Departure! Saturday Dec 31st 2011

Hello All,

Today our team is working on our final English teaching preparations and going through our last Thai language lesson! Tomorrow we will be finalizing our packing and last minute details and then we are OFF to Chicago to fly to Thailand on Saturday morning!!

Thank you SO much for all your prayers and support. I will update as soon as I can once we get to Thailand and continue to update you guys during the trip.
Our immediate prayer needs would be for safe travel. For myself, I have lower back problems so just pray that the 20+ hours of sitting on a plane is bearable.
Again, thank you so much for your prayers and your role in our mission to Thailand.

In Christ,
Lucas Neraasen

"Insert Title"

Hey!

Here we are in the first week of December and I don't see much snow outside. Now I know that for some of you this is a major blessing. I see you all giddy about the fact that while it is still FREEZING out, at least the landscape is dead, brown and ugly. Instead of what one might call a "wonderland". Why this is, I don't understand but I am glad you are happy. However, I am waiting and hoping for snow very soon.

The fact that there COULD be snow outside, means that the departure date for Thailand must be closer! That is correct. We will be leaving in just a few short weeks to do ministry in a remote village in Northern Thailand and I am STOKED. It will be great to be there and hopefully to be used by God to bring about His kingdom on earth!

Cheyenne and I along with another Discipleship Training School staff member spent the week in Minneapolis Minnesota. We joined our DTS class with theirs and we shared the Speaker Troy Sherman. The topic of the week was entitled "Identity and Destiny". The week went extremely well for our students who are now all back at YWAM Northwoods. Troy works with Youth With A Mission and among other things is focused on changing the world in sex trafficking and fresh clean water world wide. Troy's teaching for me personally, changed my life. God used him in my life to speak truth into my life and change my world. I was extremely blessed this week. God is good. http://www.troyandalisa.org/troyandalisa.com/INFUSION.html

We just sent in all of our Thailand Visa applications in on Wednesday! Please pray with us that everything goes smoothly with the Thai consulate.

On Saturday December 10th we will be having a Na Hong prayer summit at YWAM Northwoods. We will be praying and interceding for the village of Na Hong and the summit will end with a Thai meal. If you would like more information please facebook or email me. You can pray from where ever you are at!

God bless

Lucas N

Flight Ticket Update

Hello everyone!

Tomorrow we will be ordering our flight tickets to Bangkok Thailand. We fly from Chicago- Beijing China - Bangkok and then hopefully a domestic flight to Chiang Mai. The total cost is about $1,500. Praise God that support has been coming in! That coupled with the money I have saved this year has got me moving in the right direction!

Tomorrow I am taking a step of faith and booking my flight on my cred

it card. Please continue to pray that finances come in to pay off my credit bill and also for my ground fees while I am in Thailand.

The flight leaves on Dec 31st and returns to Chicago o

n Feb 22nd!

Thank you for your prayers and support!

*Pray for our team as a whole as we are growing together as a team, striving for unity and trusting for provision!

Bangkok Thailand

Awesome song! Praise God

Savior, Worthy of Honor and Glory! Worthy of all our praise, YOU OVERCAME!
Jesus, awesome in power forever, AWESOME and GREAT is YOUR NAME!
We will overcome by the BLOOD of the Lamb and by the WORD of our testimony!

http://youtu.be/FqXZD_z3eCc

Quick update

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to let you all know what the current situation with Thailand looks like.

Our team found out on Friday that we will probably have to order our plane tickets within the next two weeks! I've raise a little over half so right now I need right around $700 to purchase my right of passage! If you are interested in helping send me to the mission in Thailand send all checks/money orders to YWAM Northwoods W14580 County Highway D, Weyerhaeuser WI 54895.

Please call/text or email me! I would love to talk with you all. 612-247-9437 lukieneraasen@yahoo.com.

Fall News Letter!

Hello everybody!

I am sitting in my office on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon looking out at the changing colors of the trees across the lake. It's amazing how fast time goes by! Just a couple years ago I was a student in the DTS not knowing what I was going to do with my life. Wondering what my future looked like and praying that I would allow God to change my heart, my mind and my life.

Today I am in the third week of the third Discipleship Training School that I have been involved with and the second Training School that I have staffed. God answered my prayers and persistence, He has changed my heart, my mind and my life. I am so happy with where my life is right now and looking forward to what is ahead! (I'll get to that later).

I now know so clearly what to live for and what I want my life to be about. I am a fallen person but I want my life to be a light for Christ through Him. The things of this world that I considered important have become dim in comparison with serving God and preaching His grace, love and justice to the hurting and searching.

This is me “getting to that later”. So what is next for me? I will write about the short term first seeing as that is definite.

I am planning and preparing to go to Thailand again in late December. I can't wait to get back there. The people of Nahong and even of Chiang Mai are so on my heart. Sometimes even certain smells will trigger a longing in my heart to go back to the hurting people of Thailand that need to know the love of Christ so badly.

I am in great financial need for this to happen. If God lays it on your heart please contact me and I will let you know all the details about the trip and the mission. I do NOT want our relationship to be a one way street. I want to know you more and be able to pray for your needs as well. I am not the only one with great needs so I would LOVE to stand with you in prayer with any need that you might have. I will also get you hooked up with my more personal updates of what is happening with the DTS and especially Thailand.

After the trip to Thailand I am still in contract with Youth With A Mission until the end of August and after that is not completely clear at this point but it is becoming more clear each day. I know that I want to remain in ministry both locally and internationally. I don't know if that is going to be with YWAM or not but I believe it will be something big and I wait with excitement and anxious anticipation for what is next.

Thailand is something that is very strong in Cheyenne's and my own heart. We want to be involved in what is happening there for at least the next season in our lives and again, we don't know what that will look like in terms of what organization/ministry that will be with but we know that is is part of what we will be doing. We are also praying about the future timing in our relationship!

Prayer needs: FIRST, I want to know if YOU have any prayer needs! I want to stand with you in encouragement and prayer for whatever you might be going through. Please do not be afraid to use the relationship we have. Even if I do not know you that well the point of this invite is to know you more and encourage you!

- Pray for the people in Thailand! Cru Nit, Cru Taweeb, Cru Dang, Cru Nung and Mr Ankahn to name a few. Mr. Ankahn is the principle of the school and is a man of influence. Please pray that he finds Jesus soon, (Cru means 'teacher' in Thai)

- My friends Pii Taa and Beer (bea) they are both Thai Christians.

- Pray that the students of this year's DTS would come away with a picture of Christ worth dying for.

- My back is getting much better (thank you for your prayers) but it has it's flair ups and I am definitely not at 100% so pray that the improving trend continues.

Other needs and ways you can help:

Finances, I sorely need finances in order for this trip to Thailand to happen this year. We are planning on getting airline tickets by the end of this month. Airfare to Thailand runs right around $1,700-$2,500. You are along side me in the mission field because without you there isn't a way that I could be there. I have to ask for your help now.

Supplies for outreach:

A sleeping bag cold meds, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Bug spray, peanut butter, protein bars soap and shampoo. Basic needs.

Contact info:

Mailing Address: W14580 CTY HWY D, Weyerhaeuser Wisconsin, 54895

Email: lukieneraasen@yahoo.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lucasRSN

Personal phone: (612)-247-9437

Work phone: (715)-353-2280 (Ask for Luke)

Also I have a paypal account that will soon be available for quick easy donations.

You can make out all checks to YWAM Northwoods. If my name does not appear on the check it will be tax deductible to you.

As the wind blows - Ministry Update

Hello there guys!

I realize that it has been some time since I last let you all know what I am up to!

The crazy summer is quickly coming to a close. It has been a great summer filled with incredible heat humidity and good times.

Our next Discipleship Training School begins in 3 1/2 weeks and so we are working on scheduling the school, organizing all that needs to happen and processing applications. There is still time to apply so if you know of someone or yourself are interested in DTS please let me know!

The summer began with a lot of recruiting for the DTS which meant a lot of travel. We traveled all over Wisconsin going to different churches and organizing events

from the Soul Garage to the terrifying "Hodag" (which you can see to your right).

I also spent a lot of time working on our new Summer Camps but unfortunately we had to cancel but we're putting the work into next year's camp!

Recently I just helped organize and event that we call "Set Apart". A two day conference that we offer for free where many youth groups and locals come to experience teaching, worship and discipleship. This was our largest Set Apart event to date, with over 150 people in attendance. I was one of the worship leaders and the sound engineer for the event.

I have also been leading worship a few times a month

at a church in our area. Last year I was the full time worship leader until I went on outreach last winter. I hope to be working in worship ministry throughout my life.

God is good and I continue to be amazed as I learn more of His character and His heart for people. The harder I try to grow a heart after God's own heart I realize how amazing He really is. When it is hard for me to love, to serve and to sacrifice I understand more of how Holy our God truly is.

My girlfriend Cheyenne Clark and I are also doing very well! We have big plans for our future together and we are excited for it! God has truly blessed me to have her in my life working with and supporting me.

Prayer Requests: That I will have a heart to learn. That I will serve God well during our upcoming school. That our students will experience something truly life changing in the coming months. And that as our Thailand outreach in January approaches, that my back (I have a herniated disk) will be strengthened and ready and that God would provide the funds to continue His work in Thailand.

I love you all,

Thank you for taking the time to read this update and also to continue to pray for me. I would love to hear from you for reals. How you are doing and how I could pray for YOU! Send an email to lukieneraasen@yahoo.com or find me on www.facebook.com/lucasRSN

For funny singing cards, or financial support send it to W14580 County HWY D, Weyerhauser, WI 54895. Or if you would like to come VISIT! Just put "ywam northwoods" into google maps.

God bless

Lucas

New Videos

Hey, check out some of my videos on my new youtube channel!

http://www.youtube.com/user/LukeNeraasen

If there is a song you want me to try and cover, let me know!

You're The Hope To The Hopeless

Another Year A Comin'!

Hello all,

Well, another year has ended and a new one has begun.

First I want to thank you all for your prayers and support over the last year and while I was in Thailand. Thank you for standing beside me in bringing the gospel of hope and life to Thailand. I can't thank you enough. I felt your prayers with me over this last year.

We left for Thailand on the 31^st of December and now I am finally resting. I just want to tell you guys some of what happened this year in Thailand and in my year with ywam.

Thailand: If you remember, last year there was a girl named Lamud, who came to Christ. We have been praying for her throughout the year and hoping that she would be a part of our team. This year when we arrived in Nahong, we found out very disturbing news. She had lost some of her memory and was not feeling well. Her mother had taken her to the temple and to 'wise men' who told Lamud that when she gave her life to Jesus it was not her but a spirit that had come into her. Lamud was fooled by the wiseman and believed it. She forgot all of last year and her conversion to Christ.

That is when the praying started! Our team went to very hard intercessio

n for this girl and we began to visit her in hopes to pray with her at her house. Her mother gave us that chance! We prayed with Lamud and her mother. The next day Lamud told us she had never known such joy! The following day she remembered her love for Jesus and asked her mother if she

could give her life to Him. Mother approved!! So God healed her and she is holding bible studies with kids in Nahong while we are gone.

God did so much more and 8 other kids gave their lives to Christ. They are doing bible studies now and learning more about who God is. There are also a number of adults who have heard the gospel and are now considering the fact that Jesus is their savior. The church has started in Nahong!! Pray that it grows even str

onger!

I've learned a lot over the last year. So much that by the time I covered it in the letter you'd be bored to death (if yo

ur not already.. writing is not my gift). But the primary thing that I have learned is the importance of humility, unity and forgiveness. I have a long way to go but I know with God I will continue to be taught and learn. I've also learned reliance on God. There have been so many times in the last year that only reliance on God got me through. Through exhaustion, hard emotional struggles, financially struggles and hardships on outreach. I ran out of human strength so many times but God gave me what I needed to get through and handle the task at hand!

This next year: As of now I will be working at Ywam for another year. I am going to be doing a lot of student recruitment this summer as well as setting up the next Discipleship Training School which starts in September. I'll also be helping ou-

t our School Of Biblical Foundations whenever it needs help. I'll be very busy traveling to churches, concerts, conventions and camps doing recruitment for the school. I also am a worship leader at ywam and so my life usually consists of playing at a lot of different places and times. I'll be staffing the next DTS and helping lead the 2012 Thailand outreach.

I ask you to please pray and consider supporting me financially. I trust that God will bring in what I need but I am currently living on around $75 a month after paying rent and utilities. Please pray about supporting monthly. Even small amounts truly help me very much.

Thank you for your prayers. I really love you all! Please don't hesitate to ask me more questions if you have them. It's impossible for me to contain everything in this letter. I'd really love to hear from you. If there is anything you would like pray for please let me know. I know you're praying for me, I want to know how to pray for you! God bless,

Lucas Email: lukieneraasen@yahoo.com Facebook: Lucas Neraasen Phone: 612-247-9437 Ad: w14580 cty hw D weyerhaeuser, WI 54895

Hello from Chiang Mai Thailand!

I really can't contain all that happened or describe what emotions are going on inside me through mere words in this update. But, I must try to do my best.

First I want to thank you all for your prayers and support over the last year and while here in Thailand. Thank you for standing beside me in our effort to bring the gospel of hope and life to Thailand and to Nahong. I can't thank you enough or really tell you how much your prayers mean to me and have helped me.

Yesterday morning was a sea of emotion as we left Nahong. Even though I'm coming back next year I really did not want to leave. Here is a list of the people who came to a faith in Christ or are very close. They're all studying the bible. Keep them all in your prayers! Lamud, Baby, Pawn, Bob, Sam, Peem, Urt and Urt's mother. All of these people have either come to Christ or are at least studying the Word. Keep Urt and Lamud especially in your prayers as they are the strongest and will be attacked by temptation and persecution. Here are people who have heard the gospel and continue to process it: Kru Euw, Kru Taweeb, Kru Nueng, Urt's father, Pii Sak and Pii Lie.

I love the people of Nahong very much and it is hard to leave them. There is a small fire burning in Nahong and there are logs that are close to being thrown into the fire. But there will be great seas and winds to try and put the small fire of believers out. Pray protection for them and that our Lord Jesus Christ would cover them with His blood.

I praise God for all that HE did this year. It wasn't our team. We are not English teachers but God gave us what we needed to teach well. We ran out of human strength again and again but Christ strengthend us. To Him be all glory, honor and praise.

Now we have gone into our "debrief" time in Chiang Mai. The team leadership for debrief falls to myself and Cheyenne. Please be praying for us this week. We are noobs, haha.

I miss you guys and I am excited to see you and hear about what has been happening in your lives since I left two months ago!

Blessings from Chiang Mai,

Luke

Last week in Nahong!

Hello all,

Well a lot has been happening here in Thailand! We are now doing a bible study with 9 kids. All of which have asked for Jesus to be their God! Please pray protection over them so that they can continue to grow in Christ!

One of the boys is a boy named Urt. He's very serious about it and he has lead a couple bible studies himself! After the first few days of studying with him we asked him what he had learned. He replied "Jesus came as a man but was God and he came as my redeemer."

We are all very pumped about what is going on here. We are praying that some disciplers will be able to come back before next year to be able to check on things and continue the ministry. I believe Nahong is very close to exploding for Christ!

Yesterday after the bible study we we're able to have the kids pray for each other! This was a huge moment that really brought joy to my heart. Just pray that they continue searching, finding and following Jesus Christ. Thailand is a very hostile place spiritually so pray for great strength in these kids. And pray for their families. Many of which have heard the gospel!

I'll see you all soon! God bless

~Luke

Nahong Update 2.0

Hello all,

There has been a lot of happenings in Nahong since my last update. The last you heard I asked you to pray for a girl named Lamud. She is a 6th grade girl who gave her life to Jesus last year. This year when we got here we found out very disturbing news, she had lost some of her memory and was not feeling well. Her mother had taken her to the temple and to 'wise men' who told Lamud that when she gave her life to Jesus it was not her but a spirit that had come into her. Lamud was blinded to the truth and believed the wise men. She forgot all of last year and her conversion to Christ.

That is when the praying started! Our team went to very hard intercession for this girl and we began to visit her in hopes to pray with her at her house. Her mother gave us that chance! We prayed with Lamud and her mother. The next day Lamud told us she had never known such joy! The following day she remembered her love for Jesus and asked her mother if she could give her life to Him. Mother approved!! As of tomorrow afternoon Lamud and some of her friends are starting a bible study with Cheyenne and Joanna!!! We hope to move the study to Lamud's house before we leave.

Now I'll tell another story about a teacher at the school whos name is Cru Nung...

Cru Nung was telling our team leader (Tom) that she was moving into a new house and that she was afraid of ghosts. She asked Tom if he was afraid of ghosts. Tom told her he wasn't and there was the openning. Tom went on to tell her why he was not afraid of ghosts, because of Jesus Christ. Since then Cru Nung has prayed to Jesus and we are continuing to disciple her!!

Another teacher Taweeb (formally Batime hee) has been told the gospel and really wants to talk about it in detail this week. GOD IS MOVING!!!

In other team news..

On Thursday this week our team (minus Tom) went to the Chiang mai zoo with the students! Itwas a gruling trip for sure but it was fun. We left for the 3 hour drive at 5am and got back to our house at 9pm (the teachers partied a bit).

The zoo was fun because they don't have cages like we do. I was 6 in away from two hippos which was sweet!

Yesterday we went with some Nahong friends up the moutain to see a natural sprig. The trip was quite the adventure! We ended up 5,000ft above sea level trecking through the jungle!!

So its safe to say that our spirits are high and we are PUMPED about what God is doing! it's also safe to say we are TOTALLY wiped out.

I love you guys and miss you all!

God bless,

~Lucas

Nahong!

Hello all,

We are now safely in Nahong. I've been thinking of a way to describe our trip up to the village but I haven't found a way without profanity so I'll just say "It was scary". We got a truck (praise God) but that is just what it is.. a truck. Usually we get a song taw which is a truck with a cab on the back with bench seats in the truck bed. This is just a normal truck so 3 of us had to sit on our luggage in the back of the truck all the way up the mountain. So that was fun.

But we got here safely. We're actually staying a mile outside the village in an amazing river side home with no chickens and a western toilet. It's pretty crazy!! It has been really good so far to see how much the people missed us and desire for us to be in the village. Tomorrow night we're going to be having a little party at one of the teachers houses after going to a wedding. So tomorrow is going to be a CRAZY day!

Thanks for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray that our ministry opens up and we are able to really move in the village this year! Personally please continue to pray for my back. I'm really trying to not let it get me down. If God is trying to teach me something through it I'm willing to learn. It's just a great discomfort and I don't like to move or sit. I'm pretty much comfortable when I lay down. But I know that it will get better soon. If not here then when I get back. It's a very strange problem and I can't find the source.

I love you guys and I'm really missing you!

God bless

~Lucas

Chiang Mai!

Hey ya'll! Well we made it to the wonderful Chiang Mai! Words can't tell you how happy I am today. Not only am I in my favorite city seeing some amazing people today, but God has blessed me mightily since I arrived here in Thailand.

Last night we took an 11 hour night bus from Bangkok all the way to Chiang Mai. There is something you need to know about the night bus before you get all excited about "having a new experience". First of all the food they try to give you periodically is scary to say the least! (bring your own snacks). Secondly, the goal is to magically not have to go to the bathroom for 11 hours. And last but not least, they call it an "air conditioned bus" which normally on a 90+ degree day would excite ones heart but this feeling however fades away in about 20 minutes.. I know that Minnesota is cold and I am use to that, but when your dressed for 90 degree weather and you were just sweating.. it's not nice to spend 11 hours sitting in a place that is colder then most ice storms in Minnesota. Your sweat freezes, you have to pee.. oh and it's a bus for 11 hours.

But praise God all went smoothly! One of the mighty blessings occurred over the trip. If you've heard me talk about Thailand you know that I'm passionate about the food and also I like it spicy! So much so that I cannot resist even when I know I probably should. The last meal before I got on the bus was INCREDIBLE! But I knew eating it would put my entire digestive system ( and my entire life) in a state of emergency. Luckily somehow I was able to flee the impending doom and make it to Chiang Mai without incident. I have recently found out that I am fine and very happy with.... the function of..er that thing.

Our team will be here until Thursday afternoon and then to Nahong! I'm sooo happy to be seeing friends from last year here in Chiang Mai and going to some of my favorite places. Talk to you guys soon!

~Lucas

Romans 8

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time, are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." This coming from Paul, a man persecuted all his life. He had such an understanding of the gift of God and that everything that matters is the eternal, not the now. Amen!

We've Arrived!

Well, I am sitting in a small room on an ancient computer at Ywam Bangkok!

Thank you all so much for your prayers. I have no words to say how I feel right now. It's really crazy to be back here experiencing the sounds and smells of Thailand again. Our travel could not have gone better! We flew from MSP - Tokyo and from there to Bangkok. Both flights went smooth, security was a breeze and nothing bad happened to our luggage!

I just praise God and give Him the glory for amazing travel!

Today is our day off and then we have orientation tomorrow afternoon. On Monday night/freaking early Tuesday morning, we'll be taking the overnight bus 11 hrs to Chiang Mai! I'll let you know more once we arrive there safely.

Highlight of the first afternoon in Thailand? Praising God with worship music and Bible study AND Spiced down Pad Thai!!! I'm loving it!

God bless

Lucas