What do eggs have to do with Easter?

Unlike the Western culture where I grew up, in Thailand we had none of the traditional reminders that Easter was approaching.  There were no decorations in the stores, no jelly beans to buy, no advertisements for egg hunts in the park, no chocolate bunnies in the market, no baskets overflowing with plastic grass.  Honestly, many times I forgot it was the Easter season all together. 

Most Thai people have never heard of Easter unless they are Christians (only 1.33% of the population according to Joshua Project), have Christian friends, or have had extensive Western exposure.  If they have heard of Easter, they usually are more familiar with the eggs and bunnies than the real meaning.

A full class for Sunday School on Easter

On Easter morning, when I asked the kids in Sunday School, "What is Easter?"

It was no surprise to me that they hesitated then responded, "Eggs...and rabbits!"

So I asked them a question that many of my Thai friends, both Jesus followers and not-yet Jesus followers, had asked me in the days leading up to Easter,  "What do eggs have to do with Easter?"

I got a lot of blank stares, so I helped connect the dots.  "Inside an egg is a baby chicken, right?   A new life.  When Jesus died and rose from the grave after three days, he had a new life, and if we believe in him we can have a new life too."

The kids helped read the full story in Thai and then illustrated the main points.  By the end of class they could retell the Easter story, and they had a new connection between eggs and Easter.  

Guards at an empty tomb!

Jesus made time for children, so my team and I want to do the same.  Our hope and prayer is that God opens the hearts of these children to truly understand His Word and through them, their families also come to know Christ.

The Power of Short-Term Teams

Our Thai friends helped us take the short-term team on a first-day tour of Bangkok. 

9 American high school students joined us this past week, taking their spring break to come serve alongside our LifePoint Bangkok team. Their energy and enthusiasm pushed them through jet-lag  and into a week full of English/Bible camp for kids in the Com110 community, visiting an orphanage and home for kids with disabilities, adult and university student English classes, and lots of relationship building. 

One of my favorite memories from this past week was the last days of the kids' English/Bible camp.  Thai kids are on summer break this month, so the timing was perfect for gathering them together for games, stories, crafts, songs and English lessons. 

As with many groups of kids, we had a few who preferred to draw attention to themselves instead of follow along with the activities. One of the short-term guys and I took on the challenge of reigning in this group of rambunctious kids.  Once we got them sitting down in chairs, they actually started paying attention. 

They could remember the English lessons from the day before and really listened when we shared about the clean heart Jesus gives us when we trust in Him.  This group of boys didn't try to deny that they were sinners.  All hands quickly went up when we asked if they had ever told a lie.  The cool thing was, some hands also went up when we asked if they wanted to believe in Jesus, the only One who can cover our sin and make us clean in God's eyes.  The sneaky, button-pushing boys from the hour before had become wide-eyed and seriously attentive.

Of course there's a lot more than just Bible stories and explaining how Jesus makes our heart "beautiful." And yet at the same time, I had to remind myself that we don't need to over complicate it either.  In Matthew 19:14, Jesus himself said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."  If Christ was calling the children to himself, he must have had a message that they too could understand. 

After a long talk in our small group time with the kids, lots of questions, explaining, and a time for them to pray if they wanted to, we split up for games.  Before we left that day, the 12 year old boy from our group came up to one of the short-term team members and pointed at him then pointed back at himself.  "Brothers."  He said, just like we had assured him earlier in the day.  If he chooses to follow Christ, he joins the biggest family in the world. 

Our team will continue pouring into this community and following up with the kids.  We have been serving in this community for over two years and hopefully will continue to be present and available until members of the community are Christ-followers and raised up to take over the job. 

Experiencing different types of transportation including tuk-tuks, the sky train and riding the river-taxi boat (above).

English classes were divided into small groups and led by the short-term team, a great time for extra conversation and building relationships.

Sharing in the joy and celebration of J's baptism.

American and the Thai friends joined Friday's UniteBKK activities including building a tower out of straws. (This one actually stood on its own and won the competition for tallest tower.  How?  We are still wondering that ourselves.)  

It was a quick, energy-filled week, and I am confident that God will continue the work He has been doing here in BKK!  Thanks to all the extra hands that came to serve with us this past week!