As some of you may know, when I started looking into doing missions, at
first I simply wanted to run away and see cool stuff. Obviously I was
mostly thinking about myself when this process started. But then I started
being serious about it and started listening to God more than Jason. I had
several options for missions and I had several options within the world
race also. I specifically wanted to leave in July but there were still
three options. So I had some thinking to do and asking God what would be
most important to me. This is when I felt led to this route because it
starts off with 6 months in south east Asia where human trafficking is so
prevalent. Human trafficking was something which had been on my heart for a
while and this seemed like a great opportunity to be dropped right in the
middle of it for 6 months. This blog has nothing to do with that!! Here I
am three months in and I haven't seen anything to do with human trafficking
ministry except for the 4 girls whom this orphanage supports because they
are at risk for human trafficking.
However, my title to this blog is not a fallacy at all. I truly am doing a
lot of ministry with hoes. I am sure some of you are a little confused
right now, so let me clarify. We are living and working at an orphanage
this month in Chaiprakarn, Chiang Mai, Thailand. (City, Province, Country)
The orphanage is Sila Home which is also Mercy Church. They also own and
operate a home for children whom may be at risk for human trafficking
called Ruth Home. Ruth Home is at a separate location in order to be more
secluded and harder to find; clever folks these Thai are. There is also a
church at the Ruth Home location. Anyways, back to hoes. Our ministry this
month does include loving on the children and playing with them. But the
children are just a small part of what we do here at Sila Home and Ruth
Home. Our main ministry is day labor, which consists of hoeing fields every
day. See, I didn't lie, I truly do work with hoes in Thailand for ministry.
Some would think we are hoeing these fields to plant and make the orphanage
a little more self sustainable. Unfortunately the orphanage cannot afford
to buy the farm land to accomplish such a purpose. But they do have a large
property where they are attempting to build new structures for things like
separate homes for boys, girls and babies. Also, they would like to build a
new structure to create a computer lab and study hall for the children
since they are all required to attend all 12 years of basic education.
There is a new kitchen in the plans as well. Therefore having fields of
grass and weed thicket up to my waist makes those goals a little more
difficult. They have actually been fortunate enough to have the funds to
construct the basic pillars for the walls of each of those structures. Only
problem with having the construction started is the amount of grass and
weeds which grow here have the ability to cause damage to the concrete.
Hence having 13 people clearing out these properties. Even though we have
pretty nice accommodations this month (refer to blog Chiang Mai
Technically), it doesn't take long to remember we are still in a third
world country when the most advanced tool we have to clear a field is a
metal hoe head with a piece of bamboo stuck in it for a handle.
Although it is hot and very humid and the work is quite strenuous, God
never ceases to love. We are getting fit and building stamina by swinging a
hoe all day long. Besides, coming from our lives in America, hoeing for
three weeks isn't the hardest thing they could ask us to do especially if
it helps them build a better life for these children.
As He leads me,
Jason
Post Script – Carm has been blessed with $800 of donations, but is still
around $2,700 from the Oct. 1st deadline. Please keep this in your prayers
and if able in your donations. Refer to "The Blog I Haven't Written Yet"
for more information.
