My Trip to Thailand

Because I am still processing and relishing in it all..I will blog everday this week about something particular from my Thailand trip from over break. That is really the only way that I can think to share its joys with you-little by little.


Let's start with this: THANK YOU so much for your financial support and most importantly for your faithful prayers and intercessions.. who even knows how it would have been but for the grace of God and His delight in the prayers of the saints! I am truly thankful for such missions-minded and quick-to-prayer friends!


So I finally arrived to my house at 130am today after two longs flights and a lovely drive from LAX which spanned approximately an entire day in three to five different time zones.. ha!


I was anxious to begin pouring my heart out in blogs but in light of classes starting today, I went to sleep instead.


This trip was far different than any other short term missions trip I've been privelged to go on.


I had no idea what to expect, I felt exceptionally unprepared and unqualified and tired. and I couldn't figure out in the slightest what God was gonna show me through the trip but I trusted Him to work in me to the degree that I was yielded to Him so that's just what I prayed which oddly enough, only further cemented the feeling that I really didn't know what I was getting myself into but that it would be distinctly beautiful and molded by God's hands!

And it was!

The truth is, God did more in me than I can get across to you. and more in my own heart than through physical or measureable labor. I love how we always think we're gonna go "serve and bless others" and while we may do that in part, God is completely faithful to use others in our lives and bless us and teach us and grow us.


There are two major themes and things that God worked out in me that I wanna share with you. The first is the soldification of the idea that "without love I am nothing". I got to share this with some people before I left but God was quick to remind me of it each day of the trip. Without love, my most scholarly answer to a team member can be the farthest thing from encouraging. Without love, any medical help or care provided is in vain, without love I can cuddle and play with children all day long and it won't mean a thing. I was really blessed to be on a team with amazing people who were like-minded in this. How special to grow in truth and deepen in love for Christ alongside such a group of people.

Love must be present in service, in presenting the Truth, in friendships and all kinds of things...without it I am like a clanging cymbal, a noise maker rather than music.



The second thing God deeply challenged and encouraged me with was the priority of the Gospel in my life. He cemeted the Gospel as my only unshakeable Hope and Joy and showed me the importance of it.. As I shared His love with others in word and in deed, He more deeply punctured my heart with thankfulness with the Gospel. He more vividly painted the picture of my need for it moment to moment. He should me the treasure of being centered on it and making it my primary aim. When the Gospel is literally the center of my life- on my mind, on my heart, on my tongue, in my doing and receiving, He is glorified..I am secure. There is contentment, deeper joy, solid hope. hmmm, I don't know how to get across the severity of this concept, it seems so simple but it profoundly changed my life ( and continues to!)

Being Gospel-centered is the only answer. It allows you to cherish Christ continually, it doesn't put the weight on your ability to "produce" in ministry or missions. It makes you sound. I don't fall apart when I leave my missions team that I've become so close with. I don't come back to the states and hate being American, like I've experienced on previous trips. It doesn't produce a temporary guilt or sorrow for the poor and the lost. It doesn't distract me from the other things God places in front of me.

Even more practically speaking, it allows me to leave the beautiful Karen in the hills of Thailand to jump into 21 units in the armpit of San Diego and still have confidene in Christ. Still have unspeakable joy and unshakeable hope. Because missions isn't my primary aim- the Gospel is. Let's clarify this.. When missions, or what I can take away from short term missions (at this point) is my goal coming back stinks. It's tragic and depressing, it hurts. and it doesnt produce a lasting change of mind or heart or living. When the Gospel is the center, I come back to continually confront sin in my life like materialism, vainity,social injustice, complacency, apathy etc. There is hope and restoration, I live in grace. I seek continually to minister reconciliation. I don't grow weary, I don't become unchanged, I don't forget.

That is the lasting work.. a true change, a deeper love. That doesn't necessarily mean I believe every American should sell everything they have and move to PNG. But every Christian should watch the Gospel stand on its own and fight in their lives. Every Christian should be rooted in love for Christ rather than for even His people and their needs. It means living where I am at, being completely where He has placed me is beautiful, significant, God-honoring. and perhaps that will include PNG or Thailand or South America or Tibet.. But it most certainly includes every single day of living.

I don't know if that makes sense to you. Ask me about it. Or try this, pray that God would give you a deep,uncomparable love for the Gospel. Ask Him to show you what it means practically to LIVE centered on the Gospel. Ask God for a passion for the Gospel that trumps your passion for anything else- education, work, status, marriage, possesions etc.
That's a challenge for you and for me..
This is so long already.. more tomorrow!