The arrival in Thailand was similiar to taking a fish out of the ocean, driving it miles and miles down the shore and releasing it back into the water. We are new company to a foreign land. Americans stand out by our skin color, but also by the look on our faces of amazement at how they live. We stand out by our confusion of their language, and the unfamiliarity of everything around us.
Our whole squad (50 racers) was together in Bangkok for a few days. We practiced getting sick from the food, loving on eachother, and exploring the night market. It was a great last time to gather as a whole before our teams broke out into the country!
On Sunday the 13th, vans showed up right outside of the YWAM base we were staying at in Bangkok. We were driven out of the city, each team on their own. We sat with impatient faces, and excitement to get to our ministry. After arriving in Tak Fa we were surrounded by the most loving young women, who belong to the youth group that the pastor puts on. They loved us immediately. I was overwhelmed by the love that flooded through them onto us. The language barrier could have easily stopped them from trying to get their hospitality across to us, but it didn’t. We sang praises to the Lord in Thai and English! Our God speaks to every tongue. They remain patient with us. They teach us English and laugh when we usually mess it up. Our team found out that where we are rooming, on the 2nd floor of the pastor’s youth center, was built just for us by the pastor and his family. We are so grateful for their welcoming spirits.
I love it here. We are two and a half hours North of Bangkok. I feel so safe, and loved by the locals. Everyone is doing everything they can to make sure we feel at home. I could not have asked for a better ministry. The pastor drives us around in the bed of his truck to show us all different things by his small village! He loves to adventure and plans on getting us out to see the most beautiful things! The Lord is so good to us.
The language barrier is one of the hardest things to deal with here. We have one translator. It is hard to connect one on one with a person, but I’m focusing on showing love from my smile and my acts. Please pray that the language barrier will fade away.
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My heart longs for more of what the Lord is doing here. I desire to trust him more. I desire to pray without ceasing. The more I serve him, the more I desire what my God desires. The more his heart impacts mine. My heart breaks for what his breaks for. My heart longs to do his will.
I recently read about when Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice Isaac, his only son. In Genesis 22, Abraham trusted the Lord fully. He spoke that him and Isaac would return home. He trusted that the Lord would follow through in his love for them. He also told Isaac that an animal sacrifice would be provided. The Lord provided the ram, and spared Isaac. Abraham had to trust him and be obedient. This reminded me that God asks us to do hard things. Sometimes it may be just a test to make sure that we are obedient sons and daughters. If this 9 month journey was only a test from the Lord to make sure I was an obedient child, and would go where he called me, and love who he loves, then I am so pleased to learn obedience from my maker. I am so pleased to be tested in obedience, because for as long as I live… I will know how to be obedient.
