Y’all. The Lord is so strategic and intentional.
And He hears us!
AND, He gives us not just what we need, but also what we want!
Backstory: Thailand has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Being a beach girl at heart, of course I wanted to go! For a few days I tried to work a beach trip into my off days, but it didn’t look promising AT ALL. So, I just let it go. Of course I want to go to the beach, but that’s not ultimately what the World Race is about. I am here to minister to people, honor my host and proclaim Jesus’ name, wherever I am. I kept praying about going, but I assured the Lord I was okay without it and that I would serve him no matter where I am. He sent me to the jungle in the Northern part of the country, and I can so see His purpose in bringing us here. Our host has been praying for a team for SO LONG and we are the first team to come!
This whole beach trip is really small in the grand scheme of things, and I realize that. But, it is a moment where the Lord invited me to forsake my own plans in favor of His. And the, he provided the ram.
On Sunday, out of nowhere, our ministry host gave us Monday to Thursday off! So unheard of. And, I NEVER even mentioned these dreams to go down to the beach. MC coordinated in like, one day (you go girl) a trip down to Koh Samet, an island southeast of Bangkok. So we took a nine hour bus ride, a three hour van ride, and another thirty minute van ride. We got a speedboat from the mainland at about 1 am and then crashed at our hostel.
We prayed as a team at breakfast that, even though the Lord brought us to a beautiful place we had been dreaming of, we were still for Him. We prayed to have divine appointments to share His love and the obedience to act on promptings from the Holy Spirit. And, once we got out to the beach, we saw a rainbow! In the middle of a sunny day! Okay Lord, we see you.
We had a great time on the island. It was so good to bond as a team and have some time to reset our bodies and our souls. Quiet time on the beach is a pretty good setup.
I think the Lord brought us to the island for three specific people.
I met a guy who was staying in hostel pretty soon after arriving. He was from the US and as we talked, I can just see him searching. He is like, the classic guy you meet traveling. You know, too good for culture, searching for the meaning of life and what not. He was probably one of the smartest people I have ever met. He told Taylor, Amaris, and I about teaching robotics and all kinds of technology things. But, he also told us that he does not believe in right and wrong. He doesn’t believe in sin. He has been traveling for over four years, all alone. He told us he was suicidal. He thinks the meaning of life is to wonder about the meaning of life. He He thinks doubt is the most beautiful thing. He grew up Muslim and led worship at a bunch of churches as he was growing up, but doesn’t believe in the Lord. “All religions are windows to the same house,” as he says. This man has been through so much pain. We listened to him spout off these ideas for about five hours. We asked questions to pull him back to talking about his thoughts about God and Jesus, but afterwards, I didn’t nessecarily feel like we got anywhere. He knows about Jesus. He has heard sermons. He has some wrong facts about Christianity, but I didn’t get the impression he even wanted Jesus.
We met two girls the first morning we were there. I saw them and thought, “Oh! They look like Americans!” Talking to another American is a treat when you’ve been playing charades in Thai villages for two weeks. We saw them later that day and invited them to sit at a restaurant with us. MC and India stayed for a while with them and talked about their stories and talked about missions and Christianity. One girl knew a lot about the Lord, and I think the conversation awakened that in her. The other was still pretty resistant, but no one is too far. He leaves the 99 for the one.
I really feel that the Lord sent us to Koh Samet to pursue these three. He is pursuing these three. I believe that the Lord will open their eyes and ears to Himself. I thank the Lord in faith for their seat as His table and their name in The Book of Life. I am grateful the Lord allowed our paths to intersect for two days.
On our last day, as I walked around the island, I was reminded of a lesson that the Lord taught me in 2015. I went to school at UNC- Wilmington. My last year there, I studied abroad for 6 weeks to San Pedro, Belize (an island off the coast- super tourist destination for diving), and then I lived at the coast between graduation and the World Race. In Belize, the Lord opened my eyes to vacation destinations. He pulled the veil away and let me see it with new eyes.
In Belize, people from all over the world come for a week, party, dive, drink, then leave. (Yes, I realize that not everyone does this, but a vast majority do.). They come to find sensation, life, a high, fulfillment, whatever. But, the locals live the same week, over and over. Pub crawls, bar hops, karaoke, parties, fire shows- it is an endless cycle to entertain the people who leave on Saturday. It is a permanent party lifestyle.
And, Ive seen in Belize and some parts of North Carolina, that once the sheen and glow of paradise is gone, these places are really broken. there is poverty and addiction. It’s not really paradise at all.
As the Lord reminded me of this, He reminded me that our fulfillment as people was never meant to be found here. Its not found in the most beautiful places on earth. It’s not found in intellect. We were meant for so much more than wondering what our purpose is. HE HAS SO MUCH MORE FOR US. HE IS SO MUCH MORE! He is the source of the beauty we see here- and even the most beautiful place in the world cannot compare to the glory of the Lord. He has given us purpose and fulfillment. In Him, we find contentment and comfort. All of us desperately need Him.
I don’t need to go my whole life chasing anything because Jesus chases me.
He calls my name. He leaves the 99 and rejoices when His sons and daughters are home. He welcomes me and gives me so much more than I could ever find in the world on my own.
1 day with Jesus is better than 1,000 on a beautiful island.
Please pray that the Lord would continue to chase these three down- Adannan, Josephine, and Naja. He is coming for you with his fierce, overwhelming, glorious love.
Here’s my team. I love these girls so much and I am so thankful for them.
