Something just happened; we’re not really sure what.
We went outside this morning to play soccer in the street. We thought if we went out ourselves and started playing, surely kids couldn’t pass it up. And they didn’t! We had two girls start to kick the soccer ball around with us within about five minutes, and soon after had mothers smiling at us. We’re hopeful.
But, it ended quite oddly. After a little while, a mother and toddler came running around the corner, grabbed one of the girls and they ran into a house down the street. Another mother and baby followed around the corner and ran into the same home.
And then five men came–some on a motorbike and some with two trucks. The back of one truck was filled with people that you could tell were ethnic. The men asked us a question about our home being here/where we live. We nodded that we live here, and then they turned and went in to the community. And they started searching the homes. And taking bicycles.
The community was very quiet, except for the five men. They were laughing. You could only see about five women and children; no men from the community were around. And after about twenty minutes of loading up ten or twelve bicycles into the second truck, they left.
After our soccer was stopped, we were on our porch. When the men left a woman came out and looked at us and shrugged–a sense of hopelessness. It seemed to say, “What can we do?”
And now more people have come back to the community; the women are talking abruptly among themselves. You can sense their frustration; the anger at being taken advantage of and being able to do nothing.
And we have so many questions. Where are the men from the community? Deported? Or do they know it is better for just the women and children to be there? Why did some women go to hide and others not? Are they illegal, where if they let the bikes go they can stay? Or are they legal and still being taken advantage of simply as racism? Why did the men ask if we lived here? Would we have been sent away if we didn’t?
And the biggest question to us is this: What do we do?
We believe God has given us this house to rent. When we initially heard it was furnished and had higher rent, we ruled it out. That day as we were doing our devotions, I really felt we needed to look into it, so we did. We called back and went to look at it that afternoon.
We liked it, but it was still a little pricey. And then, without our asking, they offered to drop the rent by 500B per month. This brought it back into a reasonable range, and it became a good deal since it came with furnishings for a price similar to one that didn’t.
And we really think it’s perfect. The two bedrooms allow us to have guests, and a decent-sized living area will allow us to invite teams into our home for dinner, worship nights, etc. But it’s simple, and we are having to stretch ourselves. We are having to use a squatty potty and make do with a one burner stove and very small refrigerator. It seemed like a good balance to us: comfortable in some ways and challenging in others. And though some are skeptical of the neighborhood, we’re hopeful. We really believe some of our greatest ministry opportunities lie right outside our door, even more so after what we just saw.
We believe we’ve been placed here for such a time as this, if you will.
So what do we do?
God has placed you there; HE will direct you in what to do.
You are correct in that YOU have to be accepted by the people before they accept your ministry….we will continue to pray for your direction;
Exciting isn’t it….
Love ya,
Gma
Hey friends!!! I miss you both!! Know that you are in my prayers!! Crazy thing happened the other day. James was Skyping some friends of his that he had met in South Africa. The couple had met in South Africa and were doing some mission work there then they both took a small break got married and moved to Thailand. James had mention that they should meet you guys! So, James found your blog and told them where you lived and (this is next part is shocking so.. get ready for it) they live in Mae Sot as well! They then asked James if you were from Arkansas, because they had just met a couple who was renting a place just down the road from them from Arkansas. Soo… I don’t have their names but it made in awe of how big God is and how small this world really is. Soo.. maybe this couple from Arkansas is you.. I don’t know. I don’t even have the names of James’ friends.. This post made me think of that random fact.. also.. maybe if they really do live down the road from you they may have some answers. I’ll get more info from James. Love you guys!!! Your blog is delightful.
Oh, also i say buy a couch, it will make coming home more comfortable. You have already decided to pack up your whole life to share the love the Christ to a hurting people. Having a comfy couch is a wonderful idea. I know that will be an area we will be spending money on! You are both wonderful!!!
Wow, God definitely has you guys there for a reason! Maybe your presence there helped protect them in some way, perhaps it could have been worse…
I am definitely praying for you guys, thanks for being so faithful in updating!
I’m sure it is difficult to sit by and watch when you don’t know what is happening and you want to help if you can. My guess is that for a while, that will be your job–just watch and learn and take it in. Even in eMentoring it’s hard sometimes not to want to “fix it” when people have problems. It’s hard to listen, ask good questions, pray, encourage, etc. when you just want to help get them out of the mess they’re in. But we’re usually far more effective if we take our time and figure out what the main issues are because sometimes it isn’t what it appears to be. We often use Prov. 18:13 in the MSG version which says, “Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.” A gentler translation may be the NIV which says, “He who answers before listening–that is his folly and his shame.” So although there is often a time when we need to act, it appears that patience may be a virtue here. 🙂
What does “ethnic” mean in this context?
In my last MA seminar, we were discussing observation as part of ethnographic research and the subtleties of simply observing without analyzing. I’m so curious how those other women perceived the situation, what the local law enforcement says, how often that kind of thing happens, etc. What language do the people on your street speak?