Thailand!
We set foot in this country and we hit the ground running. To be honest, I did not know much about this place, but after taking a cultural tour a whole wealth of knowledge was obtained. We were so blessed by that. It helped me recognize and understand some of the things the Thai church struggles with and also the spiritual strongholds that are over this land.
Thailand is a country of smiling people. They are a very giving nation. The people are very hospitable and well disciplined people. A large majority of this people group is Buddhist with a mix of Hinduism mixed in with it. These beliefs affect every aspect of these people's life. In fact, the people don't even see it as a religion but a way of life. They say that Buddism helps them with concentration and with being able to focus. Both of these principles are very important in this culture. With that, works is a major part as well. Concentrating and focusing wholesome things and peacefulness and the good treatment of others will get you far in life. This people and their culture is fascinating!
We are based in Takua Pa region of Thailand near where the Tsunami hit on Christmas day 2004. Here, we are working alongside a pastor that has been planting a church here for 4 years. He and his wife have a ministry of planting churches for the past 30years here in Thailand. Currently, they have two churches. His wife is pastoring and operating one and He is operating the other. They have sacrificed so much for the advancing of the kingdom of this country, that they were willing to live in two separate cities and see each other only once a week in order to see God's kingdom grow.
Our team is working beside the pastor and helping him in the areas of painting his house and doing some maintenance work around the property, while the other half of the team is working at the community center in the garden and painting some buildings as well. Later on this week we will have the opportunity to go into some schools in the area and teach some english classes and possibly do some ministry! I am excited to see what God is going to do in the remainder of our time here!
Some things you can be praying for the Church of Thailand:
That God would continue to soften the Thai people's hearts and that they would be open to hearing and receiving the Word of the Lord
That the believers here would be deeply grounded in the Truth foundation of Jesus Christians
That the believers here would no longer have the “works” mentality that their culture tell them to have and strive for, but rather find their hope in God and following in obedience after what He calls them to
Comments
Ah, please greet pastor Wasan if you are still there! so cool to everything.
Thanks for all you blogs.
Be brave. We are praying for you teams Luk 10.