Thailand Part 2
So it has been a pretty busy last two weeks, with some unexpected changes along the way (thanks red-shirt protestors). We ended up staying in Khok Kloi near Phuket much longer than initially intended. Originally, we were planning on going back to Bangkok last Saturday the 15th, but then postponed it to Thursday and further to this Saturday because of the violence and fighting going on there. Please keep that city in your prayers. Unless you’re living in a cave, I’m sure you’ve seen news on the current events. By now, they’ve dispersed the main area of protestors but in doing so pushed the violent red-shirts into various parts of the city, making the fighting uncontained. With the push came sporadic shootouts with protestors setting parts of the biggest mall in Bangkok on fire, as well as other buildings throughout the city. Last I heard, the water had been shut down in parts of the city, people were staying indoors, and the death toll had climbed to over 70 with hundreds injured.
With that being said, here’s what we’ve been doing (I apologize for the stark transition).
On May 9 I had the opportunity to share a word at a Burmese church in the afternoon. Earlier that morning there was a Thai service at the building we’ve been staying at in Khok Kloi, pastured by Jum, the woman who has been hosting us. We spent our morning there, and I was able to help with worship, doing my best to finish my preparations for teaching before and after the service. I felt unprepared and unsure going into my teaching, and it was made somewhat difficult with two translators – English to Thai to Burmese. It took three times longer than it would have otherwise, and gave me almost too much time to think about what I was going to say next, making me lose my train of thought at times. Who knows what was coming out by the third person, ha. I’m not really sure how it went, but I did my best and was grateful for the opportunity.
Most of last week, from the 10th to 13th, we had the privilege of teaching the Burmese children some English. These were the same kids we held the camp for the week before (remember?), so it was great to spend more time with them again. We would go every morning, Devon, Ja and I, teaching English for an hour, with Ja teaching another hour of Thai afterwards (making for a good time to sneak off to the beach) then eating lunch to finish it off. We eventually split them into groups according to age, going over the alphabet, playing games, doing some vocabulary and workbook exercises, working on writing skills, etc. The children did a wonderful job and I hope they were able to retain some of what they learned. It was an honor to be able to participate in giving these “outcasts” education. It’s a fact that the Burmese are often looked down on by the Thai community, having darker skin, a different language, and another nationality. I’m thankful for the Christian community showing them love and friendship, treating them as equals and acknowledging their worth as people created by God.
During the evenings we stayed busy, going to various Bible studies and meetings. On the 10th we stopped at an incredible view in Phuket for the sunset before going to a church meeting for Tsunami awareness (not something us Americans would ever have to worry about). It is the most southwest point of Thailand and was absolutely breathtaking; on that night I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. We hiked down close to the water, and as I sat on a boulder, staring at the sun setting over the water, I couldn’t stop thinking of how much I am loved – all of this for me! I was overwhelmed with the presence of God, which is immersed in His creation.
The next three nights were Bible studies. During the middle of the week I started feeling sick on and off from the 12th to the 14th, so aside from teaching I didn’t end up doing all that much, although I managed to sit through some Bible Studies and go to the beach with the kids to end our week at the school. I was a bit bummed to have felt so crappy on our last day with them, having no energy to play or swim. But so is life. I’m happy to have been a part of their lives for a short time.
Last Saturday, the 15th, we went to a town called Phang Nga for an evangelistic outreach meeting to the community. We helped with some random practical needs and stayed the night for the meeting. It was held in the local community center. They served food beforehand, had a time of worship (which I got help out with by playing a kids size keyboard, woohoo!), and shared the gospel. I’m not sure how many of the people there were already current church members, but the turnout was decent. Of course I couldn’t understand anything as usual, but that’s nothing new. It was just neat to participate in such an event. Believers here are taking initiative and going on the offense in reaching their communities for Christ.
So another week rolled by and another day of church services arrived on the 16th. At the Thai church I was able to help out with worship again by playing drums (quite a stretch considering my minimal experience, although I find it fun), and Devon shared a message, doing a great job as usual. The rest of the day was free and I took advantage of it, riding bike to a beach close by, having a perfect time listening to a sermon on my iPod while lying in the sand with the sound of the waves in the background, the sun climbing down the sky above me. I had the beach basically all to myself, just the way I like it. I’ve come cherish these moments alone with God, either in silence or music or a good sermon. It awakens something inside and brings life to a parched spirit.
At the start of this week we had planned on going to work with a SHE Ministries, (which I will go into further detail about shortly) but ended up having to wait an extra day until Tuesday the 18th, giving us another free day, which I never complain about to be honest (at least not while in Thailand). I rode bike to a somewhat nearby café, located on top of a hill with a wonderful, green view. I sat with an iced coffee, reading, studying, writing, and listening. It ended up being a powerful time with Lord as I reflected on some things that have been on my heart lately (I would go into more detail, but another time). The evening was spent at a market right across the street, which is one of my favorite things about Thailand. It’s like having a fair every night, with cheap food, drinks, clothes, accessories, etc. They’re by the far the nicest out of all the ones I’ve seen in different countries, and so much fun! Anyway, this is unimportant, so let me move on.
On Tuesday we traveled further down to Patong (quite possibly the biggest tourist infested area in Thailand) near Phuket Town to SHE Ministries, spending two nights there. There are literally hundreds of bars on the main street of Patong where they do ministry, with women at almost every bar available for “business”, and by this I mean prostitution. There are dozens of closed door bars and “shows” available for anyone who wants to watch. This next excerpt is taken from SHE’s website, explaining what they do.
“Started in 2006, SHE (Self Help and Empowerment) is a Christian charity committed to helping women and children at risk in Thailand, many of whom are trapped in the commercial sex trade. SHE is dedicated to providing employment, vocational training and counseling for women who want to help themselves out of this industry. All proceeds go directly to helping them find employment, community, friendship, restoration, and above all restoration of their own value. Mark, Sharon, and visiting teams spend most nights building relationships with women working in the hundreds of bars in Phuket, Thailand. Once a relationship is established after a few visits, Mark & Sharon share the vision of SHE with the women and let them know that there is a way out: they can have a salaried job making jewelry with SHE if they are interested. The only condition of employment is that they must quit their job at the bar completely.”
For more information, check out www.shethailand.org. And actually, now that I think about it, SHE Ministries needs a blog of its own due to the extent of material on my experience there. I’ll give it a few days and post my thoughts, and boy, do I have a lot.
For the sake of a quick update on our days ahead, we will be leaving to go back to Bangkok on Saturday, arriving early Sunday morning, and quite possibly going straight to the airport right away or shortly after arrival since that’s really the only reason we need to be there. We fly out Monday night and arrive Tuesday morning in Sydney, where we actually don’t know where we’re staying for the first few nights until we meet up with a friend there on the 30th of May. We’re both excited to go “down under” and experience Australia, but are especially stoked for New Zealand and all it has to offer young guns like us looking for adventure.
So, until next time, may God bless you and keep you, and cause His face to shine upon you. I wish I could post every single thing that I’ve been learning and growing in, but maybe that’ll have to wait for my book (just kidding) or “post trip blog”, whatever that even means.
Blessings from Thailand. Thanks to those still keeping up with us, I appreciate it.
-Nielsen and Devon
OK, so I want to share at least a small taste of my experience at SHE until my next update. Here’s something I wrote after a night out in Patong.
“It pains something deep inside of me to see one so precious and loved living as one worth so little and unloved, giving herself away night after night after night. It’s like the enemy has gone to the core of who she is and stripped it away. Her true identity rests in the fact that she is created in the image of God, made to be loved and to love and to experience all the fullness of love. Take that away, and this hell is what you get. Her life is lived based on a lie that this is it, that this is all she’ll ever be, and that she’s not worth any bit more than the money that is paid for her by some man just as lost and lonely as she is. Maybe tonight I experienced a little bit of hell and the aftertaste it leaves. It’s a bottomless, endless darkness with a thirst that is never quenched, an eternity of ever unsatisfied loneliness and separation. It’s not the flames that should scare us, it’s the absence of God Himself. If a place like this on earth represents a microscopic example of the absence of Light and the insatiable emptiness (demons) it feeds, my God, what about below? We cannot let her be handed over to hell, and by God we cannot allow this hell on earth.”
