About 2 weeks ago, my parents spent 5 days with me in Thailand where they got a taste of what life on the field has looked like for me these past 8 months. They experienced culture shock, the heat of Asia, but most importantly they got to be apart of the community I get to call my family. The Holy Spirit was so present from the beginning to the end. My parents got to learn about a method we do on The World Race called listening prayer. One of my squad mates explained the over all concept to the parents, then a few of us got to give cool examples from the race. Then we got to do “Ask the Lord” ministry with our parents. It was really cool to see my parents wrestle with the concept to go out and ask the Lord for direction of what He wants us to do. Yes, for all of us it was super frustrating at times, but I was so proud of them for pushing in and further the Kingdom.
(My parents and I passed out donuts and soda to the taxi drivers outside the mall.)
The Lord moved in so many ways that week. Tears were shed, but through it all God showed me how to love and to love fiercely. I am SO blessed to have incredible, loving, and supportive parents! Yes, honestly some times they ask too many questions and annoying me a little, but I couldn’t imagine having any other parents as awesome and pursuing as mine! Thanks Mom and Dad for flying overseas to spend time with me! See you in 2.5 months!
Over these past 8 months I have changed. I have grown in boldness. I have grown in my intimacy with the Lord. I am growing in confidence who the Lord created me to be; knowing where my identity comes from ~ not in people or things ~ but from the Maker of the Universe. I am celebrating the victories over these last 8 months, but I know there are a lot more to win in these next 3 months. I have grown so much, but I do not want to go home the way I am now. These next three months are going to be good, fun, messy, HOT, and hard, but I am excited to continue to the next mile marker!
(Picture of my teammate Christy and her Dad with Me and My Dad eating scorpions.)
(My parents and I went to Tiger Kingdom and got to play with Tigers.)
(Notice we stayed near the back, that thing was huge!)
On our adventure day, my parents and I got to visit Patara Elephant Farm where we got to be elephant owners for a day. First, we got to play with a 3 week old elephant, then we got to feed them, learn how to care for them, then brush them, and bathe them in the river. Of course the elephants loved to spray us with their trunks. Then we got to ride our elephants bareback through the forrest and end having a traditional Thai lunch watching our elephants play in the water.
Blessings,
Catie Collins
