Upon arrival at Wongen Café (short for Won Generation), we found a much welcome change to our typical living arrangements. This dorm style facility housed 2 of the 4 teams in Chaing Mai Thailand during ‘Womanstry month’ (the month when L-squad women serve in separate locations from L-squad men…sorry men…we redeemed the term ‘Manistry Month’). The Wongen team was assigned to coffee shop ministry.
Our orientation was thorough, and unexpected. Rules like, ‘Please shower, smile, and look nice before coming down to work’. Also, racers have a reputation for lack of hygiene :0) (Last month, you may remember I reported on a shocking number of days without a shower). We learned about Thai Culture (see Dirty American), Buddhism (blog to follow), and the local Red Light District (blog to follow)
Our primary goal here = relationship. KT (not her real name), our host, puts every emphasis on personal relationships and empowering her teams to hear from the Lord and let this month be whatever He says it should be (see Plant, Water, Reap). For the Wongen teams, that looks like building relationship in the context of the coffee shop culture. We take shifts working in the coffee shop to build relationships with the women who live and work here. Some are new believers, many are Buddhist, and KT hopes that all of them will form lasting relationships with the teams that pass through. We were assigned students to tutor in English. For many, they have never spoken with a native English speaker before. She hopes that the relationships we form during our lessons will translate to time ‘outside the classroom’ where real friendships can form. We are also encouraged to participate on one of the 2 college campuses in our ‘backyard’. We go to campus for lunch to meet students, and some of my team mates were invited to participate in gym classes as they were peeking around the gymnasium to see if anyone was in to play sports of some kind. We could invite students to Game Night, or Open Mic Night at the café, or just see what develops.
Personally, I sensed right away that campus ministry may not be where most of my ministry came from. I felt nudged of the Lord to have one-on-ones with each girl in the 2 WR teams, as well as having a strong desire to meet the men, women, and Ladyboys working in the Red Light District and surrounding bars (blog to follow). Unexpectedly, I found myself having a number of great interactions with other travelers and passers by (see Divine Appointment: Along for the Ride). I also built some beautiful relationships with the student I tutored, and some of the women living and working at Wongen. I love you ladies!!
Pressing in to intentionality served its purpose well this month! (see The Intentional Girl and Her Intentional God)
Confession: I totally slacked on blogs this month, but there are a few linked in to this one, and many more to follow (please read them). Stay tuned! It was an incredible month, and EVERY life that was impacted, was reached by YOU …those who pray, support me financially, and faithfully follow my blog. You are a valuable part of what God is doing in Thailand, and in my life. Thank you!
