If you haven’t read “Love Does” by Bob Goff— go to the store and buy it now! One of my New Year’s goals for 2013 was to read 60 books. “Love Does” is my 60th book and I could not be happier to wrap up the year of great reads with this book. For me, this was way more than a book, it was more of a confirmation that this crazy adventure I’m about to embark upon is God’s invitation to live fully and love fully. He wants us to love authentically, tenaciously, selflessly, blindly, tirelessly and without end. “Jesus told the people He was with that it’s not enough to just look like you love God. He said we’d know the extent of our love for God by how well we loved people” (Bob Goff). I’m so excited to introduce the next 4 countries because one of them is a place where I finally fully understood that “love does.” (I might not have had the correct term at the time but now I do)
Philippines
This Asian island nation, former Spanish colony then American protectorate, is a country in tension, trying to cross the threshold between the third and first world. It offers a variety of landscapes – beaches, mountains, volcanic lakes – and languages, with Tagalog as the national tongue. The Catholic Church is a substantial piece of the religious pie, however, and Islam is growing in the island of Mindinao. The Filipino people and culture love music, dance and community. While there, you may find yourself living with and giving hope to the destitute, caring for orphans, and challenging the growing number of Christ-followers to rise up.
Thailand
According to the CIA, the kingdom of Thailand, known as Siam until 1939, is the only country in the region not colonized by Europe. Their 2000 census showed that 94.6% of the population is Buddhist, 4.6% are Muslim, and 0.7% are Christian. Approximately 600,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Thailand. With nearly two million people estimated to be forced into prostitution, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Change lives in the city-where you, like Jesus, might befriend prostitutes-or in the countryside-where you may serve youth, care for orphans, and encourage a remnant of believers.
Laos
Following a brutal civil war, Laos came under communist rule in 1975. Therevada Buddhism and spirit worship dominate Laos with Christian missionary work monitored by the government. This ruggedly beautiful nation is home to some of the most unreached hill tribes in the world. The need is great for people to bring God’s love to the isolated places in Laos.
Cambodia
Cambodia houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple and monastery built during the Khmer empire in the 12th century. It later became a Buddhist complex a century later, and today, just over 96% of Cambodia is Buddhist. Almost 30 years ago, 1.5 million Cambodians died at the hands of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Today, Cambodia is a source, transit point, and destination of human trafficking. Unfortunately, the government is struggling to stop it. The people of Cambodia are thirsty for the hope you can bring.
Obviously, these 4 countries are amazing and the beauty God created in each of them is breathtaking. I can’t even believe I will get to live in each country for a month just loving the people and the culture. I am beyond excited that I have the opportunity to go back to the Philippines. Earlier in my post I said that in the Philippines, I finally understood that love does. A little background to why- I have always thought that I had a quiet faith- trying not to throw it in people’s faces especially when they haven’t asked me to. Last summer I spent the month of July in Cebu, Philippines just loving the people I met along the way. While there, I finally understood that my faith is not quiet, it shouts from the rooftops through the way I love others (not my family and friends but complete strangers). The best way to show God’s love is to love others and be present. Starting in July, 2014 I get to spend 11 months living and loving fully in 3rd world countries. How blessed am I?
