Month 9.
Country 9.
Continent 4.
8 months down and only 3 months to go.
We landed in Bangkok, Thailand 5 days ago and as soon as we stepped out of the airport, two things hit me in the face: very hot humidity and excitement. I think this is the hottest I have ever been and I literally slept in a pool of sweat last night, but something about this place makes me really excited.
Ministry this month is going to look different for several reasons:
1st), the men and women on my squad are separated for the month. So the 11 men will head off to do manly things and the 39 women will split into 7 teams and will mostly work with sex-trafficked women. (Yes guys, the odds of men to women are THAT good.)
2nd), totally new leaders were chosen for this month only and so I only have 4 other girls on my team and my new leader is Jenna Harvey (my current teammate). I am stoked to be on her team this month and am eager to see how well she steps into this calling. She is also my state neighbor from Wyoming so you know she is cool.
3rd),I have never been to Asia and the culture is very different. Everything is super cheap here! For example, I bought a full plate of lunch and a smoothie for less than $2 today. Le-git. Thailand is also well known for sex trafficking and I sincerely ask your prayers for my heart to be prepared for what and who I will see. I am so honored that God has called me here for such a time as this and has entrusted me with this responsibility for the month.
We will not go to ministry sites until Sunday. My team will head to Phuket to work with SHE ministries. We will be visiting bars regularly to encourage women to step out of sex slavery and into a better way to make income. We will work with children who cannot go to school, we will help with making the items that the women sell instead of their bodies, we will do intense intercessory prayer for these women and will pray boldly that God shuts down these bars. It is going to be intense and incredible.
Until the today, we have had what’s called “8-month debrief.” A few AIM staff have flown in from Georgia to bring encouragement, challenges and motivation as well as some preparation for returning to the good ol’ USA.
We have met as a team with the squad leaders and discussed our spiritual and emotional health as a family.
Almost every night we worshipped and stood in awe of the One who has called us into this incredible adventure…and it turns out the World Race is only a small step in that journey.
We talked about the future. I realize that how I finish this season will affect the way I begin the next.
It is the beginning of the end. We have three months in Asia until we return home. And trust me, I am so so excited to go home.
I miss my family and friends.
I miss Tuesday night dinners.
I miss my church.
I miss ZERO humidity and fresh, mountain Colorado air.
I miss my truck.
I miss Chick-fil-a.
But I am more excited to be right where I am…sitting on my rock hard bed sweating to death…but at the center of God’s will. I am excited to see God at work in Asia and I’m not going home until I do.
Not sure if you can tell but there is a nice line of sweat there.
