Mission Trip

OK the reason why I haven't been blogging for a week is because I was in Thailand on a mission trip. Nothing to do with the SAF, though we did fly near Kanchanaburi, but rather on an evangelistic mission with 10 others from my church. Five of us were first-timers, but it didn't matter as we all gelled wonderfully and enjoyed oourselves tremendously.

I probably wasn't in the best of condition for the trip, and had a constant cough and slight fever throughout the trip. This and the inherent eczema exacerbated by the daily exposure to the elements. But all this is unimportant.

What was important was how God opened my eyes to His ministry and the wonderful thing He is doing in Khon Kaen and Mahasarakam, towns in Northeast Thailand, one of the most impoverished provinces.

It was so wonderful to see the joy on the children's faces as we visited schools from primary level all the way to university level.

Seeing the primary children with their torn shoes and socks, threadbare uniforms, but still clenching their hands and closing their eyes so tight when we prayed, it broke my heart. But seeing their faces light up with joy when we sang and danced together, it just made all the sweat and fatigue worth it. And they were just so happy with little gifts that we gave, which back home in Singapore our kids wouldn't give a second glance. But here they grasped these as if they were the only things they had.

I put my cap on a little girl's head (let's call her Boo) and she wore it as if she believed she was queen for a day, never letting it go. Due to our policy on personal gifts though, it had to be returned, but I did manage to leave my whistle with her. I'd like to think she's driving her family crazy with it. I'll post a picture soon.

The high school (or what we'd call secondary) students were certainly a rowdy bunch. While at primary level the boys were noisier than the girls, when they grew up it reversed. The boys were all in Boy Scout uniforms, and the girls in Girl Guides' and Girl Scouts'. How they cheered and called for more after our songs and skit! And how eagerly they pressed forward for autographs from us afterward! If we can direct this desire into a longing to know more about God, Thailand will know revival!

Though, it was the Bachelor in English Language students that connected with me. These are young men and women my age who have never set foot outside Thailand, but yet harbour such wonderful ambitions to be tour guides, news reporters, boxers. They show such a willingness to learn about our Singaporean culture, but yet their humility and bashfulness keeps them from asking more. Three of the four male students I spoke too have actually heard the gospel, and two of them had attended church before. Indeed the gospel of Jesus Christ has begun to permeate the youth of Thailand, and we will see them use their energy and vitality to reach their countrymen. A second year student, Off, actually attended one of our children's outreach ministries a night later. I trust God ministered to him, and I'm thankful that we were able to speak to him before he went home that night.

The youth in Mahasarakam under Ajaan Dat were an inspiration to us because they were just SO talented in dance, compared to the ponderous Singaporeans, and they did it with such joy, as if they meant every word, even though it was in English, their weaker language. We were blessed by them, and it was a blessing to be able to have been used by God to answer their prayer for yellow t-shirts.

It was also a blessing to see Air's ministry slowly but surely come to fruition. She now has some land, and she is planning an orphanage, training school and English centre. May God bless her and James richly.

Personally I've been blessed tremendously by the love of our Thai brethren and can't wait to go back. I'm told I have to skip March as it is too hot, but let's see if God heals me eh? I have 16 days leave next year, so it'll be just nice.

The food there is FANTASTIC! May be on the spicy side, but their papaya salad, tomyam, pork, chicken was heavenly. And with all the fresh fruits, it was even healthier than what we eat back here. We were even blessed with a home-cooked dinner by our driver, who shared the same name as the noise his horn made - Phi Phu. We bought all sorts of groceries for him, that bluffed him to say it was for us to bring back to Singapore. He was wondering wy Singapore didn't have all that stuff!

You know, it'd take me forever to talk about everything, and I don't have forever, so I won't. If you wanna know more, just pick up the phone and drop me a line lor!

San-sern Pra-Jao!!!