The previous month in Thailand was unforgettable. We saw God provide in numerous ways, enjoyed the famous Song Kran, a nation-wide water festival, visited some beautiful islands off the coast, and we were given the opportunity to live with an amazing family in Bangkok for the month.
If you read my most recent blog, you read about our first experience in Thailand about the broken city that is Thailand. There was certainly a theme to the month as we moved forward, and that was redemption.
We arrived in Bangkok early on, and through a series of divine interventions, we ended up with an adorable family who is strongly involved in a ministry called Breakthrough Thailand. We were immediately welcomed, given a place to sleep, and received a much needed shower. The next day we were briefed on what was ahead. We ventured to a rural village in the southeast province of Isan, and discovered the start of a long chain of events leading to people becoming trafficked.
What hit me hardest this month was how the family we lived with operated. Pi Dao, a loving mother of four, was amazing and treated us all like her own children. She was almost constantly smiling, and I know this stems from a deep rooted understanding of God’s love for her and the redemption He has brought in her life.
The four kids, Dia, Yin, Disk, and Porsche, were a crew of fun individuals. Each one had his or her own passions, and each one of them was gifted in music and passionate about worshipping the Lord. We spent just about every day with some sort of guitar, ukulele, and vocal arrangement happening around the house.
Finally we have Bi Pop, Pi Dao’s husband, and an amazing father who showed me what it looks like to be a servant leader, as well as an awesome Thai cook.
This is the family the Lord led us to, and this is the family who showed me what it looks like to love well in the context of a family. They did just about everything together, and did it with joy. We lived with them in the strictest sense. We shared rooms, bathrooms, meals, and stories every day. We saw them worship, work, and have fun together. Never once did I see any animosity between the siblings; it was always light, playful, and full of joy.
Now obviously I don’t understand Thai, so I could easily have missed some things, but when it comes to the actions I saw, they were solid; they are family. They live out Jesus’ command to love your neighbor everyday. I don’t know if they have any enemies, but I’m sure if they do, they love them just as well.
The reason I titled this blog “Redefining Family” is not to say that I came from a bad family and want to idolize this one. I come from a good family with some quirks. Rather, the past month made me recognize some attributes I want to instill when I start a family of my own.
I want to have a family that shares everything, from food to feelings. I want to have a family which shares in the struggles and the celebrations. I want to have a family who laughs, plays, and jokes constantly, but never at anyone elses expense. I want to have a family who welcomes missionaries from far away lands.
A handful of traditions I want to start include weekly game nights, movie nights, or worship nights. I want everyone to leave their shoes at the door (standard in Asia) because it promotes cleanliness, and makes us slow down a bit. Lastly, I want to share meals around the table each night, because it opens up the floor for discussion and allows everyone to share, joke, and laugh about the day.
Those are several traditions I never knew I wanted, but Pi Dao, Bi Pop, and company helped to bring to light, and for that I am thankful.
What are some traditions you have in your family? What are some quirks or strange things that your family does? What are some new traditions you’d like to start in your family currently, or family to come? Feel free to comment, e-mail me at [email protected], or simply Facebook message me! I’d love to hear what you have to say!
Current Update: We are in Kodoma, Zimbabwe and have another 11 days in country before it’s off to Zambia! Wifi is spotty, so I may take a few days to get back to you, but I hope you have an amazing day! Lastly, I will be returning home to GJ in early August! It’s been an amazing adventure, and I’m so thankful I get to share it with you! Zimbabwe blog coming soon! (hopefully!)
