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!

From English Camp through Church Planting

A few of the university students who attended English Camp.

How is English Camp related to church planting you may ask?

Our team came to Thailand to multiply disciples, leaders, and churches, but you may have noticed, a lot of our activities go by different names.  We have kids programs, teach weekly English classes, meet for small group Bible study, share hobbies like baking, travel with students, and help with English camps.  However, without a doubt, I believe these activities and church planting are connected.

To begin with, a church is composed of people.  And before people are Christ followers, they are just lost people. "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:10  These are the people we pass everyday on the street, the people who we go traveling with, the people who come to English camp.

New friends!

English Camp is a lake stocked with fish, a lake full of people who may be seeking a hope and Savior that they don't even know exists.  And for a weekend, we have their full attention.  Through lessons, activities, and discussions we share our experiences and the truth of the Word that we have seen proven in our lives. Through games, meals, and traveling together, we build relationships that open up conversations about what it means to follow Christ.

Our hope is that from these relationships, students will get involved in Bible studies, desire to follow God, and come to church.  Then maybe God will give some of them a heart to take His Word to other areas of Thailand, teaching, preaching, and church planting.  

I know some of that seems a long way off, but at one point, planting a church in Bangkok seemed a long way off too.  But God.  Nothing is too big, too far off, too impossible of an idea.  God has already made the Bangkok church happen!  I'm excited to be a part of the stepping stones of future disciples, leaders and churches, whether that's through building relationships in Bangkok or going fishing at English camp.

 

Working on a group invention...and only using English.

Teamwork, silly games, and lots of English practice.

Making fun memories as we pretend to eat the biggest wax ice cream cone that we have ever seen.

English Camp

We all came back to Bangkok on an English Camp high.  It was a great time of connecting with students, not only for improving English, but also for sharing our team's purpose for being in Thailand.

The English camp was long enough that we got to know the students, and they got to know us.  We were able to break down some preconceived ideas about Christians and Christianity while showing them Christ's love.  At the same time, we were open about what we believe. 

In one lesson about speaking, Tiffany gave a short speech, 3 Reasons Why it's Great to be Missionary.  In the closing thank yous, one student mentioned that speech.  We were all encouraged that God opened their ears and minds to remember what was shared.

Another morning, over a breakfast of omelets, toast and fried rice, Stephanie was able to share the gospel with a student. 

At lunch one day, a girl asked me, "What do you do at church?"  The whole table leaned in to listen as Liz and I explained not only about church, but about our relationship with Christ outside of the church building.

I'm hopeful that as God continues to work in the lives of these students and teachers, he will bring up more conversations and prompt them to get involved in small groups or come check out church for themselves. 

Traveling together on the bus.  About 45 university students joined the camp and 5 Thai teachers.

One night some students showed us around the night market after camp activities were finished (I still made them speak English...hehehe, what a strict teacher!)

Teacher Julia.

Listening attentively.

Practicing speaking by giving a short presentation about Cambodia, and dressing up Cambodia style too.

Working hard!

Enjoying the sunrise (but only one morning, the other mornings I was sleeping.)

We went to the beach on the last day to take lots of pictures, play in the water, and SPEAK ENGLISH in real life situations.

Blessings in the Spur of the Moment

The night before English Camp started the university students and I gathered together.  "The camp will be for about 180 students in ninth-grade who speak almost no English."  We were told by the leader who invited us.  "What will you do with them?"  

If it were up to me, that question would have sent my stress level over my head.   Instead, the university students jumped into brainstorming mode, turning the next two hours into a laughter-filled conversation that resulted in activities, games, songs, and lessons for camp.  

To teach the kids that they don't need to be afraid of making mistakes, I translated the camp rules into Thai.  They laughed at my mistakes, but we made a deal.  If I was going to try to speak Thai, they had to try to speak English.

Thai students are used to lining up and listening.  We tried not to keep them in this position for too long.

Some classrooms look very similar to a classroom in you would find in the States.

The school grounds look a little different though.

Practicing teamwork (using English!)

At one station, students learned about Thai herbs.

 

 

Vocabulary and art can go hand in hand.

Making people bookmarks helped us practice our colors and body parts.

See the picture of the king in on the right side of the whiteboard?  His picture is in every classroom. 

Camp wouldn't have been complete without some silly songs.  We also taught the students some worship songs. 

By the end of camp, students were asking for my Facebook name and taking tons of pictures.

Maybe the most encouraging part is that the school's English teacher is a Christian.  He will be at the school all year long and is connected with a Thai church in the area. 

May God work through these students and this community to make his name great in Chachoengsao!
 .