While I (Liz) process and compile all my thoughts and experiences from our recent visa run to Cambodia, I’d like to share with you a beautiful guest post from my dear friends, Alli & Sandy! If you have been following my blog, you know that they came three weeks ago to spend 9 days with me in Thailand. Instead of me reporting everything we did, I thought it’d be neat for you all to hear about their time here through their eyes. So, without further ado, here you go:
There are so many troubles and trials that come in the mission field, however, none may be quite as challenging as temporarily relinquishing control of one’s blog. This is precisely what our friend Liz has done. For nine days we were not only given an adventurous vacation in Thailand, but we also received a short glimpse into the life of a missionary serving in the heart of Asia.
We, Sandy and Allison, have been long time high school friends of Liz, so when she invited us for a visit, we jumped at the chance. Our adventure began in Bangkok, where we were introduced to Liz’s apartment, unloaded bags of goodies sent over with us, donned our tourist attire and set out to the famous Wat Arun (an elaborate temple) and Baiyoke Tower (the tallest building in Thailand). We were fascinated with how foreign and exotic everything seemed.
The excitement of a culture so different than our own was overwhelming and exciting; however, the newness of it all started to turn into familiarity as Liz introduced us to each ministry she and other members of her church were involved in. A visit to her church, LifePoint, and time with her fellow servant Stephanie at the BSC allowed us to not only see these missionaries at work, but also allowed us to meet the people that God put in this specific mission field.
A midweek three day jaunt to Chang Mai in the North of Thailand put us back in tourist mode, but also allowed for some much needed relaxing and quality time with our friend. Catching up and refreshing our friendships seemed to be just the encouragement we all needed. However, playing with elephants, zip lining, seeing a waterfall, and shopping didn’t hurt either.
Back in Bangkok, our trip took a more serious turn as we began our day with a prayer walk through the red light district to the Rahab ministry. This particular ministry reaches out to women involved in Bangkok’s infamously seedy nightlife. Here we got to spend the afternoon helping Liz teach an English class and visit with the women. We were surprised by the lack of effort exerted to hide or mask the dark sin that lurked there; everything was out in the open. It was when this blatant defiance against the Lord was put so plainly in our faces that we understood the urgent importance of international missions.
The different missionaries we met, whether at the BSC who teach with Liz or who were all working together at LifePoint church, all represent different church congregations, but are all from Christ’s church and all need our continued support and prayer. It does not take much to encourage them; even a new pack of properly fitting underwear will make a little boy’s day whose parents are in the mission field. We’d never seen a kid light up over new underwear before!
As exciting and adventurous as this vacation was for us, we left with not only a renewed insight into the life of missions but also into the importance of blessing our missionaries.
We’d like to extend a big thank you to Rahab Ministries and LifePoint church for their welcoming hospitality. And a huge thank you goes out to Liz and Stephanie for planning this adventure, hosting us, and giving us one of the best adventures of our lives.
You all are in our prayers and thoughts, and may God continue to bless your daily sacrifices and continued devotion to His calling on your lives. The church loves you, is supporting you in prayer, and has not forgotten you.
We, Sandy and Allison, have been long time high school friends of Liz, so when she invited us for a visit, we jumped at the chance. Our adventure began in Bangkok, where we were introduced to Liz’s apartment, unloaded bags of goodies sent over with us, donned our tourist attire and set out to the famous Wat Arun (an elaborate temple) and Baiyoke Tower (the tallest building in Thailand). We were fascinated with how foreign and exotic everything seemed.
[Wat Arun]
[Baiyoke Tower]
[Zaida, a wonderful woman who works with the Karen refugees in Mae Sot, Thailand]
[Liz's small group and friends on our trip to Asiatique]
[At the Elephant Nature Park]
[Flight of the Gibbon: Ziplining!]
Back in Bangkok, our trip took a more serious turn as we began our day with a prayer walk through the red light district to the Rahab ministry. This particular ministry reaches out to women involved in Bangkok’s infamously seedy nightlife. Here we got to spend the afternoon helping Liz teach an English class and visit with the women. We were surprised by the lack of effort exerted to hide or mask the dark sin that lurked there; everything was out in the open. It was when this blatant defiance against the Lord was put so plainly in our faces that we understood the urgent importance of international missions.
The different missionaries we met, whether at the BSC who teach with Liz or who were all working together at LifePoint church, all represent different church congregations, but are all from Christ’s church and all need our continued support and prayer. It does not take much to encourage them; even a new pack of properly fitting underwear will make a little boy’s day whose parents are in the mission field. We’d never seen a kid light up over new underwear before!
We’d like to extend a big thank you to Rahab Ministries and LifePoint church for their welcoming hospitality. And a huge thank you goes out to Liz and Stephanie for planning this adventure, hosting us, and giving us one of the best adventures of our lives.
You all are in our prayers and thoughts, and may God continue to bless your daily sacrifices and continued devotion to His calling on your lives. The church loves you, is supporting you in prayer, and has not forgotten you.
I love all the pictures except the one where you're about to do flight of the gibbon and your faces all look weird...
ReplyDeleteHaha!! Claire...
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