Between long ministry hours and limited internet connections I find myself very behind on blogging. Sorry about that.
This month we did two weeks of ministry in partnership with Lighthouse in Action, www.lighthouseinaction.org. Lighthouse in Action is a ministry run by Emmi Khanthana in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The ministry has many branches and we were blessed to be part of each one.
Zion Cafe and Hostel
Zion Hostel has been our home for most of January as we trained and served in the city of Chiang Mai. Zion Cafe is on the ground floor of the Hostel and serves the community delicious coffee, the best pad thai, and yummy baked treats. It is also a place where some women and girls can find safe employment as they transition out of the bars or study at the university. The Hostel houses dozens of teams each year of YWAM, World Race, Passport (another AIM trip), and other Christian missions groups.
Love Acts
Through Love Acts, Emmi and volunteers who work with her go to the bars and build relationships with the girls, the men, and the bar owners. Emmi forbids preaching and talking about Jesus in the bars because the goal is to build relationships and trust. Too many have judged and condemned in Jesus’s name. Over time as relationships grow and deepen the girls can come to Emmi and she can help them transition out. Relationships need to be built with the men and bar owners as well because men who have turned their lives around will have a powerful testimony and connections to affect change in the future. While we were here a YWAM team had the opportunity to bridge a relationship with a bar owner. The week we were in ministry in Chiang Mai was the week the police were cleaning up the bars so we were told not to go into bars at night. Instead we prayer walked the street during the day and spoke with girls but at night we prayer walked without engaging anyone.
My team made one connection and went back a few times to love on her and play games with her. We also prayed with an older begger woman and prayed against the darkness at the temple on Bar Street. The night we prayer walked the bar after an hour of more somber praying we sat down at the rotee cart and order delicious treats. A young boy selling flowers joined us so we shared and laughed with him. Our laughter and joy was infections and soon the cart, deserted before our arrival, had a long line of smiling, expectant people.
The Slums
Only a ten minute walk from Zion Cafe is an area of deep poverty. A transitional neighborhood of those newly arrived to the city and those without work. These people do not own their land and many of the children there are “hired” to sell flowers on the bar streets at night. Our job is to play. To bring joy and laughter to the children through soccer, paint, jump rope, or whatever games they are playing. The day I went three of us found three little boys playing soccer. At first we kicked the ball to each other in a big circle and practiced fancy kicks which the boys found hystarical, especially when we tripped or fell. Finally one of the boys challenged us to a three on three match. I scored the first and only goal for my team and then was scored on as goalie three out of four of their points. I can not check “play soccer” off of my bucket list. Surprisingly I didn’t trip!!
Monk Chat
Many of the temples in Chiang Mai have scheduled time for monk chat. It is an opportunity for monks to practice their English and for tourist to learn more about Buddhism and the monks. We use the opportunity to again build relationship but also to share about Yeshua. My team got to do monk chat twice.
X-Life
Finally, Emmi works in the villages to end the trafficing of children and women at its source. Children are sold by parents hoping for a better life or kidnapped off of the village streets. By working in the fields beside the villagers, we can build relationships to then be able to share the Gospel down the road. X-Life also gives us the opportunity to experience authentic Thai culture and the extremes of village life. Squatty potties and bucket showers, working in rice patties, chicken and dogs waking us up, and beautiful star filled nights. Our team had the opportunity live in Mae Ai where we worked in the rice fields two mornings and then swept the village street of trash. In the afternoons we played with children, spent time with our host moms, and then at night worshiped outside in Papa Emmi’s (Emmi’s dad, his real name is Tain) yard under the stars.
I encourage you to go to Emmi’s website, www.lighthouseinaction.org, learn more about this incredible woman and the work she is doing. Raise her up in prayer support for the redemption of her people. There are photos on my Facebook page, and when next I have internet I will do a photo blog of our last two weeks.
However in about five minutes we are loading onto a bus for Cambodia!
