I cant believe I am back in the exact same place where I did my firse mission trip! MY squad and I have entered into month 2 winding up in the city of Chiang Mai, Thailand working with a ministry called Lighthouse in Action and Zion Cafe.
3 years ago when I was 20 years old, I went on my first mission trip through the same origination I am currently with right now. 3 years ago I was extremely broken…confused, and to extent lost even. That summer I found alot of breakthrough and started to unravel my identity of who God was calling me t o be. We did bar ministry, monk chat, slum ministry and taught some English. My heart broke for the people here. It was on this trip I had first learned of the World Race. I thought it was the coolest thing ever! I told myself I would always do it at some point in my life. I became obsessed with the stereo type of world racers. But even though I was attracted to the idea of the race, I knew it was bigger then just traveling the world. It was spreading the love and truth of Christ. That year, I left this place dreaming of that.
Where am I now?
3 years later..I am on the race!!!! And this month God has brought me back to where I first broke for his people. The last few days of being here I have honestly been just trying to process 3 years ago until now. A lot has changed. Everything still looks the same, besides the cafe and hostel. Everytime I go somewhere that is familiar, so many memories flood back, the good bad and ugly. Its been so awesome to see what were just seeds last time I was here, hopes and dreams.. and are now a reality! God has blessed this ministry so much and growth has taken place throughout the years. It is so incredbile to see all that God has done within the 3 years.
Here’s what ministry for our team looks like this month:
1.Slum ministry
2.Monk chat
Our team wrestled quite a bit when we found out this was what our month would look like. Everyone wants what we like to call the “sexy ministry”. In thailand, the red light district would be just that. Our western savior mentality complex is what flashes in our heads when we think ministry especially something like trying to rescue people. God quickly wrecked our thinking and placed us in what we like to call “the ministry no one wants because everyone plays with kids” ministry. Wow.. how messed up am I or us as Christians to only have a desire to ever do sexy ministries within the church. I say all of this to say my team and I have been wrecked in all that God has been teaching us in placing us in these two ministries. Revelations and peace have come over us and its been AWESOME! I am still processing being back in the slums and moving forward in what God wants to do in me this month with doing round 2 here. There’s alot to be learned and I have decided this month especially to be all that I can in full on sponge mode. Literally observing what I can in the same ministries I did last time. If Ive learned anything this first week, its God has a great sense of humor and I love it.
So thats the first week here in the city I fell in love with 3 years ago and 3 years later my heart still skips a beat. Thank you guys for reading and stay tuned for more!
