Good morning!!
I’m finally writing my Big Picture look at Thailand – the land of smiles! My time in this country so far has been filled with one adventure after another, and I am so excited to tell you all about it!
Before I jump in though, I do have a small ask to make: I’m currently looking to raise support for my flight ticket home. Our fundraising only covers a ticket to San Francisco, and in order to make it back to Wisconsin, I am reaching out to my friends and family to help me. From what I have researched online, the cheapest ticket costs about $250. Please reach out to me via messenger, PayPal or Venmo if you feel called to donate, and see this journey to the very end!
WHO:
We started the month partnering with our parents! That’s right, my Mama joined me in Thailand for a week of ministry, worship, and crazy adventures to see what life is like here on the field.
For the last two weeks here, we’re partner with the one and only Jesus Christ!
WHAT:
Wait…Jesus is your ministry partner?
Yeah.
Once in a while, World Race teams have the opportunity to do ministry by setting up in a city and Asking the Lord (known as ATL) what to do each day. So far, we’ve done prayer walks through the city, visited an orphanage, handed out encouraging notes with chocolate, connected with a missionary family that we can serve, and have found a full fledged ministry to volunteer with for the last few days we’re here!
During the Parent Vision Trip (known as PVT), we worshiped with our parents and our squad, explored temples, painted a house, and participated in a Beauty For Ashes tea.
WHEN:
We arrived in Thailand on March 26th, and will be here until the 23rd, when we’ll depart for Malaysia! We have official ministry Monday-Friday, and have the weekend off to adventure and rest.
WHERE:
We started in Chiang Mai with our parents, and unfortunately, the air quality was so poor that we had to move south – which is why we got a month of ATL! Anyways, now we’re in Bangkok, doing ministry within our neighborhood as well as the Nana district.
WHY:
The Parent Vision Trip is a really incredible opportunity for cross-generational ministry. After 8 eight months, both parent and racer have grown and learned a lot. PVT offers an really sweet and special time for parents to meet their children where they’re at, to see them in the place they’ve been living, with their community and their lifestyle, and especially all the ways they’ve grown in their faith. For me, I knew PVT would be an indication of what coming home would be like, whether I could be the Marah I am now around the person who’s literally known me since before I was born…And it was AWESOME. We both got to see a lot of growth in each other, share in worship experiences and prayer, and left the other feeling so encouraged. (Sidenote, I hope you’ll get to hear some of Mom’s perspective in a blog to come!)
A month of ATL is also a really special opportunity for Racers, especially at this point in the Race. One of the goals of this program is that participants learn to seek and hear the voice of the Lord, and obey. We get to put months of spiritual growth and discipline into practice as we strive to hear what the Lord is saying and obey. We also practice trust in the Lord as we have a much smaller budget for the month: $10/person/day for food, lodging, and transportation. In the words of our mentor, Allison:
One aspect of ATL months are trusting the Lord and being in a place of needing him to be God. Our solution to problems as Americans is typically to throw money at it to alleviate pain. Living on $10 is very doable, it won’t be the most comfortable, you’ll have to trust the Lord, you may not get things exactly as you want BUT this is a super neat opportunity to see the Lord as provider. You may have to pool your food money. You may have to sleep on a floor. You may have to walk longer distances instead of using a taxi.
But the Lord will provide.
And WOW, has He. I will try to talk a little more about this experience in a blog to come, or you can head HERE if you want to know more right away!
FUN NUGS:
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During PVT, we had two incredible nights of worship with our parents and squad
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Mama and I went on TWO super hikes on our adventure day
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It was incredible meeting parents of people I know consider family
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The Lord has provided in literally miraculous ways regarding living situations
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We took a 15 hour third class train ride (not necessarily fun, but definitely an adventure!)
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God has shown Himself to me this month in ways I could not have imagined before
I hope this gives you a better understanding of what April looks like for me! Thank you always for your support through prayer, and through blog comments and emails. It (literally) means the world to me. 🙂
