A Public Display of Jesus

The setting: A tourist-attraction-looking Buddhist temple, with trinket shops and vendors of all sorts.

The Mission: Pray for the spiritually-lost and have an eye-opening experience

Some members of our team and I had the chance to visit this location, not knowing what to expect. When we arrived, we walked the hundreds of stairs it took to get to the temple area.

We took our time individually to look around. I felt my mission for God was to do a prayer walk around the area, where I prayed out-loud (a little louder than a whisper-like I was talking to myself) as I walked through the different areas. I prayed for God's compassion on the people worshiping Buddha "as they don't know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

As I walked around, I saw a young girl, possibly early-20's, who was "learning the ways" of Buddhism (as I can only guess) from what it seemed, bent over and lighting candles while watching a local lady next to her showing her how to do it. I felt I needed to pray for her. As I walked by her and out of the temple, I said a prayer for the "lady with the pink sunglasses" to come to know Jesus, and for God to forgive her for she "knows not what she is doing." This is her on the left in the picture.

A few minutes later, I felt a strong conviction from God to know her by name. If for anything else, to pray for her by name. By this time I had left the temple and walked out to an area filled with hundreds of tourists. I asked the Lord to show her to me again if it was His will I talk to her. No more than a couple of minutes went by when I turned around and saw her again.

I walked up to her, shaking visibly, nervous with a choked-up voice. This was out of my comfort zone.

"Excuse me ma'am, what is your name?" "Jess," she said politely. "My name is Kevin, and I saw you in the temple." I continued, "I felt a strong conviction that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wanted me to know your name so I could pray for you by name. I don't know if you have any issues or concerns that I need to pray for you, but I just needed to come and tell you that. Thank you." She smiled politely and said thanks.

I got the feeling that she was humoring me and doesn't know Jesus, otherwise I think it would've been a stronger conversation. She may be in a position that I and others who've come to Christ have been in; experimentation...trying to find something to fill the void, the hole in her life and heart. Christian rock group Plumb says it this way-- "There's a God-shaped hole, and it's a void only He can fill." Click here to hear a preview of "God-shaped hole" (track 11 on the "Best of Plumb" album).

Maybe you're in that position now. Let Jesus come into your life and fill your world with His mighty wonders!

Day 3; Praising God in the utmost highest

The most uplifting day for me was on God's day of rest, Sunday.

We went to a Christian Thai church in town where the kids go to and the leaders do a sunday school class. The church welcomed the "new people" and the missionary groups in town.

Then, the congregation band kicked off Thai versions of "My Jesus, My Savior", "All in All", and other western culture favorites. They sang in Thai while we sang in English.
I'm reminded of these verses:

Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."(NLT)

Revelation 7:9
"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. " (NLT)

Two cultures praising the same God in Thailand...wonderful. We, too, caught a glimpse of Heaven as the Apostle Paul did.

To welcome each other to church like we do in most western churches, they sing a song called, "Sawadee Ka", which means hello or good day in Thai. It's catchy and I still can't get it out of my head 2 weeks later. Ugh. I guarantee everyone reading this that was on the trip is singing it right now.

You're welcome.
(singing) "Sawadee ka".....

Day 2; "Play" is invaluable

"If I were to die from some unforseen circumstance, would I want Christians to come play with my kids? Absolutely!" said Mark Oshman, the leader of our Okinawa missionary crew.

Some folks in our Christian military realm feel that going to Thailand to "just play with the kids" is not a good reason to go, nor is it really considered "missionary work."

Keep in mind these kids have no parents, or if they have any family members out there at all, they can't afford to keep them, so the Thai government considers them orphans.

James 1:27 calls us to care for widows and orphans by stating, "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (NLT)

Pretty plain English to me.

Saturday we played most of the day with the kids at Im Jai in a large room (pictures to come) playing soccer, giving piggy back rides until we collapsed, and playing games like "duck, duck goose!" and an interesting one I never heard of before called, "slide your buns" or something like that. Basically, you round up some chairs in a tight circle and leave one open for the person standing in the middle to sit down. But that person must grab an open seat while the circle of folks sitting continue to "move their buns" quickly from chair to chair in order to make it difficult for the "monkey in the middle." Amber from Colorado got it started and the kids loved it. By "buns" hurt afterward:) Again, I took limited video of the horseplay, but I felt God's tug to focus mainly on playing with the kids that demanded my attention most of the day.

We also split up the teams and took the kids bowling and swimming. I was on the swimming team. Darn tootin'-after being in the hot sun sweating, playing with these kids hard all morning - bet ya batooty I'm going to a pool! At first we thought their version of a "pool" was going to be some pond out in the middle of something. But it was an actual pool with chlorine so it was good. We played "marco polo" games, threw the kids around (the boys especially loved it) and did "chicken fights" (again the boys' cup of tea). The girls had fun too.

God smiled on us this day as we took care of His children.

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Searching for God's Will

As I originally signed up for this trip, I knew God called me to use my broadcasting skills to shoot video to use as a documentary of how God worked in our lives and in the lives of the children at the Im Jai House. When I mentioned this to our Paster and leader of the Okinawa team, he said, "I just got off the phone with the Im Jai folks and they said they could really use a commercial on their website." I thought, "Wow! Is this how God wants to use me?"

As the trip got closer and after we got there, questions arose in my head on God's particular plan for me there. The Im Jai House was losing sponsorship of kids, house funds and their liscense to operate due to problems between the kids. Now the questions were like, "Does God still want me to shoot video or was it a ploy to get me to Thailand to be used otherwise?" And if it was for "otherwise", what WAS my purpose for God in Thailand? Love on the kids? Work with them in knowing Jesus? Encourage the staff members during the troubling times? Produce a TV story on the troubling times? Just work hard in the sun? I prayed more and played it by ear.

I shot limited video on the first couple of days, while keeping an eye out for God's signs for me. I played with the kids some, did yard work and teamed up with others to get whatever else done that needed to be done. I was hoping the next few days will tell me where my place was on my first missionary trip outside of my comfort zone...

Day 1; Hard work in the hot, hot Thailand sun

First thing on God's agenda was landscaping and yard work that was long overdue. I'll have some pictures later, but let me just say there was sweat, blood (really), and no tears:)

This is where we saw God's strength come out to show up early, work hard using the hoe, pulling weeds, using the high-powered weed whacker on weeds more than 2-feet high (with hidden rocks which reminded me why I should've been wearing long pants!) and cultivating the flower beds.

There were fire ant bites and biting flowers!

Later in the afternoon is when we met the Colorado team who flew more than 24 hours straight to get here, so needless to say the jet lag and lack of sleep was hurting the team. But the 2 teams melded together like we've known each other for years. Another testimony to God's love and keeping God's commandments "loving each other as yourselves" was evident. What a blessing to meet other Christ-followers who are ready to do God's will at any time.

Thailand Bound; The Vision

Mission Team background - This has been a great learning experience in Okinawa, Japan and my love for God has grown and coming to know more about my Savior Jesus Christ with my church group here has been an eye opener. It’s this group, “Project 196” I want to tell you about (http://www.project196.com/). It’s a Christian ministry geared toward young adults in the U.S. military ages 20-30 years old (but some of us old folks attend too!). The name comes from Revelation 19:6, where the Apostle John saw a glimpse of heaven from God, "I heard what sounded like the shout of a huge crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves, or the crash of loud thunder. I heard them say, 'Praise God! For the Lord almighty God reigns!'"

The team of worshipers is also a huge advocate for sponsoring mission trips to third-world countries to share the love of Christ. Most recently (June 7-17), we took on a trip to Thailand to an orphanage for kids through 18 years of age that have been orphaned due to their parents dying of HIV/AIDS. The orphanage is called The Im Jai House (http://www.imjaihouse.com/)

The mission was to initially go to the Im Jai House and love the kids, help with whatever was needed to keep-up the place. As the trip drew closer and throughout the trip, we saw a bigger plan through God as turmoil and pain came down on the Im Jai House, the kids and the staff.

Our ministry consisted of 8 people working with the kids by doing nightly Bible devotions, doing work and gardening projects at their orphanage, and I videotaped it all, as well as helped where God needed me. Look for a video documentary here soon. We also joined up with 8 people from the Colorado Community Church. http://www.coloradocommunity.org/

More to come...

Coming soon!

Stay locked on for more great stories of how God is working in Thailand, testimonies, stories about missionary teams who did God's work of "taking care of Orphans" (James 1:27).

ALSO!! I'm currently making a documentary video of the trip and how you can get involved with the Im Jai House and other missionary work in Thailand! Be on the look for that around July 1st, 2007 .