Well Christmas is upon us, so I hope that you have had time to spend with your families, fellowship, and do all of that good stuff. Most importantly I really hope that you get to worship the King who’s birth this season commemorates. Last night I had an experience that really opened up my eye to the power of the Gospel and how, without the birth of Christ, this moment wouldn’t have happened.
Last night we went caroling with the local ministry. Already, the simple fact that we were going caroling in a country that is over 95% Buddhist intrigued me. What occurred last night really gave me a small glimpse of the power of the Kingdom of Christ. This is just a breakdown of the members of the caroling team last night: there was the team that I am leading and myself (7 Americans); another American missionary who’s been in Thailand for over 5 years; a group of about 20 girls and one boy who live at the children’s house that our team works at; a group of about 10 men who have all either been in prison, were in the sex trafficking industry, or had other addictions who are now living at a house that the ministry we are working with owns in order to be discipled; and about 5 of the Thai leaders of the ministry here. To say that this was an eclectic group of carolers would be an understatement. Throughout the night I was baffled by the interactions between all of the members of our group, specifically the ones between the girls from the children’s home and the men from the prison ministry. These two groups see each other almost everyday, but just the way that some of them interact with each other still amazes me. These girls just look to these men without judgement and treat them as a brother and friend. They interact with each other and play as if they’ve been friends for a long time. It’s amazing thinking where these men may have been just mere months ago, and now they are out caroling and spreading the gospel with girls who were rescued from the same thing that some of them went through.
As I went from house to house singing mostly Thai songs in what probably was the most butchered Thai ever muttered, the joy of the Lord just kept coming upon me. Just seeing the interactions in the community, with the group, etc., made my Christmas season. As we went from house to house, most of the people welcomed us in, fed us, and gave us refreshments. By the end of the night, I was so full that I had to turn down food at the last location. All in all, what would have been a pretty average occasion in the States turned into a glimpse into the Kingdom of heaven. Everyone in that group was a wretched sinner, but thanks to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we get to experience and spread his joy to a nation that is wandering in the darkness. This was definitely a Christmas moment I will not be forgetting anytime soon.
P.S.- I have two more blogs ready to post, so keep an eye out for them. I’ll post them in the next couple of days.
