Last month while I was in Phuket, Thailand, we lived off of a street where there were vendors. Every day when we would walk out of our hostile, the vendors would try and sell us things. At first it was fun because we really did need some new clothes, but as the week went on, some of the team became frustrated because we always got asked to buy things. We had two choices: to become annoyed, or to become their friends.
Of course I chose to get to know them and what it was they did and why they chose Phuket. Over my time getting to know these individuals, I found out that the entire alley was from Burma, or Myanmar. Myanmar was on our original route for month 4, which I thought was so cool! These are the stories of a couple of the people I met, and the impact the Lord made on them. Enjoy! (If you follow me on Facebook, these stories are from there. But I wanted to share with those of you who may not have social media. These stories are very cherished to me.
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Meet Johnny Walker
From day one when I first met him, he was asking me what my key necklace meant. The word was FREE, and I asked him what it meant to him. His story was he wanted to be free from the way he lives his life. He didn’t want to have to work in an alley and beg people to buy from him. He wanted to be out in the world and experiencing things. He didn’t want to be addicted to alcohol.
I walked past his shop every day wanting to pour out to him, but for 3 days straight he wasn’t there. My last day in Phuket, he was there and I asked him what happened. He told me he was hungover and I jokingly ask him if it was worth it, but his response was honest, “No it wasn’t.” My heart broke for him. He asked me for my key, but I was so wrapped up in what it meant to me, I forgot what it was for in the first place.
As I began to tell my teammates, one almost jumped out of their seat when I said I didn’t give him the key. I knew at that moment I had to go back. The Lord placed the line on my heart, “the very thing you hold on to most, is the very thing you should give away.” So I went and found Johnny Walker, and I pulled up a chair next to him. I began to share with him how I got the key. “Someone prayed over what the Lord wanted me to learn about this year, and it was FREE. The Lord has been showing me how I am not held accountable for the reaction of others, and that I am FREE from the consequences of their actions. The Lord has been showing me how to be FREE and how great His love is for me.” As the words came out of my mouth, you could see the gears turning in his head. I shared with him how I was passing on my necklace to him because I had already learned so much from it and he was in shock, maybe because no one before had taken the time to hear his story. He accepted the necklace and put it on right away with the biggest smile on his face.
Johnny Walker may not know who Christ is, but that day he had an encounter with Him. And I’m so thankful the Lord gave me another chance at being a part of that experience. It’s not about numbers, it’s about the planting and watering of seeds in the Kingdom. This journey never looks like what I think it will, and I’m so thankful for that! It’s so much more exciting and enjoyable when the Lord guides my steps!!
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Meet Chandra
She works in the alleyway we lived off from and she sought me out! She openly shared her faith with me, which is different than mine, and was able to share knowledge about forgiveness with me. She has a genuine heart that wants peace for everyone, and she pursues it.
One morning I was trying to buy a bag for food that costs 150 baht, but I only had 130 baht. She told me if I could sell something from her shop she would give me the profit. I tried for a solid 30 minutes to sell something as my team walked by laughing at my efforts. I persevered and FINALLY made a sell to a teammate who was buying a dress. Chandra not only held up her end of the deal, but gave me more than what I needed for my snack bag! She didn’t have to give me anything, but because I took the time to sit with her each day and hear about her story, she wanted to help me.
Living out your life doesn’t have to look like you traveling around the world to see people. I saw someone who was right in front of me and was blessed by the relationship in ways I never thought would happen. I not only got a bag I wanted so badly, but I made a friend who got to see a new side to faith. If she was the reason I went to Phuket and was super uncomfortable, than it was TOTALLY worth it! Do life where your feet are planted and the Lord will use it!
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Meet Roy and Connie
Who would have thought I would be in Thailand and meet someone from Austin, TX!
Let me tell you, Roy spotted me from the time I walked into this Starbucks because I was hanging on the door like a crazy person when they had AC pointed directly at the door. He laughed at me and asked where I was from and it started an entire conversation about what he does there and what I was doing in that area. My day never looks like I think it ‘should’. Today, I just wanted a cool place to journal. The Lord cares so much about me that He appointed a divine connection with a small piece of home. WOW!
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These encounters were each small and significant, but when I look back on month 4 in Thailand, I can’t help but get the word POWERFUL. It was powerful for those I got to meet, and it was powerful to me because I learned so much about myself and those around me. It’s so easy to get into a rhythm and miss the things around you, but when you seek them out the Lord is faithful to provide. I may have initially been reluctant to go to Phuket at first, but I’m so glad I took a leap of faith and trusted that the Lord would show up and show off.
