A Ministry of Prayer

Submitted by Rachelle Moreno who spent two weeks in Thailand with the Sending Place this past Winter.

         Going on a short-term mission trip is always frightening and fulfilling at the same time; there are so many unknowns that lie ahead on the journey. But isn't that true of life? Doing ministry in Thailand or here in Stockton or any other town it doesn’t matter.  We all have plans and agendas for our day, but are the God’s plans or ours? I've learned through this trip that we need to eagerly seek GODS plan through prayer.

         When we left for our trip generally we had a full agenda. We had our bible lessons prepared with all the crafts for the lesson ready. We had our devotions and daily activities all routed out.  But then we got to Thailand we realized GOD has a different agenda!!!  As we began to go through our planned itinerary we quickly saw our ministry transform into much more than teaching Bible lessons and giving devotions. Our trip turned into a ministry of prayer.

         We were welcomed to a school to teach bible lessons and the Principal and his wife were so warm, loving, and welcoming to us. We just assumed they were Christian. As they sat and ate lunch with us we learned that they were not believers. We asked if they would mind if we prayed with them that God would reveal himself and they quickly accepted. I wish I could say that they were instantly converted but I can say seeds were sown in their hearts. Another day we had planned a drive to a village but our host had asked that we go to a home and pray with a family. The father was addicted to alcohol. It was affecting his 2 older sons and he felt pressure from his friends to continue drinking and it was tearing his family apart. As we sat in their bamboo hut, we prayed with this family.

         After we sat talking with them and shared tea. I shared with our translator my own struggle with drugs and alcohol and how I had to break away from friendships to stay sober for my own well being. It was not a coincidence, our being there that day.  God was calling us to where he was already working in people’s live. I could relate to the struggles and the pain that family was experiencing. I left their home in tears and our translator who was also our driver was impacted by the experience as well. He wondered why I cried for them. Again, seeds were planted with him.

         I learned throughout our time that we needed to really listen to GOD and to the people to know how to help. We ended up being invited into several homes to pray with families.  When we would meet with the families we would listen to their needs.  Depending upon the situation we would pick up our Bibles to see how God’s Word spoke to the situation. It was so important to listen to the needs of those we prayed with to know how GOD would work through us

         Our host Siami whom lives her life to do this ministry in Thailand constantly seeks GOD through prayer. It was very encouraging and important to see the power of prayer through her ministry. It got me to thinking about one of the most loving things we can do for a person is to simply pray with them. I know for myself, the feeling that I get is so overwhelmingly grateful when someone takes time to pray with me. It's a very powerful thing.

         One of the things I have learned in returning to Stockton is that it doesn't matter if you’re in Thailand, Stockton, Lodi or Tracy, we need to listen first if we are going to speak Gods word into people's lives.  We all need to be reminded that we must first seek GOD and he will lead us and direct our paths to where he is ALREADY working.