Back in September 2007, while I was in Thailand with squads A and B, the Lord began to birth in me an idea to help support orphans and at-risk women in the global community.  At that time, I had been traveling to poverty stricken communities for nearly nine months and was soon to re-enter life back in the US. 

Since returning home I have been working on building Corridor Of Hope and with the help of friends and family, www.corridorofhope.org went live on 07-07-08.  As the Lord promised, He is my source and has sustained me through six months of learning website design and business development.  The Lord has been with me every step of the way and has continued to provide the help Corridor Of Hope needs.  Jane Kim and Lauren Morris, World Racers from the June 2007 team, returned home a couple of months ago and have joined me in these efforts.  We are very excited about the new partnership and are looking forward to furthering the kingdom together. 

Please join us in supporting the “least of these” and tell everyone you know about CorridorOfHope.org.

Many of you probably received this email from me but for those of you whose addresses I don't have...

Hello all!

I pray you are all doing well. Some of you have
probably been waiting to hear from me yet some of you
might be a bit surprised that I'm in India!

Here's a quick little update:

Two months after returning home from the World Race,
the Lord opened doors and opportunities so I left home
on Jan. 24th and flew to Thailand to continue sourcing
products for the orphan-support-import business (my
new ministry project, which I shall call "COH", for
now. I'm also helping to bridge relationships with
SHE Thailand (please see my WR blog
http://lynettelee.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=have-you-found-true-love)
and the jewelry maker whom I've been purchasing from.
He has agreed to teaching the girls at SHE Thailand
his designs. Hopefully, then I can start supporting
SHE Thailand as well, by ordering products from them
and raising support for orphans. We are all very
excited about this. And since I didn't get a chance
to visit some other ministries in Bangkok, which were
similar to SHE Thailand during the Race, I have made
appointments to see them in March when I return from
Delhi to Bangkok, before going home to SF.

About 5 days after landing in Bangkok, I flew to
Delhi, India and will be here until February 29th. I
met Ericka Bennett (AIM), Chris Telfer (World Racer,
Jan'07), his friend Tom Shapakow (sp?), Alli Mellon
(AIM) and the Real Life team (AIM), whom we've been
staying with. I've had a chance to visit leper
colonies and the precious orphans, as well as, source
more products and build relationships here. Next
week, Ericka and I will fly to southern India to
attend a revival conference and visit another
orphanage.

The Lord has been working out all the details and it
has been amazing! He has been planting the same
vision in different people of different nations and
then putting His people in place so that all the
pieces are beginning to fit like a jigsaw puzzle - all
working to build a bigger picture. I can't wait to
see how this will all turn out.

If you would like to partner with me in this ministry
you may please pray that the import business (COH)
will help build the kingdom and that He will continue
to join people with the same vision together to make
it happen. Also, pray that He will continue to be the
Source of COH, placing the right people and resources
in its path and all who are involved. If you would
like to support me and this ministry financially,
please send the support to:

Lynette Lee
659 Campbell Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94134

Thank you!

Blessings,
Lynette

"Welcome Adventures In Missions USA". This was the sign being held up by the three pastors (Robert, Dong and Dodoy) who met us and picked us up from the Manila airport. Once again, we were on unfamiliar territory so it felt so nice to have people welcoming us with such enthusiasm.

Immediately, the eight of us were split into three groups as previously discussed. Scott and Linnea would spend the next four days together while Amy, Alissa and Josh were now a team as Rusty, Leah and I were. We were dropped off in the slums of Manilia. The "squatter" village that we were to call home for the next couple of days was called Talaba II. One thousand four hundred families built their tin shacks near and on the river and called it home. The stench of the sewage, standing water and rotting garbage permeated this land. Children ran througout the streets and some even played in the swamp water to cool themselves from the hot sun and humid climate.

The night we arrived, Pastor Ronnel was waiting for us at the preschool - a little cement room that Mission Ministries Philippines (MMP) built to serve this squatter village. Cement was laid on about three-fourths of the floor of this room. The other quarter of the room was opened to the outside so the floor was just dirt and soil. Because of this opening, rats and cockroaches would frequently visit us. We slept on top of the children's tables which would triple as our dining table and food prep table. What broke my heart was that we lived in a place that was far better than most of the other homes.

The next morning, we made house visits with Pastor Ronnel. The most unforgettable home was that of a man named Mang Lorenzo. He was a crippled man who lived with his wife and five children. When we entered the house, we came into a very small dingy room, which appeared to be their living room and as we walked toward the back of the house, we reached his "bedroom". It was built right above the dirty river, on stilts. The flooring were rows of bamboo attached together with large gaps in-between so one can see the murky dark-green water below. They had clothes and various other possessions hanging overhead and draping in-between the bamboo walls.

Pastor Ronnel introduced us and Mang Lorenzo greeted us enthusiastically with a big smile. Then he said, "Look at this (referring to his living condition), is this God's will?" These are the poorest of the poor. These people are victims; victims of society and perhaps a less than favorable government.

Their situation actually gets worse. Because this area is considered unsafe, the government has issued them an eviction notice. The homes that are built in this area are slated to be demolished. The good news is that MMP is building this family a more permanent home in the area. The bad news is that they have run out of funding so the construction is on hold until funds are available.

As we visit these people, I can see the sympathy in Pastor's eyes. His heart is truly for the poorest of the poor and in order for him to minister effectively to them, he has sacrificed his time and resources. He has a wife and four children but does not have a job. Like me, he needs to raise support by asking people to sponsor him. And like me, he feels uncomfortable doing that but he puts away his pride and does it anyway. Unlike me, his friends and family judges him and wonders why he doesn't get a job and make a living to support his family like everyone else. His supportive wife worries about where they will get money for their next meal but Pastor is convinced that he is to be in the ministry full time. I could see how torn he was. This is where God wants him and he has faith that God will provide. In this process of following God and being obedient they have become poor as well but not in their spirit. Like Paul said in 1 Cor 9:22 "to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might be all means save some."

Some fault the government and accuses it of corruption but perhaps we might all share some responsibility. Not too far away from the slums stands the Mall of Asia. This past weekend was their "Big, Big Sale of Asia". Scores and scores of people were there shopping, buying nice things and eating well. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that people shouldn't enjoy themselves but Mahatma Gandhi once said, "There is enough in the world for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed."

ZEO in Thailand!

Durian,  King of Fruits

Beautiful Buddhist Temple

Phuket

Cool new pose!  =o)

Gelato in Bangkok

S-H-E is the organization we worked with this past month in Phuket, Thailand. The Biddell's, a family from UK, began this organization to help girls in prostitution exit that lifestyle. The Biddell's way for the girls is the one and only way... through Jesus Christ. For months, they have visited the plethora of bars that line one of the most popular tourist's streets in the city of Patong. They established healthy relationships with some of the girls and through Christ, gave them a hope of a different, more fulfilling lifestyle. So far, there are four girls being discipled at SHE. They are so much fun and lovable.

(left to right) Kay, Whan, Klon and Goong

Mark and Sharon Biddell is helping them to make a living by teaching them a new trait - jewelry and card making. These girls not only support themselves but they also send money back home to their parents, brothers and sisters and some have children to support as well. Mark and Sharon also ensure they are growing spiritually by incorporating a discipleship program into their lives. Once a week, a sister from their church visits the SHE shop and the girls stop working for a couple of hours to learn more about Jesus.

I am still amazed at how God has continued to use my passions and desires to glorify Him and expand His kingdom. On the weekdays, we helped them with jewelry and card making and designing. Both of which I loved to do.

In the evenings, we went out to the bars to meet more girls and establish more relationships. These were the times that were most challenging to me because the streets were filled with souls who were caught up in looking for love but they appeared to be looking in all the wrong places. This environment is definitely adult in nature - girls dancing on bar counters and "Lady-boys" (transvestites and transsexuals) parading the streets, all of whom wear next to nothing. What disturbed me the most were the children who walked up and down "bar row" with their parents (usually tourists) - some as little as 2-3 years old to adolescent and teen aged. I pray that our presence there made a difference and that we were able to bring the light of Christ into such a dark place.

The fact of the matter is that in spite of my overwhelming feelings of anger, confusion and disbelief while walking around "bar row", God IS everywhere and He loves us all the same - whether we have a personal relationship with Him or not. I realized just how great His patience and mercy is for all of us while I was in this dark place. My faith rests in the fact that people who seemed so lost, so deep in sin, so blatant in disobedience, all get the same unconditional love from God through Christ who paid the price when He came on this earth over two thousand years ago. This is the hope that I cling to. All we have to do is reach out to Him and give Him the relationship that He so desires from us. It is then that we find true love.

More information about the Biddell family:

http://www.biddellnews.co.uk/html/present_projects_.html

Video on SHE:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6717386311627966822

Why is it that although I have dedicated this whole year to doing His work, I still feel far from Him?

For the past 6 months, my number one prayer request has been quality quiet time with the Lord. In between the "doing" I found that I had difficulty "being" - being with Him. He finally answered my prayer and in a way that I did not expect. It wasn't supernatural energy that He gave me so that I can wake up early in the morning for prayer or stay up late in the evening for prayer. And it wasn't just being in a prayerful attitude day and night while doing ministry. Instead, He took away the busyness of "ministry", the busyness of serving - He took away the attitude of Martha and instilled in me the attitude of Mary.

For the past month, I did not hold any orphans, I did not plant any churches, nor did I do any village outreaches. I didn't do anything that resembled the past six months, but this was one of the most life-changing months I've had. He created an environment for me where I was able to be still and know that He is God. He brought me to a place of deeper relationship not just with Him but with the people of whom I was living in community. He taught me what it means to live in community. To share everything, to seek God together, to pray with and for one another, to carry each others burdens and perhaps the most challenging of all - to not write my name on "my" food items.

After Swaziland debrief, ZEO was lead to stay with an American missionary couple, Tom and Cindy, at Gordon's Bay - near Capetown, South Africa. I felt a probing in my heart to stay with Tom and Cindy so that I can learn how to go deeper in prayer and to hear God's voice - to be with Him. And as much as I struggled with being quiet and praying, I knew this was what I needed to do. This was what God was calling me to this season and Tom and Cindy would mentor me.

Tom and Cindy created a stress-free, "no-condemnation" environment, which I believe was key in helping me to BE still. Everything that I knew was so performance-based; from personal life to social life to corporate life and even to a certain degree, going on this trip was. I had always set out to do something, to accomplish something and it didn't have to necessarily be anything great but if it was, it was just that much better. I'd received that much more affirmation from family, friends, co-workers, bosses, etc... Before I knew it, what I did and how I looked to people began to define who I was. So naturally, coming on this trip, I was set to perform for God; to do what the Bible says I should do. However, all this came to a screeching halt this month.

This month I learned to be still and know that He is God and then to really know who I am, which sounds silly, but really just sitting and realizing that what I do does not define who I am. I grasped the fact that if everything got ripped from me and if I could not perform anything for Anyone that I was still loved and affirmed by God. I understood what it meant to be unworthy but that God loved me so much that through Christ, I am made the daughter of the Most High King! Not just knowing that, which I've known almost all my life, but really grasping that and synchronizing that head knowledge with my heart. To realize that what I do or don't do does not affect His love for me. And then because of who I really am, I go out and represent Jesus; to be His hands and feet. Not to do something out of obligation, for the sake of performance or because the Bible tells me to.

Being still is the best thing I could've "been" this month or better yet, this lifetime. I have learned what it means to "Just Be It" instead of "Just Do It" as Tom would say. I've been doing a lot in the past six months and every bit of it has been amazingly wonderful. But now, I wake up and am more aware of how I can just be - just be the hands and feet of the Most High King.

"Inspiration, inspiration, inspiration" as I begin to brainstorm my next blog, I sit here on my bottom bunk, at debrief in Swaziland. With the clasp of my headlamp strategically wedged between the planks of wood that are supporting the top bunk and my Palm Pilot dangling from the elastic headband, I'm attempting to sit ergonomically correct. And as I'm asking God to give me inspiration so I can begin writing, I hear God say, "Have you not been inspired through all that I've done thus far?"

Mozambique was amazing on so many levels (I needed a step ladder!). Getting to our destination from South Africa was an amazing experience all in its own (please read my teammate Leah's blog "Stars").

Because of God's plans and His sovereignty, our original plans all fell through. Hallelujah! We were slated to live at the Iris Ministry base and orphanage in Dondo during our three week stay in Mozambique but somehow our plan was miscommunicated and the staff there thought we were staying only for a couple of days. And because the orphanage/base was going through some changes, they had no agenda for us either. Coincidentally (or not), an Iris missionary, Herbert, was passing through this town on his way to Morrumbala, a village that was 12 hours away. His plan was to distribute 30 tons of food to the starving villages, as well as, to preach and to pray for the sick. He invited us to go along and with wide eyes and big grins we accepted the invitation.

After over twenty hours and crossing the Zambezi River, we arrived at Morrumbala. Herb was able to arrange for our group of twenty three people to stay at World Vision's base. He also made arrangements so that breakfast, lunch and dinner were prepared for us. (Is this even real?!) We worked hard and rested hard.

Daily, we had team members spending time playing with the kids at the nearby Iris orphanage and other team members piled into the flatbed truck with the local church members to visit far off villages, dropping off food and the message of Jesus' love. I was able to satisfy some of the village children's curiosities of who I was, by laughing and dancing with them. I'd take them by the hand and lead them dancing in circles for hours or I would pick one child and spend the whole time with her. After preaching, we would pray for the sick and God healed them (please read Jake's blog). At the end of the day, we returned "home" to debrief the day and gather together to praise and worship God and marvel at all that He had done through us.

Six months have passed since the beginning of the trip and all is very well. God continues to amaze me and continues to privilege me in being His hands and feet to help the helpless, allowing me to see big smiles on their faces.  

That is awe inspiring.

Village Outreach:

Step into my office...

I'm a slow processor. All I know is that as I sit here in South Africa, I wonder, "what in the world just happened"? Half of March and all of April just flew by. And I think to myself, "I still feel called to Nicaragua". I told myself that I would not make comparisons of each country but human nature takes over and I find myself challenged.

Up until now, I keep thinking that I was not as productive in Peru as I was in Nicaragua. I was sick more than 50% of the time while in Peru. However, as I ponder more, I realized that God allowed me to develop a lifelong friendship there. The friendship is not with a person whom I ministered to but rather a person whom I ministered with. Ericka, a Peruvian who spoke fluent English, was one of our interpreters. She lived with us for the month we were in the Andes Mountains. She became a part of our family and eventually, my soul sister.

When we first arrived to Musho, the village that was our home base for the month, Ericka and I connected on a surface level. A couple of days later, team ZEO was assigned to minister in Mancos, another village that was 30 minutes away by car. ZEO was also assigned two interpreters for this week-long trip - Eduardo and Ericka. It was there in Mancos that our friendship began to flourish.

Friendships tend to develop very quickly when we are put in close quarters. ZEO girls and Ericka shared a room together and Ericka and I shared a mattress. We would talk, share pictures of friends and family and God even gave us the same dream. I woke up one morning and immediately shared with her a dream that I had.

I was on a boat in the ocean and all of a sudden, I dove into the water and caught a ride on the back of a big fish, a Blue Marlin. I hung on to its hind fin while it took me on a great ride. As I was telling Ericka this, she told me she had the same dream two nights ago and she had told Eduardo about it. The only difference was that her fish was a dolphin. We went on to explain our emotions in the dream and they were mirror images of one another. At first joy and excitement as we let this fish maneuver us through the waters, dodging other fish and sunken ships but then as we realized that this fish was in control of our lives and not we ourselves, the emotions quickly turned into fear and anxiety, so much so that we awoke from the dream. "What does this dream mean?" we asked each other. We didn't have an answer then but as I sit here processing now, I think I have an interpretation.

Perhaps as we journey through life and on our mission trips around the world, we just need to remember to cast our cares upon God. Let Him take control of our lives and we will live in peace with joy, no matter our situation. As soon as we try to control our lives, our fear of the unknown will paralyze us.

Why did we both have the same dream? God has a sense of humor. He wants us to enjoy Him and each other. All I know is that that experience alone connected us even more.

I miss you Ecka... u know!