In my previous blog, you got my moms perspective on her time in Thailand. This time you’ll here from my amazing step-dad, Brandy!
“Jana and I really had no idea how we were going to be able to plan a trip to Thailand and attend the World Race Parent Vision Trip to spend time in the mission field with Danielle, when we first heard about it, in Atlanta, last October 2017 at the launch for Dani and her team of nineteen racers.
The only thing I felt sure of, when we first heard about the opportunity, and found out that it would be an option, if our racer chose to send us an invitation, was that she would definitely send us the invitation… I think that is why God put no question in our minds that we would find a way to be there!
The weeks and months seemed to move by very quickly and then, the invitations came. Without hesitation, we began the process of getting our Passports (I am 50 years old and had never even had a passport. Jana had to get a new one as her first had long since expired.), planning for time off from work, booking flights and other travel plans, figuring out how to finance the trip and getting the recommended vaccines, etc. for overseas travel.
Again, the weeks and months seemed to fly by and it was time to leave. We were both very excited to spend time with Dani and see what this World Race stuff was all about, as well as experience different cultures unlike anything we have ever dreamed of in China and Thailand.
When we got to Chiang Mai, we were still two days before the PVT trip was set to begin but, by another act of God, we were able to see Dani on the roof of her hostel and she could see us in the 15th floor window of our hotel room, .2 miles away! It was amazing to see her and waive back-and-forth. This was really happening!
Anyway, on that Wednesday at 2:00 PM, we got to meet Dani and ten other members of her team and their parents at the Lai Thai Guest House to begin four days of experiencing what the World Race is about, in meetings, worship, training, mission work, eating Thai cuisine, and some free time with our racers and some of the other racers and their parents.
It was unbelievable and worth all of the time, effort, prayers and finances that we put into it! I was truly touched by the wonderful worship and speaking presentations of our truly talented racers and the Adventures in Missions support team members that joined us on this PVT. The leadership is great and I could feel God’s hand and the love of Jesus throughout each member and the presentations they gave to us.
It was also very touching to see the eight racers who we had met at Atlanta and followed on blogs, etc. through the first seven months of their adventure. Getting to hug on them and express our excitement and support of ALL of them was very touching. If anything, I wish the racers who did not have parents attend PVT would have been a little more included in our meetings but I understand that they were still engaged in God’s work in Chiang Mai.
Getting to see how much Dani has grown in experience and confidence in what the Lord is doing in her life, was tremendous. It was also a blessing to hear how much the other parents noticed positive changes in their racers and their spiritual maturity. It makes me very confident to know that we are raising up future generations who are so strong in sharing God’s love and spreading the Gospel of Jesus and extending his grace to all who will believe and accept him.
This experience also made me very proud and blessed that our daughter is part of such a great World Race team that has bonded together and had little or no real issues in working together and supporting each other and working through issues, in a strong Christian manner. As some members have experienced weakness and emotional distress, other members have picked them up and carried them through until the whole team becomes stronger.
With four months to go, the sky is the limit to what this group can accomplish, on the rest of this race, and God is blessing each and every one of them and all of us associated with them, and making us all stronger to be a Light in this world.
In Jesus name, Amen!
Danielle’s proud step-dad, Brandon Pasley”
