PAID IN FULL

I am so excited to post that my trip has been paid for in full!  My plan tickets have been purchased and I am ready to go!  I cannot begin to say thank you to all of you who have supported as I raised funds for the trip.  I am blown away at the response that I received!  Donations from $2.00 to much larger have been a constant in our mailbox.  I am so thankful for my friends and family that have been so supportive of me.
From the very beginning, the cost of the trip was the biggest obstetrical.  How could I pay for this trip on my own?  Could Kate and I really afford to do this?  The more I thought and prayed about this trip, the more that I knew that it was something that God was leading me to.  The fact that my trip is now paid in full is another testimony of God providing!  Before I left on vacation, I was $450.00 short on my funds.  As I walked out of church on Sunday morning, I was $10.00 short!  Thanks to those who helped support me.  My prayer is that God would bless you as you have blessed me!
Now that the trip is paid for, the reality of the trip is starting to set in.  I cannot believe that in just under 60 days, I'll be headed to Asia!   Looks like I better start getting things in order.  I am already excited about what God will do in and through this trip.  I know that it is going to be an eye opening experience for our team!  I am also anticipating that God is going to use it in huge ways in our student's lives as well.
Thanks for your support of my trip to this point.  If you would like to be praying for the team and I, here are some specific ways that you can be praying:
1.  Not everyone is fully funded.  Please pray for funds to come in for the other teammembers
2.  Pray that God would be preparing us for our time in SE Asia.
3.  Each of us are leaving behind family and ministries.  Please pray for our families.  Please also pray for our ministries.  Us being gone, means other leaders need to step in and take over for us.  Please pray that God would prepare those leaders.

Thanks for your support!

Strange Facts about South East Asia

There are just 75 more days till I head off to South East Asia with some of the coolest people in the world, or at least Wisconsin.  As money continues to come in from my generous facebook, twitter and real life friends and family, this trip is becoming more and more of a reality!  
This morning I was searching around the internet to find some fun facts about South East Asia.  I am sure that I will be sharing more of them on the blog in the days to come, but for today I thought  I would share this little gem.  Looks like I'll need to pack a helmet.

Fun Facts About Thailand:
There is a saying in Thailand that you don't have to worry about falling coconuts because coconuts have eyes. Since more people get killed by falling coconuts than sharks each year, they obviously don't worry about sharks either!
There you have it... Looks like I need to learn to walk with my head up looking for falling coconuts!  Time to start practicing!

Until next time... 

Help put me at 100%

Hey everyone!  THANK YOU THANK YOU for those who have supported me on this trip to SE Asia!  Whether you sent a check for 2.00 or much larger, I am so thankful that you are a part of this trip, and a part of my team!  If you have already given, THANK YOU!
If you haven't, I'd love to have you join my team!  If somehow I could get every one of my facebook friends to give just 2 dollars I would reach my 100% goal!  I have already raised over 2/3 of my needed funds!  Would you consider being a part of my support team?
You can mail any donation to
Chris Folkestad
609 E. Louisiana Street
St. Croix Falls, WI 54024
or if you live in the area, you can just get it to me in person.

Whether you give or not, I'd love for you to be a part of my prayer team.  I am currently putting together an email list so that I can keep those who are wanting to pray up to date with current prayer requests.  Please email me if you'd like to be included on the list.  Chris(at)stcroixalliance.com

Thanks again!  Hope to hear from each of you soon!

Chris