Month 6 of my World Race was routed for Myanmar/Burma. Month 6 and my team and I are still in Thailand, but this month we are living on the border of Burma and Thailand in Mae Sot. Two teams from my squad are serving as “Unsung Heroes” this month, while two others are doing the same thing in Laos. The 6th team is also doing ministry in Laos with CRU.
A-Squad…originally routed for Burma, but now dispersed throughout 3 different countries in Southeast Asia.
I couldn’t be more excited.
When I first found out that I was not going to be in Burma this month…I was a little disappointed. Burma has been a closed country to tourists/foreigners until 2 years ago due to political and civil unrest, and there is a shadow of mystery due to the fact that there are not many tourists/people traveling to Burma for recreation.
I was a bit let down, but then I realized this…who am I to have my own expectations for MY race? This race is not about me. This race is about God. This race is about the people we are serving. This race is about the widow, the orphan, the drug dealer, and the prostitute. This race is about planting seeds and showing God’s love.
….
I also realized it’s the SAME city my long lost friend from Nashville is in. Lane is a music loving, Jesus loving, free spirit who is spending 3 months working with Burmese kids and enjoying life. He was originally planning to meet me in Bangkok last month for a weekend, but then the military coup happened thus enforcing a nation wide curfew…and now we are living mere blocks from each other!
God knew exactly what he was doing when he placed Team Ovida in Mae Sot, Thailand. He knew exactly what he was doing when he kept us in Thailand for another month…because this month is redeeming Thailand for my entire team and this month is opening our eyes to a completely different world than the one we experienced last month.
Mae Sot is in the Tak region, located right on the border of Burma and Thailand. Though the city is in Thailand, nothing screams Thailand about it. The town is simply a melting pot of people from mostly Burma, Thai-Chinese, Thai, Pakistan, Indian, and a blend of westerners. Diversity is great. I love when different groups come together, and I love being a part of this city for the month.
We are working this month with Outpour Movement in Mae Sot, Thailand. The organization was started by Ray and Candace Ward 11 years ago. Outpour movement has a focus on relational evangelism and prayer. They have relationships within this community, two children’s homes, villages, and they also have two businesses to raise support for their outreach, ministry, and children’s homes. They have Famous Rays Bike Shop and right next-door Famous Rays Burgers. Yes, that’s right. Burgers. (My team lives above these businesses…yes that means we live above a burger joint. Score!)
This month we are teaching English, loving on kids, exploring parts of Burma near the border, assisting the two businesses below us (the entrepreneur in me is so excited), building relationships, hearing stories, spending time in prayer, and living life with the amazing individuals of Outpour Movement.
This month wasn’t what I expected, but for me to have expectations on the race was foolish. As humans it is hard to not have our expectations…but remember this:
When things don’t go our way, or as planned, or how we “expect” it…it’s for a reason.
There is a good chance the reason might not make sense. It honestly might be the opposite of what you want…but God is bigger than that. He knows our hearts and he knows what is best for us.
Don’t put yourself in the box.
Let God blow up that box.
Let God blow up the expectations, and help you live your life fully with absolute joy and thanksgiving.
