Hello Everyone!
I have seen God at work in so many ways since I made the announcement of joining the World Race! I’m very thankful for the people who are feeling led to be a part of this journey! Each and every person who is praying and/or donating is such an important part of my life. I honestly feel so overwhelmed by God’s goodness and grace to the point of tears (on several occasions..). The amount of love and support has really kept me going when I start feeling doubt. The weight of fundraising is being lifted off my shoulders the more I give it over to God and I am now at peace knowing it’s completely in his hands.
SO you may be wondering, “What does life in Thailand look like for you?” Well, I teach fifth graders and I have a lot of students (roughly 45-50 per class!!) but thankfully a Thai teacher is with me. After school, I tutor some of my fifth graders as well as first, second, and third graders. And let me tell you, they all have A LOT of energy. Sometimes I end the day feeling defeated. Constantly wondering if I did enough to make a difference. Throughout this process, I learned I’m never going to feel qualified on my own. God shows me to press into him in every moment (still something I’m working on!). Through him, it’s possible and it may not always look like what I had planned but that’s okay! Flexibility and having fun with the students are key parts of the job! Plus he always makes me smile throughout the day in the little moments. It may be a student telling me a story, laughing our way through translations, or just a smile and wave I receive when I pass by them in the hall.
My weekends are dedicated to fellowship with the people in my church. My church is also a school for people of all ages to learn English while learning about the Lord! Although I do not teach at this school, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the students through English Friendship Group. At EFG, students practice their English through games and discussion of the Lord. On Saturday nights, I go to an impoverished community with other members of my church. Mostly kids come but there are a few adults. It lifts my spirit to see their joy. It’s important to keep in mind that Buddhism is heavily known and taught throughout Thailand. It is difficult for people to break away from it. God has really blessed me with a lot of incredible people. I can see him at work in their hearts and the mission he has set forth for them. I never thought God would place me in this unique experience but I am forever thankful he has.
In the hopes of continuing transparency.. some days, I still catch myself falling into old habits. I am in no way perfect but the beautiful part about that is God already knows and loves me in spite of my imperfections. Sometimes I get lost in that thought alone. I’m trying to do the math but it just doesn’t add up. Each day shows me just how much I’m in need of God. If I don’t dedicate time with him, I end the day feeling lost and empty instead of fueled and ignited. The World Race is a constant reminder of the love he has for me. I in no way thought I would be brave enough to make this decision. And that’s because I’M not but GOD placed the fire in me and is leading me through. I had to seek after the Lord with humility instead of excuses. When I was praying about what to do next year, I found myself stressing over a place to live, a career, and settling down. Surprisingly, this is the most at peace I’ve ever felt which makes me confident I’m going exactly where God intends me to be.
