Back from Outreach

After two months of traveling from Cambodia to Thailand, our team of twelve is back in Australia.  The last week of DTS here will include debrief where students will get to celebrate and share their outreach experiences.  We also talk in depth about plans for after students get home.  It will be a tough transition going from third world nations back home to the Western world.  This is known better as reverse culture shock.  On top of that, students are wrestling with ideas about what to do next in their lives.  Many students show up at a DTS hoping that it all falls into place (I know I did on my DTS), but it does not.  We have to base our decisions on our will and not on emotions.  Students are challenged throughout the week to continue to look for ways in which they can "continue on" with the same mindset they have here back home.  It is easy to allow the comforts of home and ease of life to distract us from getting out and doing something for God.  Also, students are given information about how they can continue with YWAM if they choose and come back to staff.  

It is without a doubt a very fun and exciting week, but it is also a fork in the road for almost everyone involved.  Please keep the staff and students in your prayers as they think about these things.  

As for the last part of outreach,  we had been helping Pastor Wasan build a pre-school and also teaching English to some Thai people at a local community center.  The guys team was so grateful for their experience with Pastor Wasan.  We all got to see a man who's heart is fully devoted to serving God and people any way possible.  He is inspiring to say the least.  

Thailand is a very unique country in that it has it's own culture apart from Western influence.  Thailand is very closed off to Christianity because they see it as being influenced by the Western Culture.  They don't understand that the Kingdom of God transcends all cultures in all times.  But meeting people like Pastor Wasan left me with some hope that there are Thai people who are making a difference and helping Christ change lives.

 

Pastor Wasan & the Thai Coast

Since February 2, our team has again split into two different ministries and gone to two different areas of Thailand.  All four of the ladies on our team have gone to Phucket to work with “She” ministries”, which helps women in prostitution.  “She ministries” tries to employ women who want out of the prostitution industry.  They make jewelry, sell chocolate, and work in various other trades. 

All eight of our guys have been working with a man named Pastor Wasan.  Pastor Wasan is an example of what Paul was talking about when he mentions doing good whenever we have opportunity.  Wasan has been helping out here on the Thai Coast ever since the Tsunami of 2004.  He has helped to build dozens of homes for people.  He is a liaison for churches and other groups who want to come and help out.  Currently he is working on a project to build a new preschool for some local children.  He also is a full time pastor, windshield repairman, and father.  He is possibly the most humble man I have ever met in my life.  Never does he consider himself before other people.  He has really had an influence on the guys of this team and myself.  We are constantly amazed at what he does for us and for others.  People stop by all the time that he has helped in the past to give him some fresh seafood or some other gift.  He always accepts them but usually finds a way to pass the blessing on to someone else.  He always says, “Praise God that He always provides for me”.  The man literally lives to serve others and loves to do it.  The people he helped after the Tsunami wanted to name a pier after him and he refused.  He is an example of a godly man for all of us guys who strive to be the same. 

We have been helping Pastor Wasan at the preschool and also with his Saturday and Sunday children’s programs.  Every day after work, Wasan takes our team to the beach for a quick swim.  It is just one of many things he does to thank us for helping him.