So I’m sitting in
a coffee shop in Chanthaburi Thailand. It’s a great coffee shop. They are
playing Jack Johnson and I just ate a very delectable brownie. I love how the
Lord romances me with Jack Johnson and brownies!
it seem like I’m leading this luxurious lifestyle while away from the states, I’ll
tell you about what’s been going on lately. We arrived in Bangkok on April 24th.
We stayed next to the YWAM base and had a mini debrief. It was a great time to
hang out with the squad before we split up and went our separate ways this
month. It was a great time. Honestly for the first time I felt like I poured
out my life into my squad-mates and allowed them to return the favor for the
first time. We came to Bangkok expecting to get news about ministry in a red
light district somewhere in Thailand. We found out that we were not going to
work with prostitutes and sex-trafficking victims this month. For a split
second, I was a little upset…but then my mind immediately focused on the girls
of my team (by the grace of God). Our teams split up this month-men do “manistry”
and women do “wo-manistry” (at least that’s what I’m going to call it…we should
get a cool name, too). I knew that the girls on my team were going to be
heartbroken, so I instantly started praying for guidance, strength, and
empathy. The Lord came through (yet again…you think by this point I’d be used
to God coming through…but it amazes me EVERY time). After a few-ok a lot-of
tears, the girls were ready walk into whatever it was the Lord had for us. By
the way, I’m really proud of Glenalyn, Leyna, Cat, and Nicole…they are troopers
for sure! The girls from team Post Office combined forces with the girls from
team Current. The Lord new what He was doing there! These ladies are amazing and
the combination is dynamic!
We have a point
lady, Katie Cartwright and she is in charge of working out logistics with our
contact. May I say that she is doing a fabulous job! She’s a natural leader and
called for such a time as this! The leader from team Current, Lindsey, Katie
and I make up a strand of three that is not easily broken and we’re learning
how to stay strong for each other and work with/for each other. And I just love
seeing the other wonderful ladies really shine in the gifts the Lord has gifted
them in!
Our ministry this
month includes quite the mixture of things…English camps, community work,
passing out tracts for English classes, speaking and leading worship in church,
etc. We have an AMAZING contact! He pastors the church in Wangdarb and helps
out at the church in Chanthaburi a lot. He and his wife are so warm and giving
of their time, resources, and love! They amaze me each day I wake up. We load
up Pastor’s truck each day and he takes us to where we need to be. He really
wants to make sure we see all of this area that we can. Yesterday we went to a
local waterfall that is very famous in this area! He’s made sure we’ve seen the
beach. More than that, he’s making sure we are getting every opportunity to
serve the Lord. We’ve walked around the fruit festival in Chantaburi passing
out flyers for the English class we’ll be teaching. I must mention that his
wife makes us 3 square meals a day that are amazing.
Thai food really is as good as they
told me it would be. We have so much to do this month and I’m so very excited
to see what the Lord has in store. Our team, dubbed “Again For the First Time”
is learning/growing in intercessory prayer this month as some of the ladies
from our squad are doing ministry in the red light districts.
I have really
good news, too. We’ve noticed that sitting at this coffee shop we are creating
ministry opportunities. We will be prayerfully sitting in these coffee shops
conversing with Thai’s…and eating really good brownies and listening to Jack
Johnson. Praise God!
