This is the city that made me feel alive. Chiang Mai really is a happy place. It touched base with all of my love languages. I got a taste of what it meant to celebrate with God and feel close to Him when I’m immensely happy. This week had its ups and downs but overall, it was wonderful. His presence was so tangible in this place.
I couldn’t have asked for a better way to close the chapter of Asia on the race. I’m on a new team, Jubilee! I’m so grateful for this team and we have loved all of the things that God revealed to us this month, our ministry was simply to ATL (Ask the Lord). My teammate, Ben wrote an awesome blog that explains pretty perfectly about what we did and prayed for this month – click here.
During our time in Chiang Mai, we stayed at this cafe & hostel called, Zion. Imagine a six-story building with a huge front porch filled with plants, playing Hillsong on the speakers inside and outside. When you walk inside the building, displayed are homemade canvas paintings of scriptures, words of encouragement and beautiful pieces of art everywhere made by former World Racers. The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans fills the air and there we find the rest of our World Race family. It was heavenly. Zion is run by Emmi, she’s super busy running the shop, but has such a huge heart to see people come to Jesus. She started Zion with a dream of encouraging people to come as they are, walk in freedom from their past and find opportunities to serve the community while making disciples. A lot of the women that work at Zion are rescued, sex trafficked victims that have chosen to step away from that lifestyle. I could go on and on about how Chiang Mai will always have a special place in my heart. The main reason that half of my team went up here was to take Rachel to PVT (Parent Vision Trip). It was so cool meeting so many of my squad mates’ parents! For a lot of them, it was their first time leaving the country! It was also hard at times, because I wished that my own parents could have made it out to Thailand. Zion was the perfect place to spend our days in Chiang Mai. It was a place where we could hear and share stories, drink coffee, eat delicious Thai food, create art, meet new fascinating people, and worship Jesus freely with or without walls.
Zion felt so much like home. We were only there for 5 days, but God and all of the X-Squad parents showed so much of their love to us that week. I’m so grateful for the random bunch of “orphans” that I got to hang out with during PVT. We spent our days getting to know each other and exploring. This was easily one of my favorite weeks of the race! I realize that even when the feeling of being left out and missing my family is strong, I can still choose to love those around me and rebuke bitterness. God designed our hearts to love, through it all, because He first loved us.
Prayer Requests:
For all of the parents at PVT, that they can truly get a glimpse of our world on this journey and encounter Jesus in a completely new and refreshing way.
That someone would prayerfully donate towards my last $600 left to be fully funded.
I’m so close!
P’Dao and her family in Bangkok, goodbyes are so hard on the race. Please pray for their family unity and that they would remain strong in their walks with Jesus.
We are going to miss them so much!
X SQUAD is going to AFRICA on Thursday! Please pray for our hosts in Zimbabwe, traveling mercies and good health for our squad. We’re so excited!!
Love, Bee
