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!

Same Same But Different

Pathway into the community and M's house

It was the same living room where I sat cross-legged five and a half years ago.  The same pictures hanging on the walls, the same plastic covering the floor, the same tin roof overhead. 

The hearts in the home however, where different.  Radically different.
 
"How have you seen your family change since they began following Christ?"  A new friend from Korea/America asked M.

M thought for a moment, smiled, and began to explain.  The change started with her mom.  Mom used to be a hot-tempered woman.  Everyone in the community knew it.    She also collected idols.  The home was filled with idols, from the top of the rafters to the low spiderwebbed corners. 

When some new faces in the community began to speak of a God who doesn't require constant merit-making, Mom was willing to listen. 

God started working on her heart immediately, and she was the first to believe.  The transformation was radical.  Mom threw out all of her idols.  She showed more love, was softer, and began to go to church.

Enjoying dinner in the living room with M's family in 2008.

Over the next few months and years, others who shared the space under their metal roof began to follow Jesus too.  First her sister, then her daughter, cousin and husband.  Neighbors could see a difference and some also came to know Christ and began going to church.

Come to think of it, the pictures on the walls are different now.  In addition to the smiles from the past, new photos line the walls.  They are pictures of M's extended family, those from all over the world who have shared a meal, Bible study, or words of encouragement in her home. 

The Thai saying, "Same same but different," comes to mind. 
Same physical person, same physical place but entirely different heart.

Ministry Glimpse: Hope Cards

photo from www.ywamthai.org/hopecards

What do you do if you live in a slum, have small children, and your husband leaves you? He doesn’t give any financial support, and you can’t get a job because you never finished grade 7. Even if you could get a job, who would look after your children? If you send them upcountry to the grandparents, it means you will only see them maybe once or twice a year. You certainly can’t afford a babysitter.

 

photo from www.ywamthai.org/hopecards

That’s when Hope Cards steps in. It is no accident they’re called “Hope Cards”. They’re called that because that is what they are. A place of hope. A place of caring.

www.ywamthai.org/hopecards

Hope Cards is located just a few blocks from Lifepoint Bangkok church.  It's great to get to know ministries in our neighborhood.  And it is encouraging to know other people are reaching out in specific ways to the families around us. 

If you are still wondering where you will buy Christmas cards this year, take a look at www.hopecards.net.  

Not only are the cards beautifully handmade, they directly support Thai women who are working to raise their families while being discipled and growing in their walk with God.

 

Neighborhood Sounds

Sound.

What is sound?

Sound is a sequence of waves of pressure that propagates through compressible media such as air or water.

No, no, no.  What I mean is, what is the significance of the sound we hear?

My new neighborhood has a lot of new sounds.  Some may see them as disruptions to the peace and quiet of home.  But if one is attentive, these sounds can tell time.  They can be prayer reminders.

Elementary School

At 6:00 a.m. the flat, monotone temple chanting begins.  But even before then, buses and trucks rumble down the street.  The sound of children greeting their friends in the school yard begins around 7:30. 

Bangkok Southeastern High School

Not long after that, the high school school marching band begins warming up.  First, a tumbleweed of random noise, then tuning, then scales.  At 8:00 sharp, the Thai National Anthem is played by the band while a group of students sing along.  Everyone else stands still to listen and pay respect.

Kitchen View

All day long the clank and bang of a nearby construction site comes through our windows (open or closed).  The people working there have families, worries of their own, daily challenges and joys.  The loud speaker from the school announces more activities and instructions.  Noisy motorcycles zip along the road.  The occasional laugh or child's cry from the apartment complex floats by. 

Chinese Temple

As the sun starts to get sleepy, the sounds change.  The Chinese temple is having an event.  Music and a blurred microphone voice saturate the neighborhood, competing with the local karaoke bar.  The shouts of street vendors advertising their tasty treats cross paths with the screech of tires grappling to get home through traffic. 

Buddhist Temple

When the stars (all six of them) light up the dark sky, the sounds are more dull.  An airplane overhead, cars on the expressway going home late, the drone of neighbor's TV, and the low hum of fans and air conditioning units.

We could look at these as interruptions or ignore them as sounds of our world or hear them as prayer requests, calls for help, peas for relief, reminders of the hurting and lost world around us.

Welcome to my neighborhood.  Will you pray for it with me?

Temple Parking Lot