Oh the places you’ll go.

At this point in the race, we’ve become very comfortable with having no idea what we will be doing until we arrive at our next ministry site. We’ve become comfortable in being super flexible and go with the flow, so arriving in Thailand we had no idea what to expect.

Our first week here, we got the chance to go out and evangelize, pray, and hand out bibles to people in many of the provinces of northern Thailand. This was my first time really going out and doing door to door stuff. Although Thailand is one of two open countries in Southeast Asia, it is one of the most unreached.

I couldn’t believe the people we’d talk to who had never heard of Jesus. Most of the villages had populations 300 the size of my home town and not one church.

Our very first day out, we stopped to pray in the city center of a providence and asked if there were any believes in the village. We were directed by multiple people to multiple locations, and drove around for a good hour or two looking for the 1 believer in that town. Finally, when we arrived at the woman’s home, she welcomed us, and we immediately knew it was a divine encounter. She was sick, she was old, and she was tired. We got to encourage her, pray with her, and worship our glorious king together. She shared with us her struggles in life and the hundreds of times she saw God alive and moving. Our new friends sister, who was not a believer just happened to be at her house when we arrived. Coincidence? We didn’t think so. She explained to us that although she “believed” in God she wasn’t ready to accept because she was afraid. I knew God was calling us to speak to her and let her hear our stories.

The next day we drove to a village about 3 hours away and happened upon a family who we shared the gospel with. Although no one accepted Christ, we left them with tracks and bibles. There was a young girl there who was eager to learn and I just know that God said she will accept him.

Our last day out in the villages we happened upon a woman who was paralyzed, and who wanted to hear about Jesus. We shared, prayed, and loved on her.

At the beginning of this month I had no idea what we’d be doing, but I knew that whatever it was, God had called us to proclaim his name. As we’ve become comfortable and flexible in ministry we continue to see God directing our paths. Although we didn’t know this is what we’d be doing, God did.

This month I’ve been learning that God sometimes calls us to the unknown places, the homes of strangers, and shops of people who need a word. He calls us to places we never thought we’d go.

“He has shown you, oh man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

This verse shows three simple concepts that God requires of us when we trust him, God has called me to be these things to all people for his purposes. I’m almost done with month 6 of this race, and God has shown me what it means to walk in my gifts and the authority he’s given me. Even in the midst of this month when we’ve been all over the place, his mission is still the same.

Christ has commanded us to go, to make disciples, and to walk into the authority He has given us. For the same spirit that rose Christ Jesus from the dead lives inside of us! God desires me to use my wisdom, my desire for justice, and my servant attitude for his kingdom work and this month was such an opportunity to do that. It’s about making more of him, and less of us.

In whatever I’m doing, I’ve learned that whether in the middle of Thailand, a village in Africa, a city center of Vietnam, or in my home Town, God is calling us to shine our light for him, so that through us, people may see God. In Philippians chapter 2 verses 15-16, it says, “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world holding fast the word of life, so that I amy rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” When we hold fast to the Word, it’s life! Our goal is to, “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call on God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13)

Walking into authority begins when we understand who we are, who God created us to be, and how to love. This month God reminded me of my authority, his goodness, his strength, and what he requires of those who love him. He has taught me that although I don’t know the plans he has for me because they might be evangelizing, or teaching English to a class of naughty 3rd graders, or leading youth group, running children’s church, assisting on field trips, or teaching praise and worship songs to babies, his plans are always good.

This journey continues to show me as we focus on our mission, we let God be in control and ask him where to lead, He often responds with, ” Oh the places you’ll go” and oh the places we do go.

“for this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Romans 9:17 

**unfortunately my computer broke this month so my ability to share photos (and save them for that matter) is somewhat limited, sorry!