Well, I’m home. After 3 incredible months that I’m still trying to fathom are over, I’m back to the normal, ordinary life that God has blessed me with. And it truly is a blessing and comfort to know that God has called me home just as much as He called me to leave for Southeast Asia all that time ago; He has just as many ministry opportunities for me here as He did there. You see, this trip has taught me that missional living does not require crossing boarders or going to impoverished countries. Missional living can take place wherever we are, whether it be at a coffee shop in Canada or at an orphanage in Cambodia, because that’s what Jesus called us to.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
– Mark 16:15
This being said, I’m so excited for the ways people worldwide are spreading the love and freedom that Jesus so willingly gives, and I want to tell you all about the incredible ministries I had the opportunity to partner with during my time in Thailand.
About halfway through our time in Cambodia, we were told our ministry had been changed from what we originally thought we’d be doing in Thailand to something completely different. We were supposed to go to Chiang Mai, a big city where we’d live in a hostel with hot showers and comfy beds and work in a cafe. We found out, however, that the Lord had different plans for us. We found out our ministry had been changed and we would instead be going to Chiang Rai, a smaller city in the mountains, to live at a children’s home and work on a farm. It was a bit of a shock when we found out and we weren’t exactly excited at first. Little did we know, however, how perfect this ministry setting would be for us. We were stretched and challenged more than we ever would have been otherwise, and we got to partner with some absolutely incredible organizations and people.
Our main ministry hosts during our time in Thailand were John, Heidi, and their sweet daughter Charlie who run The Little Farm, a refuge for children and teenagers affected by human trafficking, the sex trade, and poverty. The farm aims to give people a safe environment to find love, acceptance, and healing from trauma they have experienced in their lives while teaching them a variety of new skills. Heidi and John are truly two of the most selfless, loving, generous, and hardworking people I have ever met. Their devotion to pursuing the Lord’s calling on their lives through complete self-sacrifice and abandon is beautiful and inspiring. Daily life at the farm looked like lots of weeding, planting and caring for their crops, mudding and cementing Heidi and John’s new home, milking goats, eating Heidi’s delicious cooking, and swims at the nearby lake. Please take the time to read more about their amazing ministry here, and partner with them through prayer and, if you’re able, consider donating to support the incredible work they’re doing to help people and build up the Kingdom in Thailand.
The second ministry we worked with while in Thailand was Bethany Children’s Home, a children’s home that rescues high-risk children from the hill tribes that would otherwise likely be trafficked. They are able to grow up in a safe and loving environment where they go to school and receive a good education. Most of the kids continue onto college and university once they finish their schooling, an opportunity that they otherwise probably would not have. Bethany’s Children Home is run by a team of Jesus loving, hardworking people who pour into the lives of the children daily and who took amazing care of us during our time there. Days at the children’s home looked like hoeing away a lot of weeds and grass, helping to clear and plow land for their crops, harvesting and bundling garlic, and playing lots of volleyball with the kids.
Lastly, we worked with both Destiny Rescue and Project Justice, two organizations that work in prevention and rescue of those who are trafficked or at risk of being trafficked. This looked like spending time with teenage girls who had been rescued from the bars and going into the hill tribes and spending time with kids who live in extreme poverty. We also spent time each week going into the red light district in Chiang Rai and building up relationships with girls that work in the bars, letting them know that they’re loved, valued, and cared for.
Our time in Thailand was powerful, and the Lord taught me so much about myself and about Him during that time. He showed me what it truly means to worship and glorify Him even when it’s hard, and the importance of serving and supporting other believers in the work they’re doing for the Kingdom. He also showed me what it looks like to gain strength, joy, and comfort from Him when I feel like I have nothing left to give, and how to endure through difficult situations without losing hope. He also placed me on a team with 11 other people who showed me what it means to live in authentic community, challenging, encouraging, and loving one another on a daily basis. Through this, the Lord taught me the importance of putting others needs above my own, and pouring everything I have into others.
Saying goodbye to the life I had become so accustomed to overseas during these three months was hard, and saying goodbye to the people who had become my family was harder than I ever could’ve expected (it involved a lot of tears). Thankfully, God is so good and He is walking with me through this transition, wiping away every tear and giving me vision and excitement for all this next season holds.
I want to say a final HUGE thank you to everyone who partnered with me through this season with prayers, monetary support, following along with my journey, and sending encouraging messages. I seriously could not of done this without you. Your support enabled me to serve incredible causes throughout Thailand and Cambodia, to bring love to people who scarcely feel loved, to pray healing over the sick, and to bring the Kingdom down to the earth. It allowed me to grow closer to the Lord than I ever have been before, and I’m so so so grateful. So thank you, your support truly means more than I could ever put into words. If you want to get together to chat and hear more about my trip, please ask!! I’d ~LOVE~ to talk to you more about it! Or if you don’t live close by, feel free to send me a message and we can chat more about it there!
