Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I will try to recap the past few days for you guys.
Our culture research and observation went very well. Monday night our hotel owner, Phongsun, took Ashley, Kim Lynch, and I to eat at a Thai buffet place. At this place we got to pick out our own meats and cook them on a skillet in front of us. It was fun grilling our chicken, por
k, and pinapple. We made sure to stay clear of the pork’s heart and weird seafoods. Dinner got interesting when Phongsun’s girlfriend showed up, whom his wife apparently knows about and encourages. The details of that conversation are better if I tell you face to face. Despite that awkwardness, the interview time with Phongsun went well, and we learned a lot about the culture and people of Kathu.
The past few days we have spent in various places. One day we met up with the brown team to meet an Iraqi contact that now does mission work in Thailand. He is a very intriguing guy who once fought in the Gulf War against us. He now prayer walks around Phuket and has evangelized to many. He took us to a couple homes of ladies that day that were Christians. We were given the opportunity to pray with and for them. That night we had the first ever Red Team Invitational, challenging the Brown team to a round of dino putt putt, losers buy icecream. Red team was victorious winning by 5 strokes and thoroughly enjoying the spoils.
Yesterday we decided to go as a team to the Kathu waterfall for quiet time and prayer. When we got there, we headed in the wrong direction and were glad to find out the mini falls we saw were not the waterfall. We soon found the actual fall, which really wasn’t much bigger but still b
eautiful. In trying to find a spot to read and pray, I had to move twice. The first time I realized I was sitting about 4 feet from a rather large snake and the next time was almost in the web of huge spider. When I found a bug, spider, snake-free spot, I had some amazing time with the Lord in the beauty of His creation.
Today we were supposed to work with the youth group at a local church here (where we attended Easter services). We showed up ready to go at 7:30 pm to find out that the youth group was moved to tomorrow, but that they were having a prayer and worship service and we were welcome to join in. We gladly agreed. Soon I found myself drawn to 2 girls sitting in front of us that would kindly turn around and translate for us. When it came time to get in groups and pray they turned around to pray with Ashley and me. One girl asked we pray for her mom, who is not a Christian, that had become paralyzed last Sunday. The other girl wanted us to pray for her mom who is a Chinese Buddhist and was at church with her for the first time that night.
As we continue in the prayer time, one boy came forward who had just come to church for the first time last Sunday. He wanted us to pray for him because he has a sight prob
lem and is supposed to go blind within a year. Our translator told us that he has tried the Buddhist way but nothing seems to help him. He now wants to turn to Christ to heal him. Pray that not only does God heal his sight, but his heart as well by revealing truth and salvation to him.
Towards the end of the service another lady stood up to testify about what the Lord has done for her. As it was explained to us through translation, she apparently needed 16,000 Baht to pay the government by tomorrow. The church has been praying for her to receive this money. Just recently she got a tour group with the company she works with that paid exactly 16, 000 Baht….no more, no less! It was incredible to see how God is active and working in Thailand.
After church we talked some more to the girls who translated for us. They were so kind as to even give us a ride home so we didn’t have to pay a tuktuk to take us. We are excited about the possibility of seeing them tomorrow at youth group or on Sunday at church. It was such an unexpected blessing to meet these girls. Pray for us tomorrow as we attempt to lead a youth group in Thai….that should be fun!
