My team of 5 tumbled out of a 14 hour bus ride from Bangkok to the Fang District in Thailand three hours outside of Chiang Mai, feet swollen and eyes puffy as we were greeted at the gate of Fangchanu Public School by several kind strangers assisting us with our packs and bags.
"My name is Eeddy!"
"I'm Sweetie!"
"Hello, I'm Ladee we're so glad you're here!"
Lots of "Es" I thought to myself silently as I shook their hands with my brain half conscious as to what my surroundings were and still trying to process the last 48 hours or travel from Antigua Guatemala to Los Angeles California to Taiwan to Bangkok Thailand. As we hobbled down the school's driveway and to the guest house where we were living for the month, everything seemed to slow down and I realized just exactly what I was doing. I'm in freakin' Thailand about to teach English, a language I butcher on an everyday basis!
Our contacts for that month were Steve and Joy Hanson who lived three hours away from the school but had worked with The World Race before and knew the needs of the schools they partnered with and sent teams to. From the start, Steve had said the the majority of the students and staff practiced Buddhism, and that it was okay to talk about Jesus, just don't shove it down their throats. I could feel myself getting nervous, this was the first ministry contact we had worked with where not everyone was a Christian. How would the students treat us? Would they accept us? Would they know? I decided to take it day by day and let the events unfold as they were meant to.
The days that followed after were filled with lots of handshakes and new faces. I introduced myself in front of dozens of classrooms and even more faculty. I bowed and greeted students by saying "Swatika!" and the students would giggle and respond "Hello Teacher!" I played games in the classrooms and answered questions about life in California (Yes, we love Disneyland, no we don't all live fabulously rich lives and Mexican food is a staple to eating and living well there). We took selfies upon selfies upon selfies and added each other on Facebook. We danced and sang songs together, they roared in laughter every time they tried to teach me a new Thai word and they learned new English slang. Every day I left a little bit of my heart in the classrooms and throughout the campus.
It was was during the school's anniversary celebration that I came to see the school and the people in Thailand as God sees them. There were monks invited to the assembly, chanting and praising Buddha. The students would chant back and there was white string utop everyone's heads to represent good wishes. The whole event was beautiful and was rich in culture and ancient traditions. It was an honor to have been invited and to observe. As I was praying during the assembly, it came to me quickly and and in a still confident voice "I call them Mine too".
It was enough to make my heartbreak and my mind become clear. The students, the teachers, the monks and the leaders, they are all called His. They were all created by Him and all have gifts given to them. They are equipped, cherished, fought for and above all, loved. Loved by a deep force of truth and grace. A love so stable, a love so unwavering. I sat there, stunned and in awe by the opportunity presented to me. To preach the gospel not through words, but through actions.
Every attitude I had, every action I made was to be one that reflected Christ to these students and staff, and if I wasn't doing that, then there was no point in being there. I saw Jesus every time the students laughed, every time they yelled "HEY TEACHER!" down the staircase and in the halls, waving frantically. I saw Jesus when the faculty took us to their homes to meet their families and children and shared meals together (by the way, the Thai people can eat, we'd be done with a whole meal and they would offer us snacks as soon as we got back in the car). I saw Jesus when they took time out of their busy schedules to be with us on their off days and show us around their beautiful country. I saw Jesus in action.
So now the challenge, where have you seen Jesus? Where have you displayed Jesus? At our very cores, there is a deep deep craving to be loved and to be accepted. To be wanted and to be fought for. Jesus is that answer, He is the one that will fill that void, that emptiness in our hearts doesn't have to stay empty, forever and the good news is, you have Jesus inside of you. Everyday we have the option to peel back the layers of our own self, so to let the Jesus inside of us take over our actions, our words and our thoughts. Here's to new days and better choices.
Missing Pad Thai and sticky rice-
M
