Month 2 of the World Race // Thailand
Hi all! I apologize for a late postI. I also apologize for such a long post. When I start writing, I can’t seem to stop. 🙂
Please read to the end!
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We left Kids International Ministries for the Manila airport at 1AM on Tuesday, November 6th. We then flew from Manila to Bangkok, Thailand where we had a 10-hour layover before we flew to Chiang Mai. The 10 hours actually went by relatively fast. We walked around the airport, window-shopped, slept on the cold tile floor, and played games with the squad. If I had to do it all over again, I probably would have pulled out my sleeping pad and sleeping bag to have a more comfortable sleep at the airport. Overall though, I mainly reminisced and wrote in my journal about month 1 in the Philippines. There’s so much I still want to write, process, and pray about my time there, but there’s not enough time right now. The Filipino people definitely stole my heart and I pray I have the opportunity to go back next year or the year after. It’s a beautiful place with beautiful people and the young people have a heart for the things of God.
We finally reached ChiangMai late that Tuesday night. I honestly don’t remember much about arriving here. We were assigned our rooms at the hostel, which is also an Adventures in Missions base, and then I went right to sleep.
It’s been hard leaving the Philippines and adjusting to Thailand. In the Philippines, we did not see many “white people”/ tourists from all around the world, but here in Chiang Mai, they are everywhere. Not only that but it’s All-Squad month, which means all 37 of us plus our 2 squad leaders are all living in one place for the month. Getting alone time sometimes means being in the room with a few other people while you all have headphones on and you pretend you’re by yourself.
Other than that, my team, Team Tigress, continues to grow as a team together. We are not as close as we thought we’d be by this point of the Race, but we are headed in that direction. I’m learning that sometimes God chooses to answer prayers immediately and sometimes He answers through a long process of lessons and on the other side of the process is the promise. I’m so glad He is a faithful God who will always keep His promises.
A little about Thailand:
Currency: Thai Baht
Language: Thai
Religion: Buddhist 94%, Muslim 5%, Other 1%
Behind Thailand’s beautiful beaches, its people’s smiling faces, and the tropical jungles lies a terrible secret: modern day slavery.
In Buddhist culture, women work to support their families so men can earn spiritual merit as monks. Many parents send their daughters to work in cities where the only option is prostitution.
As the country’s natural beauty continues to draw visitors, sexual tourism continues to grow. It’s estimated 60% of tourists visit the Red Light Districts—and 90% of Thai men visit local karaoke bars for the same reason.
Culture
While Thai culture is marketed overseas as a tourist friendly, “anything-goes destination” where normally outlandish behavior is celebrated, most Thais are traditional and conservative.
There is a great cultural divide between the Bangkok urban area and the more conservative and rural regions of northern Thailand.
Travelers should be respectful around important Buddhist temples and shrines, should avoid wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts at temples or religious sites, and also avoid touching locals on the head or hair, as the head is the most sacred part of the body in Buddhism.
What’s the Team Tigress ministry site for the month?
Bella Goose Coffee Shop (ChiangMai, Thailand)
We are starting up a Language Exchange club for the community hosted at Bella Goose. One purpose of the Language Exchange club is to build relationships over time with the long-term goal of building kingdom and discipling towards relationships with Jesus. The long-term vision of the club is to:
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Create a safe, nurturing space for members to practice language skills, take risks and build relationships
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Embodies equity, empowering members to be free to be themselves and know their worth
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Honors cultural differences and fosters the ability to learn from one another
This is a photo during one of our team’s brainstorming sessions at Bella Goose (Ashley Collins and Paige). We are the foundational stage of finding ministries and people to help spread the word as well as attend the club.
In addition to starting the Language Exchange club, we will also have the opportunity to do some ministry in the Red Light district. We have also attended Monk Chats at Wat Chedi Luang. Basically, this is a Buddhist Temple where people have the opportunity to sit down and talk to monks so that they can practice their English. We used this as an opportunity to sit down and learn more about them and to plant seeds about Jesus. I don’t think I’ve ever met a Buddhist before, so this was an interesting experience to hear what they believe and remind me of how much I love Jesus. I am redeemed by His grace and not by anything I can do or will do.
This is an awkward photo of us because females cannot touch monks. If they touch a woman, accidentally or otherwise, they must go through an extensive purification process, so we were standing awkwardly knowing this.
We also did some construction last week as a squad at a Christian college. We removed lots of rubble/trash and removed dirt from around the wall so it could be power-washed. It was great to serve them for a day. One of the teams will be serving there for the whole month.
Support-raising update:
By the end of this month, we needed to have raised $13,000 in order for me to stay on the field for the next few months. We did it!!! Thank you so much for your support. Whatever amount you gave, I’m so thankful for your support. I am now at $13,449. We need to be at the total $18,200 by the end of January in order for me to complete the last 7 months with my team and squad.
As always, please Donate, Subscribe, and Share the blog with everyone you know.
In courageous faith and for His glory alone,
Sharon
P.S.
Here are links to the blogs of my teammates (Team Tigress):
(Subscribe to their blogs for a different perspective on the World Race than my own. Some of them have also posted videos on Youtube about our time here.)
https://ashleycollins.theworldrace.org/
https://ashleyjones.theworldrace.org/
https://evadidonato.theworldrace.org/
https://kristabooker.theworldrace.org/
https://paigeholness.theworldrace.org/
The song I’m singing this week: Yes & Amen and Do it Again Click link to hear it!
I’m going to make a list here of blog posts to hold me accountable.
Blog posts coming soon:
-Meet Rona (the amazing midwife at Hope Alive Clinic in the Philippines)
-What the Lord taught me during an ATL (ask the Lord) day
-What the Lord is teaching me about healthy community
