And lastly, we couldn't leave Thailand without visiting the famous idyllic beaches🏖️🌊🌴, experiencing some of the jungle vibes, and even riding an elephant! 🐘Check out pictures for a taster!
FUN FACTS:
🌶️🔥🥢Thai food is very healthy and spicy! I fell in love with pineapple rice, sticky rice with mango, Pad Thai goong, garlic chicken, and other dishes I cannot even name!
🍍🍌🥭Tropical fruits like pineapple, papaya, dragon fruit, coconut and of course, mangos are absolutely delicious! They have nothing to do with the flavour of imported fruit we eat here.
👟🚫It is customary to take off your shoes and leave them outside when you enter every house, some buildings, and even shops!
🌳🌴Women and children living at the border put a white "cream" on their cheeks made with Thanaka soap, taken from the trunk of a tree, to protect themselves from the sun and show they are clean and have had their shower.
👍I felt really safe! People generally do not steal, despite being in need or not.
🚖📍Taxi services are very efficient, and I met some very nice taxi drivers who went above and beyond without expecting tips or extra money, especially the young gentlemen who drove me to the airport when I was panicking about missing my flight back to the UK - even though his English very basic, we ended up talking about Jesus!
🦋Fairytale and Disney-like butterflies everywhere!
🛍️🏬🛒People love spending a huge amount of time in the malls, which are a bit different from the shopping centres we are used to here in Europe. They have gardens, salons, spas, and other entertainment inside!
🥥🌴Real coconut ice cream and real pineapple cocktails!
🫶The BIGgest memory:❤️💕
I have experienced the presence of God✨💖 and His wrapping protection in unexpected places and circumstances (i.e. while having a panic attack while riding an elephant, being on a small boat at sea under a stormy sky, and feeling fearful of being trafficked in a taxi by myself when the driver suddenly took a dark shortcut in the middle of nowhere!!). The prevalence of Buddhism in Thailand, with its golden temples, scary dragons, majestic statues, and spirit houses, has reinforced my belief that the God of the Bible is the one true God. Only Jesus 💡✨ can provide true answers to life's biggest questions, and only through Him can one experience true joy and peace. I feel blessed to know this God and be known by Him, the God who came down from heaven to die on a cross for me, the only God who gave His life for us all.🙏✝️
Things I struggled with:
📌Few Christians: As a follower of Jesus, I felt sad about the small number of Christians in Thailand. A visit to a famous temple reinforced my Christian beliefs, as it mentioned that the first Buddha couldn't find the truth and settled for a compromise, 'the middle way”. The essence of life is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, who declared, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.'
📌Communication Dynamics: Thai people are friendly, but their cultural habit of saying 'yes' to avoid conflict can make it hard to know their true feelings. Forming genuine friendships might take a long time, as Thais may need years to reveal their real selves.
📌Black Market Sex Industry: I was saddened to discover a thriving black market sex industry in a central district of Phuket. It casts a shadow on the vibrant culture, raising concerns about the well-being of those affected.
📌Language Barriers: Communicating in English was challenging in most cases which could prevent you from having deep conversations.
👇Bottom line:👇
My trip wasn't in any way what I had anticipated and this is usually the case when it comes to mission work. I was reminded quite vividly that it's not just about the immediate “relief” or tangible results you hope to achieve or the tasks you completed, but maybe it is much more about the many encounters and random conversations in a taxi, in a farm, on the beach, whilst riding an elephant, etc..it is about sowing seeds, giving locals or missionaries hope, preparing the ground and laying the foundation for a much bigger construction whose final look you might even not be able to see in this life!
✨🌍🌟I strongly encourage everyone to take the opportunity to go on a short-term, medium-term, or long-term mission trip or volunteering program abroad. Despite any challenges, cultural shock, or difficulties you may encounter, it will undoubtedly be an enriching experience for you and your life. After all, Jesus encouraged us to be the light of the world and to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth, didn't he? So, what are you waiting for? 🌈🤗💪🌍
Grateful for the experience! 🫶