The last couple weeks in Thailand were pretty good. The first weeks et the standard so it was hard to live up to honestly. But our contact, Vee, was awesome. He has such a heart for the youth in his town. While we were in Mae Lanoi, we had a lot of down time. It was really good for our team because we spent our time pouring into one another and being poured into listening to sermons and doing Bible study and just really digging in. Our main ministry was doing programs in the public schools in the area. The concept is crazy to me. The schools were Buddhist schools. But, we were so welcomed in to come and do Bible lessons and sing worship songs and teach the kids about God and Jesus. We got really good at our David and Goliath skit and our lost sheep parable. Playing games with the kids afterwards was so fun. It was awesome to watch them be so attentive while we talked and then to watch their faces light up with laughter and joy when we played games. My favorite to watch was when Mike would do things and the kids would have to copy him. Just a simple imitation game. But, it was hysterical. And the kids loved it too.
Soccer was a big part of our weeks in Mae Lanoi too. We went every night almost and played anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. We weren’t nearly as good as the Thai’s but we definitely gave them a pretty good game (except the first time we played when they killed us). One day we went up to a very small village to visit a coffee farm that produces coffee for Starbucks! The owners of he farm came to know Christ 40 years ago when a missionary came to their village. It’s always nice to hear stories like that because sometimes, especially in situations where we only are staying in a place for a week or 2, but even when we have the whole month, I get nervous that not much is really being impacted. But when I hear stories like that, I am just reminded that our God is so much bigger. He works through language barriers. And He works long after we are gone. At the beginning of our month a few different people had visions of our squad walking and our footsteps were glowing and they didn’t leave even after we had walked away. Kind of like he light that The Lord brings to these places through our teams isn’t gone just because we are. It sticks and it still shines.
We spent Thanksgiving back in Chiang Mai, Markelle, Kim, and I went to a Japanese buffet (fancy I know, don’t all be jealous at the same time). It’s funny because I was expecting the holidays to be harder (still expecting Christmas to be). But. Because it’s still 90 degrees everyday in Thailand and they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, it just didn’t feel like it was turkey day anyways. Our squad leaders left us at the end of Thailand and it was sad to know they wouldn’t be with us, but it was also like a cool time to just know that our squad is growing and we can be self lead (sort of). The guidance that they have given to each of us is not forgotten and they continue to pour into us even if they aren’t with us in person.
I finished my month out with a bang- a day of adventure. As we got in the song tau, it started pouring down rain. But I knew this was a God ordained day of fun and so I just prayed and prayed that the rain would go away. It poured cats and dogs until about 30 minutes before we arrived at our destination. Suddenly the ground was dry and I was so pumped. I can’t even begin to explain my giddiness and my awe as I climbed onto the back of an elephant and went through the rain forest. It was so awesome. When we got done riding the ellies we got to play with them. Only one out of like 8 was chained. I was so in awe of God’s creation. I mean they were huge and they could have trampled us but instead they just hung out and enjoyed their life. The only one that got aggressive was the baby elephant which continuously charged at us. But it was so small and cute and easily avoidable that it was fine. It played with a basket all angry like (those terrible two’s or teenage type of battitude) and then he tripped over it and fell and I still laugh every time I see the video. It’s so funny. I’ll post it so you can see too when I get it. We followed it up by going to a waterfall and getting in the water. Then we went down a river on a bamboo raft. Our guide was so funny. He kept throwing water on us and hitting the water with his stick yelling “SNAKE!”. Then he threw us into the water and we got him back too. Then he let me steer…. Bad idea. We crashed. Then we crashed again in the middle of some small rapids but I mean I had to hold on for deaf life I just couldn’t stand up. It was so worth being soaking wet on the drive back home. I definitely felt more adventurous and fun in Thailand than in any other country, the possibilities were endless. I loved the month but the beginning in Mae Sot still holds such a special pace over the whole month. I’m so thankful that it lived up to my expectations.
