Week 8: Activity and Calling

I have been amazed at the flurry of activity that has surrounded the presence of these interns. Whereas my struggles while they were still in America centered around loneliness and feelings of being out of place, the struggles that are now present center around neglecting reflection and times of quiet. Yet, it's so beautiful how we are able to band together to serve and go to these Thai people.

On Friday we had our first coffeehouse of the summer. The Lord really blessed us by bringing some 70 or more college students, church members, and community residents to the church. We played games, sang songs, drank coffee, ate snacks, and built relationships in a peace-filled atmosphere. Some of my friends from further away in Bangkok showed up, as well as a whole slew of college students that we hadn't built very strong relationships with yet. Exactly what we have praying for with this college ministry began that night - relationships that we hope will lead to saving faith. That night of fun and conversation really characterizes the spirit of our ministry while the interns are here. It's been incredibly beautiful to see how the community of servants living in this house with me has made for renewed passion, greater accountability, loads more fun, and fresh perspective in this place. I even think that their presence has given me greater confidence to reach out to the Thai people, since I now have men and women to fall back on and refuel me.

Part of me has thought, since I've known these interns were coming, that this time isn't a real picture of ministry life overseas. But, I'm beginning to see that that thought isn't completely true. As I talked with Tim yesterday, he helped me realize that the way in which my time here has been ever-changing is an excellent picture of missions life. There doesn't ever seem to be a set pattern or team or ministry for extended periods of time. There is ever change, and ever the need for flexibility. At times there is deep community, at others there seems to be none. At times there is flourishing fruit, at times there is desert dryness. And missions life even changes with the area of the world in which you serve, and the team on which you're serving. The reality of missions life is that there is rarely anything consistent!

That reality has played into my thoughts on my place in missions. I also had a significant conversation with my fellow missionary Melanie. In reflecting on calling, I shared how I've continued to wonder about my lack of feeling absolutely called to this place and people. I've still not felt a deep heart for this culture and people - at least not any more than other lost cultures and people in the world. Melanie shared that she's seen how people tend to be called in one of two ways: either to a place/people or to a ministry. I have struggled with my lack of calling to any particular place, but it gave me great rest to realize that many people sense a deeper calling to a ministry than to a people. I still don't understand where my heart lies in relation to a particular ministry, but having that understanding has brought great peace as I continue to discern the Lord's calling upon me.

So, again I forgot last week, but here are some of my unique experiences from the past few weeks: I went to a Thai soccer match (during which I sat right in the midst of the drinking rowdies, which led to some other interesting events), I saw perhaps the most skilled soccer ball handler I've ever seen (and he was maybe 9 years old), I had a young Thai boy from the slums stroke my goatee through a Bible lesson, I listened to and watched some jazz musicians with the skytrain passing through windows behind us in a beautiful five-star hotel, and I ate chicken blood. If nothing else, I'll have a whole slew of great stories when I get back.

So, our work continues. And as we hope even more deeply for the salvation and growth of these Thai people, we see even more deeply how we can't create those things. I also see how it has to be the Lord who forms the souls and lives of the interns serving alongside of me. This is to say that we need the prayers of God's people to go with us. Please continue to offer us up to the Lord, knowing that He will hear and respond. And here are the needs I see us having:
-My Reflection and Heart. I have been thinking a lot on my future, particwhere to go anularly in relation to seminary, and I feel very uncertain as to how to handle my life after Thailand. I also continue to reflect on the Lord's calling upon me, especially in relation to missions.
-English Camp. This Saturday and Sunday we have an English camp, which I've been helping plan for and will serve in. It's a huge opportunity for us to build relationships and share the gospel with those who come.
-Campus Ministry. We're talking about moving the date of our campus retreat, and we continue to eat lunch twice a week with students, play sports nightly with them, and simply seek to establish relationships with these Thai people. It's through these relationships that we believe the gospel will penetrate their lives.

I have to apologize for being so inconsistent in posting the "Daily Manna" devotions that I had the opportunity to write, but I plan on being more consistent from here on out. Thank you for your heart for me and for this ministry. Onward we roll...