Christmas, His light that shines

I wonder what you think about whenever December comes round, lights fill the streets, or festive fa-la-la-la-la songs fill the air. It still warms my heart writing this and thinking about a transformative 2 week experience I had with the local team at Sangkhlaburi - their hope, laughter, and joy - contagious.

The team does everything from home visits, kids and elderly outreach programs to manual evacuations and cervical screening tests. Despite several language, dialect and cultural barriers, we worked our way through multiple conversations, sharing the Christmas story, and in the greater hope and love of Jesus, which binds us all together in perfect unity.

I thank God for the incredible opportunity to catch a glimpse of life in the village of Sangkhlaburi district, and be involved in a team of people who do hard and such amazing work each day to not just improve physical health but also shine the light of Christ wherever they go, in small and big ways. There is something so intrinsically special and unique about seeing a bunch of people from all around gathered around a common purpose of spreading His radical and tangible love through disabled kids camps, outdoor movie screenings, fun elderly games, home visits and Christmas carolling.

I guess for now I'll hold on to memories over campfire, spontaneous conversations, piano lessons, medication-sorting, teaching and educating, banana bread making, and mookata grilling. Thank you team, for allowing me to carry the privilege and joy of, through you, learning to - live gently, sing loudly, heal powerfully and love deeply, as Jesus does.

Till next time as I continue praying for this ministry :)"