Navigating Covid-19

Navigating Covid-19

by | Apr 6, 2020 | Blog, Life, Missions

Wherever you are in the world today, it is likely that your neighborhood is learning how to respond & adapt to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Surrounded by so much uncertainty, and social distancing, it’s easy to become fearful & reactive, but we can have a different mindset.

In the midst of it all, we do not need to fear because our peace does not come from our circumstances.  Jesus bore the cost of your peace, so you can walk with peace of mind – free from all mental stress: depression, anxiety, fear and worry.

As a church, we need to continue bring the peace of the Gospel to those around us.  But how do we do that?  I mean the church down the road put up a sign and said church is closed.  Should that be our response? It doesn’t have to be.

How do we continue to reach out with the light of Jesus, when all around us it can seem so dark?

I’d love to hear how you’re adapting during this time, just comment below and let me know.

Here’s a bit of what we’re doing for our community:  

First, we decided to move our church service ONLINE.

Our “normal things” (like church services, Lifegroups, discipleship classes) can’t continue as normal.  With new government regulations in place, our public social gatherings must change.

We are doing this week by week, but we could still be doing this for quite a few months. 

In all honesty, this is not ideal. But this is the current reality.  We’ve heard it before.  ‘We are the church, not the building.’  So let’s do it!

If people are in their homes, we will reach them in their homes. And we need your help to do it.

Would you consider giving a special donation to help us reach Thailand ONLINE?

Right now we’re taping with my Iphone 7.  A real camera would be a HUGE game changer.  Here’s the list of the equipment we plan to buy. We’ve had a vision for this for a long time.  We researched and compiled this list last year. Now is the time to take action.

Have a look at what we need.  Let me know if you can help us purchase something on this list.  We are pouring our hearts into this!

Join us as we make disciples and raise up leaders in Thailand.

And Second, we’re creating a daily online coffee time.

It will be a place for our community to check into daily to encourage each other.  People can join for a few minutes or the whole hour ONLINE…sure it can’t replace face to face socials, but it will certainly help out!

We may be less mobile than usual, but praise God for the internet! That’s where we shine. We CAN do this! Keep dreaming. Maybe re-invent some of your old dreams.

Use this season as a catalyst to create something even better!

Have a great weekend and I’ll touch base again soon!

Renée

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m pumped! Here’s why….

I’m pumped! Here’s why….

by | Mar 8, 2020 | Blog

We just finished teaching for two weeks to an incredible bunch of world changers in India.
 
Friday, we arrived back in Thailand just in time for Simon & Benchawan’s Saturday wedding.
 
Sunday morning, back in Thailand, Aua and I both preached; only in different cities!
 
Monday night our family arrived back in Hua Hin. This week, we prepare for church, a wedding, and visitors.
 
Next Monday, we head to the jungle for team building with our core team.

In the middle of it all, Ian (our oldest son) became a teenager and Aua turned 43. Wow! It’s been a good month!

Teaching 60 students plus staff at TLCI in India.

Yet at the same time, we all face sorrow and challenges; broken bodies, minds, hearts, relationships, finances, or maybe just life circumstances.
 
Through it all, in every season, we choose life!  We choose to praise the Lord because we know that in every trial there are countless good things to be thankful for.
 
So no matter what season you are in, no matter what you are facing today, let’s stand together on God’s promises for an even better tomorrow.  Let’s disagree with the enemy’s reports and instead count our blessings in the midst of the trial. 
 
Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus as we expect to see His goodness in our lives.

Renée

All About Chai

All About Chai

by | Mar 4, 2020 | Blog, Life, Missions

We all have cherished moments that we revisit over and over again in our minds’ eye. 

Moments that remind us of home. Moments that remind us of who we are.

For me, one such memory is Mom and her daily dose of tea.

For as long as I can remember, Mom had a special cup just for tea. And she kept special cups for each of us too! Our kitchen housed teacups of all shapes and sizes – each with its own story. 

Mom had her ways with tea, but most important was that it be served piping hot and enjoyed by all around.

So it’s only natural that I’m a social tea drinker. I drink heaps of it in the company of others. I’ve grown up loving and appreciating a good cup of tea!

When I travel, I love to try the teas that flavor the nations.

Here in India is no exception. Not only do they make amazing tea, it’s an integral part of culture.

If you walk in any local Indian district, you’ll find tea vendors with steaming pots of Chai (the national tea).

Chai is this delicious blend of tea infused with spices, milk and sugar. Spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and more. It’s joy and comfort in a cup.

The memories around our daily dose of Chai in India will fill my heart for years to come. Those who’ve shared in tea-time with me throughout the years, have forever left their influence in my life.

This is what happens across our platform in Asia: a friendly cup of tea becomes the birthplace of dreams, visions, comfort and joy. 

It’s the stories we share as we sip our Chai. It’s the encouragement we receive as we open our hearts in a simple cup of culture. 

Chai – It’s all these little moments that together carry you through not only your day, but a lifetime. It makes you pause, gently reminds you to slow down, and gives perspective.

Just one cup together empowers us and moves us ahead.

I hope one day we can share a cup together.

In the meantime, here is a video of us in India learning to make Chai. (For the record, our first attempt failed, but our second try was delicious!)

Try it at home or stick to what you know and brew your favorite pot of tea. 

While you’re at it, invite a friend to join in – you never know how much your cup of tea may imprint hope and inspire greatness in another.

What about you? Do you have a cherished habit you’ve carried into adulthood that connects you to others? Message me and let me know.  I’d love to learn from you!

From India,
Renee

How far do your donations to missions go?

How far do your donations to missions go?

by | Feb 15, 2020 | Life, Missions

How far do your donations to missions go? 

All the way to India this week!
 
Today we’re off to India to teach at Team Leadership College International for two weeks.
 
Not only is your support reaching one of the most overcrowded nations of the world, but you are giving a group of young Indians the opportunity to rise to their destiny. Wow!

When we return to Thailand, we have a stopover at the Bible College in Sriracha.  After that, we’re headed to Hua Hin to prepare for upcoming water baptisms.  While we’re away, Becky Watson is at the helm in Hua Hin over the weekend teaching on prayer.
 
Thanks for helping make it all possible.
 
Aua & Renee Treeyanon

P.S. Need prayer for anything?  Write me and let us know!  We’d love to pray for you.
 

40 Life Lessons For My 40th Birthday

40 Life Lessons For My 40th Birthday

by | Jan 23, 2020 | Life

So this is 40! (Yes it’s my birthday.) Since I’ve hit this ‘big milestone’ here are 40 reflections as I enter a new decade.

I hope some of these are useful to you.

  1. Don’t limit yourself by what you see. Your daily attitude is powerful. 
  2. Never underestimate the joy of an hour-long phone call with an old friend, especially if the phone call is unexpected.
  3. Friends really do come and go. Some come back. Some don’t. That’s OK.
  4. Long distance friendships can work – they just take some creativity.
  5. Keep in touch. Call. Text. Facebook message. Tweet. Have coffee. Meet for lunch. Whatever it takes, make the effort to stay connected!
  6. Listen with your eyes. It’s as effective as listening with your ears.
  7. Flowers bring me joy.
  8. Write thank-you notes. It takes so little time and is a great way to let someone know how much you appreciate them. Send one whenever you can.
  9. Learn to use a crockpot, and use it often. With all the meals I cook for groups, this is a lifesaver!
  10. Don’t let negativity get you down. You don’t need it in your life.
  11. You can make a difference or you can make an excuse, but you can’t do both.
  12. People will hurt you. Learn something from it, no matter how small.
  13. Look for the good in others. Always.
  14. Apologize, even if you weren’t wrong. In 40 years’ time, you’ll be happy you maintained your relationships!
  15. Not everyone will like you – keep dreaming and doing stuff anyways!
  16. Positivity is contagious. So choose life!
  17. Pay attention from whom you’re learning. Take advice from people you want to be like.
  18. Put down your phone. Life happens outside of social media.
  19. Multi-tasking isn’t as impressive as it sounds.
  20. Courage is not the absence of fear. 
  21. Buy a really good mascara. I never knew what I was missing until my sister convinced me to try Pur products. Now, to find one I love in Asia!
  22. Get your morning routine figured out. One of the most important parts of my day is my morning routine. Every day, I’m up by 6 am, read my Bible, pray & exercise. By getting up early and taking steps toward my goals, I put myself in the right mindset to be productive and make progress.
  23. Write things down: I always carry around my notebook wherever I am and write in it throughout the day.  It’s amazing the clarity and creativity it produces.
  24. God’s plan is greater than anything I’ve planned. He can take our lives and make something beautiful.
  25. There are a lot of people around who can’t wait to tell you what you’ve done wrong, but there aren’t many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. Surround yourself with people that help you grow.
  26. It’s ok to say, “I don’t know”. The older I get the more I realize I have yet to learn so much and in actuality know so little.
  27. If Jesus needed early morning solace with God, how much more do I?
  28. What I do with God’s word determines how much of His plan and future I will experience.
  29. Be willing to give away what you lend. What you lend, will not always come back to you.
  30. Everyone ends up somewhere in life, but few end there on purpose.  We need to purposefully plan.
  31. When we spend our time focusing on what others think about us, we easily forget what God thinks about us.
  32. Regardless of how I feel, God will never leave me nor forsake me.
  33. Consistency and persistence win.  If I just don’t quit – I win.
  34. When things get frustrating, it is okay to take a step back, take a deep breath and start again.
  35. Do not settle in life. You are capable of more. Hard work pays off.
  36. Take care of your personal health. Sometimes you don’t pay enough attention to it.
  37. Go outdoors and experience nature.
  38. It’s easier to take a small action now instead of a big action “someday.”
  39. Successful people read books. Lots of them!
  40. You’ll never be good enough if you don’t define what great is.

If some of these items resonate with you, great; write them down, post them on social media, or share with a friend.

I encourage you to reflect and make a list of your own life lessons. Write them down. It’s amazing how many nuggets of wisdom you’ve learned in your lifetime.

What would you add to this? Comment below and let me know!

Here’s to turning 40!

Renée

P.S. Thanks for all the birthday messages! I love receiving them!