A little about myself before I get this blog going….
Hi y’all! I’m Jen.
- I’m a Texas girl at heart (so naturally I moved halfway across the world)
- I’ve been living and serving in Bangkok, Thailand for almost 2 years now....ahhh!
- My team partners with a local Thai church and then we do ministry at a university campus.
- Most of the time I have to laugh at how crazy my life seems since I moved here.
- I think I’ve said every highly offensive word and experienced so many unfortunately awkward situations here.
- Moving overseas has been the hardest but best decision of my life.
- I love the Thai people, mexican food, baking, photography, crafting, singing, music, and playing badminton. (note: badminton is a recent hobby since moving here and compared to the Thais I suck)
Since I’ve been here at the beginning of every semester at Kasetsart University, Kaset, we go into the big lunchroom and try to meet students to invite to our English classes on-campus or build relationships with. Now this big lunchroom is very similar to a cafeteria in America but without the luxury of air conditioning, and if you weren’t aware it doesn’t get cool very often here in BKK. So it’s safe to say you’re always a little bit sweaty.
Ok so here’s how it goes: You’ve only been there 30 seconds and you’re already sweating. You first scan the room to see if you can find some students you already know and maybe meet their friends. Did I mention every student wears a uniform so they all look the same? Ok there’s no one you know so you are going to just have to walk up to a stranger. You scope out a group of students who are you’re target. You move towards them and as you slowly approach you begin to see panic come into their eyes. You speak. They point to the one person in the group that speaks English the best. Then, I speak Thai. They relax just a little bit. I ask a bunch of questions about them (ex. What is your major? What year are you? Where are you from? What do you like to do for fun?). Sometimes they are interested and join in the conversation. You invite them to English class and they say they will show up but most of the time they don’t. Sometimes it looks like they are in excruciating pain, panic, and annoyance like I am a salesperson who came knocking on their door during dinnertime. They usually tell me they have class that starts in like 1 second so they have to run. You try to hurriedly invite them to English class or an activity knowing good and well they aren’t coming.
All that being said, even though it seems a little painful it is really fun and you never really know who you are going to meet. However, we realize that it is not the most effective method of meeting students and so it’s not our #1 tactic. I think its more effective for growing me in my skills and confidence to start up conversations with strangers and to try learning about people’s lives.
But I have one friend. One friend who I met in the big, hot cafeteria that came to an event and is one of my sweetest friends today. Meet Goy or Penny as the foreigners call her because Goy is ever so close to a not very polite word that I unfortunately said one time. She’s probably one of the most precious and funniest girls I know. I think we were destined to be friends because we are both a little a lot crazy. At the beginning of the school year in June we have a short-term team of high school students come and help us kick off the school year and build some excitement for our group on campus. We go to the campus everyday and eat lunch and try to find some students to spend time with. This one-day in particular we were sitting at a long table and I encouraged the students in my group to go talk to the Thai students at the end of the table. One of the girls mentioned they looked busy and not interested but I really felt for some odd reason like they should go talk to them. So they did. And there was sweet Goy.
It has been such a blessing getting to know Goy. At first she was so shy and I’m pretty positive she thought I was going to kidnap her the first time she hung out with us. After that, I started inviting her and her friend over along with another Thai Christian, Maew, to bake at my house. Thais love to bake because none of them have ovens so it’s the perfect opportunity to get some quality-time in! Goy is always really excited to make something sweet and it’s a good way to connect her with Maew so Maew can share more about Christ. We took a retreat to the mountains recently and tried to ask the students some thought-provoking questions about their lives. After we returned, Goy told me that she loves hanging out with us because we make her think about things she has never thought about before (ex. What is the purpose of my life?) Then, she told me she really looked up to me and wanted to be like me. I’m so thankful that she is being able to see the light of Christ in me and in others! I can see that God is changing her and giving her a lot of challenging life questions to wrestle with.
The most exciting thing is that Maew and I got to give Goy her first bible a few months ago and she was over the moon about it! Recently she has been texting Maew asking her so many questions about it and how to read it. I love that she has connected with Maew because Maew can share her story of changing from a Buddhist to a Christian in her heart language in a way that I could never do. Although I am so thankful for Goy’s friendship I may not live here forever so to get her plugged in with the Thai Christians is a huge blessing and our ultimate goal! I believe in faith that Goy will soon be my sister in Christ and realize the hope and love she has in Christ!
Little did I know that all those times I complained about being in the hot, sweaty lunchroom walking up and enduring awkward conversations was all going to be worth it for meeting one person who may forever be changed by the love of Christ. One thing I have learned here is that even when it doesn’t feel like God is working he is and always in the places we least expect. Please pray with me that Goy would realize God’s overwhelming love for her!