Beauty in the Chaos

Wow. It's already been 5 weeks here. I can't believe it. These past few weeks have been crazy busy and the time is sadly flying by. I feel like we just got here yesterday. This place actually is feeling like home. We have learned our way around and have developed close relationships already in such a short time. I can't imagine how quick these few weeks left are going to go by, and it already makes me sad to think about leaving. With that in mind, it causes us to cherish every moment we have here. I'm praying that we've been able to encourage the church here and the many youth that we have been involved with. How different living the Christian life here in Thailand is than living the easy Christian life back home. Here, its rare and an absolute blessing to have several friends that are believers. Here, if someone says they are praying for you- you know they truly are. Here, its not just church lingo. It's real life. Its a WAY of life. I've been so encouraged and challenged during my time here. Never before have I seen a body that has been so dedicated to prayer. Every Wednesday they meet, sometimes at church, sometimes in a home. The members meet and pray over any requests, for sometimes hours, lifting them to our Heavenly Father, who hears and answers. Often times- they meet and pray over a family and their new home. The church here displays a beautiful picture of what being apart of one body means. Helping one another, relying on one another, praying for one another.

I begun to truly learn the power of prayer. This past week, we had a meeting to discuss and pray over the children in the village that we minister to every Friday. The last week we came, they were absolutely uncontrollable. The boys were fighting and beating up one another. Constant screaming, misbehaving, and disrespect. None listened during the bible story- the one opportunity for them to hear about Jesus each week. Most of our team members left that day very discouraged and weary. Our hearts break for these children. Most of their home lives are very bad. Many don't have anyone to look after them while their parents or relatives are busy. Hardly any of them know what love and discipline are. Poverty is a real problem there. I know there are several that don't get 3 meals a day. 2 weeks ago a young boy came to our center carrying his younger brother. The boy must have been around 12 and has a mental disability. His brother, just a toddler, also had what seemed to be a similar disability. The little boy had no pants, neither of them had shoes. Our Thai team members tried to communicate with the older one, but no one could understand him. I sat and helped my friend Astrid feed the young boy. Even crackers were difficult for him to eat. My heart broke as I learned that the older boy is not allowed to go to school, because of his disability. While his parents are away, he was given the responsibility to care for his brother too... When really someone should be caring for him. The is the reality here.

The past week that we went to village, however, was different. We saw them play together peacefully. Enjoying the games without getting upset or fighting. During the bible study, almost all listened intently and participated in talking about Jesus. We all left so encouraged and thankful that the children behaved and listened during our time there. The kids were so loving: sharing and helping and showering us with affection. This might sound so small, but what an encouragement it was to our team who has worked hard to be a light in such a dark place.

One thing that has stuck with me every day since- is our visit to the temple in the village. Most cities and towns have a temple every few miles or so. They are elaborate and big buildings, surrounded by countless carved stone pillars, filled with ashes of loved ones. Spirit houses are set around with small idols of buddah inside. Certain trees are believed to have spirits, and are adorned with fabric, and even women's clothing. This one temple in particular though, was locked shut. Around the temple was dirty and unkept. As we walked farther into the temple grounds, we found a building, with paintings on each wall. Images so awful, I'm still have trouble keeping them out of my mind. The pictures I took of the things painted on the walls are too graphic to share. Dozens of people, naked, bloody. Being tortured. Killed. Burned. Eaten by animals. Humans with animal heads and strange creatures tormenting countless bodies. I assume this is what they believe is hell. In each of the murals, Buddah sat there, in the sky- smiling. It made no sense. There were no pictures of heaven. None of life. No peace. No joy. I walked away with a sick stomach and broken heart for this people. They truly believe this. that there is no grace. Only punishment for your bad behavior. No hope. No way out of this destiny. No forgiveness. No compassion.

Yet, in the midst of the darkness- there was light. Even in the middle of the chaos and lies there was hope. As we walked away from one of the smaller temples, I turned around to see something so beautiful and unexpected. A small tree held two wooden posts, nailed together- held high above all the things near. A cross. Beauty in the chaos.

Even if that was solely placed there on accident, without any meaning- it had a purpose, if even to just encourage us. It was a blessing. A gift. And I'm thankful for the reminder that even in the midst of darkness and pain, Christ is there.



I cherish your thoughts and prayers. As our time is short here, pray that we would be bold in our relationships with our students and have opportunities to share the gospel. Pray that God would send missionaries to Chiang Phang- the village. Its only one among the millions of small groups of peoples separated from any form of the gospel. Pray for endurance for our team as we are constantly busy.