-Land of the smiles-
Upon arriving in Thailand I couldn't help but notice the smiles of all the people. This is probably which makes Thailand such a great tourist destination. It is a culture that was created. I thought about how in my own life as a Christian I also need this culture that pulls people closer and makes all the problems seem smaller.
Our flight arrived in Bangkok and we took an overnight bus to Phuket. In Phuket we stayed at a special needs school and also at Asia Foundation center which supports many schools and safety houses for Children. Immediately we started Scrubbing off the walls. In the hot humid weather this was a difficult task and with rain almost once a day we could at least take a break. The school teachers were also very eager to help. With all the help we still took 2 weeks to finish this walls but we felt as if this
beautiful new walls brought so much joy to everyone that in the end it was a strong testimony of how God can enable you to continue with such back breaking, finger aching work with a smile upon your face.
(New paint, paintbrushes and a new opportunity)
(Before)
(Scraping today, scraping tomorow and after that scraping!)
(After)
We also did children ministry at different schools and safe houses for children. Child abuse is big in this part of the country and we always had to be very slow in approaching the children because they didn't trust strangers. Please also visit this site if you want to support the Children in Phuket: http://
www.asiacenterfoundation.org/.
(We had a alter call where a few kids wanted Christ to be their savior and afterward we played games with water balloons!)
Thailand's food was so good! Thai Pad was one of my favorite dishes with rice, nuts, prawns vegetables and some kind of sweet chilli sauce. Mango and sticky rice with coconut milk was also one of my favorites. We ate a lot of Long Kong and sticky rice through the day wile we painted! Thailand is also famous for Durian fruit which smells like stinky feet and we had to eat some during a challenge! Many other fruits and things are available to eat at the markets that I have never seen before.
(Sticky rice wrapped in some kind of leaf was our 'sweets')
(Long Kong. It looks like a litchi inside
but with a different taste! Arooi! (Delicious!))
Phuket has such beautiful beaches and lots of tourists. But the bad side to this is that it had become a nest for prostitutes, bars and drugs. Walking through the streets and markets at night we were constantly faced with this reality. It was very sad but it also brought a anger in us to see how tourists wasted their money and lives.
(Bang Tao beach. Hot water and nice waves made it a perfect day-off from work and just some team bonding!)
One day after we painted I met a friendly restaurant owner and she asked about the work we were doing and why we came to Phuket to work. I told her that we went around the world serving people and sharing the Gospel. She was very surprised to hear this. I asked her if she knew about a bus that I could take to go to the beach. She introduced me to a tenant in one of her apartments. This friendly guy said that he would take me
to the beach on the back of his motorcycle. He took me to the beach about half an hour away. Just before I got off he asked me if I wanted to see more beaches. I couldn't believe it that he didn't ask me money and he said that he will show me a few places just as a favor. He took me for a 4 hour ride through some of the most beautiful places in Phuket. I couldn't figure out why he was so nice to me but figured that he and the restaurant owner were grateful that we also painted a piece of their wall. This guy took me a lot more of touring for hours and to the most breathtaking places in Phuket. We became great friends!
(One of the places where my friend took me where I took a jump!)
One day he took me to a big statue of a idol that Buddhists worshiped. He knew that I was a Christian but probably took me there because it was a very big tourist attraction. I was still thankfull for his effort to get me
all the way up the winding mountain road. We had to climb many steps and when we were at the top I was amazed at the size of the statue but also sad that people spent so much hard labor and money to build this. When I and my Buddhist friend looked at the beautiful view from the mountain I started asking him about Buddhism and what they believe. After he was finished sharing I took the chance to share Christianity with him. I told him everything from Adam and eve to the laws that God gave Moses that said that we should worship any one else than God. I also told Him about Jesus who was the complete sacrifice for our sins. I was anxious to see what his expression would be. Would he be angry at me for sharing this? Amazingly he was interested in what I said and didn't take offense.
I invited him with me to church and he came. He enjoyed the fellowship and joy at the church. Through the next week and a half I prayed at nights for him and shared more of my Faith as we toured through Phuket.
Finally it was time to say goodbye. I wondered if I shared the Gospel in the right way because he never cried or fell down on his knees saying that he wanted to accept Jesus as his savior. But he always listened with interest.
He and the restaurant owner and her husband created a big feast to say thank you and goodbye for me and my friends. It was the best seafood I ever had! There was crabs, prawns, mussels, Fish and other Thai dishes! I thought that I would explode that night because of all the food I had. I loved these people so much and hoped that they would all give their lives to Christ.
(My friend with the green shirt and also the family who owns the restaurant. Wonderful people!)
When I was back in South Africa I saw a post from my Thai friend on Facebook where he posted the greatest commandment out of the bible I gave him that you should love the Lord your God with all your heart,
soul and strength and have no other god's. I was overwhelmed with joy. I still have contact with him and hope that I would be able to visit them again.
Thanks for reading my blog. I am sorry for taking so long to post this blog. I am back in South Africa and had a busy and difficult time but to testify and share is something that I can't keep to myself. I still want to write blogs about Malaysia, Cambodia and last but not least, India.
Please pray for:
-My friend from Thailand and the restaurant family
-Asia Foundation Center
-Me, now that I am back in South Africa that God will lead and use me
(www.AlbieOnGlobalChallenge.Blogspot.Com)
Blessings!