Debrief week was here, I was now in Thailand and I couldn’t be more excited. My emotions were all over the place, I was sad to leave the kids and ministry that we were doing in Cambodia but I was also eager for Thailand. This next week was a time to take a break and relax our minds to where we could dive into ministry that is to come with full energy. I now could take a shower that wasn’t from a bucket, lay in a bed that wasn’t the ground, have AC and not have to wake up with the roosters at 4 am. Yet when we finally got settled in Bangkok all of the things that I was looking forward to I found myself ready to lose again. I started wanting to look more towards the sights of a new place instead of looking for ways to serve. Was I wrong for wanting those finer things like AC, showers, and a bed? I was in the place that I had dreamt of being in and I thought that I would love. I was so busy looking at was in front of me that I forgot to look to the one who made it possible for me to be in a city that I had dreamt about for years. I had stop making space for God to work in my life because I was unwilling to invite Him into the fun times that He already knew I was going to have and thank Him for the luxuries that He provided for me. I was unable to enjoy the blessings that He placed before me. God want us to have fun, and He wants us to be lavished upon and He wants us to make memories but He also wants to enjoy those times with us. He places things in our life so that He can gain the glory. Nothing we do as Christians is for our owe selfish ambitions, its all for the glory of God.
For example: it was only our third day in Bangkok and a group of us wanted to go into the heart of the city and see the temples, grand palace, and do all of the fun things. So we started our day very early with a taxi ride by a man who was hearing impaired. Even though he couldn’t hear what was going on in the car by me signing to him “Thank You” the biggest smile came across his face. He dropped us off at the Grand Palace. We walked around for what seemed like hours going in and out of different buildings and temples looking at all of the intricate details of every wall. By the time we finished there we need a pick-me-up before we continued our day. So we set off to find a tuk-tuk drive to take us to a coffee shop on the water. Once we found a tuk-tuk driver he told us that he would like be our driver all day and take us to all of the places that we wanted to go.
* side note: for the 5 hours that we were with him it was so much cheaper than if we got different drivers to take us from place to place or if we booked a tour. Just saying, this missionary on a budget was very grateful for our personal tuk-tuk driver.
Our driver took us to all of these amazing places and made us feel very safe and cared for the entire day. One of the places that he took us was this very large Buddha that was around four stories tall. By the time we got there it was almost noon and we really just wanted to get see the huge Buddha and leave to get food. But, once we arrived we saw that we were THE ONLY tourist there. We didn’t know if we should stay or leave because it looked like there was a large community event going with families and Monks everywhere. While we were about to leave some people that were seating under a tent motioned for us to come to them, unknowing what we were walking into we went to them. As soon as we got to them we realized that they had prepared a special place for us to sit and were preparing bowls of food for us. They graciously gave us all free food and continued to bring more food to us. They didn’t have to do any of it but they chose to show us love. After we ate the very spicy noddles that made us all break out in a sweat and all of the unknown foods God revealed to me that He had placed us there so that He could be seen through our smiles and thankfulness. We didn’t ask for any of it but we became like a local so He could be seen.
(1 Corinthians 9:20 talks about being like those around you but not being under/ controlled by the things that hold them back from seeing the glory of God. Being like them so that Christ can be seen)
It was in that moment in front of this giant Buddha that millions of people worship that God whispered to me that He wants to experience the fun times to with me. He doesn’t me to only see His plans and provisions, He wants to be side by side with me in every moment. Throughout that whole day God placed every fun and enjoyable thing in our path so that He would be seen.
- He placed my best friend in my life to where I would use her gift of signing she taught so that I could communicate with our taxi driver. * loving unconditionally
- He provided a tuk-tuk driver that was trusting and safe so that we could enjoy a day in the city.
- He gave the knowledge of the giant Buddha to the tuk-tuk so that we could be blessed with a free delicious lunch. * graciously providing
I could’ve just gone through the day with the idea that I was in the right place at the right time, but because I was willing to listen to God I was able to learn so much from that day. I think a lot of times as Christian we are constantly reminded to look to God in the times of unknown, worry, fear, shame, doubt, darkness that we often forget that He is ever present. God isn’t a God of situations He is always in the life of a believer. We are the ones that choose to take Him out of the times of goodness and joy. Those are the times that seem easiest but Jesus wants to be present in those times just as much as the hard times. It’s little reminders like this that grow my heart closer to His everyday. Thought the rest of my time in Bangkok I continued to let God enjoy the fun times with me and I honestly had the best time of my life!
For those of you that are thinking of going to Bangkok one day here is a short list of all of the fun things you can do:
- Go to the markets! (Day or Night)
- See the temples (on the downside after 3 or 4 they all start looking the same)
- Eat all the street food. Don’t waste your time in a restaurant or McDonald’s
- Get a private tuk-tuk tour :not by booking one, but by asking different drivers if they will take to all the places you want to go. So much cheaper
- Go to a rooftop of restaurant for amazing views of the city. (disclaimer some places do make you pay for food or a drink but Four Points hotel is free: plus there’s an infinity pool)
- Go to NewSong Bangkok Church on Sunday for some true fellowship of believers.
- Try every coffee shop and Thai tea place you see.
- Go to the Thai Cultural Center.
