Hey Guys,

So we've been really busy with REVO San Diego up until January 10th and even the week after.  Loved the successful outcome, but glad to have a break until next year!

Here are some quick bullet point updates:

• Grace Outreach Apparel - I really wanted to create a brand and look people will like and purchase for this cause.  We had Kelli Murray design a t-shirt for us that is insane!!  Kelli is an incredible artist and is the head designer for Jedidiah Clothing, here in San Diego.  When you buy a "Safe House" shirt, the proceeds go towards our Thailand outreach and the Safe House Project itself!  Info and pictures are here. 
• THAILAND 2010 - We're taking our 2nd team to Mae Sot in May.  We will serve street kids, help with the Safe House and the Prison Baby Home.  Our days will be long, but so incredible.  Do you want to come?  Email me today. - scott@gograce.org.  I want the team finalized by the 2nd week of Feb.
• SAFE HOUSE PROJECT -  Get all your details here.  We need to purchase this property and build this home because they keep getting kicked out of their rentals.  They need a home, not just a house.  This will do just that for them.  Help us raise funds and impact these lives! 
• MEXICO - I'm starting to schedule house builds in Tijuana, Mexico for 2010.  We will send teams down 5 times this year.  Contact me for more info.

There is so much more, but just wanted to fill you in on the things I'm working on right now. 

I want to invite you to be apart of Grace Outreach.  Join our team, get involved and take action. 

Just a quick notice to you that we are having new Grace Outreach T-Shirts being designed that we are SO excited about!

Head designer for Jedidiah Clothing (http://www.jedidiahusa.com/) & artist, Kelli Murray, is designing a new shirt for us!  We will sell all sizes of t-shirts and possibly some hoodies!  Kelli is an incredible artist that we recently met during REVO San Diego.  Check out her stuff - http://www.kellimurray.com/.  

Stay tuned!  We will announce once it's finished!  Without the design done, we have already pre-sold 2 shirts.  If you'd like to purchase yours in advance (knowing this will be an awesome shirt!), you can go to our donation page, purchase a t-shirt @ $20.00 each.  **IN THE NOTES SECTION, YOU MUST INDICATE YOUR SHIRT SIZE AND INDICATE, "GO T-SHIRT", SO WE KNOW HOW TO DIRECT THE FUNDS.

*Proceeds of the t-shirt sales will go towards Thailand and the Safe House Project!

Cheers. 

GO

This natural disaster destroyed thousands of homes and buildings.  Streets are left in shambles and workers and aid are flocking from around the globe to lend a hand in help.

Why is it that it seems in only tragedy, people unite? 

I read this morning that the death toll has raised above 100 thousand people.  Wow....

Millions of people will pour out sympathies with their money, donated goods and sending workers.  These are all essential, but what about addressing the spiritual need? 

When was the last time a group got together to send "troops" over just to pray, encourage and cry with the hurting?  Sometimes its the emotional and spiritual scars that hurt more than the physical. 

We are praying for our fellow human beings in Haiti.  We pray for their eyes to see Jesus, even amongst the struggle and recovery of disaster.  We pray for families to unite and relationships to be that much more meaningful...because they know now how precious life is. 

As the needs rise, so does the hope along side it.

(images of the earthquake - http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/01/earthquake_in_haiti.html.)

starting very soon, we will be posting some video blogs on the progress of two things:

#1. Safe House Project!  Find out where we are in raising funds for a home for extremely at-risk youth in Mae Sot, Thailand.

#2. Thailand Team 2010 - Get regular updates on the progress of recruiting and training our team that will travel to Thailand in early May 2010. 

Watch out for these updates on regularly posted video blogs here on our website, and on  youtube/vimeo.  Will post videos and links sooooon!

We've all heard the lovely little phrase, "Home is where the heart is..."  But, what if you're heart is lost and shattered?  What can you do as a child when your heart is abused and completely abandonded? 

Our friends in Thailand, Compasio, are doing a lot!  We support them not because they are providing, but because their heart is in the relationships they have built and continue to build in the border town of Mae Sot. 

The community, small businesses and families are all effected by the poverty and oppression that plague that area, mostly because of what occurs in Burma. 

So, now we all have a chance.  We can rescue some of these kids, be involved in these communities and completely change a life through the Grace Outreach Safe House Project!

Go here to find out more.  

Today's sacrifice can change tomorrows future......God's love be with you.

it's drawing near.  the time to take action, step outside of yourself and do something is now! 

at grace outreach, we are helping at-risk kids in mae sot, thailand, mostly burmese refugee children who have no rights, no status in thailand.  we are helping by purchasing a lot of land, building a house for specific kids with a specific need - to get out of their abusive homes!  these kids are beaten, burned, abused and battered. 

what is the goal: 

to get them out of their abusive situation.  then, to help them develop emotionally, spiritually, along with education and a community of love. 

how will we do this:  we will be raising funds in phases. 

1st.   fundraise to purchase the property.

2nd.  fundraise to build the house and furnish.

3rd.  build a community along the way to establish long term and ongoing support to sustain the montlhy expenses of this safe house. 

our partners in this project, compasio, will run the safe house and care for these incredible children.  you can be apart of this aweome opportunity!  to donate towards this project, visit our donate page here.  when submitting your information, indicate in the notes section, "safe house project" and the funds will go directly to this project, nowhere else.   

we are excited to be apart of changing lives. 

What's new:

• Reach T-Shirts - We are now selling t-shirts to raise awareness and support for our efforts in Mexico and Thailand.  Visit here to get your t-shirt!
• Milk, our Thailand Coordinator, is coming to San Diego.  She will be here roughly two months and arrives the week of July 1st.
• You can now follow us on Twitter and Facebook.  Just click on the links at the bottom of our homepage - www.gograce.org. 

What we're doing: 

• Kids 4 Kids Program – Donated children’s clothing and other items will be sent to Mae Sot, Thailand and Tijuana, Mexico to help impoverished families and surviving children.  We are doing our first Kids 4 Kids Drive that will end July 1st.
• X-Project – Grace Outreach is teaming with Amor Ministries in building a house in Tijuana, Mexico on July 11th.  We will be able to house a family in one day!  Register today online!  http://www.gograce.org/event/2009-07-11-x-project/
• REVO San Diego! – This will be an incredible event purposed to inspire love in others, for the sake of love, through artistic expression and profiling those who are committed to loving others with the heart of Jesus Christ.  Join us on November 7th.  More information to follow….
• Thailand – We continue our ministry in Thailand.  We will be sending items through out Kids 4 Kids Program, but also financial support to Compasio’s Safe House and Prison Baby Home.  To donate online, please visit here: http://www.gograce.org/get-involved/donate/.  We are also preparing for our next trip to Thailand in 2010 and will need those with skills and education in medicine, construction, child development and leadership.  Please contact Scott Laughlin if you are interested in joining us – scott@gograce.org. 
• Agape Hostile –  Tim Scott has written the curriculum and is laying the ground work for a new Bible School just outside of Mae Sot, Thailand.  He is partnering with Pastor Winai from the Agape Hostile to train and equip pastors from all over Thailand and inside of Burma.

How you can get INVOLVED:

• Be educated – We are posting more and more news on Burma and Thailand within the Blog section of our website.  Click here to subscribe. 
• Support – Purchase a “Reach” T-shirt on our website.  You can find instructions to purchase your t-shirt here. 
• *Ongoing support – We are looking for monthly sponsors for Burmese Refugees and ongoing projects in Mae Sot.  A small amount goes so far to help the kids in Mae Sot. 
• Join our team! – Do you have graphic design/video skills?  Or, do you know someone that does?  Join our team!  Email Scott Laughlin today to get involved.
• Go on a trip – If you’d like to join us on upcoming trips to Mexico, Thailand or local San Diego outreach projects, email us today!

These are just some of the programs and events coming up for Grace Outreach.  With all the programs and “stuff” we are involved in and doing, our heart is focused on the faces of the impoverished, displaced and oppressed.  We give and love in the name of Christ. 

The Free Burma Rangers are an NGO (Non-Government Organization) that provides relief and development for displaced Burmese Nationals. Their reports are from the front lines of the war zone in Burma and the atrocities that take place there.  From ethnic cleansing, cutting off the hands of a man, to raping a woman in the middle of a field, FBR reports on these events carried out by the Burmese Junta. 

To follow these reports:  http://www.freeburmarangers.org/Reports/

Article from FBR website:

“Over fifty years of civil war have left Burma one of the poorest countries in the world. The military dictatorship attacks its own people, killing thousands, and leaving millions displaced.

Many in opposition are either imprisoned or killed. In most of the country there is a false peace due to the dictators' ability to control dissent, however in some ethnic areas the Regime’s army is still attacking the people. There are over 1 million internally displaced people, and over 1 million refugees who have fled the country. There is continual environmental destruction, an HIV/AIDS epidemic, the ongoing laying of landmines, human trafficking and religious persecution. Because of the Regime’s mismanagement and corruption, it’s the world’s second largest opium producer and the main producer of methamphetamines in SE Asia. Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient and leader of the democracy movement, is repeatedly put under arrest.

The Regime’s army extends their control over the ethnic minorities by building roads and camps in ethnic homelands, forcing people to relocate or flee into the jungle. There is documented forced labor and the use of rape as a weapon. The Regime’s army lays landmines to keep villagers from returning home and supporting the resistance. They aim to dominate the population, assimilate them and exploit them. They do this directly through military attacks, selective cease-fire agreements, and the use of proxy ethnic forces allied with the Regime.

One devastating result is the internally displaced people, who are forced to flee their homes because of the Regime’s army. Some are forcibly relocated and now living under the Regime’s control. Some who are attacked by the Regime’s army are able to return to their homes after the Regime’s army leaves. Others who are not able to return, live in temporary sites nearby. And many are on the run or in hiding now.

All of these people lack security, food, education for their children, and suffer increased health problems.

Yet the people of Burma have not given up. The internally displaced people’s unwillingness to give up their homelands is one of the greatest examples of civil disobedience to the dictators. The pro-democracy movement is still active.

In the war zones the ethnic resistance attempts to protect their people. They help villagers escape the Regime’s army, clear landmines and help people cross roads controlled by the Regime’s army. There are also many non-governmental organizations and community based organizations that work together to help provide basic services.”

We will be discussing the ministry in Thailand and our efforts going forward.  We are so excited to explore the opportunity to have full time presence in Mae Sot and also partner with Compasio (www.compasio.org) in efforts to help the impoverished and oppressed in that area.

More to come…..

Eat with Non-Christians

We all eat three meals a day. Why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian or with a family of non-Christians? Go to lunch with a co-worker, not by yourself. Invite the neighbors over for family dinner. If it's too much work to cook a big dinner, just order pizza and put the focus on conversation. When you go out for a meal, invite a non-Christian friend. Or take your family to family-style restaurants where you can sit at the table with strangers and strike up conversations. Have cookouts and invite Christians and non-Christians. Flee the Christian subculture.

Walk, Don't Drive

If you live in a walkable area, make a practice of getting out and walking around your neighborhood, apartment complex, or campus. Instead of driving to the mailbox or convenience store, walk to get mail or groceries. Be deliberate in your walk. Say hello to people you don't know. Strike up conversations. Attract attention by walking the dog, carrying along a 6-pack to share, bringing the kids. Make friends. Get out of your house! Last night I spent an hour outside gardening with my family. We had good conversations with about four of our neighbors. Take interest in your neighbors. Ask questions. Engage. Pray as you go. Save some gas, the planet, and some people.

Be a Regular

Instead of hopping all over the city for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places at the same times. Get to know the staff. Smile. Ask questions. Be a regular. I have friends at coffee shops all over the city. My friends at Starbucks donate a ton of leftover pastries to our church 2-3 times a week. We use them for church gatherings and occasionally give them to the homeless. Build relationships. Be a regular.

Hobby with Non-Christians

Pick a hobby that you can share. Get out and do something you enjoy with others. Try city league sports or local rowing and cycling teams. Share your hobby by teaching lessons, such as sewing, piano, knitting, or tennis lessons. Be prayerful. Be intentional. Be winsome. Have fun. Be yourself.

Talk to Your Co-workers.

How hard is that? Take your breaks with intentionality. Go out with your team or task force after work. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick four and pray for them. Form moms' groups in your neighborhood and don't make them exclusively non-Christian. Schedule play dates with the neighbors' kids. Work on mission.

Volunteer with Non-Profits.

Find a non-profit in your part of the city and take a Saturday a month to serve your city. Bring your neighbors, your friends, or your small group. Spend time with your church serving your city. Once a month. You can do it!

Participate in City Events

Instead of playing XBox, watching TV, or surfing the net, participate in city events. Go to fundraisers, festivals, cleanups, summer shows, and concerts. Participate missionally. Strike up conversation. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate with the city.

Serve Your Neighbors.

Help a neighbor by weeding, mowing, building a cabinet, or fixing a car. Stop by the neighborhood association or apartment office and ask if there is anything you can do to help improve things. Ask your local Police and Fire Stations if there is anything you can do to help them. Get creative. Just serve!

My goal is not to be graphic, but to share the reality some people in our world have to survive in. 

Do you have scars in your life?  I know that you do, because we all do.  Whether physical or emotional, we all have things in our past that happened to us we wish never happened.  We were hurt by a friend, a family member, by our own actions or just wounded by the events in our lives.  We all have wounds that need to be mended. 

I want to encourage us all to face the wounds that need to be dealt with.  Pray about them and seek God's wisdom.  Our God is the perfect parent that can comfort and encourage us, even when we feel paralyzed.  If you have been wounded, God wants to pour his love and compassion into you.  If you are the one inflicting the pain, God wants to show you mercy and grace. 

I still see the large scar on my hip from my surgery at 24 years old.  It reminds me that I am not invincible and rather limited compared to some.  It teaches me that I need to depend on Christ with everything, even physical longevity.  Our bodies and minds are mortal and one day we will have to face our mortality. 

Whatever reality you live in and whatever you have done, God loves you more than you can imagine.  Let your own scars be a reminder that you need Jesus Christ and need to depend on his provision.  Whether you are like the little girl in this picture or you are Osama Bin Laden, God's grace and love is bigger than your actions and afflictions.

Today was a long and fulfilling day.

When we arrived at the Burmese Refugee School, the kids were already sitting at their tables, eagerly waiting for us to arrive. Most let out a cheer as we stepped into the outdoor classroom.

Jamie gave a good lesson using scripture and the rest of us watched the kids attentively learning and waiting for what was next. After a few fun activities, we took the kids outside in the field to play a few rounds of water balloon toss. The kids loved getting drenched in the hot sun.

After lunch we went back into the market place of Mae Sot to minister to the young burmese refugee boys, who come over the border every morning to beg in the streets. We fed them and gave them a cleansing de-lice shampoo wash. I was then asked to give haircuts.......so now there is a gang of burmese boys on the streets of Mae Sot, Thailand with full mohawks!

After six hair cuts, the team went back to the school for more hair cuts and washes. Some of the team also played games and just relaxed with the rest of the kids.

Our team is tired, but what an incredible day of ministry. Our hearts break for these kids and the situations they have come out of. We have teamed with Compasio (www.compasio.org), who work directly with burmese refugees and house many at-risk little boys and girls. We're really blown away at the selflessness of the Compasio Staff here in Mae Sot and how impactful their ministry is. The director of Compasio Mae Sot, "Sia" has such an incredible heart and carries a huge burdon on her heart for these at-risk youth.

One little girl she cares for, who's name and picture I will leave out for now, showed us burn marks on her feet; where her father used to burn a hot knife on her feet because she wouldn't go into Thailand from Burma to beg. She is now happy and healthy thanks to Compasio, but I cannot help but to be incredibly heart broken for these kids and at the same time be thankful for my family.

I am so thankful to be here in Thailand. We have seen God's leading and direction for Grace Outreach and we are really looking forward to serving more.

Well, it's 5:58am in Chiang Mai, Thailand and I'm shocked that I beat Tim up and out of the room, ready for the day.  Most likely, he's chatting with Kimberly on Skype!

After 3 flights, long 4 hour layovers and an overall 37 hours of traveling, last night was a challenge for all of us to keep our eyes open.  When we arrived in Chiang Mai, we were all very relieved to be done with planes and airports...for awhile.

We leave this morning at 9:30am to take a 5-7 hour van ride down to Mae Sot.  The drive is beautiful.  We go through the mountains and jungles of northern Thailand.  I'm just hoping we can fit our team of 7 and 8 large luggage bags.  We have two large sized bags full of supplies for VBS.

I'm very happy with our team. Rebecca, Jamie, Katie and Eric are all awesome and very easy going.  They already have a strong companionship and were cracking jokes the whole trip here. 

I miss my family, but I am also so excited to be here and do exactly what God has called us to do.  I cannot wait to see the kids and watch the team interact with them.  Considering the Thai people, I feel we have much to learn from them in being joyful for what we have. 

I will post many more Blogs during the trip and am working on posting pictures as well. 

Serving Him,

Scott

The Thailand Team has been training and preparing to serve at Agape Orphanage in Mae Sot, Thailand at the end of March. 

Here is the team:  Rebecca Huskey, Jamie Wilk, Katie Carter, Eric Johnson, Scott Laughlin and Tim Scott

We have brought in some specific trainers; Tammy Jackson, Emilie Southward (Grace San Diego), Bryan Monzon (Eleho), Ryan Sisson (Eleho), Michelle Larson (Eleho) and Lisa Dougan (Invisible Children) to teach on topics of cultural sensitivity, VBS programming and cultural awareness.  We have also completed a day trip to Tijuana, Mexico where we helped finish building a house with Amor Ministries, facilitated by Jeff Ahlberg. 

Our goal is to be fully equipped and ready to serve 200 kids that are craving connection.  We are two months away and are already enjoying the process of an incredible outreach opportunity.  This will be a stretch for us and a challenge.  It is a challenge though, that we couldn't afford not to accept - to help the oppressed and poor of our world. 

Join us with your prayers and support! 

We all have our personal definition of success that seems to broaden the meaning of the term. To many of us, success is the kind of job we have, the amount of money we make, the size of our home, the amount of "missions" we participate in, how much money we give in church, our looks and our general status on earth. We strive day after day to achieve the things we want, to buy the best looking clothes, the nicest cars, to look good for all to see. This "success" becomes what we live for.

Think about it, how many of our thoughts and conversations throughout our day are focused around money, looks, and material things? We watch TV and look at magazines that glamorize the superficial. The Media profiles and glorifies things that are unpractical and for the most part unattainable in our lives. We look at celebrities and idolize them. We want to be "that guy" or "that girl." Even in the church this false sense of what it means to be "successful" surrounds us. As Christians, we want to portray an image that we think others will admire or strive to be. If we are being completely honest we all struggle with this kind of materialism or desire for empowerment to some degree.

1 Samuel 16:7, "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

This Christmas season , I would like to encourage all of us to focus on what truly matters in life. I would like for us to strive for Godly success. This is to strive to be more like Jesus. How amazing would it be if when people looked at you they actually saw Jesus Christ? Has anyone ever seen that in you?

I challenge you to go to your spouse, kids, and close friends and tell them you are totally in love with them. Whisper in your child's ear, telling them they are amazing and that your heart belongs to them. Even better yet....I challenge you to go with encouragement and great humility to someone you have conflict with and with or without words, forgive them and love them. Interrupt a conversation and tell someone it is imperitive they know you really value who they are.

With humility and love, fused with faith and obedience in a graceful God, you can impact people's lives with enormous power with the smallest of acts of love.

It starts here - Spend time this week with Jesus. Close your eyes, quiet your mind and your heart, focusing on the fact that he was beaten and killed for YOU. And he did so, freely. That type of love can never be mimicked.

Do you hesitate when someone asks you questions about your life? I know I do. I used to hate sharing my testimony to groups or even sharing information about my life or my family with someone.

The labels of “missionary” or “evangelist” are titles that I have never been fond of. It’s strange to say that, knowing that the passion of my life, other than my family, is to see lives impacted by Christ and sharing truth to people around the world. Not to mention, I have the humbling opportunity to serve a ministry such as Grace Outreach.

But still, those terms are not something I enjoy being called because I think they have such a stigma to them. I picture loud yelling preachers, healing someone with their “power” and things like that. Definitely, not my style!

I am not a speaker, or a preacher of any kind. I’ll leave that to Tim! But I do know that on times I have been blessed with being asked to share my story. I used to hate it, but it is now a joy that I have in sharing what God has done. You see, the stories of our lives are really not even about us. They are about Christ and everything he has accomplished in you and through you.

I read this article years ago, and still return to it for an encouraging perspective;

“Our Supporting Role

I don't know about you, but for the longest time I mistakenly believed that
My life was a story about me. This being the case, I have a vested interest
In how my life turns out. When I see the script take a turn I don't
Like-one that I perceive is unfair-I lobby for a change to the script,
Threaten a strike if I don't get what I want, and ultimately claim that I am
Entitled to a fair standard in my life.

But the story isn't about me. It's about God. I'm only playing a
Supporting role within the larger story about the main character's adventure
To win his true love. Life, fundamentally and quite simply, is not about
What I do, what I gain, who I know, or how I die. Life is about knowing
Christ, walking with God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me in
Fulfilling my role. I know I will witness the end of the story one of these
Days. But while I read that God will wipe away all our tears and that there
Will be no sorrow or heartache in heaven, I am motivated now-while I am on
The stage of life-to play my part well because I can't help but believe that
Once the curtain is drawn, this will make the celebration so much sweeter.” - Preston Gillham

Now this is a powerful perspective to have!

Ask yourself, what is stopping you from sharing your story? What’s coming in the way from getting involved in reaching the lost? Is it finances, your job, or maybe just you?

Challenge your perspective today and draw close to God while asking Him where in your life He wants you to step to the side and let him take over!

Realize that God is blessing you today.

Whether he could or couldn't, I spent time alone with him, speaking to him about his life. I told him that I forgave him for never being there and that I loved him unconditionally. I told him the truth, that God loved him intensely and that He has already been forgiven. I went on and said, "Dad, all you have to do is accept Jesus Christ. He died just for you." Tears ran down my face.

Not truly knowing if my Father had heard any word of what I said, I knew that I could not withhold speaking truth to those around me ever again.

This was a call to action.

What will it take for you to hear God's call to action for your life? God has all of the power and can use you and use his power through you.

My prayer is for you to realize your purpose, your "calling". The time is now!

Why are you here?

God gives us a clear directive;
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:30-31

I want to call you to a radical life where you reach people who need what you have, the Lord Jesus. Would you be willing to go to Thailand and make a difference in the lives of kids? Would you be willing to raise the money for the trip? Would you be willing to go through cultural training? Would you be willing to take your vacation time to go to this third world country where you would be stretched everyday to make an impact for others?

If you are ready to go... Join us at Grace Outreach to impact the world.