"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Galatians 6:9
It's harvest time here in Patong and I couldn't be more grateful 🙂
As we were heading in to this last week of ministry, I was weighed down with worries about what kind of lasting impact we would leave here. I was humbled time and time again by God reminding me that He cares way more about these women then we ever could and wil continue to fight for them long after we're back in the U.S. of A. That being said, he also mentioned something about it being time for a harvest and he wasn't lying 🙂
Tip accepted Jesus tonight as her savior and as the one true God! woot woot! It's been weeks coming and tonight, after much thought, she decided she really believes that it is the real deal. Today her and her sister came over for dinner and we got to talk with them and give them a Thai bible and such that they can keep pursuing Truth. What an exciting day that changed her eternity.
Quick story to set the tone for the rest of what God is doing on Bangla Rd:
Today when we were meeting some of our Thai friends for ice cream this man we know walked by us and said cynically "Two down. One million to go." I can understand his reservations, it seems like an impossible task. All I could think to that was that it may seem so small in terms of the big picture but those two souls are precious in God's eyes and He is celebrating because there are two more names in the Book of Life and each woman means the world to Him. Not to mention, little does our friend know that God's already for something up His sleeve and it's bigger than we could ever imagine.
After Tip accepted Jesus she explained the gospel to her sister Ning that does not understand English quite as well. On top of that, tonight when we were at their bar their bar owner asked Kelsey to tell her about God and the language barrier got us again but Tip could do the job for us! God only needed us to plant the seed and he's got other means of spreading it 🙂 Tip's first night as a Christian and she's already shared the Good News with two other people. In the same way, the other Ning from the last few posts is sharing the gospel with women at her bar as well! She told us that she prays for us every day and is going to share Jesus with her whole family.
Seeds are being spread everywhere and it's an incredible thing to see. The ministry is going to continue to grow long after we are gone because God is a God that pursues relentlessly. He is creative and stubborn and won't give up on these sweet, sweet women.
This is the very condensed version but I just wanted everyone to get a chance to see the harvest!
A few other things to celebrate:
- We got to give the little girls that sell flowers some costume jewelry Kelsey had brought. Felt so blessed to be able to give to them in a world that only uses them.
- We got to give our ladyboy friend Sophia flowers that Andrea bought and just make him feel known and cared about.
- We get to meet four girls for lunch tomorrow and have every intention of leaving them Jesus before we take off from this place.
- We got to give Tip and Ning a tour of SHE, a place where I hope they will call home so soon.
- Ja-Ja is leaving the bars to come live here.
- Tsunee left to go back to her family.
Guys, thanks for celebrating with us. Seriously, it's incredible to know how much everyone back home cares and is praying for this ministry. Fight hard for us in prayer for our last night, that God would finish His work with us and we could leave assured that our work here is done.
