Grace & Thailand
We don’t pray much because we aren’t in great need. We don’t read the word much because we are busy and think we can rely on our memory or the verses shared from the pulpit. We aren’t vulnerable or self sacrificing in relationships because we are lazy and comfort (self) focused. Being a Christian is more than BELIEVING in Jesus (it’s more than the title) because the word of God says EVEN demons BELIEVE. My sweet sister Grace (a woman saved by the grace of God from a past of prostitution, drugs, alcohol and abuse) spoke this from memory, “Romans 12:1-2, I appeal to you therefore brothers (and sisters) by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
I met Grace at the beginning of my third week in Thailand.
Grace Waving Goodbye
Rewind. First, our teams got mixed up at the end of Malaysia; so if you haven’t been following all my blogs I am on a new team of ALL girls called the Brave Hearts.
Brave Hearts: Taryn, Jessica, Shavon, Rosa, Mhairi & Wanzie
One of our sweet sisters was doing ministry, life, whatever, last month in Indonesia and got a cheap flight to Phuket, Thailand. (This is a small island in the south.)
Wanzie & Farrah
First stop Phuket!! The Lord had already prepared the way for us to go because the incredible Farrah and Nathan, two backpacker friends we met in Malaysia had moved to Phuket, Thailand to do a Work A Way at a hostel (google Work A Way.) It was a sweet first week of team bonding, a 24 hour travel day, beach worship, Taxi Mafia threatening police and manipulating us to give them money (a story for another day) and serving our dear friends through the tragedies happening at home.
Bangla Road (Party Street)
While doing beach worship and listening prayer our Queen (team leader) felt the Lord leading our team to reach out to a ministry contact and get involved with red light ministry (Google Red Light district in Thailand.) Through an email, website, phone number and friend of a friend Brave Hearts got connected to the Nelson Family. Turns out they are quite familiar with World Race; they are hosts for “normal” squads!
Brave Hearts, Nelson Family, Single Women Missionaries & Grace
Don’t worry connection to Grace is coming. So the second week in Thailand was full of sleeping on tile floor in the humidity of rainy season, prayer walks up and down the party (prostitution/trafficked/drunk) streets, Thai Tea, 2am Burmese Bible studies, playing pool (praying with, dancing, buying food for..) with women from the bars, Volleyball tourist/transgender outreach, and almost getting arrested for holding up signs that say “your story matters” and “free prayer” because we didn’t have a work permit (even though no money was involved.) At the end of this week Grace comes into the scene.
Burmeese Bible Study, Volleyball & Prayer Walk
Grace used to live at the Church where some single women missionaries live (where we were staying) which is also the Nelson’s home church. But through a series of events got sucked back into her old life. But because of the Lord’s relentless pursuit of His children He was not done with Grace. And kept calling her back to Himself. She is a testament (as we all are) to the powerful transformed life and renewal of the mind that comes through Jesus Christ alone. Praise the Lord that He is a faithful God. He finishes the work He begins in us, His children.
I don’t know about you but He is still working on me. This month has been so full of the Lord renewing my mind. I am learning to pray like I have never prayed before, read the word like I have never read and love people the way I have never loved and it is because the powerful transformation of the Holy Spirit (God’s love) that is constantly being poured out for me.
