Reflections

We arrived back to Kansas City from Hong Kong on Monday. I have been recovering from jet lag and processing the events from the trip. I am grateful for Central supporters and Prairie Baptist church for allowing me to experience this great adventure. Several fellow church members from my church, Holmeswood Baptist, have already asked “What did you experience?” and “What did you learn?” Well, here are a few things:

I realized the necessity of believing in a holistic gospel. I met missionaries who engaged in peace work; who run centers for people with disabilities; who care for young women who have been sexually trafficked; who cultivate meaningful friendships with the lonely. To do gospel work, one most be concerned about the whole person, not just the soul. Likewise, we worship with our whole bodies, not just with our heart or mind.

I understand the importance of caring for those who care. As I spoke to the missionary families, I could detect weariness in their voices. Many worry about budget and raising support. Some feel forgotten by their denominations and churches back in their home countries. I feel privileged to have served those who are often consumed with the needs of others. Laughter and fellowship do wonders for the soul.

I also witnessed how the Triune God can work through the church even when Christianity remains in the minority. In Hong Kong, Christians play a prominent role in social services and education. The Thailand Burma Border Consortium, which aids refugees fleeing Burma, is mostly supported by Christian organizations.

I saw how Christianity took root in the positive areas of culture, such as in regards to respect and honor. I observed how Christianity transformed culture and lifestyle when persons were not free, such as in refugee camps and in peace work.

On a lighter note, I learned about banana boating, the game “Grandpa’s Undies” (a gift from the Australian group), and that jellyfish can’t sting you once your dead. For that last one, I did not experience that personally, but one youth was brave enough to pick up a jellyfish, put her hand in the middle, and show everyone her accomplishment, including the boys.

Harsh Realities of Immigrant Workers in Hong Kong

Today John Gravely took us around Hong Kong. He was an American Baptist missionary for 9 years and now works for Central. In the subway areas, there were a lot of Filipino and Malay women sitting around together, talking and laughing. John told us that these women were live-in domestic helpers. Their day off is Sunday, and therefore they are required to leave where they live. They congregate in parks, subway sidewalks, etc. They will be outside on Sundays all year long, subject to weather elements.

While John said some of their employers were kind and allowed women to stay at their homes on their day off, many were not. Their wages are such that they cannot afford housing (even temporary), and are often outside until 9:00 or 10:00 in the evening.

I know some Hong Kong Christians reach out to these domestic laborers. Hong Kong Christians, while a small percentage of Hong Kong as a whole, have a prominent influence with regard to education and social services. I wonder how Christians in the United States can partner with what Hong Kong Christians and churches are already doing to provide these women with some kind of shelter, even if it is in the winter months, on their days off.

Encounter the World with Central

Today we were able to sight see a little around Bangkok. We took a boat tour up the main river and canals and were able to get a great vantage point of the Jade palace, and Bangkok in general. That evening, we had dinner with Dr. Thawesak Mahacharavaroj’s daughter and her family. Dr. Thawesak is a prominent businessman in Asia and he and his family support and play leadership roles in many Christian and non-profit organizations. He is also a strong supporter of Central.

I believe Central is ahead of its time—not only are students able to participate in cross-cultural events such as this, but we also are supported by persons literally around the world. This means the impact of Central, its faculty, and its students, can be felt worldwide as well.

This week serves as an example of Central’s impact. We met a missionary who is a Central alum. Dr. Marshall’s teaching resonated in the missionaries’ minds, and the conversations I heard leaving the conference to Bangkok centered on the Holy Spirit’s work in the world and in the particular ministries of the missionaries. I hope the youth also were able to hear the Spirit this week and can discern the Spirit’s work in their lives. I also hope they had a time of rest, fellowship, and rejuvenation.

It takes great faith of persons who support Central from halfway across the globe. They have faith that Central is a good steward of its resources and its leaders are careful discerners of how God is working in the seminary and in the world. They have faith that the Spirit is doing good things with Central, and that its students are serving God. In doing so, these students make a global impact--truly being Spirit filled, Spirit led.

Thailand Burma Border Consortium

June 11, 2010

Today we traveled to Bangkok and met with Jack Dunford, head of the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC). Dunford came from Great Britain as an engineer over thirty years ago. He joined an international church in Bangkok, and found his work with church more satisfying than his work at his job. He saw ethnic minorities, such as the Karen and the Mon, from Burma set up in refugee camps on the Thai side of the border, and decided to help their cause.

The military government of Burma has committed huge atrocities against ethnic minorities. Out of 1,077 households surveyed, 21% were attacked by the military, 28 % were forced to porter (carry luggage for the military), and 40% experienced military patrol and landmines in 2009. Their infant mortality rate is similar to the humanitarian crises in Angola and the Congo.

At first, all they needed was rice. So he raised money and provided the camps with rice. As the number of refugees increased, the need for supplies did. They began to supply the refugees with food, supplies for shelter, and other essential non-food items (pots, pans, etc.). As they have grown, they have organized education systems, provided supplies for the refugees to make handicrafts, and have trained health workers. They have also worked with the Thai government for the refugees to be able to work and live in Thailand.

The interesting thing about TBBC is that they empower the refugees to do much of the work themselves. While TBBC may supply the rice, the refugees have a system where they distribute the rations and keep records. The refugees are also the ones who administer medical care, make the handicrafts, make the shelters, and govern the camps. This allows them to maintain their dignity as productive human beings while living in a transitory situation. They also grow their own vegetables and make much of their own food. TBBC desires to increase self-reliance and reduce aid dependency among refugee camps through empowering the refugees

The refugees also travel back into Burma to distribute food and resources to displaced persons living in Burma. These persons may be in hiding from the military government, or their villages may be destroyed. Organizations led by the refugees have collected extensive documentation about the number of destroyed villages, hiding places, etc.

There are about 150,000 refugees from Burma living in Thai refugee camps, another two million or so persons living in Thailand, and there are half a million internally displaced persons living in Burma. The ideal dream of TBBC is for them to be able to back into Burma once it is safe to do so. Other alternatives are resettlement in Thailand and resettlement in third countries.

I appreciate Mr. Dunford taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with us. My heart aches for the people of Myannmar who are uprooted from their homes.

Most of TBBC’s multimillion dollar budget comes from Christian and human rights organizations from many different countries, as well as from individual donors. Baptists, who have worked alongside the Karen people for a long period of time, have also reached out to them as they have resettled in third countries. Still, there is much work to be done, many prayers to be said, and much peacemaking to be done for the Burmese government to recognize the full dignity of all persons who live in Burma. To learn more about TBBC, check out www.tbbc.org.

Spirit Filled. Spirit Led.

I can see the Holy Spirit moving among the missionaries and missionary kids this week. Today, Dave asked the youth to draw a picture of what they thought of when they pictured the Holy Spirit, and then incorporate one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in that picture. The pictures they came up with were insightful, and, in my opinion, they could have taught the adults with their drawings. There was a solar system, a flower being watered, and a person whose heart was beaming, as she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Dave then had them pick five words to describe the Holy Spirit. I learned much from the youth and felt spiritually edified.

A group of women from a Baptist church in Australia came in and ministered to the younger children while their parents were occupied—providing them with crafts, games, and much attention. This was the first mission trip of the church (the church was 20 years old) and the first mission trip for the women involved. For one woman, this was the first time she had been overseas. I got a chance to talk to the leader and ask her how God led her to go on this mission trip. She said that she felt God prompting her to go, and since her church supported missionaries in Thailand, she thought she should go and serve alongside them. She and the group worked and planned for eighteen months before they traveled here. After they finish up here at TBMF, they plan on going to the north of Thailand to serve at a camp for children who are disabled. They will be gone from their families for three weeks. I enjoy seeing them process their first missions experience, and seeing their gifts acted out beautifully. I think it would be intimidating for eight women with no previous international mission trip experience to travel more than ten hours to a country where nothing is familiar. They have managed to do so by the grace of God.

I also had a chance to talk with a missionary from Australia who has lived in Thailand for more than twenty-five years. She told me that her home church in Australia has a large number of Karen refugees who fled Burma. I explained to her how in the United States, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the American Baptists have intentionally ministered to the Karen people. I am amazed that Baptists worldwide have fought for and been a home to one of the most oppressed people groups in the world. This expression of hospitality makes me thankful to claim the title of Baptist and the history of Baptist missions in Southeastern Asia. They are carrying on a legacy that began with the Judsons almost two hundred years ago.

They May Be Blind, But They Can See Jesus

June 9 2010

Today was wonderful. We got to know the youth more, and I think they had a good time fellowshipping with one another. We made prayer journals, talked about what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives, and played games. I think I am about having as much fun as the youth are!

There are some hardships that missionary kids experience. On one hand, they are normal teenagers—hanging out, talking about relationships, listening to music (I found a fellow Taylor Swift fan in the bunch). On the other hand, they face the difficulties of their parents moving and serving, and people constantly entering in and out of their lives. Short term missions groups only come for a week or two, then leave. Their friends may move back to their home country or go on home assignment for six months to a year. Despite this, they are resilient, friendly, and optimistic. It has been a pleasure getting to know them and hang out with them.

I have also gotten a chance to talk with the missionaries about their various ministries. I talked to one missionary who works at New Life Center, a holistic organization that cares for victims of sex trafficking. These victims are from minority and tribal groups in Laos, Burma, and elsewhere. They provide housing, bible study, schooling, domestic and hygiene training, vocational training, and scholarships for university study in Thailand. They earn some money by making handicrafts to sell.

She told me of a story where she was asked to preach for a group who was engaged in similar work. Before she was asked to preach, a choir sang. The choir was made up of people who had been blind or maimed by the Burmese junta regime. They all had limbs missing. The director turned to her and said “they may be blind, but they can see Jesus.”

Please continue to pray for these missionaries, as they help others see Jesus.

We all Sang in Harmony

Today was the first day where we spent structured time with the youth. We had fun fellowshipping and hanging out. I experienced a variety of firsts: I found out what a stinky fruit was (I can’t remember the name, started with a “d” and banned from several hotels in Hong Kong), the youth convinced me to go banana boating, played a game that the leader first saw in Burma but thought it was from the United States.

Even in though this is the Thai Baptist Missionary Fellowship, there are a variety of denominations present. We heard a testimony about a Mennonite family using strategy to bring peace to Burma. Several missionaries have collaborated with other missionaries of various denominations. Our group is not only multicultural, but ecumenical as well.

At worship, we did round singing. 4 groups sung at different times, but it was harmonious. At the end, we all sang in unison. It was very powerful, as I thought of our different backgrounds and places we were serving, but we all serve the same God.

We also sang the Newsboys song "He reigns". It tells about all the peoples of the world praising God. This is why the missionaries here are serving in Thailand. This is why we are here.