We have arrived back in the US after nearly two weeks in Thailand, and what a blessing it was to see our home for the foreseeable future. This trip had two objectives: to support our missionary family, who have been serving in Thailand for the last 4 years, and to visit the school where Jessica and I will be working.

First Impressions of Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is a beautiful city with a massive population (5.6 million) and is buzzing with life at all times. The traffic alone was a wonder to behold as drivers wove in and out of lanes, merged without looking, and placed the front of their hoods to make a gap to make their way. The motorbikes or scooters were a next-level driving experience, as road rules became more like suggestions, and any gap was quickly filled by a conga line of motorbikes. The craziest part, as our Mission Pastor would say, is that it was a chaotic game they were all playing, but it worked because they all played by the insanity rules. Unlike in our major cities, though, horn sounds were infrequent, and anger was absent, as this was simply the accepted way of life. It all works, though there is no logic behind it.

The city is old, and no part of it looks the same, with shops, markets, and religious monuments dotting the landscape. As if by design, these temples blaze with golds and reds, catching your attention from afar and attempting to overwhelm your senses with their grandeur. We did have the opportunity to visit one of these temples and the grand palace, each decorated with brilliant colors, peaks, and golden shrines to Buddha and other worshipped deities. Though mostly a tourist area, in some of the smaller shrines, we witnessed the calm nature of worship as they sat barefoot and quiet in prayer before their altars.

The Candy House

Leaving Bangkok, we went to the southern coast to support a conference attended by the missionary that Grace Baptist supports, who served as childcare for all the attendees. We learned that the yearly conference had received sub-adequate support for the last few years, leading parents to skip important sessions and preventing the bonding required for the attendees to bond and grow together. We came in not knowing what to expect, but the Lord had his hand on the entire trip, and the experience is something I will take with me.

Having to carry all our supplies with us, the team chose a modified version of the Lifeway Twist and Turns bible study, our decorations mostly of bright colors, and the Candyland board game. Hosting the opening of our own cabin, the kids started affectionately referring to our house as “Candy House” and would run to us for the next craft, game, or bible lesson throughout the day. Though day one was a little rocky with kids opening up to the singing and dancing, by day two, they were all in, and with the entire group being boys under 9, the energy was off the charts! Though the theme was Twist and Turns, the real mission was to ensure that, even though each of these children was continuously exposed to the gospel, they understood it and what it could mean for their lives. Serving these children was so real and so rewarding, and it gave us great insight into our next stop.

Sorry for the lack of images, but we can’t show the children.

Manorom

To say that the city is small would be an understatement. Our future hometown features a 7-11 convenience store (very popular in Thailand), two small stores, and a pharmacy that would provide all our needs. We also learned that each morning, there is a market by the river, about a bike ride from the school. As we toured the area, the words of the school’s director echoed through my head, “It is hot, slow, and quiet.”

The International School is located on the site of a now-closed hospital that played a major role in the community for the last 50 years. Now only a clinic, the nurses’ dormitories are now the backbone of the school, their green space now converted to a basketball court and a quarter football (soccer) field. We have been provided with one of the staff houses at the back of the compound, which has shortened our commute to about 2 minutes. That in itself is a huge blessing after living near DC for so long.

I can’t express how happy and involved the students are at the school. Instead of being plagued by cellphones and teenage distractions, the students seem to be involved in their school and competing in the “sports fest” that we happened to be visiting during. The sounds of laughter, cheering, and the loud banners waving to encourage their elected teams made my heart smile. Even more than these sounds remained hours after school was dismissed as students remained on the grounds to socialize and play badminton, table tennis, and chess. When visiting the classrooms, the students were engaged, and the teachers were more than happy to break down their work and schedule, though we were warned that schedules were optional at best! Overall, it was a wonderful visit that allowed us to see the life we are about to lead and the one we are about to shepherd our children into.

The Challenge and Prayer

Though an international Christian school, 90% of the students remain Buddhist, their parents electing to send their children to the school for its accreditation and not for the purpose of hearing God’s word. The curriculum used each day mentions the gospel and scripture, but bringing it to life and making it personal for each student will be the immense challenge that we will face every day. As a large portion of the population drops off and picks up each day, there is also room to be intentional with parents.

As we gear up to leave in March, please pray that we will be intentional in our learning on how to connect with the Thai culture. We also ask for your prayers for our family and especially our children, as we leave behind the known and adjust our lives and expectations to align with where God is leading us.