This morning I woke up with the intent to travel with my squad to our ministry host for the second half of the trip. We have been staying at a hostel in the very urban setting of Bangkok, Thailand for the last 5 nights. Our mentor at Adventures in Mission’s, Kacie facilitated the time of reflection and projection. The debrief was very productive and we felt geared up and ready to run into this new chapter on the mission field. But like you could probably expect by reading the title to this blog, that is not what ended up happening.
After extensive time studying the precautions given by the World Health Organization, The State Department and the Center for Disease Control, the leadership team at Adventures in Mission’s made the decision to remove all squads from the mission field.
We were asked to stay here at the hostel, while our flights are being booked back to America. We currently do not have any further details. The hope is that once we arrive, our mentor will conduct a small debrief before we depart ways to our homes. There also is the possibility that the government could require us to be in quarantine before then. But like I already mentioned, we have nothing scheduled at the moment.
I sat with God this morning and read through some of the book of psalms. I love reading King David so honestly call out to the Lord in that book. Like all of us, He too is a human. Some days He’s on his knees begging God to protect him through a sorrow-filled storm, and others, he’s lifting his hands in the air praising the divine creator of the universe. Earlier today, I was actually in a praise-filled state. So grateful that God was in control, at a time in this world where so many people seem to be in desperation. I was thanking Him for the gift that is being weak, where His strength then has the ability to be magnified. I was praying for revival and salvation across the world.
With just a short time left in Thailand, a group of girls and I were determined to seize the day. We traveled a little out of town to a zoo-like facility and rode elephants! Being up on the beautiful creature, walking through a lush green oasis, almost brought me to tears. How blessed am I to have had that experience in the wake of some hard news? We ventured back to town after, on the hunt for some quality pad thai… my favorite. That followed with more time shopping in the markets.
Right now I’m typing this up from my bed, and being completely transparent, don’t feel quite as joyful. Writing it all out, makes it feel that much more real. I’m a little overwhelmed by what the grieving process of not just this race, but my last year and a half with the World Race, will look like. I have come to truly love this job as an overseas missionary. It has been the best gift, I never even knew to dream for. But like everything else that matters in life, it’s a gift, and only the Giver knows how long it will last. I’m sure I’ll share some reflective thoughts when they come. Until then, please keep my squad and I in your prayers as we navigate this unexpected change.
Lots of love,
Hannah
Here is a fun photo from today:
