Sorry I have put off this blog time and time again-every time I sit down to write it I cannot seem to find the words to describe ministry in Thailand.
In the best way.
It was incredible. Each day looked different-farming, teaching, going to the movies-evangelizing around the mall, hiking a mountain and prison ministry.
But that’s not why I’ve struggled.
I can’t put into words how great out host, Pat, is.
So-I’m going to tell you a few things Pat taught me during my time on his farm.
Every chance I got to the chance to ride in the car (opposed to the back), I would. I just loved listening to Pat talk. His life experiences and his wisdom is so vast and wide.
A little bit about Pat-he is from Thailand, but he lived in America for about fifteen years. He was involved with a gang and all that entails. One day he was on his way to kill his ex-wife and when he was at his daughter’s camp he met a missionary-who told him to go read the bible-and he did. He woke up the next day and his life was changed. Jesus radically transformed this man’s life 7 years ago and he has been sprinting towards Jesus. He read the bible front to back and then went on and started doing the thing. Eventually he married his ex-wife (which is super cool because Pat & Art have been in a marriage with without Jesus and then with Jesus-fyi they recommend with Jesus lol) and now they life on a self sustaining farm.
On this farm, he welcomes friends he has made in the juvenile detention center to live there and help out on the farm. A lot of the time these guys don’t have anywhere else to go. Pat takes them in and disciples them. He loves them relentlessly and fights for them to know the Lord.
A few of my friends have written awesome blogs about some of the men who we had the privilege to live with:
https://jonames.theworldrace.org/post/would-you-let-a-rapist-move-in
https://heatherfuller.theworldrace.org/post/just-a-boy
But I want to highlight Pat and all he has taught me.
In the bible, it explains sharing Jesus to others with farming. Reaping. Sowing. Harvesting. It’s hard sometimes on these short term mission trips to know you are making a positive impact and not a negative one in the places-but I had no doubt that Pat would water the seeds we planted and watered.
One time he said “You plant a seed, someone has to come an water them. I’m a farmer, I have to take care of everything. I can’t just plant something and walk away. I’m a good Shepard.
And that he is. He helps teach at different schools, goes the hospital to pray and evangelize, goes to different juvenile detention centers and prisons all around multiple times a week, and truly brings ministry to every aspect of his life. Into his home. He said that even though he may not have peace about welcoming these guys into his home because of their track records-but his trust in Jesus is so much greater than that. He knows Jesus has his back.
True peace comes from Jesus. His plan for your life might scare you, but hang on tight. Jesus is able to take you places and fulfill things you never could imagine.
The second lesson Pat taught me was how important it is to die to yourself daily and pick up your cross. Each day is a gift and a treasure that is to be lived in order to shine Jesus’ light.
Pat’s father gave him his beach house-which was Pat’s dream to live on the beach. Jesus told Pat he needed to go to Chaing Mai, so Pat sold this beautiful beach house in order to build his self sustaining farm-where he welcomes in teams and really anyone who needs a place to stay. God has blessed this place immensely. There is an incredible peace and it is so evident Jesus is there. It is a place of refuge and safety.
Jesus’ plan for our life is even better than we could imagine-so die to yourself and pick up your cross daily. Listen to Jesus in ALL things and let him guide your steps. It’s not about you. You are a tree in a story about a forest-and the story of a forest is a lot better than the story of the tree (A Million Miles in a Thousand Years-Donald Miller-very good book. Check it out.) It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about God-and that’s why each and every day it is important to die to yourself and follow Jesus.
The third lesson a truly simple: be a blessing wherever you go. This a simple tangible way to shine Jesus’ love all around the world. Leave a place better than you found it. Easy as that.
The last lesson I wanted to point out coincides with a funny story-or well, painting.
We were finally able to go to the juvenile detention center; we were waiting eagerly to go all month (different teams took turns going-four out of the five teams on F squad were working with Pat). We arrived and Pat points out a painting on the wall and told us he painted that, so we stopped to observe his painting. It was a painting of the time when Peter walked on water.
I couldn’t take a picture of it because we couldn’t bring out phones in-but picture this.
An ocean.
Jesus.
Petter is kind of sinking-looking up at Jesus.
And then there is a boat way in the back of the picture filled with funny looking people.
Got it?
Pat said “Look at those funny looking people in the back-they look funny like that for a reason. If I was in that boat I would of been the third person to walk on water. The first person was Jesus. Second, Peter. Everyone talks about Peter in this story-but he stepped out of the boat. He took a chance and walked on water with Jesus. We should really talk about the funny looking people still in the boat. Not taking a chance. Not trusting Jesus enough to even TRY to get out of the boat and journey towards Jesus. Don’t be like that. Don’t be a lame ass missionary.”
Mic drop.
Don’t be a lame ass missionary.
Even though I have taken the title of missionary for 2018 and I am traveling around the the world to shine Jesus’ light doesn’t mean I changed into a missionary in a second. I still am afraid when talking to strangers. I still let my fear of the world guide my actions. I have grown so much in this-truly, truly. I am so much more bold and confident-but I’m not perfect. I miss chances Jesus points out left and right-but I don’t want to be a lame ass missionary.
I want to be bold and confident in the Lord in all that I do. My prayer each and every day is to become more like Jesus.
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.
So, in all that you do-don’t be lame-give it all you got as though you are doing it for the Lord, because ultimately you are.
So, do the dang thing. Follow Jesus with all you’ve got. He goes before you and behind you. You really don’t have anything to lose. Step out of the boat & don’t be a lame ass missionary-or whatever you are.
