washed with water

This past weekend I had the sweet opportunity to baptize one of the girls I have been able to directly and indirectly disciple for the past three years. Gina became a follower of Christ in high school through young life and had never been baptized. The Lord had recently brought her to the conclusion that she needed to follow in obedience and be baptized. This sign of her faith didn't seal the deal and she is no more of a Christian than she was the day before, but what a sweet moment to realize God uses his word, the local church, and even me to work in the growing obedience of his children. 

I go back and forth between whether or not I think baptism should be done by pastors or can be done by just anyone who is a follower of Christ. Today, I am very thankful the Lord brought me to the decision that it is okay for me to participate in the baptism of a life that I am deeply invested. I was filled with great joy as I remembered the nights sent looking at scripture and the afternoons just spent chatting in dorm rooms. I was reminded that my labor is not in vain and the giving of my dear partners serves a great purpose. Yes my hands were the ones doing the physical dunking, but their were many other hands represented because of the faithfulness in giving and prayers for the gospel to go forth through me. 

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

Colossians 2:11-12

summer travels

So I am beginning to see that my goal of keeping people regularly updated is always a fail. But I seem to love to write and share with you about my travels! Why? Well, this excites me and I want to share with everyone I can because so few of you will ever get the opportunity to look into the eyes of the people and I meet and love on while in these places.

For those who don't know this summer I spent the month of July in Thailand and Dubai. Three week were spent in three different cities in Thailand and then my final week was spent in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Thailand. The land of smiles. What a joy this country was to me. We (myself and five others) landed in Bangkok on July 5. This was a lot more calm than my landing in India or Bangladesh.  Waiting for us at the airport was a friend of our church and now a dear friend to us all. We loaded up all of our stuff and headed into the heart of Bangkok. At first sight Bangkok looks like any US major city, high rises, metro, people, traffic, etc. Bangkok was very westernized and not the 'culture shock' some of us were hoping or expected. You begin to see the southeast Asian flair as you spend time there, eat the food, and engage with the people. This first week was my favorite week of the entire month! We went strong that week in the university engaging with students and teaching English. What a joy it was to build friendships with these Thai students. They loved us our well and welcomed us the entire time we spent in Bangkok. The hospitality seen and experienced in Thailand was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I loved most the food that I ate but I could never get hungry because I was constantly being feed by these dear people. The students took us to a Thai fondue buffet, to a market to try street food, and they also took us to a weekend market to enjoy some shopping. It was sad to say goodbye to these sweet new friends and I pray we have left an imprint in their lives.

Though much of our time was spent with students one of the things I enjoyed most was spending time with the family we met their in Bangkok. Getting a glimpse of their life was humbling. The love they show for the Thai was encouraging. The sacrifices they make daily was motivating. When traveling I love getting to know the people I meet and hear their stories. I am continually learning that there is so so much more to people than what we may see or perceive. What a joy it is see God's faithfulness in their lives and to link arms with them as family in the faith.

The second week was spent vacationing in south Thailand! Krabi was a beautiful little beach town. This was the very first time I have been over seas with no agenda. It was a quick four days but what an adventure we had! Even though I was there to relax and refuel it was so hard for me not to be able to go into the homes and learn about the lives of the south Thai people. There is something that brings out my curiosity when I'm immersed in a new  culture among a new people group. I love discovering new things. It brings joy to me heart.

Thailand was also very heartbreaking to me. Everywhere you turn people are offering sacrifices to idols. I am still at a loss for words to express just where my heart was when I continually passed idol after idol. People giving there life to something that doesn't bring freedom. Something that doesn't lavish grace. Something that can't express or give love back. I was reminded so often of Jesus. Jesus who came to fulfill and swallow up the law. Jesus was came to love. Jesus who came to offer us freedom. I was also humbled and grateful that it is by faith that I have been saved and not by my works.

The back half of my trip was spent teaching 4 & 5 year old in vacation bible school. We had the children almost all day long. What an exhausting joy it was teach and entertain them. It was sweet to know we were encouraging their parents to able to meet and engage with others in their company. These children, all beings third world kids, were overwhelmingly excited to engage with other kids that spoke their same language. It is crazy what we take for granted so often. As a child what a joy it is to play and build friendships with others like you. Can you imagine a childhood where that joy doesn't exist. When your neighbors all speak a different language and you just want to teach them how to play duck duck goose but can't use words. Seeing the joy in the eyes of the children was a sweet reminder of God's goodness. God cares for a simplest needs and he knew that playing a game of tag with some familiarity is just what these kids needed.

During my last two weeks abroad what has become most dear to me is the relationships that I built with other members of my church.  I enjoyed getting to know them and really just spending time around them. I am learning more and more that proximity has such an important role in relationships. Before we left my pastor asked me who I'd enjoyed getting to know and spend time with on the trip... after thinking about more I'd say it was him and his wife. They are great and hope I find myself in another country with them again one day!

Back in the states now and back on the college campus! It's crazy that this starts year six. Each year though as I think about what I am doing and what I could be doing I cam convinced that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. As I travel and see the world and invest in others and their areas I think that where I am is still one of the most strategic places for me to be.  While gone several people asked me why I'm not  teaching and I can say right now I am just not there. My heart and desire is to glorify God by building laborers on the campus so they may be sent into the world!