YWAM 
Thailand has a national base in Bangkok. They allowed us to stay for 3 days when we
first arrived to Thailand, and helped us learn about the people, the culture,
and the Thai language.
Our first day at YWAM was just a day of rest and getting a
little bit of a feel for the side of Bangkok we were at. The base is a really cool place. The building is 5 stories and has a massive
rooftop patio with quite a view of Bangkok.
little bit of a feel for the side of Bangkok we were at. The base is a really cool place. The building is 5 stories and has a massive
rooftop patio with quite a view of Bangkok.
Our first full day in Bangkok we were given an orientation
by a few of the YWAM staff and were shown videos of some of the different
ministries our women have been involved with this month reaching out to the
prostitutes and those involved in the sex trade. We also had the opportunity to prayer walk
around a nearby university campus and try some local food.
by a few of the YWAM staff and were shown videos of some of the different
ministries our women have been involved with this month reaching out to the
prostitutes and those involved in the sex trade. We also had the opportunity to prayer walk
around a nearby university campus and try some local food.
Team Jubilee, minus Katie and I, standing in front of the “Turtle Bakery”
Our third and last day in Bangkok we were taken on a tour of
the Buddhist temples in Bangkok as Buddhism is the national religion of
Thailand. As we left for our tour, I
began to pray that God would not allow me to just sight-see men and women
worshiping false gods without my heart being broken. Broken, that men and women
are worshiping man-made statues instead of the God to whom all glory is due.
the Buddhist temples in Bangkok as Buddhism is the national religion of
Thailand. As we left for our tour, I
began to pray that God would not allow me to just sight-see men and women
worshiping false gods without my heart being broken. Broken, that men and women
are worshiping man-made statues instead of the God to whom all glory is due.
Fake-gold worship.
We caught a truck to the skytrain, and rode into the heart
of Bangkok, where we were taken by boat down the river a bit to the first
temple. Statues are everywhere here,
with people bowed before them, offerings of money, drinks, and food before
them, and incense constantly burning. The temple system is way more extensive than I ever imagined.
of Bangkok, where we were taken by boat down the river a bit to the first
temple. Statues are everywhere here,
with people bowed before them, offerings of money, drinks, and food before
them, and incense constantly burning. The temple system is way more extensive than I ever imagined.
Siam Square Skytrain station
The view from the front of the river boat we took during the temple tour.
Boom, our tour guide for the day, getting us a fair deal on a tuk tuk ride.
We climbed to the highest point in Bangkok where one of the
temples stood. Inside the temple were
twenty or thirty statues. The view from
the top however was incredible, and I was glad to find that I could purchase
ice cream at the top to enjoy along with the scenery.
temples stood. Inside the temple were
twenty or thirty statues. The view from
the top however was incredible, and I was glad to find that I could purchase
ice cream at the top to enjoy along with the scenery.
Part of the view, from atop the Golden Mount in Bangkok
How do they decide which one is more deserving of ice cream and Fanta?
Without all of this money, the monks would have to stop drinking so much beer
and going to Muy Thai fights. Good thing there is plenty of it.
One of the temples we toured houses the World’s largest,
reclining buddha. It is massive. I
couldn’t even get the whole thing in a single picture.
reclining buddha. It is massive. I
couldn’t even get the whole thing in a single picture.
The Reclining buddha
I am so thankful that I serve a living God. A God, not made by human hands that he might
be served by men. My God is not dead,
and He moves in power. I do not have to
enter a temple to worship Him, or to receive pardon. God is Omnipresent, and capable of hearing my
prayers wherever I am.
be served by men. My God is not dead,
and He moves in power. I do not have to
enter a temple to worship Him, or to receive pardon. God is Omnipresent, and capable of hearing my
prayers wherever I am.
One of the numerous statues, ornamented with flowers and beads.
Matthew and I. One of the many temples.
Reincarnation offers me no hope. For if my future life, depended in any way on
the good or bad that I had done in this one, with all of the bad that I have
done, I would surely live again as the lowest of lows. Maybe a roach, if I were lucky. I am thankful that through Christ
I can have a hope of salvation, for I have done many evil things in my life,
and if ever justice was served, I deserve the harshest of punishments. Christ bore that punishment on the
cross.
the good or bad that I had done in this one, with all of the bad that I have
done, I would surely live again as the lowest of lows. Maybe a roach, if I were lucky. I am thankful that through Christ
I can have a hope of salvation, for I have done many evil things in my life,
and if ever justice was served, I deserve the harshest of punishments. Christ bore that punishment on the
cross.
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the father, but through me.”
Proselytizing the statues, that even the rocks might cry out and praise His name! haha.
