“You are the light of the world – like a
city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide you light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16
“Gong, Gong, Gong,” the church bell echoes throughout the tiny village. She ever so carefully tiptoes over our sleeping bodies to make her way to the window. She holds the home-made metal gong outside our bedroom window as she strikes it once, twice, three times…time for church.
I open my eyes, grabbing my watch; it’s 6 o’clock in the morning. Two hours earlier I was awakened by roosters. The ‘cockle-doodle-doo’ literally erupted from underneath me – as the entire house is propped up on wooden stilt legs. The rooster was accompanied by the ‘ding-dong’ of the cow bell as the water buffalo returned home from the hills and the squeal of piglets as they fought for their breakfast.
Bandin is a small, rural village situated on the side of a hill. It is one long, crazy ride on a muddy road in order to find this ‘diamond in the rough’: a Karen, Christian village that shines Jesus. Children run freely from house to house, keeping themselves entertained until it is too dark to play anymore. Mother and father are out in their fields – harvesting basil, corn or rice. And Sunday is church. Three times: 6am, 11am, 3am.
Her hair is wrapped up in an old, dirty baby blanket. Bright purple, pink and blue cloth adorns her wrinkly, sun-baked skin. She turns her head and smiles. Jesus radiates from her countenance. Her dark-brown eyes twinkle. Wisps of graying hair peek out from under her head covering, dancing gently to the music. Her smile defines her cheek bones and highlights the crow’s feet that lie elegantly beside her laughing eyes. Five or six beaded necklaces hang loosely around her neck. She pulls her cracked, bare feet up under her wrap skirt.
Outside the bamboo church structure, rain is soaking the land; inside, is no different – the Holy Spirit is pouring down upon his children. His presence fills the room. In the heavenlies I can only imagine the Light that is shining brightly in the midst of the darkness. A bright spot on the map.
God has great things in store for the Karen hilltribe. They are instrumental in reaching Thailand for Christ. They are outgrowing the current, leaning bamboo church structure. While living in this village, we were able to help them clear land for their new church building. Digging by hand. Chopping by hand. Plowing by hand. Moving dirt by hand. All with a few hoes, machetes and rice bags.
Devotion and Dedication. Patience and Perseverance.
“This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine…”
