Thailand was not at all what I expected it to be. I mean that in the sense that the month I spent in Thailand looked so different than what my original expectations were. Coming into the month I only knew that our ministry was going to be manual labor and that we were going to be staying in an orphanage in some village called Chiang Dao. I was picturing my team going off the grid for a whole month, doing grueling work in the humidity, and staying in an establishment housing lots of orphans in some remote town. Maybe not the most realistic expectations but it makes me laugh now thinking back on it.
My expectations were put on hold for the first week and a half because I had to stay behind in the city, Chiang Mai, to stay with Ethan who had a blood clot in his leg. Thanks God that Ethan is fine now, but it was so unexpected to spend almost the first half of this month separated from team, doing ministry with the girls, and staying in the city. I actually ended up loving that time in Chiang Mai, and I feel like I started learning a lot of valuable lessons from my time there.
I stayed in Chiang Mai until Christmas Day. On Christmas Day our team took the bus to Chiang Dao, expecting to stay the night at the orphanage and start ministry in the morning, but when we got there we were surprised to find out that our ministry hosts were taking us to a village where we would camp out. We spent the next two nights there because of a Christmas festival in the village, and we got to experience some of what village life looks like.
After the village I finally got to start on ministry in Chiang Dao which consists of tearing up bamboo roots to clear a fence line, pouring cement for the fence, and carrying cinderblocks. The work was pretty consistent, but it was never too strenuous and the conversations with my team made the time really enjoyable. I also got to experience life at the orphanage. The orphanage is small and houses around 15 kids, the 8 guys on our team, and the 2 ministry hosts. I love the orphanage. The kids are a joy to be around, the cooking is incredible, and our hosts are super kind. We were provided for way above our expectations and even had luxuries like a 7/11 in walking distance, hot springs nearby to relax at, and some fast wifi. Not exactly roughing it like I imagined.
The surprises of this month were the perfect background for God to drop some new lessons on me. It was so reassuring to see and experience little glimpses of God through each unexpected situation. No I didn’t expect to be away from my team until Christmas, but I saw God through the people at the base that I grew closer to. No I didn’t expect to go to the village on Christmas night, but I saw God through the community that celebrated Christmas despite living in a Buddhist country. No I didn’t expect to have wifi this month, but I got to reconnect with some friends from home that I hadn’t gotten to talk to since the race started.
I was able to see examples of God’s sovereignty when He showed up to me in situations that I didn’t expect to be in. I learned that God cannot use a closed-mind. I could have viewed all those surprises this month as a setback, but instead God showed me how to see all circumstances as opportunities for the kingdom.
My main takeaways from what God has been teaching me this month can be summed up in one word: intention. A wise man named Matt Blair once told our team, “Do everything on purpose.” No matter what happens to us, the way that we act about it is a choice, and I want to be in the habit of choosing whatever reflects God’s character. How radical would our lives look if we chose to live every single moment deliberately. I think of how much time I spend doing things absent-mindedly. Whether it’s those moments I’m waiting in line, or traveling somewhere, or engaging in meaningless small talk. Each of those moments I could be choosing intimacy with the Lord, or spreading His kingdom, or fostering Christ-centered community. I never want to be a product of my environment, I want my environment to be a product of Christ through me.
Through God, each of us has the power to change the world. It is up to us whether we choose to live that out.
2 Peter 1:10 ”Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
