What We Did On Our Summer Vacation
We recently returned home from flying half-way around the world to meet up with our World Racing daughter, Jamilyn, in Thailand for A.I.M.’s Parent Vision Trip (PVT). Neither of us had ever been to Asia so we were looking forward to this special time with Jamilyn.
We left Atlanta at 9:30pm on a Saturday and arrived in Chiang Mai, Thailand 40 hours later on Monday afternoon. Fighting jet-lag, we spent our first day orienting ourselves to tuk-tuk drivers, night market crowds and driving on the left-hand side of the road. (NOTE to self: When crossing a street, look RIGHT then left then RIGHT again.)
While most racers were meeting their parents as they arrived, we knew Jamilyn was honoring her “family fast” for the month of July and was waiting till Aug 1, the first day of the PVT, to see us and get our long-awaited hugs. So off we went on an excursion to pet tigers and explore Chiang Mai. We took a tuk-tuk to the Tiger Kingdom and then our tuk-tuk driver, “Eddie”, who couldn’t stop smiling – suggested a tour of a silk factory, a leather factory, and a few other places he didn’t want us to miss. That was our first full day.
The next morning at 7am we awoke to a text from Jamilyn, who was waiting for us in our hotel lobby. We hustled down and embraced her with every fiber of our being and the PVT for us was on!
As we gathered with other racers and their parents, it soon became evident to both of us that these racers had something to offer us “older, wiser, more ‘spiritually mature,’ North American Christians.” Their hearts for God and who He is and how they see themselves in Him was beyond AMAZING! They taught us about listening prayer and hearing God’s voice and how they obeyed, and the things He did through them. We all can take a lesson from them. It might be just what the Church in America needs for coast-to-coast revival!
We thoroughly enjoyed worshipping together every night and the prayers and testimonies they shared. The Truth these racers all spoke with boldness and authority was unreal. God nudged me (Steve) to speak up at one moment during worship when the Spirit was also leading others. I challenged parents to not allow complacency and cynicism to rule their hearts and homes when these racers return, but to be the wind beneath their wings and encourage them to keep it going and teach others when they get home.
We originally thought we would do human trafficking ministry and visualized going into bars and having conversations with young women and talking them into giving up that life. The ministry was not yet set-up for that – however, they have been successful to offer employment for women coming out of that way of life and also housing. THAT was the best part. While we were there, God made it possible for the ministry to acquire a 10-bedroom house for these women which we were able to help clean up with our team one day. We’d love to tell you more specifics about the work AIM is doing there, but we don’t want to compromise any of the awesome ministry going on. Feel free to ask us in person.
The other ministry work day involved partnering with a Christian bookstore and helping them organize and move boxes of donated books and curriculum at their storage facility. Both days were fun as we worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the racers and other parents making memories and building some new relationships.
We did have one night where a majority of the 48-member group of parents and racers did a prayer-walk down the red light district. Julia went with the group while Jamilyn and I (Steve) stayed back while she led worship and mighty prayers for the group. We are claiming Soi Loi Khor street in Chiang Mai, Thailand FREE from sex-trafficking and the first of many to come in that city. In fact, the song “You’re the God of this City” was written with Chiang Mai in mind. The other God-sized prayer? That Thai fathers would stop taking their sons to these red light districts as a rite of passage into manhood, and that a few courageous fathers would begin to step up and start a movement. One street. That’s all it takes to get the attention of the rest of the city. That was our focus that night.
These fun-loving World Racers planned an Adventure Day for us and gave us three choices. Following typical Cummings family tradition, we opted for the half-day of zip-lining through the jungle with the half-day of feeding and bathing elephants package and we weren’t disappointed.
We both truly enjoyed the Thai people. They are all so kind and respectful and polite no matter where you go. It only took two trips into the local Starbucks near our hotel for the employees to know Julia’s preferred drink. So fun to see them recognize her and smile every time we walked in there – which was usually at least once a day.
Finally, we would like to thank all you dear friends, and Facebook friends of our kids, and our family members who all donated to our GoFundMe campaign to allow us to go on this trip. Without your support and your prayers, none of this would have been possible. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and your love for us, and our family.
Kop Koon Mak! (Thank you very much)!
Steve & Julia
And a few extra thoughts from MOMMA CUMMINGS:
