The reality of the World Race and what the next 10.5 months of my life will look like has hit me. I don’t think the true reality will hit until next month when we are in our teams and not in the same place as a squad. These next months will hold intense community, submission to The Lord, lots of feedback: both constructive and uplifting, Ask the Lord days, being really hot all the time, finding comforts of home in a Blake Shelton song, and ultimately the best year of my life through serving our GREAT God! I am so pumped about what the World Race holds for me, Michelle McPherson, and to learn to walk in the complete freedom of the Woman of God I Am.
We have been in full swing of ministry this week and how perfect is my team to be working with children this month. There were quite a few opportunities presented to us to what and how this could look. Our 2 main involvements are working in the local slums and working with kids in the markets at night. I have spent 2 days in slums and have been so blessed each day. The first day was a lot of processing for me and allowing God to break my heart for these people but love on these like never before. To look beyond the lice, known cases of HIV, language barrier, broken homes they come from and allow myself to be the face of Jesus through how I interact with them. Monday, the first day, we had 5 come out and on Wednesday we had 23 come out to play. How the Lord abundantly supplied this! On our way out the first day we noticed a group of locals doing zumba, so we had to stop and do it with them. God has completely provided kids in the market, whose parents are working. We split up into 2 groups and each group was successful to find their group of kids. Monday we spent prayer walking the city. Tuesday we each had a few kids, and Wednesday we had 7 each. We would start with one or two and they came out of the woodwork to play with us. Bystanders would stop to stare but always ended up smiling and kept it moving. Their parents were fine with us playing with them and keeping them entertained. The Lord provided a 7-year-old translator for my team. This ministry is allowing my team to use our energy and personalities to love on each child. To show to them that there are people who care and want to invest in their lives. Thursday was our first Ask The Lord day and as a team we did individual ministry. I took the afternoon to prayer walk to bar street with some ladies doing this ministry. Great opportunity for me! Friday we will be in the slums in the afternoon and market in the night.
Photos: Top-my new friend Phi, middle-the fellows doing work with the boys of the slums, and bottom- the slums and the river that runs through it.
Personally these couple of weeks in Thailand has been a time of personal growth and readying myself for the next 10 months. This has meant lots of time in prayer and seeking the Lord in more into my life. Right now He is speaking submission over my life and revealing to me what total surrendering looks like. Allowing my fleshy body to give him everything and allow Him to lead my life in every aspect. I have never fully surrender to Him and allowed Him to have complete control of my life. The last few days have proven to me that this is the only way I can be effective on this Race and allowing my flesh to die to be more in the image of Christ.
There is a Buddhist holiday here this weekend through Tuesday, I’m not sure the details but school is out on Monday and Tuesday. Almost everything will be closing but restaurants. We will have to do ministry around these days and may have to adjust schedules to fit the holiday. From my understanding this is a time for the 96% of Buddhist in Thailand to go to the temple. Going to the temple here means buying offerings to gain atonement from the monks. This is much different than our beliefs in forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Please be praying for Q squad, Team Holla-lujah!!, my individual growth in Christ and how He is going to break me this year. I am still not fully funded so pray fully consider supporting me, can through my blog with the "Support Me to be Legit!!" tab.
