Week One: blessed & humbled

I cannot believe one week has already passed; the time has flown by yet I have learned and experienced so much! Day one in Khon Kaen was a whirlwind of moments - meeting new people, touring the city, exploring the campus, eating Thai food, hearing the language, adjusting to the time and embracing the weather. The Campus Outreach Thailand Staff have been amazing. I am so thankful for their love, service, patience and guidance throughout the first few days. The Thai Christians received us with such warmth and self-sacrificing friendship. I already feel a deep love for these brothers and sisters in Christ who have welcomed us into their world to serve alongside one another and labor for the lost.  I have been so encouraged by their testimonies and am humbled by their faith. The country of Thailand is 95% Buddhist. To be Thai is to be Buddhist. It’s the cultural norm, much like Christianity in the South. 

The CCP Team & some CO Thailand Staff & Friends! 

Over the weekend we were each assigned our ministry teams. I am working with Betsy Lawler and three of her Thai disciples. (Tik, Waan, & Joy.) Betsy has served in Thailand for the past 20 years and has been working with Campus Outreach to evangelize in the Education Department at Khon Kaen University. (KKU) God has really blessed her ministry with these students over the past few years. Her ministry is focused on the students in Tesol. (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) This is a highly selective program and it is quite an honor for students to be accepted. KKU has about 34,000 undergraduates and only 40 freshmen were admitted into the Tesol program this year. There are also three other CCP students who are paired with each of the Thai Christians. (Katy, Shelly, & Rachel) I have loved the time spent with this group so far. They are all so encouraging and hungry to be stretched and grow in their relationship with the Lord. The Thai girls have been such great leaders and I am so humbled by their desire to serve God and share the gospel. I will be serving with this whole group throughout the entire summer and focusing ministry on the freshmen class of Tesol students.

My Ministry Team for the summer! 
(Joy, Tik, Waan, Betsy,
Shelly, Katy, Me, & Rachel)

Some of the precious freshmen girls we met at lunch 

Everyday the CCP team gathers to have ministry training at the church from 9:45-11:30am then we break into our ministry groups and head off to the different parts of campus. We eat lunch in the cafeterias and try to sit and talk with Thai students. During lunch we make friends and connections and set up plans with students to hang out each night. The Thais are by far the nicest people I have ever met. They are so loving and welcoming to foreigners! After lunch we have time to rest, workout, run errands, and prepare for our ministry time that night. Our weeknight plans vary but we usually go eat dinner with the students we met earlier then do an activity. Here are a few examples of things we have done so far:

-   Thai aerobics (so much fun & a great workout!)

-   Dinner at the “Market” (lots of little booths with food and shopping)

-   Go to Central (the biggest & most impressive mall ever)

-   Karaoke (they love it! And its awesome.)

I feel so blessed from all the opportunities that God has already provided for our entire team. We feel especially blessed to be working with girls who speak English! God has definitely prepared the way for us. Most of the students are eager to learn more about Americans and they usually want to practice their English. My heart is so grateful for the friendships with a particular group of sophomore students. They are so genuine and accepting and I have loved spending time with them. Last night I was able to bring them to our apartment and show them my room and introduce them to more CCP students. I look forward to spending more quality time with them and am praying for more opportunities to build trusting relationships.

Highlight of the Week: Care Team

Thursday night’s activity is Care Team. (this is like Bible Study) Betsy hosts Care Team at her house and uses this time to study the Bible with the Christians in her ministry and encourage them. Last week there were ten Thai Christians and we discussed God’s strength in our weakness. This is a very busy and stressful season for many students. It was extremely uplifting to share our weaknesses and encourage each other. We also had the privilege to pray together. It is such a beautiful thing to experience Thai and English prayers together; separate cultures united in the love of Christ and praising the same Savior. We reflected on the following verse: II Corinthians 12: 9-11

“‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

This verse is so comforting to me and has been a great reminder all week.

As this week continues please pray that we would be bold and eager to meet more students and make connections. Pray that God would reveal to us the students who are interested and that we would have wisdom to know when to move forward.  Thank you for your prayers and support thus far!