Thailand feels like home to me. It truly does. Who knew?
I was excited going into this month to be in Thailand and to
see what the Lord would do but I had no clue that I would love it the way that
I do.
As I evaluate my home feelings, I think that I feel more at
home in this ministry than I have in a while.
This month we have been blessed to work with a Ywam ministry
called BJD. It is a house that takes in college students, shares the gospel and
lives in active missional community.
Loves Jesus: √
Loves college students: √
Loves community: √
All good things.
I truly love it. I love hanging out with college students. I
love going on campus doing prayer walks and talking to Thai students. I have
loved learning about this house and the way that they operate.
I have learned that BJD allows Christians and non Christians
to live in house. Most of the students living here are believers but the
leaders often ask students to live here even before they have accepted Christ
if they are showing an interest and are hanging around a lot. Getting into a Christian community is key for
Thai people to learn and believe in Christ. The country’s main religion is
Buddhism so it is easy to get caught up in the world or to live in fear of persecution;
so many students choose not to believe the truth.
Recently one of the BJD boys accepted Christ. He is a first
year student and has been living here for 7 months before committing his life
to Christ. He is probably one of the nicest people I have ever met. A couple of
weeks ago my team and I were going to campus to talk to students. And this boy
came with Rachael and I to translate our conversations. I had no idea that he
was not a believer until later when we were debriefing the day. Since finding
this out I began coming alongside the leadership team praying for him to accept
the truth that is Jesus. He was so close to accepting. But the cultural
ramifications were holding him back from fully giving his life over to
Christ.
However, last night he accepted Christ! Praise the Lord. It
is such a blessing to know that he has openly committed his life to Christ.
Which is a true testament to Jesus and how He pursues us but also a praise for
the community taking him in and loving him fully. Sharing Jesus with him, not
holding back. Praise the Lord for missional community.
So all in all I love it here. I have seen the Lord work. I
have had the amazing opportunity to come alongside a ministry who says yes to
the Lord and is open to loving people the way that Christ loves. With open
outstretched arms, welcoming His children with love.
It really does feel like home in the best ways possible.
