Since 2006 I have dreamed of stepping foot in Thailand. A year after I graduated high school I started working part-time at a nice Thai Restaurant in my hometown, Table for Two was its name. I loved my time working there.
Servers would get a free meal every shift so I definitely would be adventurous with my selections. Why not? After all, it was free. Yellow Curry and Pad Kee Mao were my two favorites… with a Thai iced tea of course. On extra rough days I would order a desert of mango sticky rice to take home.
I also enjoyed learning the language so I would try to pick up a few Thai words here and there from the cooks in the kitchen.
I always met interesting people while working there. Every Monday and Wednesday morning there were a few Buddhist monks who would meet in the restaurant. I never was quite sure why they were there, but the owners didn’t seem to mind. They wouldn’t pay much attention to me as I would start my opening duties but I always observed them with intrigue and wondered how comfy their orangey get-ups were.
Needless to say, a love for Thailand had sparked.
Three years later a mission’s trip to Thailand was organized with the leadership school I was attending at the time. I had sent out support letters, raised the funds and made the preparations. Unfortunately, 7 weeks before the trip was to take place it was canceled. There were some safety concerns in the area we were traveling too plus there were still quite a few people on the trip that hadn’t raised the full amount of funds.
I was crushed, I really was. Thailand was so close I could taste it.
Now, three more years later, almost to the date I am here in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The moment we landed at the airport that spark in my heart inflamed. We jumped in an open-air tuk tuk (their local transport/taxis) and headed off to the place where we’d be staying for the night. The ride there was almost over-stimulating. The lights, the sounds of traffic, the scents, the colors, everything in sight! I was wide-eyed and grinning just trying to take it all in.
This country is absolutely stunning. The surroundings are beautiful, the people are lovely and the food is delicious.
I feel like I have only just begun to experience all that is Thailand but so far, what I have tasted and seen has made my heart fall in love more than I could’ve ever imagined.
We begin ministry with the Abba House on Monday and I cannot wait to fill you in on what we will be doing. I have already heard story after story of lives being changed by the ministry they are doing here and I am beyond excited to be a part of it.
Stay tuned,
Jolene
