Thaierd!

Imagine a piano played so sensitively that the notes create a melody gentle enough to still a crying child (and silence the Soul Touchers). Imagine a voice, which once sounded foreign in both tone and language, now singing to you a song your ears understand. Under the melody a gentle humming starts and although it is a language you have not studied each word meditates on your heart.

Hard to imagine I know. Infact perhaps it is impossible to recreate the atmosphere of the prayer meeting we attended the first evening we arrived at Fah Muang Thai Church, the church we are visiting now. Situated in the outskirts of Bangkok this little house is home to us and has been for the past week. It is home also to a congregation of about fifty Thai people, although they do not sleep on the Sunday School Floor alongside us.

Conducted entirely in Thai one might think it would be impossible to participate however my experience is quite the contrary. And so with eyes closed I listened. For a moment I stopped straining to hear, to join in or to understand I just sat quietly (even more impossible to imagine now I know).

Over the past few days it has become more and more obvious that we have been called here for a reason. We have learned so much from the hospitality of the people here; their kindness knows no bounds. They show what it is to love in a very practical way. Nothing is an inconvenience to them and so morning, noon and night we are well looked after (and fed!)

Since picking us up off the “Venga Bus” (Thai buses are a whole other story but basically they are colourful -I’m talking pink floral designs on the outside, green Thai Silk curtains and red velvet seats on the inside, full of backpackers and can be very comfortable, or so we’re told. Unless however, you have the unfortunate experience of sitting at the very back, awkwardly perched between red velvet seats unable to get into a position in which you can sleep and to make things worse the hyperactive Israeli gentlemen sharing the red velvet sofa with you talks incessantly for every second of every minute of every hour you are on the bus. Yes all 14 of them! Of course if you chose to visit Thailand I can not guarantee that you will have this privilege, they may charge you extra for the ticket but I would certainly suggest you enquire about it…or not!) the members of the congregation here have done everything in thier power to make us feel at home. And we do!

Before I go any further actually I should introduce a new wee addition to our team. She’s limited edition and so for three weeks and three weeks only we’ve had (and are still having) the most amazing time with Laura (aka Drumzo, Laura Drummond). I’m sure she’ll have her own interpretation of events but hey she doesn’t have her own website so here goes!

Back to the church. Apart from being one of the friendliest communities I’ve ever been in the congregation here at Fah Muang Thai are living examples of how God does not only exist inside the church building and so neither should his people. The fact the building itself is a rented house (and therefore can not accommodate a huge congregation) does not limit the huge impact that this small congregation is having on the Thai community (and now the Soul Touchers plus Laura). Fah Muang Thai church goes out into schools, colleges and other churches teaching. Not only the gospel but it is a training centre for teachers. Today we visited one of the many communities they minister to: The Christian Foundation for the Blind with Multiple Disabilities. Meeting with these children really was like a little taste of heaven. To see them smile and to hear them laugh made my heart ache, in a good way. To watch two of my closest friends embrace, play and communicate with children who could not see (and in some cases neither hear) them and to see their beaming smiles just filled me with joy in abundance.

Now close your eyes and go back to the prayer meeting ‘cause there’s some things I still have to share with you. Some of you are starting to feel comfortable at the mere thought of a prayer meeting never mind one with soft music and people actually praying; bare with me for a second. Others of you will be imagining it quite well having experienced similar meetings either at home or abroad. And then there will be those of you who did actually shut your eyes for a wee second (dummies!) and then remembered you couldn’t read the screen like that. There’s always one.

Go back to imagining that Lorna and I were quiet (I know that will be meditation to your ears) and there is music playing. Sometimes we are not required to talk, to do anything or to be upfront. God requires us to simply listen and enjoy his presence. On Sunday we sang the verse “Be still for the presence of the Lord is moving in this place”. Some people were so shocked that God was there that they actually cried. So often we sing these words but when God actually shows up it terrifies us. I took this time to reflect and ask God the reason for the events that have occurred so far in Thailand. Trust me there’s been a few.

Last week we were in paradise (here in Thailand they call it Phi Phi Don, it’s a small island in the south very close to the beaches where they shot the film "The Beach" with Leonado DiCaprio). Our day’s activities consisted of swimming in crystal clear blue waters, lazing on white sands, eating fruits freshly picked from the surrounding trees and listening to Bob Marley. In our defense we we’re recovering from the fiasco in which I ended up in hospital in India but yes I know we’re bloomin’ fortunate! The weirdest thing was that despite the idyllic surroundings I could not relax; I’ve actually never felt more uncomfortable. Yes, I had my two best buds with me who made me laugh till my belly ached. We ate nice food, talked about men and even sang along to Chesney Hawks (who I mistakingly thought was the same person as Keith Chegwin for some reason. Has anyone else ever made that mistake?) in full voice. It was about as good as girly time gets but still I felt numb, sick and lost. “Maybe I just need to get back on track with the mission and I’ll feel more settled. Once we get to the orphanage I’ll feel fine.” I convinced myself. What I’ve learned since is that I got that totally wrong. I needed to get back on track with God.

Some people are completely disillusioned, living with the idea that Christians are all in the light. Infact many of these disillusioned people call themselves Christians (I include myself in every dumb mistake ever made, said or thought by any Christian) After all surely we are no longer in darkness if we have accepted Jesus as our personal Saviour: “I am the way the truth and the light”. On that Island I saw very little light and a whole lot of darkness; people searching, some more desperately than others, for something or someone to make them happy. Don’t get me wrong I am glad that God exposed me to both.

A dear friend and inspiring christain challenged me once. He told me: “the world is dark”. Well that’s kinda obvious we can see that; there are not very nice people and bad things happen all the time. And: “then there is light” he continued. "Those living and walking the way God intended us to live." He described things assosiated with the darkness. Things such as secular music with offensive lyrics, clubs and alcohol. When he spoke to me I could see where he was coming from, almost. “But he is African," I told myself "and they have a different culture”. WRONG. He is Christian and they have a different culture. Or at least we should have. On that island I experienced all of the things he associated with darkness.

Often, in lame attempts to fit in or when struggling not to be seen as “Jesus Freaks” we try to have one foot in the dark and the other in the light. I allowed the world to pull me one way, to think it was ok to have a cocktail, or to listen to bob Marley for a while. Thankfully God was holding my other hand and his love always overcomes evil. Now I really don’t want to create the impression we were the walking wounded, hanging out with the Rastas on the beach till the wee small hours. Not by any means. I’m not here to give you a lecture on alcoholism (I really am not qualified for that). You can drink whatever and whenever you like whilst listening to whatever music you like, I merely chose those as examples. But whilst doing these things you should consider how these things affect your relationship with God? Do they strengthen it? If the answer is no then get rid of them!

There were times on that island when I even convinced myself it was ok to fit in. “But I want to be able to communicate with the world”. Surely I have to be like them in some ways.” I questioned myself. “How can I minister to people if they don’t relate to me”. Jesus managed just fine and after all is he not our example. He ministered to the tax collector, murderers and prostitutes but he didn’t become like any of them so that they could relate to him!

When Lorna wrote about Israel she wrote about the armor of God. Ephesians 6 verse 11- 18. Well I believe this time here in Fah Muang Thai is preparing us with the armor we need for the rest of our mission. We are surrounded by Christians who are showing us how to love others. We have the bible of course and we should really know this already being missionaries and all but sometimes God gives everyone a wee helping hand (and personally I needed it). God never tests us beyond what we can cope with, this I know. He has a time for everything a time to work and a time to rest, this I know. And so I am not suggesting that we hibernate within the safe cocoon created by this wonderful Christian community for the rest of our lives, or even trip. That is not at all what God wants. He requires us to be salt and light: “Let your light shine before men, that they will see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.” (Mathew 5 16) That is all we desire to be. Unfortunately you can not shine that light if you are living in the darkness. If there are things in your life that are holding you back, giving you that numb uncomfortable lost feeling, the feeling I had only last week, guaranteed they do not come from God. He came to give you life in abundance not a horrible lost feeling. The bad news is for all you peeps who are already believers is that now is the time to give those “dark” things up. Stop kidding yourselves that you can have one foot in each camp, you will always feel torn.

So we are at the last stage of our Thailand experience. It has been three of the most exhausting weeks of my life. The place we went to rest turned out to be a total challenge and mission field and now the place we came to work is providing us with rest (despite the fact we’re sleeping on the Sunday school floor- I’m told the hard wood is as good as any Thai massage). God certainly does work in mysterious ways…his wonders to perform!

It’s those wonders that keep us going! And so on the 29th we’re off again. This time to Hillsongs Church Australia! We will be so sad to leave the friends (family) we have made here but like you guys at home they will be on this journey with us: on the blog and in our prayers.
Love you long time Erica x