Thailand… the land of smiles!

This month Iʼve been staying at a YWAM, (youth with a mission) ministry plant. Meaning the owners of the project Iʼm staying with have gone through the YWAM program here in Thailand and have began their own ministry.
 

(some of the vegetation, this country is just so dang beauty!)

Arun (32yr) and Pang (31yr), along with Pangs mother and father: Ma and Pa, and friend Big (27yr) were our contacts for this last month. Theyʼre great people and are always smiling. If you pass the kitchen, Ma is usually inside with a job for you to do. Sheʼll show you what to do, using her limited english as her cackling fills the room; sheʼs always laughing! Pang is usually right there with her mother, helping along side with cooking and translating. Her husband, Arun, is usually hard at work in the fields and is rarely seen. Big our translator is always up to something to make you feel like family. Heʼs either giving you a wedgie, throwing something at you or has some sort of prank up his sleeve.  He often thinks about his success with his pranks and is filled with joy… his infectious grin will soon have you smiling too; heʼs quite the character. 
 

(the boys… my team for this month)

Here in Kanchanburi, Thailand, they grow and graft Tapioca, Rubber, Banana, and Coconut trees. They also raise chickens, pigs, fish, ducks, and mainy goats. They have a couple different buildings on their property that all have a different use. Some to house guests, tools, or worship/church services. Some to sleep in, some to cook in, bathe in and some to park scooters and cars in. The property is crawling with things to do and everything is done by hand. There are tons of possibilities for anyone who visits to help out. The fields need watering, the animals need to be fed and there are neighbors all around who would love a helping hand. Thereʼs never a dull moment, and people are always stopping by. Just this week food was prepared for over 50 people here at the base.
 

(crepe breakfast… complete with bacon, eggs, hashbrowns,
with blueberry, strawberry, and banana carmel sauces,
completed with whipped-cream, orange juice and coffee.
A little taste of home!)

This is what ministry has been for us these last few weeks. If weʼre not helping out on the farm where weʼre staying, interacting with the locals who have be contracted out to do the work, then weʼre over at the locals' farms and property helping pick their crops. The hope is that by providing free labour and a helping hand the gospel will be shared in a non threatening practicle way. Even if weʼre on the farm here, the workers would get paid extra that day, because our funds would go to them. We also do some small jobs on the goat farm (down the road) that would either be menautness for Arun and Big, or jobs that would have to be contracted out to the locals. So all around weʼre able to bless people financially by getting our elbows dirty.
 

(the view looking out over the farm from inside my tent where I stayed)

Over the last 3 weeks weʼve picked tapioca, poured a concrete floor, built a green house, dug 150 holes for tree planting, weeded rubber trees, watered countless fields, demoed concrete columns, fed pigs and goats, fell trees, spread fertilizer, and ate our faces off.
 

(standing under part of the most beautiful place on earth… the 7 layer waterfall)

Besides the work and feeling like Iʼm actually accomplishing something here in Thailand, I also love the fact that thereʼs so much to do for fun. Weʼve all gotten Thai massages, we went to a 7 layer waterfall, we often go and swim in a local lake, and weʼre always eating incredible food. We worship with the locals, go to internet cafes and get to enjoy night markets and real shopping centers! Even though weʼre staying about 6 hours north west of Bangkok theres something for everyone here.

(getting our thai massages.. they kinda hurt, not gunna lie…)
 

I can't wait to get back home to help support the work that's being done here in Thailand.

Thanks for reading.

-Frank