It’s been exactly a month since I left the States. It feels like I left yesterday but I also feel like I’ve been gone for years. So many emotions… especially seeing that I have said goodbye to Cambodia and I am currently sitting in a coffee shop in the middle of Chiang Mai, Thailand!
We had debrief for 4 days and tomorrow we begin our ministry. This month is an “all squad” month so 40 of us will be living in the same hostel all month long and working with Lighthouse in Action. However, my beautiful team of 6 girls will have the opportunity to choose the particular branch of the ministry that we would like to work with. This includes working at a cafe, bar ministry, or ministering in the slums.
One thing that we did as a squad before we left Cambodia was visit Angkor Wat; the massive historical Buddhist temple that was once a 7th wonder of the world.
We woke up at 3:30am to catch the sunrise come up behind the majestic ancient ruin. Our whole squad toured the temple and we were blown away by the details that were still left behind over thousands of years.
However, when I thought back to the day and processed my favorite part of the tour, I realized that my most memorable moment was getting all the way to the top and seeing the view from it.
From the top of the temple, I saw miles of treetops and the breathtaking blue sky. I just thought… thousands of people visit this temple every day to see it’s splendor when really the most beautiful piece of detailed form of art is the nature that surrounds it.
Men from the beginning of time have never been able to build a more beautiful temple or structure than what God has built.
“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy in His dwelling.” -1 Chronicles 16:25-27
It’s hard walking through Cambodia and Thailand and every where I look I see idols. I see hundreds of gold statues that people spend their entire life worshipping. I try to remember to look up and see the real splendor of the earth in God’s creation. I try to remember that I am His creation and through me, I can declare His glory among the nations.
I am excited for this next month working here in Chiang Mai and all that God has in store! There are beautiful temples all around me but there is no comparison to what our beautiful God is willing to do in the hearts of the people of Thailand this October!
