On to month #5 of the World Race! I have a new team once again: Clay, our team leader, Andrew, Elizabeth, Erin, Leslie, who has been on my team with me the whole race, and me. For those of you wondering why we have so many team changes when I originally told you I didn’t think teams changed very often, I am learning that it is a necessary part of the Race both logistically and spiritually. Logistically, people go home early because of sicknesses, deaths in family, or other personal reasons, which means teams lose members. In addition, our current squad leaders are now raising up new squad leaders to take their place in leadership for the rest of the race, as they only stay with us the first 5 months. We also had “manistry month”, in which all 12 of the men were stationed together for a month of ministry together in which they could also focus on spiritual edification targeted for men. These things cause a need for team changes. On a spiritual level, I am learning that the changes also make us more attentive to how God might be stretching or growing us each month and how to better love each other and serve together as the body of Christ in spite of differences in personalities, living habits, worship styles, church backgrounds, and life experiences. I am excited for my team this month and think we will all have a blast working together.
So, my team is by ourselves this month at a ministry called Abba House Foundation, in Chiang-Mai, Thailand. Here is some basic info for those of you who love logistics:
Location: We are outside of the main part of the city, and will have to get transportation to get to the grocery, ATM, or shopping areas. Abba House has a compound with 7-ish buildings, including living spaces for the girls who live here, visiting teams, staff, and missionaries, as well as the church. Some parts are still under construction. The Thai boys sponsored by Abba House live at another nearby location and come for the day only. Outside the compound is a very safe area where we can walk to a 7eleven, some street vendors, and a coffee/all-you-can-eat ice cream parlor owned by one of the church members (yes…this will be a problem for me).
Living Conditions: The 4 of us ladies are staying on the 2nd floor of a building by the church. Our room has big screened windows all around it overlooking the pond in the compound. We have bunk-beds, TWO bathrooms with heated showers, TWO sinks, toilets that flush, racks to hang towels or clothes, and couches and armchairs galore. We are so spoiled here. The men have similar conditions at a separate building where we also have a tiny kitchen to prepare food for ourselves. We’ve already bought breakfast groceries, but we’ve heard it’s just as cheap to eat lunch and dinner out as it is to cook. We may also walk to the university about 25 minutes down the road to eat in their cafeteria for very cheap.
Ministry: Abba House Foundation is an incredible organization that helps free children enslaved in sex trafficking and prevent the trafficking of at-risk children. It is run by Joyce and David Moore. Please spend a few minutes looking into what this ministry is all about. Here are some helpful links and videos that explain it well:
At Abba House, my team will be participating in several of their ministries:
- 3 hours/day with the Lifeboys, that is the 8 boys AH currently cares for. We’ll spend an hour each having bible study, teaching worship songs and music, and conversational English. The English is key in helping them get jobs when they’re older, as most of them will learn trades like driving taxis or selling jewelry in tourist areas. These boys were taken for sex trafficking at a very young age, so from my understanding, many cannot read or write.
- 1 hour/day teaching English to the girls living at AH. These girls attend school during the day and some receive scholarships to allow them to attend college once they are 18 years old.
- Prison ministry-We will go to a women’s drug rehab facility to share the bible, songs, dramas, and prayer. At a men’s prison we will present similar things with a discipleship program that many of the men attend weekly. For both of these ministries, baptisms are available to anyone who may accept Christ.
- Church-We will be preaching on Sundays, and leading all of the Wednesday church services at AH. This includes helping with worship, taking prayer requests, games, and sharing the Word along with how the verses we share have impacted us.
- Hanging out! I’m looking forward to this 🙂 I have a renewed eagerness this month to jump in and form some good relationships in the community I am in. Whether that means jamming out with the kids as they practice drums and guitar, playing games outside, or just being silly as we try to understand each other through broken English and about 10 words of Thai, I think God will be working big things through the time my team spends just hanging out with these teenagers.
I ask that you use this update to be praying for my team and the ministry here at Abba House this month! It’s going to be a good one, and I am so thankful for your part in that. Blessings!
