Thailand Week 1

Hey guys!
Sorry I haven't written in forever. So I just returned from about 6 and 1/2 weeks on outreach in Thailand. We spent our time in about 3 different locations but there is so much to tell that I am going to write an update for each week of ministry in Thailand, so this is week 1 but stay tuned for more.

Teaching English at Agape Home

Thailand is known as the "Land of Smiles", a nickname that acts as a mask to cover the incredible pain and injustice ravishing this nation. We started off in a place called Mae Sot which is located in the North Western part of Thailand, bordering the war-stricken country of Burma. It is home to thousands of Burmese refugees and economic migrants fleeing the 60+ year civil war that has been devastating Burma. We had the opportunity of working with a ministry called the Agape Children's Home. It's located right outside the city and run by a man named Pastor Wanai. It serves as a home for Burmese and Karen (I will write more about the Karen people later, their story NEEDS to be heard) refugee children to live safely, eat daily, play, and get a small education. All the children have their own story,

Singing songs with the kids

 some have lost their parents, some simply can't live at home because it's just not safe, some have parents living in the refugee camps but their parents wanted to give them a more positive environment to live in. While we were there, we taught English, played with the kids, did programs teaching them about God, but most importantly we loved them. I've learned that the most powerful thing to combat evil, fear, rejection, poverty, broken hearts, lonliness, and everything in between is the love of Christ. Pure, selfless love with no alterior motives or ambitions can soften the hardest of hearts, pierce the toughest skin and conquer the darkest evil. I was challenged with the language barrier while in Thailand and frustrated that I couldn't have meaningful conversations with these kids, but God taught me a language that I could use to communicate with these precious children of His: love.

Adding a net to the basketball hoop at Agape Home