Hello again from Thailand!
I don’t even know where to start. Thailand really has been an amazing month. I would dare say it will go down in my top 3 favorite months of the World Race. Thailand itself is absolutely beautiful. The landscape. The people. The Thai Tea (can I get an amen?!?!). Everything.
We started out this month thinking our ministry would be one thing, but it turned out to be another and SO GOOD. As I said in my last blog, we came alongside Outpour Movement this past month. We ended up knocking out a work project for them. Basically, we were given a huge pile of wood and we de-nailed, sanded, cleaned, stained it and made it into lots of benches for their different ministries around town. Listen, this may not sound like a lot of work. BUT. We worked our butts off every day in the blazing sun. I really can say I don’t think I have ever sweat as much in my entire life as I did here. Oddly enough though, we all LOVED it! There’s just something so fun about being with your friends and working to have a final product. We also got to play sports with some Burmese kids from one of Outpour’s homes on Saturdays, join in on some church services and go into Burma one day and got to help babysit THE cutest little girl. We were able to knock out a ton of stuff and I am thankful for that. They are a ministry that really does invite teams into their family and give them task and purpose. They do so much for the Kingdom in Thailand and Burma. If you haven’t checked them out, do it here.
This month has been a beautiful representation of how the Lord can use us anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes “ministry” looks different than we anticipate but the Lord is so good and so faithful. He always turns things to work for His good. I don’t have some big profound thing that the Lord taught me this month. I think He just continues to show me His faithfulness in the big and small. He promises to walk with us daily and lead us. I’m so thankful for that.
Oh yeah, I have to tell you about the bikes! I recently watched the movie Super 8 (I know, FINALLY, right?) Anyways, I love how the kids in that movie are so free and always riding their bikes everywhere. I felt like that this month. It has felt so good to have a mode of transportation. I feel like I have been constantly flooded with endorphins this month because we ride bikes around town! Maybe I’ll start riding my bike when I get home. …..and by my bike I mean my Mom’s bike that I ‘borrowed’ a few years ago…. One time me and two of my friends back home thought we would ride bikes a lot and it didn’t really pan out (right Allie and Chan?) Also, Chandra I will get my bike …my moms bike… out of your garage at some point in my life. HEHE!
Thailand is referred to often as The Land of Smiles and that couldn’t be more true. I have been to a lot of different places and Thailand is one of the few that every one smiles at you! I love it! I won’t try to plug for Texas here BUT it reminds me of Texas, a little bit. Because, you know, everyone is friendly in the Great State. 🙂 I will miss Thailand. I will miss the iced thai tea when it’s super hot outside. I will miss the amazing iced coffee I would get every morning from THE sweetest little lady that had my order memorized. I will miss the burgers at Ray’s. I will miss eating almost every meal at Casa Mia and the sweet guy that was our waiter every time. I will miss the smell of my clothes after taking them to the laundry. I will miss the amazing pad thai (that I got sick of after the 1st week). I will miss sleeping on the rocking third tier of the bunk bed. I will miss riding my bike everywhere and almost running into other vehicles/almost getting hit every day. I will miss so many things. Thailand – you’re magical.
Tomorrow morning, we will travel to Bangkok to meet up with the rest of our squad for our last LDW together before we begin month 11. I really can’t believe that I’m about to enter the final month of the Race. There have been times when I thought this day would never come. And then there have been days when I’ve hoped for time to slow down.
I ask you all to pray for Thailand. They are in a huge transition period right now as they have lost their beloved king. I pray that my squad mates and I have impacted Thailand for the Kingdom. The people here are so open to the hope of the Savior.
I also ask that you would continue to pray for myself and the rest of B Squad. I want to finish the Race well. I want to soak up every opportunity with my team mates. I want to soak up every minute of being overseas. I have absolutely no clue what is coming next for me in this next season of life, but I know the Lord will lead me.
Well Okie Dokie. I guess I’ll end this. I’ll see you guys in Cambodia and America, I will see YOU in 5 WEEKS!!!!!! AHHHHHHH
