Thailand was a whirlwind. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the people… all of it. It flew by faster than I would have ever imagined. We had more than comfortable living arrangements, got to spend the month with the entire squad united, and teams had exciting and effective ministry experiences. We laughed, we cried, we prayed, and we loved. God showed up for all of us and taught us more about Himself. The month will always be remembered as special being my first month on the Race, but if I had to choose one word to describe my Thailand experience, it would be “learning.”
Learning…
- That Thailand is the “Land of Smiles.” Thai people are shy, but they will always share a smile.
- That Jesus is more than enough to make me smile
- That Thailand is 94% Buddhist. Just in the city of Chiang Mai where we lived (population 500,000), there are 270 temples. Buddhist traditions are engrained in both Thai religious practices and culture.
- To be bold for Jesus
- That Thailand is a prominent prostitution destination. One does not go to the bar buy drinks; men primarily go to bars to buy women and ladyboys. Bars cannot sell alcohol on holidays, but some will still stay open to sell women.
- That God’s love will win our hearts
- That Thai people make offerings to the spirits, in order to bring themselves favor and blessing. This offering is usually in the form of a small amount of food and a red Fanta soda with a straw left at spirit houses. Thais visit monks in the temples to receive prayer, and they “release” their karma by releasing fish and birds at the temples.
- That Christianity is about a relationship with God, not the chains of religion
- That the roads are a free for all. There are no stop signs, and stoplights are few and far between. Drivers usually make 3 lanes out of 2, and the sidewalk commonly becomes an extra lane for motorbikes.
- That prayer is powerful in ALL circumstances
- That during Thailand’s rainy season between June and August, the weather is hot and humid. Average temperatures are about 90°F with humidity in the 80% – 90% range. The sensation of a fly, mosquito, or ant on your arm is the same feeling as the sweat that rolls down your hands and arms. You really learn to love fans.
- That a mindset of gratitude will supersede our physical conditions and surroundings
- That in Thai culture, the top of the head is the holiest part of the body, while the feet are the dirtiest. It is extremely rude to touch the top of someone’s head, point with your feet, or step over someone. Shoes are taken off before entering any religious place or person’s home.
- That my feet will only be dirty because God has sent me to walk among the developing nations
- That Thai food is inexpensive and wonderful. It is fresh from the markets daily, and one can eat a full meal for less than 2 USD. Breakfasts cooked for us ranged from pumpkin soup to banana waffles to mashed potatoes, mango, and bacon. It was always a delicious surprise.
- That we can experience God in the little things
- That Chiang Mai, specifically, is a spiritually heavy city.
- To seek and praise God amidst hardship and that fear is not of God; God is already victorious.
- That living and thriving in community necessitates you to choose love.
- That loving someone does not mean carrying their burdens
- That the Body of Christ is made up of many personalities and gifts that are meant to build and strengthen the Body for the Kingdom.
- That I was created purposefully and uniquely
- That we will be put into situations where we have no idea what to say or do.
- That God will guide our words and actions when we ask Him
In Thailand, God began preparing me for the rest of the Race and the things He has planned for me to do and encounter. He worked on my heart and was relentless in His teaching. Thailand was an amazing month for me because of this and because I learned to see Him in every facet of my daily life. However, God doesn’t only show up on this journey called the World Race; He is working in your life too. It doesn’t take a radical amount of faith or diligence in church attendance to have a relationship with Him and to hear His voice; you simply have to allow Him into your heart. He wants to be your Teacher, and He wants to guide you in better understanding what life looks like with Him. Are you open to it? Are you seeking Him? Is He already speaking to you, but the noise of this world is deafening His voice in your life? There is always room to grow in our walk with God, and my prayer is that we if we can be diligent in anything, that we be diligent in pursuing Him.
