Ministry for my team here in Thailand is Monk Chat and Slums. What this means is that every day we head to the temples around where we are staying and look for monks to chat with. The conversations can be anything from what does your life look like to what do you like to do or what does that statue stand for. Basically we are just here to build relationships. In the slums, we just play with kids and show them a glimmer of hope in the crazy messed up world we live in. We don’t have a translator, which can make it difficult, but a smile goes a long way. When we first got our ministry assignment, not going to lie, I was a little nervous. I had built up this fear of unknown religions in my head and had monks on that same level. I was worried what I was going to sound like, or if I had the right answers. But there came a point when I realized how many of my thoughts were focused on me and how many times I used the word I. It felt like a Princess Diaries moment if you catch my drift. Our first day at the temple there were no monks to chat with. But we did meet this awesome couple and then ran into them again the next day we went. Our second day of monk chat, we were able to meet a monk who was hilarious. He made jokes about himself and laughed with us. I think I had this grand idea that a monk is supposed to some kind of like respectful closed off person, which in reality is the complete opposite. When we asked him if he watched movies, he said yes and his favorite was Harry Potter (instant best friends). We’ve seen him once more but weren’t able to speak with him, just a smile and a friendly wave. It was then that I started to see God working in the temples. The next day we weren’t able to talk to monks but we did run into a Thai student who interviewed us for a class and he ended up being a Christian and invited my team to a Chiang Mai FC soccer game. I was sick and didn’t go but my team had an awesome time getting to spend time with him and his friends and encourage them. Again, God is working in the temples. Time and time again there have been divine appointments that would not have happened had we been focused on just what we were assigned to do, talk with monks. Some of our most encouraging encounters have been with locals and travelers like ourselves. God’s agenda looks very different than what we thought it would have. This month has been all about letting go of what we think our ministry should look like and follow what God’s ministry looks like.
Now here’s a little bit more of what my chats with monks have taught me. First and foremost, Buddhism parallels to Christian teaching minus the whole God thing. It is sometimes comical to me in conversations when they reference bible passages and don’t even know it. They desire to find happiness and freedom from suffering. But they think the way to do this is through cleansing themselves and finding it within them selves. To me that sounds like a whole lot of pressure to put on one human being that isn’t Jesus. It almost sounds like they are tricking themselves into thinking that they are happy and that they are content. Buddahism isn’t a religion but more a way of life is how they put it. It’s living a certain way so that they can reach a point (nirvana) where there is no more suffering. They do not worship anything only pay respect. The offerings are to be used so that good Karma can follow them and pay for the wrong doings in their life. There have been a few times that I just want to passionately scream the gospel at them and tell them there’s an easier way to life. There is a God who fills you with joy and happiness and peace and has suffered so that we can live with Him. But that’s not really the best way to approach the subject. So I will wait until the door is opened to where I am able to share my faith and their hearts will receive it. Right now there is one monk that has received a bible and is reading it. We have befriended him and my hope for him is that we will be able to show him that there is more to life and that there is a creator who wants to know him. I believe that God is in these Buddhist temples tugging at their hearts and whispering to them that there is another way. The idea that they don’t have to be responsible for putting the weight of their sin on their shoulders; it’s already been done and paid for. Peace, fulfillments and happiness can be found in this world but only through Jesus. I strongly believe that a day is coming when their eyes and hearts will be open to Him and it will drastically change this country.
Also, I just wanted to say a huge giant thank you to all who have supported me this far. It means so much to me and I love you all!
