Thailand team 3 Feb 2010

After eight hours in a van or Somchai’s pick-up truck we are in Mae Sot!!! We had a safe trip and learned again that traffic lines on the road are only suggestions and not the law.

First, we want to reflect on our activities on the 2^nd of February. Urban missions or ministry is very difficult and the Coley’s are to be praised for their work here. They have been at the University for eight years. They said, “In those eight years we have baptized about eight people. We have averaged about one conversion a year.” That is difficult work. The team remarked that our activity level for the first four days in Thailand was slow, by our American standards. None of us felt like we would be called to such a ministry, but a favorite Bible word did come to mind – perseverance. God has blessed the Coley’s with that gift.

We also know that neither we nor they have any idea if only one of those conversions will be the next (name you favorite Christian leader) person to bring many to Christ. Greg Coley gave us a tour of the University (ranked #2 in Thailand) and the team sat in a public place and prayed for the students, the professors, the Grapevine Christian Campus Ministry, and anything else that came to our minds. We visited the Coley’s home and met their three children (we had already seen them on Sunday) but this was in their environment and it was good.

Our job at Grapevine was to serve the university students at their Souper Tuesday event. The ladies, on the team, shopped for the ingredients of Bob Taylor’s famous “Crab-balls” with Old Bay seasoning. The men went shopping for supplies that would be sent back to the Sunday kid’s activity (another Grapevine project). The leaders needed folders and other materials to keep the children’s individual “stuff” in, so it would be protected from week to week. The afternoon was spent preparing the “crab-balls” and vegetable trays and homemade dip. We helped set-up the activity center with tables and chairs.

All individuals involved for the coming evening stopped and prayed for the influx of university students and the purpose of the evening – sharing Christ in a Buddhist world. We played games, watched very short parts of “The Passion of Christ” (subtitled in English and Thai languages). Questions were asked about a God that would willingly give up His life for the benefit of the world. No other god has ever done that! The question was answered in small groups and in Thai language so the team did not know the answers given, but God knows what He is doing with each one there and the leadership of a very difficult urban mission.

After trying, and not being very successful, in flagging down taxis at 9:45 pm to go back downtown, we were able to get two taxis that were willing to make the trip without charging extra.

Next, let us tell you about today and our travel to Mae Sot. Thailand countryside is very pretty, especially as you get closer to the mountains. The rice fields are planted (the #1 export) and building seems to still be going on in Thailand. Roads are being paved and widened. Gas was 23.68 Baht a ½ liter. You can look that up and know that gas is still cheap in the U.S. We also traveled some toll roads getting out of Bangkok; the urban worl
d was left behind.

As we came closer to Mae Sot we began to encounter police and army checkpoints. Somchai said, “Most of the time they are checking for drugs or illegal’s” (like the people we will see tomorrow and the following two days). Most of you know that the refugee camps are filled, for the most part, with Christians who have fled Burma. Somchai told us today, “The dictatorship in Burma is now targeting all religious groups for destruction or retraining. Refugees are becoming greater in Thailand.” (We also learned, on our trip to the Grand Palace, that the Burmese Kings, 100’s of years ago, were always fighting with the Thai Kings and this is why any Burmese refugees are kept behind barbed-wire. They are still not trusted by the Thai people.)

Finally, we made two additional stops along the way. One was in a “Hillside Tribal” market where Somchai bought some root spices that he can only find here. The people were very friendly. The second stop was not far from Mae Sot; here was a statue/shrine of the regional spirit that watched over the area. As native people drove by they would “honk” their horns to acknowledge the presence of their protector god.

We are in a land that does not lack for many of the basics of life, but we are in a land that is stuck in idol worship and animism. Also, FYI we are at the DK Hotel where a sign in the lobby states, “No Child Sex Trade Allowed.” That’s another story. ---- The Thailand Team