Things are always changing. It really is crazy to think about the fact that by the time many of you read this I will be on American Soil.
Things have changed in ways I never imagined. My days here didn’t look as I imaged they would but they were always good. I was able to provide much needed support to Emmi, the exectutive director of Lighthouse in Action. I helped her to streamline her systems and create new ways to get things done more efficiently .
I got to spend my days praying over Chiang Mai and what it can become. In the beginning one of my teammates joked that someday we will all come back and see the redlight district is a mini golf course but now it’s a dream that we all have and that we got to be a small part of.
I got to prepare tons of teams to step into the redlight district and go with most of them.
and I got to see Five girls leave the bars.
That is no small number.
One of the girls in particular A, I got to get to know and spend time with. She still has a long way to go and a lot to learn about who she is and who God says she is…but she is so full of joy and so much fun. She works at Zion Cafe . Please pray that she will come to know Christ personally.
Recently I felt the Lord leading me home which is in no way what I had planned…. for but then things started to align.
The Lord released me from the CGA…one of my teammates was asked to lead the CGA and then the decision to hold off on establishing the base.
Was it easy to hear? No.
Was it what I planned for? No
Is it good? Yes
The leaders will have time to establish themselves and be trained in Georgia.
As for me? I’ve accepted a job in Berkeley and I’m coming home.
Home? What a weird word for a place I grew up and spent all my time until I was 20 and now feels as foreign as Gainesville did seven months ago.
Do I know what is next? Not even a little bit.
But I know that it will be good. So its time for re-entry again but I’m ready and excited for this new season.
In the meantime I’m soaking up the last of my time here in Thailand by riding elephants, shopping, seeing the top of Chiang Mai, learning how to cook Thai food at Zion, spending time with Emmi and the girls at the Cafe’ and praying over this place.
While I know that this chapter in Thailand is ending I belive that the book is not finished and that Chiang Mai will hold a piece of my heart always. And I look forward to the day that I return.
And I’ll tell you a secret. I am sad to end this season just like I was to enter it but I’m leaving this season full of joy for what I have gotten to experience and be a part of this summer.
Because how you leave a season is how you enter the next. Remember that always.
If you are currently financially supporting me thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.
To cancel monthly donations please call Adventures in Missions at 1(800) 881-2461 and ask for Donor Relations.
But it doens’t end here.
While I no longe requirer financial support you can continue to support Lighthouse in Action by visiting http://wongen.us/donate/one-time-gift/ and clicking Thailand Missions in the drop-down menu.
This money will go towards establishing the safe house for girls to live in once they leave the bars as well as supporting A’s future.
I will be setting up a new blog to keep you updated on what is next.
