{Bangkok}

Tomorrow I will post my picture a day for the month of March, but I’ve been wanting to do a post about Bangkok. The four of us girls went down for several days to visit a couple of ministries down there, and while it was intense in some ways, we had a blast as a team. 🙂
Coming from the relatively {small} city of Chiang Mai (I had never considered it small until now), we felt a little like country bumpkins, running around trying to figure everything out.

We felt pretty accomplished once we figured out the sky train. Especially considering the fact that {one of us} consistently got stuck on the wrong side of the gate and had to be let through by a security guard. Chalk one up for one of a kind experiences. 😉

 

Oh, beautiful city.

And then there was the not so beautiful parts, which usually exist in pretty much every big city. If you follow my blog and know the kind of work that I’m involved in, you will understand the types of ministries that we visited, which are similar to our own. We were so blessed by our interaction with these dear friends, who encouraged us immensely.

Much of what I experienced and saw I cannot write about in such a public place. But the stark reality of evil continues to haunt me. The fact that it exists and that I am aware that it exists gives me a certain responsibility to make myself continually available for God to use. I cannot close my eyes or turn away from it ever again.

About a day after returning to Chiang Mai, with so much fresh on my mind and so many things to process, a friend shared this video. I believe it sums up nicely the truth of the need and my tendency to become too comfortable. May it never be so! May I always heed His call to reach out my hand to those who are crying, and pleading for mercy.

I met a friend while in Bangkok that I will never forget. She was young and beautiful, which fits the stereotype of the profession that she is in.  She responded so fully to the love that was extended to her–she grasped at it. The interaction that I had with her has stayed with me, and will for a very long time. It reminds me of the stark need, and the responsibility that I have to extend His love to those who are hurting. It breaks my heart to think that I may never see her again, but I thank God for the light of her smile in the midst of a dark place that gave me courage and renewed energy for the calling that God has placed on my life.

A few more shots…

One of my highlights was of course getting to drive down to Pattaya for a day and see some of our friends there. It was my first time back since my internship in 2010. So many memories come flooding back. It is still such a place of sin and devastation  but I see God at work there, doing amazing things in the lives of many women and men.

Pi Oh and Pi Tum were our gracious hostesses for the day. I am and will always be blessed by these ladies. I still think about Pi Tum and what she shared with us that day–the lady overflows generosity and a simple trust in her Savior to supply what she is in need of.

New Friends

 

My team…again, we had a blast together. So blessed by each one of these ladies. I’m blessed to get to work alongside of them!

Praise God for the opportunity that we had, the blessings we’ve received and the things that we’ve learned. God is not finished with the Country of Thailand!