A juvenile detention center in Chiang Mai wouldn’t normally be somewhere I run towards. But what we went into today ended up being one of my favorite experiences on the Race so far.
*You should know these names: Robin and Laura are the year-long interns that are our age here at Abba House.
Tony also works at Abba house, and serves as our translator.
“You will need to wear shirts up to your neck, and pants covering your ankles. Oh, and close-toed shoes.” Robin came by our room to tell us as we got ready for the day.
We were going to the local juvenile detention center for the morning as an outreach, and none of us were quite sure what to expect. As we began getting out of the car, Robin told us we also couldn’t bring anything in- purses, phones, water… it all had to be left in the car.
We went through the security stations as we walked through the building and out into the back courtyard. There was an open pavilion area with chairs around the outside where we would be holding the outreach service. We waited as the boys filed in in lines, their shirts color-coded based on what “level” they were at in their trial.
Robin and Laura went up front and began leading us all in some fun songs, and as soon as we began singing them I was filled with so much joy! Watching these boys with potential criminal records sing “A-Too-Dee-Tah” with their thumbs up, arms swinging, knees together, head shaking, and tongue out, was just absolutely hilarious!
As we sang, we noticed three men sitting in the back in bright orange wraps: Buddhist Monks.
“Well this is going to be interesting having Buddhists here… This has never happened before.”
As the boys sang and laughed, I looked back over to the monks only to see them laughing along with the silliness of what was happening in front of them! I’m not sure if the boys even knew it, but they weren’t actually singing “A-too-dee-tah”. The words were about Jesus being the King of Kings!
After we stood up front for a short introduction, we were asked to lead some opening games. We began playing a game called cat and mouse where you link arms with a partner and there are two people sent running around all the others, one being the cat and the other being the mouse. One chases another until the “mouse” links onto a new person, making their old partner become the running mouse.
I COULD NOT STOP LAUGHING.
I just felt so much joy in seeing these boys run, and play, and be happy and silly! All the while, watching three Buddhist monks pointing and laughing as the boys would wipe out on the ground, tackle each other on accident, or run straight into us while trying to avoid being tagged. The joy of the Lord FILLED that place for the whole half hour we played!
As things settled down, we were asked to sing a few worship songs. Afterwards, Pastor Justin took his place up front to deliver the message with Tony to translate.
I’ve been a Christian since I was 7, and have heard the gospel countless times. But today, something was different.
As I looked at the boys while Justin spoke, it hit me in an entirely new way. Last night, we had listened to a podcast as a team about a man who took Bibles into China and how they had to work everything very strategically in order to get them there. Then when they got in, they had to send them on bikes out in a hundred different directions: one Chinese Bible per village, because that’s how coveted and rare they are there.
So as I listened to Justin present the gospel, it just hit me— THEY DON’T KNOW!
Romans 10:14
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
How can they know if we don’t tell them??
This salvation is such a gift! I looked back to see now only 2 Buddhist monks still at the back, listening intenetly. I felt like I saw through their eyes for a moment- Salvation through the eyes of a Buddhist monk. Salvation that says, “Jesus Christ DIED FOR YOUR FREEDOM! You no longer have to be a slave to your own sin, or to your own good works! Jesus is the WAY! Like the only way! And he intricately made each one of you for HIS glory and wants to know you and be known by you!”
To someone who has never heard that hope before, life would be nothing but empty striving and depending on self for… well everything, including your eternity!
How scary would that be? And how crazy is it that some people DON’T KNOW THAT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY! They just haven’t been given the hope of Christ! No one has told them that JESUS CHRIST DIED TO MAKE A WAY FOR THEM! To bridge the gap between them and him left by sin!
Eyes filled with tears, I prayed relentlessly for God’s spirit to move in their hearts, all 33 boys, 6 girls, and 2 monks listening.
“LORD! Bring your spirit here! Let them see this is the truth! Remove the veil over their eyes! Let them see the truth of who you are and how they need you! Set them free of bondage and self dependency! God SHOW UP HERE! Move their hearts! Jesus, plea for them!!”
Justin spoke powerfully- no notes or plan because he couldn’t bring them with him! He allowed the Holy Spirit to speak through him completely, and every word was so powerful.
At the end, He asked if any of them wanted to receive Christ today. At first, they looked around at each other timidly. But soon, 3 of them raised up a hand! As Justin led them in the prayer of salvation, I heard at least 10 soft voices repeating after him.
I feel like it’s hard in most Asian cultures to be bold about your faith. It’s not respectful to be aggressive, loud, or forward. As I’ve seen multiple times in the last two weeks of being here, many things I do are super offensive to this culture! So before I go on, let me share some of those cultural struggles I’ve had. Keep in mind that these are only the ones that I have personal stories to go along with. There are many others besides these!
Things Kerry does that are offensive in Thai culture:
— crossing your legs
—shaking your feet
—outwardly expressing your emotions
—talking loudly
—not finishing everything on your plate at a meal
—touching people’s heads
—touching people’s feet
—walking into a room with your shoes on- even in public places
—AND last but not least, touching a Buddhist monk. If I did, they would have to go through a 2 week cleansing process.
So after the boys pray to receive Jesus into their hearts, Laura came up front with Bibles, asking if anyone had not received one from their ministry and would like one. Some of the boys raised their hands, but something bright and orange caught my eye :))))) I looked over to see both of the two Buddhist monks raising their hands, motioning at me that they wanted Bibles too!!!!
CAN YOU TRY AND TELL ME HOW I’M SUPPOSED TO REACT IN A WAY THAT’S CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE!??
I just about sprang out of my seat jumping and screaming with joy!!
No, Kerry! Stay seated! You can do it!!
I started shaking my feet out of happy habit, and quickly stopped myself.
DOH! No feet shaking either!
I squealed under my breath and smiled big at them.
Stop, Kerry! No showing emotion!
I wanted to jump up and yell- YEAH JESUS! GO GET EM!
I have to hug them! Don’t hug them Kerry! Don’t even approach them, you can do it! Stay seated!
I leaned over and whispered to one of the missionaries with us, “I can’t handle this excitement! I am trying so hard to not scream and hop up and go SNUGGLE HUG THEM!”
To which she kindly replied with a laugh… “Yeah you better not. They would be extremely offended and turned off towards the gospel.”
Ohhhh but whyyyyyyy!!!
So I settled for eye contact, a smile, a thumbs up to them, and a quick bow. “Soadikah!” (This is a Thai greeting: saying this word with your hands together at your chest pointed upward and bowing your head at one another.)
But I hope they know that my heart was saying- YOOHOO, FAMILY! God is coming after you! And I’m excited for you to be a part of the family soon. 🙂
