Before you read this, make sure to read Parts 1-7 of Mae’s Story. I know it’s long, but I promise it’s worth it to read the whole thing in order.
Sometimes we get to see changes in the lives of the people we minister to on the Race. Sometimes we just plant seeds and pray that after we leave God will send others to water them and they will grow. But rarely do we get to minister to someone, see a change in their life, and then partner with them to help others. In fact, I think it has only happened once.
If you’ve been following along with Mae’s story, you know that she got to live her dream of helping someone and doing something positive with her life as she partnered with us and with Lighthouse in Action to help get her friend Ning out of the bars too. I will soon be posting a blog that updates everyone on where they are now and how the whole process is going, but first I want to tell you about another of Mae’s ministry opportunities.
As I explained in a previous blog, Mae is HIV positive and has been in bad health for awhile. A few months ago her health declined so much that she could not work or even take care of herself. Somehow she found her way to a home for Burmese women and children who are sick and have had to come to Thailand for medical care. They are all in the country illegally and are receiving the best medical care they can afford, which isn’t much. She lived there for five months, and they cared for her until she was strong enough to move on. But Mae hasn’t forgotten their kindness. Because she has such a good heart, she goes back there to visit every week or two. She brings snacks for the children, plays with them, loves on them, and encourages the women. After she met with Emmi and made plans to get out of the sex industry and start her new life, Mae invited us to come visit the home with her. “I want you to meet my friends. I want you to see their sickness and see why I want to help them.”
So we went with her to the home. There we met the fifteen to twenty Burmese women and children who live together and attempt to care for each other. There did not appear to be much medical care happening, but there was a lot of love. The woman who started the home is extremely kind, and she is doing the best she can with what she has. Several of the women have breast cancer, the children have tumors, cancer, and other illnesses, and many of them are blind. It’s a tough group to care for, but there is a camaraderie and a spirit of community there that’s hard to describe.
We visited twice. The first time we met the women and children and then the classic World Race scenario unfolded. “What do you have planned for us?” they asked. Of course…they wanted us to have something to say to them, some game to play, or a song, none of which we had. So we sang the Hokey Pokey, Father Abraham, and a few other children’s songs. At the end we asked Mae if it was ok if we prayed for them. Even though she is not a Christian she said that it would be wonderful if we prayed, so we did.
The second time we came, Ning came too. We brought snacks for the kids, sang the songs again, and sat talking with the women. Mae translated all of it between English and Burmese. At one point, I looked over at her and said, “You know Mae, you could be a translator!” “You really think so? I not think I smart enough. You really think I can do it?” “Yes,” I told her. “I’ve been a translator and I know what it takes. You are definitely smart enough, and you’re doing it right now!” Her face lit up. She’s so hungry for encouragement and for someone to believe that her dreams are valid and possible.
At the end of our time there we decided to sing the song Healer. We sang it over the women and children, and the few who knew a little English tried to sing along. After we told them goodbye and were making our way to the taxi, Mae was humming the song. I heard her softly singing some of the words to herself…
I believe you’re my Healer.
I believe you are all I need.
I believe you’re my portion.
I believe you’re more than enough for me.
Jesus, you’re all I need.
Nothing is impossible for you.
Nothing is impossible for you.
Nothing is impossible for you.
You hold my world in your hands.
“I like this song,” she said to me. “I want to learn all the words.” Mae, who is HIV positive and says she does not believe in God, was singing the words to this song over and over. She brought us to visit her friends, told us how much she wants to help them, and then translated for us as we explained our faith, The World Race, and how we believe that prayer has power because God can heal. But she says she doesn’t believe any of it. We’ll see about that Mae.
To be continued…
