This story started a few kilometers outside London when we met Seraniah, the owner of the campsite's Thai wife. She told us about her small ministry for abused girls and also that they are in the process of building the first church on Koh Chang Island.
The Lime team was sent to the island to build - literally and spiritually.
We can't claim to have built a church, for the need was a small building next to the church: a male and female
toilet! Not too glamorous, I know!
Spiritually speaking be spent quite some time building relationships with the Thai pastor, his wife, their two small kids; with Judy (a good Christian friend of Seraniah) who was our own personal chef for the time on the island; with Malini, the lady in charge of the ministry while Seraniah is in England and especially with the four abused girls.
We regularly interceded for the girls, because we could not minister so much to them because of the language
barrier. We taught them English, went with them to splash around at the beautiful waterfall in the area and we got to know them even better when we physically built together.
Please pray for 25 year old Fresh, who was tied up and raped at school. The incident affected her mentally, but we believe that the Lord has already healed her from the mental illness. She is still very shy, though. Pray with us that the Lord will continue the good work that He started in her that she may serve Him according to His will!
Faithful is 24 and was involved in lesbian relationships after being molested by her uncle. Please pray that God will
faithfully restore her femininity and her self-worth. Pray also that she will come to know who she is in Christ and that she will mature in her relationship with Him.
18 year old Goodnews stole money and things from shops and people before Seraniah found her, and continued to steal from missionaries when she came to live at the ministry's house. Please ask God to show her that stealing is sin and to help her not to give in to the temptation.
Esther is 16 years old and crept very deep into my heart! She needs confirmation that she is beautiful and that someone loves her. Please pray that she will see how beautifully God created her and that she will realise that the Creator of the universe loves her intimately.
After ten days on the island, we left with the pastor, Isaiah, and his family. The day before we left, Klara (from GCEX leadership) joined us unexpectedly!
We attended a Thai wedding with Isaiah and his family! It was a wonderful
experience to enjoy 7 exotic fishy (no pun intended) dishes after one another!
Then we stayed with Pastor Isaiah, his wife Malai and his two children, Nam Hom (3) and Pu (1). He has been a pastor of a church for 7 years but decided to take this year to work physically for God (specifically by building and travelling to different ministries to serve, very much like a missionary). He was a wonderful example for us of someone who serves God wholeheartedly, serving and travelling all the time with his wife and two young kids! We helped him to finish building a bathroom at his house.
Thailand was a wonderful experience, especially in terms of food! Judy prepared restaurant standard westernized (less spicy) Thai food for us three times a day. We had spring rolls, omelets, fish and crab to just name a few!
Afterwards with pastor Isaiah, we drank milk out of a coconut and ate barbecued rat and also fish eggs!
Physically and spiritually, Thailand was a
wonderful THAIm for the lime team!