As we finish up our month here in Thailand, I can’t help but think back on all of the amazing experiences I was blessed to have these past 30 days. My team and I were living in Bangkok, Thailand all month and got to experience just what a beautiful country this place really is. Despite the scorching heat we had to walk in everyday, we saw beautiful sunsets, ate delicious food from street vendors, swam in the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, played with elephants and baby tigers and were loved on my children everyday.
My team and I worked with a business this month that taught English in after school classes for students who want to get extra help in becoming better in the language. We were able to put on little “workshop” classes for the students that were fun for us and for them. We taught things like math, first aid, music, zumba, art/crafts and team bonding activities. Our main goal this month was to just build relationships with the kids and love them as best as we could with the cultural differences and language barriers we faced. Little did I realize how much love they would be giving me in return. One thing on this Race that I have realized is that God has loved showing me His love through little children.
One of my favorite moments from this month was just hanging out in the library with some of the older students one day, talking and listening to music. Some how the conversation shifted from small talk to religion. We were able to share the gospel with these two guys who considered themselves both Christian and buddhist. We later found out that one of the boys went home and told his parents that he didn’t think he wanted to be both Christian and buddhist but solely Christian. A lot of the times, the seeds we plant aren’t turned into fruit in front of our eyes but this was a reminder that what we are doing, even the little things, hold so much more purpose than we realize.
I have always had a passion for children and God has used them in tremendous ways to fill me up when I feel empty and drained. Having many opportunities to teach, I always find myself surround by kids during ministry and it has been such a blessing from my Heavenly Father for those little joys they bring me.
We are now 7 months into this Race which is crazy to think about. It’s been along time since I’ve been home and it hasn’t always been easy. During our debrief this week with our whole squad we have been filled up tremendously from our leadership team. They have poured into us in just the right ways that we needed to keep going. I realized that I have started to lose my passion, the thing that set me on fire for this whole trip in the beginning. But what I haven’t lost is my purpose and that is what I hold on to, to keep going when being away from home and comforts are hard. I want to bring His Kingdom here to earth and I want to be discipled along the way to learn how to better do the work of my Father and strengthen my relationship with the Person my soul longs for.
We only have 5 months left and I know that is going go by in the blink of an eye. We leave Sunday for our next month, Cambodia, where we will be teaching English again and also helping out with manual labor projects. I am excited to see what the next month has in store for me and to see what God teaches me and how He plans to delight me in new, amazing ways.
I love you all. Thank you for the continued prayers and support. I cannot wait to be home with you soon and tell you in person just how amazing our wonderful God is!
