Today we are marking 100 days until we go home. 100 days! That number is scary and exciting. I have mixed feelings. I can’t wait to get home and see family and friends and eat American food. But I have grown to love my World Race family and our life together. I will be sad to say goodbye to them in a few months.
In 10 days we are leaving Asia! We have been on this continent for just over 5 months and I cannot describe in words how much this area of the world has touched my heart. The people all over Asia have been the kindest, sweetest, most hospitable people I have ever met in my life. I live in the South and we are known for hospitality but these people have blown my socks off. There is nothing too difficult or too much that the people will not do to make you feel welcome and taken care of. Wherever you go food and drink are always offered and usually hard to refuse.
Banana, coconut and tappioca soup we were served in Cambodia (surprisingly good!)
I remember when I was riding a moto in Cambodia and thinking how will I ever leave Asia? It has gotten in my blood. We have seen and felt the spiritual oppression all over this continent. The devil has a stronghold here through Buddhism in Thailand, Cambodia (Burma, Malaysia, Tibet, etc…) in China and Vietnam through forced Atheism disguised as government and in India (which we have not been to) Hinduism and idolatry is so prevalent. Despite this stronghold God is moving and working powerfully here. In Thailand in particular I was amazed at the faithfulness and fervency of the believers in the midst of palpable oppression. When I was speaking to Ja, our translator that month, I was telling her that I was really impressed by the faith exhibited by the Thai Christians. Her response to me was, “Our faith has to be strong because if it isn’t we wouldn’t survive.”
child monks on the streets of Bangkok
Here is our translator Ja Jaaa (she is in Montana right now doing a YWAM DTS)
May that be our prayer – that we will depend on our Mighty God and His son Jesus Christ daily and minute by minute to breathe and for life. May He be the One I run to in times of trouble and in times of plenty. Asia has found a place in my heart and I will never be the same because of what Christ has shown me here. I am grateful to the Lord for allowing me to experience so much these last 5 months in the continent of Asia. I will say goodbye with many tears and hope that one day the Lord will open the door to return again.
Here is Psalm 100 to mark our 100 days left on the World Race. I thought it was a fitting Psalm for where we are and for the rest of our time on the race.
1Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
2Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
3Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
5For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
