Since arriving at our ministry site in Phitsanulok, Thailand, our schedule has been jam-packed. Every day, our ministry contact, Taa, has something new for us. We've been helping Taa in his ministry to local churches, a group of break-dancers and a group of skateboarders.
This weekend, Taa asked us if we could perform a skit at the community’s Kids Day event. Used to being somewhat of a traveling entertainment act these past three months, we all quickly agreed. Taa didn’t have too many details to give us about what was going to happen at Kids Day. His only directions were to keep the skit around 5 minutes long and to make it simple and fun for the kids. When we asked how many kids would be there Taa just shook his head and said he had no idea. Not thinking it needed to be too much of a production, we brainstormed a few skit ideas and decided to wait until we arrived at Kids Day to finalize the details.
I wish I could’ve seen the expression on my face when I looked out the window of the van and saw what could be comparable to the South Carolina State Fair coming up on our left. My stomach dropped and I immediately started whispering, “Please keep going. Don’t turn. Don’t turn.” With a sigh of relief and a quick “Thank you, Jesus,” we passed by the masses and kept heading down the road. All I could do was laugh at God’s sense of humor when 2 minutes later we rolled up to a similar sight, only slightly smaller than the first. When the van finally came to a stop, we all looked at each other with wide eyes and quickly agreed that we needed to come up with a new plan.
Taa told us we had three hours until we had to go on stage so, like typical procrastinators, we put the skit in the back of our minds and instead helped set up the church’s game station. Not able to brainstorm on empty stomachs, we also walked around and indulged in all of the free food. Even when we weren’t seeking out the food, it was brought to us. Every time I turned around a sweet Thai lady was fast approaching with an armful of pad thai, papaya salad, ice cream, chicken soup or some other Thai goodie.
When 1 pm rolled around, we were walking to the stage and still tossing out skit ideas. Not being in any sort of serious mood, we decided to go with what we do best…make fools of ourselves. We pulled out the old Doctor’s office skit where one person in the waiting room contracts all of the ailments of the people who come in and out of the office. With lots of fake throwing up, scratching, sneezing, twitching and even a pregnancy, we laughed our way through the skit and off the stage. The looks on the Thai peoples’ faces were priceless and I’m pretty sure there are going to be pictures of us floating all around Thai peoples’ Facebooks for the next week or so.
Andrew and Alyssa making a Thai dish Brian playing with the balloons at the church's tent
Love his outfit Very Delicious ("arroy ma ma") pancake station
All in all, it was a day filled with great food, new friends, team bonding and lots and lots of laughter. Many thanks to Taa for continuing the World Race tradition of always giving us as little information as possible and constantly keeping us on our toes.
