Friends, Thailand has been incredible so far!
We arrived in Bangkok late evening on September 1st, and headed to the YWAM Thailand main office/base. The city reminds me so much of America! The cars, the highways, the skyscrapers, the modern-ish architecture. It was refreshing in this time when I've really begun to miss home. The next morning, after drinking some Thai iced tea and a fresh mango-banana-pineapple smoothie, we had orientation, then ate a delicious lunch, went on a mini scavenger hunt, and then heard some bad news – we would be heading to ministry early the next morning instead of evening. After a tiring month in India, we were all looking forward to a free day in the city before heading back to the middle of nowhere. Bubble burst. Womp womp! SO, we did what anyone who has been secluded from civilization for two months would do, we went to downtown Bangkok and hung out at the mall. This wasn't just any mall, though, it was the CentralWorld mall, one of the largest in the world – 8 floors, ice rink, movie theater. Nothing like some good ol' materialism to make us feel at home 😉 It was actually really fun to bum around with no schedule – Danica and I hung out, sipped some bubble tea, munched on some McDonald's french fries. Our team ended the evening at the theater, watching "Guardians of the Galaxy." (Random fact: the King is kind of a big deal here, so after the previews, they have everyone stand in His honor for a moment.) Overall, we enjoyed a night in the city and though we were pretty worn out, it was exactly what we needed in order to jump right back into ministry energized.
Early the next morning, we woke up, grabbed breakfast from a 7-Eleven, and got on the road. 6 hours later, we arrived in Kanchanabury. I could not believe the scenery. I STILL can't believe it! I am quite possibly in the most beautiful place in the world! Lush, green, mountainous hills. Banana and papaya trees in my backyard, giant hibiscus flowers. I find comfort in the fields surrounding me and the chickens, ducks, and turkey that roam around the yard, while being tormented by Mai, the dog (who is adorable, but unfortunately likes to hump). The rooster crow at 6 every morning. Reminds me of my farm life as a child. Only this time, I'm in the jungle. Our living accommodations are terrific – the electricity stays on all day, we have fans and beds (though stiff) and mosquito nets, and the nights are cool. The food is fresh, healthy, and yummy! I ate a soy sauce -sauteed cricket (reluctantly), but we always have lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Our host, Pang, is amazing. Her heart for Jesus is evident, and her 2-year-old daughter, Mary, is an energetic cutie pie. She and her husband moved out here 11 years ago with a vision to see Kanchanabury become a Christian city. Pang's mom and aunt cook for us, and Oh & Bon, a couple who are staying here, as well, have also been such a blessing to build friendship with. I can already tell that it is going to be EXTREMELY difficult to leave this place in a few weeks!
As for ministry this month, each day looks a bit different. We are mostly teaching English, working on the farm, and speaking at worship on Sundays. I gave a brief testimony at 2 services this past Sunday, speaking about God's plan and purpose for my life and how He has prepared me for a time such as this. I encouraged them to follow God's call for THEIR lives, that He will go before them and bless their path, as long as they trust and obey. The way may be hard, and it may take time, but the Lord is faithful! On the farm, we've pulled bamboo sticks OUT of the fields where they were marking rubber trees (and are covered by brush and weeds). We then put bamboo sticks IN the ground in another field to mark NEW rubber trees. We've fertilized eggplant bushes. And yesterday we hoed gravel/rocks into baskets and then dumped/spread it over huge muddy potholes on the farm road. My body is EXHAUSTED! But it's great to feel the good kind of tired every night! And we get to jump in a lake after a long hot day in the field! We've also taught English in 3 elementary schools, spent time with some Thai girls helping with English, and will be leading English camps the next two weekends, while continuing to farm and build relationships with the people we've already met, while also encouraging our hosts.
Prayers for an awesome, spirit-led rest of the month would be greatly appreciated! Only 1% of the population of Thailand are Christian, with most being Buddhist. Please pray for opportunities to share the Gospel and for God to open doors. Please keep my team and our hosts in your prayers, as well, that we would be filled with joy, love, and enthusiasm in all tasks, no matter how difficult, how tiring, or how hot the weather. God is SOOOOO good. I say it all the time, but it astounds me every second while in this place. The scenery around me itself is….sigh. I'm blessed.
Love y'all. No wifi at the base, so I will blog more when I can get to the city. Hugs!
