And so, without further ado, this is my blog. It’s about Thailand and my ministry and adventures there in the Fall and Winter of 2010, but I may revive it in future years to recount future trips. It’s started very slowly, and I’m terribly behind, but with some work I’ll try to fill it in as best I can. I won’t drag out too many boring details I hope, like say packing. On that topic, let’s just say that people may notice at some point that I keep wearing the same stuff over and over =).
So how did this trip come together? It started with a leap of faith, when I quit my full time job in Aug 09 as a civilian working for the Air Force in order to have extended periods off to do mission-y type work. It was a great job, with great people, but I was maybe a little too at home in my cubicle and wanted better chances to serve God as well as serve my country. I have always been very risk averse when it comes to my job – very conservative, and sticking with what I know is there, so this was a big move for me. I managed to secure what amounts to part-time employment for particular months in 2010 as an Air Force reservist. This would do a couple things: one, it would free me up those months I was not on duty to volunteer locally and overseas, and two, by working for the reserves more than the minimum “one weekend a month, two weeks a year,” I would be able to serve my squadron more effectively. God's plans for me might be different though, so I'm praying to stay open to whatever he puts in front of me.
Why Thailand? I got reconnected with a friend (through Facebook, no less!) Krystle, who was trying to raise support and funds for her yearlong internship in Bangkok through Mission to the World (MTW). Through spending time with her and helping with a fundraiser here and there, I became very interested in Thailand and the opportunities to do some pretty cool stuff over here. Another friend Sarah was (is!) on the board with Compasio, and she really sold me. It is with Compasio’s mission on the border with Burma, working with displaced Burmese women and children, that I really clicked. Their mantra is “See. Feel. Act,” as in see a need, feel compassion, and act on it without concern about “Does this fit my mission?” or “Do we have the budget for this right now?” They believe strongly in acting for the good of families and children here first, showing them the love of Jesus, and figuring out the logistics and the details second. I applied, and in a gross lapse of judgment on their part they picked me up for three months. So there it is: I’ll be in Mae Sot, Thailand, until mid-December this year. Hope you enjoy the posts here and there, and please email me and keep in touch with prayer requests or anything else. Cheers!
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