This past week me and three other girls from my team got the opportunity to visit a contact and get to know them a little bit better.
First let me say that there vision for the future is insanely awesome. Not to mention the work they are doing in the kids lives are outstanding as well. They teach English and are also starting a project for teaching the children to be self sustaining. The goal of there ministry is the build these kids up in Christ and teach them that their dreams matter and to go for it.
The first day for me was so difficult we started the day off with breakfast, which was rice, chili (extremely spicy), and some kind of vegetable. Not a typical breakfast for me considering I normally skip that meal. At 8 am they have worship and devo's everyday. Which I have never experienced anything like this before in my whole life! These kids ranging from ages 7 to 16 went around during worship and prayed for us and each other. Never in my life have I ever had a group of kids care enough to pray over me as there teacher. Not to mention that these children are from Burma and are hated in Thailand. The impact they made on me was something that I will never forget.
After worship and devo's we started teaching. Not exactly what you would think about teaching. It was more like tutoring in reading. We were there to listen to the kids as they read, make sure they pronounced the words correctly and that they understood what they were reading. We got a break for lunch had a meeting with our contact about the business end of unsung heroes and by 2 pm we were at it again.
Let me just say my attitude was sooo beyond selfish. I was being a big baby about all of it. I was bored listening to them read and wasn't to crazy about the food, never took a bucket shower before, and don't even get me started on the squatty potties. Those things were all I could think about and by the end of the day I was ready to leave Thailand and the world race…….
Leaving the world race isn't an option for me and let me explain why….. One I realized I needed an attitude adjustment and I told my team about my struggles. They were very patient with me while I explained and never tried to make me feel better, they prayed with me and let me figure out my mess while they showed me the love that I needed. Two because I made a promise not only to myself but also to God that this Year I was setting aside for Him and his will for my life. I want to know the woman God has made me to be and I want to walk in that.
Plus if I would have called it quits the first night I never would have been blessed by falling in love with the people here and I wouldn't have been able to handle the information I had gotten in feedback from our contacts at the moment.
These words were not comfortable, they hurt a bit and I cried….. a lot…..
But it takes a complete stranger (well not complete I've known them for a couple days) to say words from God sometimes to wake me up. I was told that I wouldn't be remembered because I didn't talk enough, that if I keep letting my fears control me then My trip will be wasted, that being a little quirky and different is ok, that the impact that I want to make on every person I come into contact with will get lost if I don't step into the wholeness of everything I was created for, and that the love I have to give is the biggest impact, but if I don't let go and just let God make me into what I am then I'm never going to be everything my heart longs to be. AND I was also told that I have this beauty in me that I need to let shine and wear it with confidence.
That I do believe was a breaking point for me. Someone who I haven't talked to very much just told me everything that I have been struggling to release since before I left America. And the whole time I was being told all of this my team leader was sitting right next to me fist pumping in agreement. I know there will be times when I might not be remembered by everyone but I will never forget the day a future world race contact word vomited everything God has been trying to wake me up to and I was ignoring him.
By the end of our time with this amazing ministry we actually went and hung out with the kids…. We went to the hot springs and played soccer (I mean football) in an empty pool, and went cliff diving. The cliff diving part was crazy ( not in a dangerous way) The rule for us "teachers" was if you jumped you got to take a hot shower…………. Let me say that again……. A HOT SHOWER!!!!!!!!!!!. Needless to say….. all four of us jumped.
Since we have been in Thailand we had hot showers at the beginning of the month, then we switched hostels, and got cold showers, then we moved to Mae Sot where we got bucket showers. Soooooo When you get the chance to take a hot shower you are definitely going to jump.. Especially since you don't know when your next one will be.
So if you would please pray that we get our attitudes checked when needed, because you never noticed how spoiled you are until to get out of that comfort zone. Pray that we take our adjustments in a health open way. Pray for growth not just for me but for my team and squad. Pray for clarity and strength to overcome all of the obstacles that we will come face to face with.
In the next couples days we will be traveling to Cambodia and working with an Orphanage…… To be continued……
