Coming into Thailand, I had no idea what to expect. I knew we would be at Zion Café, which reaches out to the women and men who work in or go to the bars in the red light district. As teams we were presented with three options for ministry: work in Zion Café alongside women who left the bars, go out to the bars and build relationships, or going to monk chats and spending time in the slums.
I had no idea what I wanted to do or what I felt God was calling me to this month. I didn’t have one area that I was super passionate about yet. God quickly pulled our team to work in the café. At first, I think we were all slightly hesitant; some of us had hoped for other ministry areas. I was unsure as well, but was anxious to get started doing something.
The first shift was tiring; it was early and there was a lot to learn about how the café works. Learning the names of all the women working at Zion was also hard and I had to ask about 50 times throughout the shift. As quickly as it had started, my first shift was over. I felt as if I had failed in a way. Nothing big happened at shift and I spent half the time just trying to do the right things and remember names.
As I spent more time in the café with the women throughout those first couple of days, I got more and more comfortable. I stopped thinking about things that I should say or ask and began to just be friends with them. That’s when God started moving without me even knowing it.
Throughout the month our team got to do life with these women, learn their stories and how God has moved in their lives. Everyday I got to spend so much time with these beautiful women, but I still didn’t believe I was doing anything meaningful or of purpose.
This entire month I was struggling with not hearing the Lord’s voice. I knew He was with me in what I was doing, but I felt like there was nothing being spoken over me. Then, in our final debrief with our host, she shared what kind of impact we had on the women in the café and how valuable our time in the café had been. The women felt loved, cared for, and listened to. The small gestures that we gave, whether it was offering to clean windows or just standing alongside them while they cooked a customer’s meal, made an impact. These gestures and actions made an impact, not because I stopped thinking so hard, but because God’s love was being poured out to them.
It was poured out to them when they would share little parts of their stories. It was poured out while I learned how to make Pad Thai sauce from the main cook. It poured out while we tried our best to learn how to tell the time in Thai. The Father was showing His love through each of us in our gestures and actions.
The love that I can give is shallow, judgmental, and imperfect. God’s love is absolutely perfect and unconditional. His love is better than anything I could ever give to these women. The Father showed His love and decided He would use me to do it. Me. And He wants to use you too.
This month was filled with so many beautiful and unforgettable people and experiences. From riding elephants through the jungle, to teaching the women of Zion to play Uno, to releasing lanterns with these women, it was a month full of adventures in God’s love.
What adventures is/has God taken you on recently?
In God’s Love,
Emily Hopper
I am approaching my next financial deadline on December 1st of $11,000. I am $1,137 away from reaching this goal! I know God can and has done big things already through this journey. That may seem like a big amount, but God does big things when we reach out and fully depend on Him. I can’t raise this amount of money. I haven’t raised any. God has orchestrated every conversation and every heart to partner in this journey He is taking all of us on. So would you prayerfully consider joining in? Join in to bring the Kingdom to places on earth that may be forgotten and lost. Join in on the adventure in your own life.
I know God will provide and I seek your help to conquer this deadline! You can donate through my blog or you can send a check (with my full name in the memo line) to:
Adventures in Missions
P.O. Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
Thank you for your continued love and support!
