Think about a time in which you felt uncomfortable. A time in which the unknown was all you really knew. A time in which wifi was not constantly at your disposal. A time in which everyday you saw 800,000 people chasing after a false god. A time in which destruction & despair was all around you. A time in which living off of more than $3 a day is considered a luxury. A time in which flushing a toilet took five, six, or even seven buckets full of water. A time in which you couldn’t communicate with anyone. Hard to imagine, right?
Well, that is the everyday life for me and my team here in Ratchaburi, Thailand. Ratchaburi is a somewhat mountainous town located roughly 2hours east of Bangkok, the capital. Out of the 800,000+ residents, only 1,000 or so are Believers.
My team and I arrived Sunday afternoon with no translator and were promptly greeted with the unpleasant news that our ministry hosts, Noiy & Brownwynn, would not be joining us due to health issues. Noiy had planned for our 3months here in Ratchaburi to consist of college, prison, and orphanage ministry. But, due to Brownwynn’s health condition, that would not be possible.
After being given the news, we dived immediately into prayer, not only for Brownwynn’s health, but also if we should stay here in Ratchaburi & seek ministries in different places. God, being a mighty and relentless God, provided us with a spirit of peace and reassured us that He did indeed want us here in Ratchaburi. And so we did. And so we walked. And oh man, did God show up!
Today, 4days into ministry, God has moved in these incredible ways:
• We taught English for 3days at the local Buddhists schools and were able to pray over the students after.
• We were able to serve our ministry hosts by deep cleaning their home, preparing for Brownwynn’s return.
• Me and my WR brother (Parker White // check out his most recent blog: www.parkerwhite.theworldrace.org) had the awesome opportunity to donate blood to one of our neighbors’ wife who was suffering with AIDS. Though she later passed, her husband, intrigued by our actions, started asking questions about Christianity and why God had lead us to donate.
• We were able to sing worship songs and share God’s word at a local radio station.
So, as we continue this walk, I ask for prayers. Prayers for Brownwynn’s health. Prayers for our neighbor. Prayers for the kids at the schools. Prayers for my team. Prayers for God to continue showing up (which we know He will).
Now, imagine again all those things you first read. Imagine a time in which God made the unknown beautiful. A time in which being in God’s presence is far more rewarding than being connected to wifi. A time in which God made it possible to minister to 800,000 people who have never heard of Him. A time in which God turned destruction and despair into growth and hope. A time in which living off of $3 a day is nothing compared to God’s rich and abundant love. A time in which it is “ok” to not be able to verbally communicate with people, because God’s spirit speaks all tongues. Still hard to imagine?
Well, you don’t have to “imagine” it anymore, for it is the amazing things God is doing here in Ratchaburi, Thailand.
I now walk into the wild, but I walk knowing that He has walked before me.
In Christ,
Diegz
