Last week my Passport Team packed up our lives in Mae Sot, Thailand and began our journey to Mae La Noi. We planned to be living in Mae La Noi for the next 5 weeks, doing ministry with the children in the schools of the area and teaching English. While I enjoyed my time in Mae Sot, I was so expectant and hopeful for what the Lord had in store for us. So we packed into the Songtheaw and headed out on our next adventure. The drive through the mountains was breathtaking. The mountains were so tall they seemed to be only steps away from heaven. The trees were so green it seemed like God came down and painted them in just for us. The rivers and waterfalls were so powerful that they swept up my heart and carried it away. And when we completed the 6 hour drive through the mountains we moved into our home in Mae La Noi.
image
We immediately connected with our host family and fell in love with their spirits. They welcomed us with open arms and endless food. And it didn’t hurt to have a view of endless mountains right outside of our balcony. We spent our days talking about Jesus in schools, swimming in lakes, and building relationship with the families we were with. Aside from the deadly spiders living in our rooms and the rhino beetles with an attitude problem, life was good. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. And ours ended a lot sooner than expected.
image
Due to local corruption in the police and the work of the enemy, we were forced to pack our bags after 5 days and leave the following morning. In the midst of the chaos all I could focus on was the fact that we were in a place where we could be forced out of our “home” because of our religion and outreach. I felt like the world these people have to live in was so unfair. I couldn’t get past the injustice of the situation and it made me so angry. And then I found the light in the darkness.
God wouldn’t allow any of this to happen if it wasn’t going to lead to more glorification of Him. He wouldn’t allow us to be thrown into all of the crazy situations we’ve been in if we weren’t going to be okay. The enemy is so scared of how powerful our team is that he’s throwing anything and everything he can at us. From illnesses, to losing our team leader after a week, to spiritual warfare, to being forced to drop our plans in Mae La Noi and move in less than a week, it’s clear that we’re on the right track.
While I know our team can gracefully handle any challenge thrown at us, I’m asking for so many prayers for all of us. Pray for courage to face every challenge. Pray for us to have grace for each other. Pray for us to find joy in all that we do. Pray that nothing gets any easier and that we stay uncomfortable in life, because that means we’re doing something right. Pray that we never lose the “Yes and Amen” in our spirits.
Jesus is our rock, our foundation, and our savior. We will never stop fighting to make Him known.
Thank you and God bless. More updates to come!!
image
