I had a totally different blog written. It just explained what my Thanksgiving day consisted of and how it differed from the typical, traditional, American Thanksgiving day. I even had some really great and funny pictures I could have shared. I also made a list of the things I was thankful for back home and on the race. I decided to delete it and share this story…
This month we are working along side Dana and Cindy Bratton of Calvary Chapel Baptist Church, Thachatchai (Thailand). I want to tell you about their friend and Pastor of Calvary Chapel in Ban Nam Khem (Thailand) – James Garwood.
The story below was written by Annie Cull. I found it at http://www.allvoices.com. PLEASE READ!
James Garwood was a local boy who went through many of the teen
struggles many of our modern teenagers experience. He took drugs and
even found himself in a drug rehabilitation program called
UTurnForChrist, which had a branch near Camino CA After graduation from
the program and experiencing a spiritual epiphany which astounded many
who knew and loved him, a group of churches along with UTURNFORCHRIST
graduates, went to help in Thailand after the horrific tsunami in 2004.
This experience radically affected young James who decided to stay
behind and give himself to the work of helping the ravaged tsunami
survivors. He also found out about the forgotten people near the
Burmese border (currently Myanmar) and the Karen tribe in particular.
Many of them have been shot and killed by radical Myanmar groups who
feel the only good Karen is a dead Karen. James devoted his life to
bringing food, medicine and joy to these oppressed people. He loved to
dress in Karen dress and dance with children in the mud, while
presenting food, clothing and the good news of Christ to these hungry
people. When James first began his work in Thailand, there were many
who were not supportive of him but soon the selfless desire to help
others became so unbelievably apparent that even some of his detractors
fell in love with this servant-hearted young man. Two years ago he
married a Thai national girl named Bua. They had a little boy early
this year named Daniel. He contracted malaria earlier this year and
while still weak he continued his work in the jungles of Northern
Thailand, along the Myanmar border. He contracted Dengue fever and was
encouraged to rush to the hospital in Bangkok, a four hour train ride
from his post in the jungle. This horrible disease is also known as
hemorrhagic fever which is devastating to the body and requires
immediate attention. He was found in a bathroom tub in Bangkok. The
fevers had rendered him in a stupor. He gave his life for the people he
loved. His desire as his mother, Barbara Davis (a Sacramento
resident), was that he only wanted the world to know that God lived and
loved the world. He gave his life for the people he served and will be
remembered by many as a precious, selfless man who left the comforts of
America to help the poor and needy
struggles many of our modern teenagers experience. He took drugs and
even found himself in a drug rehabilitation program called
UTurnForChrist, which had a branch near Camino CA After graduation from
the program and experiencing a spiritual epiphany which astounded many
who knew and loved him, a group of churches along with UTURNFORCHRIST
graduates, went to help in Thailand after the horrific tsunami in 2004.
This experience radically affected young James who decided to stay
behind and give himself to the work of helping the ravaged tsunami
survivors. He also found out about the forgotten people near the
Burmese border (currently Myanmar) and the Karen tribe in particular.
Many of them have been shot and killed by radical Myanmar groups who
feel the only good Karen is a dead Karen. James devoted his life to
bringing food, medicine and joy to these oppressed people. He loved to
dress in Karen dress and dance with children in the mud, while
presenting food, clothing and the good news of Christ to these hungry
people. When James first began his work in Thailand, there were many
who were not supportive of him but soon the selfless desire to help
others became so unbelievably apparent that even some of his detractors
fell in love with this servant-hearted young man. Two years ago he
married a Thai national girl named Bua. They had a little boy early
this year named Daniel. He contracted malaria earlier this year and
while still weak he continued his work in the jungles of Northern
Thailand, along the Myanmar border. He contracted Dengue fever and was
encouraged to rush to the hospital in Bangkok, a four hour train ride
from his post in the jungle. This horrible disease is also known as
hemorrhagic fever which is devastating to the body and requires
immediate attention. He was found in a bathroom tub in Bangkok. The
fevers had rendered him in a stupor. He gave his life for the people he
loved. His desire as his mother, Barbara Davis (a Sacramento
resident), was that he only wanted the world to know that God lived and
loved the world. He gave his life for the people he served and will be
remembered by many as a precious, selfless man who left the comforts of
America to help the poor and needy
———————————
This story REALLY touched my heart in many different ways, for many different reasons. It really got me thinking about all the other missionaries out there – nameless, faceless, unknown by most… The ones living this life day in and day out, sharing the love of Christ, being broken again and again with such joy… The ones that give their life – that actually go do the Gospel – that lay down their lives, surrender all…
I am just writing this – reaching out – to ask you all (anyone that might be reading this) to pray. Pray for Burma. Pray for Thailand. Pray for Bua and Daniel. Pray for James’ family in the US. Pray for Love in Action and for Calvary Chapel. Pray for Dana and Cindy. Pray for all the workers out in the field. Pray for the harvest. Pray that God would send out more workers…
Oh – and things I’m thankful for… well, today, I am thankful that I have the opportunity to share the Gospel with the nations and I am thankful for life. Below is a short video I found that shows just who James Garwood was and what he died for…
