Chiang Mai, Thailand. It’s dusk at the Zion Cafe as a young man rides up on a motorcycle wearing a dark helmet, blue jeans and jacket. 22 years old and planning to move soon to Esaan, the Northeastern region of Thailand that is home to over 35 million people (half the population of Thailand) with his young wife, Michelle, Grant makes time in his busy schedule for a quick interview with my team. He dismounts the motorcycle and takes off the helmet. After introductions are made, he sits down, intense and focused- passionate. He is now 3 days into what was the next step in the journey God has called him and his wife on since Grant’s days at Bethany College of Missions.
At age 18 he was praying for Thailand (as the students there intercede for unreached nations on a regular basis) and he became aware of a feeling like water pouring down his face as goosebumps spread across his shoulders and he heard the Lord speak to him saying, “This is your people. This is your nation.”
Church to find and bring in English teachers to Thailand using their connections to North America. With lodging and a minimum monthly income of $500 (exchange rate is 32 baht to 1 USD) it’s a good deal and the amount paid can be lived on easily within the village. The Thai Christian Church responded and said yes they could get the teachers, but that those teachers would also share stories from the Bible and about how Jesus has worked in their lives with their students. And the Thai government approved. They APPROVED.
As long as the main goal in school remains that the students are being taught English.
So here we are, sitting with Grant Wootten who is one of only 4 teachers out of 2000 they hope for. Grant works with the E-Star Foundation, which serves in a supporting role helping to get visas for the teachers and being the go between the hiring schools and the teacher. This is a brand new opportunity. Taking the position of a government hired English teacher who loves Jesus allows you become a real part of whatever community you are in a way that is understood and accepted by the Thai. They understand your job, your position, where you come from and why you’re there. There is no mystery to your presence…other than the fact that they cannot fathom what motivation you could have for moving to the countryside, taking a low wage, and spending your life in a foreign environment to help and serve them, strangers to you. When they ask, there is only one answer to give: the love of Jesus Christ, and His desire to see Thailand grow in every way.
The qualifications to apply to join this program as a teacher are: you must be a North American native English speaker, have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in any field, a willingness to engage in foreign culture and learn a new language, and give at least a 1 year commitment. An official certification in Teaching English as a Second Language is also required, but is easy enough to obtain. While not an official requirement, Grant would prefer you to be able to imagine the possibility of staying in the position for 3 years, because right at around 1 year is usually when you start to feel at home and have established yourself well within a community.
So not only did we find 1 unsung hero, but this is going out as a call for 1,996 more. E-mail Grant at [email protected] if you want to be one of them.
