12 Compassion International Children
10 People with Leprosy
8 University students from Bangkok
7 Hours (9 p.m. to 4 a.m.)
6 White American females
5 Church staff/members
3 Different languages
2 Hilarious dance contests
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2 Bottles of baby powder
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1 Amazing night of prayer, worship, and fellowship amongst the people of Selapume, Thailand
All we were told is that we were going to be praying all night long, a first for most of us. It was good Friday and we opened at 9 p.m. with the reading of John 19 a chapter describing all of the events leading up to and the eventual death and burial of our Savior. I looked around and couldn’t help but be in awe of the way my Father perfectly ordains all things. The church is a pavilion so welcoming with no walls to intimidate or keep anyone out. This allowed for a crowd of 10 elderly people with leprosy who live in the Leper Colony behind the church, 12 or so kids sponsored through Compassion International, 8 University students from Bangkok, and the 6 of us white American girls on this trip called the World Race…only God could bring together a group like this. We tried to understand each other with the help of translators, but the mix of English, Thai, and Isaan (a dialect of Laos as we are so close to the border) sound nothing alike. Only the Lord could break down a barrier like this providing the assurance that though many tongues and voices they were all being raised to the one true God! We played games throughout the night to keep us awake; one such game was a version of hot potato with two bottles of baby powder and you had to cover yourself with it if it happened to land on you when the music stopped. Those who lost during the games then had to get up in front of everyone and dance. Picture this: a less than 5 foot 70+ year old woman with leprosy, a 5’10” white American, and 3 preteen Asian girls battling it out for best dance moves at 2 o‘clock a.m….hilarious. All in all, words really can’t describe the night of prayer, worship, and fellowship we experienced with each other, but there was one common theme that ran throughout the night binding us all together– Jesus Christ died an ugly and painful death only to conquer it 3 days later by raising from the dead providing new life, mercy, and grace for all people everywhere who choose to believe!
Also, Happy Easter to everyone back home!!!! Although I missed all the traditions of home, I must admit I have had a faulous easter here in Selapume, Thailand! Yesterday we died HUNDREDS of eggs and at Sunrise Service this morning, at 5:30am we opened with an all out easter egg hunt, followed by a sermon, and a meal altogether. Mindful of everything this day means to Christianity as a whole and experiencing it within a small community of believers completely removed from the “Hallmark-ness” Easter has become in America has been a huge blessing and one I am truly thankful for. I have many fun pictures but this computer is much to slow to add them, I will try again soon.
I must add a P.S. I dyed an Easter Egg with Go Tigers! written on it that I was going to upload for all my girls on the CU Rowing team to wish you guys a good luck in ACC’s and to finish the season strong! I miss you all like crazy but you have a fan in Solid Orange all the way in Thailand!!!! Love you!
