A while back, the Athletes in Action staff had invited us to join them at the Thailand National Games, which we later found out is basically Thailand's Olympics. We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into, but we agreed to help them anyway and it was so worth it.
The trip started out with about a 15-hour drive from Chiangmai to Chanthaburi where the games were taking place. We rented a 12-passenger van for the trip and packed all of our luggage and an electric scooter into the back. Then we all piled into the van. P'Sam drove the entire way there with his wife, P'Cee, and two boys sitting in the front as well. P'Sao packed her cute little dog, Smile into a picnic basket that stayed near her feet. In the back of the van, there were two Thai boys, P’Thap and P’Min, who were very quiet and kept to themselves most of the drive. However, after only a few days into the trip, they became like older brothers to us. We spent lots of time laughing, making TikToks, and teaching them our favorite card games. They tried their best to keep us out of trouble, which proved to be quite difficult, because we have a tendency to be too loud and to wander off. Google translate and charades became our new norm of communicating because we speak very little Thai and they speak very little English. However, my favorite part was learning Thai with them. I picked up so many new words and they were the best teachers. They would teach us Thai and we would teach them English. P'Min is not a Christian, but he is open to Christianity and learning more about it. His whole family is Buddhist and it would come at a great cost for him. P'Thap grew up in a Christian home and recently started pursuing the Lord more. It was so encouraging to see his hunger for the Lord grow over the course of the trip.
The first night of the games they had an opening ceremony. We walked out with the Chiangmai team and it was so cool. We didn't know how big the event was until we were in the middle of the soccer field with the stands full of people. The ceremony was also live streamed on YouTube. As the only foreigners in a sea of Thai people, we stuck out a lot. Many heads were turned as we walked by, and we were asked to take photos with so many people; I felt like a celebrity. That same night, we met up with a Thai young adult who joined our caravan. The Thai staff only planned for him to join us three days prior!! He soon became known to us as P’Zach, and we got to know a bit of his story. He is a Christian from a rural part of Thailand and is planning on attending seminary school in Chiangmai. He has such a servant heart and has been looking out for us ever since we met him.
P'Sam and P'Cee were competing in a game called lawn bowling, which is a cross between bocce ball and bowling. They used their position in the games to then share the Gospel with other athletes. It was really cool being able to see them serve the Lord with the talents they have been given. P'Cee was able to share the Gospel with some younger lawn bowling players and one of the girls decided to place her trust in Jesus!! Praise God!! While they would play, we would help watch their two lively boys. We also got to know the three older Thai boys and some of the younger lawn bowling players during this time.
We had the opportunity to pack and handout Christmas gifts for the athletes. We went to a few different sports competitions and handed out the gifts to the athletes. Included in the gift was a bracelet that has four symbols used to communicate the Gospel specifically to athletes. When we handed out the gifts we would explain the Gospel using sports lingo and the bracelets while someone translated into Thai. Whenever we would share, I was always amazed and encouraged by how intently the athletes would listen to the Gospel message.
Since the games took place close to the coast we were blessed to enjoy the beach one afternoon. It was so beautiful, and the water was the perfect temperature. It was so refreshing. We ate crickets for the first time from a vendor by the beach. They didn't taste terrible, but thinking about the fact that you are eating a whole bug was a bit unsettling.
Almost everyday we took time to share what we were thankful for that day. Whether we were just in the van going from place to place or seated at a dinner table, these times were my favorite. I loved stopping what we were doing and talking about to reflect on the ways we have been blessed and truly thank God for them. Not only that, but it was encouraging to hear what everyone else would share.
We took two days to travel back to Chiangmai. The first day we stopped at a National park with a beautiful waterfall. We also stopped to visit a Christian family that P'Sam knew. The dad shared a dream that he had about P'Sam. P'Sam then shared what he had been struggling with and how it lined up with the dream. He has been having financial issues and has been offered a few positions where he would be able to make a lot of money. However, he would not be allowed to serve the Lord in those positions. Because of that, he turned down the jobs and has trusted the Lord to provide for him and his family. Alot of the details were lost in translation, but there wasn't a dry eye in the room. We took time to worship and pray. The dad of the family came around and prayed for each one of us. It was such a powerful time of worship and prayer. That night we stayed in a hotel in Pattaya. The president of Lawn Bowling for Thailand had graciously invited us to stay for free. The facility was beautiful and they had a covered lawnbowling field. We got to play a few games before we headed out the next morning. We made it back home safely by 1am that night. We were exhausted, but saddened to say goodbye to the people that have become like family.
As many of you may know, I landed myself in the hospital two days after getting back. I got super sick the night after we got back, and I spent the night on the bathroom floor. I was hoping to get better, but my condition kept getting worse and worse. I couldn't keep anything down, and I finally decided to throw in the towel and asked to be taken to the hospital. Everyone on the team was just waiting fir me to say the word. Within minutes we were in the car headed to the most reputable hospital around. A nurse dressed as an elf hooked me up to an IV for antinausea medicine and then fluids. After just a few hours I was feeling better, but they wanted to keep me overnight. The next day we found out that I had been so dehydrated that my kidney had failed, but that it was being stabilized. They continued to tell me I needed to stay overnight, because they weren't sure why I had a lingering fever. After many tests they figured out I had a coinfection of bacteria and rotavirus. They informed me that the bacteria came from rice, of all things it was rice that I got sick from. After 4 nights, 5 days, 5 blood tests, 6 IV bags, 6 bags of other medicine, and countless random pills I was finally released thanks to P'Sao talking to the nurses. I made it home Christmas Eve, which was a true Christmas miracle. Throughout my time there I felt so cared for by my team and the many people that visited. Thank you to everyone who was praying for my recovery! After going home I felt much better, especially because I was finally able to eat real food :)
It was such a blessing to be able to celebrate Christmas at our house. We had the most delicious breakfast and attended a Cru staff party. It was a sweet and relaxing day. The day after Christmas we went to a Christmas party that P'Sao hosted. There was a gift exchange, fun games, and delicious food. A few students from North Chiangmai University came. The Gospel was shared and 5 students decided to place their trust in Jesus. My prayer is that they aren't just adding another god, but that they truly understand the Gospel and will experience the true freedom that can only be found in Jesus.
Some people you can be oraying for:
P'Sam and P'Cee - that the Lord would provide financially for their family and that they would continue to be able to serve God with their lives.
P'Zach - that he would continue to grow in his walk with the Lord and that he would start seminary well.
P'Min - that he would understand and believe the gospel for himself.
P'Thap - that he would continue to pursue the Lord and grow in his relationship with God.
The lawn bowling player who became a Christian - That she would truly believe the Gospel and that it would change her life.
The athletes we shared the gospel with - That they would understand and believe the Gospel.
Other Prayer Requests:
Pray that our Visa renewal would go smoothly
Pray for continued team unity and health - no more hospital visits
Pray for good rest for the team, especially for Addison. Pray that our house would be protected by the Holy Spirit and that we would all be able to sleep through the night.
Mtthew 26:39b
"Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Part of Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, and a prayer that I have begun to pray for myself. Not as I will, but as God wills.
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