In the name of love, by Kari Jobe
For I have learned to do everything in love, that through that people will know of Gods goodness.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
We are rapidly entering into our final week of ministry, and coming to the end of month 7. WOWwwwww all the feelings! I’ll share with you my ministry for the month in the first half of this blog, and then some stuff I’ve been learning being in month 7 of the race. So, stay tuned!
This month The Spice Girls were assigned to a women’s ministry. For government purposes I can’t say the name of the home, but it is beautiful and full of colors! These women have come from tribes in the mountains from abused relationships, or family who has shunned them for getting pregnant out of wedlock or because of husbands walking out, so the family can’t take them back. These women are also mothers. The home provides daycare for the little ones. it’s about 30 minutes outside the city, on a farm. There are about 10 women. Our hands got to be apart of starting a garden! Now this is a banana tree garden, so we would hoe and shovel dirt into wheal barrows and bring them about 50 yards to the garden, because a bulldozer can’t reach the garden. From about 6hrs of that we would walk around 5 miles! The best part is that we get to do it with the women. We have dance breaks with them, get to encourage them, laugh with them, and show the love of Jesus to them. Along with manual labor, we get to learn some of the stuff they do on a weekly basis. This includes tie dying, soap making, feeding the pigs, preparing meals, cleaning the dishes, and making organic shampoo!
These women have captured my heart! Day 2 we were there and we‘re all goofing around, laughing, bonding, hugging, and saying I love you! They have grown on all of us. And getting to do this all with my teammates is such a joy! I got to feed the pigs with Sage for the first time in my life our first week here. Sage grew up on a farm, so it was normal for her. It was so gross for me, but made me feel really happy doing it. It was stanky, and I got chicken poop on myself, but there’s something about getting dirty through hard work that’s satisfying! And there’s a shower waiting for me back at the hostel!
This month is all-Squad month, and it was my goal to be intentional with not just my teammates, but my other friends on the squad. Intentionality was the key to being present. I was not intentional the first 4 months of the race. But, Vietnam was a turning point for me. Since then I have been on such a high for God, and for my squad mates. I had to make some sacrifices by choosing intentionality, but the Lord has met me where I’m at, and has honored that. Thailand is truly the land of happy faces. Everyone smiles at you. Everyone says hello, “Swatika!” And the food….THE FOOD! Wowzers it’s good food. I love it here, and it’ll be a wonderful memory. I’m also ready for Botswana in 2 weeks! The last 4 months of the race are coming up. This year has been flying by, but I can honestly say that since Vietnam I have had no regrets.
Details on what ministry will be like in Africa are coming soon. Not sure if I’ll be able to blog, but thank you for your prayers for Q-squad and my team, The Spice Girls!
