I’m now in Thailand. Thailand has often been described to me as “paradise” so my expectations are definitely high. I still haven’t started ministry here so I don’t know what life will be like but I’m super excited for what the Lord has for me.
It’s been a strange week and a half for me. I haven’t had ministry since Wednesday December 5th so it’s almost felt like I’ve been on vacation. Thursday was a cleaning day, Friday was a traveling day to Antigua. Saturday and Sunday were debrief days (days to process what’s gone on the past three months and also to prepare for the upcoming months). Monday – Thursday were flying days. Friday – Sunday have been orientation days (days where we are briefed on culture and ministry).
AIRPORTS, PEOPLE, AND GOD
The travel days were actually really enjoyable for me. I really enjoy airports. They are huge and so many people go through them. People coming from all over the world and people going all over the world have to travel through airports. I feel like there’s a spiritual analogy in this. To get anywhere I need to go to God. So many times I’ve tried to achieve my own plans and desires without God. I’ve always ended up going in circles and crashing down in pain. Traveling in airports I’m super focused on where I’m going and think of the airport and the flight simply as a means to get there. Oftentimes I do this with God. I have a goal or desire and I try to use God to get that for me. God doesn’t want to be used. He will not be used. Really, God should be my ultimate goal. I don’t need anything else. I don’t need to strive after anything and hope God will get me there. He is my ultimate goal. When I give up everything else and utterly seek God with my whole heart I will find my every desire and longing met in Him. He is the way, the truth and the life. Any who come to Him will never hunger or thirst again.
I walked through six airports (the airports for Guatemala City, New Mexico, LA, Taipei, Bangkok, and Chang Mai) during these last few days and I saw thousands of people. People I simply walked by and probably won’t ever see again. I can’t help but wonder. Who are these people? What are their stories? What are their lives like? Whom do they love? What do they believe? God knows them all. He knows them deeply and intimately. Every single one of them. It’s mind boggling to me. God has amazing plans and is orchestrating all of these lives together to bring those plans to pass. He is building His Kingdom with these people and I can only hope and pray that the majority of them will enter the Kingdom. I look forward to the life ahead where I will get to meet so many people from different cultures and live harmoniously with them and Christ.
WISDOM FROM CHRISTOPHER ROBIN AND WINNIE THE POOH
Excluding Young Life’s Malibu Club I had never been out of the country before going to Guatemala. So I have never been so far away from the States as I am now. Similarly I have never had such an extensive travel. The flight from LA to Taipei was over 14 hours long. I had expected it to be long and arduous but it actually ended up going by quickly. During the flight we were served two full meals which I really enjoyed! I was able to get comfortable and sleep pretty well for several hours which was surprising because I don’t normally sleep on flights well. I could have slept longer than I did but I ended up watching movies instead. I watched The Antman and the Wasp (preparing for Avengers in a few months), Eddie the Eagle, Tag, and Isle of Dogs. But the movie I watched that I want to talk about is Christopher Robin.
I have a lot of fond memories of Winnie the Pooh from when I was younger. Pushing play on the movie I honestly had to humble myself a little; “What are the people next to me going to think of me watching this movie?” But I did push play knowing a part of me still loves Pooh Bear and that part of me is more important than the part of me that doesn’t want people to think I’m childish. I think we could all do with some more innocence and childishness. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God belongs to those like children. We need to depend on God humbly and completely like children. But I also think Jesus wanted us to live finding joy and enjoyment in small things not caring if we looked like fools. And do you know what? I loved the movie.
It was really nostalgic for me and the movie is set up to be that way. With Guatemala coming to an end I’ve been focusing on remembrance a lot the past couple weeks. And it’s been such a good thing. I’ve been spending a lot of time just sitting in God’s presence; inviting Him into my thoughts and remembering and being thankful for the past. Something that is said several times throughout the movie is “Doing nothing often leads to the very best something.” I couldn’t agree more. It’s so important to take time to slow down, to just be with God and to think and be thankful. Taking the time to remember the good things the Lord has blessed us with in the past will build up our trust in His good plan for us. Taking the time to remember what the Lord has delivered us through will build up our trust in Him for the difficulties we are facing now. Taking the time to repent will lead to deeper humility and understanding of where we can grow while also increasing our view of God’s great love and mercy. Taking the time to see the good in the current time and accept where the Lord now has us will lead to contentment and peace that surpasses understanding. Taking the time to marvel about the future, expect God’s faithfulness, and vision cast where the Lord wants us is so important to live a life of purpose and direction. I want to pray more often in this way. I need to slow down more often with these purposes: remembrance, deliverance, repentance, acceptance, and expectance.
Pooh Bear also has an innocence and joy about him. He is so content and enjoys the little things in life. At one point he asks Christopher Robin, “What day is it?” Christopher replies, “It’s today.” “My favorite day,” Pooh Bear replies matter-of-factly. So much of my life has been spent looking forward to certain things or wishing that I could relive certain moments. But what good does that do? It only wastes the precious moment that is now. Today should be my favorite day for it is the only day I have possession of. I need to live making the most of every moment and enjoying the little and big things of everyday life. I have so much to be thankful for. I have every reason to be filled with joy; I should at least seek contentment!
MINISTRY IN CHANG DAOU AND PRAYER REQUESTS
I leave Chang Mai tomorrow and will head to my ministry site in Chang Daou. I still don’t know a lot about what life will be like there. From what I understand, we’ll be doing a lot of manual labor while living in an orphanage with Thai kids (us guys will have our own room). We will be provided three meals a day and eat with the kids. I’ll let you know more soon.
I would really appreciate prayers for the transition to Thailand life to go really well for me and my whole squad. I would really appreciate prayers that I would enjoy ministry and life in Chang Daou. But if I don’t enjoy it, that I’ll make the most of it and grow a lot. Also for bold love and for unwavering obedience even when it is going to be super uncomfortable. Last, my right calf has been giving me some pain ever since the flight from LA, so prayers for quick and complete recovery would be appreciated. Thank you all so much!
