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!

If you smile too much, people might think you're in love.

And while I'm bragging on our Small Group, let me just add that we have some great cooks too!

Usually the easiest way for me to explain is by drawing a picture. But I'm not a very good artist (my English students can attest to that), so I'll use words here instead.

We moved the chairs in the small cafe around so we could see each other while we opened up the Bible together.  This week "we" included three Thais, two Koreans, and myself, an American.  In the background, the worship team practiced, a customer ordered a sandwich, and the housekeeper swept the floor.

We started reading from Matthew chapter 5. 

"And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:  'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.'"

While this was a familiar passage to some, others had never read it before. As we looked at other verses that helped us understand each sentence more, we talked about the meaning of each group that was "blessed."  Then we took it one step further asking questions like, "How can we live out these characteristics?"

We talked about how we want to be dependent on God, loving and encouraging to our coworkers/classmates, willing to do the behind-the-scenes work with a joyful heart, pursuing righteousness, and showing mercy.  We all acknowledged that we have a long way to go in many of these areas, but encouraged each other that Christ is the one who makes these transformations possible.

One of our small group friends summed it up well when he shared,

"I am usually happy at work. I am grateful God has given me such a good job.  I try to encourage my coworkers with the gospel.  I smile a lot. Sometimes I smile so much that people at work ask if I'm in love. 'YES!' I respond.  'I'm in love with Jesus!'"

Our small group Bible study is awesome.  Praise God for bringing together such a unique group of people with a heart to learn more about Christ and live lives that reflect Him!

Our city (Bangkok) is desperate for Christ's truth, love, and mercy to be poured out into its streets.

God Is...

As we rolled in a few more chairs for the meeting, the chatting quieted down.  All eyes turned towards "Ned."  I gave him a friendly smile, and he began.  

"I don't really know how to start. This is my first time.  Let's pray."  His quick sentences were undoubtedly nervous, and yet an underlining confidence that God would guide the time was evident.  

Ned was a third year university student when I arrived in Bangkok three years ago.  Since then, he graduated, studied a 5 month Discipleship Training School that included outreach to different provinces in Thailand, and began working as YWAM staff, a chef at the base.  What a privilege it is to see God grow and lead students through university and into "grown up" life.  

It's a shift for me as well.  A good shift, from often being the one teaching or leading to being one of the learners.  Sitting in the learner's chair, I can see Christ from new perspectives, from Thai perspectives. 

Ned led the group in studying some of the Hebrew names for God.  We then used these names to encourage each other.  He talked about using the names in prayer as well. 

I was inspired.  I was reminded why I love my Lord so deeply.  I was encouraged to see God growing us all in so many direcitons.   

I'll share the Hebrew names below, in hopes that they are encouraging for you too.  

 Elohim

God our Father, the All Sufficient, Nourisher and Life Giver.

Genesis 1:1

El Shaddai

God, the Almighty, True and Faithful God.

Genesis 17:1

Adonai

Lord, the Master.

Isaiah 6:1

El Olam

The Everlasting God.

Genesis 21:33

El Berith

The Lord of the Covenant.

Deuteronomy 8:18

Elohei Ma'uzzi

The God of my strength.

2 Samuel 22:33

Jehovah Jireh

The Lord will provide.

Genesis 22:14

Jehovah Shalom

The Lord my Peace and Fullness.

Judges 6:24, John 14:27

Jehovah Rapha

The Lord my Healer, Doctor.

Exodus 15:26

Jehovah Rohi

The Lord my Shepherd.

 Psalm 23

Jehovah Nissi

The Lord my Banner, Banner of Victory.

Exodus 17:15

Immanuel

God with us.

Matthew 1:23

Boldness

Bold enough to take photos in a bright red gown on the sidewalk, so why wouldn't we be bold enough to take chances when we know God is leading?

"Boldness is critical.  Without boldness, my life story will be one of great deeds left undone, victories left unwon, petitions left unprayed, and timely words unsaid.  If I wish to live only a pathetically small portion of the life God has prepared for me, then I need no boldness.  But if I want my life to bloom full and loom large for the glory of God, then I must have boldness -- and nothing so nourishes boldness in me like the gospel!"  A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent 

This passage challenged my small group Bible study and me to think about areas of our lives we are living timidly, living less than the full potential God has for us.

The Bible is full of verses speaking of the confidence we can have through the Spirit.  Confidence to approach God with big prayers.  Confidence to speak His truth in all situations.  Confidence to walk forward in faith.  Confidence to be someone who doesn't always go with the crowd.  Confidence to share the gospel amid cultural or language barriers. 
 

God just doing what He does

 

"Why couldn't people work on the Sabbath?"
"Why was Jesus not supposed to talk to the woman from...ummm...Sam...Sameria?"
"What is a Pharisee?"
"Why is Jesus called the Lamb of God?  Lamb like a sheep, right?"

The questions went on and on.  The girls seemed like they couldn't get enough. 

Neither could I!  This was amazing!

A few months ago these three girls seemed to come to small group for the food, English, and hanging out.  Now they came with a purpose.  To ask questions about what they had read in the Bible.

Only God could have sparked such an interest.

I wasn't alone in my excitement.  After small group, my Thai co-leader messaged me,  
"These girls keep asking me about how they can know God, with those hungry eyes.  No matter how tired I am, I just want to spend time and share with them.  It's so wonderful.  I'm so excited about this and what God's going to do." 

Praise God for working in hearts and giving Thai leaders the multiplication vision as well!

 

No one says our small group is only for students. 
Our "aunt" from around the corner often joins us too.
(second from right)

"Everything that has passed, God has used to teach me."

J shared a bit of her testimony and what God has been teaching her recently when the dorm girls gathered for an evening together. 

I was encouraged by what she shared, and I hope you are too!

-----------------------

I am the oldest child in my family.  When I was born, my parents supposedly were Christians.  But ever since I can remember, my parents haven't followed any religion.  I was born in a very poor family, so as I grew up, not many people wanted to be my friend.  Even some of our family members didn't want relations with us.  I wanted to study but my dad discouraged me saying, "You can't even walk on your own, how will you go to school on your own?"  

I finally got the opportunity to go to school, and it was a Christian school!  But I wasn't very smart.  I was a couple years behind because I started late.   Even though I was born in Thailand, I couldn't really speak Thai.  At home we would only speak Chinese and Akah.  Even though I was still a child and my parents weren't Christians, God was still with me. I might not have know that God was with me, but as I grew up and began to know God more, I could see what God had given me and how he was always with me.

After I graduated from 6th grade, my parents said that was enough studying.  In my heart, I wanted to continue.  Finally God opened up the opportunity to go to study in a bigger city in my province and live at a Christian dorm. 

One thing that has always been on my heart, is that I want to be able to go out of the country to evangelize.  But I don't have citizenship, so I can't leave the country. (This is a common struggle for people from the hilltribes who aren't recognized as citizens.  J is working towards getting her citizenship now.) It's okay though because God has given me opportunities to meet many foreigners and evangelize in my own country. 

Everything that has passed, God has used to teach me.  From not being permitted to study, to having the opportunity, and going on to university.  No one in my family thought that I could study university.  No one else from my village has studied as far as me.  Many people from my community have the old thinking that, "She is a girl.  She will study through 6th grade and then have kids."  That's all.  They think like that. Sometimes that's still a struggle with my family.  

Satan knows what areas can make us fall.  I have stumbled many times. Sometimes we think, "Just wait God, I'll do it myself." We think we can do it on our own.  I have had this thought many times in my heart and mind.  This has caused me to fall to the point that I can not get up on my own. Whenever we think that we don't need to rely on God, we are going to fall. We are going to really fall. In the times that I would begin to think that I was able to do it on my own, God would send a close Christian friend to remind me.  Then we could check our hearts and throw away the ugly thoughts. 

Truly, we have nothing if God doesn't give it to us.  If we don't have God in our life, we can not walk forward in our life. Only by God's power do we have the power to stay or go.  We have to submit ourselves to God and let God be the leader.  When we know we've done wrong, we must quickly ask for forgiveness, come back to God, and let God take first place in our lives again.  It's not that we will never fall again, but when we do, we get back up and follow God's path.  No matter what we do, we want to focus on God.  He is with us, and he is our foundation.

I want to encourage you that everything, from the time you were born to now, has been prepared by God.  If God hadn't led, we wouldn't be in this place now.  We aren't the ones who chose God, but God chose us first, so now we can chose him. Many people like to say they got themselves here on their own, but actually it's God who guided us here.  

As we pray and draw closer to God, we will know that God has given us everything.  Whether it's a good thing or bad.  I used to complain to God saying, "Why do I have to have a family like this?  Or why do I have to have problems like that?" But really, everything if we really think about it, is given from God.  

Two verses that I like to keep in my mind are: 
 
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  (Philippines 3:12) 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippines 4:13) 

I don't want us to have the mentality that, "I know this much of God and that's enough."  But we want to continue to seek God more and more.

The Challenge of Compassion

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, 

clothe yourselves with compassion, 

kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  

(Colossians 3:12)

With the green of trees, chirping of birds, and fresh air of the park surrounding us, we sat contemplating these characteristics. 

  

Compassion.  

picnic in the park

Kindness.  

Humility.  

Gentleness.  

Patience.

The following verses add bearing with each other, forgiveness, and love "which binds them all together in perfect unity."

I challenged each person who had come for bible study in the park to pick one of these characteristics and ask God increase it in their life.  And that included me.  I also warned everyone that when we ask God to grow us in areas like this, he will often give us challenging opportunities.

a guitar was the perfect addition to our park time

In a city full of homeless people, refugees, orphans, prostitutes, addicts, and beggars.  It's easy to find my heart hardening towards the needs of people.  

But that's not the heart I see when I look at Christ's time on earth.  His compassion was often paired with teaching of the gospel, of the hope we have in the God who had ultimate compassion on us.

com-pas-sion:  noun \kəm-ˈpa-shən\ -- sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it

What does it look like to live a life flowing with compassion? 

What does compassion even mean in a world full of hurting people and seemingly hopeless circumstances?

As the sky darkened and we walked toward the park exit, I knew the same challenge I gave to everyone sitting in the grass would apply to me too.

relaxing and cloud watching