Pilgrim in Chiangmai [final part with testimony]

Day 10 (Christmas service)

We told stories to the children on the second day we were at Khon Kaen. Had a service in the morning. Wasn't supposed to be on that day, and certain children had to skip school because they were supposed to be performing. They shifted the day for us, which was really quite touching. Had lunch in the church after they welcomed us by tying a giant scarf around our waists, to which we were unprepared for.

Left Khon Kaen and went back to Bro Nat and Sis Pat's house.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I won't elaborate on the rest of the days, because ministry sort of stopped there. I visited a few high schools in Chiangmai as Bro Nat was nice enough to bring me around, in case i do decide to teach there someday. However, language barrier and being rather uneducated about their culture; and the things the people there grow up with still remain as my disadvantage.


To end off, here's basically a more insightful testimony of the Chiangmai trip. I pray that these lessons will only continue to stay with me and make me become the person He wants me to be eventually.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I thank God for the chance to go for my first mission trip in 2011! It was a really meaningful 2 weeks experience, and a time to build new friendships as well as strengthen old ones with the Thai friends there. I thank God for Jasmine who came with me on the first week and for the rest of the team –David, Shirlyn and Arina- that I got to work with during the second week. Thank God for Bro Nat and family as well for the provision of shelter, food and guidance. God was Sovereign in the entire trip and I thank God for the many lessons learnt! 

In the first week, Jasmine and I stayed in the Payap University dormitories, hoping to make new friends with students we’ve never met before. The initial plan was to stay with the Thai students, but due to some inconveniences, Jasmine and I were placed in the same room. I thought it would be challenging to relate to any student at first because it was during the exam period, but God provided us the opportunity to teach them English on most of the nights there. Met Mint and Aom who would come to our room to consult us, and it was a blessed 3 days of getting to know them though it seemed like a really short while. The people there are generally friendly. Bro Nat shared though, that the Thais generally have a “lower first wall” and a “higher inner wall”. We were told that Mint actually did pray with Parn to receive Christ, but when asked again she did not seem to understand her decision and still called herself a Buddhist. We also met Anisha, a Christian volunteer who teaches the students there and desires to reach out to them. It’s really heartening to know that there are youths like P’Apple, P’Parn and Anisha who care so much for the students there, no matter how unresponsive they seem to be to the gospel. I pray that we will be able to meet again with Mint and Anisha and continue to keep in touch when they both come to Singapore in March this year 2012. 

In the second week, Jasmine left and the rest of the team came and we did ministry in Parn’s village. It was encouraging to know that Parn’s mom had received Christ and I was hearted when I saw how happy she was when she showed me the bible that Parn got for her. It was both encouraging and shaming for me to know how much she desires to know about God and to read His word. I was also very inspired when I heard about how Parn changed ever since he received Christ. I couldn’t tell that he used to dislike children when I saw him leading them in games and songs during the Christmas party we had at his house. It also struck me how he was probably the only source of Christian influence in his village, and may be the only one that the children from his village would be in contact with. I thank God for how strong he is in his faith and for his example in wanting to reach out to his family and his village children. I noticed an 18 year old named Khuan who looked like a potential future disciple of Parn. However, he’s still not a believer even though he’s heard the gospel more than 3 times. I pray that God will continue to soften the soil in the hearts of the children and youth there, so that a new generation of believers may begin to grow in Parn’s village. 

After leaving Parn’s village we moved to Khon Kaen and stayed in the church for a night. I heard many encouraging stories just in one day- such as that of Pastor Berm’s mom and a lady member of the Khon Kaen church. They all showed that God is able to heal and use our weaknesses for His glory. I realized how we don’t hear these sort of testimonies very often back here in Singapore, maybe because we tend to be really self-sufficient where we are and choose not to allow God to work through our weaknesses if we ever admit that we have any. I pray that we in a more affluent country will not lose our reliance on God no matter how able we are to support ourselves. 

Observing the church service at Lighthouse, I’ve learnt also that the attacks of Satan can be subtle and can come when we least expect. Most of the youths we prayed for were undergoing some personal struggles of their own and or have backslided for other reasons. Some of us may fall away from the faith intentionally or unintentionally- but all because of the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life which lure us away from what truly matters. However, I’m convinced that the sins that constantly seek lure us away are nothing compared to the glory in Heaven that God has prepared for those who love Him. I’m reminded by Romans 8:18- “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” I also decided to commit to encouraging and praying for the Thai friends I met more often this year and to keep in touch with them, because I realized how easy it is to look at situations and get discouraged if we do not have fellow Christians praying with us. I pray and trust that God always takes care of His lost sheep! 

 

The main challenge for me in the 2 weeks in Thailand was the language barrier despite having learnt 2 terms worth of Thai before. I felt initially that I wouldn’t be say much to express my interest in the children’s lives or towards whomever that did not understand a word of English. But, like Arina encouraged me before the trip, I learnt that love and care can be understood and shared beyond the level of language.  Thank God that the children slowly warmed up towards us and at the end of our stay, they even told us they couldn’t bear for us to leave. I pray that their love for God and interest in knowing God’s word will only increase as the years go by, and I definitely hope to see them again!

Life is obviously much simpler in the village and in Khon Kaen, compared to back at home in Singapore. Initially I thought that people there would be more receptive to the gospel, but I was proven wrong when I found out that most of the villagers grow up in Buddhist backgrounds. For most of them, to receive Christ would be to denounce the beliefs they had since they were in their childhood. I compared the devotion the Thais have towards Buddhism with the devotion Christians have towards God, and I realized that it’s quite sad how we hear more of Christians backsliding than of Buddhists not wanting to be Buddhists anymore. Yet, looking at Parn’s family of a few believers, it’s amazingly heartening how much they really love God, because God is really all they have. Back here in a more materialistic country, it’s so easy to forget God because we have so many alternative idols we can cling on to that give us false security. May God continue to have mercy on us who have so many more distractions in life! 

Going to Thailand has been a good way to end the year 2011, and I returned with so much more to think about. I pray that I’ll live 2012 meaningfully and be a bold witness to all who have yet to know Him!  Praise God for He is good! I’ll end with the assuring verse that Bro Nat shared with me…

Matt 6:33- “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”