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View over Bangkok from the roof of our hostel
God is so good! I have to start this update by giving praise to our awesome God, the Father of Glory.
I was reflecting today what the first few weeks of our time back in Thailand have been like and I can help but be blown away by God lavish grace, and what’s more He actually enjoys lavishing his grace upon us! Even though we have done nothing special to earn it! Only in Jesus is this possible.
I was reflecting today what the first few weeks of our time back in Thailand have been like and I can help but be blown away by God lavish grace, and what’s more He actually enjoys lavishing his grace upon us! Even though we have done nothing special to earn it! Only in Jesus is this possible.
After the floods in late 2011 millions of people in and around Bangkok were affected and a team from Iris Relief joined a group from a local church and came to help out. Knowing Iris Ministries they didn’t just provide aid but also shared Jesus and He transformed a whole village in a single visit. The chief of the village got saved along with many of the villagers and many people got healed, blessed and given hope. Last week we got the privilege of being able to revisit the village and check it out. We returned to see a thriving church of local Thai people filled with faith and a passion for Jesus. God has worked powerfully amongst them and they knew it.
We were blessed to be able to pray for them and we saw people miraculously healed and another lady give her life to Jesus (see the photo’s below). It was such a great way to start to our time back here and a strong reminder of Jesus’ power and love right from the off.
We have been reunited with a team of around 20 people from Iris Ministires who (like us) are graduates from Harvest school in Mozambique. At the moment we are all on a fact finding trip, learning from others seeing what other ministries are doing and trying to learn from their experiences.
We have been reunited with a team of around 20 people from Iris Ministires who (like us) are graduates from Harvest school in Mozambique. At the moment we are all on a fact finding trip, learning from others seeing what other ministries are doing and trying to learn from their experiences.
Firstly we spent a week in Bangkok and it has been great to witness the different and hidden ways Jesus’ love is shining in the city. His love works in so many ways whether through Nightlight or The Well ministering to female prostitutes or even through a group called Dtonnaam specifically focused on helping Lady-boys. We got to meet and work with a ministry which works specifically with the men (who are creating all the demand) in the sex trade. This ministry is called MST and is one of its kind. It was great to hear the volunteers hearts and realise that actually the guys who are over here to pay for sex are just broken people who need Jesus too.
The highlight of the last couple of weeks was being able to go to Isaan which is a large region in North Eastern Thailand where an estimated 90% of the people in the sex industry come from. It was truly eye-opening to see how different life was in the villages compared to the big cities. People worked hard in the fields and had little. It was strange to see big beautifully built houses with cars amongst all the poverty and simplicity. It was sad to think that the only reason for the wealth of those families was probably due to prostitution of one of their daughters/sons. The problem became more real to us as we realised the huge pull of materialism and wealth on these village people.
While in Isaan we worked closely alongside a ministry there called Tamar which focuses on stopping the problem (of girls going to the big cities to sell themselves) directly at its source. They work in the local villages where the girls come from. They open churches and cell groups, meet with the people, build relationships and demonstrate Christ. It was amazing to go into the villages in Northern Thailand to meet the people and see God completely transform people’s lives, it reminded me of how Jesus used to impact villages in Mozambique. Just like over there God’s love was evident in these villages, people’s hearts were attracted to him and people were healed, set free and blessed.
While in Isaan we worked closely alongside a ministry there called Tamar which focuses on stopping the problem (of girls going to the big cities to sell themselves) directly at its source. They work in the local villages where the girls come from. They open churches and cell groups, meet with the people, build relationships and demonstrate Christ. It was amazing to go into the villages in Northern Thailand to meet the people and see God completely transform people’s lives, it reminded me of how Jesus used to impact villages in Mozambique. Just like over there God’s love was evident in these villages, people’s hearts were attracted to him and people were healed, set free and blessed.
Lastly we got to spend time in staying with a family who have started an orphanage to take in child victims of abuse, exploitation or children who were at high risk of ending up in the sex industry. It was so inspiring to see how much of a family feel the place had and how each of the children loved Jesus. It was beautiful to watch them all leading the worship at their church, with such joy and love in their eyes. It was a privilege to learn from Nareen the local pastor who God has lead to take in these children. It was heartbreaking to hear from him what takes place at the Cambodian border just 60km away from his home.
In summary it has been a great trip so far, we have been really busy but it has been such a rich experience and we have learnt so much. God is slowly putting the pieces of the puzzle together and we continue to trust in him to guide us in what our next steps will be after our fact finding trip with the team ends.
Next we are off to Cambodia, we fly out tomorrow with the team to spend time with a newly established Iris presence there and to learn from them. They will be working to minister to victims of child exploitation, the same areas which God has put on our hearts so we are looking forward to learning from them and finding out a little more of where we might fit in all of this.
Thanks so much for reading our update. We really love and appreciate all of you. Lots of Love from Steve and Mollie x
Next we are off to Cambodia, we fly out tomorrow with the team to spend time with a newly established Iris presence there and to learn from them. They will be working to minister to victims of child exploitation, the same areas which God has put on our hearts so we are looking forward to learning from them and finding out a little more of where we might fit in all of this.
Thanks so much for reading our update. We really love and appreciate all of you. Lots of Love from Steve and Mollie x
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With an estimated 27million people in slavery today the artist Matt Redman has teamed up with the group LZ7 and written a single. Show your support by downloading the single when it is released on February 27th 2012 and help make headlines about human trafficking!
Click here to join the event on facebook and take part by downloading the single on itunes on the 27th of February. It only costs 99p! :-)
Click here to join the event on facebook and take part by downloading the single on itunes on the 27th of February. It only costs 99p! :-)
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The last few weeks of Thailand were great and really impacting. After the main bulk of the missions team left to go back home Mollie and I along with another couple (looking to move to Thailand permanently) continued exploring what God had in store for us in Thailand. I got two separate words from God whilst in the Harvest School in Mozambique about Phuket (which a the time I didn't even know it was in Thailand) so we decided to go down to the South of Thailand where Phuket is and check it out.
In Phuket we met up with some different Christian ministries which were at work down there and met some really incredible inspiring people. There were also a few missionaries who were really discouraged and weary. We had the priveledge of being able to bless them and pray and prophesy over them and give them gifts. They were really boosted by this and it was really great to be able to bless them.
Phuket is one of the three main areas in Thailand where the sex industry is at its worse, the other two are Pattaya and Bangkok. We got to have a look around and again the scale of the industry in Phuket was shocking. After spending nearly two weeks in the area and meeting lots of different ministries we were hoping that God would give us a clearer picture of what His plans were for this place and if we were to move to Thailand where we would be based. Instead all I kept getting back was that He was going to reveal things step by step and he gave me the verse 2 Cor 5:7 "for we walk by faith, not by sight". In hindsight I think I was getting a little too carried away with knowing the full plan of what God wants us to do for the next few years and therefore not trusting in Him to reveal it. I felt like He was saying He is going to reveal to us one step at a time and at that moment the next step was to come home and prepare for returning to Thailand for long term.
In Phuket we met up with some different Christian ministries which were at work down there and met some really incredible inspiring people. There were also a few missionaries who were really discouraged and weary. We had the priveledge of being able to bless them and pray and prophesy over them and give them gifts. They were really boosted by this and it was really great to be able to bless them.
Phuket is one of the three main areas in Thailand where the sex industry is at its worse, the other two are Pattaya and Bangkok. We got to have a look around and again the scale of the industry in Phuket was shocking. After spending nearly two weeks in the area and meeting lots of different ministries we were hoping that God would give us a clearer picture of what His plans were for this place and if we were to move to Thailand where we would be based. Instead all I kept getting back was that He was going to reveal things step by step and he gave me the verse 2 Cor 5:7 "for we walk by faith, not by sight". In hindsight I think I was getting a little too carried away with knowing the full plan of what God wants us to do for the next few years and therefore not trusting in Him to reveal it. I felt like He was saying He is going to reveal to us one step at a time and at that moment the next step was to come home and prepare for returning to Thailand for long term.
Home has been great but not without its challenges, it has been slightly difficult adjusting to the UK and maintaining the same heart, and fire and outlook (perspective) in what is a completely different environment full of distractions, comforts, family, things to sort etc. For the first few weeks I (Steve) found myself not having any time to spend with God and then getting distracted and discouraged and then disillusioned by how different life is here compared to other parts of the world. Sometimes it literally felt like I had entered a different world in some alternative universe. After meeting up with some incredible Christian friends though and spending more time with Jesus he has given me back my focus. I felt like He was saying If we focus on the world and not Him it is so easy to lose track and then faith but I felt like over the last few days God has been saying focus on my Kingdom and seek myKingdom first. If I focused on differences between the Kingdom of Thailand and the United Kingdom or the difficulties of each I get discouraged. Alternatively when I focus on His kingdom things fall in place, I can not be distracted, and the difficulties of where I am cant stop me from walking in the purposes that God has for me whether I am in Mozambican bush, the streets of Thailand or the familiarity of the UK.
The plan at the moment is to go back to Thailand at the end of February for an Iris Mission trip with a large group of us who are seriously looking at long term missions. During that trip we will explore Thailand further and go into Cambodia to learn more about the plans God has for us. At the moment we are planning to stay in Thailand after the group mission trip, to find long term accommodation and enroll in language school.
The plan at the moment is to go back to Thailand at the end of February for an Iris Mission trip with a large group of us who are seriously looking at long term missions. During that trip we will explore Thailand further and go into Cambodia to learn more about the plans God has for us. At the moment we are planning to stay in Thailand after the group mission trip, to find long term accommodation and enroll in language school.
That is unless during our time on the March trip Jesus reveals something different to us.Please pray for us that we continue to walk in the purposes of God and that we don't get distracted or miss the plans that He has for us.Thank you for sharing in our journey with us. We are both really grateful and feel really blessed by you.Lots of Love from, Steve and Mollie