One of our first days on the university campus, Abby and I stumbled upon a gym class. They were playing volleyball, so we sat down to watch. We waited until class was over to go see if we could hand out flyers and/or talk to the students about Won Gen Café and all it has to offer.
After watching for an hour and a half, class was finally over. We went down to talk to the teacher. He spoke a bit of broken English, at least enough to try to hold a conversation with us. He invited us to come to class the next day to play with them. This gym class was nothing like any I've seen back in the States: everyone, no matter how horrible they were at volleyball, seemed to actually be enjoying themselves; strangers were welcomed to join in class; there was no mercy in the game, spikes and power serves were common, even from the teacher whenever he joined in.
So, my life consists of living at a coffee shop [which makes excellent smoothies and frappuccinos!], working at a coffee shop, tutoring English at a coffee shop, eating lunch on a university campus [for $0.67 a meal], and attending gym class four times a week to play volleyball. A majority of our ministry is simply living life alongside these Thai people.
5 o'clock at the coffee shop means tutoring sessions galore!
I never thought I would find myself back in a gym class. Some days we play 6v6 the entire class time [like earlier this week our team went undefeated the entire class, even against an "all-star" team and the teacher]. Other days, we just sit on the sidelines between games talking with the students and telling them about ourselves and Won Gen.
It's so weird being back on a university campus. I never thought I'd find myself on a university campus while on the Race. I am not that far removed from these students; for some, only 7 months separate us in academics.
the lake on CMU's campus
This month feels like I'm back in America. It's a breathe of fresh air right before the halfway point of my Race. But this is not what I signed up for. This is too easy, too comfortable even. This isn't what the World Race is supposed to look like. I thought I was forsaking all comforts of home… Well, I guess that's why they tell you over and over and over again to have NO EXPECTATIONS for the Race. These people are no different than any other people groups we will encounter on the Race. They still need Jesus. Yes, it's similar to America, and yes, it takes a different approach, but it's still missions. This is still ministry. This is my life. (!!!)
