Tonight, my dear Thai family threw us a going away party with all our favorite foods. We all ate together and told stories through broken english. We laughed together and cried together. Sweet, heartfelt words were said and although my heart hurts to be leaving this beautiful place now known as home, I am so thankful to have been a part of something so much bigger than myself.
Thailand will forever be considered home to me and these people will forever be my family. There is nothing that could ever change the way I feel about this place or these people. My heart could just explode simply with the thought of how much I love it here. These people have taken us in and have loved with every ounce of love they have. They have cooked for us and cared for us when we were sick. They have had dance parties with us and have sat around the table at meals with us. They have gone on off day adventures with us and most importantly, served God with us. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the race. They love so big and they care so much.
I knew leaving would be hard, I just didn’t know it would be this hard. Leaving behind this big family we’ve made and a place that’s taken over our hearts is just as hard as leaving America was, I’m finding. When you become as close with people as we are in such a short amount of time, leaving is never easy. You go on the race expecting to change lives and to do big things in people’s lives but you quickly realize that your life is the one that is changed by the people around you. These people, my Thai family, have made such a lasting impact on my life. They have poured into us each and every day and have loved us so well. They have been our friends since the first day we arrived in Thailand and even though we don’t speak the same language, we all know how to show love through our actions. They have made me smile on the days when nothing else could and have kept me laughing the whole time I have been in Thailand.
I thank God so much for this time in Thailand. My heart is so for this place. I couldn’t have asked for better hosts. My team and I have been so blessed. Pastor is one of the most humble, loving men I have ever had the privilege of knowing. His heart is so for the Lord and everything he does teams from that. he is such a bold, bright light in the city of Tak Fa and he is truly building the kingdom simply by the way he lives his every day life. Yes, we have poured so much love out on this place but we have been poured into so much more by our Thai family. I have come to the realization that as much as we are here to show people who don’t know Jesus his love, we are here to bring lift to the Christians that are already here. Bringing encouragement and love to the people who already know him and have made the decision to give their life completely to him because being a Christian in a place that is almost completely Buddhist is so very hard. It is about bringing them hope that the church is going to continue to grow with their help and the courage to keep fighting the good fight of faith.
So as I prepare to leave this place now called home in the coming days, all I can be is thankful. Thankful that I have a place and people that are so hard to say goodbye to. Thankful that I have gotten to spend the past two months of my life surrounded by an awesome Thai family who loves me and my team with all their hearts. Thankful that God always knows exactly what and who I need. Thankful that I got to help be a light to such a dark place. Thankful that I now have another place to call home. A good friend of mine told me that there is such beauty in the sadness of leaving because it means that you invested well and loved with all you had and I think she is very right about that. These people will forever have a place in my heart. This place will always be home. Thank you Thailand for all the laughs and joy and thank you Jesus for bringing me to a place I didn’t know I needed in my life so badly.
Next stop, Cambodia! Prayers for safe travels for my squad as we take on the next big adventure God has planned for us. Nothing could ever compare to our time in Thailand but I’m willing to give Cambodia a shot. Thank you so much for your love and prayers. Big things are comin’
All my love,
Reya
