We started ministry yesterday. There is no school on
Saturday’s, so we went up and down the streets near our apartment handing out
tracts. This isn’t something I would like to ever do in America, but because I
can’t speak their language I had no options. We were hoping they weren’t the,
“You’ll burn in Hell if you don’t turn to Jesus right now!� ones.
Before we left, Oo, our translator, told us Ajan (which is
pastor in Thai) wouldn’t be coming with us because he was going to work. To me
that meant he was going to stay at home and sit on the computer all day,
probably talking on Facebook, maybe to some students.
When we left, I was a little irked by this. For the past few
days I hadn’t really seen him do much but sit on the computer on Facebook, so
why would he now. Why would we go out and do relational ministry when he is the
one who lives here.
We had a luxurious bus ride to our destination. I enjoyed one of my favorite snacks I’d been missing for so long! Chocolate soy milk and Popcorn!
I continued on though and took the time to try and talk with
people, inviting them to the fellowship we have each night to teach English. We
passed lots of coffee shops, bakeries, clothes stores. We’re excited about
visiting these places and building relationships with people there.
We ended at a pet store where I saw the cutest dogs we have
seen in such a long time. There are so many stray dogs in Asia, all of them are
ugly. At the store there was a cute fluffy one and three Shih Tzu, and a Pomeranian.
All so fun to play with!
We walk back to the apartment and Ajan wasn’t there, so we
walked the other way on the street.
As we continued to walk the other way for another while,
waiting under food stand umbrellas and in restaurants in the rain, there we saw
Ajan on the corner of the street. He was handing out tracts to everyone he saw
and had just gotten back from being on campus on Saturday, reaching out to
student who were there.
Wow… that definitely slapped me in the face. That’s where I
saw his passion and brokenness for the people.
Later that day, I heard the rest of his story.
Oo helping me with guitar!
Two months ago he left everything he had and owned to come
to Uttaradit, Thailand and start this ministry. He found this apartment and
moved in what he had, clothes, dishes, and some kitchen appliances. He has no
one to partner with him in this ministry and little funds coming in. He is
using two students who are Christians and hoping they will join him to invite
students. He is weary and doesn’t understand why there is no fruit in this; he
is doing what God has asked him to do.
And we’re here this month to come alongside him and lift him
up. Our daily prayer is for him to be lifted up and encouraged by us and that
God would provide a ministry partner and funds while we are here.
