Uarn's Journey Continued

 No-bake cooking night with friends from English class at UniteBKK.

Uarn's story started a few weeks ago.  Start here to read from the beginning. 

"I believe in God but my dad won't let me."  Uarn shared during conversation time after English class.  I put down our English worksheet.  No amount of English is more important than this. 

It just so happened (in a completely God way which means not as a coincidence), that the three people sitting closest to us were Thai Christians who had also com to English class.  Uarn knew this was a place she could find out more about this God who loves her.  She admitted, however, "It doesn't look like a church." 

As she shared her desire to "see" God, Mii opened up a Bible and pointed to a section for Uarn to read.   After reading the story to herself, she looked up in awe. 

"Have you ever read the story of Zacchaeus before?"  One of the others asked.

"No..." Uarn said contemplating what she had read with a smile on her face.  Then her smile faded.  "My dad won't let me read the Bible.  I want to be a Christian.  I believe in God, and I love God."  Passion streamed through Uarn's young voice.

"If you really believe in your heart, than you are a Christian already.  It doesn't matter what your ID card says.  God knows your heart." Mii encouraged Uarn.  She shared how Jesus sought out Zacchaeus and wanted to spend time with him even though he was a sinner, just like he wants to spend time with Uarn. 

We are praying that Uarn can keep coming to English classes and hopefully to church and small group Bible study.  How amazing it would be to see this high school student grow in her passion for God and begin planting seeds of the gospel throughout her circles of influence--with her family, friends, neighbors, schoolmates, and teachers. 

New Life Celebration

 Sunday afternoon, we gathered at the condo pool of one of our teammates. 

"There's nothing special about this water." Brandon clarified, as he gestured to the swimming pool while explaining the command and symbol of baptism.

Time was taken for prayer, committing this new life to God's work, glory, and Kingdom.

Kyle shared how great it has been to see God grow understanding, love, and passion for Christ in this new brother. 

Funny Story: A foreigner learning Thai used the wrong word once and said, "No we will drown..." instead of "baptize."

 

 No one was drowned here!

About half of the Thais who joined us aren't believers.  What an opportunity for them to see and be a part of the celebration with us.  :)

The last baptism was Bakery (right).  How cool must it have been to watch another Thai brother (left) get baptized too. 

We went to eat Swensen's Ice Cream afterward.   (We didn't make it all the way to the original shop in San Francisco, but luckily there's a Swensen's shop in almost every mall here.)

Over ice cream, we were able to explain the reason for baptism again to this friend.  Understandably, it's a strange idea, especially for people who grow up with a background of doing things to make merit.

Thanks to an awesome team and all the Thais who came to celebrate with us!

God on YouTube

Mexican Food Night at UniteBKK

13 year old Uarn sat down at the table after our Friday night event with a big smile.  "I got into the high school I wanted!"  She announced.  Uarn is younger than most of our University student friends who come to UnteBKK, but she is excited to be there each week. 

As she jabbered away about school she played with Taam's iPad.  Uarn opened up the YouTube application and switched the keyboard to English.  Handing it to me, she said, "I want to see God."  My face must have communicated my confusion because she tried again, speaking slowly and as clearly as possible in English.  "I want to see God...Ggoodd." 

We didn't cover this one in Missionary Training School.  Here's to improvising!   

As I took the thin machine, Uarn looking at me expectantly, my mind raced through my options.  Do I explain how very few people have ever seen even glimpses of God, or just say that he can't be found on YouTube? 

Curious myself about what would come up, I typed "God" into the search bar and pressed enter.  Uarn stared at the screen.  As expected, I needed to scroll through the first few options, Jesus hanging on the cross, famous preachers with their hands extended.  Finally I clicked on one titled, God of Wonders.  As we watched the video's beautiful images of stars, mountains, rivers, and delicate flowers, we talked about how God created everything in the universe, from the planets to the oceans to "Me!" Uarn said. 

"Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?"  The bright, inquisitive young girl asked once the video was over.   I shared the entire magnificent story of creation, sin, separation, forgiveness, and ultimate love with her.   In a God's-perfect-timing way, just as we began to get to questions and answers on the outside of my Thai vocabulary, Taam came over and joined us. 

This wasn't the first time Uarn had heard these stories.  She had obviously been mulling over these ideas for a while.  And God was obviously speaking back to her. "I believe in God...When I think about God before I sleep, I have good dreams.  If I think about Buddhist ideas, I don't sleep well."

What a privilege it is to see and be a part of God working in the hearts and lives of Thai people!

American vs. English English

After emptying a day's worth of rubbish bins, the dustman ran across the zebra crossing to the chemist’s shop.  A lorry coming out of the car park nearly hit him.  After taking the lift to the 4^th floor and picking up some pills, he walked back on the pavement to his car.  The pills went in the boot, and he grabbed the spanner to check the gearbox before heading to his flat.  His estate car was old but still ran well.  He took the motorway home, past the cinema, over a flyover and through the roadworks on a dual carriageway.  Sometimes he takes the underground home, but today he had errands to run.   

 Can you decipher the British English version? 

If you're having trouble, below is the story in American English.  I've learned quite a lot of British English while being in Thailand.  It is often what is taught in schools here.  Most of the time it's just interesting to see the differences.  Not wrong or right, I tell my students, just different.   

I also warn my students that people in the States might be confused if they ask where to find the loo, lift, hoover, maize, nappies, off-license, or a push-chair.
(restroom, elevator, vacuum cleaner, corn, diapers, liquor store, and stroller)

After emptying a day's worth of garbage cans,  the garbage man ran across the crosswalk to the pharmacy.  A truck coming out of the parking lot nearly hit him.  After taking the elevator to the 4^th floor and picking up some pills, he walked back on the sidewalk to his car.  The pills went in the trunk, and he grabbed the wrench to check the transmission before heading to his apartment.  His station wagon was old but still ran well.  He took the freeway home, past the movie theater, over an overpass and through a construction zone on a divided highway.  Sometimes he takes the subway home, but today he had errands to run. 

Truth in the Characters

My time in China was luxurious:  hot showers, a kitchen to cook in, cool weather, and playing with a dog that didn't have flees.  (I'm easy to please.)  I figured out how to make the most of the two woks available.  Who knew pizza, enchiladas, and apple pie are all feasible in a wok?!

Spending some time in China also caused me to appreciate some of my Thai luxuries.  In Thailand, I don't have to wonder...

What can I say?
How should I phrase it?
Who might be listening? 
What Christian words shouldn't I use?
Who might understand?
What trouble might I cause for those here after me?

The reality is, a lot of Christ-followers in China live with these questions everyday.  It's a delicate balancing act of being bold yet wise.

However, Christ is and has for centuries been, making himself known even without spoken words.  Over 100 Chinese characters have biblical connections.  For example, every time someone writes boat he is writing vessel, eight, people.  Remember the big boat God had Noah build?  Yep, there were eight people aboard.

My favorite example is the word to create.  It comes from speak, dust/mud, life, walk.  In four works, that's what God did.  Spoke everything into being, created man from dust, gave us life, and caused us to walk.   

The Chinese language is one of the oldest written languages.  Could the language's original writers have known the great truths that we desire today's Chinese to know?

Praise God for the many ways he is making himself known in this country! 

More pictures!

 Getting out of the city was refreshing.  Look at those mountains! 

 Beautiful trails, streams and waterfalls were just an hour and a half bus ride away.  

My hiking buddies.  

 A Chinese friend, my "little sister," taught me how to make some traditional dishes from Ningbo, China. 

They were delicious!  But the snails (bottom bowl) tasted better if you didn't look at them first.  :)

A day and a half in Shanghai... a lot of people, great subway system, and big buildings.

 Shanghai also has an awesome aquarium.  (Great for rainy days!)

 Taz and I spent a lot of quality time together.  She opened many conversations or at least smiles and "Hello" with people in the apartment complex. 

The river was a great place to walk, pray, and see what life looks like in China.  A lot of fishing and washing goes on in this river that leads to the ocean. 

 Other people spend their days working in vegetable gardens that line the river. 

 A number of temples can be found in the area.  Some people are Buddhist, others, I'm told, just "believe in themselves."

About that statement regarding pizza, enchiladas, and apple pie in a wok...it's all about doing things in steps.  First, I made the tortillas in one wok while the filling was cooking in another.  Then, while I was putting them together, I started cooking the enchilada sauce.  I poured the sauce over the top, sprinkled with cheese, and placed one wok on top of the other (like a lid).  I cooked them on low until everything was melted and bubbly.  Yum!

 On the not rainy days, this old town is a perfect place to visit. 

The town has all sorts of traditional food to try, including stinky tofu...

why people like to eat things that smell bad, I still don't know. 

A great visit got me my new visa and left much more to be explored in this beautiful country.

A Daughter's Faith

The prognosis was grim. The cancer was no longer shrinking, but instead, it had spread to the brain.  Many treatments had been tried, many doctors consulted.  The morphine dip was steady and consciousness was the opposite.

"Pray first and foremost for salvation," was the daughter's request, as she booked tickets to go to Northern Thailand the following day.  All the while, she kept hoping this wouldn't end up being the last visit.

The sun rose Easter morning, but it seemed clouded by a heavy reality.  The reality that the person who brought this brave daughter into this world, was struggling to stay here herself.   The morning was filled with making new visitors feel welcome, translating the Easter message, and fellowshipping over lunch.  A day of celebration, and yet of sorrow.  It was easier to just not think about it, but that wasn't really an option.

As the daughter and her husband prepared to leave, everyone in the small ground-floor shop space, aka church, gathered around them.  While visitors looked on, the Body of Christ stood together in faith, praying for the mother in the hospital, for healing, strength, understanding, openness, safety and most of all, salvation.  Tears were shed, hugs exchanged, words of encouragement spoken.  Then the couple headed out the door to the airport.

A lot of unknowns surfaced on the couple hour flight between Bangkok and the hospital in Northern Thailand.  Was her mother still conscious?  Would she be able to to hear and understand the message of Easter as it was shared once more?  Would sharing this time be any different?  What about relations with other family members?  What about the family business? Pulling up to the hospital, all those worries were momentarily set aside.  The most important part was to see Mom.

Being a surprise, their arrival brought tears of joy to Mom's eyes.  Daughter's eyes teared up just seeing her mother, though weak, alert and happy to see them.  There wasn't time for small talk.  Some important things needed to be shared.  But who was going to talk first? 

As beginning words bumped into each other, Mom finally shared how a Christian friend had come over earlier that day.  She shared the full story of Easter.  This time the message of the hope we have in Christ penetrated the depths of  Mom's heart.  It was no longer just words, it was a relationship she wanted too.  Easter morning, she decided to throw out her idols and become a Christ follower.  This was an answer to years and years of prayer.

The journey of praying for the earthly ones we love the most, to love the heavenly One we love the most is no easy task.  It gets discouraging; it gets frustrating; it can even seem useless.  But God is bigger than the biggest hurdles, stronger than the strongest chains, more persistent than the most stubborn hearts, and more loving than we can ever imagine.  


I share this daughter's story of faith in hopes that you will not loose faith in praying for your loved ones.  While Mom is still in the hospital, still has cancer, still struggling on this earth, she now has the most important thing.  She has hope and confidence that her eternal home is secure.  No one in the family could see this Easter's gift coming, and yet God had the timing planned out all along. 

Relationship Triumphs

In a culture so rich in history, I'm surprised to find such little receptiveness to the historical basis for the Bible.  Or maybe I should be, considering much of Thai history goes back a lot farther than 2000 years ago. 

What does it look like to share the gospel to a group of people who aren't interested in the history behind it, aren't concerned about whether the dates line up or not, and don't care to hear the long list of facts supporting the truth of our Savior?  

My friend Fon got me thinking about this question when she asked, "What do you think is the most important part about the gospel to share with our Thai relationships first? ... Just in your opinion."

"Well," I responded hesitantly, "You're really the one I should be asking that question to, since you're Thai."  She motioned for me to continue, so I did.  "Because Thais usually value relationships and feelings more than logical, fact based arguments, I would start with the fact that God wants a relationship with us.  He is not some far away, unreachable, unapproachable God that requires a certain number of candles, sicks of incense, and bottles of red Fanta.  Jesus wants to be our friend, loves us unconditionally, and wants us to love him with our entire heart."

I'm still learning.  A lot depends on the person.  There's no formula, sure-all plan (in any country.)  It never works that way because God loves us all individually and speaks to us differently.  The part that grabs one person's attention and causes him to listen is going to be different from the part that captures another person's heart.  However, at the root of it all, at the foot of the cross, the amazing story of hope is the same.