Our month in Thailand was such an awesome surprise and blessing. I did not know what to expect and let’s just say it went well above and beyond any expectation.
This past month we lived in the city of Mae Sot above a bicycle shop and a burger restaurant called Famous Ray’s. Famous Ray’s has an amazing ministry. They have a heart to serve and support street kids. They provide consistent job opportunities for young men and women that would otherwise be involved in some type of trafficking.
Famous Ray’s is a strong presence in the community and a huge part of the ministry we worked with called Outpour Movement. I was amazed to see this group of people and their level of commitment to this community. They have a deep love for the people of Mae Sot. They care about the culture and they find great purpose in sharing our Father’s heart in Thailand and into the Burma/Myanmar border.
Here’s what our month looked like:
Our mode of transportation was bicycles!!
New Jerusalem Ministry
We met some amazing kids through this ministry. It is an adult and children’s home that offers education and housing to many Burmese refugees. On weekdays we would go to this home to teach English. Sunday afternoons we would gather together for a church service, worship, and lunch. They helped us plan and prepare the BeUtify event. It was so fun to build relationships throughout the month.
Sports Ministry
Saturday mornings we would play soccer and ultimate frisbee with children from the New Jerusalem home. It was pretty adorable to hear the little ones shout “ULTIMATE!!!!” at the top of their lungs. It was hot but a great morning playing with the kids.
BeUtify Event
We spent half of the month preparing for this big event. Outpour Movement had the desire to bring children together from all over Mae Sot for a day of art, sports, and community. This event was for every child in Mae Sot. It was amazing to see hundreds of children from Muslim slums, rich Thai families, and refugee camps all gathered together for a day of unity.
Visiting Muslim Slums
We would bring popsicles, games, and fruit to children who live in slums. I have never seen poverty like this. Homes were made of scraps and trash covered the ground. Many of these kids were part of the Muslim community. One afternoon we came with large garbage cans full of water balloons and bags of popsicles. We spent hours playing with the kids and invited all of them to our BeUtify event. This was probably my favorite day of the month.
Hospital Visit
We visited a medical clinic and brought handwritten letters and drawings to the patients. We spent time talking to them with translators and we were able to pray with them. My teammate Corinne and I met a woman who had a botched hip-replacement surgery from years before. She has lived under a medical trailer at the clinic ever since she had the surgery because she cannot walk. We talked with her, her family, and all prayed together. They told us it was their last day under the trailer because they were going to move to try to get another surgery. God’s timing is sovereign and perfect!
Praying at the Border/No Man’s land
We spent a lot of time in prayer at the Burma/Myanmar border. We would stand along No Man’s Land and pray with people in the area. Our month here taught us a lot about the power of intercession.
No Man’s Land is the vacant land between Thailand and Myanmar where there is no government or law. Lots of poverty and corruption occupy this space. We could not enter No Man’s Land but we would explore the surrounding community and talk to people in local shops and stands. It was fun to bring cookies, crayons and coloring sheets, and fruit to people in the area.
Burma
We traveled to Burma for a day of ministry. This was incredible!!! We visited a brick-making village and played with children for the afternoon. We even learned a song in Burmese to sing together! The kids loved eating watermelon and playing an improvised game of “Red Rover”. Later that day, we traveled to a leper village and spent time with the families there. We brought medicine and enjoyed some worship.
Everything we were involved with this month is a part of an ongoing ministry from the Outpour staff. Like I said, they have a known presence in Mae Sot and they are invested in this city for the long run. It was an honor to serve with them this month and see how God can work throughout any country or border.
To learn more about Famous Ray’s and Outpour Movement check out www.famousraysbicycleshop.com
Thank you all for your prayers for Thailand and our squad during the Military Coup. We are safe and the military has been very friendly to us! We leave for Cambodia tomorrow!!!
