As my time in Thailand comes to a close, I’ve been through a whirlwind of emotions. Some moments, I feel elated to go back home and see my family. But those sweet moments come with a salty taste following. Going back to Pittsburgh means leaving my family here and the lifestyle I’ve grown to love so much. Everyone I’ve met in Thailand has played a crucial part in making these past nine months so enjoyable. Whether it was a smile from a local on the street or a deep conversation about the Lord, every person had a moment that made this time worth holding onto in my heart. Many lessons have been learned but the most repetitive one is the importance of relationships.
Stepping off the plane, I felt a jolt of anxiety run through my body. Questions flooded through my head, “Did I just make the biggest mistake of my life?” “Okay Anna seriously why did you move to Thailand without knowing a single soul??” “Do I even like rice enough to eat it everyday?” I’ll address the last question quickly.. I now love rice and it will be strange not eating it with every meal.
I arrived in my room and it didn’t feel like home. I immediately missed the comfort of my house and oversized bed. I missed having an air conditioner that worked properly and a kitchen to cook in. I honestly was beginning to dread the decision I had made to live here for the next nine months. But when I say God changed my heart, I mean it.
As I sit on my twin bed typing this, I feel comfort; this space has now become my own little sanctuary for reading my bible and talking to the Lord. I invested in a fan that is now my best friend. I’ve tried many new foods from street carts and spent time eating out enjoying good company and conversation. Lesson learned: I don’t need a lot of materialistic items to be happy, God always provides me with enough. Also, street food in Thailand is GOOD.
I knew this lifestyle would be different than in America but nothing anybody says can quite prepare you. I can take up to four different forms of transportation in one day; bus, motorbike, skytrain, taxi. And yes there is a lot of traffic so it usually takes me an hour to get anywhere! This seemed like a nightmare at first but now I feel excited to pop in my ear buds and spend some time listening to sermons, spoken words, and Christian music. Other times, I pray for Thailand and its need for Jesus. But if I’m being completely honest, sometimes I’m in such a rush I let my anxious thoughts of being late override that quality time. Lesson learned: When I know there is going to be a lot of traffic I should probably leave earlier.. But on a more serious note, don’t waste a moment that can be spent with the Lord.
I started Muay Thai (which may or may not have been a mistake..) and the trainers have become like my family. I look forward to seeing them twice a week. They speak very little English and I speak very little Thai but we make it work. When I come in, they offer a warm smile and friendly greeting. We laugh together when they have to correct a move I can’t seem to get right (twenty plus times..). Their patience and love for the sport has encouraged me to stick with it.
There are a few street vendors I visit frequently in my community and they are just as excited to see me as I am to see them. I learned how to say “a little sugar” in Thai for my coffee and she was overjoyed. A simple saying led to a heartfelt moment. In seven eleven, the cashier taught me how to say “no bag” in Thai. This is very hard for me to pronounce so now we laugh about it every time I go in and give it a try. Lesson learned: God will give you so many people to encourage and to encourage you during the day, never miss an opportunity or allow a kind word to go unnoticed.
I say all this to remember that God is moving in every moment. The smallest act of kindness brings an immense amount of joy and should be viewed as a little gift from God. This life can get ahead of us and before we know it, we forget to reflect on all the ways he cares and loves us so much. We forget to pay attention to the detail. Each challenging day was still full of these little gestures but many days passed that I didn’t acknowledge them. Relationships have made my time in Thailand so memorable. Especially the relationship I’ve been developing with Jesus.
Saying goodbye is going to be extremely difficult but the hard goodbye means it was worth every first hello. I’m thankful for the new brothers and sisters I’ve gained and I’m ready for God to continue preparing me in this next step of faith. A heart change was much needed to realize what’s truly important. I know God placed me in Thailand to give me that and to show how faithful he truly is. Wherever God leads me, I will follow. Leaving family will always be hard but the mission set before us is great and my family will always extend.
Romans 10:13-15-
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!”
