| 7/9/09 After about 24 hours of traveling, all 7 of us with our 26 bags arrived to Chaingmai safely, and we hit the ground running.
During one of our first days there, we had the honor to spend time with one of the founders of the orphanage we’ve been observing. She shared with us the vision she got from the Lord when she was 21, and how she resolved to pursue God, not the vision. And now… many years later, after much prayer, partnership and MANY steps of faith, … here we were, standing amidst that dream/vision - a house full of smiles, laughter, faith, prayer, hugs, tenderness, love, worship, and family. Kids once orphaned, abused, about to be sold, burnt, etc. now smiling, running around, laughing, sitting on people’s laps - confident they are safe and receiving and giving love. House parents patiently caring for the kids, caring for one another, and a gentle peace about them. No one is stressed out or worried. Ministry students wake up at 5am every morning to read their Word for one hour and pray for one hour before getting ready for school, ministry, and the other activities of the day. Amazing to see God’s vision become reality: and how He can use any person who is willing to listen and step out in faith to be used to build His kingdom for His glory.. And we also had the privilege to hear of what the future held… the building projects in process, the places for more kids to be housed, schooled, to be able to discover who God created them to be and given the opportunity to live it out. What was amazing wasn’t just the vision or the fact that it is happening right now. What was amazing was the love, faith and hope that so evidently effused out of every person in that place. Truly a picture of the Father’s house. Amazing.
Intercession night. Our second night here, we got to join the orphanage in their intercessory worship and prayer night. It was SO sacred to see the little kids who have been rescued or were orphaned,… now sing about God‘s love for them and to pray their little hearts out. People were walking around, laying hands on and praying for one another … Men in their early 20s were pacing the room, interceding for God to move in that house, the country and those they love and have yet to know Christ. …
I got to sit next to one girl I met 2 year ago. At that time, she had been here for about a year, but was still so shy, SO SMALL, and rarely smiled. This time, she sat in one of the house mother’s laps, said hi and that she recognized me, and smiled. I have been thinking and praying for this girl for 2 years and it was so precious to see her join the other kids in singing “open the eyes of my heart Lord”, with hand motions J. I felt led to pray for her because even after 3 years of being here, I sensed there was still much felt pain and loss. So I put my hand on her knee and started praying,. Then she put her hand on mine and just held it… her tiny hand in mine, and I was filled with so much emotion and hopes and dreams for this girl, all I could do is cry. One whose house had burnt down and had no one.
It is amazing to all of us that we have the opportunity to be here - to see God’s heart and love move in Thailand and its people. Each one of these kids, ministry students, and missionaries have such POWERFUL stories. We can’t wait to continue to get to know them more.
Isaiah 8:18. “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.” As a team, we are reading through the entire book of Isaiah and John while we are here, and this verse stuck out to me. Especially in the context of getting to know the kids - their faith, love, hope, is certainly a sign and symbol for this nation and its amazing to see the transformation that happens as they go from orphan to “adopted”, lost to found, aimless to purposeful, and given the opportunity to succeed, try, fail, and try again. True salt and light to this nation.
7/11/09 Today we had the opportunity join Kevin (a ministry student) at a youth prison. We walked through the grounds of the prison - observing hundreds of kids laying on concrete, watching TV, sleeping, with little interaction. 600 boys and 20 Christians. 200 girls and 4 Christians.
About 30 boys joined us in our time together. We sang one song, Boin and Justin shared their testimony, and then Abe gave a message from John 4 about the Samaritan woman. How God saw beyond the woman’s pain, past, and current behaviors, and invited her to relationship - to true life, and that invitation was extended to others in the group. About 15 people responded and gave their life to Christ. After that, Justin got a couple Words for 2 people in the group. He stood up, pointed one boy out and told him that he was a leader, a people person, and many people follow and are influenced by him - and that God had a promise for him to be a leader of men and that his family would get better. After that, Kevin told us that this boy rarely comes and actually stays for the meeting, and this was the 1st time he sat and listened and stayed for the whole thing. Justin also had a word for another boy who was sitting there - saying that he had an anointing on him, but he was not confident in it… but to be bold and not scared. Kevin told us that this was a boy who was a worship leader and wrote songs, and we got to hear him share a song that basically said “I’m sorry mom and dad, for what I have done. I have cried many tears, but I still love you. Please forgive me.” Then another kid stood up and gave his testimony in which he shared that he had grown up in a Christian family but didn’t want anything to do with God. He wanted to do his own thing. Eventually, he got involved with the wrong people and one day, he ended up killing someone. And it was a time where God challenged him about what he had been living for, the meaning of life, etc. and felt that God had called him to be a leader in the church. Kevin later told us that this boy was put in prison with 3 others for the murder but no one had admitted to who had done it till that testimony. Powerful.
Power of a Hug by Abe Gin During our prison ministry, there was a student there whose jail sentence was over; yet, he continued to stay at the center, because he has no family, leaving him all alone in this world. As he explained this to us, his eyes and face was filled with sorrow. The “orphan” spirit was all over him. It consumed him so much that he looked like a zombie - unable to do anything and leaving him paralyzed relationally. He had no friends at the center. He just seemed all alone. So much rejection has left him scarred to carry out deep relationship. At one point of our time of ministry, I saw him all alone. He just looked like a little boy who was filled with pain of being alone. I didn’t know how to speak any Thai but I knew that he could understand the language of touch. I put my arm around him and gave him a side hug. I drew him near me and embraced him with both arms. I felt compelled to hold him and not let go for awhile. At first, he didn’t know what to do. I just continued to hold him and hold him and hold him. He started to weep. I felt the Lord telling me that I just needed to hold him and show him the Father’s love through my presence. He started to hold me with his arms and squeeze tight. I felt compelled then to pray over him and sing over him. As a father would hold his child, I held him. I sung him a song of love and comfort. I just knew that even though he didn’t understand my words or the songs of tongue, I knew it penetrated his spirit. Dakota, our translator, helped me to speak to him. I said the following words: The Father loves you and he sees you as his son. Jesus is your older brother who has paid the way through the cross and he has invited you to His family. As the Father in heaven sees Jesus with love, compassion, acceptance, and affection, the Father see you the same, for you are His child. I am also your older brother in Christ. You are not alone. After I shared these words, the boy threw his arms around me and hugged me and I continued to sing over him and pray for him. The gospel of Jesus Christ was truly preached both in word and deed that day. I felt the Lord challenged me to be the father to the fatherless, by extending His love to those who are orphaned in this world. I truly felt that it was a holy moment, embracing one of God’s child. I thank God that I had the privilege to be an extension of the Father. As Jesus has been sent by the Father to be the exact image of Him. Now I have been sent by Jesus to be the image of God to those around me. Wow! This is a great honor and high calling.
17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing (Zeph. 3:17).
Later that night, all of us went out with a few ministry students to night market. We saw this one man sitting at the side of the road with a crutch by him. He said that a ministry student shared the gospel with him earlier and that he had received Christ, but that his knee/leg still hurt so he couldn't walk or work. So we asked him if he wanted prayer and he said yes. So a bunch of us laid hands on him, prayed for him, and then within minutes, he was walking up and down the street without his crutches, and with a big smile on his face and exclaimed "God healed me!" :)
7/11/09 Changes by Justin Lee Good things happened. To much to talk about. I’ll share a little about what happened today. First we went to a Youth Prison Camp. We went into a time of testimony, worship and the Gospel. All the kids had so many stories. Some of the most intense stories came out. I can’t say all the names but the kids were amazing. To see how God is moving in all those kids was amazing. For me God is showing me that there is love everywhere. That half way across the world there is love. The same love that I experience at home. God is everywhere.
What God's been teaching me by Esther Kim Number one: Love. Number two: Obedience. Number three: Humbleness. Words cannot explain the things God has been teaching me through this missions trip. First of all, I wouldn't have gone if it wasn't for God. He has provided all of the money to come to this trip. Before I came I thought this trip was expensive so I was hesitant to come, but I was wrong. Our God owns all the riches and gold, all the things we have is not ours, its his. I forgot this, but through prayer and faith God provided. The shocking thing is that this experience is far greater than any amount of money. This experience is priceless. Coming to Thailand I learned a new kind of love. A love that is far greater than any worldly possesions. The love that the kids have at the safe homes is so strong. I truly see God's love in them and feel his love right away when I walk through the doors of the safe homes. They look out for each other. Intercede for each other. Watch out for eachother. It is a beautiful sight. It just warms my heart. When I walk out I feel an over joy of happiness.
I also learned obedience. I've always prayed to God asking Him to let me be obedient. I want to follow Him and listen to his plan for me. I'm still in the process of listening and being obedient, but I think I'm getting a little better through this missions trip. The children here showed me. They are so dependant in God, following Him everyday. It showed me to have that much faith and that much perseverence. Lastly, I learned humbleness. To be a humble steward. The children here has nothing compared to us. I thought about the things God has provided me. He has given me a great mom, who loves and cares for me. Amazing home. I'm just so thankful because God has given me so much. These children here came from nothing, but yet they have greater faith than us. It is truly uplifting seeing them so dependent on God.
These teachings, I believe, is just the beginning of even greater plans that God has instore for me. So right now, I am continuing to listen and follow God with faith and perserverence.
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