God is moving

Greetings everyone,

We are so blessed to have you with us on our journey to join Jesus in his mission in the world, wherever he has planted us.   Thank you for your continued prayers, love, and support.  We could not be in ministry without you.

So often since we have been back people ask us our plans.  Will we return overseas? What does life look like now?  What will our future look like?

Our answer is always the same, we are trusting the Lord with today and our future.  For now we know the Lord has called us to be here and we ask him daily to show us his path for us.  We pray for open eyes, open hearts and minds to be able to see where the Lord is moving and creating a space for us to serve.

 We spend a lot of time these days with young adults, mentoring and praying for them as they navigate life and try to discern how the Lord might be calling them.  Since CoVid many of our conversations have been online, but we are still meeting students as we can using social distancing.  At TMS Global where we serve, cross-cultural workers are coming to us even during this season and being approved to serve all over the world.  We have had to make alternate processes for acceptance and training, but God is continuing to open doors.  One of the students we took on a Greenlight trip for 2 summers has recently gone to serve as a first-year teacher in Eastern Europe.  Though it has its challenges, she is experiencing the fullness of life and abundance of God's grace being obedient to the call to be the salt and light in a hurting world.  God is so good.

Time with young adults

Greenlight 2019

Each week we are talking with cross-cultural workers from around the world, connecting with them and offering a time for them to feel heard and supported.  In America we have had many challenges with CoVid, but our friends in different countries have had deep struggles.  One family in East Asia was forced to remain in their apartment complex for months with 3 children, unable to leave.  Another said many people were dying on the streets without money to buy food.  Life is hard and workers have needed time to share their stories and to be prayed for.  We also join virtually with all of the staff at TMS at 8:30am each weekday to pray for workers all over the globe.  It has been a gift to us to offer that member care to so many God has called to serve overseas and at home.

We have also been encouraged by the Lord to neighbor well.  We have lived in the same neighborhood for over 20 years.  Before we left for Thailand we knew people around us, vaguely.  Today as we walk the neighborhood we realize we are getting to know so many people.  Many young families have moved here and seem to be seeking community so we can offer encouragement and hospitality to them.  We also have many from other cultures including families from Bhutan, Greece, Germany, Venezuela and more.  We are also opening our lives and asking for opportunities to learn more and be in community with those who are not like us. 

Neighbors

Since CoVid we also have elderly people that God has given us to care for and walk alongside in deep ways.  Once couple in their late 80's and early 90's who lost their only daughter to cancer several years ago have become some of our best friends.  The elderly gentleman has struggled with dementia and the road hasn't been easy, but we will never regret the time we have been able to pour into their lives and for all we have learned from them.  It is a great blessings to be able to offer ourselves to others and then we recognize in helping others we have been graced with great joy.  

We have also been able to offer opportunities for facilitating Discovery Bible Study with different groups.  God opened the door for a Facebook Live Bible study for several months with our local church.  It took some getting used to facilitate a discussion with only us on camera and comments coming through the chat, but God did end up blessing it for many people and of course for us too.  TMS Global is working on a Biblical based series "Who is my Neighbor" that has also been a gift to be able to participate in the development of that project.  We believe it will be a blessing for many to use as we explore the Kingdom of God and ask questions and find answers to how we can neighbor well and grow the Kingdom of God where we live, work, and do life.

From January 2020 in Cyprus, prior to Covid

This is a bit of our work and life at least for today. As for our family Noah is at the end of his undergrad degree in Supply Chain Management at Anderson University.  Hannah Grace is a junior at Co-Op Art school and taking dual enrollment at North Greenville University.  Sidney is working locally with an engineering company as a technician  and Ashely is still in LA working on a master's in Counseling and planning to be married next May.  Thank you again for blessing us.  We pray each of you are doing well and pray for your regularly.  We are available to talk and pray with you and would love that opportunity.  We are making plans for a Greenlight Trip to Thailand this summer, but also know that those plans could change.  Just like everyone else, one day at a time and praying for the grace to live as Jesus would have us live and be his disciples to a hurting world.

Sidney, Ashley, Noah and Hannah Grace

Grace and peace,

The Attaways

Prayer Requests

Health and well-being of our parents and children

Continued ministry with young adults or whoever the Lord puts before us and the grace, wisdom, and ability to walk alongside them on their journeys

For neighboring well and chances to share that vision with others who want to do the same

For spiritual protection and provision

Remaining Faithful

Hello Everyone!

It has been some time since we last posted an update. So we wanted to catch you up on some of what's been happening with us.

In the last quarter of 2019 we were spending time visiting colleges and universities, speaking with students interested in serving in missions and those discerning a call to missions. We were scheduled to have three Greenlight gateway teams for this summer. Two of the teams were headed to Thailand and the other to Spain.  Hosts in these countries were meeting regularly with us making plans for the arrival in a new culture, for new ministry experiences, all while exploring their own callings. Those teams would have been leaving yesterday, May 30 for the designated country. However, with the current global situation, all of these plans have been put on hold until next summer at the earliest. This has been a huge disappointment for the participants, the hosts, the nationals in these countries they were planning to meet and the TMS Global staff. 

Speaking in Churches about joining Jesus in his mission

We visited Winthrop's Wesley Foundation and had a time to share with students about serving cross culturally and to invite them to participate in Greenlight during the summers.  We felt encouraged by our time there and plan to revisit this Fall.

Wesley at Winthrop University

Texas Tech Wesley group

Worship teamPreparing for the students

Before the CoVid restrictions we were able to visit the Wesley Foundation at Texas Tech where we have developed relationships with students and staff.  One of the students we met participated in Greenlight 2019 to Paraguay.  We are continuing to walk alongside a number of people in Lubbock, Texas as they discern a call to global ministry

Opportunities to speak to Women's group at Smyrna First UMC about Missions

Early in 2020 TMS Global held its second Global Gathering in Cyprus. This is a special event because it brings together all of the CCW's of TMS Global. This is a time of fellowship, worship, growth and education for everyone in the organization. New CCW's are able to bond with others doing similar or vastly different work all around the world. We were able to step back in time and see the place where Barnabas lived and was buried and learn some of the history of the area.

At the Global Gathering in Cyprus

Because we were so close, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to Israel for about five days. Five days is not enough, but we packed in many opportunities to see some key places of the area like: Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, Mt of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane and a few others. It is hard to put into words how it makes the Bible more alive.  If you ever have the opportunity, we think it is a once in a lifetime trip.

At the Jordan River

Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered

Sea of Galilee

Over the past couple months we have continued to walk with those seeking to serve in various places around the world. There are fewer people seeking to reach out right now due to the world environment. Many countries have closed their borders but things things are beginning to open again or a least in the next couple of months will do so.  But for all of our people serving, we have been connecting with them. Anxiety and stress levels are all over the place. The is so much uncertainty as to whether visas will be granted or extended, whether borders will open or closed, whether people are allowed outside there residence.

 We have used some of our time to help with member care. We call and have conversations and prayer with our TMS Global family serving the world. God has been faithful allowing many to be able to continue to provide jobs for nationals or food for families or even for our CCW's to share a conversation  and prayer about why they choose to live in their country.

Hannah Grace making friends in Jerusalem

Praying for the nations

We thank you all for the support and prayers during this time and all times. We are excited for those who continue to push through the obstacles of the enemy to have a chance to serve. We look forward to walking and serving along side them to honor Jesus' request to make disciples.





Prayer requests-

-For Todd's family in the recent passing of his Dad,  James Attaway.
-For Pam's parents and transition from their home in Landrum.
-For Ashley and her recent engagement to Zach Garrison who she met at Clemson.
-For continued financial and prayer support in our current ministry work.
-For vision and discernment of how best to walk with those called to serve.

God Answers Prayer

Greenlight Team 2019

WOW! time passes so quickly.  We wanted to update all of you on what has been going on with us and how we have seen the Lord at work in the lives of those we are able to walk with on their journey. God has been so gracious to us and placed so many wonderful people in our lives. Many of whom are young and know God has a plan for them and are working to figure out how to live life and be a disciple maker.

Elephants in Thailand

Again this past summer we had the opportunity to lead a group of students to Thailand.  We call these trips Greenlight Gateway. They are a form of mission trip, but are designed for participants who want to know what international missions looks like, feels like and where to begin. These trips are more about being than doing. This past summer we had five students, one which participated last year and wanted to serve a leader this year. God has always been been present on each of these trips and this year was no exception.  We found out from one of our former teammates that a student that has been very active small groups and Sunday worship time had become ill. She was forced to return home from the government boarding school to Pattaya to stay with her mother. We learned she had some sores on her neck that had become open wounds and were not healing.  Not only were they not healing but she was getting weaker each day and losing weight. She was hospitalized and given a less than favorable prognosis. We began daily prayer for her that God would intervene and heal her.

Connecting with our teammates the Barbees

We asked a doctor friend if he could offer treatment alternatives for, but her mom didn't want to upset or offend her primary doctor. She was at the point of not being able to walk and barely able to eat. As we prayed for her, her situation began to change. Her appetite gradually returned, the sores on her neck began to heal, her strength began to build and her outlook began to brighten. In the five or so weeks we prayed for her specifically for the sores to heal, we experienced God's grace for this student and his healing power. Although she was not able to return to school before we left, she did make a visit and was on the path to having her life return to a more normal

Getting to See KingTower with our Thai friend and Graysen

There was also a friend that serves in Bangkok that was at the end of his current visa. Recent visa renewals for visas have been granted, but only for three months. This makes the process time consuming and expensive since you have to pay the same amount for a three month renewal as you do for a year long visa. Our Greenlight team knew this several weeks in advance and began praying that he would receive a one year extension. We were not the only ones praying for this because he had asked his support base, friends and family to intercede on his behalf. God was faithful again. He received a one year visa. We met with him a couple of days after returning to Thailand. He was so excited and thankful that God had allowed this prayer to be answered.


We saw many times the Lord respond with answered prayers. During our trip one of the students felt spiritual oppression in her hotel room. We gathered in her room to pray against the evil forces of darkness. As we gathered, another student felt a similar oppression. Through prayer we did not back down against those forces but prayed for God's protection and he answered.

Tallest building in Bangkok with a personal tour by Tool,  our friend, and architect of the top 2 floors.

We prayed for a student in Nepal on a mission trip. She found herself in a time of struggle so we asked our team to agin intercede in prayer for this young lady. Right after our prayers we received a message from her saying, "something just hit me like a burst of light and hope and I knew it was God."
God showed our group over and over that he is faithful if we believe and trust he is with us. The faith of our Greenlight team grew from these encounters and experiences. They truly saw God at work and how faithful he is to us in our times of need and everyday life. We pray that God will continue to grow our faith and the students who shared these experiences with us by giving us the courage and boldness to seek Him and ask him for help in all of our needs.  We are continuing to walk alongside these girls and many others as they journey.

Time with Brooke who attended Greenlight 2 years ago, now serving in Thailand in full-time ministry

We are spending this season preparing for next years trips, walking alongside individuals in discerning, going to universities and churches.  We are able to come to speak at your group or church as opportunities arise, sharing about how the Lord is working in Thailand as well as with the people discerning a call to serve him.  We have the opportunity to speak to the UMC Spartanburg District Youth September 29.  Please join us in prayer as we share about the faithfulness of God and how we all can join him in his mission in our daily lives.

We appreciate your continued love and support.  God is good and faithful, that we know.

Cooking with Kat, our teammate

Greenlight with teammate Patdy and her husband Boy

Bangkok in the Sky

Hello to all of our friends and family! We hope you are all doing well and would like to again share our appreciation for each of you that has and continues to journey with us. We thank you for your comments, prayers, support and friendships as we continue to pursue making Jesus' name known throughout the world.

We have learned that mobilizing people for mission, to serve throughout the world or even here locally, requires one to wear many different hats. It can range from conversations with people currently serving on the field, to building relationships with others who have very little idea of what missions looks like or can look like. We believe in our organization, TMS Global, their values and how they support those serving on the field. We have had many conversations with people that went into international missions and struggled because they were not prepared.  We believe TMS Global does an excellent job of preparing people to live cross culturally and to show Christ in their daily lives in places that can be much different from the USA.  Since returning from the field and serving with TMS we have been blessed to mobilize and walk with several CCW's who are now on the field or preparing to depart this year.   We feel fortunate to be used by God in expanding his kingdom.

One of these areas of preparation we serve in with TMS is the Greenlight Gateway mission opportunity. We have again been able to be part of this ministry. This is a mission opportunity that targets college students from age 18-23 primarily. The intent of the program is to give these young people a realistic view of what life is like in another context other than their own, as well as discern what God is asking of them. Over the past three years we have concentrated on trips to Thailand. However, this year we are expanding and have trips planned for the Balkens, Paraguay and Thailand. This year we have 17 people participating in Greenlight including participants and leaders. We ask for your prayers for each of these trips, that God will speak to each person as to what this means for their life. These trips will be from early June through early August.

A second area of preparation is what we call Greenlight Now. In our conversations with churches and young people, we realized the need that high school aged students want to have cross cultural experiences and opportunities also. This month (March 22-24) we are spending a weekend in Clarkston, GA with a mission organization that works in the neighborhoods and apartment complexes to provide a cross cultural experience here in the USA for high school ages. Clarkston is said to be the most culturally diverse square mile in the US, so this sounds like the perfect place. We ask that you pray also for this weekend and those participating and leading.

We continue to visit universities and colleges to speak with students and share parts of our lives that peak their curiosity. On a recent visit to a college we participated in an international festival as part of their mission week. At the table beside us were some students who's parents had immigrated from Thailand to the US. Some had never been to Thailand and wanted to know about our experiences there. Several want to eventually serve in the country of their ancestors.

In February we participated in a Global Impact Celebration at Pierce Chapel UMC. We were able to share with different groups over the course of the weekend about our ministry in Thailand, mobilizing for the Body for Christ and our Greenlight opportunities.  It was a blessing to be able to share this mission minded congregation seeking to go deeper in following Christ and his call.

Again, we thank you for sharing your life and the love Jesus Christ with us. We are an extension of each church and person who journeys with us. We would love to come and share personally with you when you have an opportunity.  Blessings and peace to each of you.

Prayer Requests

For continued relationships and conversations with others called to serve in mission around the world
For our trip to Thailand this summer, serving as leaders for one of the Greenlight trips
For our parents
For our children-Sidney, Ashley, Noah and Hannah Grace
For continued prayer and financial support so we can continue the work he has laid before us here in America

Walking in His Grace

Mission Week at Lee University, Cleveland Tennessee

Hello friends.  Prayers and peace to each of you.  We appreciate you, your prayers, support and interest in our journey in joining Jesus in his mission.   We wanted to update you with how he is moving and using our service in mobilizing and equipping others who are called to be in mission.

Pam speaking at a Women's luncheon

 This Fall we were invited to attend and participate in a Global Impact Celebration at Chapin United Methodist Church in Chapin, South Carolina.  This weekend allowed us the opportunity to share our story and meet many new people who are seeking to serve Jesus.

Global Impact Celebration

Hannah Grace singing "Give me Faith" at Aldersgate UMC

Hannah Grace has been able to share her singing at our home church Aldersgate UMC.  She was a blessing to the congregation and it was beautiful for us to see her using her gifts here in America.  She is studying at an art school called Artios, where she is thriving and meeting new friends.  She is able to keep up with her Thai friends each week so we are thankful for technology to allow for friendships worldwide.





We were able to get our whole family together for a few hours this month.  Since Ashley has moved to LA we aren't able to see one another very often so we are praising God for our brief, but meaningful time together.  We have all learned that moments together are precious and even without much time, family bonds can be deepened and tended to.

Attaway family 2018

This month also included a trip to Lee University in Cleveland Tennessee.  We were able to attend their Mission Week, have a space in the student center to display a TMS information table and personally talk with students and staff.  This was a time to share about the Greenlight summer program and to introduce the opportunity for students this upcoming summer.  

Vincent in Thailand

The biggest joy for us was getting to spend time with our friend Vincent who came to Thailand with Greenlight two summers ago and now is an Inter-Cultural studies major at Lee University.  Vincent has agreed to be a TMS Ambassador so he will be telling others about the Greenlight trips and encouraging them to join one if they are discerning a call to serve in mission.

                                                                   
                                                             Wesley Groups

We have been able to attend Wesley Foundation groups at Furman University in Greenville and Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas.  This opportunity allowed us to meet personally with interested students, to hear their story so we could encourage the and pray for them.  It was sacred time for us to be able to spend time and speak into their lives.  We are hopeful to be able to continue walking in these new relationships.

Texas Tech Wesley

Wesley Group Texas Tech

  These times with college students are  great opportunities to let students know about Greenlight trips that are available for those discerning a call to serve in mission.  This year we have worked to expand the Greenlight Gateway program and will offer four experiences instead of one.  Two will go to Thailand, one focusing on teaching English as a second language and the other a broader experience of culture and ministry.  We also have teams going to Kosovo and Paraguay.  It is exciting to see how the Lord is blessing this program and to be a part of it. 

We are taking an active role in supporting hosts in each country with Skype calls each month so they will be equipped to offer the best possible experience for students to be spiritually formed in the culture they are living in.  If you happen to know of students who might be interested in these opportunities please contact us or have them go to www.tms-global.org and look under the Go tab for more information.

Texas Tech Wesley

Another great joy for us as mobilizers with TMS-Global is to walk alongside newly appointed cross-cultural workers as they are training, preparing and raising funds to serve on the field.  We know from first hand experience some of the stress involved with this process as well as the first few months after arrival to the field.  We are assigned to people preparing to serve and contact them regularly during their time of preparation as well as their arrival.  We are able to share practical wisdom such as what to take to the field, to saying goodbyes, to helping with budgets.  We also use this time to pray with them and for them.  One of our "people" is Brooke who attended Greenlight in Thailand two summers ago.  She has recently landed in Thailand and is adjusting to life there.  Brooke plans to spend two years serving in CoLab with TMS where she will work with our teammates and teach/build relationships with our Thai students.  It has been a great blessing to be there for her and others during the times of transition.

Brooke and our Thai teammates and students at Camp

Thank you again for your prayers and support for each of us.  We feel like the Lord is using our gifts and experiences to advance his kingdom around the world.  Please continue to lift us up in prayer along with those we are in discernment with as they hear from the Lord.  May God richly bless and keep you.

Prayers requests:

For continued financial provision so we can serve in mobilizing and caring for CCW's.

For our immediate and extended family.

For God to lead us to the people he is calling to join him in mission around the world.

For the four Greenlight trips Summer 2019 and our efforts to support hosts of the program.

For all those serving in mission in their hometown, state, nation and world. 

Acts 1:8