Provided, Protected, Connected

I am certain that I have not totally processed through the fullness of my three-day adventure to Bangkok, Thailand and I don't have words enough to explain just what He did last week. But I know that several people were lifting me up and I wanted to let you know that those prayers were received and answered in HUGE ways, just as I expected. He provided peace, courage and strength. He was my protection as a solo traveler. And, He connected me with some incredible people.


Let's rewind a bit, so as to display the awesomeness of His creative orchestration:
I began doing some research on human trafficking back in July and August, looking specifically for organizations that I could possibly work with. I was given a magazine from a particular organization that had articles written by workers from teams all around the world. My heart resonated with their stories and the mission statement and through a random series of small world connections I was all of the sudden in communication with some people that worked in Bolivia and Thailand. In the meantime, I had contacted Night Light, a different organization in Bangkok that worked directly with women in prostitution and was invited to come for a tour of their program. So then I decided to email the team in Thailand to make the most of my potential trip there...hoping to kill a couple birds with one stone. I didn't hear back from them, and started to think that maybe it wasn't going to happen. I tried one more time, praying that if I was supposed to go on this trip, I would hear back from them within the week. Within two days, I got an email explaining that none of my other emails had been received and that if it wasn't too late, they would love to have me come and see what they do. All of the sudden I was in the process of buying a ticket to Bangkok during the first week of January with both anxiety and excitement in my heart wondering what He was going to do.

The first legs of the trip were extremely smooth. I made it to Bangkok, made it through immigration, to a taxi and to the guest house all in one piece. The next day, there was nothing on the agenda until 7pm. Despite my doubts of whether or not I could handle being a solo traveler, I grabbed the Bangkok Sky Train map and was determined to do some site seeing. Site seeing turned out to be mall hopping and people watching, but that was okay with me:) My only touristy goal for the three day adventure was to eat as much authentic Pad Thai as I could...success. Although, I realized that no one does it quite like Pato...

Anyways...

That evening, I was invited to attend "Beggars Society," which is a monthly gathering of workers in Bangkok to raise awareness about what He's doing among the poor there. The guest speaker for this particular evening happened to be the woman who started Night Light, one of the ministries I had come to Bangkok to visit. It was an incredible night full of small world connections, including a girl whose brother works in Nevada, MO and knows about Cottey College and a couple girls who have had the privilege of staying at the famous Jungle Inn on the island of Sumatra. It was such a blessing to be around people with the same heart. I was encouraged and blown away at God's timing and connections. I got to hang out with them afterward and the evening went pretty late. I knew that I had to catch the sky train before midnight and headed out around 11pm. The guest house was located on the other side of town about an hour away, so I had a long trip ahead of me and hadn't been back to the guest house since that morning. When I got to my last stop, I wasn't exactly confident on how to get back to the guest house, but headed in the first direction that felt right...I then came across a pack of dogs lying in the middle of the sidewalk. We don't really have dogs here in Indo, so I was a little more than worried about having to cross their path. I figured, tip-toeing would be the best strategy...and similar to what I imagine happened in the lions den, they didn't even notice me:) Unfortunately, after I made it past them, I realized that I was definitely going the wrong way and needed to turn around. So, I took a deep breath, and tip-toed back through the pack of wild canines...this time, they got a little more excited and the tip-toeing became trotting, which became running. At that point, the dogs got really excited and started to chase after me. One of them nipped at my leg and that's when I knew I was in trouble. But then, like a guardian angel in bull dog form, out of no where came a big dog barking and cutting off the attackers and saving my life! Shaken and scared to death I made it across the street where I found a friendly taxi driver to take me back to the guest house. Praise God!

The next day, I was pretty overwhelmed with a spirit of fear from the night before and had to spend some time surrendering that to Him. But, by His strength, I headed out into the big city once again to have coffee with one of the people I had met the night before--the wife of the couple who works with one of the organizations I am interested in possibly working with. It was a really great time. We clicked right off the bat and it was so awesome to hear what God had been doing in their ministry and the dreams they have for different programs in the future. They minister specifically to street kids who work in prostitution and their families. They would like to start a center where they can help educate, train and counsel these families to equip them to get off the streets and out of prostitution. Right now, it is just the two of them, so there is a clear need for additional team members. She was excited to offer me the opportunity to join them in the near future! I am in the process of praying through this and getting more information on the logistics of what that would look like. Praise God!

The next day, I was scheduled for a tour of Night Light at 10:30am. Night Light works specifically with prostitutes in the bars in one of the red light districts in Bangkok. They go into the bars and build relationships with the girls, the bar owners and the brothel managers. They encourage the girls to leave prostitution by providing them with an alternative way to make money. They have a jewelry business where the girls work and are able to make money for their families. At the same time they share Truth with them, provide pastoral counseling and a daycare for their children. It is an incredible ministry and is very well established. Night Light also does a lot of work with trafficked women who have been brought over the border from different countries in Asia and Eastern Europe. They work with the Anti-Trafficking office there in Bangkok to help the girls get back to their home countries. Again, I was so blown away by stories of God's provision, protection and redemption. There were several people on the tour with me who became immediate friends. We all happened to be in the same place in life...at the end of a chapter, but not really sure what the future might hold. We were from all over the world...England, Australia, South Korea, America...but all have a heart to see the oppressed set free. It was so cool to see God orchestrate these divine appointments. Praise Him!

That evening I returned to Indonesia, still unsure of exactly what the future holds, but so full...full of peace, full of excitement, full of assurance in His plan...whatever it happens to be. My Bangkok adventure was only three days and I went into it not having any idea what to expect. But, as I mentioned in my last post, I prayed to see Him in a BIG way and He was faithful.

Now, of course, my tendency still remains to fret and try and come up with a plan to figure out what to do, but He continues to whisper "Wait Molly. I am still working. Just, wait for me."
So, WAIT is the word for 2011 and in the meantime, I will put my hope in His Word.

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1

Make me to know your ways , O LORD; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4-5

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope;
my soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6

Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. They are being received and answered. What a Mighty God we serve!

A New Year that holds BIG Possibilities

The other night, I was listening to someone talk about New Year's Resolutions and that the reason most of us fail to accomplish them is because they are based on our own expectations and desired results and not on God's.

At the beginning of 2010, I was bound and determined to update this blog more frequently...alas, it did not happen. Let me assure you though, that does not mean there were not countless blog-worthy stories...In fact, in the time between the last post and now, He has taught me that my expectations and desires don't really matter that much and that the plans He has are much more beautiful and exciting than I could ever imagine.

My last post was a story from the Sea Tribe Trip that I went on in April. On that trip, there was a stirring in my heart to seek what the Lord might have next for me...after the 2010-2011 school year. BAIS has been my home for three and a half years now. He has established a place for me here, shaping and molding me into a totally new version of myself. He's blessed me with an incredible support system of brothers and sisters that sharpen and challenge me in every conversation we have. He's totally rocked my world! With that being said, you can imagine I was a bit taken aback when He said that this year would be my last. Despite what He's taught me about His faithfulness and how He knows the big picture, I still try to put Him in a box and couldn't help but ask, "Really? Are you sure? I am pretty sure that teaching kids is all I've got..."
Over the next several months, He continued to provide a peace that I still can't quite describe about the thought of me leaving here. At the same time, He was pressing some other things on my heart. One of those things being Human Trafficking and possibly working with trafficked women and children. I started doing some research and reading up on what He's doing in this part of the world through ministries that help prevent, prosecute, rescue and rehabilitate. He continued placing people in my path who had connections to various ministries and my pool of contacts continued to grow. Literally every time I would mention this to anyone, they would tell me of someone they know who is working with a ministry like this somewhere in Asia. I had several contacts in Thailand, Cambodia and India, so I decided that I was going to use my vacation time to explore some of these options. Emphasis on the I part of that sentence...I had grand plans for me to go to all these places and figure out what I was going to do next. When the doors started to close on those endeavors, discouragement set in and I started to question Him again. He reminded me that He hasn't left me or forsaken me, that His plans and His timing is perfect and that I just needed to wait. I surrendered my desires, plans and control and trusted that He was going to do what He wanted...I now see that His plan was to address that doubt that I mentioned earlier...that teaching is all I've got...

At the beginning of December, I was able to go on a short trip with some teachers to visit an island in the Riau that we visited a couple years ago on a Sea Tribe trip. The elementary school there got the lowest test scores out of all the elementary schools in that area and they are spending the next year working on getting them up. We were asked to bring our knowledge and experience to the teachers in a two day workshop. We were also asked to revamp their library and teach them how to use their resources. It was an incredible experience to be able to use and share the giftings that He's given us to bless this school and demonstrate His love to them. Not only were we able to give them some practical tools and creative strategies to use in their classroom, but we also got to rock it HGTV style and redecorate their library. Through this experience, I learned the creativity with which He uses the giftings of His children.

This past week, I went to Central Java with some friends of mine who've been speaking and ministering to Indonesian churches all over the country. The plan was to spend some time with high school and college students, practicing their English and sharing stories with them of America with the ultimate goal and sharing the Truth with them. We met with small groups for three days and He worked in HUGE ways. I love how He works outside my comfort zone. Throughout the three days, I was able to go pretty deep with the students in my group, talking about friendship, forgiveness, heaven and ultimately giving them the opportunity to accept JC. It was unbelievable how He worked through me. Again, I learned that the gifts He's given me can be used in any capacity, all that's required of me in surrender and complete reliance on Him.

Today, I am hopping a plane to Bangkok, Thailand. Yeah, turns out not all of the doors closed. I will be visiting a couple ministries there that work with trafficked women and children. I am going by myself and expecting nothing but big things from Him.

So, He knows the big picture. He knows what this year holds and although He's not filling me in on exactly what it is, He continues to provide evidence of His faithfulness and sovereignty. In the meantime, I will walk with Him and follow wherever He leads praying for eyes to see and ears to hear where that might be.

I could come up with all kinds of New Year's Resolutions to figure out my future and plan it out, but that would all be in vain, because it would be based on what I want. Instead, I will choose to wait on Him, expecting BIG things for 2011.