THE END...

I love this quote from Helen Keller, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”



When I graduated from Bible College a year ago, I remember walking off the stage and saying this is it, my whole life is before me. Although I had experienced many short term missions’ trips, been involved in a ton of different ministries inside the church and had even done outreach ministries… I still knew something was missing in my full view of what God had planned for my life. So with an adventurous spirit and a willingness to grow I set out on a journey across the world to learn more about missions, myself and a big God.


Now at the end of the three months, I can say what an adventure it turned out to be! Though I’ve never spent longer than two or so weeks in other countries, the moment I set foot in South East Asia I was in love. The kindness of the people, the beauty of the city, all the colors and foods… it was exciting! The thoughts never crossed my mind “what have I done?” because I knew from the moment I signed up to come to Thailand, it would be life changing, but also challenging. I think whenever we step out into the unknown; we step into God’s hands, allowing ourselves to be stretched.


I knew my hands would be tied because of language barriers, so I didn’t come excepting to change as much as to be changed. A lot of the changing in me was when I started to see all my misconceptions slap me in the face. Something’s I thought I knew begin to be reshaped in my mind, I even learned more about my own country while being here. As the weeks went on when I would be sitting amongst the children or in the bars with the dancers or at NightLight with the women making jewelry… I started to realize that though I couldn’t say anything to them I could tell them how much God loved them through the way I treated them. As I am leaving, I leave with only one regret, that is that I wish I had opened myself and heart sooner… three months is a short time, time goes by so fast and I realize now the urgency in being more bond and confident in who God has made me to be. One thing I know was God’s doing is allowing me to serve with two incredible people. Peter and Sandra have a drive to make God’s love known, but they also realize that in order to do that it takes all of us. Learning under Sandra for the past three months inspired me; she challenged me to believe in myself, push past my insecurities and to take more risk. She is known for pushing people toward the mission field, but it is only a reverb of what God has already told us all to do… Mark 16:15


So though I got to go on an adventure of a lifetime, experience new countries, meet new people, see God in a new light, and witness Him not only change my life but the people around me. I leave still not knowing what exactly the future holds, but knowing even more so of the need TO GO. Whether I am in the US or in a far off land, I have to go past myself, go past fears and insecurities. Now at the end of it all God didn’t give me details or write it on the wall where, what or when to do something… but He made the big picture ever so clear, take a risk, step out and GO.

Three months, recap!

Saw some beautiful smiles.

Took some risk



Had some fun times!!!



Made new friends

Did somethings I never thought I would

 

Went new places

Ate lost of crazy food, and discovered a new culture I love.

saying goodbye...



I feel so lucky to have known people who were so hard to say goodbye to.



 

In the presence of .Royalty.

The imagination can take us so far, dreaming big never seems hard for a child.

We owned our royal name today!  

The kids loved every minute of creating their crown & being known as Princes and Princesses!

 If only it were as easy for grownups to grasp who we are in Christ.

It’s funny how scribbling a bunch of colors and throwing some glitter on paper, and calling it a crown… IS all it takes for a child to believe!

Hanging out with kids is such a cool reminder of how Christ wants us to view Him. It's actually simple...

Just through the eyes of faith.

 



Consumers market

Every night, Nana Square lights beam and the sounds of loud music and people gathered from all over the world echo through the city. As we walk to the bars, there is a keenness in the air. Meat and fruit vendors lining the streets, massage parlors, street children selling candy to make money for their "agent". The restaurants and bars have tables and chairs outside that paint the picture of "foreign affairs" as couples gather at them. It is one of the most hopeless and heartbreaking places I’ve ever been. In the middle of it all, you see the faces, and your heart breaks.  Just like all the other vendors, the girls face the street, a product to be bought and enjoyed for a moment.

Friday was by far one of my favorite nights here. I could not ask for a better dinner date than 7 sweet, street kids.

 

 I feel like sometimes it is hard to explain events like this, or even going into the strip clubs. To say it’s overwhelmingly sad, I feel doesn’t give justice to those kids or women’s true state. It is entirely incomprehensible to understand what they really go through on a daily bases. But we get to sneak in a slight glimpse of peace and happiness, into their big picture of horribleness.

“Such as we are made of, such we be.”

Tuesday of this week was, International Day for Women! Oh, the things we go through to show off our beauty as women. If you know me, you know this is a big deal, I have not worn heals for almost 3 months.  Though we see the pains of being a woman, we also see great joys! The Blind Project has done make-up lessons, shown them hair styling tips, then today they did makeovers and a photo shot! Walking into the room of girls getting ready took me back to being in middle school and being a part of a sleepover! They loved it every mintue of being girly...

       

“She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd, She is a woman, therefore to be won” -Shakespeare

Im.pacted

 

 One of my biggest highlights to each week is still going to see the kids! It is a blast and it doesn’t take much for a child to know you love them, even if you can’t say it.




They love story time!
 Hearing how Jesus heals & loves people!

 

The children were praying over Thailand

 





Sweet Benji

 
 

There is no judging impact based off of a certain amount of time, words said, or moment spent loving someone. I put a quote up on Facebook this week that said, “Characters who are on screen from start to finish are not necessarily the ones who have the greatest impact.” I mean in the short time I have been here I have been impacted, it’s been just enough time to impact my thoughts, spirit and heart on world missions, people and myself! It's sad that sometimes we get caught up in having to have this huge impact, sometimes I wonder if people need numbers or stories just for other people. Because God wants plain and simple obedience of the act, big or small whatever he says. Sadly, must think we have to build a master piece to ever achieve anything for Christ.


There was a great team helping @NightLight this week. They had such a sweet presences of God with them. We went and had worship in the park on Thursday and they went to outreach with us on Friday night. On Thursday it rained almost all afternoon and you would think with the rain would come a cool breeze but no, it seemed to be even hotter after. There is a heat that rest deep in the cement, cement that covers almost every inch of the city; it seemed to just boil the raindrops as they hit the ground. But when we got to the park around 4 to do worship, a few of the NightLight girls were able to come and as we all began to sing the coolest breeze began to sweep through the park! And the aroma of nature, and the smell of pure worship, was so refreshing to just stand in.

Friday night at the bar outreach was different then all the other nights. I think the hard part was we were in such a busy bar and the acting was put on so much more by the girls. The room was full of men, it is almost entertaining to watch their faces as they enter the room and see us! We tend to be a set of women that stand out in such a place! One man that saw us odd approached Sandra with quite a few questions, and objectives to why we were there. This man like many of the men in there, was married (18 years). He justified his act by saying his wife knew where he was and what he was doing! Sad. However, our main concern is not for the men but were there for the girls. So, Sandra told him why we were there; to love on and show the girls how valuable they truly are and she told him that the girls hate being there and feel they have no other means of income. The sad statement that followed was one that follows must people that try to justify their whereabouts. He said that they do like it and it is good for the economy! The billion dollar answer, in the state of just wanting to use a PERSON, for your on self-gratification!

My goal for the last few weeks I am here is to spend a lot more time getting to know the girls that work at NL. Because in them you see the impact of a women’s vision to bring change in a place, which to the human eye seems to be a“hopeless situation”. Seeing them make the jewelry, shows the power of obedience at work. Small or big, our impact is always and forever graded by did we love and obey Him!




If you fill the pull to impact a life, check out the jewelry the girls are making! Every bit of the sales goes to them and is changing their lives. http://www.nightlightinternational.com/