Last month, in Thailand, our team worked with a ministry called Asia’s Hope. It is a large Christian organization that has children’s homes all over Asia. There are eight orphanages in Thailand right now and we lived next to two.
We were living on a piece of property that was under construction. They were in the process of getting the land ready to build a resort. There was dirt everywhere, so our host had platforms built for us to set up our tents. It was the beginning of monsoon season, so it got pretty muddy some days.
Last month was a hard month for me. I had been looking forward to Thailand since our route got changed at Training Camp. It was the country that I was looking forward to the most. I wanted to work with sex trafficking and do bar ministry. Instead we ended up doing manual labor the whole month. We lived outside, sweated constantly, and had to keep reapplying deet to keep the mosquitos away. I even had a little bit of a mental breakdown at one point. Don’t worry… one of my teammates got it all on video.
It was hot living outside all month long. It was in the mid 90s every day. In the mornings, I would wake up when the sun came up. It wasn’t because of the light, but because of the heat. At around 7am, the feeling of sweat dripping down my face would force me awake. We spent the majority of the day and night sweating. It was extremely humid, so even when the sun wasn’t hitting you, you were still sweating. After a rain, it would get even worse because it would just increase the humidity level.
But God is still good, He always is! Amongst the struggle, He wanted to give us a little gift…
They hadn’t started building the living corridors for the resort yet, but just before we arrived at the beginning of the month, they finished building a pool and pool house. Praise Jesus! Most days after ministry, we would get to go for a swim. A couple of times, the kids from the homes would come over and swim with us too.
Our ministry for the month was to help build a concrete fence around the homes. When we arrived, there was already a barbed wire fence put up, but it was easy to climb through. Apparently some man had been coming through the fence and stealing some of the young girls underwear off of the clothesline. Our mission for the month was to tear down the old fence and build a new one.
It was a hard month to get through, especially since I saw other teams that were doing the ministry that I wanted to be doing. But you know what, it humbled me. I realized that I needed to have faith that God’s plan is greater than my plan. I don’t know why I specifically needed to be where I was, but God does. He had me there, at that ministry for a reason that I may never know. I can’t just say that I have faith. I actually have to trust and believe in God, even when it is hard.
After all that I said, it may seem that I didn’t’ like Thailand very much, but actually, I loved Thailand! The people that we got to see everyday at our ministry were some of the sweetest, most giving and most caring people that I have ever met. They consistently showed us the love of Jesus everyday. I am so privileged to be able to say that I was able to be a part of their lives for one month.
Thailand still has a special place in my heart, and I have a feeling I will be back to visit one day.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Isaiah 55:8-9 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Matthew 7:11 – If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Here are some photos of a few of the fun things that we were able to do this month:
Fish Pedicures & Riding and Playing with Elephants
Bamboo River Rafting, & Sending off Fire Lanterns
