2018 Thailand Mission Chaiyaphum
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news
Pastor Wendy Tay
“Wherever you are, there is a mission - to bring glory to a perfect God”.
These words held true for our team of 8 from PLMC as we spent 5 days in Chaiyaphum, Northeast Thailand, reaching out to the local churches and a school together with a team of local missionaries from 3 to 8 November. The purpose of this missions trip was to explore more missions opportunities for the youths and young adults to move out in power and love to bless the nations.
We held a children’s carnival for two full days and invited kids from the surrounding villages to the Tsupjarun Methodist Church. The programme included singing, dancing, photo-taking, carnival games, story-telling and even a Som Tam (green papaya salad) Making Competition by the women. We did the same for another two days in the school with a focus on teaching the students English in a fun and engaging manner. We taught them stories and sang songs in English. Pastor Wendy preached at the Sunday service and, together with Ruth, our PLMC youth leader, prayed and ministered to the congregation.
Every day started at 6.30am with morning worship and devotion. Pastor Wendy shared daily on the Significance, Surrender, Sacrifice, Seal and Sanctification God had on the trip and our lives. She exhorted us to recognize that all people are significant, truly and deeply loved by God, to surrender the mission trip, our plans, logistics, magic soap solutions, song sheets and plans to God’s will. To recognize that God’s absolute sacrifice compels us to build His kingdom, that His seal is upon us even when times are difficult and that we are sanctified by His truth and word upon our lives.
After our daily programmes, we also spent time with the local pastors and their families to pray and understand their journeys. Some shared that they had many times thought of giving up as their villages had been closed to the message of Christ and their churches were not only stagnating but dwindling. They were thankful for the fellowship with the team and hoped that more teams would come in the future to help them to build up their children’s ministry and youth ministry.
Through God’s grace, the Vice-Principal at the school we were visiting to teach English invited us to dinner and even to her plantation. This newly-fostered relationship proves how we can be witnesses of God’s love across cultures and going on missions trips are pivotal in supporting the local churches to extend love and friendships beyond their regular communities.
Chaiyaphum in Sanskrit means victorious land; we look forward to PLMC sending more teams to ensure that Christ’s victory in Chaiyaphum won’t be momentary or fleeting, but an eternal one, as is the love and joy of the Lord.
Footnote: John Lim, a missionary from PLMC has planted seven churches in the Isan region in Thailand. This is PLMC’s first missions trip to the Isan area since John first started his ministry there over 10 years ago. Agriculture is the main livelihood of the Isan people. Chaiyaphum is located 5 hours out of Bangkok.