Hey friends and family!! Welcome to my blog!!
To begin, I’d like to introduce myself a little bit. My name is Jaci Grachen and I am from North Carolina. I am currently in school at UNC Wilmington and I am lovinnnggggg it. I’m not necessarily loving the whole school thing, but I am loving that I get to live 10 minutes from the beach and that I have an AWESOME group of believers my age to do life with.
About my trip!!
On May 28, 2020 I will drive down to Atlanta, GA and begin a two month journey!! When I get to Georgia I will complete a few days of training with my team to grow together before we leave. After the training camp we will be off to Thailand! In Thailand there are several different options for what type of ministry we will be doing. A few things that we could be doing are prison ministry, refugee outreach, and teaching English. When it gets closer to May I will have a better idea of the type of ministry we will be doing and I will be able to share it with y’all! It really depends on what the local missionaries see a need for.
What made me want to go!!
To put it simply, Jesus. Followers of Jesus are called to go and share the Gospel. Some people may say “Why don’t you just stay in the U.S. and share the gospel with the people around you?” and my answer to that is that I am young, I have no ties, I can pick up and leave and I don’t have to drag anyone along, I am able to adjust well to new situations, I LOVE to travel, the Lord made this beautiful world to be seen and appreciated, the Lord has placed a desire in my heart to go outside of the U.S., and Thailand is an unreached country!
What makes Thailand an unreached country?
Calling Thailand unreached is in no way meant to be offensive. It simply means that they are unreached by the Gospel. The country of Thailand is made up of 112 people groups, and of those 112 groups 77 of them are unreached by the Gospel. Statistics show that 61 million of the 69 million people in Thailand have not heard the Gospel. If those numbers don’t make you feel uneasy then I don’t know what will. Imagine never hearing the name of Jesus and the good news that he brings. That is the reality for most of the people in Thailand.
He is our peace!!
This is just the beginning of my journey and the Lord has given me a peace that truly does surpass all understanding. I should be nervous, fearful, and anxious that I will be in a foreign country away from all things comfortable and that I won’t be able to raise enough money, but all I feel is excitement. He is the source of all peace, maker of peace, and the one who gives peace. Outside of him there is no true and lasting peace. Life with Jesus is the best adventure, and this trip to Thailand is just a little piece of mine!! Continue to follow my blog if you want to see what the Lord is teaching me leading up to Thailand and while I am there!!
With love,
Jaci Grachen
