Smiles can vividly express or inconspicuously hide emotions.
Today we visited families affected by HIV in the northern region. The first family welcomes us and we sang worship hymns and prayed together. Other teammates marveled at the improvements made to their living compound. They had a new chicken coop structure that served as another form of income in addition to the wife’s general labor work during the day. Through different health difficulties involving hospitalization and extended recovery, their support system came through. I love witnessing the body of Christ in action. On our way out of their home, his mother who lived down the street greeted us in the van and gifted us food.
At the second house, the woman set up a feast pulled together with help from her family. We also sang and prayed with her after the meal. She let us pick fruit from her trees and blessed us with the leftovers. This encounter reminded me of the miracle where Jesus multiplied the little food on hand to feed over 5,000 hungry families. They came for spiritual food, and left with an abundance of physical nourishment as well. I find it amazing how the people we were blessing with physical and spiritual provisions so easily gave back to us out of the joy in their hearts. They took time to show Jesus love.
In the evening, we met up with our prayer partners to explore the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar. We combed the food stands to find delicious meals and treats like mango sticky rice. I found a few souvenirs for yinz too 😉 At the end of the night we went to an old fashioned ice cream shoppe.
Speaking of prayer partners, one of the girls I’m pairs with learned of a family emergency that she went home for. Unless things decline, she will return next week- but please pray for her safety and her family’s health as they are not believers. May she be a light to them in this trial. This morning (Friday) I saw her completing her normal house chores, but I did not know she was leaving til later.
The land of smiles – stuffed full of joy – threaded with grief – bursting with the need for a savior.