture -- We are very blessed!

One recent adventure was visiting our Compassion sponsored child together. What a special day! How humbling to interact with a family who, materially speaking, have very little, but they overflow with love and generosity in their hearts! It's true what has been said about being a sponsor... They say it is the sponsor who "blesses" others in need, but, it's the sponsor who is the one truly blessed...

Enjoy some latest photos of our Christmas in Thailand. We keep you in our hearts and prayers and appreciate you so much! Have a blessed and peaceful New Year in Him!

Lori & family

Only in Thailand! :-)

2010-04-11T22:30:00.001-07:00

Only in Thailand would little fish nibbling at your feet be considered "relaxing"! You just never know what experiences are around the corner by living here... especially during school break! Lots of time to explore together! Fun!

G'day Mates!

2010-01-06T19:35:00.001-08:00

What a wonderful trip we've recently enjoyed Down Under! We were blessed to visit most of Graham's relatives, some of whom we haven't seen for 12 years and many who have never met Kelsey -- What an incredible gift!

It was so fun to be with family, to enjoy the beautiful rocky coasts, wildlife, unique bird species, and yummy Australian food! Yes, we really did have shrimp on the barbie, along with meat pies, anzac cookies, Christmas pudding, lots of hot tea, and wonderful lamb and mint sauce. The pressure is on now for me to learn how to cook! :-)

We are so grateful for our time away. We are back in the swing of things in Thailand now and appreciate your ongoing prayers for our family and ministry. God is so good. We pray that you will all enjoy a happy and blessed 2010.

We send our love your way!

Running the Race...

2009-11-04T22:08:00.000-08:00

We're continuing to walk (& sometimes run) this road with joy here in Thailand! We are extremely aware of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness through all of you who pray and support our family & ministry in so many ways -- Thank you! Kelsey & Matthew are doing very well at school, in soccer & music. They are such a joy and we are full of gratitude for all we are learning through this journey together! Thank you for sharing in our lives...

WELL WORTH THE SUNBURN!

2009-09-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

Hi -- We've just returned from a short staff retreat not too far from here... It's amazing what adventures are just a short ride away. It was fun to "play", kayak, laugh, swim and face any fear of heights from the high diving platforms... :-) FUN!

Home Sweet Home; Baan Sweet Baan

2009-08-30T05:10:00.000-07:00

(Here's Matthew-8th grade & Kelsey-6th grade on their first day back to school -- Smiling!)

Hello again! Yes, it's been awhile... I can't say updating the blog made it to the top of the list over the last several weeks, although I was hoping to get to it -- Sorry about that! :-) So much has happened, many miles covered, several changes, and prayers have been answered!

We have just celebrated our one year anniversary in Thailand! Wow, what a year of adventure... God's faithfulness and steadiness has been our Rock and no matter where we laid our head, HE was our dwelling place...

The summer weeks flew being "home sweet home"... We spent several days with parents, family and friends. We also had multiple doctors visits and some ministry meetings too. We covered 5 states during our visit and connected with all people possible, and soon found out that although we would have loved to see "everyone"...that was impossible. Maybe next summer! :-) (Or better yet -- come to Thailand!)

So now we are "baan sweet baan" in Thailand. We landed here and within 3 days we were packing up house and moving into another rental in a different neighborhood. It was quite the whirlwind, but we are almost settled now, and happy to be closer to the kids' school, friends and activities.

This second year will be filled with more ministry opportunities, continued language studies, more involvement in the kids' school and whatever else He puts in our path...

Speaking of... the most exciting recent news is that one of those precious friends that the Lord has put in our path has just recently come to know Christ! We are thrilled! Our house helper and Thai friend is now a believer, attending church and Bible Study and wants to be baptized soon. We watched her journey of seeking and new faith over the past year and are so thankful to experience this direct answer to prayer.

Also, another answer to prayer is our kids' excitement to return to Thailand and their positive attitudes, and joy going into another school year at their international school. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS!

We can keep you updated with more detail if you'd like with our e-prayerletter. If you would like to be on that list, just email me at westtalk@juno.com.

I'll try to remember to update the blog more regularly! Thanks for checking in --

Lori & family

PACKING FOR OUR VISIT STATESIDE!

2009-06-06T23:17:00.000-07:00

Hi All -- We are almost at a year since we left Charlotte, NC to Thailand... Wow, can't believe how much time has passed. What an incredible "ride" it has been so far... Ups, downs and in-betweens, but ALWAYS God's faithfulness, grace and blessings... We are so thankful!

We are heading to the States (coast to coast) visiting family, friends, along with ministry meetings, doctor's appointments, etc... We are looking forward to this special time before heading back here to Thailand in late July.

"Thank you" is not adequate for your faithful prayers and gifts you've poured out on our behalf. We are so grateful for you and how the Lord is working here in Asia. What a privilege to join Him...

Well, I'll post again at some point, but wanted to check in to say "hi" and thank you for your encouragement, support and prayers this past year.

If you are not getting our newsletter updates via email, and would like them, please just drop a quick email to westtalk@juno.com. Thank you!

Love, the Wests

Happy Birthday Graham!

2009-04-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you Graham for giving us a life that models saying "no" to fear and "yes" to God... Our lives are rich and blessed and so full of adventure, laughter, growth and faith because of you. We love you!

Have a blessed Easter! Love, the Wests

2009-04-12T01:27:00.000-07:00

Fun Family Time at the Beach!

2009-04-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

We are back from the beach and had a wonderful time during our "spring break"... It was a much anticipated break after 9 months of being here and some busy months of school & more... How thankful we are for this special time away. We were awed once again in the Lord's creation, His blessing, protection, goodness & grace. The heavens and earth clearly declare His glory! Thank you for your continued prayers for the work here and language study. All is going very well! Our thoughts are with you during the celebration of Resurrection Sunday! He's Alive forevermore!!!

Been awhile, since the last "been awhile" post...

2009-03-30T01:19:00.000-07:00

Hi All! Just wanted to check in again! The last few months have been quite the whirlwind! With school, sports, homework, a teenager in the house, sleepovers, and more homework... time has flown! We are doing well and are continuing to learn so much individually and as a family because of God's goodness and faithfulness! We are so thankful for our friends who continue to lift us up in prayer and the work here -- Thank you! We have Easter break soon which will be a welcomed break and we hope to do a little exploring of this wonderful country... I hope it won't be too long again for me to post some photos of that adventure! We'd love to hear from you anytime -- Email us at "hometeam@motimail.com" if you want! Blessings! Lori & family

Been Awhile...

2009-02-16T20:06:00.000-08:00

Hello! Wow, the New Year started and off we went! The kids are now attending an international school and we have been adjusting to the new schedule, helping out with soccer teams, and having lots of meetings for work... Our "little" boy will soon be a teenager! He has plans of a paintball-pizza & movie night-sleepover for his Big Day! Sounds like a fun and sleepless way to ring in "13"! Well, just wanted to check in. Please know we are so thankful for you and your prayers & support, without which, we would not be here!

A Good Day for a Good Book

2009-02-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

OUR GIRL, HER DOG & "ANNE OF GREEN GABLES"...

WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD...

2009-01-10T04:47:00.000-08:00

WHAT DOES ONE LOOK LIKE AFTER A LOOOONG HIKE, SORE KNEES AND NO SLEEP WHILE FREEZING MOUNTAIN WINDS SLIPPED THROUGH THE MOSQUITO NETTING IN HER BAMBOO SHELTER ALL NIGHT???

LIKE THIS...

...WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T05:31:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from Thailand! 2009 reached us 12 hours ahead of many of you, and we can tell you it's been a great new year so far! :-) We hope you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and will have a blessed new year... Although I've been on crutches over the holidays -- (I LOVED the mountain trek, but my knee did NOT!) -- we've really cherished our time together as a family and the special memories made during our 1st Christmas overseas. We are so thankful for God's blessing in our lives, for His goodness, grace and for your friendship and prayers. May 2009 be filled with your hearts fully knowing His presence and peace through all the year holds...

Thai Trek Adventure!

2008-12-23T01:24:00.000-08:00

What an unbelievable adventure we just experienced! We had the privilege of joining our team on a mountain trek that included elephant riding, hiking, hiking and a little more hiking to the top of a mountain, sleeping in a Hill Tribe community, swimming in waterfalls, white water rafting and bamboo rafting -- Special memories that will last a lifetime... The heavens truly declare the glory of God! We've never seen so many stars and such beautiful scenery. We hope you have a blessed Christmas and a New Year full of adventure following God's special trek planned just for you!

BANANA BREAD WITH A MESSAGE...

2008-12-10T22:21:00.000-08:00

Hi! I think I've baked more the past week than I have in all my years... and it's been great! :-) The kids and I have been enjoying baking together and giving our baked goods away as little Christmas gifts to our new Thai friends. Each banana bread loaf has a little note from us (written in Thai -- Thank you Maggie!), that shares briefly WHO we are celebrating at Christmas, and our thankfulness for our friendship with them, along with some Scripture. What great fun it's been hopping on our bikes, or driving around town delivering these little gifts that proclaim "THE PERFECT GIFT" of Christmas to these precious new friends!

A GRRRREAT THANKSGIVING!

2008-11-27T04:07:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful first Thanksgiving in Thailand! We shared a special day and meal with sweet friends, played a little soccer, and we also created a new family T-Day tradition -- Playing with tigers!!! :-) Hope your Thanksgiving was grrrreat too!

DAY SAFARI FIELD TRIP

2008-11-14T04:02:00.000-08:00

Hello from the jungle! Today we took just a short drive and found ourselves in the "jungle" :-). We had a fun field trip exploring nature and seeing many animals up close and personal... The weather was perfect & the company (Matthew & Kelsey) was even better!

I WILL TRY NOT TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY...

2008-11-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

Hi! During home school today, I was sharing some deep truths :-), and I was pleased that there were no interruptions, and that the classroom seemed very "educational", very worthwhile, very school-like. I had their undivided attention, they were intently listening, gleaning wisdom, pondering the information flowing from my lips...

But then, I heard something... A steady, faint, breathing rythmn, well, snoring to be exact! Matthew decided it was nap time during our class! Hhmmm... Or maybe... He was just so mesmerized by the material that he accidentally drifted asleep meditating on it's valuable applications to life! Sounds good to this home school mom! :-)

Thailand "Classroom"...

2008-11-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

Hello! I may be the one "teaching" the kids in Home School, but I feel like the one learning! I so often feel like each day is a "classroom", offering opportunities for growth, adventures, lessons in God's faithfulness and grace... How thankful I am for the time we are able to be here. I've seen a lot of spiritual growth in the kids since moving, and I also feel like they are growing up physically before my very eyes! Matthew & Kelsey seem so "big" to me! I am very proud of them how through the highs, lows and in-betweens of "transition", they have accepted our call to Thailand in faith and with a wonderful attitude.

If you are interested in getting on our newsletter mailing list and receiving periodic updates via email, just post your request on this blog or email me at your convenience. Thanks! Have a great weekend & enjoy the "classroom" where you live! lw

School Break Highlights...

2008-10-22T22:09:00.000-07:00

Hello! What a nice break we are having... Some of the highlights have included visiting an AIDS orphanage where we played with children and helped them make their own tye-dye shirts. I was reminded again on that day, that each one of those precious children is uniquely created, no two alike, just like their tye-dye creations -- and wholly loved by their Creator who made them and knows the number of hairs on their head, when they rise and when they sit...(Ps. 139) Did you know that also in Psalm 139 that it says that the Lord's thoughts of each of us outnumber the grains of sand? That's alot! :-) His love for each one of us is truly incomprehendable... On another day, we visited a night safari which is like a zoo at night! I would post some pictures, but it was too dark! :-) Some more family time/business time is coming up this weekend when we travel south to have "fun" and then go to the Embassy to hopefully work out our visas! Thanks for praying! Have a wonderful autumn weekend...

Happy "less hot" !

2008-10-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! We hope you are enjoying autumn where you are... We received a "fall" e-card last week, and Kelsey exclaimed, "What?! Is it really fall???" :-) You just can't tell in these parts that it is "fall", it is more like just "less hot". But, nonetheless, it is very beautiful...

Our home school is going to take a "fall" break, I mean a "less hot" break for a couple days. We are planning a visit to an AIDS orphanage tomorrow and possibly a trip to a local night safari zoo or some water falls in the mountains on another day. We'll post the photos asap!

We're more thankful for you and your prayers than you could know... We're so blessed.

Enjoy this beautiful time of year!

COMMON SIGHTS...

2008-10-12T01:15:00.001-07:00

Same blog - Different Name...

2008-10-11T20:57:00.001-07:00

Hi All -- We needed to make a few changes to our methods of communication in this part of the world. Please note the small change in our blog name and please visit often! We're so thankful for you! www.ourfamilyinthailand.blogspot.com