Dear Friends and Family,
I hope you are all doing well! I safely landed back in the States earlier this week and am excited to share with you what happened during my last month in Thailand.
May was full of lasts—my last time welcoming the kids home from school, my last time with my Sunday small group, my last time playing pick-up soccer with them.
Here's a summary of what happened:
NewStory Church from Los Angeles came!
With this team, I helped them teach at the local elementary school that our MH kids go to! I specifically worked with the 1st graders to teach them English. We incorporated bible stories into our lessons, and the students also loved dancing to body worship and screaming out the name of Jesus.
It was another experience where God used me to continually plant seeds in these kids (and even the teachers!). Even if the change isn't immediate, I have seen multiple examples of how God changes hearts using seeds that were already planted later.
Here are some more pics from teaching:
I also visited Arunothai one last time with this team! We did skits, played games, and set up several stations of fun activities for the kids. After serving several times this past year, I have loved watching the same kids return. I have seen not only how they have been growing physically but also how our work has been helping them grow their hearts for the Lord.
Also, our weekly offering at MH goes towards outreach, and we recently gifted this school at Arunothai new speakers and microphones to help with their ministry!
Here are some more pics from Arunothai:
Thank you NewStory for an amazing week of service! Please continue to pray for them to have a heart for missions and to remain faithful in their walk with God.
My Sendoff Activities:
During the last Friday night bible study before I left, I shared my reflections and my growth from my time here. After, the kids spent time in their small groups, reflecting on how they grew this past year and then how they want to grow this upcoming year. I also had them write prayer requests, so I can specifically pray for them while at home.
We also celebrated all of God's goodness during my time here with a Thai BBQ night! So grateful for everyone at MH who made this happen.
The girls on the right wanted to cook for me :)
Finally, on the night before I left, I shared some final encouragement and handed out t-shirts I designed for the kids The theme of the shirt is to be a light, which is one of the main things I had been trying to show them during my time here.
The front is a picture of fireflies (aka the kids) leaving a jar (aka MH), and spreading their light on the outside. The back is the bible verse, Matthew 5:16, which says, Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Volunteer Shoutout!
P'Wonchang: After a full year, he went back to the States, where he will be training at his home church Grace Community Chapel NJ (which visited in March) for long-term missions. He plans to return to Thailand soon and begin his Taekwondo Business as Missions.
I have been so encouraged by seeing his conviction to serve overseas, and I have personally learned so much from watching his teaching style and the relationships he has formed with the kids. The MH kids started with no training, but he taught them in only one year to become black belts.
Please continue to pray for him as God uses him to build the ministry at MH and spread the Gospel to even more kids in Thailand.
Here are some pics from the black belt testing before he left (including a board-breaking):
Michelle: She is a new volunteer who came in May and is serving for two months before heading off to medical school this summer. I was so encouraged by how well she adjusted to MH and immediately jumped into the role of serving. She taught me on a new level how to serve proactively and with a genuine heart for helping others.
Please continue to pray for her and the rest of her time at MH and as she transitions to medical school.
Leaving was inevitably sad, full of goodbyes and tears. After seeing the kids every day and living life with them, switching to a completely new daily routine was weird. What also made it especially hard was the uncertainty of not knowing if I would ever see them again. There is a phrase at MH that says, "No two Christians will ever meet again for the last time," and it's such a beautiful reminder of how powerful hope in Jesus Christ is.
I had an amazing and life-changing time pouring God's love into these kids while also growing exponentially in my faith. While I would love to be with the kids again in Thailand, it is not the door God has opened for me right now. I need to simply be patient but also ready for whatever He calls me towards next.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
God's comfort has been the rock in my life, especially during these times when I am sad and discouraged. His comfort is not only for temporary relief but has helped encourage me and strengthen me now and throughout my entire time in Thailand. I hope that I can continue to share this comfort with others.
Even though goodbyes can be tough, harder struggles will always come, and only through God's comfort and strength, I can find peace and rest.
Prayer Requests:
For all the MH kids: Pray that they actively seek to fulfill their goals to grow for this upcoming year through strength in Christ.
For the MH staff and volunteers: Pray that they continue to be equipped with the resources necessary and that they use them to lead faithfully.
For me: Pray for a smooth transition and that I can use all the things that God has equipped me with in the States. Also, pray for me to listen to what God has in store for me next.
Here are my final favorite moments from May:
I have been so grateful for everyone following me during this journey. I hope I was able to serve as an encouragement to you as you all have been an encouragement to me.
I will send another letter with some final updates and reflections, so keep an eye out for that. See you then!
In Christ,
Bri
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