"Same God!"

Yesterday, I went to Thai church for the first time! During the Thai service, I had absolutely no idea what was going on, since the only thing I know in Thai is the greeting. But even Ronald McDonald knows the greeting, as I saw at The Mall where there's a statue of Ronald "wai"-ing (the slight bow with hands in a prayer-like fashion).

At church, Cory translated a little bit for me, but the man who gave the sermon was speaking really really fast, so it was hard to follow. What I did get though was encouraging. It seems like this church actually wants to meet the Thai people where they're at and explain things in a way that makes sense, not just imposing Western ideals and perspectives on the gospel or forcing Christian "religion" on them. The man talking talked a lot about karma, something that can often lead to a sense of hopelessness for Buddhists due to a feeling of being trapped by past sin. Instead, he offered to them relationship with Jesus as an alternative to religion and as a way out of the endless cycle of karma, since Jesus offers us salvation from past, present, and future sins as well as unconditional love and freedom from fear. Obviously, since he knows way more about Thai culture than I do, he put it in a way that the Thai people could relate to, at least I'm assuming, but this is the best picture I can give of it with my limited knowledge.

Throughout the whole service, though, I had the urge to shout "Same God!" but knew that nobody would understand, for two reasons- one, that most people didn't speak English, and two, that nobody else had gone on the South Carolina spring break trip with New Life. But it's true regardless- the same God who's working in America is also working in Thailand. Also, another crazy thought- God speaks every language! We did get some more Thai food at church, topped with plenty of cilantro! Honestly, I have no idea what it was though- I think just rice and some chicken and tofu and vegetables. I also tried some mango and sticky rice! It's funny the things that they eat for dessert here- including corn with sweetened condensed milk and gummy bears.

Today, though, was my first day teaching the English class- or so I thought. Unfortunately, the class got canceled because some students backed out literally at the last minute. I did, however, get to start taking Thai lessons with a Thai woman who works at the Centre, so I'm learning just a little bit! I did end up getting to teach some English though, ironically enough to the woman who is teaching me Thai and her husband. I don't really have any idea what I'm doing, but I think it went well enough for the first day! I was starting to feel a little bit purposeless today, because there hasn't been as much activity as I was expecting. I'm enjoying everything I'm doing, and I love the family I'm staying with, but it's a little bit strange that a lot of things have started to fall through, and I'm really unsure of what God is doing or what he wants to teach me through this.

When I was reading in a book called ¨The Shack" today though, I came across this quote: "If anything matters, then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again." It's so true though. I have no idea what God is doing, but because he loves me and because I am important to him, what I do matters, even if I can't see it. So keep praying that God would do work!