Sleeping in an eno, in a mosquito net, in a hut, on a farm, by the river, in the jungle, that’s in the mountains, in Thailand.
Just imagine for a moment the looks of 7 city kid faces when we pulled up to our home for the next 3 months. When we were told we were going to experience the most Thai culture for our stay here, we didn’t realize quite how literal that actually was. A 30 minute drive into the jungle, away from civilization, alone with the 6 of my wonderful team mates and the amazing family that we are staying with. So while we weren’t quite excited about the squatty potties and bucket showers, we couldn’t be happier with the family that we live with.
Our home is with Pang and her family, and their vision is to turn their village into a community of believers. Christian believers that would be. Living in a country where 94% of the population is Buddhist and less then 2% is Christian, all of our neighbors are Buddhist, with one small humble church about 30 minutes from our house with a membership of 14 people. So, step by step, Pang makes lasting relationships with her surrounding neighbors and shows them the love of Christ by helping rebuild their homes, farming, and teaching English in the local schools.
That’s where we come in. Now I’ll be honest, I wasn’t too excited about our ministry at first, I’m still struggling a little bit. I didn’t want to be doing the same things I was doing in Guatemala. I already did construction and taught English for 3 months. Now I want to live in the city working with women who are victims to sex-trafficking. So I was struggling in two areas, living on a farm, and not wanting to do the ministry that I was placed at.
I wake up in the mornings and go spend time with God, and I sit up on this cement porch and look out over the endless fields, and jungle, and mountains of Kanchanaburi. There I feel this peace and understanding from God that He has placed me right where He wants me. I might not be where I want to be, but God knows my needs better than I will ever know mine. Listening to God, I know during my time here in Guatemala, God is going to show me my greater calling and give me a vision for my life. I love Thailand!! I’m coming back, there’s no doubt about that. I love the people and the culture here, I love the language and want to devote myself to learning it and enrolling myself in Thai classes when I get home in America. I believe God is building me up and working in me now. Right now!! I love the cities of Thailand, I loved Bangkok, but He placed me in the most country part of Thailand in existence. I might not be able to see His plan right now, but I can trust it’s only for the better. If we have faith in the vision God has for us, He will take us places we never imagined.
I’m finding happiness in where I thought I would be miserable for the next 3 months. Pangs 2 year old daughter, Mary, brings all of my team mates joy any time she is around. She is always jumping, smiling, and wanting to hold your hand. We get authentic Thai meals that Mom (Pang’s mom) makes for us every meal and it’s some of the best food ever, not to mention it’s spicy and I love spicy. I’ve made really good friends with the kids my age at English camp, in two days Jee, Pond, Fern, Bee, Nat, Om, all gave me a friendship and laughs that I will never forget. The experience I get to have with my team, is unlike any of the other teams on our squad. We don’t have wi-fi, we don’t have the city, we have each other and God in the middle of His beautiful creation and I get to wake up every morning and stare out at His marvelous genius. And I get to live here! I get to do this! I get to have this incredible experience and this is exactly what God wants me to be doing! God wants me here! Right now! Nowhere else!
Yes Jesus!! Show me my greater calling, allow me to see the vision of my life, that You have for me when You decide to present it to me. I am willing God, I am Yours! Let Your will be done!
