The past two days have been completely crazy!... in a good way. It's hard to express how blessed I feel to be a part of what God is doing in Bangkok. We've only been here for less than a week, and already we have seen so much answer to prayer-- and most of those prayers were uttered before our team even arrived in the country. It's one thing to see God move after I personally have been praying for something, but to see him move in response to other people's prayers over weeks and months and get to be a part of it is like a total gift. It's nothing that I fought for, but yet I get to receive the blessing.
That's how I would describe the last couple of days, a total blessing. Friday was just one answered prayer after another. We saw runaways come home, the lost were found, and the captives were set free, literally. It's like Isaiah 61 in living form.
I guess I will have to explain our day for you to understand what all happened... We walked to Dton Naam in the morning and spent some time in prayer in worship. Then we went to eat lunch at a restaurant we've been frequenting, and out of nowhere one of the lady boys shows up, one of the runaways. At the same time this is happening, one of the other boys who had sort of been missing in the slums showed up. So we taught drawing, business, and photography classes in the afternoon, and spent time praying with the boys individually. I got to be a part of seeing one of the boys set free from a lot of torment, and was amazed by the power of God to transform a life. After blessing him, he jumped up, hugging and high-fiving all of us. He was so filled with joy and life whereas before he was very quiet and subdued. It was amazing!
Another beloved lady boy showed up towards the end of the night, after having picked up his French friend whom he had met on the internet. It was definitely concerning, so seeing him that night was yet another answer to prayer. All of us went out to a resaurant on Soi Cowboy, a famous street that has been in quite a few movies. It was like dinner with family, a celebration really of everything that had happened. Several of us went to a pub afterward and listened to an amazing Ska (sp?) band play. I felt more like I was in Europe than Bangkok haha.
Yesterday was just as eventful. We went to the GINORMOUS market in the morning, spending several hours shopping and eating. It's crazy how inexpensive everything is here. I wanted to buy everything in sight, but sadly I only brought a carry on size suitcase :( Last night we split up and did different outreaches. I went to a Lebanese restaurant, where our server told us what we were going to eat haha, it was awesome and delicious. A few of us girls went back to the lady boy bars, the guys went on a treasure hunt, and four others went to find one of the lady boys two of them encountered the first night we did outreach that wanted to get out and offered him a job. Sounds like things went amazingly and he is most likely going to take the job! We had some good group time together as well, just talking and playing games. Everyone on the team is amazing, and I love that we're all here together.
Today we have a free day, so I've been taking it easy. I'm about to get my first Thai massage which I've heard so many great things about. Tonight we'll be going to a park to listen to some live music and eat some street food :)
This week we will be spending most of our time with Nightlight. It sounds like it's going to be an intense week with a lot of prayer ministry and outreach, and I'm so excited to see what other prayers God answers! Thanks again for all of your prayers!!! We can feel them :)
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
First day with Dton Naam
Yesterday we worked with Dton Naam all day, teaching classes, chilling in their coffee shop, and doing outreach at the bars. Dton Naam works specifically to help lady boys find an alternative lifestyle to selling themselves on the streets. They have about 8 lady boys and girls they are in contact with, though many recently have run away for various reasons.
We spent a lot of time praying for the staff of Dton Naam and just getting to know each other during the day. I taught an art class to some of the students and how to make fondant. It was a lot of fun. Thai people are very friendly and the group that I taught loved to have fun with each other.
Last night we went on our first outreach to the bars, I went with a girl from Dton Naam to a lady boy bar. We prayed over the area and talked to some of the boys that Bethany had met before. Initially I was expecting to be sort of shocked, but I wasn't. It's sort of hard to describe and explain what it feels like to be in a place where things are just so out in the open and for it to be a normal part of life. It's just accepted here, by everyone. I think if I were to really think about what is going on, I would just break down and cry... which I probably will do later. I'm filled with feelings of anger and sadness, but mostly I feel indifferent. It's like my mind won't process what is really happening, what brokenness there really is. It's all so fake. I know these people aren't really happy, and I hate that they have to pretend like they are.
I'm not really sure what else to say. We're doing outreach again tonight, so maybe I will have some more feelings thrown into the mix. Until then, pray for Dton Naam and the lady boys that have run away. I know the staff feels discouraged to have invested so much time in the boys and then to have them run away. Pray for our team, a lot of us have come down with various sicknesses and fought some demonic dreams at night. Thanks for all of your love and support, we seriously could not do this without a team backing us in prayer.
We spent a lot of time praying for the staff of Dton Naam and just getting to know each other during the day. I taught an art class to some of the students and how to make fondant. It was a lot of fun. Thai people are very friendly and the group that I taught loved to have fun with each other.
Last night we went on our first outreach to the bars, I went with a girl from Dton Naam to a lady boy bar. We prayed over the area and talked to some of the boys that Bethany had met before. Initially I was expecting to be sort of shocked, but I wasn't. It's sort of hard to describe and explain what it feels like to be in a place where things are just so out in the open and for it to be a normal part of life. It's just accepted here, by everyone. I think if I were to really think about what is going on, I would just break down and cry... which I probably will do later. I'm filled with feelings of anger and sadness, but mostly I feel indifferent. It's like my mind won't process what is really happening, what brokenness there really is. It's all so fake. I know these people aren't really happy, and I hate that they have to pretend like they are.
I'm not really sure what else to say. We're doing outreach again tonight, so maybe I will have some more feelings thrown into the mix. Until then, pray for Dton Naam and the lady boys that have run away. I know the staff feels discouraged to have invested so much time in the boys and then to have them run away. Pray for our team, a lot of us have come down with various sicknesses and fought some demonic dreams at night. Thanks for all of your love and support, we seriously could not do this without a team backing us in prayer.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
I'm here!!! (Bangkok, that is)
We arrived around 11:30 local time last night after a long day of flying. The first flight took us from LAX to Tokyo, and lasted 11 hours, during which I watched a plethora of movies. Definitely a preferable way to spend an 11 hour flight :) Our second flight was about half as long, and amazingly I slept a few hours after slowly drifting to sleep while watching Drive, which is sort of a miracle for me since I rarely sleep on planes. We were taken to our hotel immediately where we all settled in for the night and tried to get as much sleep as possible.
It's crazy that I am here, finally seeing the city I've thought about often in the last couple of months. In a lot of ways Bangkok reminds me of LA; constant activity, people everywhere, and similar stereotypes. But it definitely has its own vibe. There are shrines to gods/spirits on every street. The buildings are practically built on top of each other. The drivers are crazy, like LA, but even more so. And there are Westerners everywhere, mostly men. Oh, and it is VERY humid (that seems to be a trend for missions trips that I've been on)
Today was sort of a chill day, which was nice so we could get adjusted to the city. We ate breakfast at our hotel and went to a cafe near by to do some team bonding I guess you could say. I had my first Thai tea in Thailand, it was delicious. After, we had our first Thai meal, and then walked to Night Light to see their building and to meet the leaders/founders, Jeff and Annie. We also took our first prayer walk through the red light district, each of us focusing on a different part of the Lord's prayer. Mine was Our Father who art in Heaven. As I was praying I just felt the reminder that God is our Father, for ALL of us, whether we believe in him or not. I think it's good to remember when in a different culture from our own because then it is easier to focus on what makes us similar instead of different.
Initially I was kind of overwhelmed by everything taking place in the city. There is so much going on, cars driving by, vendors all along the streets, people walking, others begging for money, and bars lining the street, and this is all during the day mind you. Later we went to Night Light's other building that is located right in the middle of the red light district, for a time of prayer and worship. It was awesome to see the presence of God drawing people to the building. The front is completely glass, so passersby can see right into the room and see what we are doing. A lot of people stopped by, trying to figure out what we were doing. One man stopped and stayed nearly 15 minutes probably. Turns out he was a cab driver and he was waiting for two American men to I guess buy their Thai girl for the night. He kept looking in and smiling, and everytime he looked at me I just got filled with joy. There was just something about him, that I could tell he was seeking something deeper. I don't know, it was just really neat.
For dinner we ate at Cabbages and Condoms, a Thai restaurant created by the government and a non-profit to inform people about safe sex. Decorations in the restaurant are all made out of condoms, they even have a condom Santa! Definitely an interesting take on sex education, ha.
Even though our day was pretty chill, I am exhausted. I could write more, but I need sleep and time to process. More to come soon!
It's crazy that I am here, finally seeing the city I've thought about often in the last couple of months. In a lot of ways Bangkok reminds me of LA; constant activity, people everywhere, and similar stereotypes. But it definitely has its own vibe. There are shrines to gods/spirits on every street. The buildings are practically built on top of each other. The drivers are crazy, like LA, but even more so. And there are Westerners everywhere, mostly men. Oh, and it is VERY humid (that seems to be a trend for missions trips that I've been on)
Today was sort of a chill day, which was nice so we could get adjusted to the city. We ate breakfast at our hotel and went to a cafe near by to do some team bonding I guess you could say. I had my first Thai tea in Thailand, it was delicious. After, we had our first Thai meal, and then walked to Night Light to see their building and to meet the leaders/founders, Jeff and Annie. We also took our first prayer walk through the red light district, each of us focusing on a different part of the Lord's prayer. Mine was Our Father who art in Heaven. As I was praying I just felt the reminder that God is our Father, for ALL of us, whether we believe in him or not. I think it's good to remember when in a different culture from our own because then it is easier to focus on what makes us similar instead of different.
Initially I was kind of overwhelmed by everything taking place in the city. There is so much going on, cars driving by, vendors all along the streets, people walking, others begging for money, and bars lining the street, and this is all during the day mind you. Later we went to Night Light's other building that is located right in the middle of the red light district, for a time of prayer and worship. It was awesome to see the presence of God drawing people to the building. The front is completely glass, so passersby can see right into the room and see what we are doing. A lot of people stopped by, trying to figure out what we were doing. One man stopped and stayed nearly 15 minutes probably. Turns out he was a cab driver and he was waiting for two American men to I guess buy their Thai girl for the night. He kept looking in and smiling, and everytime he looked at me I just got filled with joy. There was just something about him, that I could tell he was seeking something deeper. I don't know, it was just really neat.
For dinner we ate at Cabbages and Condoms, a Thai restaurant created by the government and a non-profit to inform people about safe sex. Decorations in the restaurant are all made out of condoms, they even have a condom Santa! Definitely an interesting take on sex education, ha.
Even though our day was pretty chill, I am exhausted. I could write more, but I need sleep and time to process. More to come soon!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Love Wins
In less than 24 hours I will be boarding a plane headed to Bangkok!! (Actually my first flight lands in Tokyo, but that's beside the point) It sort of feels hard to believe. I mean, just 3 months ago I was deciding whether or not I would be even going on this trip, and now it is here! I'm leaving tomorrow.
Over the past couple of months, many emotions have stirred in my heart. Excitement, fear, anticipation, questioning, sadness, and hurt for the ones I will meet, just to name a few. I can hardly imagine what sort of emotions I will experience when I am finally in Bangkok. I've heard so much about this city, read about its history, and yet I feel like nothing can prepare me for what I am about to see and hear. A part of me feels overwhelmed, like am I really doing this? Am I really going into the thick of it, right in the middle of one of the darkest places on the earth? Am I crazy?! Maybe...
I've been having many talks/venting times with the Lord in leading up to this trip, which mostly has consisted of me asking God those same questions. The truth is, I feel very inadequate. I mean, I know I have so much to give, so much love to pour out because of the love I've received, but sometimes I get caught up in comparing myself to others, thinking someone would be far better at this than me. Of course it's just a lie, but we all think those things at some point in our lives. Today in church God reminded me that he is the God who uses Davids to kill Goliaths, the weak things of this world to devour the strong, and the simple things to confound the wise. And if I believe that, there's no reason to doubt that God can use me.
As I was having another time with the Lord, being honest with him about my fears, I heard him say, "Daughter, my grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in your weakness." I know I can't do this on my own, and really anything that I can do fully on my own, isn't that worth doing. I'm learning what it means to step out in faith and believe that God is who he says he is, and I am who he says I am. I can't view my circumstances from a natural perspective, or I will get overwhelmed every time. I'm also realizing once again, that none of this is about me. If I can take my eyes off of myself long enough and trust that God loves me enough to do what's best for me, then I will see that in reality, this is not about me. My story and my life is just a subplot in the Master's greater story. And it is in my greatest weakness, that his power is able to be manifest and put on display.
So as I embark on this crazy adventure, I acknowledge my weakness, and trust that in him, my weakness is made strong. He is victorious every time. In the end, he wins. Love wins. And that's reason enough to do something that others would call crazy :)
Over the past couple of months, many emotions have stirred in my heart. Excitement, fear, anticipation, questioning, sadness, and hurt for the ones I will meet, just to name a few. I can hardly imagine what sort of emotions I will experience when I am finally in Bangkok. I've heard so much about this city, read about its history, and yet I feel like nothing can prepare me for what I am about to see and hear. A part of me feels overwhelmed, like am I really doing this? Am I really going into the thick of it, right in the middle of one of the darkest places on the earth? Am I crazy?! Maybe...
I've been having many talks/venting times with the Lord in leading up to this trip, which mostly has consisted of me asking God those same questions. The truth is, I feel very inadequate. I mean, I know I have so much to give, so much love to pour out because of the love I've received, but sometimes I get caught up in comparing myself to others, thinking someone would be far better at this than me. Of course it's just a lie, but we all think those things at some point in our lives. Today in church God reminded me that he is the God who uses Davids to kill Goliaths, the weak things of this world to devour the strong, and the simple things to confound the wise. And if I believe that, there's no reason to doubt that God can use me.
As I was having another time with the Lord, being honest with him about my fears, I heard him say, "Daughter, my grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in your weakness." I know I can't do this on my own, and really anything that I can do fully on my own, isn't that worth doing. I'm learning what it means to step out in faith and believe that God is who he says he is, and I am who he says I am. I can't view my circumstances from a natural perspective, or I will get overwhelmed every time. I'm also realizing once again, that none of this is about me. If I can take my eyes off of myself long enough and trust that God loves me enough to do what's best for me, then I will see that in reality, this is not about me. My story and my life is just a subplot in the Master's greater story. And it is in my greatest weakness, that his power is able to be manifest and put on display.
So as I embark on this crazy adventure, I acknowledge my weakness, and trust that in him, my weakness is made strong. He is victorious every time. In the end, he wins. Love wins. And that's reason enough to do something that others would call crazy :)
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