We spent some time with Deng and Khong and their young family
When we were here in 2009 I remember mostly doing the tourist-y things (see these two posts: Back from the Bush & Day at the Zoo). I suppose we maybe had a few other experiences that weren't exactly tourist-y, but largely the memories that I have are of the tourist-y things. That isn't bad, and certainly we will do some of those things while here this time, but today provided a different perspective.
We met up with a missionary from Multiply, Cynthia Friesen, this morning and went out for coffee together to get to know each other, learn about her and Maceo (her son), hear about the work of the church in Thailand, and find out what God is doing in Thailand. We met Cynthia through some of the other Multiply missionaries that are connected to Westwood (Dave & Louise Sinclair-Peters and Bob Davis, also from Multiply).
Side-note: we went to Bella Goose Cafe which also has an interesting story as a social enterprise that helps provide employment and vocational training, English training, professional development, and sponsorship to people coming out of tough conditions (such as juvenile detention). They seek to equip and empower people to change their family tree through holistic care and support...very awesome!
Cynthia has been called to plant churches and raise up Thai leaders in the churches. After the coffee shop, we stopped at a 7-11 to buy rice and eggs that we could take with us as we go visit some of the new believers in the village they are church planting in Rim Khan (Rim Khan Fellowship Church). Before heading out we quickly met up with Aire, one of Cynthia's teammates, who lives in the village and who hosts the church in her and her husband's (Nui) carport on Sundays.
We have lots we would love to share about some of the wonderful people we met, but would prefer to share in person, so we'll keep things simple here :)
The first stop we made was to the house of Deng and Khong. They are a young Myanmar couple with 5 children, including newborn twins! Deng first came to know Jesus during the Christmas outreach event they ran at the Buddhist temple in the village, and Khong afterwards. Deng has such an infectiously big smile!
The next person we went to go visit, auntie Mai, was actually at work, but her daughter, Ning, was at home so Cynthia and Aire talked with her for a bit and then went to a nearby store to get her some small cakes she really enjoys :)
The final person we went to visit was Uncle Deng, who is an older gentleman who came to know Jesus only a few months ago after the Christmas Outreach. He has experienced the transformation of Jesus in such amazing ways in his life and testifies to the goodness of God.
There was so much to take in during even these 3 short visits...we are still processing it and we know the kids are as well. It is amazing to see how in their poverty and brokenness, people are meeting Jesus...it really is amazing...but isn't it also exactly what Jesus meant when he said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:31-32)?? It's also amazing to see the contrast between what we know in Prince George and what some people here know in terms of access, money, and privilege. We are still trying to sort out how to think about it so I'll leave it here for now.
After the 3 stops we had a short amount of time to drive to an elephant cafe where we were able to feed and pet some elephants! It was very cool and was something that was on "the list" to do.
For the evening, we went back to Cynthia's place as Maceo was done school and ordered a bunch of Thai dishes and ate dinner together. The kids played and we talked. Our kids are all the same age and in the same grade so it gave us some easy talking points and frames of reference for understanding each other...after all...busy 9-year-old boys are always worth talking about :)
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