Yesterday was one of the best days I’ve had on the race so far! Not really knowing where we were going or what for, other than to do a skit and sing a few Thai Christmas songs, we headed out the door at 6:30 am. Four hours later we arrived at our first crusade spot which was swarmed with kids. We spent the morning their doing a skit, singing songs, praying for them, handing out booklets and notepads telling them about Jesus. They all wanted pictures with us and our emails it was so cute!
They gave us Santa hats!
BP, Tracy and I
Andrea, Jess and BP
After we finished there we were taken to someone’s house.. still don’t really know who’s house it was. Anyways, as I was walking up the stairs into the house I thought I had stepped into a magazine! The house was gorgeous. It was surrounded by acres of beautiful land covered in trees. In the backyard there was a huge pond filled with koii that had lily pads and lilies floating on top. Over the pond there was a dock with a little hut on the end. They had prepared a ton of noodles and chicken fried rice for us to eat, which was delicious but we had just eaten so we weren’t very hungry. We spent the afternoon relaxing, napping and preparing for the evening crusade.
Tracy, Jessica, Me, Andrea and Jenny
Our organized nap time! I felt like I was back in kindergarten haha.
Our next crusade was held across the street where they had set up a stage, tables and chairs. The evening crusade was mostly adults but a few kids as well. Storm clouds lingered overhead so we prayed against the rain but God had bigger plans in mind. Andrea and I decided to go talk to people despite what our nerves were telling us to do. God richly rewarded our courage. We met a wonderful lady named Oan. She held our hands the whole time we chatted and quickly adopted us as her daughters. A number of times she asked us why were so cute! She said when she first saw us, she saw our smiles and knew we were good people.
Oan was very curious about our lives and told us about hers. I asked if she was a christian and she replied no, buddhist but she was worried about who would feed her when she died. (According to buddhists you go to another place when you die and you have to rely on people on earth to feed you.) I told her that she shouldn’t have to worry about that and Andrea shared the gospel with her. While Andrea was talking to her I just prayed. I wanted to cry I felt so much love for this woman. It’s awful to me that people have to worry about who will feed them when they die. I really wanted God to open her heart so that she could see the truth and was frusterated when she didn’t seem interested.
Andrea and I with Oan and her granddaughter
It started to rain. It started to pour. So much for our program I thought. Surprisingly though, people stayed. They all hudled under trees, umbrella’s or held little peices of clear plastic over their heads. Neither one gave much protection from the rain. All of us girls broke out in song and our voices rang through the dark, wet night. Some in Thai, some in English. Then we all moved together and huddled in some what of a circle while Jenny shared the testimony of a man she met in Ireland and then told them about how much Jesus loves them and wants to be a part of their lives. She asked if anyone wanted to accept Jesus into their hearts and 27 people came up and squished together under a huge umbrella. Jenny led them in a prayer while our teams circled around them singing and praying over them. Incredible. We handed out bibles and Christian magazines first to the new Christians, and then the crowd.
Much to my surprise Andrea pulled me over and pointed to Oan who was clutching a bible and trying to stay out of the rain with a towel wrapped around her head. I had thought that Oan had left during the rain because I didn’t see her around. Andrea told me that Oan had pulled her over and pointed to the bible in her hand and looked absolutely radiant! God had heard our cries and Oan now knew the truth. With tears in our eyes we beamed at Oan and praised our Father in heaven.
A kind lady gave us all dry shirts since ours were soaked. She gave them to us knowing she wouldn’t get them back and it seemed she didn’t have many but insited we take them. On the way home we all sang songs of praise and thanks to our amazing Daddy, the perfect way to end the day.
Despite the fact that God didn’t answer our prayers about the rain, it didn’t even matter any more cause He had something better in mind. I would spend 8 hours of travel squished in a van with 12 other people, get soaked and stand in the rain for hours if I could do it all over again. The day was unlike anything I could have ever imagined and yet it so quickly became on of my best days. Maybe even ever. Praise the Lord that His plans are better than ours!
Oan also gave Andrea and I Thai names! Mine is Toonhua which means when you love someone you lift them up higher and Andrea’s is Duanjai which means heart.
Our contacts Poi and Keith
Me, Courtney, Jess and Andrea
