This month, Thailand, was “Man-istry” month, a time for the guys and girls to completely separate and to be encouraged in new ways. Dave spent the month with the other men in Chang Mai, working with a home for children who have been rescued from the risk of being sold into trafficking. The home recognizes children who are at risk of being sold, purchases them, and brings them to a home of safety, where they receive love, education, and the knowledge of their Best Friend.
I was in Mae Sot for the month, a 6 hour bus ride from Dave’s location, working with an organization called Outpour Movement. I spent the month teaching English at a home for Burmese refugees, praying for the Burmese refugees living along the border, and supporting the organization’s burger joint and upcoming bike shop. These two enterprises were built to be self-sustaining; a way to provide income for Burmese who would otherwise struggle to make a living. All other proceeds go to a children’s home or toward a fund to build a safe house for boys on the street.
Honestly, I loved this month. Absolutely loved it. It has far and away been my favorite and I’m sorry to see it end. I was so blessed to work with a new team of girls and to get to know and love them in a more personal way. I enjoyed the ministry and understand the heart and passion the missionaries here have for the people. I love the youth we worked with, the proud mothers who beamed during conversations about Jesus but kept their faces solemn for pictures. I even found freedom in the time away from Dave, reveling in the independence it brought and the new conversations that can be found from time apart.
The end of the month brought debrief, the time when all teams get together and sort out the previous months. Our last debrief was just prior to Nepal, so we had 4 months to sort through and a few days to spend in Chang Mai during the process.
Generally during debriefs, Dave and I are able to have our own room. It’s often our only chance of the previous month (or months) to have this space alone and to really re-relax in the idea of being together outside the squad. But due to cost, we were not able to have such an option this month. The squad was unable to pay for this luxury and we were to be roomed separately, me with a room of girls and Dave with the guys.
I sighed at this news and chalked it up to a learning/growing experience. Dave and I would be fine. We don’t need to have our own room and can catch up on the previous weeks just fine at a coffee shop or wandering the streets. I knew we couldn’t afford to pay the $37/night cost that would come if we asked for our own room, so I dropped it.
Libby, the other married woman on our squad, was on my team this month and had other ideas. She excitedly told me that she was going to ask if anyone would sponsor the hostel nights so that she and her husband could spend quality time together. I thought, “Wow, that’s great. Good for them.” But Libby wanted me to do the same.
Now one of my uglier traits is that I don’t like asking for money, which is ultimately what I believed we were doing. I have never asked for money that would go straight to me to be used completely by me. Sure, asking for donations for a charity is fine. Even asking for money to go toward World Race was less painful than anticipated, but then again it was to be used for a mission trip and would not actually be spent by me.
But this was different.
This would be me asking specifically for money. For me.
I sent a message to Dave about the concept Libby had presented, hoping that he would dislike the idea as well and I could drop the whole thing.
Of course he thought it was great.
So I set low expectations and posted a short Facebook post asking if people would be willing to sponsor Dave and me to have our own room at the hostel for four nights. I didn’t think people would respond, and if they did, that the replies would come in slowly.
I am so humbled. Within an hour of posting the request, all four nights had been claimed.
I don’t have adequate words to describe my response to this situation. Humbled is the word that strikes the deepest. Humbled by people’s willingness to give. Humbled that people saw this desire to spend time with my husband as a need that they could fulfill. Humbled by the generosity of friends we’ve barely communicated with on the trip. Humbled by people’s desire to reach out, to love.
I didn’t know such a small action could create such a stir in my heart. Humbled.
Thank you to the beautiful people who jumped on the chance to give generously. Thank you for believing in Dave and me enough to think that we were worth the cost, that our time together was important enough. Thank you for being the ones to teach me this important lesson: that my pride will always stand in the way of experiencing blessing. Thank you.
