I spent October in Bangkok, teaching English at a school called Santisuk English School – Silom. And to be honest, when I got our team’s set up sheet I had a bad attitude about it. The team leaders had a meeting together before we traveled into Thailand and everyone shared about their team’s ministry for the month. The other leaders were saying things with great enthusiasm “We’re going to work in the borderland in Burma” “Red Light District Ministry in Chiang Mai” “A Coffee House/Cafe For Women Coming Out Of Trafficking” “Searching for New Ministries In Phuket” “A Children’s Home In The Thai Jungle”…
Then it was my turn. “Teaching English In Bangkok” I said dryly. No expression at all. I might have even rolled my eyes. At least I did in my head. I wanted adventures and jungles, not classrooms and skyscrapers.
We arrived in Thailand and I met one of our contacts. Todd and Karen from Minnesota. I have Mid-West roots, which means that ‘Minnesota Nice’ accent makes me think of my Grandmas mashed potatoes, gravy and meatballs and my Grandpa’s John Deere collection. So when I heard the voice on the other line telling me where to meet them, that wholesome mid-west accent made me feel like I was talking to family, and we hadn’t even met yet.
Our first night we went to dinner with Todd and Karen and our host family, Nok and Noi. We had our first Thai street food meal, which we ate every day, and we headed back to our room. Our living situation in Thailand was smaller and more open than other places. (When I say ‘open’ I mean easily accessible for giant flying cockroaches, lizards the size of cats, and other human tenants coming in and out of the metal sliding gate through all hours of the night and morning. Open also means no AC.) After a few nights we set up tents because we kept getting woken up by things crawling on us. After that we slept a little better. Our team made some hilarious memories last month and we will probably overuse the bragging rights we earned and laugh everytime we talk about it. In the end I like to think it was the little bit of adventure I had been looking for.
Our first day waking up in Thailand we were given a city tour. We walked down a back alley near our house to get to a morning market that was so awesome I thought I was dreaming. I hardly recognized anything, except for pineapple and the whole fish laying on ice. But Nok bought us little samples of all the crazy street food and it was all good. It felt like we were on a show on the food network or travel channel.
Then we headed to the school that was located in the heart of the city. It was like Times Square but 100 times cleaner. All the hustle and bustle of a big city, coffee shops on every corner, good food, dressing up in business casual…Bangkok was growing on me.
And the people….oh my word, the people. They were the nicest, most generous friends I’ve known.
They really raised the bar for generosity and hospitality. I have never experienced anything like it. They are such a fun loving people, and always want to bring other people with. Our students spoiled us rotten and made sure we had an incredible month. And our hosts from the school planned activities for us to enjoy the local attractions. We did everything we had hoped to do in Bangkok.
Fun and games aside, I had so many opportunities to share my faith with them. I got a chance to share my testimony at a house church one of our first nights, Kacie and I got to do a Bible Study for the students at the base of a waterfall during a field trip, I led Bible Study during Cell Group, and I got to have countless of meaningful conversations during my class time.
I taught the Level 4 students and my class was full of young professionals who worked all day and studied English at night. Architects, accountants, graphic designers, they were all the best of the best. I’m proud to call them friends. Part of my curriculum was to interview them one on one about their life, family, job, and experience at the school. Then I asked them what they thought about Jesus, what they believed, what their favorite Bible story was, and what I could pray for them about. The conversations were an absolute joy. My students were so thoughtful, open and honest.
But the real highlight of the month for me watching The Gospel being shared with each student. After my half hour interview with them, I turned it over to the staff. They would come in with a smile and start asking questions in Thai. I don’t speak Thai, so I don’t know what was said in the question and answer time. But I could understand what was put on the paper. I could understand it so perfectly because it was a beautiful picture of The Gospel. On the top of the paper was the word GOD. As they talked they filled in attributes of what God is like. Then a line across the top edge of the paper was drawn to connect God with Heaven. Then they described heaven.
At the bottom of the picture they drew stick people. Sometimes one stick person, sometimes more than one, sometimes one of the stick people was named Kayla. It represented all of us. Then there were short arrows, showing our attempts to get to God. Take care of your family, give to people in need, be a good person. All these arrows pointed to God, but none of them reached high enough to get the person into heaven. Along the bottom of the paper another line was made. It looked like a timeline of life and it connected the stick people to the end of life. Separation from God. Hell. Then they described what they thought hell might be like.
Next, in the middle of the paper the word Sin was written. A few examples were given. And THEN, a line came down from the top middle, it took a detour left to encompass the sin, then came back down again. A mirror image came from the bottom, interrupting the line that leads to hell and taking it to heaven. The lines formed a perfect cross in the middle of the paper. A cross encompassed the sin. God came down to take us up to heaven. The name Jesus was written over the sins. And John 3:16 was written on the side.
I prayed for each student every time this explanation of the Gospel was done. One of my first days I was overwhelmed by the message in John 3:16. I am not a particularly sentimental person, but as I got a glimpse of God’s love for the people of Thailand and the people of this whole world, I was moved in my Spirit. And John 3:16 made me cry. I choked back tears every time that part of the Gospel was shared. I’m tearing up right now writing about it. God loves this world so much. It’s not a new thought by any means, but it still overwhelms me. And everytime I hear John 3:16 I will be reminded of my students and friends in Thailand and how much they loved God.
I prayed for every student who listened to the Gospel, and my heart was full. I loved each one of my friends so much and wanted them to open up to God so so so bad. Every student has overcome such adversity and every single one of them are incredible people. Their life stories are amazing. if you could have sat in one of the intervews you would have fallen in love with their sweet spirits and gentle ways. They are learning more about Jesus during their time at the school. The Thai people I became friends with are very contemplative, they are mulling over what it means to follow Jesus. I wish I could flip the switch for them so they surrender to Christ in an instant.
But it is important that they consider the cost of becoming a Christian. They are all from Buddhist or Muslim families and accepting Jesus would mean leaving everything they know behind them. I can’t even imagine. I don’t know what kind of strength and conviction it would take to do that. It could only be done by God’s Spirit. But I trust and know that God has brought them there for a purpose. And I believe that His Word does not return empty but will accomplish the purpose for which He sent it.
I set out on this journey because I was starting to feel hopeless in this world. So much crap happens to the good and the bad. I’ve been following Jesus for a long time and I was getting discouraged. But I felt like The World Race was an invitation to see how God’s love can work in dark places. Last month, I found hope in Thailand. I found it in a small English School tucked in between the tall buildings and a sky train line. Hope is in a little classroom, on a piece of paper with John 3:16 on it. Hope is the Gospel is being lovingly shared with no pressure, just love. I am so thankful I got to be a part of it.
I will forever love my memories of Thailand. No jungle trips or elephant rides. No border crossings, or Thai beaches. My memory will carry the faces of my students and the friends I made at Santisuk. I enjoyed every single night I had with them, and experienced such joy, kindness and love from each one. They opened my eyes again to the depth of God’s love, and John 3:16 will never be the same for me.
The people of Thailand won me over. I started out the month apprehensive and unsure. By the end of my time, I was all in for this ministry. I hated to leave. It was a change of heart. I pray for them to have an experience like that as they come to understand the Gospel. Please pray with me that as my dear Buddhist and Muslim friends consider the cost of following Jesus, they would go from apprehensive to all-in, no matter what the cost. We’re praying for a major change of heart.
