Next Steps

While on this trip, two questions were answered for me that I (and many others) had been praying for.

The first question: Where, as in what country, is God guiding you towards for the future? I'm not sure I can ever answer that with 100% certainty (because sometimes political situations can change in a country), but I can clearly see that God has specifically planted Thailand in my heart for a reason. Having said that, it means that Lord willing, I'll be looking to go back to Thailand within the next couple years.

The second question: In what capacity will you be used overseas when you go long term? My hope is to look into Student (University) Ministry or Church Planting with some focus on Youth Ministry- I can see how the Lord has planted this specific passion in my heart for His glory. But... I'm also always open to trying out new ministries in the future as well- needs often change and new and creative ideas/ministries take root in missions.

Next Steps: While I have a goal now to go back to Thailand, it may be a couple of years. I still have college loans to pay off. My goal, fully surrendered to God, is to go back within 5-6 years. So while I'm in the States, I'm looking for full time work. Please pray with me as I apply to different jobs. Please also be praying that God would continue to make me more like Christ in every way- for continued love for the Thai people, for joy on the journey, peace in all circumstances, obedience and trust in the hard and scary things, and wisdom for making decisions for the future. Don't be afraid to pray for humility too ;) That's always essential for missions! haha :) And lastly, please pray for a female ministry partner(s) for the future. I've found out that I need to live with and do ministry with another person; it holds me accountable and keeps me from getting lonely. Please keep praying!

I look forward to seeing all of you again...and getting a chance to hug all of you as well! Thank you again for walking alongside me on this trip. It has been a blessing and joy to share with you in serving Christ through loving the Thai people :)

"Through Christ, God has given us this great privilege and authority as apostles to tell people everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to His name."

-Romans 1:5

To God be all glory, honor, and praise!

The Taxi Driver and the Straw

This is a short story of another way God was growing in me a love for the Thai people, even the day I was leaving to come back to America.

The day I flew out, my taxi driver was set to pick me up at 6:45am. He arrived, and out stepped this little Thai man, who was probably between 65-70, about 5', and probably weighed less than 110 pounds. He was SO cute!! He picked up my bags (which were almost bigger than him) and hoisted them into the trunk. With the language barrier, we didn't really talk, but we exchanged smiles.

So, I had gotten a bad head cold two days prior, and thus had packed tissues for an army while we drove to the airport. I had been blowing my brains out for the first 20 minutes, fearful to even look at him because I know how Thai's are about health (they wear those health masks when they have a cold and I had no mask!). And I was praying he wasn't flinching most of the way. After I took a brief break from my blowing, I began to gulp down my Nalgene bottle (one of the big ones!).

Only the Lord knows I'm the sentimental type and would treasure this moment for years to come. As I was gulping down my Nalgene bottle, the taxi driver finally spoke up. And he was scolding me! He handed me a straw, and watched to make sure I'd use it (we were stuck in traffic, so he had time). You see, Thai's don't understand why foreigners gulp out of bottles or cups, instead of using straws. They always use straws for their cold drinks, and you're always given one at restaurants and convenience stores. So I stuck the straw in the bottle and for the next 10 minutes, like a chastised little girl, sipped this big Nalgene bottle with a straw. Every now and then I would look over at him and smile. I had only known this man for 30 minutes, but I was brimming with love for him. Though it was a bittersweet day for me, I felt so much joy and love for the Thai people as I flew out that morning. Can you see why Thai's are so adorable?!

Please be praying for this man, along with the rest of the Thai people. Pray that since he is older, that he would see the emptiness of his life-long "good" works, and would want Christ, who is the righteousness we need.

When Your Heart Becomes a Home

The heart is a strange thing. It often feels what I don't want it to feel, and doesn't feel what I wish it would. But I can tell you that each day I surrender my heart to God, He is faithful to lead and direct it, to hold it, to care for it, and to sustain it. And I'm so thankful to Him for that.

Why am I talking about the heart...again? Because when I first got to Thailand, my heart didn't really like Thailand (I'm just trying to be honest here). There was nothing about Thailand that drew me in. The city that I was settled in the first three months didn't appeal to me at all. It was flat, concrete, weird smells, unidentified fruits at the market, unidentified feces on the ground...you get the point. But God was so good- I'm not sure where this idea started, but all of you began to pray that God would give me a love for the people. And the strangest thing happened.

And you know, you hear it talked about, about how God can move a heart, change it...but it came softly...that love for the people. It started with my house cleaner- she wouldn't leave me alone. But, secretly, I didn't want her to leave me alone anyway ;) She would come in every other morning, singing these crazy Thai songs as she cleaned the bathroom, and then with the little English she spoke, introduced me to her family through pictures on her phone. I didn't even know who her mother was, but she made me feel like I had known her for years, like I was family. She was my first interaction with these beautiful people. And little by little, God started acquainting me more with the Thai's.

Everyday I began finding new things that I enjoyed about being with the Thai people. Their silly smiles, their hearty laughs, and don't you know they smell SO good!! I couldn't stop taking it in. I really began to enjoy being with these people. So many times I didn't understand what they were saying, but I understood a laugh, a smile, a hug, a squeeze of the arm. More and more I liked these Thai people.

Side note. Let's take off the rose-colored glasses for a second. Yes, there were things I didn't like- cultural differences, being taken advantage of as a foreigner, and the always looming idea that I could meet a poisonous snake and not survive to tell the tale. But in seriousness, over time the cultural differences became part of life, and for every Thai person who might have taken advantage of me in a sale, there were 10 others loving on me elsewhere. That's our world- whether you're in America, or Russia, or Thailand- you're interacting with humans.

So this like that had made it's way into my heart...I didn't realize it, until I was in Walmart the other day unintentionally looking for a Thai person (trust me, there is probably a population of 3 Thai people in our area), and didn't see a single one, and I wanted to cry. I realized I no longer liked the Thai people...I love them. Since I came back, I have dreamt every night of these beautiful people- students, house cleaners, restaurant owners, youth workers, teachers, shop keepers- people that I met day in and day out in Thailand. They've been tucked away deep inside my heart, in a portion assigned "The Thai People." And I have this feeling that it's permanent. Because unlike other trips I've gone on where in the first week I've been relieved to come home, and everyday I begin to forget the faces, I can't shake these people- everyday I remember them as if I just saw them yesterday. They've already found a home in my heart. And I praise God for giving me this love that I couldn't have ever conjured on my own.

A Recap of August/September

The ministry in August/September was based around a youth house in Lopburi, where two Christian Thai women, N and I, live upstairs and invite students to come, hang out, and chat/speak English downstairs. Our team consisted of Sam and Lizzie (two short-termers from the UK) as well as P (our team leader and student worker in Lopburi) N, I, and myself.

Recap of August/September (Student Ministry in Lopburi, Thailand):
- 2 English Camps- where we had the chance to spend time with the students through speaking English and building relationships (went to a zoo, a buffalo park, an elephant park, and several "museum" type areas)
- Teaching English in a 1st year class at the university
- Teaching Music through speaking English on Tuesdays
- Youth Club on Wednesdays- we baked pizza, pancakes, and a Thai sweet in the afternoons with the students for each week we were there
- Cell Group on Thursdays- consisted of a couple group games and a Bible lesson
- Retirement Home- to visit with the elderly in Lopburi- it was awesome!
- Speaking English with students at the Youth House in Lopburi
- Time to build relationships with the students in between each of these things in the youth house and in Lopburi
- And I'm sure I left some things out! They kept us busy, but it was great!

Although I came back to the States, these ministries are still going on- please continue praying for the missionaries, as well as the Thai Christians, and those who still have yet to accept Christ. Thank you for your prayers!

Prayer Requests:
- N and I (Christian Thai ladies)- as they continue serving in the youth house in Lopburi; for their futures as they continue seeking if God would have them elsewhere or still serving in Lopburi
- P (our team leader)- as he continues teaching at the university and serving at the youth house; for his language studies and seminary studies
- Sam and Lizzie- as they re-acclimate to UK culture, and start up university in October; for their futures as they both look into missions
- Students- there are several students who have expressed an interest in the Gospel, please pray for students and teachers alike to take interest; pray for fertile soil and for a desire to read and hear the Word of God
- Thai Christian students- many of them face opposition from their families; strength and endurance to keep seeking God and standing up for their faith with gentleness and love

The 2nd English Camp- touring a zoo together

Students visiting a retirement home- we had a great time! :)