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.
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