From an email sent out, here's an extremely summarized update of my trip to Thailand =)
General items:
It was a good trip... ate lots of fruits and was very memorable. Our team grew closer, and we got to know Alan, Bessie and Hannah, our hosts who made our stay most pleasant and homely, and Tammy their dog.
Ministry:
Our main ministry there was teaching English at 3 schools. However, high up on the agenda was MEETINGS - prayer meetings, cell group meetings, leadership meetings, missionary prayer meetings and ad hoc meetings. So it is very much of "building up the Church" ministry. As for sharing the gospel and testimony, it was done during church services, meetings, whilst teaching, and to people we met. So, we learned that it can be done anytime, anywhere, to different groups of people.
Most useful tool:
Alan's car. The amount of time we spent on the road (tarmac, concrete and/or dirt) and through stretches of less accessible places made us grateful for the car and being able to squeeze into it!
Most common sights:
Small towns, vast stretches of agriculture fields, dots of wooden-zinc 'open-air' houses, dogs, temples, altars, spirit houses and urns, and pictures of royalty along the streets and in every household.
THE PEOPLE
Missionaries & Full-time workers:
Aajaan Mon tha - A local, a full-time worker and has a cute dog named Naam Waan whom she often leaves at Alan's, has become dear to us as we see her very often. Her home is also used as Salok Bat Church.
WEC missionaries - Laura, Stephen, Danny, Corni, Alan, etc. They've been in Thailand for quite a number of years and many of them are going on "fellow", some kind of break. They seek to work with the believers and prepare/train the believers to study the God's Word, bring people to Christ and less dependent on the missionaries.
Believers - Mostly women... and they wonder: Where have all the MEN gone?? Most are not highly educated, work in the fields, sell things in the daalad (market), or are house-helpers. Passionate, hospitable people, they worship the Lord in the most unique of ways. Even though one church doesn't have instruments, that doesn't stop them from singing praises unto Him! (They made their own instruments)
However, one concern is whether they really know the Lord. Many of the new believers are not regular attenders too.
Wit Lai - leader of a church, young and knows a bit of English. Works in the field for 5 days. When we went to her cell group on 2 occasions, the only people attending apart from us were her father and 4/5 year old half-sister. She was discouraged. Reasons given: No transport/late at night, not feeling well, just not going... very familiar reasons.
Teachers and students - Students ranged from primary school to secondary school, some even 19 years old! Really enjoyed trying to communicate with them after the lessons, though it's quite difficult understanding each other. Not sure how much of the gospel message they understood... but am encouraged that believers heard of Jesus Christ since young so it's like seeds being planted... The teachers also heard, one was even interested...
Prayer:
1) Thank God for the work there, the workers and the believers.
2) Thank God for the local leaders eg Aajaan Mon tha and Wit laai He has raised up.
3) Pray for the hearts of those who've heard the gospel, that they'll come to accept Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour.
4) Pray that the believers will be able, willing and bold in sharing the gospel and doing follow-ups.
5) Pray that Wit Laai will not feel discouraged but find strength and encouragement in Him.
6) Pray for more male believers and that they'll be more active in service as well.
7) Pray for wisdom and sensitivity of the leaders and missionaries as they have to handle quite alot of "people problems".
8) Pray for sincere love amongst the people coz Thais are "polite" and may not show their true feelings.
10) Thank God for safety of the team.
General items:
It was a good trip... ate lots of fruits and was very memorable. Our team grew closer, and we got to know Alan, Bessie and Hannah, our hosts who made our stay most pleasant and homely, and Tammy their dog.
Ministry:
Our main ministry there was teaching English at 3 schools. However, high up on the agenda was MEETINGS - prayer meetings, cell group meetings, leadership meetings, missionary prayer meetings and ad hoc meetings. So it is very much of "building up the Church" ministry. As for sharing the gospel and testimony, it was done during church services, meetings, whilst teaching, and to people we met. So, we learned that it can be done anytime, anywhere, to different groups of people.
Most useful tool:
Alan's car. The amount of time we spent on the road (tarmac, concrete and/or dirt) and through stretches of less accessible places made us grateful for the car and being able to squeeze into it!
Most common sights:
Small towns, vast stretches of agriculture fields, dots of wooden-zinc 'open-air' houses, dogs, temples, altars, spirit houses and urns, and pictures of royalty along the streets and in every household.
THE PEOPLE
Missionaries & Full-time workers:
Aajaan Mon tha - A local, a full-time worker and has a cute dog named Naam Waan whom she often leaves at Alan's, has become dear to us as we see her very often. Her home is also used as Salok Bat Church.
WEC missionaries - Laura, Stephen, Danny, Corni, Alan, etc. They've been in Thailand for quite a number of years and many of them are going on "fellow", some kind of break. They seek to work with the believers and prepare/train the believers to study the God's Word, bring people to Christ and less dependent on the missionaries.
Believers - Mostly women... and they wonder: Where have all the MEN gone?? Most are not highly educated, work in the fields, sell things in the daalad (market), or are house-helpers. Passionate, hospitable people, they worship the Lord in the most unique of ways. Even though one church doesn't have instruments, that doesn't stop them from singing praises unto Him! (They made their own instruments)
However, one concern is whether they really know the Lord. Many of the new believers are not regular attenders too.
Wit Lai - leader of a church, young and knows a bit of English. Works in the field for 5 days. When we went to her cell group on 2 occasions, the only people attending apart from us were her father and 4/5 year old half-sister. She was discouraged. Reasons given: No transport/late at night, not feeling well, just not going... very familiar reasons.
Teachers and students - Students ranged from primary school to secondary school, some even 19 years old! Really enjoyed trying to communicate with them after the lessons, though it's quite difficult understanding each other. Not sure how much of the gospel message they understood... but am encouraged that believers heard of Jesus Christ since young so it's like seeds being planted... The teachers also heard, one was even interested...
Prayer:
1) Thank God for the work there, the workers and the believers.
2) Thank God for the local leaders eg Aajaan Mon tha and Wit laai He has raised up.
3) Pray for the hearts of those who've heard the gospel, that they'll come to accept Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour.
4) Pray that the believers will be able, willing and bold in sharing the gospel and doing follow-ups.
5) Pray that Wit Laai will not feel discouraged but find strength and encouragement in Him.
6) Pray for more male believers and that they'll be more active in service as well.
7) Pray for wisdom and sensitivity of the leaders and missionaries as they have to handle quite alot of "people problems".
8) Pray for sincere love amongst the people coz Thais are "polite" and may not show their true feelings.
10) Thank God for safety of the team.
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