WEEK ONE: 09.12.18 - 09.18.18
09.12.2018 - 09.14.2018 TRAVEL DAYS?
Flew from Atlanta, GA to New York to Shang Hai, China to Bangkok, Thailand to Chiang Mai, Thailand
Key Points
I ate the fish on the airplane… big mistake
Cammy and I getting on our flight to Thailand
09.15.2018 : WE HAVE ARRIVED
Feeling Blessed.
We arrived at our Hostel and it is such a blessing. We live above a cute little christian owned coffee shop, have beds and a super cool view of the night market from the roof.
Today was our first day exploring Chiang Mai. We went to the markets, street vendors, then ate some amazing Thai food from a restaurant down the street.
09.16.18 MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT
Today we found out our first ministry. I’m so excited! My team and I are going to be working in the orphanage starting Tuesday. I love kids and am so excited to hangout with them and show them God’s love.
09.17.18 MONK CHATS
Today we went to the temple. When we first arrived I was blown away by the incredible architecture. Then, I started to feel the weight of it all. Walking in, I saw the walls lined with golden statues labeled for each day and times of the week. The further back I went I got stopped by a crowd of people standing admiring their statues of Buddha. The atmosphere in the temple felt unsettling to me.
People were sacrificing all they had to these statues. In the back were three 30 foot statues and at the feet of these statues were about 50 smaller statues of Buddha in lines like flowers in a garden. The closer I got I could see the faces of the people praying with most of them having little to no expression in their face. Others were buying their blessings from the monks and others were praying relentlessly with cries of desperation praying to have their needs met. It felt impossible to see how God was working in this place. It looked like everyone around me was a slave to rituals. So, I walked around the temple one more time with new eyes praying for God to reveal how he was working in these peoples lives.
He revealed to me that his love will surpass all fear. That He is the only one who can fill the holes in their hearts. Each of us are drawn to God because of the longing in our heart for something more. God is working in the temples through his freedom, love and fulfillment. Please be praying for the monks and the people in the temple and that they get to know the God who meets ALL of their needs. Who offers freedom, who weeps with them and relentlessly pursues them.
09.18.18 FIRST DAY AT MINISTRY
Today was our first day working at the orphanage. I was expecting to be playing games and teaching the kids, but when we arrived, we found out we were doing manual labor for the orphanage instead. It wasn’t at all what I expected. We are doing manual labor for the majority of the week and on Saturdays we see the kids. Today we did weeding for the pineapple plants and met our ministry hosts. He invited us into his home and told us some incredible stories.
