Our ministry team (Bo, Laura Ruth, and me) met at least 30 girls this week! We talked to them in the complex, a cafeteria where mostly freshmen go for lunch. I won't lie, I was uncomfortable most of the week. I was tired of eating Thai food, hot and sweaty (no AC), and the language barrier makes communication exhausting. But when I would have a breakthrough with a student, when she would look at me with begging eyes, wanting a friend. When they would laugh, either out of awkwardness or at our attempt at Thai. When they would light up when we saw them again. It makes it worth all the discomfort.
Right now we are just getting names and numbers of girls. In the afternoon, Bo calls the girls we met and asks if they want to hang out with us that night. So far, all of them have been busy or have cancelled on us. This week was the first week of school so the freshmen had a lot of activities going on. Please pray for opportunities to hang out with at least five girls this week. In these hang out times, we will have an opportunity to go deeper with them, really get to know them and earn their trust. From there, we pray that God will open doors to share the gospel.
Me and Nil, an extremely joyful and encouraging Christian
We learned during training this week that we should be looking for analogies to use when sharing the gospel. The Lord gave me one that the freshmen can definitely relate to. We went to the freshmen cheer last week which is where the freshmen are packed into the stadium and forced to sing the university song over and over. Sophomores were on the field directing them. Every time they messed up (the song had to be perfect), they had to start over. After so many times that they messed up, the sophomores were punished. They had to lay on the grass or run laps around the track. I started to think about sin and the gospel. The students could not get the song right. The song had to be perfect but they kept "missing the mark" (sin). Instead of them being punished, the sophomores were punished. In our lives, we can't be perfect; we are always "missing the mark." But, God, being rich in mercy, sent His Son to be punished for us. (Of course Jesus had to suffer more than running laps.) Whenever they messed up(or sinned), they were asked to start over. That's how forgiveness is; you get to start over. But of course we are never going to be perfect. The day we are perfect we will be in heaven. When the students got the song perfect, there was a big celebration and they were accepted into the university. When we finally are sanctified, we will be at a huge celebration in heaven.
God taught me so much as I watched these events. I pray that I am able to share this analogy with at least one student this summer.
Please pray for these things for us:
1. that we will continue to grow together as a team and cooperatively serve together.
2. that our team will solve conflict biblicly.
3. that my ministry team can meet 30-40 girls this week.
4. that we are able to spend time with at least five girls this week.
5. that the Thai Christians will continue to grow in the faith and walk alongside us during ministry.
Thank you for your prayers!
Me holding a python at King Cobra Village
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