“sah wah dee khrap!” (“Hello” in Thai)

I go to Chiang Rai every year since 2016, except during Covid, to support Pastor Pannee, our missionary, in her work to preach the Gospel to her people. My last trip there was in December 2024.

Though we usually do the same thing, and that is, to teach English to the Thai children, something we are good at and something they are appreciative of, every mission trip is different because the composition of the team is different, and the situations we find ourselves in are different.

It is always very exciting to see how God works in and through us in ways we do not expect as we avail ourselves to serve him by serving the Thai people.

What were some highlights for me this time around and what did God impress upon my heart?

Going on a mission trip requires adaptability and flexibility.

As part of our preparations, a small, focused team among the mission trippers had set out to plan the lessons for teaching English to secondary school students. We wanted to be more ambitious so instead of teaching in one school, we decided to cover two schools. After all, the educational materials we used would be the same.

The first disappointment came when we were told that for one of the schools, we could only teach for a day instead of the usual two days, reason being that a holiday was declared to celebrate the previous king’s birthday. We scratched our heads as to why this was not made known to us earlier.

After we had decided to go ahead to carry out a one-day programme with that school just so that we could build rapport with the school administration in the hope that they would welcome us back the following year, we were told that the secondary schools in that part of Chiang Rai were suspending all their lessons because they were going to have a sports week (yes, the week we were there).

“Don’t they plan such activities right at the start of the year?” We were bewildered by how impromptu the news came to us. What could we do but to pivot to teaching English at a primary school instead.

On hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise. We got to teach the younger students who were generally more receptive and cooperative; they enjoyed our lessons, the games we played and the action songs we taught them.

The most encouraging thing was to see many of them at the Saturday outreach.

Because we taught in one instead of two schools, we had the time to go to the house of sister Kung, who is one of our Thai members, to conduct an outreach programme. We also had time to visit the poor members of Pannee’s church. We were so encouraged to hear their stories of faithfulness despite the difficulties they faced.

Seeing and hearing of their plight moved our hearts and hands to give. Many of the team members expressed that the visitation was a highlight of the mission trip.

We can do all our detailed planning and preparations, and we must since we are responsible people, yet things can be fluid, plans can change on the fly, and we need to trust that God is in control and if, in his providence, he has allowed the changes to happen, we flow with him and believe that they are for a greater good even though it can be frustrating at times.

In a mission trip, we get to preach the Gospel to young and old. The way they do alar call in Thailand is so different from the way we do altar call.

In Singapore, we will say, “As all eyes are closed, if there is anyone who is willing to give his/her life to Jesus, please raise your hand.”

For them, there was no inhibition whatsoever. Ps Suttiporn would say, “If you want to believe in Jesus, after I say 1-2-3, raise up your hands,” and they did so in front of everybody.

For those who did not raise their hands, the Thai sisters would go to them and earnestly persuade them to put their faith in Jesus, and afterwards, many more would come forward.

I spoke with Ps Suttiporn to ask whether this approach was too pressurising. She told me that there are 3 groups of people. One group consists of those who willing raise up their hands.

The second group are those who want to receive Christ but because they are shy, they dare not raise their hands. However, if they are being persuaded, they will eventually do so.

The third group consists of those who come forward because they are being pressurised but the fact that they are being prayed for in the open is a good start. I learnt something new about cultural differences that day.

I am really encouraged by the way they share the Gospel despite the circumstances they are in. The church members are poor, and they face persecutions from their neighbours who cannot understand why they have forsaken their previous religion.

Having a proper burial ground is important for the Thais and because the village head does not allow the Christians to be buried in the village, some have decided to give up their Christian faith. Pannee is in the process of finding a suitable place, somewhere else, where the village head of that place is open to allow Christians to be buried there.

The Thai Christians are not inhibited in sharing the Gospel although they are the minority group.

In Singapore, we don’t face persecutions except for the occasional glares from our friends and colleagues when we try to engage them in spiritual conversations. Shouldn’t we be inspired by our Thai brothers and sisters to faithfully and enthusiastically share the good news of salvation?

I thank God that I had the privilege to witness parents of our Thai sisters raising their hands to profess faith in Jesus. Sister Nit’s father, uncle Choom, was even baptised, something that was unexpected.

We were not supposed to visit him but because we had to drive to sister Tararat’s house for another outreach event, we had a brief stopover at his place so that we could pray for him. He was recuperating from a surgery.

Pannee broached the subject of baptism with him, and he said “yes” to our surprise. He had heard the Gospel many times and had prayed the sinner’s prayer, but he hadn’t come forward for baptism. For the older generation, the willingness to be baptised is a sign that they are embracing the Christian faith for good, no turning back.

Afterwards, I asked Pannee what prompted her to bring up the subject of baptism with uncle Choom. She shared that she had a dream some time ago. In that dream, she saw uncle Choom, and when she went up to him, he asked her why she had taken so long to come. She remembered that dream and decided to act on it.

I am encouraged by the mission trippers. For some, it was their debut; for others, there were veterans. It was a delight to have served alongside both groups. They were willing to come out of their comfort zone and try new things. In the process, their faith was stretched and strengthened. Serving together allowed us to know each other better and we had opportunities to build each other up.

I really hope that through today’s testimonies and the writing of this perspective, more of you will be motivated to embark on the mission trips lined out for you by the church. Tell yourself, “With God, it’s mission possible!”

“Pra-jao uay-pon” (“God bless you” in Thai)