Tuesday January 5, 2010 After arriving in the city where we are working this week, we quickly began getting to know the rest of the national staff and have all been challenged by their faithfulness to make God’s name known on this university campus. Sunday, the staff led a church service and we enjoyed fellowship over a delicious home-cooked lunch. Afterward, we traveled an hour to a small village to visit with the people, play games with the children, and show the Jesus film. One of the staff (whom we have grown to love so much) actually chose to become a follower of Christ after she saw this movie years ago, so we realized what an honor it was to show this to others. When we arrived at the village, I was at first overcome by what was around us. Right outside the city limits lived this group of people who lived in what we would consider great poverty, but is considered a normal village in this part of the country. After a couple hours of games, performing a skit, and passing out some snacks to the kids, we all sat down on the hard flooring of what I’m guessing is the central meeting-place of the village, and began to show the Jesus Film on the staff’s makeshift screen. Over the past few hours, many of us became quite attached to several of the children. They wouldn’t stop holding our hands, poking us, and laughing at our strange-sounding American words. We loved it. As I sat watching this film of a story I had read and heard so many times, a story about the Savior who had saved my life and was now my life, it had a whole new meaning, for I was watching it with people who may have never heard of this good news before. I sat cross-legged on the floor and a little boy, Doo-ane, lay his head on my lap and held on to both of my hands so tight that I could never imagine ever leaving his side. As the movie played, telling the story of my loving Savior-king, my heart began to ache for this small child in my arms. His legs were skinny, his feet were bare and calloused. After we passed out snacks to the children, his eyes lit up and I could tell that he was trying to decide whether he should save the snacks or gobble them up in one sitting. Instead, he decided he wanted to share them with me. My heart marveled at this. At his lack and at his generosity. I could feel God’s love for this child and I soon felt such a burden for him. I knew that I could do so much more for Doo-ane, that he was destined for such harsh things in his future. I looked down at my hands in his, and at his head in my lap and how trusting he was. It all hit me at once that this is what we were all here for. We may not be able to give these beautiful children all that they deserve and need, but we could give them what we had. For me, I could give Doo-ane my lap. I could give him my hands. And all the while I can pray that God will give him His Spirit, that will linger long after our team leaves, that will change Doo-ane from the inside out and reveal all the glorious plans for his life that God has written before the foundations of the earth were laid. And, in this poor, small village, that is what our team gave to these children. After showing the film, 3 people asked Jesus into their lives and the pastor from the local church will continue ministering to them after we leave. He is a good God and is mighty to save. Yesterday we had our first day of ministry on the campus. The faith and perseverance of the staff soon became evident. There are only a few of them and yet 30,000 students that they desire to minister to. Every day, they go to the campus and share the Gospel with those who have never heard it and disciple those who have. Yesterday, our team broke up into small groups of two, with one staff per group to translate, and we got to help them in the good work they have been doing. After a day of ministry, two students accepted Christ, others began to question their previous faith backgrounds, and several Thai Christians were encouraged and prayed for. Lauren, our team leader, noted today that this country, with its extremely high percentage of Buddhist followers and low numbers of Christians, seems at first to be so dark, but that after experiencing ministry so far, it is just not the case. For in one day, so much work was done for God’s kingdom and so much of His light and love were spread to His beloved children. God’s light, even the faintest glimpse of it, is greater and can overcome even the darkest of places. What an honor that He would call each of us to carry His light to these people. After ministry on campus today, tonight the team is heading to a nearby slum to bring gifts and joy to the children. We will play some games and spend time with the local children, probably seeing and experiencing poverty in such a way that none of us have never imagined. Our challenge is to be mindful of the Lord and His surpassing love for the people that we begin to ache for. To bring material gifts that may run out, but to know that the spiritual news we bring is a gift that will never run dry and will never end. Thank you for being a part of this ministry, for though you are miles away, your prayers, support and encouragement make you a vital part of His good news being spread in this country. Continue to pray for us, that we remain in unity and in His love, that we speak with boldness and humility, and that what the Lord opens our eyes to here does not fade but is written in our hearts in such a way that we carry it with us always. Please also pray for the staff here, their love for the Lord and passion for making Him known is unbelievable. And lastly, please pray for the people we have met and will meet, those that have accepted Christ and will do so in the days to come. Your prayers are powerful and are heard by our God. Much love! -Rona Babb |
