hey friends and happy monday!
today begins the first of an 11 week series looking a little deeper into each country I’ll be living in starting in September. Each week I’ll be sharing some information about the country and some of my thoughts about getting to serve there for a month!
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First stop: THAILAND!
the first thing when you type “Thailand” into google:
“The U.S Department of State alerted US citizens of the risk of travel to Thailand, particularly Bangkok, due to ongoing political and social unrest. They said that the situation is unpredictable and that ongoing demonstration activity, primarily in the greater Bangkok area and occasionally elsewhere in Thailand, is expected to continue.”
Thailand is known to be one of the most popular tourist countries in Asia for its beautiful clear beaches, exotic greenery, and breathtaking views…but that is not why we go. We go because when I read that “warning” my heart breaks. It breaks for people living in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, not knowing the creator of that beauty and turning to everything but Him to find life, and I ask, how could love transform this country?
From the WR:
According to the CIA, the kingdom of Thailand, known as Siam until 1939, is the only country in the region not colonized by Europe. Their 2000 census showed that 94.6% of the population is Buddhist, 4.6% are Muslim, and 0.7% are Christian. Approximately 600,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Thailand. With nearly two million people estimated to be forced into prostitution, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Change lives in the city-where you, like Jesus, might befriend prostitutes-or in the countryside-where you may serve youth, care for orphans, and encourage a remnant of believers.
In Thailand, anything could go down. Being a missionary in that country varies a ton. We could be sleeping in our tents in small village huts and building friendships with locals and teaching, building OR we could be working in the Red Light District praying over streets, and getting to know women and children who are forced into prostitution just so they can have some food in the stomachs because that is their life.
Who knows what Jesus has in store for this first month in Thailand! but i”m pumped! to eat crazy food, see breathtaking views, have to laugh everything off because I don’t know the first thing about Thai, ride elephants, pray on our knees for this country, to weep over the brokenness i’ll see everyday, to have the privilege to talk about the love we’re offered from our God with a smile to a Thai friend, and to see Christ’s face just a little clearer because of this month.
will you pray with me?
for excitement, safety, for health, for conversations, boldness and courage!
love always. ana maria.
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[next month: Cambodia! stay tuned]
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wowzers!! we are 43% raised! THANK YOU!
we got $9,271 to go
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#whereintheworldisana
